2002 GMC Yukon XL Recalls, Problems & Maintenance

The 2002 GMC Yukon XL has no open NHTSA recalls. Owners report 8 recurring issue clusters, led by “ABS activation at low speed after wheel sensor recall.” GMC trucks and SUVs use the GM Oil Life System (OLS) — the same algorithm as Chevrolet. Because GMC's lineup is exclusively trucks and SUVs, severe-service intervals apply to most owners (towing, hauling, off-roading). The schedule below surfaces the items most relevant to GMC's truck-focused buyer.

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No open recalls on file. NHTSA lists no unrepaired safety recalls for this year, make and model. A recall can be issued at any time, and a specific car can still have one open — check yours by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Known issues & problems for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2002 GMC Yukon XL.

Reported to NHTSA

ABS activation at low speed after wheel sensor recall

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

38 NHTSA complaints · 2006-10 → 2020-08

“AFTER THREE PREVIOUS "REPAIRS" INCLUDING ONE RECALL, OUR 2002 GMC YUKON XL ABS BRAKES ARE MALFUNCTIONING FOR THE FOURTH TIME, EXHIBITING THE EXACT SAME CONDITION THAT WAS THE SUBJECT OF A 2005 RECALL”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10293178
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 GMC YUKON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 05V379000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTI LOCK). ONE MONTH LATER, HE NOTICED INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCES DURING LOW-SPEED BRAKE APPLICATIONS”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10264365
“I HAVE A 2002 GMC YUKON 4WD AND HAVE HAD RECURRING PROBLEMS WITH MY ABS ACTIVATING AT SLOW SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED BY THE LOCAL GMC DEALER 3-5 TIMES BUT KEEPS RECURRING 10-15K MILES LATER”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10361050

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

ABS module and pump malfunction with warning light

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

7 NHTSA complaints · 2006-07 → 2014-05

“2002 YUKON W/ABS LIGHT ON AND SOME KIND OF MOTOR RUNNING EVEN IF MY VEHICLE IS OFF. THE NEXT MORNING MY BATTERY WAS DEAD. I TOOK IT TO A DEALERSHIP WHO TOLD ME THAT I NEEDED A NEW ABS MODULE/PUMP AND IT WOULD COST BETWEEN $950 TO $1,200 TO FIX”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10175517
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 GMC YUKON XL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS WAS FAILING AND THE ANTILOCK BRAKING PUMP CONTINUOUSLY RUNS. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY INFORMED HIM THAT THE PAD-CIRCUIT BOARD WAS FAILING AND CAUSED THE PUMP TO RUN AT HIGH SPEEDS”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10206741
“ABS BRAKE MODULE IS NOT HERMETICALLY SEALED WITH AN O-RING GASKET. BECAUSE OF THIS MOISTURE CAN GET INSIDE MODULE AND DAMAGE INTERNAL COMPONENTS. DAMAGED UNITS CAUSE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS IN DASHBOARD TO LIGHT UP”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10588726

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Tire tread separation, sidewall cracking and blowouts

TIRES

6 NHTSA complaints · 2007-08 → 2015-04

“MICHELIN LTX M/S 2 P265/70/16R DATED 2412 & 2512; TIRES HAVE TREAD SEPARATION, CRACKING BETWEEN TREADS AND NOT HOLDING AIR”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10706289
“WAS DRIVING APPROX 60MPH ON NEWLY PAVED 4 LANE HIGHWAY (US 31). VEHICLE BEGAN TO MAKE A NOISE AND THEN SHAKE. FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED WITH APPROX 80% OF THE TREAD AND BELT SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE AND NUMEROUS HOLES IN THE TIRE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10277517
“GOODRICH LT 235/75/R16 TIRES. THE TIRES WERE PURCHASED IN 2008. HE STATED THAT THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT CRACK IN THE SIDEWALL OF ALL FOUR TIRES THAT FORMED AROUND THE TREAD OF THE TIRE. THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE TIRES PERTAINING TO THE SPECIFIC TYPE OF FAILURE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10298717

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Corroded brake line leaks and pedal-to-floor brake loss

