2009 GMC Yukon Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often report a cracked hard-plastic dashboard, particularly around the passenger airbag and above the steering column, and many frame it as a concern for airbag deployment. The second large theme is the Takata passenger-side airbag inflator recall, which many owners say went unrepaired for years because parts were unavailable. Remaining reports are scattered: door-handle chrome peeling, electrical faults, fuel pump control module failures, and power steering loss, mostly in the 70,000-160,000 mile range.

1. 1
   Body and structure

   Cracked dashboard around the passenger airbag

   • 42 complaints (45%)
   • median 79,800 mi at 7.0 yrs old (28 state mileage)
   • filed 2013–2025

   Complaints describe cracks appearing in the hard plastic dashboard, most often at the corners of the passenger airbag cover, above the steering column, and along the top of the dash. Owners say the cracks often appeared while the vehicle was parked and spread over time, and many worry that loose or sharp plastic could affect airbag deployment or become debris in a crash. According to the complaints, dealers generally quoted an out-of-pocket dashboard replacement rather than covering it. Mostly reported between about 25,000 and 160,000 miles, often on vehicles parked outside in sun.

   What to check: Inspect the top of the dash closely around the passenger airbag seam and above the instrument cluster for hairline cracks; ask whether the dash has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The dashboard is cracked in several places. The worst cracks are over the instrument panel but there are cracks touching the air bag cover. It seems I find a new crack about every few months. Besides being a faulty piece of equipment I feel this could be a safety issue if pieces of the plastic dash should start falling into the electronic components under the dash.”

   NHTSA complaint #10763077, filed 2015-09, 54,000 miles

   “About 38 months after purchasing my 2009 Yukon my dash cracker from the passenger side to the driver side. I call the dealership and reported the issues and Gmc told me that it was a cost that I had to absorb. Since this has happened my airbag warning light and service airbag light comes on when driving more than 60 minutes.”

   NHTSA complaint #11407713, filed 2021-04, 72,000 miles
2. 2
   Air bags

   Passenger airbag inflator recall not completed

   • 22 complaints (23%)
   • median 79,000 mi at 8.1 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2013–2025

   Many complaints are about the passenger-side airbag inflator recall rather than a failure: owners say they were notified but the dealer had no parts, and some report waiting years without a remedy. A few describe the airbag warning light coming on or flashing, and one reports airbags not deploying in a crash. Complaints frequently mention that the vehicle is parked outside in hot climates. Reported from 2016 through 2025, with many owners noting multi-year waits for parts.

   Recall 21V050000Recall 21V053000Recall 21V052000

   What to check: Ask for proof that the passenger airbag inflator recall was completed; check the airbag warning light at startup and confirm the recall status by VIN.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “'tamara recall' recall on passenger air bag in 2016. Never got it fixed because they never had a replacement. Even on 8/29/2018 checked to see if they had a replacement for the 2009 Yukon which no. As of today, january 08, 2019 no replacement for the passenger airbag so far.”

   NHTSA complaint #11165899, filed 2019-01, 78,000 miles

   “Takata inflator recall. Crack in dashboard near passenger side airbag. Service airbag light comes on when vehicle is started. No recall on this vehicle based only on the fact of where it was purchased. Car is in florida approx. 4 months in winter. Even in new york during the rest of the year the sun shining thru the window creates severe heating of dashboard . Vehicle is not garaged. My main concern is whether this car should be driven”

   NHTSA complaint #11124590, filed 2018-09, 91,000 miles
3. 3
   Electrical system

   Electrical faults: battery drain and stalling

   • 10 complaints (11%)
   • median 80,621 mi at 5.8 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2011–2022

   Complaints describe intermittent electrical failures: repeated battery failures, lights dimming, and in some cases the engine stalling or shutting down while driving and restarting. Owners report dealers either could not reproduce the fault or diagnosed a control module replacement, and at least one was told the vehicle was not covered by an electrical recall. Reported from about 22,000 to 131,000 miles, with several cases around 40,000-80,000 miles.

   Recall 10V2400002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask about battery and charging-system history and any control-module replacements; check that the heated washer fluid recall work, if applicable, was done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “2009 Gmc Yukon experienced complete electrical failure while driving 30 MPH. Everyday for the last two weeks my Yukon experiences intermittent electrical failure as if you turned the car off and removed the key, then it the power comes right back within a few seconds. This posses a significant danger to me and my family due to, headlights, tail lights, braking lights, turn signals are all off. When I turn the Yukon off the electrical system fails once I turn the key to off and remove key.”

   NHTSA complaint #10620695, filed 2014-08, 77,987 miles

   “While car was in motion the car became limp/slow as the engine would slow down. We have had 2 instances while driving the car will reduce speed to a haunt. The car both times was not able to be driven and needed to be towed. First one the modules melted due to the hybrid battery and other was a failed throttle. We are now dealing with melted spark plugs which were all completely replaced and failed again one month later and while the car was driving it came to a complete stop while the engine shut down again!”

   NHTSA complaint #11233073, filed 2019-07, 131,000 miles

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.