Most common 2006 GMC Yukon XL problems
Share of the 17 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 →
2006 GMC Yukon XL recalls (2)
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.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the engine fuel rail pulse damper retainer clip free of charge. The recall began on August 31, 2006. Owners May contact Chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438 and GMC trucks at 1-866-996-9463.
Equipment › Other › Labels
Certain trucks and sport utility vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 110, "tire selection and rims." these vehicles were shipped with tire and loading information labels listing an inacccurate vehicle capacity weight.
Remedy: Owners will be provided with corrected labels and installation instructions. At the customer's option, a dealer can install the label for them. The recall began on March 31, 2006.
What 2006 GMC Yukon XL owners say
Stability & traction control
Codes p1516, p2135, and p0120 have returned for a third time. I was driving and my car went into reduced power mode. Luckily, I was just a mile away from home and limped my car home. I've since cleaned the mass air flow sensor and throttle body. I've changed out the tps and acceleration sensor. I've checked all my grounds and these codes keep coming back. I've noticed other people having this same issues which is why I did the steps listed above. I've taken it to a mechanic who said that I did every step they've would have done to troubleshoot this problem. Someone from GM needs to this issue, as I am not the only one that this is occurring to.
Electronic stability control activates randomly. While accelerating from a complete stop the vehicle goes into traction control or reduced engine power.stalling in the middle of intersections or at stop lights car behind expects you to move and you cant. You have to either turn car off and back on or put in netural to try and get your car to go this is a very dangerous problem that leaves you feeling helpless and no control of your vechical I pray that this is looked into before someone gets hurt I also reported this to GMC
Brakes
Full brake failure in 7/19 and again in 10/19. We were able to avoid hitting other vehicle as little traffic. Had them completely repaired both times. 1/20 brakes failed again causing us to avoid hitting other vehicles by jumping a curb and hitting a mile marker sign a parkway. That is 3 brakes failures in 7 months. Vehicle is now totaled. This seems to be a huge issue! No injuries, thank god!
While driving my SUV on the freeway, the ABS ,traction controll,brake lite on the instrument cluster started flashing and chiming. Service stability was flashing on the dic. The dealer said the ABS module needs to be replaced. There is a loss of HVAC controll ,no ac and ventillation or heating,loss of cruise control. Please advice.
Speed control & acceleration
While driving my SUV on the freeway, the ABS ,traction controll,brake lite on the instrument cluster started flashing and chiming. Service stability was flashing on the dic. The dealer said the ABS module needs to be replaced. There is a loss of HVAC controll ,no ac and ventillation or heating,loss of cruise control. Please advice.
While accelerating from a complete stop the vehicle goes into traction control for no reason stalling in the middle of the intersection. The display flashes traction active even though the pavement is dry and free of loose debris. You have to let the accelerator go and re-accelerate to deactivate the traction control, leaving you stalled in the middle of the intersection. GM had a recall for large suvs and pick-ups with a very similar problem, the only difference was the display flashed an ABS fault but the repair for that recall was exactly the same as for the traction active fault. …
2006 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 | 13 / 17 / 14 |
| 6.0L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 12 / 16 / 13 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2006 GMC Yukon XL a good car?
Based on 17 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2006 Yukon XL rates better than average: 76% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Yukon XL at the same age. 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 2006 GMC Yukon XL?
The stability & traction control — 7 complaints, 41% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the brakes (5) and speed control & acceleration (3).
How many recalls does the 2006 GMC Yukon XL have?
There are 2 recalls for the 2006 GMC Yukon XL, the most recent from August 3, 2006 (engine and engine cooling). 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 2006 GMC Yukon XL problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 108,000 miles; 33% 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.