2021 GMC Yukon: True Cost, Problems & Verdict
312 NHTSA owner complaints · 12 recalls · data-computed verdict. No opinions — public data only.
Editor's note
No Yukon year is AVOID, but the 2021 and 2024 are CAUTION at 60 and 68, on 312 and 166 owner complaints, and the 2024's rate of 83.0 complaints per year on the road is the highest of the five years. Buy a 2022 or 2025, which score 81 and 83 on 173 and 52 complaints; the 2023 is BUY at 72 on 223, though its rate of 74.3 per year is above the 2021's 62.4. Read the full note on the model page. 2021 specifically: 312 complaints on record, score 60/100 — read the year table on the model page to see where it sits among its siblings.
Read the guide
Used full-size SUVs: Expedition, Tahoe, Yukon and Escalade years to avoid, including 2021 — written and signed by Adir Trabelsi, 2026-09-16.
Owner complaints: 312 filed with NHTSA
Complaints per year on the road: 62.4
What owners say
Verbatim reports filed with the United States safety regulator (NHTSA) by owners of this exact model year. Public record.
Was taken in for recall at 74,000 they put on a new oil fill cap, did oil change and had catastrophic engine failure at 77,000 miles. Engine replaced by dealership.
I’m currently on my third motor as a result of the L87 engine loss. When I bought the vehicle, I was not aware that the engine had already been replaced however, due to hearing a tick, I brought my vehicle to the dealership for the recall and was told that this is not the original engine, but they had the paperwork for this engine as well. Nonetheless, the engine “passed” their inspection. They changed my oil and rep…
Took car in to have it checked for recall on engine and have oil changed to new standards with WD40 was told the engine and car was fine “just use this new oil” A MONTH later was driving and engine would not shift come to find out our transmission was going out it was replaced thanks to our extended warranty (even tho it only had 98,000 miles on it) a week after a fuel pump was out and we had to pay to replace it. T…
Recalls: 12 campaigns (8 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… |
| 21V064000 | Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon vehicles. The fuel tank assemblies may be missing adhesive between two layers of the fuel tank shell which may result in a fuel leak. |
| 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. |
| 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 17 MPG · estimated annual fuel cost $4,450
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.
- Engine169 complaints · typical job: Cooling-system or timing-drive repair (6.0 h labour + parts)$1,040–$2,220
- Power Train49 complaints · typical job: Transmission service or clutch-pack repair (7.0 h labour + parts)$1,290–$4,040
- Fuel/Propulsion System43 complaints · typical job: Fuel pump or injector replacement (3.5 h labour + parts)$680–$1,620
- Engine And Engine Cooling31 complaints · typical job: Water pump, thermostat and coolant service (3.5 h labour + parts)$600–$1,040
- Electrical System28 complaints · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement (3.0 h labour + parts)$540–$1,310
- Unknown Or Other20 complaints · typical job: Diagnosis and mixed repair (2.0 h labour + parts)$360–$940
FAQ
What is the most common problem with the 2021 GMC Yukon?
The most-reported issue in NHTSA complaint data is Engine (169 complaints in our indexed sample).
Is the 2021 GMC Yukon a good used car to buy?
Our data verdict is CAUTION with a reliability score of 60/100, computed from 312 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's most common problem?
169 of the NHTSA complaints filed against the 2021 GMC Yukon 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 cost to run per year?
About $7,005 a year in fuel or energy plus the maintenance band — roughly $35,025 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 have recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 12 recall campaign(s) for the 2021 GMC Yukon, 8 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 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 — 312 complaints, 12 recalls on record
- 312 NHTSA complaints on record (62.4/yr of exposure) — in line with a typical year of this model (62.4/yr)
- 12 recall campaigns, 8 touching safety-critical systems