2021 GMC Yukon Power Train Problems
Owners have filed 52 complaints with NHTSA about power train problems on the 2021 GMC Yukon, 15% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 75,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “valve body” (21% of reports).
- 52power train complaints
- 75,000median miles at failure
- 0mention a crash
- 0mention an injury
- 2related recalls
- 36%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Valve body: mentioned in 11 of 52 complaints (21%)
At what mileage do power train problems happen?
Based on 9 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
None of the 52 complaints report a crash, fire or injury.
GMC Yukon power train complaints by model year
| Model year | Power Train complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Yukon | 11 | 27% | 3,303 |
| 2025 Yukon | 7 | 12% | 30,765 |
| 2024 Yukon | 13 | 12% | 17,500 |
| 2023 Yukon | 46 | 19% | 35,198 |
| 2022 Yukon | 29 | 16% | 32,000 |
| 2021 Yukon | 52 | 15% | 75,000 |
| 2020 Yukon | 14 | 39% | 112,634 |
| 2019 Yukon | 13 | 24% | 111,000 |
| 2018 Yukon | 18 | 26% | 101,000 |
| 2017 Yukon | 48 | 24% | 50,000 |
| 2016 Yukon | 36 | 13% | 91,000 |
| 2015 Yukon | 46 | 9% | 9,000 |
| 2014 Yukon | 3 | 5% | 104,000 |
| 2013 Yukon | 5 | 4% | 40,000 |
| 2012 Yukon | 1 | 2% | — |
| 2011 Yukon | 7 | 4% | 98,000 |
| 2010 Yukon | 3 | 3% | 69,873 |
| 2009 Yukon | 4 | 4% | 83,500 |
| 2008 Yukon | 8 | 4% | 115,000 |
| 2007 Yukon | 21 | 5% | 74,000 |
| 2006 Yukon | 2 | 7% | 80,000 |
| 2005 Yukon | 8 | 9% | 50,000 |
| 2004 Yukon | 4 | 3% | 100,000 |
| 2003 Yukon | 8 | 4% | 38,900 |
| 2002 Yukon | 10 | 6% | 51,000 |
| 2001 Yukon | 13 | 7% | 49,248 |
| 2000 Yukon | 8 | 5% | 10,000 |
| 1999 Yukon | 14 | 7% | 98,500 |
| 1998 Yukon | 8 | 10% | 98,000 |
| 1997 Yukon | 15 | 11% | 140,000 |
| 1996 Yukon | 8 | 11% | — |
| 1995 Yukon | 4 | 4% | — |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (2)
Power train:automatic transmission:fluid/lubricant:valves/valve body; power train:automatic transmission:control module:software
Problem: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, 2500, 3500, GMC Sierra 1500, 2500, 3500, 2021 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Tahoe, Suburban, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles equipped with diesel engines. The transmission control valve may fail and cause the rear wheels to lock-up.
Risk: Rear wheel lock-up can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will install new transmission control module software, free of charge. GM will provide a special coverage program to cover the repair of transmissions that are identified by the remedy software as containing a defective control valve. Owner notification letters were mailed December 12, 2024. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, GMC customer service at GMC 1-800-462-8782 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N242454440.
Power train:driveline:driveshaft
Problem: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 GMC Yukon, Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, and Chevrolet Tahoe vehicles. The rear wheel driveshaft assemblies may have internal components that were not heat-treated properly, possibly resulting in driveshaft failure.
Risk: Driveshaft failure can cause a sudden loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the left and/or right rear driveshaft assemblies, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 14, 2022. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020; Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212351030.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
I was driving normally, going up a hill and the car skipped and lurched forward. Then when i touched the gas pedal the car would not accelerate but the rpms would increase. When I was able to pull over, the car would not reverse, the engine would rev when i pushed the gas pedal but it would not…
The contact owns a 2021 GMC Yukon. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds on several occasions, the vehicle jerked and the transmission shifted hard into 1st and 2nd gears. The message "Service Safety Restraint" was displayed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where…
Had a valve body failure in mid XXX. The vehicle would not go into reverse and drove it in limp mode to a dealership about 5 miles away. Fortunately they were able to get a new valve body and repair it in one day. Cost was approximately $3,500 and not covered by warranty. The vehicle had about…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2021 GMC Yukons have power train problems?
No. NHTSA has 52 owner complaints about power train for the 2021 GMC Yukon (15% of the 337 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2021 GMC Yukon power train?
Yes: 2 safety recalls list power train. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do power train problems start?
The median reported mileage is 75,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
What do owners say about power train problems on the 2021 GMC Yukon?
The most frequent phrase is “valve body”, in 11 of 52 complaints.
Other 2021 GMC Yukon problems
- Engine problems (186)
See all 2021 GMC Yukon problems or power train problems across all Yukon years.