YearToAvoid

2018 GMC Yukon XL Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

33/100

#11 most-complained of 16 Yukon XL years

The 2018 GMC Yukon XL has a complaint index of 33 and ranks 11th worst out of 16 model years, earning a 'Good' verdict relative to other Yukon XL years. NHTSA lists 55 complaints, 2 recalls (one do-not-drive), 5 crashes, 1 fire, and 8 injuries for this year.

Complaints
55
Recalls
2
incl. Do Not Drive
Crashes / fires
5 / 1
Injuries / deaths
8 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
—

Top 2018 GMC Yukon XL problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine16 (29%)
  2. Brakes11 (20%)
  3. Other11 (20%)
  4. Transmission & Powertrain8 (15%)
  5. Suspension, Wheels & Tires6 (11%)
  6. Seat Belts5 (9%)
  7. Electrical System4 (7%)
  8. Steering3 (5%)
  9. Structure & Body3 (5%)
  10. Airbags2 (4%)

What owners report

  • Owners report brakes that fail to fully stop the vehicle, requiring hard pedal pressure while the car continues rolling.
  • Some describe the brake system engaging on its own or smoking near the tires before failing completely.
  • Owners report excessive shaking and vibration at highway speeds tied to brake components, unresolved after multiple dealer visits.
  • Steering assist reportedly drops out during low-speed left turns, linked to battery voltage dips that only recover near 70 mph.
  • Owners describe multiple tire blowouts, a broken rim, and a broken ball joint occurring during normal paved-road driving.
  • Rear seatbelt retractors reportedly failed to hold a child seat steady during a low-speed crash.
2018 GMC Yukon XL complaints: complaints filed per month5Dec 2017Feb 2020Oct 2021Jan 2023Mar 2024Dec 2024Nov 2025May 2026
72 complaints filed with NHTSA from Dec 2017 to Sep 2026; peak Oct 2024 (5).

2018 GMC Yukon XL recalls

2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 26V289000May 7, 2026Transmission & Powertrain66 vehiclesDo Not Drive

    Power train:transfer case (4-wheel drive)

    General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2026 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Suburban, and Tahoe, and GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles with four-wheel (4WD) or all-wheel drive (AWD), and certain 2015-2020 Suburban, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Yukon, Yukon XL, and Tahoe vehicles. A component missing from the drivetrain transfer case may cause the front and/or rear wheels to lock up without warning to the driver.

    Risk: Front or rear wheel lockup increases the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the remedy is completed. Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the transfer case assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 18, 2026. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223. GM's number for this recall is N262557620. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on May 7, 2026.

  2. NHTSA 18V673000Sep 26, 2018Seat Belts15,800 vehicles

    Seat belts:rear/other

    General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Cadillac CT6, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Volt, and GMC Yukon XL vehicles. Certain second-row or third-row rear seatbelts retractor assemblies may not automatically lock when the seatbelt is fully pulled out of the retractor, possibly preventing a child seat from being properly secured. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

    Risk: If the child seat is not properly secured in the event of a crash, it can increase the risk of injury.

    Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rear seatbelt retractors and replace them if necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 7, 2018. Owners may contact 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 18315.

2018 compared with other Yukon XL years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2016Caution732303 !—
2017Caution601511—
2018Good33552 !—
2019Good40672 !—
2020Best20472—

All GMC Yukon XL years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2018 GMC Yukon XL reliable?
Relative to other Yukon XL model years, 2018 is rated 'Good' with a complaint index of 33 and ranks 11th worst out of 16 years tracked by NHTSA.
What are the most common problems with the 2018 GMC Yukon XL?
Engine complaints lead at 29% of the 55 total complaints, followed by brakes at 20% and transmission & powertrain at 15%, according to NHTSA data.
Are there recalls on the 2018 GMC Yukon XL?
NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2018 Yukon XL: a seat belt retractor recall from 2018 and a do-not-drive transmission recall reported in 2026.
How does the 2018 Yukon XL compare to other years?
2018 performs better than 2015 (complaint index 87, Avoid), 2021 (93, Avoid), 2022 (80, Avoid), and 2023 (100, Avoid), all rated worse for reported problems.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.