Total Complaints
118 filings
GMC Yukon XL · model year
118 NHTSA complaints, 10 crash reports, and 4 recall campaigns listed for this cohort. A VIN lookup is required to determine whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The verdict
The 2004 GMC Yukon XL posts above-average complaint volume among its own model-year siblings.
The 2004GMCYukon XL carries 118 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 10 crashes, 3 fires, 4 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
The most frequently selected component label in reports for the 2004 Yukon XL is electrical system: instrument cluster/panel with 14 filings, followed by electrical system (13) and steering (10). Complaint categories reflect owner reports and intake categorization; they do not establish a defect pattern or cause. This cohort has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns listed below. Enter a VIN in NHTSA's official recall lookup to determine whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.
NHTSA currently has 2 investigation files overlapping the 2004 Yukon XL. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should read the complaint-by-year trend as report volume, not a causal diagnosis. Use the related-complaint feed and the official recall lookup when researching a specific vehicle.
PlainCars' own composite of NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings and rollover-risk assessment, each dimension normalized against the federal scale or the full national model-year corpus. Not an official NHTSA figure, and not a substitute for a specific vehicle's VIN-level recall check.
Total Complaints
118 filings
Crashes Reported
10 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL | 14 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 13 |
| STEERING | 10 |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 8 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | 5 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 4 |
| AIR BAGS | 4 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 4 |
| EQUIPMENT | 3 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 3 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP | 3 |
| LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES | 3 |
| ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) | 3 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN | 2 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 2 |
WHEELS:HUB
CERTAIN FEDERAL-MOGUL REPLACEMENT WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLIES WITH THE BRAND NAMES: NATIONAL, CARQUEST P/NOS. 515020, 515021, 515025, 515053, 515054, 515059, AND 515060, SHIPPED BETWEEN JANUARY 23, 2006, AND DECEMBER 20, 2007, SOLD FOR LIGHT DUTY AND MEDIUM DUTY TRUCKS. THE INBOARD RETENTION NUT USED TO M
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
CERTAIN TRUCKS, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, AND VANS EQUIPPED WITH BOSCH HYDRO-BOOST BRAKE ASSEMBLIES, THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE BOOSTER PRESSURE ACCUMULATOR MAY CRACK AND SEPARATE FROM THE HYDRO-BOOST ASSEMBLY DURING NORMAL OPERATING CONDITIONS.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, PICKUP TRUCKS, AND PASSENGER VANS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 135, ?PASSENGER CAR BRAKE SYSTEMS.? SOME OF THESE VEHICLES WERE PRODUCED WITH AN OUT-OF-SPECIFICATION BRAKE HYDRO-BOOST HOUSING RELIEF VALVE BORE.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH AN 8.1L V8 (RPO L8-VIN G) ENGINE HAVE A CONDITION IN WHICH THE ENGINE FUEL RAIL PULSE DAMPER RETAINER CLIP MAY FRACTURE RESULTING IN INADEQUATE RETENTION OF THE DAMPER.
While driving on the freeway at 75 mph I felt significant reduction in speed and the rpms went pretty high. It felt as if I had my foot on the accelerator and the brake at the same time. There was also a burnt smell. After a few minutes it went back to normal. This continued to happen sporadically so I took it to my mechanic he inspected the vehicle could not find an issue he also ran a code scan. No codes pertaining to this issue only knocker sensor and O2 sensor. I replaced those anyway. Then a few days later I was driving to work at it happened again going about 55 mph it felt like the transmission had downshift to a very low gear there was smoke and really bad burning smell. I pulled over immediately and called my mechanic. He towed the vehicle to his shop still could not find a problem. After several months of sitting I had to drive the vehicle home. After approximately 5 miles there was smoke and small flames coming from behind the front drivers side wheel. My mechanic checked
While driving on the freeway at 75 mph I felt significant reduction in speed and the rpms went pretty high. It felt as if I had my foot on the accelerator and the brake at the same time. There was also a burnt smell. After a few minutes it went back to normal. This continued to happen sporadically so I took it to my mechanic he inspected the vehicle could not find an issue he also ran a code scan. No codes pertaining to this issue only knocker sensor and O2 sensor. I replaced those anyway. Then a few days later I was driving to work at it happened again going about 55 mph it felt like the transmission had downshift to a very low gear there was smoke and really bad burning smell. I pulled over immediately and called my mechanic. He towed the vehicle to his shop still could not find a problem. After several months of sitting I had to drive the vehicle home. After approximately 5 miles there was smoke and small flames coming from behind the front drivers side wheel. My mechanic checked
A severely cracked dashboard in 5 different places right over the air bags.
