Model year record

2002 GMC Yukon XL recalls & problems

The 2002 GMC Yukon XL has 2 safety recalls and 95 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is service brakes, hydraulic (19 complaints).

Recalls2safety recalls

Complaints95filed by owners

Crashes · fires5 · 1reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths2 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

WheelsDec 17, 2007

Hub

Recall 07E106000130,000 vehicles

Problem: 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, SOLD FOR LIGHT DUTY AND MEDIUM DUTY TRUCKS. THE INBOARD RETENTION NUT USED TO MAINTAIN HUB BEARING ASSEMBLY CAN LOOSEN RESULTING IN AN ABS LIGHT INDICATION, NOISE, AND/OR WHEEL SEPARATION.
Risk: WHEEL SEPARATION CAN RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: FEDERAL-MOGUL WILL NOTIFY CUSTOMERS AND WILL REPLACE THE HUB ASSEMBLY FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 7, 2008. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FEDERAL-MOGUL TOLL-FREE AT 877-489-6659.

Service brakes, hydraulicAug 29, 2005

Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip

Recall 05V3790001,353,718 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (ODI)

Problem: CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE UNWANTED ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) ACTIVATION. THIS CONDITION IS MORE LIKELY TO OCCUR IN ENVIRONMENTALLY CORROSIVE AREAS. THIS RECALL WILL BE LAUNCHED IN THE "SALT BELT" STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MAINE, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA ONLY.
Risk: THIS CAN CAUSE INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCES DURING LOW-SPEED BRAKE APPLICATIONS, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS ARE TO REMOVE THE WHEEL SPEED SENSOR AND THOROUGHLY CLEAN THE WHEEL SPEED SENSOR MOUNTING SURFACE ON THE BEARING, APPLY RUST INHIBITOR TO THE CLEANED SURFACE, GREASE THE MOUNTING SURFACE, REINSTALL THE WHEEL SPEED SENSOR, AND CHECK THE PEAK-TO-PEAK OUTPUT VOLTAGE TO ENSURE THE WHEEL SPEED SIGNAL IS WITHIN SPECIFICATIONS. THE RECALL BEGAN SEPTEMBER 22, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 OR GMC AT 1-866-996-9463.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Crash test ratings

2002 GMC Yukon XL 4-DR. w/SAB

OverallNot Rated

Frontal crash	Not Rated
Side crash	Not Rated
Rollover	★★★★★

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Crashes	Fires	Injuries	Typical mileage*
Service brakes, hydraulicAntilock/traction control/electronic limited slip; Foundation components › Master cylinder	19	1	0	0	73,000 mi
SteeringColumn; Gear box › Shaft sector	13	0	0	0	21,427 mi
TiresTread/belt; Sidewall	10	1	1	0	24,000 mi
Fuel system, gasolineDelivery › Fuel pump; Storage › Tank assembly	10	0	0	0	66,000 mi
Engine and engine coolingEngine; Cooling system	10	0	0	0	71,123 mi
Power trainTransfer case (4-wheel drive); Automatic transmission	9	0	0	0	46,000 mi
Service brakes	9	1	0	0	192,000 mi
Parking brake	8	0	0	0	48,648 mi
Electrical systemWiring › Fuses and circuit breakers; Instrument cluster/panel	4	0	0	0	23,000 mi
StructureBody; Body › Tailgate › Hinge and attachments	4	1	0	1	119,770 mi
VisibilityDefroster/defogger/hvac system; Rearview mirrors/devices › Exterior	3	0	0	0	—
SuspensionRear › Springs › Air suspension system; Front › Wheel bearing	3	0	0	0	27,000 mi

