← New search

2003 GMC Yukon Xl 1500

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
Compare all Yukon Xl 1500 years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

49 reports with mileage · 14 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Electrical System. Review the 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

5 crash reports0 fire reports5 injury reports

What owners actually said

63 reports
190,000 miles · Oct 16, 2012
Service Brakes

APPROACHING A TRAFFIC LIGHT AT 35 MPH, WITHOUT WARNING THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. I COULD NOT SLOW THE CAR DOWN VERY MUCH AND WENT THROUGH A VERY YELLOW LIGHT. FORTUNATELY THE CAR WAITING AT THE LIGHT HAD NOT ENTERED THE INTERSECTION. THE A BRAKE LINE ROUTED ABOVE THE FRAME BLEW APART LOSING BRAKE FLUID EVERY TIME I…

Read full complaint

APPROACHING A TRAFFIC LIGHT AT 35 MPH, WITHOUT WARNING THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. I COULD NOT SLOW THE CAR DOWN VERY MUCH AND WENT THROUGH A VERY YELLOW LIGHT. FORTUNATELY THE CAR WAITING AT THE LIGHT HAD NOT ENTERED THE INTERSECTION. THE A BRAKE LINE ROUTED ABOVE THE FRAME BLEW APART LOSING BRAKE FLUID EVERY TIME I PUMPED THE BRAKES. NO PRESSURE TO OPERATE THE REAR BRAKES. THE BREAK OCCURRED AT A RUSTED LOCATION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10480755

Mileage unknown · Jun 2, 2012
Engine And Engine CoolingService BrakesSteeringInjury

HTTP://TOWNHALL.EDMUNDS.COM/DIRECT/VIEW/.F0E807E/115 HTTP://WWW.GMINSIDENEWS.COM/FORUMS/F31/2003-YUKON-XL-REDUCED-POWER-ISSUE-HELP-90910/ HTTP://WWW.JUSTANSWER.COM/GM/5BFXF-GMC-2003-GMC-YUKON-5-3-MOTOR-CODE-P1518.HTML HTTP://WWW.CHEVYAVALANCHEFANCLUB.COM/CAFCNA/INDEX.PHP?TOPIC=43119.0;WAP2 PLEASE CHECK OUT THESE LINKS AS I…

Read full complaint

HTTP://TOWNHALL.EDMUNDS.COM/DIRECT/VIEW/.F0E807E/115 HTTP://WWW.GMINSIDENEWS.COM/FORUMS/F31/2003-YUKON-XL-REDUCED-POWER-ISSUE-HELP-90910/ HTTP://WWW.JUSTANSWER.COM/GM/5BFXF-GMC-2003-GMC-YUKON-5-3-MOTOR-CODE-P1518.HTML HTTP://WWW.CHEVYAVALANCHEFANCLUB.COM/CAFCNA/INDEX.PHP?TOPIC=43119.0;WAP2 PLEASE CHECK OUT THESE LINKS AS I HAVE BEEN SEARCHING FOR A FIX FOR MY "REDUCED ENGINE POWER" ISSUE WITH MY YUKON. I'VE COME ACROSS SEVERAL OTHERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE. MOST OF WHICH HAVE TAKEN THE ISSUE BACK TO GM DEALERS, WHO GET NO SUPPORT FOR THE PROBLEM FROM THE HOME OFFICE. I BELIEVE THIS COULD BE A VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE. THE ISSUE ITSELF IS THE TRUCK KICKS INTO "REDUCED ENGINE POWER" MODE AND THEN IT DOES NOT GO ANY FASTER THAN IDLE WHICH MEANS IT ALL OF THE SUDDEN REDUCES THE SPEED TO 5 MPH MAXIMUM AS WELL AS THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT AND THE ABS BRAKES. THAT IS VERY DANGEROUS IF YOU ARE ON THE HIGHWAY. PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TROUBLESHOOTING THE ISSUE WITH NO SOLID FIXES FROM WHAT I CAN FIND. I BELIEVE GM SHOULD COME UP WITH A FIX SO THAT ISN'T A DANGEROUS HAZARD TO CONSUMERS AND OWNERS OF WHAT LOOKS LIKE THERE 2003 MODEL YEARS, IT SEEMS TO BE MOSTLY THERE 2003 MODEL YEARS. GM DOESN'T SEEM TO WANT TO RECOGNIZE THIS AS AN ISSUE. PLEASE HELP US CONSUMERS OUT, WE WOULD JUST LIKE THIS PROBLEM SOLVED. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10460326

