GMC YUKON XL 2500 · model year

2003 GMC YUKON XL 2500

13 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report, and 1 active recall for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2003GMCYUKON XL 2500 carries 13 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 0 fires, 0 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 2003 YUKON XL 2500 is electrical system: instrument cluster/panel with 3 filings, followed by electrical system (2) and service brakes, hydraulic (2). 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 1 active recall campaign, 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 2003 YUKON XL 2500. 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.

13
Complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

13 filings

Crashes Reported

1 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/PANEL3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING1
PARKING BRAKE1
ENGINE1
POWER TRAIN1

Recalls (1)

06E04300019/05/2006

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

CERTAIN REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS, FRAM BRAND NAME P/N G3727, WITH DATE CODES X52911 THROUGH X60801 SEQUENTIALLY OR X600141 AND A MEXICO COUNTRY OR ORIGIN MARKING ON THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 18, 2005, THROUGH MARCH 21, 2006, SOLD FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE AND ON CE

Recent Complaints

20150615ENGINE

WHILE SITTING IDLE MY VEHICLE SUDDENLY WENT INTO REDUCED ENGINE POWER MODE. I WAS ABLE TO GET OVER AND PULL OFF THE ROAD AND SHUT OFF THE CAR. 5 MINUTES LATER THE CAR STARTED LIKE THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS THE REP WARNING WOULD SHOW UP AND MY CAR WOULD SUDDENLY LOSE POWER. I WAS CROSSING THE ROAD DURING ONE INCIDENT. HOWEVER, WHEN I WOULD SHUT OFF THE CAR AND RESTART THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD GO AWAY AS WOULD THE REP WARNING. AFTER A QUICK REVIEW ONLINE IT IS EASY TO FIND HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE A SIMILAR ISSUE. GM WILL ONLY DIAGNOSE AND IF THE LIGHT IS OFF WHEN YOU GET THERE THERE IS NOTHING FOR THEM TO DO EXCEPT TAKE YOUR MONEY AND SAY GOOD LUCK.

Mileage: 179,000

20150615ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

WHILE SITTING IDLE MY VEHICLE SUDDENLY WENT INTO REDUCED ENGINE POWER MODE. I WAS ABLE TO GET OVER AND PULL OFF THE ROAD AND SHUT OFF THE CAR. 5 MINUTES LATER THE CAR STARTED LIKE THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS THE REP WARNING WOULD SHOW UP AND MY CAR WOULD SUDDENLY LOSE POWER. I WAS CROSSING THE ROAD DURING ONE INCIDENT. HOWEVER, WHEN I WOULD SHUT OFF THE CAR AND RESTART THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD GO AWAY AS WOULD THE REP WARNING. AFTER A QUICK REVIEW ONLINE IT IS EASY TO FIND HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE A SIMILAR ISSUE. GM WILL ONLY DIAGNOSE AND IF THE LIGHT IS OFF WHEN YOU GET THERE THERE IS NOTHING FOR THEM TO DO EXCEPT TAKE YOUR MONEY AND SAY GOOD LUCK.

Mileage: 179,000

20150615POWER TRAIN

WHILE SITTING IDLE MY VEHICLE SUDDENLY WENT INTO REDUCED ENGINE POWER MODE. I WAS ABLE TO GET OVER AND PULL OFF THE ROAD AND SHUT OFF THE CAR. 5 MINUTES LATER THE CAR STARTED LIKE THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS THE REP WARNING WOULD SHOW UP AND MY CAR WOULD SUDDENLY LOSE POWER. I WAS CROSSING THE ROAD DURING ONE INCIDENT. HOWEVER, WHEN I WOULD SHUT OFF THE CAR AND RESTART THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD GO AWAY AS WOULD THE REP WARNING. AFTER A QUICK REVIEW ONLINE IT IS EASY TO FIND HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE A SIMILAR ISSUE. GM WILL ONLY DIAGNOSE AND IF THE LIGHT IS OFF WHEN YOU GET THERE THERE IS NOTHING FOR THEM TO DO EXCEPT TAKE YOUR MONEY AND SAY GOOD LUCK.