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Service brakes
The contact owns a 2002 GMC Yukon XL. The contact stated while driving approximately 70 MPH, the contact started to slow for traffic and depressed the brake, and felt no braking. The contact had to depress the brake pedal to the floorboard. The contact stated that the brake warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to safely stop and drove the vehicle to his residence. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer who diagnosed that there was a fractured parking brake spring. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 189,000.
Jun 22, 2022 · 189,000 miles
Service brakes
AS VEHICLE COMES TO A SLOW STOP THE BRAKES FEEL AS IF THE RELEASE AND STILL ROLL ALSO WHEN PULLING INTO A DRIVEWAY OR PARKING SPOT THIS HAS HAPPED OFTEN.
Mar 31, 2020 · 201,000 miles
Structure › BodyCrash1 injury
I SWERVED TO MISS A DEER AND I HIT A TREE RUNNING 47 MPH AND MY AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY AND NO ONE CAN TELL ME WHY. MY HUSBAND AND I WERE VERY LUCKY BUT WHY DIDN'T THE AIR BAGS DEPLOY? MY HUSBAND WAS OUT OF WORK FOR 5 MONTHS DUE TO TORN LIGAMENTS IN HIS SHOULDERS AND STILL HAS TO HAVE SURGERY.
Feb 5, 2019 · 195,000 miles
Service brakes, air
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 GMC YUKON XL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE JUMPED AND HESITATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WHEEL SPEED SENSOR WAS CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT WAS PROVIDED CASE NUMBER 8-3140697651. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 145,000.
Jun 9, 2017 · 145,000 miles
Service brakesCrash
TWO YEARS AGO I HAD A SEVER ACCIDENT THAT CAUSE ME TO HIT ANOTHER CAR AND SPIN AROUND. THE GMC DEALER SAID THE CAUSE WAS RUSTED OUT BRAKE LINES. TODAY IT HAPPENED, BUT I WAS LUCK ENOUGH TO BE JUST PULLING INTO MY PARKING SPOT WHEN IT HAPPENED. THE BRAKE LINE MUST HAVE RUSTED OUT AGAIN BECAUSE I PUMPED THE BRAKE AND NOTICED IT COMING OUT OF THE LEFT REAR LINE. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE IT WILL LIKELY ONLY HAPPEN WHEN YOU ARE IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION. THERE IS NO PRE WARNING. IT WILL JUST HAPPEN. PERHAPS THEY ARE MAKING THE BRAKE LINES OUT OF THINNER MATERIAL BECAUSE WE HAVE MANY VEHICLES MUCH OLDER, AND NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM.
Mar 14, 2016 · 192,219 miles
Service brakes
I DROVE APPROX. 30 MILES TO MY DESTINATION WITHOUT ANY TROUBLE. I SPENT ABOUT 2 HOURS THERE THEN STARTED MY 2002 YUKON XL TO HEAD BACK HOME. UPON MOVING THE VEHICLE I REALIZED I HAD VERY LIMITED BREAKING POWER. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT RIGHT TO THE FLOOR. I DREAD THINKING ABOUT WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED IF I WAS ON THE INTERSTATE HEADING HOME. MY MECHANIC SAID THE BRAKE LINE FAILED CAUSING THE REAR BRAKES TO LOSE ALL STOPPING POWER. HE SAID HE HAS SEEN SEVERAL CASES OF THIS SAME PROBLEM ON EARLY 2000'S GMC TRUCKS AND SUV'S. I RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE AND FOUND MANY OF THE SAME COMPLAINTS ONLINE. GMC SHOULD STAND BEHIND THIS AND PAY TO REPAIR THIS OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE PART REPLACEMENT. THIS WILL BE…
Feb 15, 2016 · 88,000 miles
Service brakes
DURING LOW SPEED THE ABS KICKS IN ON NO SLIP CONDITIONS CAUSING IT TO TAKE LONGER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THIS STARTED OCCURRING IN JUNE 2014. I SEE A RECALL ON 2002 YUKON XL VEHICLES FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT IT DOES NOT SHOW UP ON THE VIN REPORT. *TR
Jun 2, 2014 · 211,055 miles
Service brakes
WHILE TURNING INTO A MALL PARKING LOT FROM A MAIN STREET, APPLIED BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN INTO THE PARKING LOT FOR A VEHICLE TO PASS IN FRONT OF ME. WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING THE BREAK PEDDLE WENT TO THE FLOOR AND I WAS UNABLE TO STOP EVEN FROM A SLOW SPEED. LUCKLY I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE AROUND THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME BECAUSE THE BREAKS SEEMED TO FAIL ABOUT 95%. I PUMPED THE BREAKS A FEW TIME AND GOT INTO THE CLOSEST PARKING SPACE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE DO TO SUDDEN BREAK FAILURE. THE REPAIR GARAGE CERTIFIED MECHANIC SAID THE BREAK LINE HAD RUSTED THRU AND THE BREAK FLUID WAS RAPIDLY LEAKING. I HAD THE GARAGE REPLACE ALL THE ENTIRE RUSTED BREAK LINES ($646.00) TO BE ABLE TO DRIVE…
Oct 31, 2014 · 120,000 miles

