Reliable Auto DB

2020 GMC Yukon reliability

Is it reliable?

The 2020 GMC Yukon has 36 complaints with NHTSA after 7 years, or 2 per year. That is fewer complaints per year than most Yukon years here — under the median of the other years, which is 12. NHTSA has 4 recalls on file, including Transfer case, Tires, and Fuel pump.

2012 GMC Yukon
Photo by Kevauto, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0
Complaints

36

Per year

2

Recalls

4

Years on the road

7

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Powertrain (14 of 36), then Engine (12) and Service brakes (3). The most filings arrived in 2026 (16 of 36).

Next to 2019 and 2021

The 2019 Yukon has 55 complaints, 3 per year, and the 2021 has 329 complaints, 17 per year. The 2020 has fewer complaints per year than the 2019. The 2020 has fewer complaints per year than the 2021.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2020 GMC Yukon. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (4)

Recall powertrain, transfer case 2026-05-07 · NHTSA campaign 26V289000
Summary 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.
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.
Recall Tires 2021-02-25 · NHTSA campaign 21V115000
Summary General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Buick Enclave, Cadillac XT4, XT5, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, Traverse, GMC Yukon, Yukon XL, 2018-2021 Chevrolet Express, GMC Savana, 2019-2020 Chevrolet Blazer, Silverado 1500, GMC Acadia, Sierra 1500, and certain Continental tires sold to the aftermarket for various model year 2018-2021 vehicles. The affected tires were cured for too long during production.
Remedy GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the tires, replacing them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 22, 2021. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Buick customer service at 1-866-608-8080, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N212329050.
Recall Fuel pump 2019-11-21 · NHTSA campaign 19V837000
Summary General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Camaro, Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. The fuel pump may be missing a pressure regulator, allowing for over-pressurization of the fuel system.
Remedy GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump, free of charge. The recall began December 18, 2019. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267. GM's number for this recall is N192283991.
Recall hydraulic brakes, antilock and traction control, wheel speed sensor 2019-10-24 · NHTSA campaign 19V761000
Summary General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2020 Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, and GMC Yukon, and 2014-2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles equipped with a 5.3-liter engine, a 3.08-ratio rear axle and four-wheel drive. If a wheel-speed sensor fails, while the vehicle is traveling between 41 and 60 mph in four-wheel or automatic mode, the Electronic-Brake Control Module (EBCM) software may activate the driveline-protection system.
Remedy GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the EBCM, free of charge. The recall began December 11, 2019. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-630-2438 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N192261050.

Complaints by component (36 total)

Powertrain
14
Engine
12
Service brakes
3
Electrical system
2
Back-over prevention
1
Electronic stability control (ESC)
1
Engine and engine cooling
1
Forward collision avoidance
1
Fuel and propulsion system
1
Fuel system, gasoline
1
Seat belts
1
Tires
1
Wheels
1
Show 5 more Show less
Crash-flagged

0

Fire-flagged

0

Injury reports

0

Death reports

0

Complaints filed per year

2202022021120223202322024102025162026
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "Engine failure due main bearing and rod failure. Engine had heavy knocking."
    Engine · filed 2026-08-27
  • "We just purchased our Yukon from a dealership in February (2/7/26) and it was diagnosed with premature failure of at least one AFM valve lifter as it is causing engine misfires, shaking and stalling on 7/30/26. We just…"
    Engine · filed 2026-08-23
  • "The contact owns a 2020 GMC Yukon. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle jerked and the transmission malfunctioned, causing the wheels to lock up and the check engine warning light to…"
    Powertrain · filed 2026-07-10
  • "Complete transmission failure at 82,000 miles. Well maintained vehicle, not used for towing or heavy hauling. Required complete replacement. Traveling at highway speeds and-according to repair facility- valve failure…"
    Powertrain · filed 2026-07-07
  • "Issue with the trailer brake system keeps coming up on my dash. I know a lot of other people have had the same issue keeps dinging will not stop causes me to get distracted while driving. Unable to use other features…"
    Electrical system, Wheels, Service brakes · filed 2026-07-03

NHTSA crash ratings

Version Overall Front Side Rollover
2020 GMC Yukon SUV 4WD 4 stars 4 stars 5 stars 3 stars
2020 GMC Yukon SUV RWD 4 stars 4 stars 5 stars 3 stars

Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.

