2011 GMC Yukon XL: problems, recalls and reliability
3 recalls and 47 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is air bags (50% of complaints); the 2009 and 2010 and 2012 and 2013 model years look more trouble-free.
Data updated weekly · latest recall Feb 2021
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 47 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“Dash is cracking badly on its own. Is cracking also where airbag is held. Pieces can fly as projectiles and cause bodily harm when airbag deploys.”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Jul 2024
“We were driving on the freeway and our sunroof unexpectedly exploded. I didn't see any rock or object. It caught us all off guard.”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Jun 2023
“When attempting to install car seats on the 3rd row, the seat belts do not remain locked after pulled all the way out. Pulling all the way out should activate the ALR, but it does not. I am unable to seat belt install on my 3rd row which is required when a child is over 40lbs.”Owner report · Seat Belts · Sep 2022
Show 7 more owner reports
“Keep getting traction control and stability issue warnings along with reduced engine power. Idles up and down and rough Car was parked haven't moved”Owner report · Power Train · Feb 2022
“Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2011 gmc yukon xl. The contact stated while starting vehicle, the air bag warning indicator light illuminated. The contact detected an abnormal burning odor in vehicle. The contact received NHTSA campaign number: 16v381000 (air bags). The contact stated the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact called yates buick gmc 13845 w test dr, goodyear, az 85338 (480) 795-7563 who stated the remedy parts were not available. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 100,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.”Owner report · Air Bags · Oct 2020
“The dashboard has spontaneously cracked in two locations after sitting in our garage. A 6" crack has no formed over the curved instrument cluster display on driver side and a 1" crack has occurred near the air bag cover corner on passenger side. These cracks are similar in location and size to others that have been reported on gmc yukons. Started noticing the crack in august of 2020. I have received a recall on passenger side airbag.”Owner report · Air Bags · Aug 2020
“Vehicle stopped for traffic light on a city street intersection, would not progress. Had to be towed. Transmission went out & were told that this model, year and engine had a faulty transmission computer which led to internal pump failure, affecting performance of torque converter.”Owner report · Power Train · Dec 2019
“There has been no incident as yet involving the vehicle. However, for eight years the vehicle has been located in a geographical location of high humidity and temps which is a factor of instability with the takata airbags. We have tried, unsuccessfully, to get the airbags replaced by our local gm dealership.we are filing this complaint in the hope of getting NHTSA to order gm to do the responsible act of replacing airbags in affected vehicles before any more injuries happen.”Owner report · Air Bags · Jul 2019
“Tl* the contact owns a 2011 gmc yukon xl. The contact stated that the rear window defroster connector fractured. The contact stated that the wire was dangling due to the separation from the weld point. Keyser cadillac (located at 4130 sheridan dr, williamsville, ny 14221, (716) 568-7045) was informed that the rear windshield needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 36,000. The VIN was not available.”Owner report · Visibility · Sep 2018
“Cracking dashboard above the instrument cluster and around the passenger airbag. It's cracked in a way that of the airbag deploys the plastic dash will deploy with it and it could impale someone”Owner report · Air Bags · May 2018
Recalls - 3 campaigns
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2007-2011 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, Yukon XL, and 2009-2011 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, GMC Sierra 2500 and Sierra 3500 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." Additionally, GM is recalling certain 2007-2008 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." These vehicles are equipped with non-desiccated passenger frontal inflators containing phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on February 22, 2021. Second notification letters will be mailed once the remedy is available. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 1, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020; Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006; and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212328760.
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 2500, Sierra 3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of AL, CA, FL, GA, HI, LA, MS, SC, TX, PR, AS, GU, the MP, and VI or "Zone A." Additionally GM is recalling certain 2011-2014 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 2500, Sierra 3500, Yukon, Yukon XL and 2011-2013 Cadillac Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of AZ, AR, DE, DC, IL, IN, KS, KY, MD, MO, NE, NV, NJ, NM, NC, OH, OK, PA, TN, VA, and WV or "Zone B." Additionally, GM is recalling certain 2010-2014 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 2500, Sierra 3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL and 2010-2013 Cadillac Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of AK, CO, CT, ID, IA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MT, NH, NY, ND, OR, RI, SD, UT, VT, WA, WI, and WY or "Zone C." These vehicles are equipped with non-desiccated passenger frontal inflators containing phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on February 25, 2021. Second notification letters will be mailed once the remedy is available. Owner notification letters were mailed to 40 VIN owners on May 11, 2021. A second owner notification letter was mailed to all other owners on January 24, 2022. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020; Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006; and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212328800.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado HD, Silverado LD, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra LD, Sierra HD, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the ignition lock actuator may bind, making turning the key difficult or causing the ignition to get stuck in the "Start" position.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the ignition lock housing, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on February 12, 2015. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-458-8006 (Cadillac), 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), or 1-800-462-8782 (GMC). GM's number for this recall is 14696 for the original equipment, and 14912 for the service replacement parts.
How other years compare
Check your exact Yukon XL by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2011 GMC Yukon XL reliable?
NHTSA has 47 owner complaints and 3 recall campaigns on record for the 2011 GMC Yukon XL. The most complained-about area is air bags (50% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2011 GMC Yukon XL problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 72,200 miles or less.
Does the 2011 GMC Yukon XL have open recalls?
3 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.