Which GMC Yukon Years To Avoid and Why? (Explained)

GMC has been creating and offering the larger and high-performing SUV called Yukon since 1993.

Yukon is widely known as a practical, heavy-designed SUV series that is efficient, capable of handling anything or, everything, reliable enough, comfortable, and falls in the moderately affordable category.

However, GMC could not keep the same standard in all the Yukon model years, and there are some released years of Yukon, which are highly problematic.

Therefore, let’s learn more details about which years of Yukon are the worst and which are the safest to keep in purchase consideration.

GMC Yukon Years to Avoid (List of Years)

Unfortunately, GMC Yukon also has some years where those vehicles came with major mistakes and flaws.

Thus, you need to be clearly aware of those years and avoid those problematic years whenever you wish to buy a new or used GMC Yukon.

Avoid the following years of GMC Yukon unless you wish to experience major problems while using your Yukon vehicle-

• 1999 GMC Yukon: Won’t stay in range due to alignment error, squealing noise coming from underneath, does not start when turned over, body or paint problems, and steering problem.
• 2001 GMC Yukon: ABS module failure, paint tends to peel or crack, brakes tend to lock up, drivetrain, and electrical problem.
• 2003 GMC Yukon: Engine stalls or dies abruptly while driving, speedometer malfunctioning, brake lines failure, fuel system problem, AC or heater, and steering problem.
• 2004 GMC Yukon: Rusted brake lines, inconsistent climate control, bad hydraulic lifter, transmission system issues, engine and cooling system problems.
• 2005 GMC Yukon: Failed A/C line, squeaky brakes, cracked drive shaft, wheel or hub problem, transmission, and fuel system problem.
• 2007 GMC Yukon: Excess oil consumption, cracked dash, complete engine failure, A/C or heater malfunction, faulty exterior accessories, electrical system error, and steering problem.
• 2008 GMC Yukon: Cracked dashboard, airbags won’t deploy, electrical door lock not working, and drivetrain problem.
• 2009 GMC Sierra: Cracked or faulty dash, engine dies abruptly while driving, lifters tend to tick badly, and seatbelt or airbags problem.
• 2011 GMC Yukon: Problematic seat back won’t move, battery dies overnight, cracked dash, electrical error, and engine problem.
• 2015 GMC Yukon: Taillight won’t work properly, A/C failure, vibration coming from transmission, body or paint issue, drivetrain, and engine problem.
• 2016 GMC Yukon: A/C failure, transmission slips, tailgate light not working, engine problems, suspension not working properly, brakes and electrical malfunctioning.
• 2017 GMC Yukon: Tend to lunge, hard shifting, A/C and transmission system failure, fuel system, and drivetrain problem.

According to the CarComplaints.com website report, 2003, 2004, 2007, and 2015 are the most problematic years of GMC Yukon trucks.

What Makes These GMC Yukon Years Worth Avoiding? 

Some problems are common in almost all of the earlier mentioned Yukon years models.

Therefore, let’s learn more details about the GMC Yukon’s most common issues-

1. Tailgate Light Problem:

One of the most common complaints against most GMC Yukon vehicle models is the lighting problem.

The majority of particular Yukon years SUV users have shared that they have experienced situations where the tailgate light stops responding or working accurately.

Technically speaking, it is not a major functional or technical error and can be considered a minor cosmetic issue. But still, it is a frustrating issue to deal with while you are on the highway, and the driving will turn uncomfortably risky.

Especially during the nighttime, driving will become pretty dangerous if your tailgate light stops working.

People have encountered symptoms where the moisture begins to form on the tailgate light’s lens, and while taking a turn, the lights do not illuminate as they are supposed to.

On average, the tailgate lighting issue mostly arises after the vehicle reaches around 60,000 miles, and this problem is most common in 2015 as well as 2016 Yukon models.

Unfortunately, fixing this problem is more troublesome since you cannot just replace the tailgate bulb with a new one, and your problem will be solved. You have to replace the entire fixture with a new set, and this replacement service does not come in the cheap range.

2. A/C Failure:

Another common issue is the A/C malfunctioning or complete failure, which randomly arises in some of the particular Yukon years models. 

A/C-related issues commonly occur in Yukon 2005, 2007, 2015, 2016, and 2017 models, where due to condenser malfunctioning or failure, A/C fails to cool the internal air and blow into the cabin.

Besides, there can be several potential reasons behind this A/C malfunctioning, such as broken lines, either due to faulty compressors or leakage on the compressor’s lines.

Also, most consumers will not prefer dealing with such servicing very frequently since repairing or fixing such an A/C malfunctioning problem is not cheap and pretty costly.

3. Transmission Problem:

Another most highlighted issue that often occurs in several GMC Yukon models is the transmission problem.

According to consumers’ reports, transmission system issues mostly arise in 2004, 2005, 2015, 2016, and 2017 Yukon models.

Although no one has reported any severe transmission failure yet, there are reports where consumers have noticed and complained about transmission slipping, shuddering while switching or shifting the gears, hesitating or erratically jerking, unusual and excess vibration coming from vehicle transmission.

Some 2015 Yukon owners claimed that making turns becomes dangerously difficult while driving as the vehicle transmission tends to switch into 4WD without any warning.

A transmission problem can effectively hamper the vehicle’s performance and increase the chances of encountering accidents. So, you need to fix the problem as soon as possible.

4. Upper Dashboard Problem:

Some of the GMC Yukon SUVs are widely infamous for their factory assembled upper dashboards because these dashboards tend to crack more easily and quickly than others.

Especially the upper dash issue commonly arises in GMC Yukon’s 1999, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2014, and 2015 released models.

Consumers have noticed symptoms such as unusual vibration, rattling, or clicking noises when the vehicle’s dash cracks.

According to 2007 and 2015 Yukon vehicles consumers’ reports, these models have intense dashboard cracking or failure issue.

Since most Yukon upper dashboards are not designed to handle rough or comparatively harsh weather conditions, thus they tend to crack quicker than they are supposed to.

This problem can occur when any connecting cables, wires, and other dash parts come loose or get disconnected.

Yukon SUV consumers also reported other typical issues such as engine stalling or dying while operating, paint peeling or cracking, electrical system error, speedometer malfunctioning, interior or exterior accessories failure, brake lines failure, problematic fuel system, and cooling system, steering, suspension, and drivetrain problems.

Which GMC Yukon Years are Safe to Buy Used? 

According to the GMC YUKON MODEL YEAR COMPARISON detailed report published on CarComplaints.com, these following years are the safest options to choose between if you are interested in purchasing a used or even a new Yukon vehicle-  

• 1996 GMC Yukon
• 1998 GMC Yukon
• 2000 GMC Yukon
• 2006 GMC Yukon  
• 2012 GMC Yukon
• 2013 GMC Yukon
• 2014 GMC Yukon
• 2018 GMC Yukon
• 2019 GMC Yukon

Conclusion

Whether you wish to get a new or used GMC Yukon, you definitely will not prefer a model containing lots of defects. Right?

But to avoid the problematic range of any vehicle models, you first need to know which years models of that particular vehicle are troublesome and worth avoiding. Today’s article will precisely guide you on that task.

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