Problems · NHTSA complaints

2010 GMC Yukon XL 1500 problems

Owners filed 175 complaints about the 2010 GMC Yukon XL 1500 with NHTSA between Sep 2010 and Oct 2025. The most-cited component is air bags (83).

Complaints
175
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
2
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
9
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Air bags83
  2. Structure35
  3. Engine13
  4. Steering6
  5. Electronic stability control (esc)6
  6. Electrical system4
  7. Vehicle speed control4
  8. Power train3
  9. Seat belts2
  10. Fuel/propulsion system2
  11. Suspension1
  12. Back over prevention1
  13. Visibility/wiper1
  14. Wheels1

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 29, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20101
20111
20121
20134
20147
201516
201645
201741
201818
201914
20207
202110
20223
20233
20241
20253

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Air bags

83 reports2 crashes
“I was in a head-on collision (T-bone) going over 40 mph. Despite the severity of the collision no airbags deployed and both front seatbelts failed. Error Codes: B0052:00 Deployment commanded; B0015:04 Driver seat belt buckle tensioner deployment loop open; B0022:04 Passenger seat belt buckle tensioner deployment loop open. I have a police report but it exceeds the 10mb limit.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 19, 2025Air bags, Seat beltsCrash reportedODI 11661872

Structure

35 reports1 fire
“The contact owns a 2010 GMC Yukon. The contact stated the front driver’s side dashboard was fractured. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V050000 (Air Bags) and took the vehicle to a local dealer to be repaired. The dealer declined to service the vehicle under recall due to the dashboard being fractured. The dealer and manufacturer informed the contact that the recall repair would be performed once the dashboard was replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 26, 2023Air bags, StructureODI 11528859

Engine

13 reports1 fire
“Valve spring snapped clear in half inside the engine while driving on the highway. This caused me to be stranded on the side of the road in the middle of the Arizona desert with my two dogs in the heat. Thankfully I did not lose control of the vehicle. No warning signs whatsoever until out of nowhere- vehicle check engine light started flashing as well as 'service stabiltrak' and 'traction control disabled'. I immediately pulled over. Thankfully I shut off the engine in time to prevent further damage to the pistons. Vehicle was towed and inspected by Holden's Auto Service in Kingman, AZ. Valve spring broke clean in half and was given to me after valve spring was replaced. Compression tests were performed after valve spring replacement. engine was run until warm and normal compression resumed. No other mechanical issues found. Checked for recalls on this vehicle. nothing found related to this.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 8, 2025EngineODI 11692214

Steering

6 reports
“The contact owns a 2010 GMC Yukon. The contact stated that while his girlfriend was driving approximately 70 MPH, the vehicle was bouncing and swaying left to right. The air ride system was inoperable. The steering wheel was unstable and hard to control. The suspension warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 130,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 26, 2022Steering, SuspensionODI 11490993

Electronic stability control (esc)

6 reports1 fire
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 GMC YUKON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WERE CRACKS IN THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MARK CHRISTOPHER AUTO CENTER (LOCATED AT 2131 E CONVENTION CENTER WAY, ONTARIO, CA 91764) WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE 2010-14 MODELS EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER:[XXX]. IN ADDITION, WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CHECK ENGINE, STABILITRAK, AND SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE ALSO SHOOK AND LOST POWER. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND POWERED OFF THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE NORMALLY, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT A SQUEAKING NOISE AND A BURNING ODOR WERE COMING FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT AN UNBALANCED WHEEL WAS MAKING THE VEHICLE SHAKE AND THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL HUB SENSOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED FIVE MILES FROM THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 4, 2019Structure, Wheels, Electronic stability control (esc), Traction control system, EngineFire reportedODI 11165256

Electrical system

4 reports1 fire
“I experienced hybrid battery module catching fire till was water thrown on it unknown raison after i planned to buy used battery from other junkyard truck and before replacing wanted to check everything okay i notice that there black mark caused by short circuit on the same place but everything was looking good from out till i unplugged the module wire for clean up i saw the burn so my conclusion was that there is issue with hybrid module that can cause fire and much more, i have pictures to show.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 15, 2025Electrical systemFire reportedODI 11666977
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 29, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.