Most common 2013 GMC Yukon XL problems
Share of the 22 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 →
2013 GMC Yukon XL recalls (4)
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 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.
Electrical system
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Cadillac CTS, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL, and 2014 Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Express, Impala, Silverado HD, Traverse, GMC Acadia, Savana, and Sierra HD vehicles.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the chassis electronic module, free of charge. The recall began on December 26, 2014.
Power train › Automatic transmission
General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, and Escalade EXT; Chevrolet Avalanche, Express, Silverado HD, Silverado LD, Suburban, and Tahoe; and GMC Savana, Sierra HD, Sierra LD, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles, manufactured between November 7, 2012, through December 18, 2012, for…
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the affected vehicles and replace the steering column as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on January 21, 2013. Chevrolet owners may call 1-800-630-2438.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2013 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 2013 GMC Yukon XL owners say
Body & structure
2013 Yukon XL was found to have excessive rust on the frame and other parts underneath the vehicle during an annual inspection. The wax coating if flaking off the frame leaving bare metal that quickly rusts. GM claims that the damage is environmental and the issues is the salt used on pa roads. If this is the case, then GM should warn all customers that their vehicles are not built to last in the state of pa and that they will not honor their warranty. None of our other vehicles are rusting. Their are many other people complaining about the same issues and the problem has been noted to start during the first year of ownership before going through the winter. They have not properly coated the frame to withstand rust. I had to pay for undercoating now to rectify the problem. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 GMC Yukon XL. The contact stated that the dashboard was cracked on the front driver's side. The failure occurred without warning. The contact called and took the vehicle to countryside Chevrolet Buick GMC (n8167 kellom rd, beaver dam, wi 53916, [phone]) where the technician took pictures of the failure and stated that the dashboard needed to be replaced at the owner's expense. The manufacturer stated that there was no recall and the vehicle was out of warranty. The manufacturer referred the contact to NHTSA. The failure was not repaired. The failure mileage was 82,000.
Air bags
The contact owns a 2013 GMC Yukon XL. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V053000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The dealer informed the contact that should the dashboard get cracked, replacing the dashboard would be at his expense. The contact called another local dealer, Cannon Motors LLC (100 N Thacker Lp., Oxford, MS 38655), who informed the contact about the dashboard possibly being cracked and the associated fees. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 156,000. Parts distribution disconnect.
Crack in dash in front of steering wheel. May effect safety of airbags were to deploy. The vehicle was stationary. The crack appeared without any force or trauma to the area.
2013 GMC Yukon XL engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5.3L 8-cyl | 6-speed automatic | RWD | 15 / 21 / 17 |
| 5.3L 8-cyl | 6-speed automatic | 4WD | 15 / 21 / 17 |
| 6.2L 8-cyl | 6-speed automatic | RWD | 14 / 18 / 16 |
| 6.2L 8-cyl | 6-speed automatic | AWD | 13 / 18 / 14 |
| 6.0L 8-cyl | 6-speed automatic | RWD | 10 / 16 / 12 |
| 6.0L 8-cyl | 6-speed automatic | 4WD | 10 / 16 / 12 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2013 GMC Yukon XL a good car?
Based on 22 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2013 Yukon XL rates better than average: 42% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Yukon XL at the same age. It is one of the best Yukon XL years by this measure. 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 2013 GMC Yukon XL?
The body & structure — 10 complaints, 45% of all complaints for this model year, most often about body. Next are the air bags (5) and brakes (1).
How many recalls does the 2013 GMC Yukon XL have?
There are 4 recalls for the 2013 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 2013 GMC Yukon XL problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 65,000 miles; 24% 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.