SERVICE BRAKES

63 NHTSA complaints · 2010-04 → 2018-07

“BRAKES FAILED AS I TRIED TO STOP. ALL BRAKE LINES HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW AND IS ALWAYS KEPT IN A DRY GARAGE. *TR”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10588484
“BRAKES FAILED DUE TO CORROSION OF THE BRAKE LINE. BRAKING WAS NOT EXISTENT AS THE PEDAL TRAVELS TO THE FLOOR. THANK GOD FOR NOT BEING IN A BUSY STREET AND BEING ABLE TO COAST TO A STOP. THIS IS A HEAVY VEHICLE AND WITHOUT BRAKING ABILITY IT COULD EASILY KILL PEOPLE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10450846
“THE GMC DEALER SAID THE CAUSE WAS RUSTED OUT BRAKE LINES. TODAY IT HAPPENED, BUT I WAS LUCK ENOUGH TO BE JUST PULLING INTO MY PARKING SPOT WHEN IT HAPPENED. THE BRAKE LINE MUST HAVE RUSTED OUT AGAIN BECAUSE I PUMPED THE BRAKE AND NOTICED IT COMING OUT OF THE LEFT REAR LINE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10849598

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Engine stalling while driving, crankshaft sensor cited

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

16 NHTSA complaints · 2006-07 → 2017-05

“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 GMC YUKON XL. ON SIX SEPARATE OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT OFF AND WOULD NOT RESTART IMMEDIATELY. THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUT OFF WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A TRAFFIC LIGHT OR STOP SIGN, AND WOULD NOT RESTART IMMEDIATELY”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10245579
“THE ENGINE CAN STALL INTERMITTENTLY AT HIGHWAY SPEED WITHOUT WARNING. THIS SITUATION CAN SEVERELY IMPAIR HIGH SPEED STEERING AND BRAKING ABILITY. AFTER STALLING ENGINE WILL NOT START WHILE COASTING IT WILL START NORMALLY AFTER COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. *TR”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10327164
“REF - PE06016 - VEHICLE STALLS WHILE AT SPEED. HAS OCCURRED THREE TIMES. MECHANIC FINDS NO PROBLEMS WITH ENGINE, COOLING SYSTEM, FUEL SYSTEM, BUT FINDS A DIAGNOSTIC CODE OF A CRANK POSITION SENSOR FAILURE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10163163

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Air bags not deploying in frontal collisions

AIR BAGS

9 NHTSA complaints · 2006-03 → 2020-01

“TAKATA RECALL TRAVELING AT SPEED OF 50 MPH ON A COUNTY HIGHWAY ANOTHER VEHICLE PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF YUKON. FRONT OF YUKON IMPACTED THE REAR OF OTHER VEHICLE CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT OF YUKON. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. YUKON WAS TOTALLED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10937117
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 GMC YUKON. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. HIS VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED MODERATE BODILY INJURIES”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10261762
“DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN A FRONTAL IMPACT ACCIDENT AT 50 MPH. THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS NOT ILLUMINATING PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD THE CONTACT TO CALL THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AS A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10153072

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Parking brake failing to hold vehicle or pass inspection

PARKING BRAKE

5 NHTSA complaints · 2006-04 → 2013-05

“WHILE PARKING THE TRUCK THE PARKING BRAKE WENT TO THE FLOOR AND DOES NOT HOLD THE TRUCK FROM MOVING , EVEN AFTER PARKING IN THE DRIVEWAY. MECHANIC STATED THAT THIS IS COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE TRUCKS AND MAY NEED TO REPLACE ROTORS AND PADS DEPENDING ON SEVERITY”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10166269
“DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE PARKING BRAKE FAILED TO PASS INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE PARKING BRAKE WAS REPLACED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10155943
“IN MAY 2005 MY VEHICLE FAILED STATE INSPECTION DUE TO PARKING BRAKE COULD NOT HOLD VEHICLE. PRIOR TO HAVING THE REPAIRS DONE I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I HAD PURCHASED IT AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO RECALL AT THIS TIME”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10156804

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Rear liftgate glass hinge breakage and glass detachment

STRUCTURE

3 NHTSA complaints · 2008-05 → 2010-09

“2002 GMC YUKON XL REAR TAILGATE GLASS FAILED/BROKEN HINGE DUE TO POOR DESIGN. THIS RESULTS IN THE REAR GLASS HELD ON BY ONE HINGE INSTEAD OF TWO. REAR GLASS DOES NOT CLOSE PROPERLY AND IS AT RISK TO DETACH FROM VEHICLE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10356376
“MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE BACK LIFT GLASS BLEW OFF THE TAILGATE AND HIT A MOTORCYCLIST HE WAS NOT INJURED BUT THERE WAS SOME DAMAGE TO HIS BIKE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10249021
“BACK WINDOW HINGE, PASSENGER SIDE, 02 YUKON XL, SEPARATED FROM WINDOW/BROKE. NO ROUGH USE, JUST SNAPPED WHEN I OPENED IT. *TR”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10229404

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 20, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 20, 2026.

We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.

