GMC Yukon Reliability by Model Year: What to Know Before You Buy

The GMC Yukon is an ideal SUV for daily commuting, running errands, enjoying family road trips, and more. This spacious vehicle has room for the whole family to fit comfortably and offers quality mechanics and features that won’t disappoint. According to Clutch, the GMC Yukon has an overall reliability rating of 65.55, putting it well above the average vehicle rating of 57. Thinking about buying a GMC Yukon but unsure if it’ll go the distance? Let’s break down reliability, ownership costs, and how each model year holds up.

How is the GMC Yukon’s Reliability?

If you’re shopping for a dependable SUV around Carmel, Brewster, or Mahopac, the GMC Yukon is a popular choice. Many other credible organizations have also praised the GMC Yukon’s reliability. Reliability ratings can differ depending on an organization’s metrics, so comparing ratings from several groups provides a more comprehensive view of the Yukon’s dependability.

The GMC Yukon has received favorable quality and reliability ratings from J.D. Power for many of its recent model years. Its ratings consider the defects, design flaws, and malfunctions that owners experience. The most recent J.D. Power quality and reliability ratings for the GMC Yukon are:

• 2023: 80/100.
• 2022: 80/100.
• 2021: 73/100.
• 2020: 84/100.
• 2019: 78/100.
• 2018: 79/100.
• 2017: 68/100.
• 2016: 69/100.
• 2015: 67/100.
• 2014: 82/00.
• 2013: 83/100.

CoPilot noted that several GMC Yukons have excellent reliability ratings from Consumer Reports. Consumer Reports considers the past performance of specific makes and models to determine how reliable vehicles are likely to be. Based on Consumer Reports reliability ratings and CarComplaints figures, CoPilot recommends purchasing the following used GMC Yukons:

• 2001 GMC Yukon: 5/5, 280+ complaints, eight recalls.
• 2012 GMC Yukon: 3/5, 83 complaints, three recalls.
• 2020 GMC Yukon: 5/5, five complaints, three recalls.

Browse our Used GMC Yukon inventory or call our Carmel team to learn which model years offer the best value.

Overall GMC Yukon Maintenance Costs

Due to the tech features and build of large modern vehicles, maintenance costs do not vary much between SUVs and sedans. CarEdge claims that maintaining the GMC Yukon costs around $8,300 during its first 10 years of use. This figure includes the cost of routine maintenance and repairing any issues. This is $833 cheaper than the average cost of maintaining an SUV.

Maintenance costs are relatively small at the start of the GMC Yukon’s life. The average Yukon costs around $330 to maintain in its first year and $375 in its second. Costs rise over time as more components succumb to wear and tear and the risk of repairs increases. A 9-year-old Yukon costs around $1,329 to maintain, while a 10-year-old Yukon costs $1,494.

GMC Yukon Maintenance Frequency

Most GMC Yukons need servicing every 7,500 miles. If you drive less than 7,500 miles yearly, you should book an annual maintenance service to ensure your SUV is in good working order. Service schedules can vary between different model years, so it’s a good idea to check your owner’s manual to confirm the right maintenance frequency for your vehicle.

Likelihood of Serious GMC Yukon Repairs

Repair costs for large SUVs such as the GMC Yukon are similar to those for sedans. CarEdge notes a 22.8% chance that the GMC Yukon will need serious repairs during its first 10 years. This is similar to the risk other large SUVs face. The likelihood of the GMC Yukon needing major repairs increases over time, shown below in the first 10 years of its life:

• First year: 2%.
• Second year: 4%.
• Third year: 4%.
• Fourth year: 8%.
• Fifth year: 11%.
• Sixth year: 12%.
• Seventh year: 13%.
• Eighth year: 17%.
• Ninth year: 19%.
• 10th year: 23%.

Factors Impacting Maintenance Costs

Maintenance costs can vary depending on your vehicle and how you drive and maintain it. Factors that impact maintenance costs include:

• Driving location: If you drive on smooth, level roads that don’t need icing and in places where the weather is warm and temperate rather than very hot or cold, you’ll spend less on vehicle maintenance.
• Driving habits: You’ll spend less on maintaining your vehicle if you usually use it for long highway drives rather than short trips in stop-start city traffic.
• Following the maintenance schedule: Regular preventative maintenance typically lowers your overall maintenance costs, as mechanics can identify and correct small issues before they become larger and more costly.
• The vehicle’s engine: Vehicles with base model engines, such as the GMC Yukon’s current 5.3-liter V-8, are usually cheaper to maintain than vehicles with more high-performance motors that encourage motorists to push their car’s limits.
• Trim level and options: As the number of moving parts in a vehicle increases, so does the number of components that might fail and need maintenance or repairs, so base model GMC Yukons can be cheaper to maintain than high-end trims with many extras.

Long-Term Reliability of the GMC Yukon in the Real World

The GMC Yukon has a Quality Index Rating (QIR) of 65.3. Devised by Dashboard Light, this index measures the overall mileage and number of major powertrain issues reported for trade-in vehicles of a specific make and model. Dashboard Light’s QIR is a good indicator of a vehicle’s long-term reliability under real-world conditions. The scale ranges from zero to 100. Most vehicles score between 30 and 70. A score below 30 shows a vehicle is unreliable, while a score above 70 shows a vehicle is unreliable.

In addition to awarding an overall score, Dashboard Light also gives further measurement points, such as the Reliability Score, which shows the long-term reliability of vehicles released during certain periods. These are the Reliability Scores for different GMC Yukon model years:

• 2015-2019: 46.1.
• 2007-2014: 62.7.
• 2000-2006: 74.3.
• 1992-1999: 39.

Shop for a Used GMC Yukon Today

The GMC Yukon has proved to be a reliable vehicle, so these second-hand SUVs are an excellent option for creating memories for your whole family. If you have a large family, a three-row vehicle such as the GMC Yukon is worth its maintenance costs. Visit our Carmel, New York, dealership to check our inventory of pre-owned GMC Yukons. Our friendly team is always on hand to organize a test drive or answer any questions you have about these reliable SUVs.

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