2nd generation · GMT800 (GMT820/830) · 1,231 complaints, 787 with mileage
Owners filed 1,231 complaints with NHTSA about the 2000–2006 Gmc Yukon, and 787 of them record the mileage at which the failure happened. That is enough to show not just what fails, but when.
Failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 43,000 and 123,600 miles. The median is 76,000 miles.
The most-reported areas are the electrical system (14.8% of complaints, typically around 68,702 miles), the hydraulic brake circuit (13.6% of complaints, typically around 60,798 miles), the brakes (12.2% of complaints, typically around 130,500 miles).
| System | Complaints | Share | Typical mileage | Middle half |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 182 | 14.8% | 68,702 | 48,500–99,000 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 168 | 13.6% | 60,798 | 39,000–92,000 |
| Service Brakes | 150 | 12.2% | 130,500 | 101,200–165,895 |
| Air Bags | 70 | 5.7% | 83,000 | 38,000–142,000 |
| Tires | 63 | 5.1% | 38,054 | 24,000–69,000 |
| Steering | 54 | 4.4% | 47,000 | 27,200–95,671 |
| Power Train | 54 | 4.4% | 50,000 | 13,329–81,182 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 49 | 4.0% | 62,500 | 28,000–86,600 |
| Visibility | 47 | 3.8% | 55,385 | 18,000–97,033 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 43 | 3.5% | 63,200 | 37,500–101,000 |
| Year | Complaints | With mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 199 | 67 |
| 2001 | 258 | 124 |
| 2002 | 187 | 128 |
| 2003 | 251 | 194 |
| 2004 | 186 | 146 |
| 2005 | 101 | 89 |
| 2006 | 49 | 39 |
Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 76,000 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
The electrical system accounts for 14.8% of complaints (182 reports, 127 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 68,702 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 48,500 and 99,000 miles.
The hydraulic brake circuit accounts for 13.6% of complaints (168 reports, 123 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 60,798 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 39,000 and 92,000 miles.
The brakes account for 12.2% of complaints (150 reports, 140 of them with a mileage figure), and they fail late — a median of 130,500 miles, considerably beyond the vehicle's overall median. That pattern is consistent with normal service life rather than a defect, though it matters for anyone buying an example already near that mileage. The middle half of these reports falls between 101,200 and 165,895 miles.
The airbag system accounts for 5.7% of complaints (70 reports, 36 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 83,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 38,000 and 142,000 miles.
The tyres account for 5.1% of complaints (63 reports, 17 of them with a mileage figure), and they fail early — a median of 38,054 miles, well before the vehicle's overall median. Failures clustered this far below the rest of the car usually point to a design or manufacturing problem rather than wear, because wear does not selectively target one system on low-mileage examples. The middle half of these reports falls between 24,000 and 69,000 miles.
The steering accounts for 4.4% of complaints (54 reports, 33 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails early — a median of 47,000 miles, well before the vehicle's overall median. Failures clustered this far below the rest of the car usually point to a design or manufacturing problem rather than wear, because wear does not selectively target one system on low-mileage examples. The middle half of these reports falls between 27,200 and 95,671 miles.
Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 2001 model year drew the most — 258 complaints — while 2006 drew the fewest at 49. The median year sits at 187.
No recall campaigns covering this generation appear in NHTSA's post-2010 recall file. That is not the same as an absence of problems — recalls address safety defects specifically, and many of the complaints above concern faults that are expensive or annoying without meeting that threshold.
Of the 1,231 complaints filed against this generation, 92 reported a crash; 11 reported a fire; 98 reported an injury; 3 reported a fatality. Crash-involved reports represent 7.5% of the total.
These are owner-reported outcomes, not verified investigations, and they are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. They are included because the distinction between a fault that strands a car and a fault that causes a collision is the one that matters most, and it is not visible in a complaint count alone.
For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 43,000 and 123,600 miles, with a median of 76,000. There is no single mileage threshold to watch, which means condition and maintenance records are more informative than the odometer.
On inspection, the electrical system and the hydraulic brake circuit are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. The hydraulic brake circuit in particular shows a median failure mileage of 60,798, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.
None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.
Instrument cluster gauge stepper motor failure: needles read incorrectly, stick, or die entirely — speedometer and fuel gauge most often. GM offered extended coverage on the affected clusters. Earlier 1999-2002 clusters use air-core movements and fail less often than the 2003-2006 stepper-motor units.
Early-production 4.8L/5.3L plastic lower intake manifold and gasket seepage allowing coolant into the oil.
Intermediate steering shaft wear producing a clunk or knock felt through the wheel on turn-in; addressed by GM bulletins and a redesigned shaft.
4L60-E/4L65-E harsh shifting from a cracked 1-2 accumulator piston, and 3-4 clutch wear.