GMC Yukon brake problems, 2016–2027
250 of the 2,908 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the GMC Yukon 2016–2027 name the brakes (NHTSA’s “Service Brakes” heading — the hydraulic brakes, ABS and brake assist). The loudest years: 2016 (98), 2017 (73), 2023 (21). Filed under the same heading across these years: 4 recall campaigns, 1 NHTSA investigation. Every figure is a linked federal record; none is a failure rate, none a repair cost, and none a verdict on one car.
GMC Yukon brake problems by model year
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsOne row per model year on file, newest first. A year marked in depth has its own page: the complaints, the owners’ words and every document under this heading for that year.
| Model year | Complaints naming the brakes | Share of the year’s | Typically at | On file under the heading | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 0 | — | — | — | the year → |
| 2026 | 0 | — | — | 4 TSBs | the year → |
| 2025 | 5 | 6% | — | — | the year → |
| 2024 | 7 | 4% | — | 1 recall | the year → |
| 2023 | 21 | 5% | — | 1 recall | the year → |
| 2022 | 4 | 1% | — | — | the year → |
| 2021 | 11 | 2% | — | 1 recall | the year → |
| 2020 | 6 | 7% | — | — | the year → |
| 2019 | 9 | 7% | — | — | the year → |
| 2018 | 16 | 13% | — | 2 recalls | the year → |
| 2017 in depth | 73 | 20% | 59k | 1 recall | the record → |
| 2016 in depth | 98 | 19% | 54k | 1 recall · 1 investigation | the record → |
Two things the counts carry that are not the car: how many of each year were sold, and how long each has been on the road — an older year out-counts a newer one before anything is wrong with it. The share column is the honest comparison across years: what part of that year’s complaints named the brakes. Nothing here is a rate.
When the brake complaints were filed, and at what mileage
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled per calendar year, every model year together: 2016: 1 · 2017: 2 · 2018: 13 · 2019: 47 · 2020: 26 · 2021: 23 · 2022: 30 · 2023: 14 · 2024: 21 · 2025: 46 · 2026: 27
Across the model years, half of the 110 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the brake problem between 39,000 and 70,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the brakes, from the model years with the most to say. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
Rear brake light LED strip is out. Vehicle only has 37k miles on it. Dealership will not repair it but wants to sell a new brake assembly for $750 each. If you tap on the light assembly, it comes on momentary and goes out again.
When in traffic at slow speeds the brake system shuts down and takes my body weight to stop car. Had checked and no visible leak. Now Gmc has a fix but charge to fix if over warranty mileage. Second issue is the transmission went at 96,000 miles while highway driving loosing all top end gears at 65 MPH.
The contact owns a 2017 GMC Yukon Denali. The contact stated that while driving on several occasions at slow speeds, the brake pedal was depressed but was stiff. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to slow down as intended. The vehicle was coasted until coming to a complete stop after each failure.
My 2017 Yukon is exhibiting the exact same brake behavior as the below complaint, but my vehicle is not eligible for the recall for some reason. NHTSA campaign number: 20v603. Gm's own number for this recall is n202300860
I got into my car to run some errands. As I drove away from my house, I made a left turn downhill. I noticed vehicles ahead, so I began to slow down. At that moment, I was driving between 20 and 25 mph. When I tried to brake, my brakes failed and started flashing a brake failure warning light.
What is on file about the brakes, across the years
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsRecall campaigns filed under this heading, any model year
- 24V674000 ModerateSep 12, 2024 · 449,671 vehicles
- General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2023 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, GMC Sierra 1500, 2023-2024 Chevrolet Tahoe, Suburban, GMC Yukon, Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade, and Escalade ESV vehicles. The electronic brake control module software may fail to display a warning light when a loss of brake fluid occurs. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Vehicle Safety Standard number 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems."
- 21V579000 HighJul 29, 2021 · 2 vehicles
- General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon vehicles. Dealer service technicians may have calibrated the brake system incorrectly, affecting Electronic Stability Control (ESC) , traction control, Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS), and braking while towing a trailer.
- 20V603000 HighOct 1, 2020 · 14,620 vehicles
- General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018 Cadillac Escalade, Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500 and Yukon vehicles equipped with either a 5.3L or 6.2L V8 engine. The output of the mechanical vacuum pump can decrease over time, decreasing the amount of vacuum/power brake assist.
- 19V645000 HighSep 6, 2019 · 3,456,719 vehicles
- General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Cadillac Escalade, 2014-2018 Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Sierra, 2015-2018 Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Yukon vehicles. The amount of vacuum created by the vacuum pump may decrease over time.
NHTSA investigation
- PE18012 Brake Vacuum Pump Failureopened Nov 20, 2018 · closed Apr 10, 2022
- On November 20, 2018, the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened PE18-012 to investigate instances of sudden onset of a hard brake pedal that could result in extended stopping distance due to an issue with the brake assist vacuum pump in model year (MY) 2014 through 2016 GMC Sierra 1500 and Chevrolet Silverado 1500 series pickup trucks and MY 2015 through 2016 Cadillac Escalade, Chevrolet S…
Other systems with a record on the GMC Yukon
Source: the same filesEvery system, every model year: GMC Yukon problems by year →
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsWhich GMC Yukon years have the most brake complaints?
2016, 98; 2017, 73; 2023, 21. Raw counts, and an older year has had longer to collect them; by share of each year's own complaints the loudest is the 2017 (20%).
Is there a recall for the brakes on the GMC Yukon?
Yes — 4 campaigns are filed under this heading across these model years: 24V674000 (2024), 21V579000 (2021), 20V603000 (2018), 19V645000 (2018). A recall is matched by VIN, and applies to specific years; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
When do brake problems show up on the GMC Yukon?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 52,989 miles across the model years; half of them between 39,000 and 70,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Service Brakes" heading cover?
The hydraulic brakes, ABS and brake assist. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.