GMC YUKON XL · model year

2005 GMC YUKON XL

58 NHTSA complaints, 3 crash reports, and 6 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2005GMCYUKON XL carries 58 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 3 crashes, 0 fires, 6 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 2005 YUKON XL is electrical system: instrument cluster/panel with 7 filings, followed by engine (7) and electrical system (6). 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 6 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 2005 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.

58
Complaints
3
Crashes
0
Fires
6
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

58 filings

Crashes Reported

3 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/PANEL7
ENGINE7
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM6
SERVICE BRAKES5
STEERING3
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM3
TRAILER HITCHES2
AIR BAGS2
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION1
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:WHEEL SPEED SENSOR1
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL:AUTOMATIC (ASC)1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC1
STEERING:COLUMN1
SUSPENSION:REAR1

Recalls (6)

05V10300018/03/2005

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE BRAKE PEDAL PUSHROD RETAINER MAY BE MISSING. IF THE RETAINER IS MISSING, THE BRAKE BOOSTER PUSHROD COULD DISENGAGE FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL.

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

05V05500014/02/2005

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION:SHIFT PATTERN INDICATOR

CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 102, "TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER SEQUENCE, STARTER INTERLOCK AND TRANSMISSION BRAKING EFFECT." UNDER CERTAIN VEHICLE STARTING CONDITIONS, THE SHIFT

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.

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.

04V37600002/08/2004

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES AND PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH 5.3L (RPO L59) V8 ENGINES, THE ENGINE FUEL RAIL CROSSOVER TUBE RETAINER SCREWS WERE NOT MANUFACTURED TO SPECIFICATIONS AND MAY BREAK.

Recent Complaints

20210316ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN AND OUT OF THE SHOP SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE SAME REASON, "REDUCED ENGINE POWER". IT PUTS ME IN A DANGEROUS POSITION SOMETIMES BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WILL SUDDENLY GO INTO THIS "LIMP MODE" I HAVE SPENT SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS IN REPAIRS AND FIXES BY QUALIFIED MECHANICS AND YET THIS PROBLEM WILL NOT GO AWAY. AFTER MUCH RESEARCH I FIND THAT I AMONG MANY PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. IT HAPPENED THREE TIMES YESTERDAY!

20210316ENGINE

THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN AND OUT OF THE SHOP SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE SAME REASON, "REDUCED ENGINE POWER". IT PUTS ME IN A DANGEROUS POSITION SOMETIMES BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WILL SUDDENLY GO INTO THIS "LIMP MODE" I HAVE SPENT SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS IN REPAIRS AND FIXES BY QUALIFIED MECHANICS AND YET THIS PROBLEM WILL NOT GO AWAY. AFTER MUCH RESEARCH I FIND THAT I AMONG MANY PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. IT HAPPENED THREE TIMES YESTERDAY!

20210316UNKNOWN OR OTHER

THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN AND OUT OF THE SHOP SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE SAME REASON, "REDUCED ENGINE POWER". IT PUTS ME IN A DANGEROUS POSITION SOMETIMES BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WILL SUDDENLY GO INTO THIS "LIMP MODE" I HAVE SPENT SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS IN REPAIRS AND FIXES BY QUALIFIED MECHANICS AND YET THIS PROBLEM WILL NOT GO AWAY. AFTER MUCH RESEARCH I FIND THAT I AMONG MANY PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. IT HAPPENED THREE TIMES YESTERDAY!

20200910CrashSERVICE BRAKES

I HAVE A BRAKE PROBLEM, THE DYNAMIC ELECTRONIC BRAKE SYSTEM TURNS ON AT TIMES DURING RUNNING AND THE RIM HEATS UP AND A STRONG SMELL OF BRAKES COMES OUT, ON TWO OCCASIONS THE REAR TIRES EXPLODED AND I CAUSED AN ACCIDENT ON THE HIGHWAY. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS NEW IN 2005, THE DEALER CHANGED THE BRAKES, ABS AND OTHER COMPONENTS, BUT THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PROBLEM, THEN IN 2010 AGAIN, I CHANGED ALL THE COMPONENTS RELATED TO THE BRAKES BUT IT REMAINS THE SAME. SOMETIMES THE DYNAMIC BRAKE IS ACTIVATED AND THE RINGS AND REAR RUBBERS ARE HEATED. I DO NOT USE THE VEHICLE FOR LONG ROADS FOR SAFETY. I BOUGHT IT IN 2005 AND IT NOW HAS 73,100 MILES. I AM LOOKING FOR IF ANY DEALER OR OWNER IN THE USA HAS OR HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. THANK YOU..

20200601ENGINE

GETTING GAS AND IT KEEPS CLICKING, *TR

20200601FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

GETTING GAS AND IT KEEPS CLICKING, *TR

20200601VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

GETTING GAS AND IT KEEPS CLICKING, *TR

20190825WHEELS

3 OF 4 WHEELS HAVE CRACKS

Mileage: 190,000

20181119SERVICE BRAKES

AFTER GETTING FULL TUNE UP MY ENGINE STARTS TICKING WHEN I START MY MY CAR AFTER A WHILE OF DRIVING THE TICKING STOPS CAR STALLS WHILE DRIVING AND CHECK ENGINE BLINKS ON AND OFF . ALREADY CHANGED COILS FROM INSTRUCTED READ STILL GET STALLING. BRAKE BOOSTER LIGHT IS ON AND I HAVE A FUEL SMELL THAT COMES AND GOES WHILE DRIVING

