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GMC Yukon XLModel year report

2009 GMC Yukon XL Problems

Complaints
23filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
53,500miles, 16 complaints with mileage
Recalls
5campaigns on record
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2009 GMC Yukon XL (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 23 consumer complaints for the 2009 GMC Yukon XL. The part named most often is air bags, with 10 complaints (43% of the total), followed by other or unknown (7) and engine (3). 16 of the complaints include a mileage, and 50% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 53,500 miles. Of all complaints, 2 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns and 1,244 technical service bulletins for this model year. Air bags complaints overlap with 3 recall campaigns covering the inflator module and 9 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Other or unknown complaints overlap with 33 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: Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (1), Wheels (1).

Example complaints

Air bags: “Dash is cracked beside passenger airbag. Gm stated that nobody has died yet, so they will not issue a recall. The dash is brittle and cracking more every day. When the airbag deploys, I am terrified that dash shrapnel will be thrown into my children's faces. The crack occurred overnight, when the car was garage kept.”

NHTSA complaint #10863388, filed 2016-05, 46,000 miles

Other or unknown: “While driving from ga to la on christmas eve, my Yukon Xl went into reduced engine power and lost traction control and antilock brakes. The car almost instantly dropped from 72mph to 45mph and the check engine and traction control warning lights came on. I was advised by onstar to pull the car over and turn it off for a few minutes. When I started it again, power was restored, but the check engine warning light remained. I was advised that the car would probably do the same thing and that I should have it serviced immediately, on the next business day, which was monday december 27th. …”

NHTSA complaint #10372627, filed 2010-12, 26,300 miles

Engine: “We just took in to have vehicle looked and and said it was first the electrical and now is the membrane of the vehicle, causing the remote start and engine light to not work. Also causing the vehicle to cut out due to a problem in the fuel system. Looking up the VIN I see some of these vehicle has this issue but doesn't show under my VIN. Also have been told using tons of oil and this has been seen with the Gmc yukons. We just had a very expensive visit to the shop and want to know why this particular issues are not covered under the recalls for my vehicles VIN. …”

NHTSA complaint #11321076, filed 2020-04, 136,000 miles

Body and structure: “The chrome door handles in the SUV are pealing and the material will cut your hand. Both my wife and I have received cuts from these handles. From reading on line it appears that this a problem with a lot of the GM suvs'. I read that you started looking into this but I can't find where there was any conclusion. The dealer is happy to replace these if I am willing to pay for it, but will no guarantee that the new ones won't have the same problem.”

NHTSA complaint #10520834, filed 2013-06, 90,100 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

50% of the 16 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 29,000 and 120,000 miles.

0%0–1019%10–2531%25–5013%50–756%75–10025%100–1506%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (16 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 53,500 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

2010201320152017201952021
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.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2009 GMC Yukon XL. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
Yukon XL · sedan RWD/AWDnot rated5 / 5——3 · 23.7% risk

Ratings before the 2011 model year come from an older, less demanding test and are not comparable with ratings for 2011 and later.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2009 GMC Yukon XL → · Check a 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. 1,244 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 1,244 bulletins →

Other model years of the GMC Yukon XL

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
2026402,6503517Too new to compareToo new
20252833,5001517Too new to compareToo new
20247524,0002417Too new to compareToo new
202322646,7304417100 · MoreToo new
202217460,995441784 · MoreRising
202123065,00012417100 · MoreRising
20204786,00024—17 · FewerRising
201968102,19424—28 · FewerRising
20185638,71424—35 · FewerRising
201714754,49814—61 · TypicalStable
201620255,30034—93 · MoreFalling
201530870,00024—74 · MoreFalling
20141152,0003417—Not enough data
20132265,0004416—Rising
20121395,0004—12—Not enough data
20114772,2003——0 · FewerFalling
201028108,4613——0 · FewerFalling
20092353,5005———Falling
200869110,1654——2 · FewerFalling
200797100,0004——Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200617103,8842———Falling
20054268,5005——Not compared (before 2008)Falling
20048745,5003——Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200310270,0003——Not compared (before 2008)Falling
20029563,3501——Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200112062,0004——Not compared (before 2008)Falling
20006969,0006——Not compared (before 2008)Rising

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

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2009 GMC Yukon XL have?

NHTSA recorded 23 consumer complaints for the 2009 GMC Yukon XL as of Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2009 GMC Yukon XL is reported most often?

Air bags is named most often, in 10 complaints (43% of the total), followed by other or unknown with 7.

Has the 2009 GMC Yukon XL been recalled?

NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

At what mileage are problems with the 2009 GMC Yukon XL reported?

Among the 16 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 53,500 miles and the middle half falls between 29,000 and 120,000 miles; 50% 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. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program.

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.