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2020 GMC Yukon problems, recalls and owner complaints
What the 2020 GMC Yukon has been recalled for and what owners report, from official government data. Updated October 25, 2026.
- 4safety recalls
- 37owner complaints
- 0crash reports
- 0fire reports
- 0injuries reported
The least complained-about GMC Yukon year on file: 37 complaints, against an average of 246 for the other model years.
Every GMC Yukon model year with its number of owner complaints. Pick a year to compare.
What goes wrong with the 2020 GMC Yukon?
The components named most often in the 37 owner complaints. One complaint can name several, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
What symptoms do 2020 GMC Yukon owners describe?
Found by reading the text of all 37 owner complaints. Tap a symptom for the answer, a real owner quote and any related recall.
- Why is the check engine light on in my 2020 GMC Yukon?6 owners · 16.2%
- Has the 2020 GMC Yukon had transmission failures?5 owners · 13.5%
- Why does my 2020 GMC Yukon overheat?4 owners · 10.8%
- Has the 2020 GMC Yukon had engine failures?4 owners · 10.8%
- Why does my 2020 GMC Yukon idle rough, misfire or hesitate?4 owners · 10.8%
- Why does my 2020 GMC Yukon stall, lose power or shut off while driving?3 owners · 8.1%
- Why does my 2020 GMC Yukon transmission jerk, shudder or shift hard?3 owners · 8.1%
Has the 2020 GMC Yukon been recalled?
4 U.S. safety recalls. Repairs are free at a franchised dealer; some are done over the air.
Power Train: Transfer Case (4-Wheel Drive)Do not drive General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2026 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Suburban, and Tahoe, and GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles with four-wheel (4WD) or all-wheel drive (AWD), and certain 2015-2020 Suburban, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Yukon, Yukon XL, and Tahoe vehicles. A component missing from the drivetrain transfer case may cause the front and/or rear wheels to lock up without warning to the driver.
Risk: Front or rear wheel lockup increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the remedy is completed. Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the transfer case assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 18, 2026. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223. GM's number for this recall is N262557620. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on May 7, 2026.
Tires General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Buick Enclave, Cadillac XT4, XT5, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, Traverse, GMC Yukon, Yukon XL, 2018-2021 Chevrolet Express, GMC Savana, 2019-2020 Chevrolet Blazer, Silverado 1500, GMC Acadia, Sierra 1500, and certain Continental tires sold to the aftermarket for various model year 2018-2021 vehicles. The affected tires were cured for too long during production.
Risk: Over cured tires may develop a break in the sidewall resulting in sudden air loss or a belt edge separation which could lead to a tread/belt loss. Either condition can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the tires, replacing them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 22, 2021. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Buick customer service at 1-866-608-8080, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N212329050.
Fuel System, Gasoline: Delivery: Fuel Pump General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Camaro, Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. The fuel pump may be missing a pressure regulator, allowing for over-pressurization of the fuel system.
Risk: Over-pressurization can crack the fuel pump and cause leaks, increasing the risk of a fire in the presence of an ignition source.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump, free of charge. The recall began December 18, 2019. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267. GM's number for this recall is N192283991.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic: Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: Wheel Speed Sensor/Tone Ring General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2020 Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, and GMC Yukon, and 2014-2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles equipped with a 5.3-liter engine, a 3.08-ratio rear axle and four-wheel drive. If a wheel-speed sensor fails, while the vehicle is traveling between 41 and 60 mph in four-wheel or automatic mode, the Electronic-Brake Control Module (EBCM) software may activate the driveline-protection system.
Risk: Unintended activation of the driveline-protection system will cause unintended braking on the wheel on the opposite side of the failed sensor, causing the vehicle to pull to one side unexpectedly, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the EBCM, free of charge. The recall began December 11, 2019. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-630-2438 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N192261050.
What do 2020 GMC Yukon owners report?
12 of the 37 complaints, the most recent for the most-reported components, as the owners wrote them. NHTSA removes names and VINs; long reports are trimmed. CarHooq has not verified individual claims.