20181119ENGINE

AFTER GETTING FULL TUNE UP MY ENGINE STARTS TICKING WHEN I START MY MY CAR AFTER A WHILE OF DRIVING THE TICKING STOPS CAR STALLS WHILE DRIVING AND CHECK ENGINE BLINKS ON AND OFF . ALREADY CHANGED COILS FROM INSTRUCTED READ STILL GET STALLING. BRAKE BOOSTER LIGHT IS ON AND I HAVE A FUEL SMELL THAT COMES AND GOES WHILE DRIVING

20181119FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

AFTER GETTING FULL TUNE UP MY ENGINE STARTS TICKING WHEN I START MY MY CAR AFTER A WHILE OF DRIVING THE TICKING STOPS CAR STALLS WHILE DRIVING AND CHECK ENGINE BLINKS ON AND OFF . ALREADY CHANGED COILS FROM INSTRUCTED READ STILL GET STALLING. BRAKE BOOSTER LIGHT IS ON AND I HAVE A FUEL SMELL THAT COMES AND GOES WHILE DRIVING

20181119SERVICE BRAKES

WHILE DRIVING I HEAR A WINDING SOUND COMING FROM WHEEL AREA WHILE DRIVING I SMELL FUEL THAT COMES AND GOES RECENTLY HAD FULL TUNE UP NOW CAR STARTS TO TICK AFTER A WHILE OF DRIVING OR EVEN PRESSING ON GAS WHILE IN PARK IT STOPS WHILE DRIVING CAR STALLS AND INDICATES COIL IS BAD FROM CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BEING ON I HAD CHANGED COILS AND CAR STILL STALLS

20181119ENGINE

WHILE DRIVING I HEAR A WINDING SOUND COMING FROM WHEEL AREA WHILE DRIVING I SMELL FUEL THAT COMES AND GOES RECENTLY HAD FULL TUNE UP NOW CAR STARTS TO TICK AFTER A WHILE OF DRIVING OR EVEN PRESSING ON GAS WHILE IN PARK IT STOPS WHILE DRIVING CAR STALLS AND INDICATES COIL IS BAD FROM CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BEING ON I HAD CHANGED COILS AND CAR STILL STALLS

20181119FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

WHILE DRIVING I HEAR A WINDING SOUND COMING FROM WHEEL AREA WHILE DRIVING I SMELL FUEL THAT COMES AND GOES RECENTLY HAD FULL TUNE UP NOW CAR STARTS TO TICK AFTER A WHILE OF DRIVING OR EVEN PRESSING ON GAS WHILE IN PARK IT STOPS WHILE DRIVING CAR STALLS AND INDICATES COIL IS BAD FROM CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BEING ON I HAD CHANGED COILS AND CAR STILL STALLS

20171003ENGINE

AT 70 MPH ON A FREEWAY, REDUCED ENGINE POWER MESSAGE CAME ON AND VEHICLE LOST POWER SLOWING TO 20MPH. DANGEROUS WITH ALL THE TRAFFIC AROUND.

Mileage: 157,000

20141221SERVICE BRAKES

DRIVING HOME, LEAVING OUR CURRENT LOCALITY THE BRAKES FAILED TO WORK. WERE ABLE TO PRESS BRAKE TO THE FLOOR WITHOUT HAVING THE VEHICLE STOP. INVESTIGATED THE NEXT DAY (AFTER HAVING TO BORROW A VEHICLE) AND BRAKE LINES ARE FLAKING AND LEAKING FLUID. TOOK TO REPAIR SHOP AFTER PUTTING ON "TEMPORARY" BREAK LINE (WHICH WE FOUND OUT WILL NOT WORK ON OUR VEHICLE). HAVING IT REPLACED BUT SHOP CALLED AND CAN NOT DO IT AND WE HAVE TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER TO FIX SINCE THE BODY HAS TO BE TAKEN OFF AND BRAKE LINES REPLACED. *TR

Mileage: 101,000

20141221VISIBILITY/WIPER

BACK WIPER NOT WORKING. ENGINE NOT MOVING THE WIPER. NOT ABLE TO SEE OUT OF BACK WINDOW WHEN IT RAINS. *TR

Mileage: 89,000

20141221SEATS

MIDDLE ROW PASSENGER SEAT DOES NOT CLICK INTO PLACE WITH OUT SHOVING IT BACK SEVERAL TIMES UNTIL IT "LATCHES" (AFTER ALLOWING CHILDREN IN THE BACK SEAT THEN TRYING TO PUT SEAT BACK INTO PLACE). IF NOT CLICKED IN THE SEAT SLIDES BACK AND FORTH. *TR

Mileage: 88,000

20140408ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

2005 GMC YUKON. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VARIOUS ELECTRONIC PROBLEMS INCLUDING SERVICE AIR BAG INDICATOR. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED HE EXPERIENCED CHRONIC PROBLEMS WITH SPEEDOMETER, STARTING PROBLEMS, WHEEL HUB AND TRACTION CONTROL SENSOR. ALSO, THE TRANSFER CASE WAS REPLACED. *JB

20140408AIR BAGS

2005 GMC YUKON. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VARIOUS ELECTRONIC PROBLEMS INCLUDING SERVICE AIR BAG INDICATOR. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED HE EXPERIENCED CHRONIC PROBLEMS WITH SPEEDOMETER, STARTING PROBLEMS, WHEEL HUB AND TRACTION CONTROL SENSOR. ALSO, THE TRANSFER CASE WAS REPLACED. *JB

Compare 2005GMCYUKON XL to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2005 GMC YUKON XL have?
The 2005 GMC YUKON XL has 58 NHTSA complaints, 3 crashes, 0 fires, 6 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2005 GMC YUKON XL?
Yes, the 2005 GMC YUKON XL has 6 recall(s). The most common affected component is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2005 GMC YUKON XL?
The most-complained component for the 2005 GMC YUKON XL is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL with 7 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE and ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.
Is the 2005 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.