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2003 GMC Yukon Xl 1500

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

49 reports with mileage · 14 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Electrical System. Review the 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

5 crash reports0 fire reports5 injury reports

What owners actually said

63 reports
127,000 miles · Sep 12, 2014
Service Brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC YUKON XL 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED AND THE BRAKE PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOORBOARD WHEN APPLIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 127,000.

NHTSA ODI #10632802

149,000 miles · Sep 10, 2014
EngineService BrakesSteering

WHILE DRIVING POSTED SPEED ON EXPRESSWAY VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. LEAVING NO POWER STEERING NO POWER BRAKES. I SEE MANY COMPLAINTS ON YOUR WEBSITE AS WELL AS ONLINE. ARE YOU DOING ANYTHING ABOUT THIS ISSUE? IT IS THE SAME ISSUE THAT YOU ARE CURRENTLY REQUIRING GM TO RECALL OVER 1 MILLION VEHICLES FOR. YOUR CURRENT RECALL ONLY …

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WHILE DRIVING POSTED SPEED ON EXPRESSWAY VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. LEAVING NO POWER STEERING NO POWER BRAKES. I SEE MANY COMPLAINTS ON YOUR WEBSITE AS WELL AS ONLINE. ARE YOU DOING ANYTHING ABOUT THIS ISSUE? IT IS THE SAME ISSUE THAT YOU ARE CURRENTLY REQUIRING GM TO RECALL OVER 1 MILLION VEHICLES FOR. YOUR CURRENT RECALL ONLY GOES BACK TO THE 2009 MODELS. WHY ARE YOU NOT REQUIRING ALL GM VEHICLES RECALLED SINCE 1996? THEY ALL HAVE THE SAME KEY LOCK SYSTEM AND SAME ABS SYSTEMS BOTH OF WHICH SEEM TO CONTRIBUTE TO OR CAUSE THE PROBLEM. IF A VEHICLE IS BUILT WITH A SAFETY HAZARD DOES THE FACT THAT IT IS OLDER MEAN THAT IT IS NO LONGER A MANUFACTURER'S RESPONSIBILITY TO REPAIR IT? SINCE THE GOVERNMENT OWNS GM HOW ARE YOU AFFECTED IN INITIATING A RECALL? THE GOVERNMENT DOES NOT ALLOW OTHER COMPANIES TO POLICE THEMSELVES, YET IS THAT NOT WHAT YOU ARE DOING WITH GM? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10632320

149,125 miles · Aug 23, 2014
Service Brakes

COMING DOWN AN ONRAMP ONTO THE HIGHWAY, I BRAKE TO YIELD ONLY TO HAVE THE BRAKE PEDAL DROP NEARLY TO THE FLOOR. THIS CAUGHT ME OFF GUARD AND AS I WAS FORCED TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC I ATTEMPT TO APPLY THE BRAKE AGAIN ONLY TO HAVE IT DROP FURTHER. SO I ATTEMPTED TO GRADUALLY APPLY THE EMERGENCY BRAKE BUT IT ALSO ENDED UP FULLY EXTEN…

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COMING DOWN AN ONRAMP ONTO THE HIGHWAY, I BRAKE TO YIELD ONLY TO HAVE THE BRAKE PEDAL DROP NEARLY TO THE FLOOR. THIS CAUGHT ME OFF GUARD AND AS I WAS FORCED TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC I ATTEMPT TO APPLY THE BRAKE AGAIN ONLY TO HAVE IT DROP FURTHER. SO I ATTEMPTED TO GRADUALLY APPLY THE EMERGENCY BRAKE BUT IT ALSO ENDED UP FULLY EXTENDED AND HAVING NO EFFECT. WITH MAIN BRAKING POWER ALMOST GONE, I USED A LOWER TRANSMISSION GEAR TO SLOW THE VEHICLE AND EXIT THE HIGHWAY INTO A PARKING LOT. THERE I DISCOVERED EXCESSIVE BRAKE FLUID LOSS COMING FROM THE DRIVER SIDE REAR WHEEL/SUSPENSION AREA. DEALER REPAIR REPORT: "FOUND VEHICLE TO HAVE LOST BREAKING ABILITY. FOUND REAR BRAKE LINES FROM ABS HUB RUSTED OUT CAUSING SYSTEM TO LOOSE BRAKING. REMOVED AND REPLACED REAR BRAKE LINES FROM ABS HUB TO MASTER." CONSIDERING THE BUSY HIGHWAY I WAS ENTERING AND ABSOLUTE NO WARNING FROM THE VEHICLE EITHER BY ELECTRONICS OR "FEEL", I CONSIDER IT A MIRACLE I WAS NOT IN A CRASH OR WORSE. AN ASE CERTIFIED MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THE BRAKE LINES CORRODE, LIKELY DUE TO WINTER ROAD SALT EXPOSURE OVER TIME, AND ON THE YUKON ARE IN A LOCATION IN THE REAR THAT MAKES IT DIFFICULT IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE TO INSPECT OTHER THAN BY "FEEL" (INSTEAD OF VISUALLY). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10627784

