2000 GMC Yukon Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often write about the brakes: unwanted or intermittent anti-lock activity at low speed, and brake pipes that corrode and eventually leak. Fuel pump failures and several smaller patterns (airbag warning lights, seat hardware and belt retractor problems, window regulators) also come up. Reports are spread evenly from very low mileage to well past 150,000 miles, so many of these are age- and corrosion-related rather than early-life faults.

1. 1
   Brakes

   ABS activates or locks up at low speed

   Mentioned in 14 of 60 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe the anti-lock system engaging on dry pavement during the last few feet of a stop, or at walking pace in parking lots and turns, with the pedal dropping and stopping distance getting longer; some report the brakes locking and holding. Several owners say a dealer applied the 2005 ABS recall or replaced a wheel speed sensor, and that the behavior returned afterward; others were told their vehicle was not covered. A few owners removed the ABS fuse to get consistent braking. Reported from roughly 24,000 to 200,000 miles, most often during low-speed stops and turns.

   Recall 05V379000

   What to check: Drive it at walking pace in a lot and brake repeatedly; feel for pedal pulsing or a drop and listen for the ABS pump running. Ask whether the ABS recall work was done and whether wheel speed sensors were replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My Gmc Yukon experienced total brake failure. My wife was driving with our 3 month old son and luckily she was able to stop off of the side of the road in a field. When I arrived, I found a puddle of fluid under the driver side seat from badly corroded steel brake lines. After only a few minutes of online researching, I have found thousands of similar stories; some of which ended much worse. Clearly this is a quality and safety issue.”

   NHTSA complaint #10451124, filed 2012-03, 75,000 miles

   “At slow braking speeds {at 5 MPH} the ABS brakes go off every time you stop. When coasting through a parking lot at 5 MPH, when the brakes go off they lock up and they do not let go. When they lock up, and your cannot stop or control the braking, you run into the cars parked in front of me. My wife will not drive this vehichle any more because she cannot control the stopping. I removed the fuses that control the ABS braking so that I can control my braking.”

   NHTSA complaint #10125324, filed 2005-06, 85,000 miles
2. 2
   Brakes

   Corroded brake lines leak and pedal drops

   • 11 complaints (7%)
   • median 155,000 mi at 13.0 yrs old (11 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2004–2014

   Owners describe the pedal suddenly going to the floor with no warning, sometimes at speed and sometimes while parking, then finding brake fluid under the vehicle. In most accounts a shop or dealer found the steel or aluminum brake lines rusted through and replaced them, often the full set. Several complaints link the corrosion to road salt; a few note rusted backing plates and rotors as well. Mostly from about 60,000 miles upward, frequently on vehicles driven in salted-road areas.

   Recall 00V3450005 related service bulletins

   What to check: Have the brake lines inspected from below for rust and wet spots, especially along the frame, and ask whether they have been replaced. Check the fluid level and look for drips after the vehicle has sat.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was just backing up to hitch a trailer when the brake pedal went to the floor, thankfuly it happened before I hooked the trailer as I would certainly have had an accident towing a trailer with no brakes! I looked under the vehicle and saw it was leaking brake fluid toward the driver side rear door, brake line had burst.”

   NHTSA complaint #10508978, filed 2013-04, 186,000 miles

   “Coming to a stop and brake pedal went to floor....my vehicle then rolled into intersection causing an accident when the other vehicle collided with the front of my vehicle. Further investigation found brake line burst. To remedy situation I replaced all brake lines.”

   NHTSA complaint #10609672, filed 2014-07, 155,000 miles
3. 3
   Air bags

   Airbag warning light and non-deployment

   • 15 complaints (9%)
   • median 83,500 mi at 6.3 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2000–2011

   Owners report the airbag light coming on intermittently, with a dealer finding codes and, in some cases, no fix. Several complaints describe frontal impacts where the airbags did not deploy, and one describes a side curtain airbag deploying while the vehicle was stopped. The sensing module is mentioned in one account as the suspected cause. Scattered across the range, from near-new to around 100,000 miles.

   Recall 02V178000

   What to check: Confirm the airbag light comes on at startup and goes out. Ask whether the airbag sensing module recall was performed and whether any stored airbag codes have been read.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My husband was driving our 2000 Yukon a week and a half ago, and while completely stopped at a stop sign not two miles from our home, the passenger side curtain airbag deployed. No one was in the passenger seat at the time, and thankfully no one was injured, however I am incredibly worried about the integrity of the vehicles safety. I have two children in car seats, and my infant son sits directly behind the passenger seat in a rear facing car seat. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10408670, filed 2011-06, 101,749 miles

   “Problems with air bag light coming on intermittently. Codes were found for the left front side air bag and a recall was found regarding this issue but the VIN number was not included.”

   NHTSA complaint #10050490, filed 2003-12, 196 miles
4. 4
   Fuel system

   Fuel pump failure and stalling

   • 8 complaints (5%)
   • median 78,000 mi at 5.9 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2000–2008

   Complaints describe the engine cutting out or losing power while driving, at times leaving the vehicle to be towed, with the dealer or shop identifying a failed fuel pump. Some owners report repeat failures, and one reports fuel leaking from the pump area. Others describe a fuel gauge that reads empty when the tank is full or drops and recovers over bumps. Reported from about 30,000 to 130,000 miles, both at highway speed and at low speed.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask whether the fuel pump has been replaced and with what part. Note gauge behavior on a full tank and listen for a pump whine; a long crank or hesitation is worth investigating.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My 2000 Yukon's fuel pump failed while driving our family on hwy 94 east. The vehicle was towed to the service station who happened to have approx. 20 failed fuel pump modules and assured me that they will install the upgraded pump that does not burn when the vehicle operated with low fuel level!!! I googled the failure and came to your recall 05v155000 and the GM 05027 but Gmc does not honor it for my VIN number??? …”

   NHTSA complaint #10240211, filed 2008-08, 120,000 miles

   “- inaccurate fuel level readings everytime the gas tank is full - anytime the truck is driven or in park it shows the empty and the low fuel light will come on and stays on until the vehicle is driven over a bump or something. - I looked on line and I noticed that there has been already a service recall issued but not for the Yukon, its for the Yukon xl however I contacted Gmc and I explained that I am experiencing the same issue as the xl, there response was that there is no recall been issued for the Yukon. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10141914, filed 2005-11, 78,000 miles

Buying note. On this model year, spend the most time on the brakes: check for rusted lines and test the ABS at low speed, and ask for records of recall work. A fuel pump or window service history is also worth having before you buy.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.