2008 GMC Yukon Problems

What owners report

Complaints on this model year center on two things: cracking of the plastic dashboard, often right beside the passenger air bag opening, and a question of open passenger-side air bag inflator recalls for which owners say parts were unavailable for long stretches. A third recurring theme is power door lock actuators failing, usually one door at a time and sometimes all four. A smaller but consistent group describes the engine dropping into reduced-power mode, or the engine stalling, with stability-control warnings.

1. 1
   Air bags

   Cracked dashboard around the passenger air bag

   • 49 complaints (26%)
   • median 95,000 mi at 8.0 yrs old (29 state mileage)
   • filed 2014–2023

   Owners describe cracks appearing in the top of the dashboard, most often at the corner of the passenger air bag opening and sometimes near the instrument cluster or steering column. Some say the cracks spread quickly over days or weeks and that pieces have come loose inside the cabin. Complaints express worry that the fractured plastic could affect air bag deployment; dealers are reported to have quoted full dash replacement, with owners saying back-ordered parts and no manufacturer assistance. Reported from roughly 40,000 to 220,000 miles, including on garaged and low-mileage vehicles.

   Recall 21V050000Recall 21V052000

   What to check: Inspect the whole dash top, especially the seam at the passenger air bag, for cracks or loose edges; ask whether the dash has ever been replaced and whether the passenger inflator recall was completed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Dash has started cracking around passenger side air bag. If in an accident and the air bag is deployed I fear that myself and my passengers may be affected or harmed by the debris due to the compromised structure or the dash board. Currently in contact with Gmc via twitter to seek resolution. Vehicle is stored in a covered parking garage not effected by sunlight.”

   NHTSA complaint #10817772, filed 2016-01, 123,000 miles

   “We have 3 GM suburban and Gmc yukons that all have cracked dashes. I find it hard to believe that all 3 of ours have cracked dashes. There has got to be a problem with the dash board and GM needs to step up and do something about this before some one gets hurts. The dash boards all cracked about 10 months ago .”

   NHTSA complaint #10945854, filed 2017-01, 95,000 miles
2. 2
   Electrical system

   Reduced engine power and stalling with stability-control

   • 15 complaints (8%)
   • median 101,365 mi at 8.8 yrs old (12 state mileage)
   • filed 2008–2025

   Complaints describe the stability and traction-control lights coming on with a reduced engine power message, the throttle going unresponsive and speed dropping sharply, sometimes on the highway. Some report the engine stalling at a stop or while driving and restarting normally afterward. Dealers are said to have replaced the accelerator pedal position sensor, the chassis or body control module, or the fuel pump control module, with some owners reporting the symptom returning; others say no fault could be found. Reported from around 27,000 to 160,000 miles, in a mix of warm and cold conditions.

   Recall 10V240000Recall 08V4410002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask for any stored diagnostic codes and service history for the throttle pedal sensor, control modules and fuel pump module; a test drive should include steady highway speed and a stop-and-go stretch.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Reduced engine power intermittently and without warning vehicle will not go above 35 MPH. Has occurred five times with a different fix each time. One of the times it occurred my teenage son was driving on the interstate and had to pull over. Another time it happened my daughter was driving the vehicle and fishtailed taking a corner and had continued deceleration going up the bridge. Major safety issue!”

   NHTSA complaint #10272906, filed 2009-06, 27,279 miles

   “While traveling on the interstate at speed (70) the stabilitrac light came on and reduced engine power message displayed. The RPM's went over 4k, then the Yukon slowed in traffic and I had to pull to the side before being run over. The accelerator was unresponsive at that time. I turned off the engine, waited about 5 minutes and then resumed driving using '3' to engage transmission instead of 'd' the check engine light remained on, but I made it to my destination 2 hours away.”

   NHTSA complaint #10703073, filed 2015-04, 108,730 miles
3. 3
   Latches, locks and linkages

   Power door lock actuators fail

   • 22 complaints (12%)
   • median 39,600 mi at 3.7 yrs old (15 state mileage)
   • filed 2009–2019

   Owners describe doors that stop locking or unlocking with the key fob or the dash switch and have to be worked by hand. Complaints commonly mention one door failing first and the others following, sometimes all four. Dealers are reported to have diagnosed failed actuators and replaced them, with some repairs covered under warranty and later ones quoted at the owner's expense; at least one owner reports a replaced actuator failing again. Mostly reported between about 27,000 and 90,000 miles, with one at roughly 39,000 miles.

