2005 GMC YUKON. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VARIOUS ELECTRONIC PROBLEMS INCLUDING SERVICE AIR BAG INDICATOR. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED HE EXPERIENCED CHRONIC PROBLEMS WITH SPEEDOMETER, STARTING PROBLEMS, WHEEL HUB AND TRACTION CONTROL SENSOR. ALSO, THE TRANSFER CASE WAS REPLACED. *JB
2005 GMC Yukon Xl
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2005 GMC Yukon Xl do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 68.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Yukon Xl years →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
32 reports with mileage · 10 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 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
42 reportsMY 2005 GMC YUKON XL 1500 WILL SPONTANEOUSLY SHIFT ITSELF INTO 4LO. THIS DOESN'T ONLY HAPPEN AT LOW SPEEDS. IT OCCURS AT ALL SPEEDS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS MOVING AND IN GEAR. WHEN IT HAPPENS, ALL OF THE LIGHTS ON THE PUSH-BUTTON 4WD CONTROL MODULE WILL LIGHT UP OR FLASH. NO AMOUNT OF BUTTON-PUSHING WILL DISENGAGE 4 WHEEL DRIVE. I H…
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MY 2005 GMC YUKON XL 1500 WILL SPONTANEOUSLY SHIFT ITSELF INTO 4LO. THIS DOESN'T ONLY HAPPEN AT LOW SPEEDS. IT OCCURS AT ALL SPEEDS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS MOVING AND IN GEAR. WHEN IT HAPPENS, ALL OF THE LIGHTS ON THE PUSH-BUTTON 4WD CONTROL MODULE WILL LIGHT UP OR FLASH. NO AMOUNT OF BUTTON-PUSHING WILL DISENGAGE 4 WHEEL DRIVE. I HAVE ALSO NOT COME ACROSS ANY SORT OF MANUAL FIX, I.E. TURNING OFF THE IGNITION, TAKING THE VEHICLE OUT OF GEAR, BACKING UP, ETC. THIS HAS HAPPENED MORE THAN 5 TIMES, AND HAS ONLY CEASED TO HAPPEN BECAUSE I HAVE REMOVED THE RELAY WHICH CONTROLS THE 4WD SYSTEM. I AM FIRMLY CONVINCED THAT IT IS ONLY THROUGH SHEER BLIND LUCK OR DIVINE INTERVENTION THAT NO ONE HAS BEEN INJURED WHILE OPERATING THIS VEHICLE. LET ME RESTATE: THIS ISSUE OCCURS ENTIRELY AT RANDOM, AND NOT ONLY WHEN JUST STARTING OFF DRIVING. IT OCCURS AT SPEED! WHEN THIS HAPPENS, THE VEHICLE LITERALLY CAN GO FROM TRAVELING AT 35 MPH TO LESS THAN 5 MPH. KEEP IN MIND THAT SINCE THE BRAKE IS NOT DEPRESSED, FOLLOWING DRIVERS HAVE NO WARNING OF THIS RAPID DECLINE IN SPEED. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A FUNDAMENTAL DEFECT IN GM VEHICLES USING THIS 4 WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM. I THINK THAT THE ONLY REASON THE PROBLEM IS NOT SEEN AS MORE WIDESPREAD IS THAT THE ISSUE HAPPENS IN DIFFERENTLY-NAMED MAKES AND MODELS. FOR INSTANCE, MY PROBLEM MAY NOT BE READILY CONNECTED WITH THE SAME ISSUE IN A CHEVROLET SUBURBAN, ALTHOUGH THE TWO ARE ESSENTIALLY THE SAME VEHICLE. FURTHER, I BELIEVE THAT GM IS AWARE THAT THIS SAFETY HAZARD IS THE RESULT OF A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND IS UNWILLING TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PROBLEM. A SIMPLE INTERNET SEARCH OF "STUCK IN 4LO" WITHOUT IDENTIFYING A MANUFACTURER, BRINGS UP ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY GM-BUILT FULLSIZE TRUCKS USING THE SAME PUSH-BUTTON SYSTEM. I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THIS IS MERE COINCIDENCE. HERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR [XXX] TO SHOW THAT GM OWNS UP TO ITS ERRORS. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
A BOLT HEAD FOR THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD BROKE OFF AND IS CAUSING EMISSION PROBLEMS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 GMC YUKON XL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A FLAPPING NOISE THAT CAME FROM THE EXHAUST. THERE WERE EXHAUST FUMES INSIDE THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE AS WELL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHERE THEY DETERMINED THAT THE MANIFOLD BOLTS WERE CORRODED FRACTURED. THE FAILURE HAD ALSO OCCURRED IN TH…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 GMC YUKON XL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A FLAPPING NOISE THAT CAME FROM THE EXHAUST. THERE WERE EXHAUST FUMES INSIDE THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE AS WELL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHERE THEY DETERMINED THAT THE MANIFOLD BOLTS WERE CORRODED FRACTURED. THE FAILURE HAD ALSO OCCURRED IN THE PAST. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 69,000.
