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GMC Yukon XL 1500Model year report

2005 GMC Yukon XL 1500 Problems

Complaints
24filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
68,000miles, 23 complaints with mileage
Recalls
0campaigns on record
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
15 mpgcombined, 5.3L 8-cyl · flex-fuel RWD · 13 city / 18 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2005 GMC Yukon XL 1500 (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 24 consumer complaints for the 2005 GMC Yukon XL 1500. The part named most often is electrical system, with 10 complaints (42% of the total), followed by electronic stability control (4) and transmission and drivetrain (4). 23 of the complaints include a mileage, and 30% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 68,000 miles. Of all complaints, 1 involved a crash, 1 a fire, 2 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 130 technical service bulletins for this model year. Electrical system complaints overlap with 29 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.

This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Interior lighting (1), Other or unknown (1), Steering (1), Vehicle speed control (1).

Example complaints

Electrical system: “The control panel on my Gmc is freezing, the speedometer is freezing so I cannot tell how fast the car is going. The oil gauge has frozen and the dashboard keeps changing it light intensity from very bright to going dark when I'm driving sometimes occurring on poorly lite streets and parkways.”

NHTSA complaint #10386798, filed 2011-03, 68,000 miles

Electronic stability control: “My 2005 yukon xl will, at random, shift itself into 4 wheel lo. It happens while driving and at speeds of 30+ MPH. All of the lights on the push-button 4wd control module will light up or flash. No amount of button-pushing will disengage 4 wheel drive. I the car will slam to a 5 MPH crawl when it does this. Also the traction control system deactivates at the same time. Has happened over 40 times now.”

NHTSA complaint #10839179, filed 2016-03, 150,000 miles

Transmission and drivetrain: “While returning home from a camping trip, sudden loss of 3rd and 4th gears in transmission. We were traveling on the freeway, towing a trailer when this occurred. (the vehicle is equipped with factory tow package.) in researching this problem, I was surprised that GM has opened a couple of TSB's relating to it.”

NHTSA complaint #10345158, filed 2010-07, 66,000 miles

Tires: “The contact owns a 2005 Gmc yukon 1500 sle. The contact stated that the vehicle was being serviced by a private mechanic when the mechanic confirmed that the tire valve stems needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not contacted and the vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileages were 97,098.”

NHTSA complaint #10423054, filed 2011-09, 97,098 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

30% of the 23 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 42,000 and 124,000 miles.

9%0–100%10–2522%25–5022%50–759%75–10026%100–15013%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (23 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 68,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

2007200972010201120122013201420162017
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2005 GMC Yukon XL 1500 version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
Yukon XL 1500 AWD6.0L 8-cyl4-speed automatic121613$6,300
Yukon XL 1500 2WD5.3L 8-cyl · flex-fuel4-speed automatic131815$4,450
Yukon XL 1500 4WD5.3L 8-cyl · flex-fuel4-speed automatic131714$4,800
Yukon XL 1500 AWD5.3L 8-cyl · flex-fuel4-speed automatic131714$4,800

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 2005 GMC Yukon XL 1500 in the data used here. A recall can apply to some vehicles of a model year and not others, so check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 130 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 130 bulletins →

Other model years of the GMC Yukon XL 1500

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
2012541,2500417—Not enough data
20111259,9262—17—Not enough data
2010893,0000—16—Not enough data
20091159,7770—16—Not enough data
20081865,0000—16—Stable
20076041,6730—16Not compared (before 2008)Stable
2006519,9870—14—Not enough data
20052468,0000—15—Stable
20043675,0000—15Not compared (before 2008)Stable
20036395,0000—14Not compared (before 2008)Stable
20022396,2180—14—Stable
200129124,5060—14Not compared (before 2008)Stable
200015118,9760—14—Stable

All GMC Yukon XL 1500 model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2005 GMC Yukon XL 1500 have?

NHTSA recorded 24 consumer complaints for the 2005 GMC Yukon XL 1500 as of Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2005 GMC Yukon XL 1500 is reported most often?

Electrical system is named most often, in 10 complaints (42% of the total), followed by electronic stability control with 4.

Has the 2005 GMC Yukon XL 1500 been recalled?

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year in the data used here. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2005 GMC Yukon XL 1500 get?

The EPA rates the 2005 GMC Yukon XL 1500 (Yukon XL 1500 2WD, 5.3L 8-cyl · flex-fuel) at 15 mpg combined, 13 city and 18 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,450 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2005 GMC Yukon XL 1500 reported?

Among the 23 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 68,000 miles and the middle half falls between 42,000 and 124,000 miles; 30% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.