2015 GMC Yukon Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2015 GMC Yukon most often write about rear tail and brake lights that quit working, typically one side first, then the other, and frequently intermittently. A second common theme is a brake pedal that becomes hard to press or travels toward the floor, often described at low speed in parking lots and drive-throughs. Other reports cover a stiff or intermittently failing steering assist, suspension components such as shocks locking up, engine misfires and fuel odor, and occasional sunroof glass breakage; sample mileage spans from near-new to well past 200,000 miles.

1. 1
   Exterior lighting

   Rear tail/brake lights stop working (LED assembly)

   • 291 complaints (55%)
   • median 60,000 mi at 4.5 yrs old (214 state mileage)
   • owner-quoted repair $800 (median of 103 quotes)
   • filed 2015–2025

   Complaints describe one rear tail/brake light, usually the passenger side first, going dim, flickering or stopping entirely, with the other side following later. Many say the failure is intermittent and can sometimes be coaxed back by tapping the housing, and that the LED unit is sealed so it cannot be re-bulbed. According to the complaints, dealers often quote a full assembly replacement, and several owners mention a coverage program limited by time or mileage that left them paying out of pocket. Spread across the sample from very low mileage up to about 150,000 miles, with many reports in the 50,000-100,000 mile range.

   What to check: With the engine running and a helper watching, have someone press the brake pedal and check both rear assemblies, the running lights and the turn signals; repeat after a light tap on each housing to catch intermittent faults. Ask whether any tail-light assembly has already been replaced and whether coverage was applied.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Rear tail light stopped working going on and off and according to the auto electrician my vehicle could have gotten on fire due to the faulty lights. Upon searching for answers to why my vehicle's back lights were not working, I came upon many other consumers experiencing the same issue. Not only is the cost to replace the lamps so high, we risk in driving a vehicle that could catch fire for such cheaply made lights. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11323660, filed 2020-05, 100,000 miles

   “The back passenger brake light has been functioning intermittently for the past 15 months. We have been stopped by other vehicles letting us know 'your tailight is out' but when we get home to look at it, the light is functioning just fine. After multiple occurrences being told the same thing, we took the Yukon into the dealer to have it checked. The dealer let us know that this is a known issue with this design, and that there is a recall/warranty for this issue. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11386464, filed 2021-01, 76,000 miles
2. 2
   Brakes

   Hard brake pedal / reduced power assist

   • 60 complaints (11%)
   • median 73,000 mi at 4.2 yrs old (43 state mileage)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $500 (median of 5 quotes)
   • filed 2014–2026

   Owners describe a brake pedal that suddenly becomes hard to press or sinks toward the floor, so the vehicle needs extra effort or a pump of the pedal to stop, most often at low speed while parking, backing out or in a drive-through. Some say the brake warning light came on, and several mention the brake assist message. Complaints also describe dealers reprogramming or replacing brake system parts, with some owners reporting the symptom returning afterward. Mostly reported between roughly 60,000 and 170,000 miles; several owners note it appeared at low speed rather than during highway driving.

   Recall 19V645000Recall 19V7610001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Test the pedal feel at low speed in a parking lot, including repeated stops and reversing, and ask whether the vacuum pump recall 19V645000 and the brake module recall 19V761000 were completed. A service bulletin notes that fluid seen around a caliper piston is often assembly grease rather than a leak, so have any wetness identified before assuming a repair.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “There was a recall for low break failure it was recall 19v645. I had this done last year and today I almost hit a car in the drive through side the brakes are still doing the same thing going to the floor. They need to replace the faulty vacuum pump. I experience this while backing out and stopping at slow speeds.”

