2021 GMC Yukon XL: True Cost, Problems & Verdict
210 NHTSA owner complaints · 12 recalls · data-computed verdict. No opinions — public data only.
Owner complaints: 210 filed with NHTSA
Complaints per year on the road: 42.0
What owners say
Verbatim reports filed with the United States safety regulator (NHTSA) by owners of this exact model year. Public record.
I have a 6.2L that we took in with bad rods due to the cam. The fixed the motor and now it is consuming oil and GM says it is normal. Normal for an engine to consume quarts of oil?? I cannot trade out of the vehicle because of the extreme depreciation that these vehicles have incurred due to the known engine issues. I know others are having the same issues I just want GM to make this right and help loyal customers.
My 2021 GMC Yukon Denali features the 6.2L L87 V8 engine. This vehicle was previously serviced for the GM voluntary recall regarding engine bearing failures, and the dealership completed the remedy by inspecting the motor and changing the oil to the thicker 0W-40 specification. Since completing this recall fix, the vehicle has developed an intermittent rough idle and sputtering behavior. The dealership has been unabl…
Driving on the freeway the engine started making super loud knocking noises for while going 70mph . Then it immediately died everything turned off no power I was barely able to get it off the freeway while coasting. And my husband tried to push it off the road more but when it dies we are not able to put the car in neutral !! It’s a push button gear shift ! When there’s no power the buttons don’t work!! It was 105 de…
Recalls: 12 campaigns (7 severe)
| Campaign | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 22V827000 | Exterior Lighting:Lighting Control Module:Software | General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Yukon, Yukon XL, Chevrolet Tahoe, Chevrolet Suburban, Cadillac Escalade, and Cadillac Escalade ESV vehicles. The daytime running lights (DRLs) may not deactivate when the headlights are on. |
| 21V421000 | Air Bags:Srs Malfunction Warning Lamp/Light | General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Buick Envision, Cadillac CT4, CT5, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Tahoe, Corvette, Suburban, GMC Yukon, Yukon XL vehicles. The communications gateway module incorrectly processes a loss of communication with the sensing diagnostic module (SDM), causing the air bag malfunction indicator light to… |
| 22V617000 | Seat Belts:Critical Fasteners | General Motors, LLC (M) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles equipped with third-row seats. The rivet that retains the buckle to the mounting bracket in the left or right side third-row seat belt buckle assembly may have been improperly formed. |
| 21V455000 | Steering:Steering Control Module | General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Chevrolet Tahoe, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. A software issue may cause a loss of power steering assist at startup or while driving. |
| 20V792000 | Seat Belts | General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500, 2021 Chevrolet Suburban and Tahoe and GMC Yukon XL and 2020-2021 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 and 3500 and GMC Sierra 2500 and 3500 vehicles. The seat belt brackets may not be secured to the seat frame in the front-row center seating position. |
| 21V190000 | Seat Belts | General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, GMC Yukon, Yukon XL, Chevrolet Suburban, and Tahoe vehicles with third-row seating. The third-row outboard seat belts may have been entrapped or misrouted behind the outboard seat-folding mechanism, which could result in damaged seat belts. |
| 21V739000 | Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump:Control/Drive Module | General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. The fuel pump power control module may cause the fuel pump to fail or operate intermittently, which can interrupt fuel flow to the engine, and cause an unexpected engine stall. |
| 20V811000 | Seat Belts | General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Chevrolet Bolt EV and 2021 GMC Canyon and Sierra 1500, 2500 and 3500, Yukon, Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV and Chevrolet Blazer, Camaro, Colorado, Equinox, Silverado 1500, 2500 and 3500, Suburban and Tahoe vehicles. Incorrect bolts may have been used at one or more fastening locations to… |
What it costs to buy — and what owning it really takes
Class-level estimates, priced as a full-size SUV of its model year, re-priced to your country. Not a quote, not a valuation of one specific car — condition, mileage and options move it. How these are computed.
What it costs to run
EPA combined 16 MPG · estimated annual fuel cost $4,750
Re-priced automatically from your country's retail fuel, electricity and parts indices — change country in the bar at the top. Estimates; see methodology.
What this car's problems cost to fix
Ranked by the components owners of this exact model year actually complain about. Each figure is flat-rate labour hours x the local shop rate plus a parts band — an estimate of what this kind of failure costs, not a quote, and not a prediction that this car will need it. Formula.
- Engine125 complaints · typical job: Cooling-system or timing-drive repair (6.0 h labour + parts)$1,040–$2,220
- Power Train46 complaints · typical job: Transmission service or clutch-pack repair (7.0 h labour + parts)$1,290–$4,040
- Fuel/Propulsion System26 complaints · typical job: Fuel pump or injector replacement (3.5 h labour + parts)$680–$1,620
- Engine And Engine Cooling21 complaints · typical job: Water pump, thermostat and coolant service (3.5 h labour + parts)$600–$1,040
- Electrical System13 complaints · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement (3.0 h labour + parts)$540–$1,310
- Vehicle Speed Control7 complaints · typical job: Throttle body, pedal sensor or cruise module replacement (2.5 h labour + parts)$520–$1,150
Other GMC Yukon XL years
FAQ
What is the most common problem with the 2021 GMC Yukon XL?
The most-reported issue in NHTSA complaint data is Engine (125 complaints in our indexed sample).
Is the 2021 GMC Yukon XL a good used car to buy?
Our data verdict is CAUTION with a reliability score of 59/100, computed from 210 NHTSA complaints and 12 recall campaigns. See the verdict card for the top reasons.
How much does it cost to fix the 2021 GMC Yukon XL's most common problem?
125 of the NHTSA complaints filed against the 2021 GMC Yukon XL sit in the Engine group — more than any other component on this model year. The representative job there is cooling-system or timing-drive repair: about 6.0 hours of labour plus parts, roughly $1,040–$2,220 at a US independent shop and re-priced to your country at the top of the page. It is an estimate of what this class of failure costs, not a quote for this car.
What does a 2021 GMC Yukon XL cost to run per year?
About $6,918 a year in fuel or energy plus the maintenance band — roughly $34,590 over five years, before purchase price, insurance and depreciation. Figures come from available EPA fuel-economy data and industry maintenance averages, and are re-priced to your country.
Does the 2021 GMC Yukon XL have recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 12 recall campaign(s) for the 2021 GMC Yukon XL, 7 of them touching fire, crash or stall risk, the most recent recorded 03/11/2022. Check this car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before you buy.
Compare with
Other fullsize suvs of about the same age.
What will a 2021 GMC Yukon XL really cost YOU per year?
Fuel, maintenance band and depreciation — computed from public data in 10 seconds.
Open the true-cost calculatorData sources
Complaints & recalls: NHTSA ·
Fuel economy: EPA fueleconomy.gov ·
Scoring: our published methodology.
Maintenance bands are industry-average estimates (AAA Your Driving Costs, CarMD index) — labeled estimates, not measurements.
Last updated: 2026-10-04.
Strong evidence — 210 complaints, 12 recalls on record
- 210 NHTSA complaints on record (42.0/yr of exposure) — in line with a typical year of this model (39.8/yr)
- 12 recall campaigns, 7 touching safety-critical systems