2010 GMC Yukon Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often report the dashboard cracking, frequently around the passenger-side airbag and the driver's side, with many expressing concern about how the cracked plastic might affect airbag operation. A second common theme is the availability of airbag inflator recalls, where parts were reported unavailable or the repair was declined because the dash was already cracked. Smaller groups of complaints describe dashboard trim sharp edges, engine power loss at speed, and a small number of electrical, suspension, and steering concerns.

1. 1
   Body and structure

   Cracked dashboard around airbag area

   • 65 complaints (62%)
   • median 76,500 mi at 6.1 yrs old (50 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2013–2023

   Complaints describe cracks forming in the hard plastic top of the dashboard, often starting near the passenger-side airbag or above the instrument cluster and spreading over time. Some owners say the cracks grew while the vehicle sat parked, and others report pieces breaking away or the center section collapsing inward. Owners frequently say they were told by a dealer that the dash needed full replacement and that the repair was not covered, and several report the area around the passenger airbag as the greatest point of concern. Reported across a wide mileage range, from under 10,000 miles to over 150,000 miles, often after several years of ownership.

   What to check: Inspect the top of the dashboard carefully near the passenger airbag and above the instrument cluster for hairline cracks or loose pieces, and ask whether the dash has ever been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Our 2010 Gmc Yukon recently developed a crack in the dashboard near the passenger side airbag. We are concerned for the safety of those passengers riding in the front passenger seat. If the airbags were to deploy, hard plastic dash material could injury passengers. This is a safety hazard that GM does not seem to want to address. We purchased this vehicle new, which has been garaged its entire service life.”

   NHTSA complaint #10760115, filed 2015-08, 79,810 miles

   “We purchased a 2010 Gmc Yukon and it has a crack in the dash! We had been told by all dealers that this is common and will be noticed on almost any that we purchase! Would like to know why there hasn't been a recall? Its definitely an issue on a very expensive vehicle. Frustrating to pay 28k for a vehicle that has a major cosmetic decline! Gmc will only replace if you spend several hundred yourself out of pocket!”

   NHTSA complaint #10733335, filed 2015-07, 87,000 miles
2. 2
   Air bags

   Airbag inflator recall parts unavailable

   • 29 complaints (28%)
   • median 110,000 mi at 6.8 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2016–2023

   Several complaints concern open airbag inflator recalls for which owners say the replacement part was not available, sometimes after multiple dealer visits. Some owners report being told the recall repair could not be completed because the dashboard was cracked, and that the dash would need replacement first. Others describe receiving recall notices over an extended period without a completed repair. Reported at a range of mileages, including vehicles with no mileage listed, typically years after the recall was announced.

   Recall 21V050000Recall 21V053000Recall 21V054000

   What to check: Check the VIN against open safety recalls and ask the seller for documentation that any airbag inflator recall has actually been completed, not just scheduled.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I received a recall on july 2016 and to this day nothing has been done I fear for my safety when driving my vehicle and god forbid I get into an accident with faulty airbags please advise asap and now I received a card in the mail regarding a lawsuit and to have my airbag(s) replaced at no cost to me immediately”

   NHTSA complaint #11039560, filed 2017-10, 126,000 miles

   “Takata recall - not only am I under the recall for my airbags that the dealer tells me that there is not a fix for yet on my car, but now I walk in to the garage today and my dash board has cracked around the airbag and up over the drivers side controls. How dangerous is this now that the dash has cracked, I have a crap air bag and now I'm seriously thinking my family is at risk on this should we get into an accident. That dash will break into several pieces should something happen and cause more injury.... …”

   NHTSA complaint #10916772, filed 2016-10, 123,000 miles
3. 3
   Engine

   Reduced engine power and stalling

   Mentioned in 5 of 60 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe a sudden loss of power while driving, with a reduced engine power message and warning lights, leaving the vehicle unable to accelerate normally. In some cases the engine stalled at low speed. Owners report that dealers replaced the throttle body, and in one case the engine control module, to address the symptom. Mostly reported between about 30,000 and 70,000 miles, sometimes at highway speed and sometimes at low speed.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask whether the throttle body has been replaced or cleaned, and take a test drive that includes steady highway acceleration to watch for hesitation or warning lights.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “2010 Gmc Yukon slt, I was driving along the highway at 55mph, the engine suddenly lost power. A display message came across reduced engine power . The vehicle lost all acceleration, moved over to the right lane almost stalling out in the shoulder lane. Luckily, I was close to home . I had the vehicle towed to the repair shop, had the throttle body replaced. ($602.00) . I will pick up the vehicle tomorrow hopefully it is fixed. This is serious manufactures defect plus a costly repair. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10483538, filed 2012-11, 69,873 miles

   “Dash is cracked scared that sharp objects may fly into my family face if air bags are deployed the truck lost all power and left me and my daughter stranded right in the middle of traffic about got hit thank God we didn't GM needs to take care of these matters and take it seriously people could be seriously hurt or killed And if I hit a bump my cruise control will shut off automatically as if i pushed the button but i never touched anything”

   NHTSA complaint #11496511, filed 2022-12

Buying note. Check the dashboard carefully for cracks, especially around the passenger airbag, and confirm through the VIN whether any open airbag inflator recall has been completed. A test drive with sustained acceleration and a look at the door handle trim will help surface the other issues owners report.

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.