2020 GMC Yukon
Gas Midsize / large SUV
The 2020 GMC Yukon is sold in the U.S. as a gas midsize or large SUV with 12 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Yukon C1500 2WD, is EPA-rated at 18 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for this model year, 2 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of F. Owners have filed 81 complaints, most often about engine. NHTSA crash-tested it at 4 stars overall.
Specs & fuel economy (EPA)
| Configuration | Powertrain | Drive | Engine / motor | City | Hwy | Comb | Annual fuel* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yukon C1500 2WD | Gas | RWD | 5.3L 8-cyl | 15 | 22 | 18 | $3,450 |
| Yukon C1500 2WD | Gas | RWD | 5.3L 8-cyl | 15 | 22 | 18 | $3,450 |
| Yukon C1500 XL 2WD | Gas | RWD | 5.3L 8-cyl | 15 | 22 | 18 | $3,450 |
| Yukon C1500 XL 2WD | Gas | RWD | 5.3L 8-cyl | 15 | 22 | 18 | $3,450 |
| Yukon C1500 2WD | Gas | RWD | 6.2L 8-cyl | 14 | 23 | 17 | $4,550 |
| Yukon C1500 XL 2WD | Gas | RWD | 6.2L 8-cyl | 14 | 23 | 17 | $4,550 |
| Yukon K1500 4WD | Gas | 4WD | 5.3L 8-cyl | 15 | 21 | 17 | $3,650 |
| Yukon K1500 4WD | Gas | 4WD | 6.2L 8-cyl | 14 | 22 | 17 | $4,550 |
| Yukon K1500 4WD | Gas | 4WD | 5.3L 8-cyl | 15 | 21 | 17 | $3,650 |
| Yukon K1500 XL 4WD | Gas | 4WD | 5.3L 8-cyl | 14 | 21 | 16 | $3,900 |
| Yukon K1500 XL 4WD | Gas | 4WD | 6.2L 8-cyl | 14 | 20 | 16 | $4,850 |
| Yukon K1500 XL 4WD | Gas | 4WD | 5.3L 8-cyl | 14 | 21 | 16 | $3,900 |
*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year and EPA reference fuel/electricity prices. Source: fueleconomy.gov vehicle records.
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Recalls (4)
Power Train
criticalProblem: 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.
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
Tires
highProblem: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Fuel System, Gasoline
criticalProblem: 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.
Risk: Over-pressurization can crack the fuel pump and cause leaks, increasing the risk of a fire in the presence of an ignition source.
Fix: 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.
Electronic Stability Control (Esc)
highProblem: 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.
Risk: Unintended activation of the driveline-protection system will cause unintended braking on the wheel on the opposite side of the failed sensor, causing the vehicle to pull to one side unexpectedly, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Owner complaints
81 complaints filed
2 involved a crash, 1 a fire, 1 injuries, 0 deaths reported by owners.
Filed by year — 2020: 3 · 2021: 4 · 2022: 3 · 2023: 8 · 2024: 5 · 2025: 27 · 2026: 31
Most-cited components
- Engine — 36
- Power Train — 26
- Service Brakes — 6
- Unknown Or Other — 6
- Steering — 3
Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.
Crash ratings
| Configuration | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SUV 4WD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ | 22% |
| SUV 4WD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ | 20% |
| SUV RWD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ | 23% |
| SUV RWD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ | 21% |
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.
Other Yukon model years
2026 Yukon
3 recalls · 65 complaints
B2025 Yukon
2 recalls · 78 complaints
C2024 Yukon
3 recalls · 169 complaints
C2023 Yukon
4 recalls · 442 complaints
F2022 Yukon
5 recalls · 339 complaints
F2021 Yukon
14 recalls · 537 complaints
D2019 Yukon
3 recalls · 124 complaints
F2018 Yukon
5 recalls · 125 complaints
C2017 Yukon
3 recalls · 359 complaints
F2016 Yukon
5 recalls · 513 complaints
Sources & method
Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.
EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records (ids 41577, 41579, 41578, 41580, 41581, 41582, 41589, 41591, 41633, 41588, 41590, 41632). Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.