2019 GMC Yukon Common Problems & Defect Telemetry
Authoritative defect intelligence synthesized from 53 verified NHTSA owner complaints, 2 federal safety recalls, and interquartile failure mileage telemetry.
The 2019 GMC Yukon receives a 8/10 MazicBay Reliability Index based on 53 verified NHTSA federal complaints and 2 safety recalls. The primary reported failure mode is Engine Stalling, Oil Consumption & Cooling Defect Reports with a median failure point at 113,330 miles (IQR: 84,244 – 155,500 mi). Out-of-warranty repairs benchmark at $950 – $3,200 .
6.6 complaints / 10k sold
Verified US federal records
Crash, fire & stall audit
2 Active / Free Remedies
Top Reported Problem Clusters (7)
Engine Stalling, Oil Consumption & Cooling Defect Reports
- Engine sudden stall / hesitation while driving
- Abnormal oil burning / consumption
- Check Engine Light (MIL) flashing
- Engine overheating / coolant loss
“My wife drives this vehicle to work, it has started to experience reduced engine power driving on the highway causing her to pull to the side of the road due to no throttle to maneuver the vehicle in and out of traffic, leaving her on the side of the busy highway, we have now ...”
“I was driving home on the interstate from vacation and I was set on cruise control it was 1 am so not a lot of traffic was on the road thank god. It could have been really terrible if lots of traffic was present as the engine just died without notice! The vehicle was decelerat...”
“The contact owns a 2019 GMC Yukon. The contact stated that after starting and exiting the vehicle to allow it to warm up, the contact later noticed that the vehicle had turned off. The vehicle was towed to a first mechanic, who was unable to restart the vehicle or determine th...”
Transmission Hesitation, Hard Shifting & Slipping Reports
- Hard gear shifts / delayed engagement into Drive/Reverse
- Transmission shudder / jerking under acceleration
- Transmission slipping between gears
“Vehicle shudders at acceleration at times making merging onto highways and passing vehicles dangerous.”
“The vehicle experienced a sudden and rapid mechanical failure of the 6-speed automatic transmission (6L80 model) within a span of less than two weeks. The light did not come on until the transmission was past salvage. The failure escalated rapidly from initial minor slipping t...”
“Transmission is acting funny. Stuck in low gear /not shifting at low speeds. Vibration sometimes at higher speeds when shifting gears. 8 9 10 gears.”
Electrical Parasitic Drain, Infotainment & Harness Reports
- Unexplained battery drain after sitting overnight
- Infotainment display / instrument cluster blackouts
- Accessory malfunction / alternator fault warnings
“I was driving home on the interstate from vacation and I was set on cruise control it was 1 am so not a lot of traffic was on the road thank god. It could have been really terrible if lots of traffic was present as the engine just died without notice! The vehicle was decelerat...”
“Driving out a town 400 miles away, with a young passenger in my car on ... in rush hour traffic, i started hearing a slight ticking sound then moved into a full blown knock on my drivers side ( I recorded it). within minutes, my oil light came on and my dash notification readi...”
“We received an alert/warning that is nearly constantly beeping and servicing the trailer brake system. We have never used the wiring or towed anything, and the trailer brake system is unused. The beeping is near constant, even after we “dismiss” the alert and is very distracti...”
Service Brakes, ABS Actuator & Master Cylinder Reports
- Spongy or hard brake pedal travel
- ABS / Brake warning light illuminated
- Extended stopping distance / pedal vibration
“Automatic emergency braking system deployed unexpectedly on acceleration from a traffic light stop. Vehicle was about 10-15 MPH and system operated with no brake pedal input. A vehicle behind had to do a panic stop to avoid collision. Deployment disengaged when accelerator ped...”
“I JUST PURCHASED THIS 2019 GMC YUKON DENALI. ABOUT 3 WEEKS AFTER; THE MESSAGE "SERVICE TRAILER BRAKE SYSTEM" STARTED BEEPING...DIDN'T REALLY PAY BOTHER ME AT 1ST SINCE I WEREN'T PLANNING TO PULL ANYTHING. THEN IT STARTED DOING IT MORE FREQUENTLY. NOW IT IS CONSTANTLY DOING IT ...”
