2017 GMC Yukon XL Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
CautionComplaint Index
60/100
#7 most-complained of 16 Yukon XL years
The 2017 GMC Yukon XL has a Complaint Index of 60 and ranks 7th worst out of 16 model years, earning a Caution verdict. NHTSA lists 151 complaints, 62 tied to the electrical system, plus one recall covering airbag software.
- Complaints
- 151
- Recalls
- 1
- Crashes / fires
- 7 / 0
- Injuries / deaths
- 3 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- —
Top 2017 GMC Yukon XL problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Electrical System62 (41%)
- Transmission & Powertrain37 (25%)
- Engine30 (20%)
- Brakes26 (17%)
- Other22 (15%)
- Structure & Body6 (4%)
- Fuel System5 (3%)
- Airbags4 (3%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras4 (3%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires4 (3%)
What owners report
- Owners report brake pedal going hard and unresponsive, in one case leading to a crash into a guardrail after the brake assist pump failed.
- Some describe the brake pedal sinking to the floorboard even after a recall repair for the hydraulic brake system was completed.
- Rear brake lights are reported to malfunction intermittently with no warning light, raising the risk of being rear-ended.
- One owner reported the vehicle's onboard system became completely unresponsive while parked on a hill, locking them out of shifting gears or shutting off the engine.
- Water intrusion from the roof antenna assembly was reported dripping onto the driver during rain.
- A driver's seat reportedly broke in a rear-end collision, pushing the seat back and preventing the driver from reaching the steering wheel or brakes.
2017 GMC Yukon XL recalls
1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.
- NHTSA 16V651000Sep 8, 2016Airbags3,640,162 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:sensor/control module-inactive
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015-2017 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD, 3500 HD, Tahoe, Suburban, GMC Sierra 2500 HD and 3500 HD, GMC Yukon, GMC Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade and Cadillac Escalade ESV vehicles and 2014-2017 Chevrolet Corvette, Silverado 1500, Trax, Caprice Police Pursuit Vehicle, GMC Sierra 1500, Buick Encore, and 2014-2016 Buick Lacrosse, Chevrolet Spark EV and SS vehicles. In the affected vehicles, certain driving conditions may cause the air bag sensing and diagnostic module (SDM) software to activate a diagnostic test. During this test, deployment of the frontal air bags and the seat belt pretensioners would not occur in the event of a crash.
Risk: A failure of the front air bags or seat belt pretensioners to deploy in the event of a crash necessitating deployment increases the risk of injury to the driver and front passenger.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reflash the SDM software. Vehicles that have had a previous air bag deployment will have the SDM replaced. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on October 13, 2016. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 16007.
2017 compared with other Yukon XL years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2017 GMC Yukon XL reliable?
- NHTSA data gives the 2017 Yukon XL a Complaint Index of 60 and a Caution verdict, ranking 7th worst among the 16 model years with data. It has fewer reported problems than the 2015, 2021, 2022, and 2023 model years, which are rated Avoid.
- What are the most common problems with the 2017 GMC Yukon XL?
- Electrical System issues make up 41% of complaints (62 of 151), followed by Transmission & Powertrain at 25% and Engine at 20%. Brakes account for 17% of complaints and are tied to 5 of the model year's 7 reported crashes.
- Does the 2017 GMC Yukon XL have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 1 recall for the 2017 Yukon XL, campaign 16V651000, covering airbag control module software that GM addressed by reflashing the SDM software. It is not a do-not-drive recall.
- At what mileage do problems usually show up on the 2017 Yukon XL?
- The median mileage at failure across all reported issues is 54,498 miles. By problem area, Transmission & Powertrain issues showed up at a median of 37,876 miles, while Engine and Brakes issues showed up at a median of 70,000 miles.
- Should I avoid the 2017 GMC Yukon XL?
- The 2017 model is rated Caution, not Avoid, among Yukon XL years. Years like 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2020 have lower Complaint Index scores and are rated Best or Good by comparison.