Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2011 GMC Yukon XL owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Tl* Takata recall. The contact owns a 2011 GMC Yukon XL. The contact stated while starting vehicle, the air bag warning indicator light illuminated. The contact detected an abnormal burning odor in vehicle. The contact received NHTSA campaign number: 16V381000 (air bags). The contact stated the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact called yates Buick GMC 13845 w test dr, Goodyear, az 85338 [phone] who stated the remedy parts were not available. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 100,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
The dashboard has spontaneously cracked in two locations after sitting in our garage. A 6" crack has no formed over the curved instrument cluster display on driver side and a 1" crack has occurred near the air bag cover corner on passenger side. These cracks are similar in location and size to others that have been reported on GMC yukons. Started noticing the crack in August of 2020. I have received a recall on passenger side airbag.
The dashboard has large cracks over the instrument cluster and in the area of the passenger air bag. The dash flops up and down when driving. Concern is crack could prevent passenger air bag from deploring during a accident or ripping the air bag at deployment. Also liquid could accidentally go thru crack over instrument cluster causing electrical short or fire. The crack continues to get larger and larger.
Takata recall the service air bag light comes on when I turn on the car and will not turn off. The dashboard where the airbag is located is cracked. If the airbag releases, the dashboard could fly up and slice the passenger or even the driver. There has not been a collision, but this must be addressed soon! Please help.
Takata recall. I received a recall notice from GMC for the Takata airbag recall. I phoned conley Chevrolet in bradenton, fl to schedule the repair and was informed that general motors does not have a remedy for the recall. I asked fro a timeline and the service manager told me general motors does not have a timeline.
Dash is cracking badly on its own. Is cracking also where airbag is held. Pieces can fly as projectiles and cause bodily harm when airbag deploys.
Tl* Takata recall. The contact owns a 2011 GMC Yukon XL. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16V381000 (air bags). The part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact called master Buick GMC (3710 washington rd, augusta, ga 30907) and was informed that the part to do the repair was unavailable. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Tl* Takata recall. The contact owns a 2011 GMC Yukon XL. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16V381000 (air bags). The part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer confirmed that the parts were not available. The manufacturer was not informed. The VIN was invalid. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available. Updated 07/11/17 updated 10/13/2017
Tl* Takata recall. The contact owns a 2011 GMC Yukon XL. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16V381000 (air bags). The contact called two dealers, including f.c. Kerbeck Buick GMC at [phone] (located at 100 rte 73 n, palmyra, nj 08065) and was informed that the parts were not available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and was not able to confirm when the parts were to become available. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Tl* Takata recall. The contact owns a 2011 GMC Yukon XL. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16V381000 (air bags). The part was not available within a reasonable time frame to schedule the recall repair. The dealer did not give a specific date for when the part would become available. The manufacturer could not provide an estimated date for when the contacts vehicle would receive the recall repair. The contact was not experiencing a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Related recalls
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 investigations
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.
Airbag complaints in other Yukon XL years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2011 GMC Yukon XL?
NHTSA has 21 complaints about the air bags of the 2011 GMC Yukon XL, 45% of the model year's 47 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2011 GMC Yukon XL airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 21V-050 (inflator module, Feb 5, 2021); NHTSA recall 21V-054 (inflator module, Feb 5, 2021). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2011 GMC Yukon XL airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 100,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 1 fire and 0 injuries to air bags problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.