While driving out of my driveway, the brake pedal became hard and I had limited stopping power. I was able to stop the vehicle before it hit anything, but then the Brake Assist light came on. I pulled back into my driveway and inspected the brake system and found no leaks, and the master cylinder was full. I restarted the truck and it began to operate normally. Today, I experienced the same issue and when I looked up the cause, it said the vacuum pump failure was probably the issue. Called GM and they indicated that there is a recall for this exact issue, but my vehicle is not part of the recall. Can someone explain how my vehicle is experiencing the same issue that is covered in the recall, but not eligible to be included in the recall?
The worst 2018 GMC Yukon XL problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Engine16
- Brakes11
- Transmission9
- Electrical5
- Seat belts5
- Suspension4
- Fuel system3
- Steering3
- Acceleration2
- Airbags2
- Seats2
- Visibility1
- Wheels1
Specific symptoms reported on the 2018 GMC Yukon XL
Check engine light 8Engine failure 7Jerking 5Loss of power 5
Recalls 2
Power train: transfer case (4-wheel drive)
- What is wrong
- General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2026 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Suburban, and Tahoe, and GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles with four-wheel (4WD) or all-wheel drive (AWD), and certain 2015-2020 Suburban, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Yukon, Yukon XL, and Tahoe vehicles. A component missing from the drivetrain transfer case may cause the front and/or rear wheels to lock up without warning to the driver.
- Risk
- Front or rear wheel lockup increases the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the remedy is completed. Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the transfer case assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 18, 2026. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1‑800‑462‑8782, Chevrolet customer service at 1‑800‑222‑1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1‑800‑333‑4223. GM's number for this recall is N262557620. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on on May 7, 2026.
Recall number 26V289000 · Recall details
Seat belts: rear/other
- What is wrong
- General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Cadillac CT6, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Volt, and GMC Yukon XL vehicles. Certain second-row or third-row rear seatbelts retractor assemblies may not automatically lock when the seatbelt is fully pulled out of the retractor, possibly preventing a child seat from being properly secured. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
- Risk
- If the child seat is not properly secured in the event of a crash, it can increase the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rear seatbelt retractors and replace them if necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 7, 2018. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1‑800‑458‑8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1‑800‑222‑1020 or GMC customer service at 1‑800‑462‑8782. GM's number for this recall is 18315.
Recall number 18V673000 · Recall details
Technical service bulletins for the 2018 GMC Yukon XL 920
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- This service bulletin provides information about GM Accessories
- Unknown or other
- This PI provides Diagnostics tips on how the LIN bus works and how to diagnosis it.
- Unknown or other
- This PI provides diagnostic tips for diagnosing electric trailer brakes issues.
- PI to help diagnose A/C concern
- Unknown or other
- Unknown or other
- Unknown or other
- This PI Communications information on an alternative product dealers can use to perform 19-NA-255: Wax...
What 2018 GMC Yukon XL owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
I was driving and the Engine light started blinking. the car started to lose power. i had to pull off the road. the blinking stopped and then i was able to get home. I had it towed to the dealership, where they told me this was a known issue with the AFM valve train system. this is a known issue and I was not made aware of it and continued to drive my car with my children inside of it. had i known, i could have had it assessed for the potential issue. But now, IT IS TOO LATE! I am now being told i need to pay $17,000 to replace my engine. something that could have been avoided if i had known to watch for any issue. but i was never warned. and now i have no car, still have car payment and no help from GM, GMC or anyone else. I know you cannot help me get this fixed, but maybe you can prevent this from happening to someone else.
Body control Module failed causing the vehicle to lose all power. Battery shorted out to 6 volts. Required a tow.
Replaced the transmission two times at about $14,000. Need a new motor with an estimated replacement of $10,000.
Low Engine Oil Pressure with Engine making noise. Cut open oil filter and found excessive metal. Original Engine was replaced in January 2022 by Group 1 (former Beck and Masten GMC-North in Houston, TX) due to valve lifter failure.
transmission gave out while driving on the road at 50 mph
Transmission lifter problems like all other gmc 2018 yukon xl contacted gmc dealer back january 20,2026 got transmission fixed myself truck at joe bullard dealship mos 8days they are trying to contact u for approval to fix honor your product please.
On May 27, 2026 at around 7:30pm my 2018 GMC Yukon XL Denali engined failed. I was exiting E-470 southwest bound at Gartrell Road in Aurora and the engine started knocking loudly and completely quit. As I rolled to a stop I correctly suspected that the engine seized. It would not turn over, a bad odor was present, and smoke was coming from the top of the motor. It was hard to tell exactly from where because of high wind. All belts looked fine and the Castle Rock GMC dealer I had it towed to later confirmed that the engine is seized. Fortunately I was approaching the stop light and not towing anything so the safety risk from loss of power steering and power brakes was lower than normal highway driving speeds a few seconds earlier.
The vehicle keep jerking in and out of gear the issue almost made me crash due to the harsh conditions Took to repair they stated this is a known problem. That is what worries me now
The back hatch would not open while the car was on and in park. Upon reaching in without being in the car, we turned it off, and it engaged reverse on its own, causing it to reverse immediately almost causing terminal harm to myself and my family. It careened into the woods with us unable to stop it due to the immediate speed. No one was in the vehicle, it was solely self propelled. We have a video of the path it took and the damage it caused. When the car wrecked, even when turned off, the lights and windshields wipers engaged by themselves.
Compare the 2018 GMC Yukon XL
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Questions about the 2018 GMC Yukon XL
Is the 2018 GMC Yukon XL reliable?
Owners have filed 57 complaints about the 2018 GMC Yukon XL, fewer than a typical Yukon XL model year.
What is the 2018 GMC Yukon XL year score?
The 2018 GMC Yukon XL scores 70 out of 100 (average). The score compares it with the other model years of the GMC Yukon XL: 75 is a typical year, 50 means twice the usual complaints, and serious complaints and recalls lower it.
What is the most common problem with the 2018 GMC Yukon XL?
Engine and cooling, with 16 complaints. Next is brakes (11).
How many recalls does the 2018 GMC Yukon XL have?
2 recalls, covering power train and seat belts.
What year does the GMC Yukon XL have bad engine?
The GMC Yukon XL model years with the most engine complaints are 2021 (166 complaints), 2023 (166 complaints) and 2022 (128 complaints).
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