Mileage: 179,000

20150126CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

IN DECEMBER 2013 MY WIFE AND I WERE DRIVING OUR 2003 GMC YUKON XL 2500 4X4 OUTSIDE OF COOPERSTOWN, NEW YORK. THE BRAKES FAILED ON ROUTE 26 COMING DOWN THE HILL TOWARDS ROUTE 28. IT WAS SNOWING AND ABOUT 11:30 AT NIGHT. WE SLID SIDEWAYS DOWN THE HILL AND ACROSS ROUTE 28. THE ONLY THING THAT STOPPED US FROM ROLLING OVER AN EMBANKMENT WAS THE NEW METAL GUARDRAIL THAT WAS RECENTLY INSTALLED ALONG ROUTE 28. FORTUNATELY, WE WERE NOT INJURED, AND THERE WAS NO ONE ELSE ON THE ROAD. I EXPERIENCED IMMEDIATE AND COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE. MY BRAKE PEDAL WENT COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR. IT WAS NOT A SLOW PROCESS. OUR YUKON IS WELL MAINTAINED AND HAS ONLY 89,000 MILES ON IT. 1 - MY LOCAL DEALER, WHERE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE BRAND NEW, AND WHO INSPECTED MY VEHICLE BRAKE LINE FAILURE AND QUOTED THE REPAIRS, DENIED A BACKUP SYSTEM IN THE EVENT OF A BRAKE LINE FAILURE. 2 - A DIFFERENT REPAIR SHOP SAID THAT ALL FIVE OF MY BRAKE LINES HAD FAILED AND WERE LEAKING FLUID DURING A TEST TO LOCATE THE PROBLEM. 3 - I

Mileage: 89,000

20140806SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC YUKON XL 2500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO SLOW DOWN THE VEHICLE, IT ALSO FAILED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DOWNSHIFT ENOUGH TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATED THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE CORRODED AND ONE OF THE LINES WAS SEVERED. IN ADDITION, BRAKE FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 166,000.

Mileage: 166,000

20140806PARKING BRAKE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC YUKON XL 2500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO SLOW DOWN THE VEHICLE, IT ALSO FAILED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DOWNSHIFT ENOUGH TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATED THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE CORRODED AND ONE OF THE LINES WAS SEVERED. IN ADDITION, BRAKE FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 166,000.

Mileage: 166,000

20110720SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

2003 GMC YUKON XL 2500 SUDDEN BRAKE FAILURE. WHILE DECELERATING TO ENTER A RESIDENTIAL DRIVEWAY, BRAKE FAILURE OCCURRED. DUE TO LOW SPEED (<20 MPH) AT THE TIME, I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE USING THE PARKING BRAKE. HAD THIS OCCURRED MOMENTS EARLIER WHILE DECELERATING FROM THE FREEWAY INTO A BUSY INTERSECTION, THERE COULD HAVE BEEN FATALITIES. WHILE STOPPING, SMOKE WAS SEEN COMING FROM THE FRONT AND LEFT WHEEL WELL OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER STOPPING, I EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THE METAL BRAKE LINE HAD RUPTURED WHERE IT CROSSES OVER THE FRAME RAIL LEADING TO THE FRONT LEFT BRAKE. THERE WAS BRAKE FLUID SPRAYED AROUND THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ENGINE BAY, AND THE EXHAUST HEADER WAS STILL SMOKING. LUCKILY THE EXHAUST HEADER TEMPERATURE WAS LOW ENOUGH TO AVOID IGNITION OF THE BRAKE FLUID AND INITIATION OF FIRE. A LARGE PORTION OF BRAKE FLUID IN THE MASTER BRAKE RESERVOIR HAD LEAKED OUT LEAVING A TRAIL OF FLUID BEHIND THE VEHICLE ALONG THE LEFT SIDE. AN EXTREME LEVEL OF CORROSION AND FLAKING M

