Most common 2020 GMC Yukon XL problems
Share of the 47 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 →
2020 GMC Yukon XL recalls (2)
Tires
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Buick Enclave, Cadillac XT4, XT5, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, Traverse, GMC Yukon, Yukon XL, 2018-2021 Chevrolet Express, GMC Savana, 2019-2020 Chevrolet Blazer, Silverado 1500, GMC Acadia, Sierra 1500, and certain Continental tires sold to the aftermarket…
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the tires, replacing them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 22, 2021.
Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery › Fuel pump
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Camaro, Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. The fuel pump may be missing a pressure regulator, allowing for over-pressurization of the fuel system.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump, free of charge. The recall began December 18, 2019. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223, Chevrolet customer service at…
What 2020 GMC Yukon XL owners say
Engine & cooling all 26 →
The contact owns a 2020 GMC Yukon XL. The contact stated that while his wife was driving approximately 65 MPH, the transmission started to slip out gear and the vehicle was losing motive power. The contact's wife had not observed any warning lights. The contact's wife drove the vehicle back to the residence and while attempting to place the vehicle in park(P), the vehicle failed to respond. The contact had the vehicle towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the contact stated while driving approximately 65 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact was able to drive the vehicle to the residence. The contact stated that while attempting to restart the vehicle, the vehicle was idling roughly with white smoke coming from the exhaust pipe. …
The contact owns a 2020 GMC Yukon XL. The contact stated that upon attempting to start the vehicle with the key fob, messages that the key fob was not connected, to put the key fob in the compartment, to push the brake, and that the battery light was low, were displayed. The contact stated that he was able to start the vehicle by pressing the Push to Start button. The contact stated that the failure occurred intermittently. Additionally, the contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the engine made an abnormally loud banging sound, and then the engine made an abnormal clunking sound that persisted while the vehicle was idling. The contact turned off the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that two pistons had separated from the engine. The dealer recommended an engine replacement. …
Transmission & drivetrain
The contact owns a 2020 GMC Yukon XL. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the temperature gauge started rising quickly. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to park on the side of the road. The vehicle was not drivable. The contact towed the vehicle to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the transmission to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but continued to experience the failure. The contact took the vehicle back to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the transmission to be replaced for a second time. The vehicle was repaired but continued to experience the failure. The contact took the vehicle back to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the transmission cooling line to be replaced. …
The contact owns a 2020 GMC Yukon XL. The contact stated that while his wife was driving approximately 65 MPH, the transmission started to slip out gear and the vehicle was losing motive power. The contact's wife had not observed any warning lights. The contact's wife drove the vehicle back to the residence and while attempting to place the vehicle in park(P), the vehicle failed to respond. The contact had the vehicle towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the contact stated while driving approximately 65 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact was able to drive the vehicle to the residence. The contact stated that while attempting to restart the vehicle, the vehicle was idling roughly with white smoke coming from the exhaust pipe. …
Brakes
I was driving down the highway, and my wife and I decided to stop at Costco to get protein bars and gas for the drive home. We also had a [redacted] old, and [redacted] in the car. As we were approaching the end of the exit ramp at approximately 30 miles per hour, the engine jerked the car two or three times then died. When it died, I lost power steering and the car slammed to a stop. The car also displayed an alert about my tow breaking system. I tried to restart it, and smoke began rising from my engine bay. I stopped trying to restart, and got my family onto the hill beside the exit while waiting for a tow. The tech at the GMC dealer stated that the engine had seized on me while driving. The cam shaft can rotate a small amount one way before getting blocked, and likewise the other way. Tech believes that the bearing is responsible, but will not be doing a tear down until September 2.
Vehicle brakes would not operate properly, increased braking effort and message displayed on instrument cluster 'service brake system'. This is the 4th time a beake issue has been experienced with a GM suburban/Yukon vehicle. First 3 were on our 2017 Chevrolet suburban premier. Also, engine just shutoff in the middle of a turn lane of a busy intersection, no other symptoms so far.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2020 GMC Yukon XL a good car?
Based on 47 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2020 Yukon XL rates use caution: 1.5× 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 2020 GMC Yukon XL?
The engine & cooling — 26 complaints, 55% of all complaints for this model year, most often about engine › crank/camshaft position sensor. Next are the transmission & drivetrain (13) and brakes (3).
How many recalls does the 2020 GMC Yukon XL have?
There are 2 recalls for the 2020 GMC Yukon XL, the most recent from February 25, 2021 (tires). 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 2020 GMC Yukon XL problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 102,000 miles; 30% 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.