The Lemon Index2005 GMC Yukon.
The 2005 GMC Yukon is better than average by owner complaints: 31 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 58, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about electrical, it has 5 recalls, and it gets 13 to 16 mpg combined. The best GMC Yukon year is 2012.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 134 owner complaints, owners reported:
Older model year: fewer owners filed complaints back then, so treat the score as rough.
Every GMC Yukon year. 2005 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 48K to 110K miles on the car (111 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- electrical complaints mostly came at 49K–93K miles
Recalls 5
- wheels 2007
CERTAIN FEDERAL-MOGUL REPLACEMENT WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLIES WITH THE BRAND NAMES: NATIONAL, CARQUEST P/NOS. 515020, 515021, 515025, 515053, 515054, 515059, AND 515060, SHIPPED BETWEEN JANUARY 23, 2006, AND DECEMBER 20, 2007, …
- fuel system, gasoline 2006
CERTAIN REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS, FRAM BRAND NAME P/N G3727, WITH DATE CODES X52911 THROUGH X60801 SEQUENTIALLY OR X600141 AND A MEXICO COUNTRY OR ORIGIN MARKING ON THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 18, 2…
- seat belts 2005
ON CERTAIN CREW CAB PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE 2ND ROW CENTER OCCUPANT SEAT BELT ROUTING MAY MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO POSITION THE LAP PORTION OF THE SAFETY BELT LOW AROUND THE HIPS OF OCCUPANTS, ESPECIALL…
Show all 5 recalls
- brakes 2005
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE BRAKE PEDAL PUSHROD RETAINER MAY BE MISSING.
- transmission & drivetrain 2005
CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 102, "TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER SEQUENCE, STARTER INTERLOCK AND TRA…
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems GMC told dealers about
GMC sent dealers 780 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Whine noise from rear axle
- Intermittent no start, service stability message, anti-lock brake system (abs) light…
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Safety
Crash stars (older test): front ★★★★☆ · side — · rollover ★★★☆☆
Fuel cost and engines
About $4000–6150 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 4.8L 8-cyl, 5.3L 8-cyl, 6.0L 8-cyl.
In owners' words
Bearing and ticking noise coming from transfer case when using 2h at 65 mph & greater. Noise goes away in auto 4 wheel.
2005 GMC Yukon owner · NHTSA complaint 10144109
More owner reports
The speedometer went from 70mph to 120mph and then just stuck there- our speed was approximately 70mph at the time the speedometer failed.
NHTSA complaint 10250270
Speedometer does not show correct speed all the time. Sometimes registers 0 mph or possibly 100 mph at any given time.
NHTSA complaint 10241645
Quick answers
Is the 2005 GMC Yukon reliable?
Yes, better than average by government complaints. It drew 1.7× fewer complaints than average filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 58; 100 is average, lower is better). The best GMC Yukon year by this measure is 2012.
What are the most common 2005 GMC Yukon problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are electrical (39%), transmission & drivetrain (26%) and body structure (10%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2005 GMC Yukon have?
5 safety recalls (latest: wheels). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2005 GMC Yukon get?
13 to 16 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
At what mileage do 2005 GMC Yukon problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 48,500 and 110,000 miles. The middle report was at 74,500 miles, from 111 complaints.
Does the 2005 GMC Yukon have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 26% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2005 GMC Yukon cost in fuel a year?
About $4000 to $6150 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2005 GMC Yukon have?
4.8L 8-cyl, 5.3L 8-cyl, 6.0L 8-cyl.
What GMC Yukon year is better than the 2005?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2012, 2020 and 2019.
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