“We received an alert/warning that is nearly constantly beeping and servicing the trailer brake system. We have never used the wiring or towed anything, and the trailer brake system is unused. The beeping is near constant, even after we “dismiss” the alert and is very distracti...”
Electric Power Steering Assist & Suspension Noise Reports
- Sudden loss of electric power steering assist
- Steering wheel pull or highway wander
- Clunking / knocking noise over bumps
“the steering gear box became disassemble, steering wheel when to twelve o'clock, gears in steering gear box jump gear insurance inspector said a bolt back out,there was 439 recall for steering box recall in 2019 the part number changed several times with multiple bullets for s...”
“Rear shocks are frozen (seized) Makes the vehicle hard to control on bumpy surfaces.”
“LOSS OF POWER STEERING, LOSS OF ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL, LOSS OF ALL TRANSMISSION GEARS FORWARD AND REVERSE, LOSS OF AUTOMATIC HEADLIGHT CONTROL, LOSS OF INSTRUMENT CLUSTER GAUGES INCLUDING TACHOMETER, ENGINE OIL PRESSURE, AND ENGINE COOLANT TEMPERATURE, LOSS OF HEATED SE...”
Fuel Pump Pressure Loss & Fuel Delivery Defect Reports
- Sudden loss of propulsion power at highway speeds
- Extended engine cranking / failure to restart
- Fuel odor near fuel tank / engine bay
“2019 GMC Youkon with 94,659 miles. I am the second owner of this vehicle. I purchased it used in February 2025. Check engine light came on in route to work on March 5, 2026. Immediately took vehicle to Auto Zone to scan for codes. Multiple codes were returned. I drove it direc...”
“Check engine light came on. Went off a little later and then came back on. Took it to the dealership where they ran codes. They changed the fuel injector and spark plugs based on the codes listed. They heard a noise coming from under the engine and felt like it was the same fa...”
Airbag Occupant Detection & Inflator Defect Reports
- SRS Airbag warning lamp illuminated
- Passenger occupant classification sensor failure
- Seat belt retractor lockup
“The seatbelt on the second row driver side captain chair no longer works. It started not retracting about a year ago and now it won’t retract or pull out so it is stuck and cannot be used. The $85k Yukon is only five years old, seat belts should last longer than that. GMC want...”
Official NHTSA Safety Recalls (2)
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:WHEEL SPEED SENSOR/TONE RING
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.
POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)
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.
Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist for 2019 GMC Yukon
Before purchasing a used 2019 GMC Yukon, perform the following targeted inspections based on reported federal defect patterns:
Scan the OBD-II port under the dash for pending freeze-frame codes (e.g. P0300 misfires, P0087 fuel rail pressure, P0420 catalytic efficiency).
Test vehicle at low-speed stop-and-go and highway merges. Check for delayed reverse engagement or gear shift shudder between 2nd and 3rd gears.
Verify that all 2 NHTSA safety recall campaigns have been performed by an authorized dealership using the VIN.
Ensure the instrument cluster, center screen, and auxiliary charging ports operate with stable 12.0V–14.4V alternator voltage.
Defect & Reliability Q&A: 2019 GMC Yukon
Is the 2019 GMC Yukon a reliable used car?
The 2019 GMC Yukon earns a 8/10 MazicBay Reliability Index based on 53 federal owner reports. Vehicles maintained under factory service schedules exhibit strong longevity past 150,000 miles.
What is the most frequent defect reported on the 2019 GMC Yukon?
The leading complaint category is Engine Stalling, Oil Consumption & Cooling Defect Reports, with a median failure point around 113,330 miles (IQR: 84,244 – 155,500 mi).
Are there free recall repairs available for the 2019 GMC Yukon?
Yes, the NHTSA records 2 safety recall campaign(s) for this model year. All safety recalls are performed 100% free of charge by authorized franchise dealerships regardless of vehicle warranty status.