Most common 2010 GMC Yukon XL problems
Share of the 28 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 →
2010 GMC Yukon XL recalls (3)
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2013 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, and Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Silverado 2500/3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Sierra 2500/3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida,…
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on February 24, 2021.
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2007-2011 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, Yukon XL, and 2009-2011 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, GMC Sierra 2500 and Sierra 3500 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in…
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on February 22, 2021.
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 2500, Sierra 3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of AL, CA, FL, GA, HI, LA, MS, SC, TX, PR, AS, GU, the MP, and VI or "Zone…
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on February 25, 2021.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2010 GMC Yukon XL:
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited.
What 2010 GMC Yukon XL owners say
Air bags
I was in a head-on collision (T-bone) going over 40 mph. Despite the severity of the collision no airbags deployed and both front seatbelts failed. Error Codes: B0052:00 Deployment commanded; B0015:04 Driver seat belt buckle tensioner deployment loop open; B0022:04 Passenger seat belt buckle tensioner deployment loop open. I have a police report but it exceeds the 10mb limit.
Was driving down the road approached a corner hit a icy spot then dry spot spun me around and went into the ditch. Side air bags deployed. Did not hit any object or roll the vehicle. Also did not know anything about current recall on air bags for my vehicle.
Engine & cooling
2010 Yukon XL slt 4wd with 5.3l v8 at 122,000 mi. The vehicle was in motion traveling at approximately 55 MPH on highway. Check engine light illuminated, then check stabilitrack, then engine power reduced.
While driving the "reduced engine power" alert popped up and the engine had no power. The car started to jump. Along with the "reduced engine power" alert there was also a "stabilitrak indicator light" that also came on. We pulled over and shut the engine off waited a few minutes and restarted it. On Tuesday 10/12 the same thing happened again while driving. Thankfully, we were on our street and got it back to the driveway without any incidents.
Body & structure
Cracked Dash - multiple cracks around the airbag module, made worse by airbag module replacement. Scared that if the air bags ever go off, the dash will shatter, throwing shrapnel all over the occupants.
I got in my car to take my kids to school and notice the hub above the steering wheel was cracked going down and connected to a second spot that was also cracked in a prong pattern. It was not cracked the afternoon before when I picked up my children from school.
2010 GMC Yukon XL engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5.3L 8-cyl | 6-speed automatic | RWD | 15 / 21 / 17 |
| 6.2L 8-cyl | 6-speed automatic | RWD | 14 / 20 / 16 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2010 GMC Yukon XL a good car?
Based on 28 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2010 Yukon XL rates better than average: 50% 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 2010 GMC Yukon XL?
The air bags — 15 complaints, 54% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the engine & cooling (3) and body & structure (3).
How many recalls does the 2010 GMC Yukon XL have?
There are 3 recalls for the 2010 GMC Yukon XL, the most recent from February 5, 2021 (inflator module). 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 2010 GMC Yukon XL problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 118,000 miles; 0% 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.