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2004 YUKON XL WITH 91,880 MILES. REPLACEMENT LEFT FRONT WHEEL BEARING/HUB FAILED CATASTROPHICALLY AT 6,046 MILES OF SERVICE. THE BEARING SEPARATED COMPLETELY LEADING TO A TOWING EVENT. VEHICLE WAS ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY AND TRAVELING AT 70 MPH, IN A STRAIGHT LINE WHEN THIS OCCURRED. SERVICE TECHNICIAN SAID THE DRIVE SHAFT ON THE 4WD VEHICLE WAS THE ONLY THING RETAINING THE WHEEL. THE PRIOR BEARING WAS REPLACED AT 85,878 MILES. THE BEARING WAS INSTALLED AT AFTERMARKET SERVICE CENTER. THE HUB FACE HAS THE FOLLOWING NUMBERS ETCHED ON IT. 730-0093, 12FR18107. WHEN I LOOK THIS UP IT APPEARS TO BE A BEARING MADE BY GNB. *TR
Mileage: 91,880
2004 YUKON XL WITH 91,880 MILES. REPLACEMENT LEFT FRONT WHEEL BEARING/HUB FAILED CATASTROPHICALLY AT 6,046 MILES OF SERVICE. THE BEARING SEPARATED COMPLETELY LEADING TO A TOWING EVENT. VEHICLE WAS ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY AND TRAVELING AT 70 MPH, IN A STRAIGHT LINE WHEN THIS OCCURRED. SERVICE TECHNICIAN SAID THE DRIVE SHAFT ON THE 4WD VEHICLE WAS THE ONLY THING RETAINING THE WHEEL. THE PRIOR BEARING WAS REPLACED AT 85,878 MILES. THE BEARING WAS INSTALLED AT AFTERMARKET SERVICE CENTER. THE HUB FACE HAS THE FOLLOWING NUMBERS ETCHED ON IT. 730-0093, 12FR18107. WHEN I LOOK THIS UP IT APPEARS TO BE A BEARING MADE BY GNB. *TR
Mileage: 91,880
2004 YUKON XL WITH 91,880 MILES. REPLACEMENT LEFT FRONT WHEEL BEARING/HUB FAILED CATASTROPHICALLY AT 6,046 MILES OF SERVICE. THE BEARING SEPARATED COMPLETELY LEADING TO A TOWING EVENT. VEHICLE WAS ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY AND TRAVELING AT 70 MPH, IN A STRAIGHT LINE WHEN THIS OCCURRED. SERVICE TECHNICIAN SAID THE DRIVE SHAFT ON THE 4WD VEHICLE WAS THE ONLY THING RETAINING THE WHEEL. THE PRIOR BEARING WAS REPLACED AT 85,878 MILES. THE BEARING WAS INSTALLED AT AFTERMARKET SERVICE CENTER. THE HUB FACE HAS THE FOLLOWING NUMBERS ETCHED ON IT. 730-0093, 12FR18107. WHEN I LOOK THIS UP IT APPEARS TO BE A BEARING MADE BY GNB. *TR
Mileage: 91,880
CLUSTER DASHBOARD FAILS TO LIGHT UP WHEN THE KEY TURNS ON THE VEHICLE. NONE IS THE DASHBOARD INDICATORS MOVE OR LIGHT UP, NOT ABLE TO SEE SPEED, MILES, GAS GAGE, ETC. IT TAKES 40 MINUTE INTO A DRIVE BEFORE IT TURNS ON RANDOMLY.
Mileage: 138,554
CLUSTER DASHBOARD FAILS TO LIGHT UP WHEN THE KEY TURNS ON THE VEHICLE. NONE IS THE DASHBOARD INDICATORS MOVE OR LIGHT UP, NOT ABLE TO SEE SPEED, MILES, GAS GAGE, ETC. IT TAKES 40 MINUTE INTO A DRIVE BEFORE IT TURNS ON RANDOMLY.
Mileage: 138,554
CLUSTER DASHBOARD FAILS TO LIGHT UP WHEN THE KEY TURNS ON THE VEHICLE. NONE IS THE DASHBOARD INDICATORS MOVE OR LIGHT UP, NOT ABLE TO SEE SPEED, MILES, GAS GAGE, ETC. IT TAKES 40 MINUTE INTO A DRIVE BEFORE IT TURNS ON RANDOMLY.
Mileage: 138,554
INSTRUMENT PANEL SHORTING OUT AND FLASHES BACK ON WITH DIFFERENT LANGUAGES.
Mileage: 207,566
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 GMC YUKON XL. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 182,000.
Mileage: 182,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 GMC YUKON XL. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 182,000.