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.

NHTSA defect investigations

PARKING BRAKE FAILUREClosed
ODI'S REVIEW OF COMPLAINT DATA RECEIVED SINCE THE CLOSE OF EA04-011 REVEALED NO INDICATION THAT THE INVESTIGATION SHOULD BE RE-OPENED.MORE DETAILS CAN BE FOUND IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICE ENCLOSED IN THE DP05-009 PUBLIC FILE.ODI RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REOPEN THE INVESTIGATION IN THE FUTURE SHOULD CONDITIONS WARRANT.
DP05009 · opened Dec 20, 2005 · closed May 31, 2006
UNWANTED LOW-SPEED ABS ACTIVATIONClosedLed to recall 05V379000
IN A LETTER DATED AUGUST 29, 2005, GM NOTIFIED ODI THAT IT WAS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1999 THROUGH 2002 C/K PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES TO CORRECT A PROBLEM WITH ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) WHEEL SPEED SENSOR CORROSION THAT MAY RESULT IN UNWANTED ABS ACTIVATION AND EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCES DURING LOW-SPEED BRAKING (RECALL 05V-379).GM'S RECALL COVERS APPROXIMATELY 804,000 VEHICLES CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING 14 SALT-BELT STATES:CONNECTICUT, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, MASSACHUSETTS, MAINE, MICHIGAN, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, AND WEST VIRGINIA.THE RECALL PROCEDURE WILL INVOLVE REMOVING THE SENSOR, CLEANING THE MOUNTING SURFACE, APPLYING A RUST INHIBITOR (ZINC-X) TO THE SURFACE, AND REINSTALLING THE SENSOR.IF NECESSARY, THE SENSOR WILL BE REPLACED. THE POPULATION AND FAILURE REPORT DATA GIVEN IN THIS RESUME ARE…
PE05020 · opened Apr 28, 2005 · closed Sep 13, 2005
THROTTLE STICKING CLOSEDClosed
THIS INVESTIGATION INVOLVES THE GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION (GM)THROTTLE BODY (TB) UTILIZED IN MODEL YEAR (MY) 1999-2002 SILVERADO, SIERRA, TAHOE, SUBURBAN, AVALANCHE AND YUKON (SUBJECT VEHICLE(S)) WITH 4.8L, 5.3L, AND 6.0L ENGINES. THE TB VALVE MAY INTERMITTENTLY STICK IN A CLOSED POSITION.IN SUCH A SITUATION, AN OPERATOR MAY APPLY ADDITIONAL ACCELERATOR PEDAL FORCE TO INCREASE ENGINE SPEED.THE APPLICATION OF ADDITIONAL ACCELERATOR PEDAL FORCE, TO OPEN A STUCK THROTTLE VALVE, MAY OPEN THE THROTTLE VALVE MORE THAN INTENDED AND, IN TURN, ACCELERATE THE ENGINE AND VEHICLE MORE THAN INTENDED AND REASONABLY EXPECTED BY THE DRIVER.ON AUGUST 1, 2002, THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI), OF THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (NHTSA), OPENED THIS ENGINEERING ANALYSIS.THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT TWO FACTORS MAY CAUSE THE DEFECT: 1) TB MANUFACTURING PROCESS PROBLEMS; AND…
EA02015 · opened Aug 1, 2002 · closed Jan 12, 2004