GMC Yukon 2000–2006
2nd generation · GMT800 (GMT820/830)
NHTSA data through 12 August 20261,231 complaints, 787 with mileageMethod
On this generation, failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 43,000 and 123,600 miles.
- Rest of the range
- Median
- 200,000+ — 47 complaints (6.0%), plotted separately
- 10%
- 17,305
- 25%
- 43,000
- Median
- 76,000
- 75%
- 123,600
- 90%
- 170,000
Show the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0–10,000 | 62 | 7.9% |
| 10,000–20,000 | 23 | 2.9% |
| 20,000–30,000 | 43 | 5.5% |
| 30,000–40,000 | 55 | 7.0% |
| 40,000–50,000 | 54 | 6.9% |
| 50,000–60,000 | 59 | 7.5% |
| 60,000–70,000 | 60 | 7.6% |
| 70,000–80,000 | 56 | 7.1% |
| 80,000–90,000 | 53 | 6.7% |
| 90,000–100,000 | 37 | 4.7% |
| 100,000–110,000 | 42 | 5.3% |
| 110,000–120,000 | 32 | 4.1% |
| 120,000–130,000 | 35 | 4.4% |
| 130,000–140,000 | 25 | 3.2% |
| 140,000–150,000 | 30 | 3.8% |
| 150,000–160,000 | 24 | 3.0% |
| 160,000–170,000 | 17 | 2.2% |
| 170,000–180,000 | 16 | 2.0% |
| 180,000–190,000 | 11 | 1.4% |
| 190,000–200,000 | 6 | 0.8% |
| 200,000+ | 47 | 6.0% |
What this can and cannot tell you: these are complaints owners chose to file, not a failure rate. Popular models accumulate more of them simply by being common. How this is built.
Owners filed 1,231 complaints with NHTSA about the 2000–2006 GMC Yukon, and 787 of them record the mileage at which the failure happened. That is enough to show not just what fails, but when.
Failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 43,000 and 123,600 miles. The median is 76,000 miles.
The most-reported areas are the electrical system (14.8% of complaints, typically around 69,000 miles), the hydraulic brake circuit (13.6% of complaints, typically around 61,000 miles), the brakes (12.2% of complaints, typically around 130,000 miles).
What fails, and when
- Electrical system69,000median 68,702 miles, middle half 48,000 to 99,000
- Hydraulic brake circuit61,000median 60,798 miles, middle half 39,000 to 92,000
- Brakes130,000median 130,500 miles, middle half 101,000 to 166,000
- Airbag system83,000median 83,000 miles, middle half 38,000 to 142,000
- Tyres38,000median 38,054 miles, middle half 24,000 to 69,000
- Steering47,000median 47,000 miles, middle half 27,000 to 96,000
- Transmission and driveline50,000median 50,000 miles, middle half 13,000 to 81,000
| System | Complaints | Share | Median | 25–75% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 182 | 14.8% | 69,000 | 48,000–99,000 |
| Hydraulic brake circuit | 168 | 13.6% | 61,000 | 39,000–92,000 |
| Brakes | 150 | 12.2% | 130,000 | 101,000–166,000 |
| Airbag system | 70 | 5.7% | 83,000 | 38,000–142,000 |
| Tyres | 63 | 5.1% | 38,000 | 24,000–69,000 |
| Steering | 54 | 4.4% | 47,000 | 27,000–96,000 |
| Transmission and driveline | 54 | 4.4% | 50,000 | 13,000–81,000 |
| Fuel system | 49 | 4.0% | 62,000 | 28,000–87,000 |
| Visibility equipment | 47 | 3.8% | 55,000 | 18,000–97,000 |
| Throttle and speed control | 43 | 3.5% | 63,000 | 38,000–101,000 |
Which systems, and when
Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 76,000 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
The electrical system accounts for 14.8% of complaints (182 reports, 127 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 68,702 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 48,500 and 99,000 miles.
The hydraulic brake circuit accounts for 13.6% of complaints (168 reports, 123 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 60,798 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 39,000 and 92,000 miles.
The brakes account for 12.2% of complaints (150 reports, 140 of them with a mileage figure), and they fail late — a median of 130,500 miles, considerably beyond the vehicle's overall median. That pattern is consistent with normal service life rather than a defect, though it matters for anyone buying an example already near that mileage. The middle half of these reports falls between 101,200 and 165,895 miles.