   NHTSA complaint #11353476, filed 2020-09, 90,000 miles

   “First note that our recall for increased pedal effort was done on our 2015 Gmc Yukon 2 months before this incident. Our vehicle was traveling at a high rate of speed coming home from mammoth on the 15 freeway. We heard what we describe as a 'buzzing' noise but we couldn't tell if it was our car or another on the freeway it almost sounded like tire tread before you have a blow out. We slowed down a bit (65-70mph) to check our surroundings. A few minutes later we started to lose control of our Yukon. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11398805, filed 2021-03, 63,000 miles
3. 3
   Engine

   Engine misfire, rough running, fuel odor

   • 58 complaints (11%)
   • median 55,000 mi at 3.7 yrs old (34 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,200 (median of 10 quotes)
   • filed 2014–2026

   Complaints describe a flashing check engine light, shaking or rough running, and codes for a cylinder misfire; owners report replacing plugs, coils, injectors and the fuel pump actuator without fully resolving it. Others describe raw fuel smell inside or around the vehicle traced to a fuel line or fuel pump leak, and some report coolant leaks from the radiator. A few owners describe sudden loss of power and engine damage. Mostly reported between about 60,000 and 165,000 miles, with one engine damage report near 100,000 miles.

   Recall 14V007000

   What to check: Ask for scan-tool history and any stored or pending misfire codes, check for a fuel smell around the tank and lines after sitting, and look for coolant residue at the radiator seams. Confirm whether exhaust-system recall 14V007000 applies and was completed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My Yukon has a leaking radiator which is a known defect not just in yukons, but also in tahoes, silverados, suburbans and other vehicles. Gm refuses to cover the repair for all trucks, only certain ones. I'm not sure what the criteria they are using is...but it is the same defect affecting all of the vehicles.”

   NHTSA complaint #11330234, filed 2020-06, 62,000 miles

   “Was driving down the road and suddenly the check engine light started flashing and the esp light came on. I was very close to home so I drove back home and as I stopped the car it started shaking and I turned it off. Brought it to the mechanic and he said the fuel injectors need to be replaced. I have been without my car for 11 days now as this is such a common problem that all the parts are on back order. This is very dangerous and needs to be recalled especially as it is such a common problem. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11324926, filed 2020-05, 90,000 miles
4. 4
   Steering

   Steering stiffens or assist cuts out

   • 29 complaints (5%)
   • median 73,000 mi at 3.9 yrs old (20 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2015–2026

   Complaints describe the steering wheel becoming stiff and hard to turn, sometimes briefly and sometimes remaining that way, with the power steering assist warning light coming on. Others report a click or pop felt through the wheel when turning, which some dealers traced to steering shaft components and replaced. A few owners tie electrical symptoms such as dimming lights or warning messages to the same moments. Reported from as low as about 28,000 miles up to 150,000 miles, without a clear pattern by mileage.

   Recall 18V586000Recall 14V719000

   What to check: Turn the wheel through a full lock-to-lock cycle at idle and listen for clicks or popping, and ask whether the electric power steering recalls 18V586000 and 14V719000 were performed. Note any steering assist warning light during the test drive.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “When I get to a red light or a parking spot sometimes the power steering gets hard and it gets hard for me to steer it doesn't do it all the time but I has done it more than 3 times and scared vehicles power steering might stop working one day”

   NHTSA complaint #11365661, filed 2020-10, 109,000 miles

   “Vehicle steering shaft clicks and pops when wheel is turned, as if steering shaft is binding. Haptic feedback is felt in the steering wheel during each instance of a click or pop. Dealership replaced steering shaft bearing, retainer spring, and seat and problem has returned. Online forums have shown numerous other GM owners experiencing the same problem. Some have reported steering wheel location sensor is catching. Others have reported entire steering shaft must be replaced and claim it is on national back order. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10899120, filed 2016-08, 28,000 miles

Buying note. Check the rear lights and the brake pedal feel closely on a test drive, since those are the two most frequent themes in owner complaints, and ask for records showing whether the steering and brake recalls were completed. Service records for shocks and any engine misfire diagnosis are worth reviewing before purchase.

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.