STEP ON BRAKE WENT TO FLOOR NO BRAKES. BRAKE LINE AND AC LINE RUSTED DRIVERS SIDE. REPLACED BRAKE LINE STILL HAVE NO AIR.$60,000 TRUCK AND THEY CAN'T USE S/S LINES? YA! AM PISSED, WON'T BUY GM AGAIN. *TR
YUKON XL HAS A CONSTANT VIBRATION, KNOCKING/RATTLING NOISE, THAT IS FELT IN THE STEERING COLUMN/SHAFT. GMC IS AND HAS BEEN AWARE OF FAULTY STEERING SHAFTS AND WILL NOT PAY FOR REPLACEMENT IF YOUR VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY. GMC HAS EVEN SUED THE MANUFACTURER OF THE STEERING SHAFT, YET WILL NOT RECALL THIS ITEM. *TR
THE SPEEDOMETER STICKS .....THE PROBLEM IS A FAULTY STEPPER MOTOR WHICH ESSENTIALLY CONTROLS THE MOVEMENT OF THE SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE. APROX $600.00 TO REPAIR INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. *TR
ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS BETWEEN 2/05/11 AND 3/8/11 WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, WITH HEADLAMPS IN AUTO MODE, IDLING AT A FULL STOP, THE HEADLIGHTS AND DASH LIGHTING SHUT OFF COMPLETELY AND WILL NOT RESET IN AUTO MODE. GM REPAIRED BY REPLACING A AMBIENT LIGHT SENSOR ON 3/9/11. THIS DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. PROBLEM ONLY OCCURS WHILE STOPP…
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ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS BETWEEN 2/05/11 AND 3/8/11 WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, WITH HEADLAMPS IN AUTO MODE, IDLING AT A FULL STOP, THE HEADLIGHTS AND DASH LIGHTING SHUT OFF COMPLETELY AND WILL NOT RESET IN AUTO MODE. GM REPAIRED BY REPLACING A AMBIENT LIGHT SENSOR ON 3/9/11. THIS DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. PROBLEM ONLY OCCURS WHILE STOPPED/IDLING AT NIGHT (DOES NOT OCCUR AT NORMAL DRIVING SPEEDS). HEADLIGHTS/DASH LIGHTING WORK CORRECTLY IN MANUAL MODE. *TR
THE ELECTRONIC TIRE AIR GAUGES ARE NOT WORKING. *TR
PROBLEMS WITH SPEEDOMETER NOT WORKING ALL THE TIME. *TR
Official recalls
506V289000 · Engine And Engine Cooling
Aug 3, 2006
ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH AN 8.1L V8 (RPO L8-VIN G) ENGINE HAVE A CONDITION IN WHICH THE ENGINE FUEL RAIL PULSE DAMPER RETAINER CLIP MAY FRACTURE RESULTING IN INADEQUATE RETENTION OF THE DAMPER.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE DAMPER COMES LOOSE, A FUEL LEAK MAY RESULT. FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ENGINE FUEL RAIL PULSE DAMPER RETAINER CLIP FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 31, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 AND GMC TRUCKS AT 1-866-996-9463.