Mileage: 160,000

20110720SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

2003 GMC YUKON XL 2500 SUDDEN BRAKE FAILURE. WHILE DECELERATING TO ENTER A RESIDENTIAL DRIVEWAY, BRAKE FAILURE OCCURRED. DUE TO LOW SPEED (<20 MPH) AT THE TIME, I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE USING THE PARKING BRAKE. HAD THIS OCCURRED MOMENTS EARLIER WHILE DECELERATING FROM THE FREEWAY INTO A BUSY INTERSECTION, THERE COULD HAVE BEEN FATALITIES. WHILE STOPPING, SMOKE WAS SEEN COMING FROM THE FRONT AND LEFT WHEEL WELL OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER STOPPING, I EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THE METAL BRAKE LINE HAD RUPTURED WHERE IT CROSSES OVER THE FRAME RAIL LEADING TO THE FRONT LEFT BRAKE. THERE WAS BRAKE FLUID SPRAYED AROUND THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ENGINE BAY, AND THE EXHAUST HEADER WAS STILL SMOKING. LUCKILY THE EXHAUST HEADER TEMPERATURE WAS LOW ENOUGH TO AVOID IGNITION OF THE BRAKE FLUID AND INITIATION OF FIRE. A LARGE PORTION OF BRAKE FLUID IN THE MASTER BRAKE RESERVOIR HAD LEAKED OUT LEAVING A TRAIL OF FLUID BEHIND THE VEHICLE ALONG THE LEFT SIDE. AN EXTREME LEVEL OF CORROSION AND FLAKING M

Mileage: 160,000

20100614ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

JUNE 8, 2010 ALL DASH LIGHTS WENT OUT. THE DEFECTIVE PART WAS REPLACED IN 2006 AND HAS FAILED AGAIN. *TR

Mileage: 166,000

20100310ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

SINCE NOVEMBER 2008, MY 2003 GMC YUKON XL 2500 HAS HAD EPISODES WHERE THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND THE ENGINE GOES INTO REDUCED POWER MODE. IN THIS REDUCED POWER MODE, THE VEHICLE WILL REACH A TOP SPEED OF AROUND 25MPH. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO NUMEROUS GM DEALERS TO FIX THE PROBLEM, AND THEY HAVE REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLE AND WIRING HARNESS MULTIPLE TIMES AND THE PROBLEM KEEPS RECURRING. I HAVE BOUGHT A SCANNER WHICH I CAN ERASE THE CODES BECAUSE IT IS VERY DANGEROUS TO BE DRIVING 65MPH WITH SEMITRUCKS ON YOUR TAIL WHEN YOU SUDDENLY FOR NO REASON LOSE POWER AND CAN'T GET OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY CLOSE EPISODES WHERE WE WERE ALMOST IN AN ACCIDENT. AFTER THE THROTTLE BODY WAS REPLACED IN DEC 08, THE REDUCED ENGINE POWER DIDN'T COME BACK UNTIL APRIL 2009. DEALER THEN REWIRED THE HARNESS AND IT STOPPED UNTIL THE FALL OF 2009. SINCE FALL 2009, THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT AND REDUCED POWER MODE COME ON SPORADICALLY. IN FEBRUARY 2010, THE PROBLEM R

Mileage: 121,000

20080204ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL

SPEEDOMETER READING AS MUCH AS 50MPH OVER ACTUAL SPEED, CAUSING SAFETY ISSUE. OTHER GAUGES OCCASIONALLY SHOWING INCORRECT VALUES (FUEL, ALTERNATOR, ETC). *TR

Mileage: 74,000

20080120ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL

(1) THERE WERE NO EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE. (2) RPM GAUGE GETS STUCK ON AN RPM AND WILL STAY THERE AND SPEEDOMETER WONT GO TO 0 LOWEST IT GOES IS 10MPH (3) HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. *TR

Mileage: 76,000

20070802ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL

INCORRECT SPEEDOMETER READING. SOMETIMES READS ZERO ON THE HIGHWAY, SOMETIMES MIGHT READ 40 OR 50 WHILE DOING 55 (CHECKED WITH GPS). SEEMS TO HAPPEN MORE ON REALLY HOT DAYS, BUT ALSO SEEMS TO BE ABLE TO HAPPEN AT ANY TIME (THOUGH IT DOES NOT DO IT ALL OF THE TIME, IT HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE MID-2006). *TR

Mileage: 54,000

Compare 2003GMCYUKON XL 2500 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2003 GMC YUKON XL 2500 have?
The 2003 GMC YUKON XL 2500 has 13 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2003 GMC YUKON XL 2500?
Yes, the 2003 GMC YUKON XL 2500 has 1 recall(s). The most common affected component is FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2003 GMC YUKON XL 2500?
The most-complained component for the 2003 GMC YUKON XL 2500 is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL with 3 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM and SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC.
Is the 2003 GMC YUKON XL 2500 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.