Is the 2002 GMC Yukon a bad year?
157 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Yukon years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2002 GMC Yukon are in line with other Yukon years. Brakes stands out for this year: see below.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2002 Yukon owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 106,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| BrakesSTANDS OUT | 72 (46%) | 65k–135k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Engine | 6 (4%) | 48k–150k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Electrical system | 10 (6%) | 40k–99k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Air bags | 11 (7%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 10 (6%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Fuel system | 8 (5%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Seat belts | 7 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Steering | 7 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Suspension | 6 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Parking brake | 5 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Wheels | 5 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 106,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 157 complaints: 15 mention a crash · 3 mention a fire · 10 report an injury · 4 say the car was towed.
No complaints in the last 12 months; the newest was filed in Aug 2025.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
Recalls for the 2002 GMC Yukon: 5
Certain federal-mogul replacement wheel hub assemblies with the brand names: national, carquest p/nos. 515020, 515021, 515025, 515053, 515054, 515059, and 515060, shipped between january 23, 2006, and december 20, 2007, sold for light duty and medium duty trucks. Wheel separation can result in a vehicle crash.
Certain replacement fuel filters, fram brand name p/n G3727, with date codes X52911 through X60801 sequentially or X600141 and a mexico country or origin marking on the fuel filter housing manufactured from october 18, 2005, through march 21, 2006, sold for use on the vehicles listed above and on certain school buses. This condition may cause an inadequate seal at the connection, potentially leading to a fuel leak. In the presence of an ignition source, a fire could occur.
Certain pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles may experience unwanted antilock brake system (ABS) activation. This condition is more likely to occur in environmentally corrosive areas. This can cause increased stopping distances during low-speed brake applications, which could result in a crash.
Certain pickup truck, van, and Mini van conversions equipped with southern comfort built running boards that contain certain courtesy lights manufactured by american technology components… This overheating condition can cause the running board to melt or cause a fire.
On certain sport utility vehicles equipped with rearward folding head restraints on the second row seats, two potential pinch points exist on each of the folding head restraints when the restraints are folded rearward as the seatback is folded down. If a person were to insert their finger(S) into the pinch point when the head restraint folds, it could trap and pinch the finger(S) causing injury.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from GMC: 133
Repair instructions GMC sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2002 GMC Yukon. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Rough idle, Crank no start, extended crank or misfire, MIL with DTCs, and explains how Top Tier fuels should be used to reduce carbon build-up
Possible location of an internal coolant leak from a specific cylinder head and location
Guidelines to replace Oil Cooler, Oil Cooler Lines and Oil Tank if the engine was replaced where large amounts of debris has flowed throughout the oiling system
Proper way to install the pistons in an engine
NHTSA defect investigations: 4
Brake line corrosion failure
Parking brake failure
Unwanted low-speed ABS activation
Throttle sticking closed
Neighbouring years
2001 Yukon: 197 complaints, keep it · 2003 Yukon: 203 complaints, keep it.
Every GMC Yukon year
2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026 · All Yukon years side by side
Other GMC models: GMC Acadia · GMC Canyon · GMC Denali · GMC Envoy · GMC Envoy XL · GMC Envoy Xuv · GMC Jimmy · GMC Safari · GMC Savana · GMC Sierra · GMC Sierra 1500 · GMC Sierra 2500 · GMC Sierra 3500 · GMC Sierra Denali · GMC Sonoma · GMC Terrain · GMC Yukon Denali · GMC Yukon Denali XL · GMC Yukon XL · GMC Yukon XL 1500. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2002 GMC Yukon a bad year?
157 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Yukon years. At 106,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2002 GMC Yukon?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: brakes (72), engine (6), electrical system (10), air bags (11), transmission and drivetrain (10).
How many recalls does the 2002 GMC Yukon have?
5 recall campaigns list this model year: Wheels (NHTSA 07E106000), Fuel system (NHTSA 06E043000), Brakes (NHTSA 05V-379), Body structure (NHTSA 03V-094) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.