The Lemon Index2017 GMC Yukon XL.
The 2017 GMC Yukon XL is worse than average by owner complaints: 52 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 139, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about electrical, it has 1 recall, and it gets 16 to 19 mpg combined. The best GMC Yukon XL year is 2010.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 151 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every GMC Yukon XL year. 2017 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 32K to 85K miles on the car (62 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- transmission & drivetrain complaints mostly came at 16K–87K miles
- electrical complaints mostly came at 14K–55K miles
Recalls 1
- airbags 2016
In the affected vehicles, certain driving conditions may cause the air bag sensing and diagnostic module (SDM) software to activate a diagnostic test.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GMC Yukon SUV RWD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ |
| GMC Yukon SUV 4WD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ |
| GMC Yukon Denali SUV RWD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ |
| GMC Yukon Denali SUV 4WD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ |
Fuel cost and engines
About $3400–4000 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 5.3L 8-cyl, 6.2L 8-cyl.
In owners' words
Right read tail light, brake light and reverse light stopped working at 61,135 miles on odometer reading for no apparent reason.
2017 GMC Yukon XL owner · NHTSA complaint 11340728
More owner reports
Right rear taillights stopped working. Unit is sealed and whole assembly must be replaced, at great expense. This appears to be a common problem but GM will not fix.
NHTSA complaint 11270105
Rear brake light is out and the vehicle isn't even 3 years old but over 36,000 miles. Dealership stated light is out so whole housing has to be replaced at $900/each.
NHTSA complaint 11153076
Quick answers
Is the 2017 GMC Yukon XL reliable?
No, it is worse than average by government complaints. It drew 1.4× the average car's complaints filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 139; 100 is average, lower is better). The best GMC Yukon XL year by this measure is 2010.
What are the most common 2017 GMC Yukon XL problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are electrical (33%), lights (25%) and transmission & drivetrain (23%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2017 GMC Yukon XL have?
1 safety recall (latest: airbags). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2017 GMC Yukon XL get?
16 to 19 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2017 GMC Yukon XL safe?
NHTSA gave it 4 out of 5 stars overall in its best tested version. Ratings differ by body style, and the full table is on the advanced page.
At what mileage do 2017 GMC Yukon XL problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 32,000 and 85,800 miles. The middle report was at 54,500 miles, from 62 complaints.
Does the 2017 GMC Yukon XL have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 23% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2017 GMC Yukon XL cost in fuel a year?
About $3400 to $4000 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2017 GMC Yukon XL have?
5.3L 8-cyl, 6.2L 8-cyl.
What GMC Yukon XL year is better than the 2017?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2010, 2012 and 2011.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works