Raw data + downloads for this vehicle →

Essential maintenance

Critical for safety and preventing major damage

Engine Oil & Filter (per Oil Life System)

Every 7,500 mi

Change oil when OLS reaches 0% or every 12 months. dexos1-approved synthetic required on Sierra 1500 5.3L/6.2L; dexos2 specified on Duramax diesel.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$120–$160

Shop

~$85–$115

DIY

~$25–$55

Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.

Tire Rotation

Every 7,500 mi

Rotate tires every 7,500 miles. Sierra and Yukon owners running 4x4 should rotate every 5,000-7,500 miles to even out drivetrain wear.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.

Brake Inspection

Every 7,500 mi

Inspect pads, rotors, and parking brake every 7,500 miles. Towing accelerates pad wear by 30-50%; check more often if towing regularly.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.

Brake Fluid

Every 45,000 mi

DOT 3 brake fluid: test annually, replace when moisture exceeds 3% or fluid is darker than copper.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$180–$200

Shop

~$125–$140

DIY

~$10–$25

DOT 3 or 4 — match the cap. Vacuum bleeders make this a one-person DIY.

Important maintenance

Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently

Engine Air Filter

Every 45,000 mi

Long-life cellulose filter rated 45,000 miles. Trucks driven on unpaved roads or construction sites should inspect at every oil change.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.

Automatic Transmission Fluid

Every 45,000 mi

Severe service (towing 5,000+ lbs regularly, heavy stop-and-go): every 45,000 miles. Normal: 97,500 miles. Use Dexron-VI for 6L80/6L90, Mobil 1 LV ATF HP for 10L80/10L1000.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$330–$500

Shop

~$235–$355

DIY

~$60–$180

Some sealed transmissions have no dipstick — fill is precise and best left to a shop. Many drivers can still DIY drain-and-fill.

Transfer Case Fluid (4WD)

Every 45,000 mi

On 4WD models, replace every 45,000 miles. Use GM Auto-Trak II for active 4WD; GM 9986115 for selectable 4WD.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$105–$140

Shop

~$75–$100

DIY

~$15–$40

AWD/4WD vehicles only. Easy drain-and-fill on most platforms.

Differential Fluid (front + rear)

Every 50,000 mi

Replace front and rear axle fluid every 50,000 miles, or 25,000 miles if towing. G80 limited-slip rear axles require GM friction-modifier additive.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$150–$195

Shop

~$105–$135

DIY

~$20–$50

Drain plug + fill plug — straightforward DIY. AWD vehicles have two; budget for both.

Spark Plugs

Every 100,000 mi

Iridium spark plugs on the L83/L84 5.3L and L86/L87 6.2L V8 are rated 100,000 miles. AFM/DFM cylinder deactivation can cause uneven plug wear — check at 75,000 miles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$390

Shop

~$200–$275

DIY

~$25–$100

Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.

Dex-Cool Engine Coolant

Every 50,000 mi

Dex-Cool (orange): first change at 150,000 miles or 5 years, then every 50,000. Duramax diesel uses ELC (red) — different chemistry, do not mix.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$330

Shop

~$200–$235

DIY

~$25–$60

Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.

Recommended maintenance

Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort

Cabin Air Filter

Every 22,500 mi

Replace cabin air filter every 22,500 miles. Sierra HD and Yukon XL owners in dusty work environments should replace at 15,000 miles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.

Fatal crash history & reported problems

Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)

104 crashes 1990–2024

How the 104 occupant deaths break down

65

driver deaths

39

passenger deaths

104

occupant deaths

Crash years covered: 1990–2024 This model year first appears in 2002 crashes. Older models have had more years on the road to appear in these crashes, so a higher count here does not by itself mean a vehicle is less safe.

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number

FARS 2024 data is an annual report file. NHTSA revises these records when the final file is published, so this count can change.

Why we show driver deaths too

Every vehicle has exactly one driver seat, so driver deaths line up fairly when you compare one model to another. Occupant deaths include passengers, so a three row SUV can show a higher number than a two seat car simply because it carries more people.

Both figures are plain counts, not rates. A rate would need to know how many of each vehicle are on the road, and that registration data is not public, so we do not publish rates or scores of any kind.

IIHS publishes driver death rates using this same driver only idea, paired with a registered vehicle years denominator we do not have. Their rates and these counts answer different questions, so do not read either number here as a safety rating.

Owner-reported problem signals

Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.

23

complaints mentioning a crash

4

complaints mentioning a fire

Reviewed known issues for this vehicle

Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.

How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.

This maintenance schedule for the 2002 GMC Yukon XL reflects GMC's published service intervals and the Oil Life System system. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.