NHTSA (USA)Critical
At a glance
What can fail
The front passenger air bag inflator may explode due to propellant breakdown after prolonged exposure to high humidity, high heat, and temperature changes.
What the fix does
This page covers 5 recalls, 163 owner complaints and NHTSA crash-test ratings for the 2011 GMC Yukon.
4/5 Overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
For the 2011 GMC Yukon, the dominant pattern in owner complaints centers on the airbag and restraint system, which accounts by far for the largest share of reports. Owners frequently describe airbag warning lights illuminating unexpectedly, along with concerns about whether the system will deploy correctly when needed. The structural category draws the second-highest complaint volume, with owners reporting issues related to body integrity, though the specific symptoms vary across reports. The powertrain category generates notably fewer complaints by comparison, with a small number of owners describing transmission shift irregularities and occasional engine behavior concerns. A recurring thread across multiple complaint categories is owners noting that dealership diagnostic checks returned no stored faults, yet the reported symptoms, warning lights cycling on and off, intermittent electronic disruptions, and traction control activation, continued after service visits.
163
Total Complaints
2
Crash-Related
2
With Injuries
By System
The 2011 GMC Yukon has 5 recalls, the most serious being the passenger-side front airbag inflator, which can explode and send sharp metal fragments into the cabin, causing serious injury or death.
The airbag inflator issue affects vehicles originally sold or registered in high-humidity states and territories including Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, and several US territories. This is a well-documented Takata-related defect, and prior repair attempts on some vehicles did not fully resolve the problem, which is why multiple recall campaigns cover it. On the steering side, the bolts securing the intermediate steering shaft joints may not have been tightened to the correct torque, which can allow the joint to separate entirely and leave the driver with no steering input. The remaining recall involves the rear axle: internal cross pins inside the axle can fracture and shift out of position, causing a sudden and unexpected loss of directional control. Both the steering and rear axle failures can result in a crash without warning.
At a glance
What can fail
The front passenger air bag inflator may explode due to propellant breakdown after prolonged exposure to high humidity, high heat, and temperature changes.
What the fix does
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Ratings from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). Based on 2 tested variants; worst-case ratings shown.
Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
Dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with a different one at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The front passenger air bag inflator may fail to deploy or deploy incorrectly in a crash.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The front passenger air bag inflator contains a propellant that can degrade and rupture after prolonged exposure to high heat, humidity, and temperature swings.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with a different one at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The bolts connecting the intermediate steering shaft may not be tightened to the correct specification, potentially causing steering problems.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the intermediate steering shaft bolts and tighten them to the proper specification.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The rear axle cross pin was not properly heat-treated and may crack. If the pin shifts out of place, it can jam the rear axle and cause it to lock up.
What the fix does
Dealers will install a new rear axle cross pin at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.