Fuel economy

Trim Engine Transmission Drive City Hwy Combined Annual fuel cost
Yukon C1500 two-wheel drive 5.3L, 8-cyl Automatic 6-speed Rear-wheel drive 15 22 18 MPG $3600
Yukon C1500 two-wheel drive 5.3L, 8-cyl Automatic 6-speed Rear-wheel drive 15 22 18 MPG $3600
Yukon C1500 two-wheel drive 6.2L, 8-cyl Automatic 10-speed Rear-wheel drive 14 23 17 MPG $4700
Yukon C1500 XL two-wheel drive 5.3L, 8-cyl Automatic 6-speed Rear-wheel drive 15 22 18 MPG $3600
Yukon C1500 XL two-wheel drive 6.2L, 8-cyl Automatic 10-speed Rear-wheel drive 14 23 17 MPG $4700
Yukon C1500 XL two-wheel drive 5.3L, 8-cyl Automatic 6-speed Rear-wheel drive 15 22 18 MPG $3600
Yukon K1500 four-wheel drive 5.3L, 8-cyl Automatic 6-speed Four-wheel drive 15 21 17 MPG $3800
Yukon K1500 four-wheel drive 5.3L, 8-cyl Automatic 6-speed Four-wheel drive 15 21 17 MPG $3800
Yukon K1500 four-wheel drive 6.2L, 8-cyl Automatic 10-speed Four-wheel drive 14 22 17 MPG $4700
Yukon K1500 XL four-wheel drive 5.3L, 8-cyl Automatic 6-speed Four-wheel drive 14 21 16 MPG $4050
Yukon K1500 XL four-wheel drive 6.2L, 8-cyl Automatic 10-speed Four-wheel drive 14 20 16 MPG $5000
Yukon K1500 XL four-wheel drive 5.3L, 8-cyl Automatic 6-speed Four-wheel drive 14 21 16 MPG $4050

Specs and fitment

K2XX refresh, 2015–2020
Body styles SUV
Oil dexos1 5W-30 (V8 per manual) , 8 qt capacity
Tire size 275/55R20, 285/45R22, 265/65R18 (trim dependent)
Towing capacity 8,500 lbs

Known issues for this generation

NHTSA safety recall 21V115000 covers affected vehicles after the agency found that general Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Buick Enclave, Cadillac XT4, XT5, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, Traverse, GMC Yukon, Yukon XL, 2018-2021 Chevrolet Express, GMC Savana, 2019-2020 Chevrolet Blazer, Silverado 1500, GMC Acadia, Sierra 1500, and certain Continental tires sold to the aftermarket for various model year 2018-2021 vehicles. The affected tires were cured for too long during production. Over cured tires may develop a break in the sidewall resulting in sudden air loss or a belt edge separation which could lead to a tread/belt loss. Either condition can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash. Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the tires, replacing them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 22, 2021. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Buick customer service at 1-866-608-8080, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N212329050. When NHTSA lists multiple GM nameplates in one campaign, the published unit count is shared across them.

Compare

Previous year 2019 GMC Yukon Next year 2021 GMC Yukon See every GMC Yukon model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2020 GMC Yukon reliable?

The 2020 GMC Yukon has 36 complaints with NHTSA after 7 years, or 2 per year. That is fewer complaints per year than most Yukon years here — under the median of the other years, which is 12. NHTSA has 4 recalls on file, including Transfer case, Tires, and Fuel pump.

What are common problems with a 2020 GMC Yukon?

The complaints owners file most often name Powertrain (14 of 36), then Engine (12) and Service brakes (3). The most filings arrived in 2026 (16 of 36).

Is the 2020 GMC Yukon more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2019 Yukon has 55 complaints, 3 per year, and the 2021 has 329 complaints, 17 per year. The 2020 has fewer complaints per year than the 2019. The 2020 has fewer complaints per year than the 2021.

Has the 2020 GMC Yukon been recalled?

The 2020 GMC Yukon has 4 recalls on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2020 GMC Yukon?

Owners have filed 36 complaints about the 2020 GMC Yukon with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2020 GMC Yukon get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2020 GMC Yukon is 17.1 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

What engine oil does a GMC Yukon use?

US Yukon manuals specify dexos-approved oil for your engine in the maintenance schedule.

What does NHTSA recall 13V-342 cover on the GMC Yukon?

NHTSA safety recall 13V342000 covers affected vehicles after the agency found that general Motors is recalling certain model year 2014 Chevrolet Suburban vehicles manufactured July 9, 2013, through July 22, 2013; and 2014 Chevrolet Tahoe vehicles manufactured July 16, 2013,…

What generation is the 2013 GMC Yukon?

K2XX generation (2012-2014).