We have 42000 miles on this truck and bought 1 year old. Unit has been maintained well and looks new. Recently had the 10 speed transmissions fluid changed under normal maintenance. It was not burnt, turning more burgundy and dealer said it was a good and proper choice. Afterwards we noted a shudder and thought they made error or forgot to tighten something. Took truck back in for additional fluids and they had driveline associate drive. He said torque converter was going bad, and also warning these transmissions go bad unexpectedly and lock up. We have GMPP EXTENDED WARRANTY. Dealer requested…
Engine failure due main bearing and rod failure. Engine had heavy knocking.
We just purchased our Yukon from a dealership in February (2/7/26) and it was diagnosed with premature failure of at least one AFM valve lifter as it is causing engine misfires, shaking and stalling on 7/30/26. We just hit 67,000 miles on the odometer so we are just beyond the warranty coverage. The lifters were replaced previously by the previous owners on 12/16/24.
The contact owns a 2020 GMC Yukon. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle jerked and the transmission malfunctioned, causing the wheels to lock up and the check engine warning light to illuminate. The vehicle was driven to a local dealer who diagnosed that the transmission clutch and pressure control solenoid had failed. The contact was advised that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in NHTSA…
Complete transmission failure at 82,000 miles. Well maintained vehicle, not used for towing or heavy hauling. Required complete replacement. Traveling at highway speeds and-according to repair facility- valve failure caused transmission to overheat a stripped gears, causing complete failure. Vehicle was unable to shift into any gears and was left inoperable. Required towing assistance and replacement.
Issue with the trailer brake system keeps coming up on my dash. I know a lot of other people have had the same issue keeps dinging will not stop causes me to get distracted while driving. Unable to use other features because of this distraction and safety issue. The safety issue needs to be fixed this is an effective product with so many people having an issue you need to do a recall. I did let Graff Chevrolet in Mount Pleasant Michigan no and I took a picture and showed them.
I took my vehicle to a dealer to repair something unrelated to the engine. They said the oil pan was leaking and pulled the pan to discover the crank shaft bearings were failing. The vehicle has 53,765 miles at this point. This appears to be the same defect being recalled on the 2022 through 2024 models.
I had an incident in my 2020 GMC Yukon, where the forward collision crash alert went off and there was total loss of brakes. The brake pedal went to the floor. After the crash alert ended, the brakes returned. This happened on the highway and could have turned into a disastrous event. The dealership has been unable to diagnose or recreate this issue. They claim they did not find anything and the vehicle is safe to drive. I have turned off the collision detection system in the meantime. I feel strongly that this is a software issue that needs addressed. GM has replied that they support the…
The contact owns a 2020 GMC Yukon. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the residence, the contact exited the vehicle and discovered white smoke coming from the exhaust and started to smell coolant and then discovered that the coolant level was low. The contact added coolant, and the check engine warning light was no longer illuminated. The contact’s husband and son, who were knowledgeable about vehicles, had self-diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the head gasket or the lifters might need…
Ambient temp was 100 degrees for reference. Had been driving about 5 hours. Went to stop and had no power assist for brakes. This continued for at least 20 miles. Stopped and confirmed vac hose was connected. I tried to remove vac hose to check for vac at booster but was afraid I might break the part. Electrical plug at vac hose booster connection was secure. Continued driving and it began to work again. Condition: brake pedal took considerable foot pressure to apply brakes. Zero power brake assist was available. My qualifications; a past ASE master teck.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 GMC YUKON. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE REVERSING, THE BACK OVER PREVENTION CAMERA WAS OBSTRUCTED AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO SEE A PROPER IMAGE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN REVERSE. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER SHELTON BUICK GMC, INC. (855 S. ROCHESTER RD, ROCHESTER HILLS, MI 48307, (248) 266-2156) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE CAMERA FUNCTIONED AS DESIGNED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 6,000.
LINE KEEP ASSIST NOT WORKING PROPERLY. ASSISTANCE SYSTEMS FOR PARKING OR BACKING NOT WOKING PROPERLY. LANE CHANGE ALERT NOT WORKING PROPERLY
2020 GMC Yukon: questions owners ask
Is the 2020 GMC Yukon reliable?
