GMC YUKON XL · model year

2004 GMC YUKON XL

118 NHTSA complaints, 10 crash reports, and 4 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

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.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2004 YUKON XL is electrical system: instrument cluster/panel with 14 filings, followed by electrical system (13) and steering (10). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 4 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle, the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 2 investigation files overlapping the 2004 YUKON XL. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page, a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

118
Complaints
10
Crashes
3
Fires
4
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

118 filings

Crashes Reported

10 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL14
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM13
STEERING10
SERVICE BRAKES8
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC5
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING4
AIR BAGS4
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL4
EQUIPMENT3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE3
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP3
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES3
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN2
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION2

Recalls (4)

07E10600017/12/2007

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

05V04300008/02/2005

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.

04V04500004/02/2004

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.

06V28900003/08/2006

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.

Recent Complaints

20220427FireSERVICE BRAKES

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

20220427FireSTEERING

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

20220419UNKNOWN OR OTHER

A severely cracked dashboard in 5 different places right over the air bags.

20220328CrashSEATS

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20200702SERVICE BRAKES

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

20200702ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

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

20200702WHEELS

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

20200614ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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

20200614VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

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

20200614EXTERIOR LIGHTING

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

20200302EXTERIOR LIGHTING

INSTRUMENT PANEL SHORTING OUT AND FLASHES BACK ON WITH DIFFERENT LANGUAGES.

Mileage: 207,566

20181106ENGINE

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

20181106POWER TRAIN

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

20160622SERVICE BRAKES

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

20151224STRUCTURE:BODY

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

20151006SERVICE BRAKES

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

20151006ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

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

20151006ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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

20141211SERVICE BRAKES

EXCESSIVE CORROSION ON BRAKE CALIPERS, BLEEDERS AND ALL BOLTS ARE RUSTED AND UNMOVABLE. BRAKE LINES ARE RUSTED AND LEAKING. *TR

Mileage: 95,000

20140808SERVICE BRAKES

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

Compare 2004GMCYUKON XL to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2004 GMC YUKON XL have?
The 2004 GMC YUKON XL has 118 NHTSA complaints, 10 crashes, 3 fires, 4 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2004 GMC YUKON XL?
Yes, the 2004 GMC YUKON XL has 4 recall(s). The most common affected component is WHEELS:HUB. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2004 GMC YUKON XL?
The most-complained component for the 2004 GMC YUKON XL is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL with 14 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM and STEERING.
Is the 2004 GMC YUKON XL safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. 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.