05V103000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:pedals And Linkages
Mar 18, 2005
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE BRAKE PEDAL PUSHROD RETAINER MAY BE MISSING. IF THE RETAINER IS MISSING, THE BRAKE BOOSTER PUSHROD COULD DISENGAGE FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF BRAKES WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLES FOR THE BRAKE PEDAL PUSHROD RETAINER AND INSTALL ONE IF IT IS MISSING FREE OF CHARGE. THE MANUFACTURER BEGAN CONTACTING OWNERS BY TELEPHONE ON MARCH 10, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 OR GMC AT 1-866-996-9463.
05V055000 · Power Train:manual Transmission:shift Pattern Indicator
Feb 14, 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 TRANSMISSION BRAKING EFFECT." UNDER CERTAIN VEHICLE STARTING CONDITIONS, THE SHIFT LEVER POSITION INDICATOR LOCATED IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER MAY NOT ILLUMINATE. IF THE SHIFT LEVER POSITION INDICATOR DOES NOT ILLUMINATE, THE DRIVER MAY NOT KNOW WHICH GEAR THE VEHICLE IS IN.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE VEHICLE MAY MOVE IN AN UNINTENDED DIRECTION RESULTING IN POSSIBLE INJURY TO OTHERS OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 14, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, AND GMC AT 1-866-996-9463.
05V043000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Feb 8, 2005
CERTAIN TRUCKS, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, AND VANS EQUIPPED WITH BOSCH HYDRO-BOOST BRAKE ASSEMBLIES, THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE BOOSTER PRESSURE ACCUMULATOR MAY CRACK AND SEPARATE FROM THE HYDRO-BOOST ASSEMBLY DURING NORMAL OPERATING CONDITIONS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF A SEPARATION OCCURRED AND THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE WERE OPEN, FRAGMENTS FROM THE ACCUMULATOR COULD CAUSE INJURY TO PEOPLE IN THE IMMEDIATE AREA. THE PRESENCE OF THIS CRACK OR FRACTURED SURFACE COULD ALLOW THE HYDRAULIC FLUID TO LEAK FROM THE ACCUMULATOR CIRCUIT OF THE BOOSTER ASSEMBLY. THE LOSS OF FLUID WOULD CAUSE INCREASED STEERING AND BRAKING EFFORT AND A CRASH MAY OCCUR WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL TEST THE HYDRO-BOOST ASSEMBLY FOR FUNCTIONAL OPERATION OF THE TWO-FUNCTION VALVE. IF THE HYDRO-BOOST ASSEMBLY FAILS THE TEST, DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ASSEMBLY FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 23, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, GMC TRUCKS AT 1-866-996-9463 AND HUMMER AT 1-800-732-5493.
04V376000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
Aug 2, 2004
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES AND PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH 5.3L (RPO L59) V8 ENGINES, THE ENGINE FUEL RAIL CROSSOVER TUBE RETAINER SCREWS WERE NOT MANUFACTURED TO SPECIFICATIONS AND MAY BREAK.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE TUBE RETAINER SCREW BREAKS, FUEL COULD LEAK FROM THE FUEL RAIL CROSSOVER JOINT, THE ENGINE MAY STALL AND, IF AN IGNITION SOURCE WERE PRESENT, AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE COULD OCCUR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FUEL RAIL CROSSOVER TUBE AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE RETAINER SCREWS. OWNERS WERE NOTIFIED BY TELEPHONE ON JULY 30, 2004, WITH A FOLLOWUP OWNER LETTER BEGAN AUGUST 5, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 OR GMC AT 1-866-996-9463. NOTE: THE GM BULLETIN LISTS THE TAHOE AND YUKON MODELS BECAUSE CANADIAN VEHICLES ARE INCLUDED IN THE BULLETIN. NO U.S. TAHOE OR YUKON VEHICLES ARE INCLUDED IN THE U.S. CAMPAIGN.
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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