Mileage: 182,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 GMC YUKON XL. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE PEDAL WOULD STIFFEN AND NOT MOVED DOWNWARD COMPLETELY. THE FAILURE RECURRED CONTINUOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO A MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER ASSIST BRAKE SYSTEM FAILED. THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V045000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
Mileage: 130,000
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY THE HOOD OPENED CAUSING THE DRIVER TO NOT BE ABLE TO SEE. UPON INVESTIGATION THE WELDS THAT SECURE THE HOOD LATCH BROKE LOOSE.
Mileage: 230,000
MY 2004 YUKON HAS AT LEAST THREE MAJOR LEAKS IN THE BRAKE LINES CAUSED BY CORROSION. RESEARCH FOUND THAT THIS DEFECT WAS IDENTIFIED SHORTLY AFTER THE VEHICLES WERE SOLD NEW BUT REFUSED TO ISSUE RECALLS. I WAS IN A NEAR ACCIDENT WHEN MY BRAKES WENT COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR SUDDENLY. ALSO THE STABILIZER SYSTEM FAILS WITHOUT NOTICE AND THE DASH INSTRUMENT CLUSTER (GAS GAUGE, TEMP GAUGE, VOLTAGE AND OIL PRESSURE GAUGES WORKS ON AND OFF.
Mileage: 170,000
MY 2004 YUKON HAS AT LEAST THREE MAJOR LEAKS IN THE BRAKE LINES CAUSED BY CORROSION. RESEARCH FOUND THAT THIS DEFECT WAS IDENTIFIED SHORTLY AFTER THE VEHICLES WERE SOLD NEW BUT REFUSED TO ISSUE RECALLS. I WAS IN A NEAR ACCIDENT WHEN MY BRAKES WENT COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR SUDDENLY. ALSO THE STABILIZER SYSTEM FAILS WITHOUT NOTICE AND THE DASH INSTRUMENT CLUSTER (GAS GAUGE, TEMP GAUGE, VOLTAGE AND OIL PRESSURE GAUGES WORKS ON AND OFF.
Mileage: 170,000
MY 2004 YUKON HAS AT LEAST THREE MAJOR LEAKS IN THE BRAKE LINES CAUSED BY CORROSION. RESEARCH FOUND THAT THIS DEFECT WAS IDENTIFIED SHORTLY AFTER THE VEHICLES WERE SOLD NEW BUT REFUSED TO ISSUE RECALLS. I WAS IN A NEAR ACCIDENT WHEN MY BRAKES WENT COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR SUDDENLY. ALSO THE STABILIZER SYSTEM FAILS WITHOUT NOTICE AND THE DASH INSTRUMENT CLUSTER (GAS GAUGE, TEMP GAUGE, VOLTAGE AND OIL PRESSURE GAUGES WORKS ON AND OFF.
Mileage: 170,000
EXCESSIVE CORROSION ON BRAKE CALIPERS, BLEEDERS AND ALL BOLTS ARE RUSTED AND UNMOVABLE. BRAKE LINES ARE RUSTED AND LEAKING. *TR
Mileage: 95,000
THE BRAKE LINES ON MY 2004 XL YUKON WENT OUT LEAVING ME HELPLESS WITH MY 5 YEAR OLD TWIN DAUGHTERS. I WAS OUT DOING ERRANDS YESTERDAY WHEN I WAS TRAVELING 55 MILES AN HOUR ON A MAJOR SIDE HIGHWAY WHEN I WENT TO BRAKE AND MY FOOT WENT STRAIGHT TO THE BOTTOM OF THE FLOOR.... I WAS NOT ABLE TO STOP I WAS PETRIFIED BECAUSE I WAS IN FULL TRAFFIC. I PULLED OFF THE ROAD INTO THE GRASS TO PREVENT AN ACCIDENT. THIS WAS THE MOST FRIGHTENING SITUATION I HAVE EVER BEEN IN. WHEN MY HUSBAND ARRIVED HOME I EXPLAINED WHAT HAPPENED , HE LOOKED UNDER THE TRUCK TO FIND ALL I SAID ALL OF MY BRAKE LINES WERE CORRODED AND RUSTED AND CRUMBLY TO THE GROUND. HE SAID HE NEVER SAW ANYTHING LIKE THIS. WE HAVE HAD SEVERAL USED CARS IN OUR LIFETIME AND THIS IS THE FIRST TO EVER EXPERIENCE BRAKE LINE FAILURE!!!!!! I CALLED GM TO DISCUSS MY DILEMMA AND HOPEFULLY GET HELP WITH THE REPAIR AND CONFIRM MY HUSBANDS FINDINGS. WE WERE ADVISED THEY WILL DO THE TOW TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC,BUT WE WOULD HAVE TO P
Mileage: 160,000
Data vintage: August 2026. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Every figure on PlainCars is rendered directly from NHTSA complaint and safety data, no number is typed in by an editor. This year-specific record is rendered from NHTSA ODI, recall, and NCAP rows for the 2004 GMC Yukon XL; no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.