2011 Gmc Yukon Xl problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Air Bags (14) · Structure:body (2) · Structure (2)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Gmc Yukon Xl model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
25 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (3)
Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module 2021-02-05 · campaign 21V050000 · 2,641,272 vehicles
Defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2007-2011 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, Yukon XL, and 2009-2011 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, GMC Sierra 2500 and Sierra 3500 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on February 22, 2021. Second notification letters will be mailed once the remedy is available. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 1, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020; Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006; and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. G
Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module 2021-02-05 · campaign 21V054000 · 1,778,128 vehicles
Defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 2500, Sierra 3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of AL, CA, FL, GA, HI, LA, MS, SC, TX, PR, AS, GU, the MP, and VI or "Zone A." Additionally GM is recalling certain 2011-2014 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 2500, Sierra
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on February 25, 2021. Second notification letters will be mailed once the remedy is available. Owner notification letters were mailed to 40 VIN owners on May 11, 2021. A second owner notification letter was mailed to all other owners on January 24, 2022. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-8
Electrical System:ignition 2014-12-30 · campaign 14V827000 · 84,192 vehicles
Defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado HD, Silverado LD, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra LD, Sierra HD, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the ignition lock actuator may bind, making turning the key difficult or causing the ignition to get stuck in the "Start" position.
Risk: If stuck in the "Start" position, the ignition may suddenly snap back into the "Accessory" position, causing a loss of engine, steering, and braking power, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash. If the vehicle is in a crash, the air bags may not deploy, increasing the risk of occupant injury.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the ignition lock housing, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on February 12, 2015. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-458-8006 (Cadillac), 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), or 1-800-462-8782 (GMC). GM's number for this recall is 14696 for the original equipment, and 14912 for the service replacement parts.
Service bulletins (1,461)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Unknown Or Other 2026-09-04 · PIP4902W · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email gds2 session logs into technical assistance.
Unknown Or Other 2026-04-01 · PIT3271Q · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communicates information about how to determine if a wheel and tires size change is available.
Unknown Or Other 2026-03-09 · PIP6104 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a gds2 session log and upload to a technical assistance case in cx connect.
Unknown Or Other 2026-03-09 · PIP4902V · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email gds2 session logs into technical assistance.
Unknown Or Other 2026-01-16 · PIT6400A · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this pi communications information on an alternative product dealers can use to perform 19-na-255: wax coating on frame peeling, metal shows corrosion/rusting due to issue with getting product from current supplier listed in the bulletin.
Unknown Or Other 2026-01-08 · PIP4902U · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email gds2 session logs into technical assistance.
Showing the 6 most recent of 1,461 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-04-27 · Power Train“my yukon denali xl gm engine that was put in on 07/2022 has already failed. it failed as i was driving down highway at 65 mile per hour. it failed on 04/12/2025. i paid almost $7,000 to have my engine replace due to the original engine failing in early 2022. now the engine that i paid thousands of dollars for has already failed and has no compr…”
2025-08-22 · Suspension · 271,000 mi“the contact owns a 2011 gmc yukon xl. the contact stated that while attempting to refuel the vehicle at the gas station, fuel was leaking out of the fuel tank. the vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where the vehicle was lifted. the mechanic then informed the contact that the fuel pump was rusted and that the frame were severely rusted. …”
2024-07-08 · Unknown Or Other“dash is cracking badly on its own. is cracking also where airbag is held. pieces can fly as projectiles and cause bodily harm when airbag deploys. …”
2023-06-10 · Unknown Or Other“we were driving on the freeway and our sunroof unexpectedly exploded. i didn't see any rock or object. it caught us all off guard.…”
2022-09-22 · Seat Belts“when attempting to install car seats on the 3rd row, the seat belts do not remain locked after pulled all the way out. pulling all the way out should activate the alr, but it does not. i am unable to seat belt install on my 3rd row which is required when a child is over 40lbs. …”
2022-02-03 · Unknown Or Other“keep getting traction control and stability issue warnings along with reduced engine power. idles up and down and rough car was parked haven’t moved …”
2021-04-03 · Unknown Or Other · 120,000 mi“the dashboard has spontaneously cracked in two locations after sitting in our garage. a 6" crack has no formed over the curved instrument cluster display on driver side and a 1" crack has occurred near the air bag cover corner on passenger side. these cracks are similar in location and size to others that have been reported on gmc yukons. starte…”
2021-02-09 · Air Bags“air bags have been recalled for years and they have yet to replace them even after acquiring at multiple dealerships.…”
2020-12-16 · Unknown Or Other“large cracks in dash causing constant rattling noise.this occurred in less than a year purchase and has worsened the heating and cooling function of the seats failed within months of buying the vehicle new. radio and navigation screen does not work at all.…”
2020-11-06 · Air Bags · 100,000 mi · 🔥 fire“tl* takata recall. the contact owns a 2011 gmc yukon xl. the contact stated while starting vehicle, the air bag warning indicator light illuminated. the contact detected an abnormal burning odor in vehicle. the contact received nhtsa campaign number: 16v381000 (air bags). the contact stated the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time f…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.