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2018 GMC Yukon Xl

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2018 GMC Yukon Xl do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 68.

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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

Limited mileage data: 16 of 52 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

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.

  • Engine. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. 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 reports1 fire reports3 injury reports

Unknown Or Other complaints

10 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jun 17, 2026
Unknown Or Other

transmission lifter problems like all other GMC 2018 YUKON XL CONTACTED GMC DEALER BACK JANUARY 20,2026 GOT TRANSMISSION FIXED MYSELF TRUCK AT JOE BULLARD DEALSHIP MOS 8DAYS THEY ARE TRYING TO CONTACT U FOR APPROVAL TO FIX HONOR YOUR PRODUCT PLEASE.

NHTSA ODI #11744879

Mileage unknown · Apr 18, 2026
Electrical SystemService BrakesUnknown Or OtherCrash

The back hatch would not open while the car was on and in park. Upon reaching in without being in the car, we turned it off, and it engaged reverse on its own, causing it to reverse immediately almost causing terminal harm to myself and my family. It careened into the woods with us unable to stop it due to the immediate speed. N…

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The back hatch would not open while the car was on and in park. Upon reaching in without being in the car, we turned it off, and it engaged reverse on its own, causing it to reverse immediately almost causing terminal harm to myself and my family. It careened into the woods with us unable to stop it due to the immediate speed. No one was in the vehicle, it was solely self propelled. We have a video of the path it took and the damage it caused. When the car wrecked, even when turned off, the lights and windshields wipers engaged by themselves.

NHTSA ODI #11732026

Mileage unknown · May 14, 2025
EngineSuspensionUnknown Or Other

2018 Yukon Denali engine failed June 2024 due to the lifter being bent. The dealership Richey Cadillac in Daytona Beach estimated the repairs at $18,862 and were going to have my vehicle for months. I took it to my mechanic who rebuilt the engine for $7181 in 30 days. My safety was placed at risk because while driving I had…

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2018 Yukon Denali engine failed June 2024 due to the lifter being bent. The dealership Richey Cadillac in Daytona Beach estimated the repairs at $18,862 and were going to have my vehicle for months. I took it to my mechanic who rebuilt the engine for $7181 in 30 days. My safety was placed at risk because while driving I had to pull over since I had no control with the engine failure. There were no messages prior to the failure.

NHTSA ODI #11660917

Mileage unknown · Oct 2, 2023
Unknown Or Other

The air-conditioning (A/C) unit in my 2018 GMC Yukon XL (my vehicle) is not blowing as cold as usual. The dealership (Westpoint GMC) where I purchased my vehicle says their A/C department is backed-up and that I would need to leave my vehicle with them for 2 to 3 days to run diagnostics. I took my vehicle to another General Mo…

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The air-conditioning (A/C) unit in my 2018 GMC Yukon XL (my vehicle) is not blowing as cold as usual. The dealership (Westpoint GMC) where I purchased my vehicle says their A/C department is backed-up and that I would need to leave my vehicle with them for 2 to 3 days to run diagnostics. I took my vehicle to another General Motors dealership instead, Westside Chevy, and their A/C department or technicians state that my vehicle has a leak in the rear evaporator coil after running their leak detection tests. I purchased my vehicle new on May 4, 2018, and have not any mechanical issues nor heating, ventilating, air-conditioning (HVAC) issues since ownership. This mechanical flaw / malfunction / disruption in the cooling comfort of my vehicle during this extremely hot weather puts the life of other drivers and myself at risk of injury or fatality due to discomfort and inconvenience while driving. There are no alerts or alarms associated with the failure of this mechanical component within the HVAC of my vehicle. This condition first appeared on September 30, 2023. I understand that a possibly similar or related investigation in other GM vehicles took effect in February 2016 under Technical Bulletin 16-NA-046. Is it probable that there is a design flaw within the 2017-2019 GMC Yukon, Yukon XL and other similar builds HVAC?

NHTSA ODI #11547838

Mileage unknown · Jan 17, 2023
Unknown Or Other

1. Torque converter and currently at the GMC dealership right now. 2. failed to acceralate and runs backwards on hills if you brake at a light; stuttering between first and second gear. Hesitate to stop at lights, jerks very hard after delayed take off after braking at light. 3. Confirmed by the GMC dealership 4. Others, in…

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1. Torque converter and currently at the GMC dealership right now. 2. failed to acceralate and runs backwards on hills if you brake at a light; stuttering between first and second gear. Hesitate to stop at lights, jerks very hard after delayed take off after braking at light. 3. Confirmed by the GMC dealership 4. Others, inspected by GMC dealership 5. None, no engine light or never seen on inspection equipment

