Most common 2002 GMC Yukon XL problems
Share of the 121 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
GMC Yukon XL complaints by model year
Best Yukon XL years: 2014, 2012, 2013. Years to avoid: 2023, 2022, 2021, 2015, 2024. Compare all years →
2002 GMC Yukon XL recalls (1)
Service brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
Certain pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles May experience unwanted antilock brake system (ABS) activation. This condition is more likely to occur in environmentally corrosive areas.
Remedy: Dealers are to remove the wheel speed sensor and thoroughly clean the wheel speed sensor mounting surface on the bearing, apply rust inhibitor to the cleaned surface, grease the mounting surface, reinstall the wheel…
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 3 possible defects involving the 2002 GMC Yukon XL:
Unwanted low-speed ABS activation
In a letter dated August 29, 2005, GM notified odi that it was recalling certain model year 1999 through 2002 c/k pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles to correct a problem with anti-lock brake system (ABS) wheel speed sensor corrosion that May result in unwanted ABS activation and extended stopping distances during low-speed braking (recall 05v-379).GM's recall covers approximately 804,000 vehicles currently…
Throttle sticking closed
This investigation involves the general motors corporation (GM)throttle body (tb) utilized in model year (my) 1999-2002 silverado, sierra, tahoe, suburban, avalanche and yukon (subject vehicle(s)) with 4.8l, 5.3l, and 6.0l engines. The tb valve May intermittently stick in a closed position.in such a situation, an operator May apply additional accelerator pedal force to increase engine speed.the application of…
Parking brake failure
Odi's review of complaint data received since the close of ea04-011 revealed no indication that the investigation should be re-opened.more details can be found in the federal register notice enclosed in the dp05-009 public file.odi reserves the right to reopen the investigation in the future should conditions warrant.
What 2002 GMC Yukon XL owners say
Brakes all 59 →
The contact owns a 2002 GMC Yukon XL. The contact stated while driving approximately 70 MPH, the contact started to slow for traffic and depressed the brake, and felt no braking. The contact had to depress the brake pedal to the floorboard. The contact stated that the brake warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to safely stop and drove the vehicle to his residence. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer who diagnosed that there was a fractured parking brake spring. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 189,000.
Two years ago I had a sever accident that cause me to hit another car and spin around. The GMC dealer said the cause was rusted out brake lines. Today it happened, but I was luck enough to be just pulling into my parking spot when it happened. The brake line must have rusted out again because I pumped the brake and noticed it coming out of the left rear line. This is very dangerous because it will likely only happen when you are in an emergency situation. There is no pre warning. It will just happen. Perhaps they are making the brake lines out of thinner material because we have many vehicles much older, and never had this problem.
Engine & cooling
I swerved to miss a deer and I hit a tree running 47 MPH and my air bags didn't deploy and no one can tell me why. My husband and I were very lucky but why didn't the air bags deploy? My husband was out of work for 5 months due to torn ligaments in his shoulders and still has to have surgery.
Tl contact owns a 2002 GMC Yukon XL. The contact stated that the vehicle would not start. In addition, the vehicle would stall intermittently while driving at various speeds. The engine would completely shut off. Occasionally, the vehicle would immediately restart, but other times, it would take a while. There were no warning indicators prior to the failure. The vehicle stalled the most during deceleration. The vehicle was towed once and the dealer made several attempts to correct the failure, but has been unsuccessful. The current mileage was 54,409 and failure mileage was 14,523. Updated 04/29/08. The consumer stated the crankshaft position sensor was replaced. The consumer stated there have been no further problems. Updated
Wheels & tires
Firestone tire exploded while driving speed limit too lake havasu, az, May 28, causing erratic control of vehicle. Appears sidewall dislodged from tire and and tread dislodged from base tire framing. Tire info: Firestone wilderness le - p265/70r16 111s m/s; tubeless; other number on side of tire: dd726g g09r (e4) 027680 dot 8 x 72 wl2 .damaged area shows a number ?4601? (? = denotes unknown numbers if anyin these places) damage to undercarrage of vehicle as well to the wheel well.
I am the original owner of a 2002 Yukon XL truck. I purchased the truck two years ago from a GMC dealer in macon ga. I noticed the steering column felt loose and made unusual noise when going over bumps and when turning. I took the truck into a local dealer under a warranty call. The service department repaired/adjusted the steering system and the vehicle drove fine for approximately 6 months. However the same noise came back and the trucks anti lock brake light and traction assistance lights came on. I took the truck to a repair shop to have it looked. The shops owner discovered one of the front hub assemblies had failed and needed to be replaced. The owner told me the hubs bearings had completely failed and there was a strong possibility the wheel could have separated from the vehicle. This truck is 2 years old and only has 50,000 miles on it.
2002 GMC Yukon XL engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5.3L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 13 / 17 / 14 |
| 5.3L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 12 / 16 / 14 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2002 GMC Yukon XL a good car?
Based on 121 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2002 Yukon XL rates avoid: 2.8× as many complaints as a typical year of the Yukon XL at the same age. It is one of the Yukon XL years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2002 GMC Yukon XL?
The brakes — 59 complaints, 49% of all complaints for this model year, most often about antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip. Next are the engine & cooling (16) and wheels & tires (12).
How many recalls does the 2002 GMC Yukon XL have?
There is 1 recall for the 2002 GMC Yukon XL, the most recent from August 29, 2005 (antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the GMC Yukon XL?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2014, 2012 and 2013. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2023, 2022, 2021, 2015 and 2024. See the full GMC Yukon XL years comparison.
At what mileage do 2002 GMC Yukon XL problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 69,000 miles; 32% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.