YearToAvoid

2019 GMC Yukon XL Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

40/100

#10 most-complained of 16 Yukon XL years

The 2019 GMC Yukon XL has a complaint index of 40 and ranks 10th out of 16 model years, earning a "Good" verdict relative to other Yukon XL years. NHTSA lists 67 complaints, 2 recalls (one do-not-drive), 4 crashes, and 5 injuries, with Engine issues topping owner reports at 58% of complaints.

Complaints
67
Recalls
2
incl. Do Not Drive
Crashes / fires
4 / 0
Injuries / deaths
5 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
—

Top 2019 GMC Yukon XL problems

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

  1. Engine39 (58%)
  2. Transmission & Powertrain15 (22%)
  3. Electrical System7 (10%)
  4. Brakes5 (7%)
  5. Collision Avoidance & Cameras5 (7%)
  6. Steering4 (6%)
  7. Airbags3 (4%)
  8. Other3 (4%)
  9. Suspension, Wheels & Tires1 (1%)
  10. Visibility & Wipers1 (1%)

What owners report

  • Owners report a moisture or water intrusion problem in electrical connectors that pushes the vehicle into derate mode, often flagged by a pedal position sensor code that returns after repair.
  • Some drivers describe sudden brake power loss at highway speed accompanied by smoke from under the hood.
  • Several owners describe the engine surging at high RPM shortly after starting, occurring while in gear during forward or reverse movement.
  • Brake and taillights have gone inoperable without warning, requiring rear taillight repairs.
  • Front strut assemblies have been found leaking, causing excessive bouncing and reduced handling and steering control.
  • Power steering has intermittently disabled itself, showing a warning message and requiring a wait of about 15 minutes before steering assist returns.
2019 GMC Yukon XL complaints: complaints filed per month5Sep 2019Mar 2022May 2023May 2024Apr 2025Oct 2025Apr 2026
83 complaints filed with NHTSA from Sep 2019 to Aug 2026; peak Jun 2025 (5).

2019 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.

2019 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
2017Caution601511—
2018Good33552 !—
2019Good40672 !—
2020Best20472—
2021Avoid932251216.5

All GMC Yukon XL years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2019 GMC Yukon XL reliable?
Relative to other Yukon XL model years, 2019 is rated "Good," with a complaint index of 40 and rank 10th of 16 years tracked by NHTSA complaints and recalls.
What are the most common problems with the 2019 GMC Yukon XL?
Engine issues make up 58% of complaints (39 of 67), followed by Transmission & Powertrain at 22% and Electrical System at 10%, according to NHTSA data.
Does the 2019 GMC Yukon XL have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2019 Yukon XL, including a do-not-drive recall and a seat belt retractor recall covering second- and third-row rear seatbelts.
How does the 2019 Yukon XL compare to other years?
With a complaint index of 40, 2019 is far below the worst years like 2015 (87), 2021 (93), and 2023 (100), and is better than 2016 and 2017, making it one of the more favorable years.

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.