NHTSA ODI #11502283

Mileage unknown · Apr 15, 2022
Unknown Or Other

It’s starting to warm up now that winter is behind us, so when we recently drove our 2018 Yukon XL, we turned on the air conditioning. Unfortunately, only warm air came out of the vents. We made an appointment and took the Yukon to the GMC dealer. We paid over $160 for their diagnostic fee (complete rip off), and they were im…

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It’s starting to warm up now that winter is behind us, so when we recently drove our 2018 Yukon XL, we turned on the air conditioning. Unfortunately, only warm air came out of the vents. We made an appointment and took the Yukon to the GMC dealer. We paid over $160 for their diagnostic fee (complete rip off), and they were immediately able to see that there was a leak in the AC condenser. The dealer service representative said that this has been happening quite frequently on 2014 and newer models and that they are all leaking in the same place, a weld on the driver’s side of the condenser. Our Yukon has $59,000 miles…this is way to young for a condenser replacement. Dealer is quoting us over $1200 for the repair. GMC continues to build these cars without known defects and passes on the costs to the customer! By the way, there is Special Coverage Adjustment 17336 that extends warranty coverage for this specific problem on GMCs, but only for 2015-2017 models.

NHTSA ODI #11460934

Mileage unknown · May 24, 2021
Unknown Or Other

2018 GMC Yukon Condenser cracked and leaked refrigerant to the environment. 17336 Air Conditioning Condenser (Combi-Cooler) Refrigerant Leak covers up to 2017 models. My 2018 Yukon produced in December of 2017 and experience same issue. $1800 repair at dealership.

NHTSA ODI #11418323

58,000 miles · Mar 15, 2021
Unknown Or Other

AC CONDENSER FAILED STRUCTURALLY AND LEAKED ALL REFRIGERANT FROM THE SYSTEM REQUIRING A CONDENSER REPLACEMENT AND RECHARGE

NHTSA ODI #11402987

20,935 miles · Aug 19, 2020
Unknown Or Other

LEAK IN REAR AIR CONDITIONING LINE AT BODY MOUNT. COVERED UNDER MANUFACTURER WARRANTY IN MAY 2019, AND SAME LINE IS LEAKING IN MAY 2020, GM WILL NOT WARRANTY PARTS, LABOR (INSTALLED INCORRECTLY) OR POSSIBLE VEHICLE DEFECT.

NHTSA ODI #11350268

5,250 miles · Aug 24, 2018
Unknown Or Other

BRAND NEW YUKON XL 2018 5250 MILLS, THE AC TAKES A LONG TIME TO COOL DOWN AT LEAST 15 TO 20 MINUTES. I AM IN MIAMI,FL AND WITH 95 FAHRENHAIT AND 3 KIDS IN THE CAR. GMC AFTER 6 WEEKS OF TRYING TO FIX THE PROBLEM JUST LET ME KNOW THAT THE AC IS WORKING AS DESIGN AND THERE IS NOTHING TO DO. IN THIS 6 WEEKS I GOT A YUKON AS A LOANE…

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BRAND NEW YUKON XL 2018 5250 MILLS, THE AC TAKES A LONG TIME TO COOL DOWN AT LEAST 15 TO 20 MINUTES. I AM IN MIAMI,FL AND WITH 95 FAHRENHAIT AND 3 KIDS IN THE CAR. GMC AFTER 6 WEEKS OF TRYING TO FIX THE PROBLEM JUST LET ME KNOW THAT THE AC IS WORKING AS DESIGN AND THERE IS NOTHING TO DO. IN THIS 6 WEEKS I GOT A YUKON AS A LOANER AND THE AC WAS WORKING PERFECT, THE AC TOOK 3 MIN TO COOL DOWN EVERY TIME YOU TURN IT ON.

NHTSA ODI #11122253

Official recalls

2

26V289000 · Power Train:transfer Case (4-WHEEL Drive)

May 7, 2026

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2026 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Suburban, and Tahoe, and GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles with four-wheel (4WD) or all-wheel drive (AWD), and certain 2015-2020 Suburban, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Yukon, Yukon XL, and Tahoe vehicles. A component missing from the drivetrain transfer case may cause the front and/or rear wheels to lock up without warning to the driver.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Front or rear wheel lockup increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the remedy is completed. Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the transfer case assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 18, 2026. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223. GM's number for this recall is N262557620. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on May 7, 2026.

18V673000 · Seat Belts:rear/other

Sep 26, 2018

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Cadillac CT6, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Volt, and GMC Yukon XL vehicles. Certain second-row or third-row rear seatbelts retractor assemblies may not automatically lock when the seatbelt is fully pulled out of the retractor, possibly preventing a child seat from being properly secured. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the child seat is not properly secured in the event of a crash, it can increase the risk of injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rear seatbelt retractors and replace them if necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 7, 2018. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 18315.

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.