Which Years Of Used GMC Yukons Are Most Reliable?
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The GMC Yukon is one of the largest vehicles in GMC’s lineup, praised for its spacious cargo and passenger space and its commanding presence while on the road. Plus, the Yukon is known for its off-road chops and powerful engine options, proving that SUVs can compete with some of the best workhorses in the market.
If you’re looking for a dependable large family SUV, the GMC Yukon is undoubtedly worth the look. However, not all Yukon SUVs are created equal, especially regarding reliability – a critical criterion if you want to buy a used model. With that said, you’re likely asking, what’s the most reliable year of GMC Yukon?
For today’s buyer’s guide, we walk you through the more recent generations to determine the most reliable year of GMC Yukon and which models to avoid altogether. Let’s take a look.
THE GMC YUKON YEARS TO AVOID
The vehicle is effective, reasonably priced, and they’re great if you’re looking for a larger SUV that performs and drives well. Of course, they aren’t perfect, and there are some GMC Yukon years to avoid and other high-performing years that are still great as used vehicles.
2000-2006 GMC Yukon (2nd Generation)
If you’re shopping for an older Yukon, the 2nd generation lineup should be a great place to start, with several reliable models to choose from.
Buy: 2001 GMC Yukon
Although more than two decades old, the 2001 model deserves to be called the most reliable year of GMC Yukon. It features strong V8 engines, a roomy interior, and a standard AWD for the Denali model. According to CarComplaints.com, the 2001 GMC Yukon has only 280+ complaints and eight recalls. Its worst issue is the faulty ABS module which is hardly a dealbreaker. Consumer Reports also rated this model favorably, with a reliability verdict of 5.0 out of 5.0.
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Avoid: 2002 GMC Yukon
The 2002 Yukon is best avoided for several mechanical woes. Consumer Reports has rated the 2002 GMC Yukon with a reliability score of 1.0 out of 5.0. due to many trouble spots, including the engine, engine cooling, transmission, and drive system. Another area of concern with the 2002 Yukon is that its frame is vulnerable to rust and corrosion.
Buy: 2006 GMC Yukon
The 2006 Yukon was criticized for its build quality when it was launched. Other than that, this model year has held up relatively well with decent reliability scores. As per CarComplaints, the 2006 Yukon only has 56 complaints, and three recalls – pretty great for a pre-2010 large SUV. As for its mechanical issues, there were some minor complaints here and there regarding the tailgate, but nothing too major. The 2006 Yukon is an excellent used large SUV that you can buy with confidence.
2007-2014 GMC Yukon (3rd Generation)
The 3rd Yukon generation brought improved steering and ride quality, but some model years have questionable reliability.
Avoid: 2007 GMC Yukon
In general, we advise people to avoid every vehicle generation’s first models, which rings true for the 2007 GMC Yukon. CarComplaints logged over 600 complaints and four recalls for the 2007 Yukon. The most common complaint with more than 20 written reviews is excessive oil consumption which generally occurs at around 70,000 miles. In addition, frustrated owners also claimed that this Yukon’s dashboard was prone to cracking, and by the time this issue happened, it was out of warranty. Consumer Reports was also not thrilled with this large SUV and rated it a dismal 1.0 out of 5.0 in reliability verdict.
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Buy: 2012 GMC Yukon
For the 3rd generation, this is the most reliable year of GMC Yukon. As per CarComplaints, the 2012 Yukon received only 83 complaints and three recalls. Furthermore, its number one issue is the liftgate strut failure which only has one report, so we can safely assume it’s an isolated case. The 2012 GMC Yukon also received a favorable rating from Consumer Reports with a score of 3.0 out of 5.0 in reliability and 4.0 out of 5.0 for owner satisfaction.
Buy: 2013-2014 GMC Yukon
These two Yukon models are reasonably similar and offer long-term reliability. They’re not exactly paragons of reliability, but they lack the major mechanical issues found in Yukon models you should avoid. The 2013 GMC Yukon only has a few complaints and recalls, and the extent of its problems includes carbon buildup and cracked dashboards. Meanwhile, the 2014 Yukon has even fewer complaints, and its most common issue, according to owners, is the paint quality. Both are solid large SUVs that you can buy used.
2015-2020 GMC Yukon (4th Generation)
The 4th-gen redesign brought a more spacious, quiet interior and optional advanced safety features. However, this generation also included the most unreliable Yukon in recent years.
Avoid: 2015 GMC Yukon
The 2015 GMC Yukon is the worst model year to avoid, primarily due to the fact that it has the most complaints. Currently at 800+ complaints and ten recalls, the 2015 is an automatic skip for us, not only because of the complaints but also its issues. One of the top three issues for this model is the faulty taillight.
According to the written complaints, the 2015 Yukon’s tail light assembly doesn’t work or will go out at random times. This is obviously a significant safety issue, especially if you’re driving at night. Another trouble spot for this large SUV is its A/C system which is prone to failure. This issue was determined to stem from a broken condenser or compressor. For an average price of $27,000 for a used model, the 2015 Yukon is just not worth it.
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Buy: 2020 GMC Yukon
When it comes to newer Yukons, the 2020 iteration gets an earnest thumbs up from us. Although it’s not the most reliable vehicle in its class, the 2020 Yukon gets high marks for long-term reliability, as per Consumer Reports. The 2020 Yukon received a perfect reliability score of 5.0 out of 5.0 and a customer satisfaction rating of 4.0 out of 5.0. However, CR knocked it down for its emergency handling and fuel economy.
With that said, the 2020 Yukon is a competent large SUV that would make for an excellent family hauler. It offers ample interior space and a sophisticated infotainment system, but the harsh ride and low-rent cabin materials can be deal breakers.
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