KnownCarProblems2018 GMC Yukon XL Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 55 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 GMC Yukon XL, most often about the engine (27% of complaints). It is 16th of 27 Yukon XL model years by number of complaints and has 2 recalls.
⚠ Safety advisory1 recall for this car came with a do-not-drive warning. See below and check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Most common 2018 GMC Yukon XL problems
Engine
15 complaints · 27%The contact owns a 2018 GMC Yukon XL. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled with no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was able to restart. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with engine failure and the contact was informed that the…
The contact owns a 2018 GMC Yukon XL. The contact stated while driving 50 MPH, the check engine warning light was flashing. Additionally, there was an abnormally loud sound coming from underneath the hood, and the hood was shaking. The contact was able to drive to the residence. The vehicle was towed to village auto…
Other or unspecified
10 complaints · 18%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…
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.
Brakes
10 complaints · 18%When I put the car in gear to drive- it felt as if the brake was on - checking all the appropriate emergency brake system- confirm that no braking system was engaged. Proceeded to drive at the recommendation of GMC and was driving at 30mph as if the brakes were fully engaged- car began to smoke and burn at the area of…
I was driving straight on a city street at about 30 miles per hour and a car was coming over on me so I had to hit the brakes hard so that we would not collide. My car slowed down but did not stop. I was on the brakes hard, but my car only slowed, it did not stop. The other car hit me. After we exchanged information I…
Transmission
9 complaints · 16%The contact owns a 2018 GMC Yukon XL. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, the gear shifter failed to function as intended. The contact stated that the gear shifter was shifted into the drive; however, the gear shifter inadvertently shifted back into neutral. The contact stated that the vehicle had just…
The contact owns a 2018 GMC Yukon XL. The contact stated that while her husband was driving 20 MPH in two wheel-drive(2wd), the vehicle started reversing while the transmission was in drive(d). The contact stated that after her husband switched to four-wheel-drive(4WD) and exceeded 40 MPH, the vehicle responded as…
Seat belts
5 complaints · 9%The contact owns a 2018 GMC Yukon XL. While the contact was driving 20 MPH, another vehicle crashed into the front passenger side of her vehicle. The contact's vehicle rolled into a ditch. The contact's son was seated in the third row seats on the passenger side in a car seat. The seat belt that was supposed to…
Electrical
5 complaints · 9%Suspension
4 complaints · 7%Steering
3 complaints · 6%Battery voltage drops and when turning left at lower speeds you loose steering. Battery voltage will not go back up until your get up around 70 MPH.
When I let go of the brake the vehicle accelerates on its own. It's a scary feeling, I feel like don't have control of the vehicle. Another problem that I have is that I can not put my vehicle in gear right away when I turn on the engine. Another problem that I have is rattling sound and vibration on the gas pedal…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2018 GMC Yukon XL recalls
Transmission: transfer case (4-wheel drive)
Risk: Front or rear wheel lockup increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Full defect 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.
Seat belts: rear/other
Risk: If the child seat is not properly secured in the event of a crash, it can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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."
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
Questions about the 2018 GMC Yukon XL
- What are the most common problems with the 2018 GMC Yukon XL?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: engine (15 complaints); other or unspecified (10 complaints); brakes (10 complaints).
- How many recalls does the 2018 GMC Yukon XL have?
- 2 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from May 7, 2026 (transmission). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2018 a bad year for the GMC Yukon XL?
- It is 16th of 27 Yukon XL model years by number of complaints, with 55 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.