105,000 miles · Apr 26, 2012
Vehicle Speed Control

WHEN STARTING MY 2003 GMC YUKON THE DASH SAYS REDUCED ENGINE POWER..IT WON'T GO OVER 15 MPH....IT HAPPENS EVERYDAY! I HAVE TO KEEP RESTARTING IT AND LET IT GET WARM BEFORE I CAN GO ANYWHERE. IF THIS HAPPENS WHILE I AM DRIVING IT, AND SOMEONE HITS ME I WILL SUE GM, AS I HAVE BEEN A LOYAL GM CUSTOMER FOR 35 YRS...IF YOU READ ALL T…

Read full complaint

WHEN STARTING MY 2003 GMC YUKON THE DASH SAYS REDUCED ENGINE POWER..IT WON'T GO OVER 15 MPH....IT HAPPENS EVERYDAY! I HAVE TO KEEP RESTARTING IT AND LET IT GET WARM BEFORE I CAN GO ANYWHERE. IF THIS HAPPENS WHILE I AM DRIVING IT, AND SOMEONE HITS ME I WILL SUE GM, AS I HAVE BEEN A LOYAL GM CUSTOMER FOR 35 YRS...IF YOU READ ALL THE COMPLAINTS ON THE WEB ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM THEN YOU WOULD DEFINITELY ISSUE A RECALL BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10456608

115,000 miles · Dec 27, 2011
Power Train

VEHICLE SUDDENLY AND AUTOMATICALLY SWITCHED FROM 2 WD TO 4 WD LOW. DRIVER DID NOT ENGAGE 4WD LOW SYSTEM WHICH REQUIRES TO 1ST PLACE TRANSMISSION INTO NEUTRAL THEN SELECT 4 WD LOW BUTTON. DRIVER MOMENTARY LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE (STEERING) BUT WAS ABLE TO SAFELY MOVE VEHICLE TO SIDE OF ROAD. DRIVER AND OCCUPANTS WERE JOINTED …

Read full complaint

VEHICLE SUDDENLY AND AUTOMATICALLY SWITCHED FROM 2 WD TO 4 WD LOW. DRIVER DID NOT ENGAGE 4WD LOW SYSTEM WHICH REQUIRES TO 1ST PLACE TRANSMISSION INTO NEUTRAL THEN SELECT 4 WD LOW BUTTON. DRIVER MOMENTARY LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE (STEERING) BUT WAS ABLE TO SAFELY MOVE VEHICLE TO SIDE OF ROAD. DRIVER AND OCCUPANTS WERE JOINTED FORWARD WITH IMPACT OF ENGAGEMENT OF LOW GEARS AND IMMEDIATE LOSS OF SPEED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10441280

160,000 miles · Sep 20, 2011
Electrical SystemVehicle Speed Control

WHEN TRAVELING AT ANY RATE OF SPEED, THE REDUCE ENGINE POWER LIGHT COMES ON AT I LOSE ALL POWER. I MUST TRY AND PULL OVER AT A SAFE PLACE, STOP THE CAR, TURN OFF IGNITION AND WAIT 10-15 SECOND BEFORE STARTING AND JUST HOPE IT WILL RETURN TO NORMAL MODE. THIS CAN HAPPEN MANY TIMES IN ONE DAY AND THEN IT MAY NOT HAPPEN AT ALL FOR …

