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2008 GMC Yukon XLProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 69 owner complaints about the 2008 GMC Yukon XL, most often about the air bags. It is covered by 4 safety recalls, and for recall 21V-050 the manufacturer reports only 28% of affected cars repaired.

2008 GMC Yukon XL
57
CarFlaw IndexSolid year24% below the Yukon XL median · #15 of 25 years by complaints
Safety recalls4Lowest repair rate 28%Owner complaints698 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage145kAir bags, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through August 3, 2022. Updated daily. Photo: Bull-Doser, Public domain.

Complaints by system

Where the 2008 GMC Yukon XL has problems

69 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Air bags422
Electrical system111
Structure82
Latches/locks/linkages70
Engine30
Power train20
Steering10
Electronic stability control (ESC)10
Visibility/wiper10
3 other systems30

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

4 recalls

2008 GMC Yukon XL recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

28%repaired · 2023 Q1

Passenger side: inflator module

Recall 21V-050 · Feb 5, 2021 · 2,641,272 vehicles · 734,119 repaired

Risk. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

38%repaired · 2023 Q3

Passenger side: inflator module

Recall 21V-052 · Feb 5, 2021 · 557,023 vehicles · 212,499 repaired

Risk. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Electrical system

Recall 08V-441 · Aug 28, 2008 · 857,735 vehicles

Risk. THIS MAY CAUSE OTHER ELECTRICAL FEATURES TO MALFUNCTION, CREATE AN ODOR, OR CAUSE SMOKE INCREASING THE RISK OF A FIRE.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with GMC.

Best & worst years

2008 vs. every other Yukon XL year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Yukon XL median. How we score

'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
NHTSA crash tests

2008 GMC Yukon XL safety ratings

2008 GMC Yukon XL 4-DR. w/SAB in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.

  • Rollover: 3 stars (23.7% risk)
  • Stability control: Standard
  • Forward collision warning: No
  • Lane departure warning: No
1 investigation

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 2008 GMC Yukon XL, and the recalls they led to.

  1. Desiccated Air Bag Inflator RuptureEA21002 · still open
    Open
In owners' words

What Yukon XL owners report

Recent air bags complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

Sorry I speak Spanish Le cambiaron sensor bolsa de aire pero sigue teniendo lo el mismo problema y después de eso no se si le esta afectando porque ya no me sirve la alarma, el tablero en ocasiones se detiene o no prende nada, el stereo derrepente deja de oírse incluso lo de navegación yo regrese…
Complaint 11477354 · Aug 3, 2022
The contact owned a 2008 GMC Yukon XL. The contact stated while driving at an intersection, another vehicle unexpectedly cut into the middle lane. As a result, the contact crashed into the passenger side of the vehicle. The air bags deployed. A police report was filed. The contact sustained…
Complaint 11420850 · Jun 14, 2021 · 227,000 miles
WE HAVE BEEN WAITING OVER 3 YEARS FOR THIS MATTER TO BE PUT IN TO AN ACTION PLAN. WE DRIVE THE NOTED 2008 YUKON DENALI DAILY TO AND FROM WORK AS WELL AS TAKE OUR PASSENGERS TO SCHOOL. WE ARE THE ORIGINAL OWNERS OF THE VEHICLE AND WISH TO REQUEST THAT THE AIR BAG NOTED BE SCHEDULED FOR REPLACEMENT.…
Complaint 11396182 · Feb 14, 2021

Own a 2008 Yukon XL?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.