   What to check: Cycle the lock and unlock buttons and the remote on every door several times and watch for slow or dead actuators; ask whether any actuators have already been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “2008 Gmc Yukon door actuators going out repeatedly. I have to manually unlock the door instead of being able to use my key remote as the drivers side and 2 passenger doors have gone out. This becomes a safety issue as I am at my business until 9pm and would like to unlock my door by remote.”

   NHTSA complaint #10361264, filed 2010-10, 34,000 miles

   “I own a 2008 Gmc Yukon. The vehicle has power door locks and the actuator on the door locks has gone out on all four doors. They replaced the first 3 under warranty, but they would not do it on the last one as vehicle was out of warranty. My son helped me install a new one in the last one, but we had to buy the parts. My sorry dealership wanted $300 to fix something that is obviously flawed in the first place. The door lock has now gone out again on a back door that they had already fixed, supposedly they will repair this one free of charge. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10368039, filed 2010-11, 52,000 miles
4. 4
   Air bags

   Passenger air bag inflator recall not completed

   • 59 complaints (32%)
   • median 89,995 mi at 8.6 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2014–2026

   Owners report receiving recall notices for the passenger-side inflator and then being told by dealers that the replacement part was not available, in some cases for years. Several say a dealer would not take the vehicle on trade because of the open recall, and others describe the air bag warning light staying on after a recall repair. A few complaints describe air bags deploying without a crash, with a dealer pointing to a sensor. Reported across a wide mileage range, from very low mileage to about 185,000 miles.

   Recall 21V050000Recall 21V052000

   What to check: Ask for written confirmation that the passenger inflator recall was performed, and check the air bag warning light with the ignition on; an open recall may show up on a vehicle history report.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I am reporting that Gmc will not replace the faulty air bags in my 2008 Yukon. I am the original owner, and have repeatedly taken the vehicle to the Gmc dealer to have the air bag recall taken care of, but they have not done so. Now I am ready to sell the vehicle and am being told that the value of the vehicle is going to be less because of the open recall. This shows up on carfax. I seem to have no recourse.”

   NHTSA complaint #11365818, filed 2020-10, 10 miles

   “Gm recalled vehicles for air bag problems model years 08-13. My Yukon is an 08 however, not recalled as well?? I'm not sure what GM is trying to pull. I thought they were turning a leaf here by recalling all vehicles with potential major safety issues. Apparently not.”

   NHTSA complaint #10574106, filed 2014-03, 75,000 miles
5. 5
   Electrical system

   Electrical shutdowns, no-starts and stalling

   • 22 complaints (12%)
   • median 85,000 mi at 9.4 yrs old (15 state mileage)
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2008–2026

   Owners describe the vehicle losing all electrical power briefly, with the dash going dark and the engine quitting, then restarting normally. Others report intermittent no-start conditions where a dealer replaced the battery more than once or could not reproduce the problem, and one complaint describes an electrical short and fire behind the instrument panel. A few hybrid-equipped owners describe lurching, stalling and loss of power steering or brakes. Reported from very low mileage up to about 200,000 miles, with several under 40,000 miles.

   Recall 10V240000Recall 08V4410002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check the battery, ground and cable condition and ask whether the heated washer fluid system recall was completed; note the service history for repeated battery or no-start complaints.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “On all 4 occasions, the 2008 Yukon hybrid, lunges forward at low speeds, looses brakes, power steering and all power. Every time it has to be towed to the dealer. This has happened 4 times since august 2008. The first time there was a fire in the fuse box, then while the dealer had the vehicle, it caught on fire again. The dealer keeps telling me that it is fixed and safe to drive. The Yukon is back at the dealer and I am not taking it back. This vehicle is very dangerous and the government needs to look into this right away. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10257281, filed 2009-02, 6,350 miles

   “I have had multiple problems with my 2008 Gmc Yukon. It first started with my radio cutting on and off. I have been to the dealer 3 times and they can't reproduce the problem. I have had the warning light come on alerting me that I have an open hood, unloosen fuel cap,and the engine light has come on and remained on for several days. Lately the alarm has been going off 5 times to date. I have notified the dealer but I don't feel that it is getting me anywhere. I have delivered it to them three times and have had them check it out twice. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10239688, filed 2008-08, 5,000 miles

Buying note. Check the dashboard carefully around the passenger air bag and confirm in writing that the passenger inflator recall has been completed, since owners report long waits for parts. Test every power lock and drive the vehicle long enough to see whether it ever drops into reduced engine power or loses electrical power.

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.