What are the most common problems on the 2020 GMC Yukon?

NHTSA has 34 owner complaint(s) on record for the 2020 GMC Yukon. Power Train is the most-reported problem area on the 2020 GMC Yukon, cited in 14 of 34 filed complaints (41%).

Problems › GMC › 2020 Yukon

2020 GMC Yukon Problems & Owner Complaints

34 NHTSA owner complaints

No crash / fire / injury flags

Age-normalised, this year draws ~4.9 complaints per year on the road — ranking 14 of 15 GMC Yukon years we track (1 = most complaints per year).

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What owners report

Power Train is the most-reported problem area on the 2020 GMC Yukon, cited in 14 of 34 filed complaints (41%).

Engine is next (10 complaints, 29%), followed by Service Brakes (3), Electrical System (2), Back Over Prevention (1).

No complaint for this vehicle reports a crash, fire, injury or death.

Complaints by vehicle system

Owner complaints filed with the U.S. NHTSA for the 2020 GMC Yukon, grouped by the vehicle system each cites. A single complaint can name more than one system, so the group totals can add up to more than 34.

Power Train 14

“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 Cam…”
NHTSA complaint #11749486, 2026

“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.”
NHTSA complaint #11748691, 2026

“The contact owns a 2020 GMC Yukon. The contact stated that while depressing the accelerator pedal, there was an abnormal popping sound coming from the engine compartment, and the vehicle hesitated while accelerating. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The local dealer had not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 44,000.”
NHTSA complaint #11747108, 2026

Engine 10

“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.”
NHTSA complaint #11737199, 2026

“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. I had to turn off the car and restart it for it to reengage in a gear enough to get it moving again and sometimes I had to try more than once to get it moving once it no longer wanted to engage in a gear. So in the 10 mile drive, I was left stranded at least 15 times. Each time I had to restart and restart again for the vehicle to engage…”
NHTSA complaint #11724975, 2026

“MISFIRE ON #6 CYLINDER. DIAGNOSIS REVEALED THE INTAKE VALVE IS NOT OPENING DUE TO COLLAPSED VALVE LIFTER. No message prior to engine light coming on and car shaking after driving back from the store (speed less than 45 MPH).”
NHTSA complaint #11715499, 2026

Service Brakes 3

“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 deal…”
NHTSA complaint #11721207, 2026

“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.”
NHTSA complaint #11748158, 2024

“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.”
NHTSA complaint #11534400, 2023

Unknown Or Other 3

“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. The problem has been confirmed by a GMC dealer. There were not warning lamps, no messages, or other symptoms.”
NHTSA complaint #11739919, 2026

“My vehicle went from driving perfectly to startling and not going pass 45 in a matter of two days. I was getting all maintenance done at dealer always on time had just service it. When all of a sudden it started making a jerking/ skipping feel as if I was accelerating too hard. Took it to get checked and the code that came up was (TCC)torque converter clutch. I spent 6000 to rebuild the transmission and kno the engine has a tap tap noise. Once again I took it in and now it’s the lifters in the engine. No warning light have ever popped up”
NHTSA complaint #11691372, 2025

“Hello, I’m calling about the GM transmission recall recently announced in March 2025 affecting 2020 Yukon vehicles. My Yukon experienced what I believe is the exact same issue described in the recall. Our vehicle lost forward gears and almost caused a crash. A certified mechanic confirmed the transmission fluid was burnt and full of clutch material, with internal transmission damage. We are asking for this to be handled under the recall, as the issue directly matches GM’s known safety defect. We need this resolved immediately — the vehicle is unsafe to drive and the failure happened before w…”
NHTSA complaint #11650527, 2025

Electrical System 2

Back Over Prevention 1

“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.”
NHTSA complaint #11386660, 2020

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Electronic Stability Control (Esc) 1

“LINE KEEP ASSIST NOT WORKING PROPERLY. ASSISTANCE SYSTEMS FOR PARKING OR BACKING NOT WOKING PROPERLY. LANE CHANGE ALERT NOT WORKING PROPERLY”
NHTSA complaint #11307294, 2019

Engine And Engine Cooling 1

“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…”
NHTSA complaint #11709635, 2025

Forward Collision Avoidance 1

Fuel System 1

“The contact owns a 2020 GMC Yukon. The contact stated that while refueling the vehicle, the fuel filler neck was not allowing fuel to flow into the tank. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the fuel filler neck. The contact was informed that the fuel tank filler assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 42,000.”
NHTSA complaint #11596964, 2024

Fuel/Propulsion System 1

Seat Belts 1

“THE RENTED 2020 TAHOE WAS STATIONARY. A PASSENGER SITTING IN THE LEFT THIRD ROW SEAT BECAME STUCK IN THE SEAT BELT. SHE WAS UNABLE TO OPEN THE SEATBELT CLASP AS IT GOT STUCK AND FAILED TO UNLATCH. THE MORE THE PASSENGER STRUGGLED TO UNLATCH THE SEATBELT, THE PROGRESSIVELY TIGHTER IT BECAME. PASSENGER COULD NOT DISENGAGE THE SEATBELT CLASP BY PRESSING THE TINY RED BUTTON. THREE OTHER PASSENGERS TRIED TO RELEASE THE SEATBELT AND COULD NOT. PASSENGER WAS TRAPPED WITH TIGHT SEAT BELT HOLDING HER IN. OTHER PASSENGERS CALLED EMERGENCY PERSONNEL WHO ALSO COULD NOT RELEASE THE EVER TIGHTENING S…”
NHTSA complaint #11330175, 2020

Tires 1

“TL* THE CONTACT'S WIFE OWNS A 2020 GMC YUKON EQUIPPED WITH CONTINENTAL TIRES, TIRE LINE: CROSSCONTACT LX SPORT, TIRE SIZE 245/50/R20. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT TIRE EXPERIENCED A BLOWOUT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DAVID BALES BUICK GMC (1327 JACKSBORO PIKE, LAFOLLETTE, TN 37766, 423) 562-8431) WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS STILL AWAITING A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 14,900.”
NHTSA complaint #11406453, 2021

Wheels 1

How we read this (methodology)

How to read this: raw complaint totals are not a clean reliability score — a model year with more cars sold, or simply more years on the road, accumulates more complaints regardless of how good it is. So this page leans on two signals that are not distorted by sales volume: the share of complaints falling on each vehicle system (the breakdown above) and NHTSA's own crash / fire / injury / death flags. When we compare model years of the same model, we normalise by years on the road (complaints ÷ vehicle age) rather than comparing raw totals. Age-normalised, the 2020 GMC Yukon draws about 4.9 complaints per year on the road, ranking 14 of 15 among the GMC Yukon model years we have ingested (1 = most complaints per year on road).

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Data source: U.S. NHTSA (nhtsa.gov). SaveVIN surfaces public recall data and is not affiliated with or endorsed by NHTSA.