Read full complaint

WHEN TRAVELING AT ANY RATE OF SPEED, THE REDUCE ENGINE POWER LIGHT COMES ON AT I LOSE ALL POWER. I MUST TRY AND PULL OVER AT A SAFE PLACE, STOP THE CAR, TURN OFF IGNITION AND WAIT 10-15 SECOND BEFORE STARTING AND JUST HOPE IT WILL RETURN TO NORMAL MODE. THIS CAN HAPPEN MANY TIMES IN ONE DAY AND THEN IT MAY NOT HAPPEN AT ALL FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME. VERY DANGEROUS! I HAVE BEEN DRIVING 70 MPH AND HAD TO IMMEDIATELY TRY AND PULL OVER OUT OF SPEEDING TRAFFIC, ONTO A SHOULDER AND STOP MY CAR WITH MY CHILDREN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10426498

Mileage unknown · Jul 11, 2011
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC YUKON XL K1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER WAS READING INACCURATELY AND REMAINED STUCK ON A SPECIFIC SPEED. SHE WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE HOW FAST OR SLOW SHE WAS TRAVELING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. IN MAY 2011, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC AND REPAIRED. …

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC YUKON XL K1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER WAS READING INACCURATELY AND REMAINED STUCK ON A SPECIFIC SPEED. SHE WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE HOW FAST OR SLOW SHE WAS TRAVELING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. IN MAY 2011, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC AND REPAIRED. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT A SPECIAL POLICY BULLETIN WAS ISSUED; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE MILEAGE EXCEEDED THE LIMITATIONS AND DID NOT PERFORM ANY REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 141,000. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 09/15/11 *BF UPDATED 09/26/11

NHTSA ODI #10411850

98,000 miles · Jun 27, 2011
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrash

I WAS BACKING THE VEHICLE INTO THE GARAGE. WHILE MANEUVERING BACK AND FORTH I STEP ON THE BRAKE PETAL TO SHIFT BACK TO FORWARD. THE VEHICLE STOPPED THEN THE PETAL WENT TO THE FLOOR BOARD ABRUPTLY. THE VEHICLE MOVED AND STUCK THE HOUSE. THE REAR BRAKE LINE HAD SPLIT OPEN AT THE ABS BRAKING VALVE. ALL OF THE BRAKE LINES AT THE VA…

Read full complaint

I WAS BACKING THE VEHICLE INTO THE GARAGE. WHILE MANEUVERING BACK AND FORTH I STEP ON THE BRAKE PETAL TO SHIFT BACK TO FORWARD. THE VEHICLE STOPPED THEN THE PETAL WENT TO THE FLOOR BOARD ABRUPTLY. THE VEHICLE MOVED AND STUCK THE HOUSE. THE REAR BRAKE LINE HAD SPLIT OPEN AT THE ABS BRAKING VALVE. ALL OF THE BRAKE LINES AT THE VALVE WERE SEVERELY ROTTED. HAD TO REPLACE ALL THE STEEL LINES TO MAKE THE VEHICLE SAFE.

NHTSA ODI #10409761

72,494 miles · Jun 11, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME FOR THIS PROBLEM TO OCCUR WITH THIS VEHICLE. I FILED A COMPLAINT ( 10398842 ) WITH YOUR DEPARTMENT ON 05/03/2011. SINCE THAT DATE, WE DROVE THE VEHICLE TO DALLAS, TX FOR A CONVENTION WITH NO VEHICLE PROBLEMS. THEN ON JUNE 5TH, WE WERE RETURNING FROM HOUSTON WHEN THE VEHICLE WITHOUT ANY WARNING GAVE A M…