The airbag system accounts for 5.7% of complaints (70 reports, 36 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 83,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 38,000 and 142,000 miles.
The tyres account for 5.1% of complaints (63 reports, 17 of them with a mileage figure), and they fail early — a median of 38,054 miles, well before the vehicle's overall median. Failures clustered this far below the rest of the car usually point to a design or manufacturing problem rather than wear, because wear does not selectively target one system on low-mileage examples. The middle half of these reports falls between 24,000 and 69,000 miles.
The steering accounts for 4.4% of complaints (54 reports, 33 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails early — a median of 47,000 miles, well before the vehicle's overall median. Failures clustered this far below the rest of the car usually point to a design or manufacturing problem rather than wear, because wear does not selectively target one system on low-mileage examples. The middle half of these reports falls between 27,200 and 95,671 miles.
Differences between model years
Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 2001 model year drew the most — 258 complaints — while 2006 drew the fewest at 49. The median year sits at 187.
Recalls and what they cover
No recall campaigns covering this generation appear in NHTSA's post-2010 recall file. That is not the same as an absence of problems — recalls address safety defects specifically, and many of the complaints above concern faults that are expensive or annoying without meeting that threshold.
Reported severity
Of the 1,231 complaints filed against this generation, 92 reported a crash; 11 reported a fire; 98 reported an injury; 3 reported a fatality. Crash-involved reports represent 7.5% of the total.
These are owner-reported outcomes, not verified investigations, and they are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. They are included because the distinction between a fault that strands a car and a fault that causes a collision is the one that matters most, and it is not visible in a complaint count alone.
What this means if you are buying one
For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 43,000 and 123,600 miles, with a median of 76,000. There is no single mileage threshold to watch, which means condition and maintenance records are more informative than the odometer.
On inspection, the electrical system and the hydraulic brake circuit are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. The hydraulic brake circuit in particular shows a median failure mileage of 60,798, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.
None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.
Documented problems
Instrument Cluster 2003–2006 primarily
Instrument cluster gauge stepper motor failure: needles read incorrectly, stick, or die entirely — speedometer and fuel gauge most often. GM offered extended coverage on the affected clusters. Earlier 1999-2002 clusters use air-core movements and fail less often than the 2003-2006 stepper-motor units.
Engine - Intake Manifold 2000–2002
Early-production 4.8L/5.3L plastic lower intake manifold and gasket seepage allowing coolant into the oil.
Steering 2000–2006
Intermediate steering shaft wear producing a clunk or knock felt through the wheel on turn-in; addressed by GM bulletins and a redesigned shaft.
Transmission 2000–2006
4L60-E/4L65-E harsh shifting from a cracked 1-2 accumulator piston, and 3-4 clutch wear.
By model year
| Year | Complaints | With mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 199 | 67 |
| 2001 | 258 | 124 |
| 2002 | 187 | 128 |
| 2003 | 251 | 194 |
| 2004 | 186 | 146 |
| 2005 | 101 | 89 |
| 2006 | 49 | 39 |
What owners reported
The parking brake on my 2000 Yukon would not hold the vehicle when the parking brake was applied and the transmission was in neutral. This condition existed when i bought the vehicle new. When i took it back to have the problem fixed, i was told this vehicle has a new type parking brake. It was not designed to hold…
2000 · 100 miles · Parking brake
Rear seat belts in 2000 GMC yukons fail to retract, providing no safety for children in the rear seat when seated in child restraint seats that are not semi-permanently mounted in the rear with the seat belt threaded through them. Child seats that use the seat belt as the primary restraining device are useless when…
2000 · 2,500 miles · Seat belts
My 2000 Yukon has had problems with the engine stalling during braking and turns since i bought it in 2001 with 10,000 miles on it. I took it in to the dealership several times while still under warranty and i was given the run around. The problem is now severe and has almost caused me to crash more times than you…
2000 · 10,000 miles · Transmission and driveline
Ref present recall on 1999-2002 chevy & GMC silverado, Yukon light trucks. I notice that rust is the factor in the anti-lock sensor recall. I would like to further add that rust is also responsible for breakdown in entire braking system. I have a 2000 Yukon with 26000 miles that has extreme rust decay to rear axle…
2000 · 26,000 miles · Hydraulic brake circuit
Built from 787 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-08-12 · open data · reproduce this page