YearToAvoid

2018 GMC Yukon Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

27/100

#12 most-complained of 16 Yukon years

The 2018 GMC Yukon has 71 NHTSA complaints, a complaint index of 27, and ranks 12th worst of 16 model years, earning a 'Good' verdict relative to other Yukon years. Engine complaints (44%) are the top issue, with 3 brake-related recalls filed.

Complaints
71
Recalls
3
Crashes / fires
3 / 0
Injuries / deaths
6 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
4 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
18
15.5 city / 22.5 hwy

Top 2018 GMC Yukon problems

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

  1. Engine31 (44%)
  2. Transmission & Powertrain18 (25%)
  3. Suspension, Wheels & Tires10 (14%)
  4. Other8 (11%)
  5. Brakes6 (8%)
  6. Airbags4 (6%)
  7. Electrical System4 (6%)
  8. Steering4 (6%)
  9. Fuel System2 (3%)
  10. Structure & Body2 (3%)

What owners report

  • A rear wheel separated from the vehicle while driving, causing loss of control and a multi-point collision.
  • Airbags failed to deploy in reported crashes, including a front/side collision with significant damage.
  • The rear window shattered outward and detached from its latch while the vehicle was parked and unoccupied.
  • The forward collision avoidance system and lane departure function repeatedly became inoperable during driving.
  • Sidewall failures occurred on multiple tires within a short span of miles.
  • The front end made noises when turning the wheel or stopping, with no cause found by a dealer inspection.
2018 GMC Yukon complaints: complaints filed per month6Aug 2018Jan 2020Apr 2021Mar 2023Mar 2024Mar 2025Sep 2025Apr 2026
94 complaints filed with NHTSA from Aug 2018 to May 2026; peak Jun 2022 (6).

2018 GMC Yukon recalls

3 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 20V603000Oct 1, 2020Brakes14,620 vehicles

    Service brakes, hydraulic:power assist:vacuum

    General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018 Cadillac Escalade, Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500 and Yukon vehicles equipped with either a 5.3L or 6.2L V8 engine. The output of the mechanical vacuum pump can decrease over time, decreasing the amount of vacuum/power brake assist.

    Risk: A decrease in brake assist can increase the brake pedal effort and distance required to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the Electronic Brake Control Module, free of charge. The recall began November 11, 2020. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-866-522-9559, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-630-2438. GM's number for this recall is N202300860.

  2. NHTSA 19V761000Oct 24, 2019Brakes652,967 vehicles

    Service brakes

    General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2020 Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, and GMC Yukon, and 2014-2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles equipped with a 5.3-liter engine, a 3.08-ratio rear axle and four-wheel drive. If a wheel-speed sensor fails, while the vehicle is traveling between 41 and 60 mph in four-wheel or automatic mode, the Electronic-Brake Control Module (EBCM) software may activate the driveline-protection system.

    Risk: Unintended activation of the driveline-protection system will cause unintended braking on the wheel on the opposite side of the failed sensor, causing the vehicle to pull to one side unexpectedly, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the EBCM, free of charge. The recall began December 11, 2019. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-630-2438 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N192261050.

  3. NHTSA 19V645000Sep 6, 2019Brakes3,456,719 vehicles

    Service brakes, hydraulic:power assist:vacuum

    General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Cadillac Escalade, 2014-2018 Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Sierra, 2015-2018 Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Yukon vehicles. The amount of vacuum created by the vacuum pump may decrease over time.

    Risk: As the vacuum level drops, the brake assist decreases, increasing braking effort, extending the distance required to stop the vehicle, thereby increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the Electronic Brake Control Module, free of charge. The recall began October 8, 2019. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-630-2438, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N192268490.

2018 GMC Yukon fuel economy and fuel cost

City
15.5 MPG
Highway
22.5 MPG
Combined
18 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,600
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Premium
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2018 compared with other Yukon 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
2016Caution672855 !18
2017Good47208318
2018Good2771318
2019Best20582 !17
2020Best0364 !17

All GMC Yukon years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2018 GMC Yukon reliable?
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2018 Yukon has a complaint index of 27 and ranks 12th worst out of 16 model years, giving it a 'Good' verdict relative to other Yukon years.
What is the most common problem with the 2018 GMC Yukon?
Engine issues are the top problem area, accounting for 44% of complaints (31 of 71), with a median mileage at failure of 104,000 miles.
Does the 2018 GMC Yukon have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2018 Yukon, all related to the Brakes, including electronic brake control module reprogramming campaigns.
How does the 2018 Yukon compare to other model years?
The 2018 model has fewer complaints and a lower complaint index (27) than years like 2015 (complaint index 100, 'Avoid') and 2021 (complaint index 93, 'Avoid'), placing it among the better Yukon years.
What is the fuel economy of the 2018 GMC Yukon?
The 2018 Yukon gets 18 mpg combined (15.5 city / 22.5 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,600 according to the EPA.

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.