NHTSA data alone cannot rate reliability, but it shows what owners reported. Owners filed 37 complaints with NHTSA about the 2020 GMC Yukon; the most common categories were power train (15, 40.5%), engine (12, 32.4%), service brakes (3, 8.1%). There are 4 safety recalls.
What are the most common problems with the 2020 GMC Yukon?
Across 37 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the categories mentioned most often are power train (40.5% of complaints), engine (32.4% of complaints), service brakes (8.1% of complaints), electrical system (5.4% of complaints), back over prevention (2.7% of complaints). One complaint can name several components.
Does the 2020 GMC Yukon have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 4 recalls for the 2020 GMC Yukon; the most recent (campaign 26V289000, 2026-05-07) concerns Power Train: Transfer Case (4-Wheel Drive). 1 recall carries a "do not drive" or "park outside" warning from the manufacturer. Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer; check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Why is the check engine light on in my 2020 GMC Yukon?
6 of the 37 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2020 GMC Yukon (16.2%) describe the check engine light coming on. One owner wrote: "The 2020 Yukon started to have serious loss of speed and decelerating issue when the vehicle would slow down and down shift to a lower gear. The issue with this is that once it downshifted it woul not engage in a gear again and leave me stranded on the road." (NHTSA complaint 11724975, March 2026). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Has the 2020 GMC Yukon had transmission failures?
5 of the 37 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2020 GMC Yukon (13.5%) describe transmission failure, slipping or a replaced transmission. One owner wrote: "Complete transmission failure at 82,000 miles. Well maintained vehicle, not used for towing or heavy hauling. Required complete replacement." (NHTSA complaint 11748691, July 2026). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Why does my 2020 GMC Yukon overheat?
4 of the 37 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2020 GMC Yukon (10.8%) describe the engine overheating or coolant loss. One owner wrote: "Complete transmission failure at 82,000 miles. Well maintained vehicle, not used for towing or heavy hauling. Required complete replacement." (NHTSA complaint 11748691, July 2026). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Has the 2020 GMC Yukon had engine failures?
4 of the 37 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2020 GMC Yukon (10.8%) describe complete engine failure or a replaced engine. One owner wrote: "Engine failure due main bearing and rod failure. Engine had heavy knocking." (NHTSA complaint 11759946, August 2026). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Why does my 2020 GMC Yukon idle rough, misfire or hesitate?
4 of the 37 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2020 GMC Yukon (10.8%) describe rough idling, misfires or hesitation when accelerating. One owner wrote: "We just purchased our Yukon from a dealership in February (2/7/26) and it was diagnosed with premature failure of at least one AFM valve lifter as it is causing engine misfires, shaking and stalling on 7/30/26." (NHTSA complaint 11758957, August 2026). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Why does my 2020 GMC Yukon stall, lose power or shut off while driving?
3 of the 37 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2020 GMC Yukon (8.1%) describe the engine stalling, losing power or shutting off while driving. One owner wrote: "We just purchased our Yukon from a dealership in February (2/7/26) and it was diagnosed with premature failure of at least one AFM valve lifter as it is causing engine misfires, shaking and stalling on 7/30/26." (NHTSA complaint 11758957, August 2026). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Why does my 2020 GMC Yukon transmission jerk, shudder or shift hard?
3 of the 37 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2020 GMC Yukon (8.1%) describe harsh, jerky or delayed transmission shifting or shuddering. One owner wrote: "My vehicle torque converter repair on my 2020 GMC Yukon is shuddering. Why is this not a recall when there are various Yukons that are experiencing shuddering related to torque converter repair. This should be a recall." (NHTSA complaint 11739919, May 2026). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Check your own Yukon
Counts are a starting point, not a verdict: popular models collect more complaints because more of them are on the road, and NHTSA does not verify individual reports. To see whether a recall is still open on your car, enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls (U.S.) or your registration at check-vehicle-recalls.service.gov.uk (UK). Had a safety problem? Report it to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations and recalls.
Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation recall and complaint databases (public domain), retrieved October 25, 2026. Model year 2020 only.