130,000 miles · Jul 29, 2014
Service Brakes

DRIVING VEHICLE WHEN BRAKES WENT SOFT AND FAILED PULLED OVER TO SIDE OF ROAD, TOWED CAR HOME REPLACING ALL BRAKE LINES DUE TO EXCESSIVE CORROSION. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10617155

75,300 miles · Jun 22, 2014
Service Brakes

LOST BRAKES DUE TO RUSTED FAILURE OF METAL BRAKE LINES. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND I HAD TO DRIVE OFF THE ROAD TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10605066

149,000 miles · Apr 6, 2014
Service Brakes

TRAVELING ON BQE 3 LANE CROWDED HIGHWAY IN BROOKLYN WHEN ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE FOR EXIT AND BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR - NO BRAKES - I LUCKILY WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE ON LEVEL ROAD AND AVOIDED ACCIDENT. I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. IT WAS NOT MY DAY TO DIE BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS.....THEN I SAW THE NHTSA INVESTIGATION EA 11001 AND RE…

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TRAVELING ON BQE 3 LANE CROWDED HIGHWAY IN BROOKLYN WHEN ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE FOR EXIT AND BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR - NO BRAKES - I LUCKILY WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE ON LEVEL ROAD AND AVOIDED ACCIDENT. I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. IT WAS NOT MY DAY TO DIE BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS.....THEN I SAW THE NHTSA INVESTIGATION EA 11001 AND READ THE INTERNET POSTS ON THIS GM PROBLEM AND CAN'T BELIEVE THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL....HOW MANY PEOPLE NEED TO DIE? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10577768

63,174 miles · Aug 14, 2013
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service Brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC YUKON DENALI XL 1500. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 65 MPH WHEN THE ABS WARNING INDICATOR LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN FOR REPAIR WHERE THE CONTACT LEARNED THAT THE ELECTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL MODULE WAS DISCONTINUED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE POTEN…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC YUKON DENALI XL 1500. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 65 MPH WHEN THE ABS WARNING INDICATOR LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN FOR REPAIR WHERE THE CONTACT LEARNED THAT THE ELECTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL MODULE WAS DISCONTINUED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE POTENTIAL ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,174. UPDATED 10/17/13*LJ THE INFORMED THE CONSUMER, THEY REPLACED A SWITCH IN THE BRAKE SYSTEM USED TO EQUALIZE PRESSURE BETWEEN THE WHEELS. AFTER THE CONSUMER LEFT THE DEALERSHIP, THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AGAIN. THE CONSUMER RETURNED TO THE DEALER, THE NEXT DAY AND AN INSPECTION REVEALED A PROBLEM WITH THE EBCM. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE PART WAS DISCONTINUED. UPDATED 10/24/12

NHTSA ODI #10535288

110,000 miles · Apr 30, 2013
Service BrakesService Brakes, Hydraulic

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC YUKON XL 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE STABILITY SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE BRAKES BECAME UNRESPONSIVE. AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIG…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC YUKON XL 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE STABILITY SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE BRAKES BECAME UNRESPONSIVE. AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V045000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) BUT WAS ADVISED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10510144

106,000 miles · Mar 8, 2013
Engine

DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND THE ENGINE SHOWS REDUCED ENGINE POWER LIGHT. ENGINE SHUTS DOWN AND NOT ABLE TO DRIVE OVER 10 MPH. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM ON GMC VEHICLES AND IN MY OPINION IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10502150

156,000 miles · Nov 29, 2012
EngineVehicle Speed Control

WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE IT DRIVES FINE BUT WHEN IT GETS TO SPEEDS AROUND 50-60 IT WILL COMPLETELY SHUT OFF I HAVE TO PUT IT ON N AND TURN THE KEY ALL THE WAY BACK AND THEN TRY STARTING IT AGAIN. AFTER IT TURNS OFF THE FIRST TIME THEN IT WILL START TURNING OFF MORE RANDOMLY. I HAVE BEEN READING ONLINE AND IT SEEMS TO BE A KNOWN …

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WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE IT DRIVES FINE BUT WHEN IT GETS TO SPEEDS AROUND 50-60 IT WILL COMPLETELY SHUT OFF I HAVE TO PUT IT ON N AND TURN THE KEY ALL THE WAY BACK AND THEN TRY STARTING IT AGAIN. AFTER IT TURNS OFF THE FIRST TIME THEN IT WILL START TURNING OFF MORE RANDOMLY. I HAVE BEEN READING ONLINE AND IT SEEMS TO BE A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THESE TRUCKS AROUND THE SAME YEAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10486457

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.