Read full complaint

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME FOR THIS PROBLEM TO OCCUR WITH THIS VEHICLE. I FILED A COMPLAINT ( 10398842 ) WITH YOUR DEPARTMENT ON 05/03/2011. SINCE THAT DATE, WE DROVE THE VEHICLE TO DALLAS, TX FOR A CONVENTION WITH NO VEHICLE PROBLEMS. THEN ON JUNE 5TH, WE WERE RETURNING FROM HOUSTON WHEN THE VEHICLE WITHOUT ANY WARNING GAVE A MESSAGE THAT THE ENGINE WAS GOING TO REDUCED POWER WHILE WE WERE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC. WE HAD TO WORK OUR WAY TO A SAFE AREA TO PARK BECAUSE WE WERE A HAZARD TO OTHER DRIVERS. THIS AFTERNOON I CALLED GENERAL MOTORS TO GET SOME RESPONSE TO THIS PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD AGAIN THAT THE ENGINE WAS PROTECTING ITSELF FROM DAMAGE. AGAIN, I ASKED IF IT WAS MORE IMPORTANT TO PROTECT THE ENGINE THAN THE OCCUPANTS, THE REPRESENTATIVE WAS RATHER TESTY ABOUT THE ISSUE. THERE WAS NO RESPONSE WHEN I SAID THAT NO AUTOMOBILE IN AMERICA SHOULD SHUT DOWN IN TRAFFIC FOR A NON EMERGENCY. ESPECIALLY SINCE THE DRIVER LOOSES CONTROL OF THE OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE. I HAVE A PICTURE OF THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DURING THE REDUCED POWER INTERVAL WHICH SHOWS THAT ALL GAUGES WERE NORMAL SO THERE WAS NO REASON TO EXPECT ANY ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE. THE ENGINE WAS AT 500 RPM AND WOULD NOT GAIN SPEED. THIS IS CAUSING US TO FEAR DRIVING THIS VEHICLE. IN ANY CASE, I CANNOT SEE ANY REASON FOR ANY VEHICLE ON THE AMERICAN ROADS TO BE UNDER THE CONTROL OF ITSELF WHILE IN TRAFFIC. THE PASSENGERS SHOULD BE THE PRIMARY CONCERN. I HOPE YOU CAN GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS BEFORE AN ACCIDENT OCCURS WITH THIS VEHICLE. IF THERE ISN'T A CURRENT RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE FOR THIS PROBLEM, SHOULD THERE BE? THIS IS A LOW MILEAGE WELL MAINTAINED VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10405982

Mileage unknown · Apr 3, 2011
Electrical System

I WAS JUST DRIVING MY YUKON AND THE SPEEDOMETER WAS READING 100 MILES I KNEW SOMETHING WAS WRONG BECAUSE WHEN I STOP AND TURN IT OFF THE SPEEDOMETER STAYED AT 40 MILES AND I DONT KNOW AT WHAT SPEED AM AT WHEN AM ON THE FREEWAY, I AS A MECHANIC SHOP AN THEY TOLD ME THAT I HAD TO GO TO THE DEALER FOR THAT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10394102

142,000 miles · Feb 10, 2011
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WIFE WAS DRIVING TRUCK AT APPROX 30 MPH WHEN DIC ILLUMINATED WITH SERVICE BRAKE SYSTEM MESSAGE. SHE THEN PRESSED THE PEDAL AND IT WENT TO THE FLOOR. SHE WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE WHICH WOULD NOT STOP FROM HITTING ANYTHING/ANYONE. ONLY AFTER PUMPING THE PEDAL DID THE TRUCK STOP. UPON INSPECTION THE BRAKE LINES HAVE ROTTED/…

Read full complaint

WIFE WAS DRIVING TRUCK AT APPROX 30 MPH WHEN DIC ILLUMINATED WITH SERVICE BRAKE SYSTEM MESSAGE. SHE THEN PRESSED THE PEDAL AND IT WENT TO THE FLOOR. SHE WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE WHICH WOULD NOT STOP FROM HITTING ANYTHING/ANYONE. ONLY AFTER PUMPING THE PEDAL DID THE TRUCK STOP. UPON INSPECTION THE BRAKE LINES HAVE ROTTED/CORRODED ALONG THE DRIVERS SIDE FRAME RAIL. IF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, SOMEONE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. THE VEHICLE IS PARKED NOW, AND HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AS OF YET. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10381384

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.