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2018 GMC Yukon problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
54% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2018 GMC Yukon are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is a model-level pattern, not bad luck.
Worse than 71% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 12 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 48%).
Does the 2018 GMC Yukon have engine problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 61 of 114 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2018 GMC Yukon concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (54%), and the largest group is filed under engine (41). For comparison, the 2017 scores 54% and the 2019 scores 73%. On a test drive, check for stalling, loss of power, rough idle, oil consumption or a check-engine light. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
How the 2018 compares with other GMC Yukon years
Of the 14 GMC Yukon years with enough complaints to score, the 2018 is the 7th-worst on engine and transmission share (54%). The worst is the 2021 (85%), the best the 2011 (13%). By volume, the 2018 drew 126 complaints (61 drivetrain), against 359 for the 2017 and 126 for the 2019.
GMC Yukon years to avoid and best years →
2010 Yukon problems · 2011 Yukon problems · 2012 Yukon problems · 2013 Yukon problems · 2014 Yukon problems · 2015 Yukon problems · 2016 Yukon problems · 2017 Yukon problems · 2018 · 2019 Yukon problems · 2020 Yukon problems · 2021 Yukon problems · 2022 Yukon problems · 2023 Yukon problems
The rest of the picture on the 2018 GMC Yukon
- The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2018 GMC Yukon said the problem showed up, and the range most of them fell in.
- What the repair costs. Typical engine repair ranges, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 61 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2018 GMC Yukon engine and transmission recalls
No engine or transmission recalls. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns on the 2018 GMC Yukon, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
3 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model; one of NHTSA's listings did not answer when this page was built, so the list may be incomplete. Checked October 3, 2026.
Checking one particular 2018 GMC Yukon? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
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Does the 2018 GMC Yukon have engine problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 61 of 114 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2018 GMC Yukon concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (54%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the engine and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.
What is the most common problem with the 2018 GMC Yukon?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2018 GMC Yukon is engine: 41 of 126 complaints (33%) name it, followed by power train (26) and service brakes (16). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap.
Is the 2018 GMC Yukon reliable?
On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 54% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (high signal). That is worse than 71% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 14 GMC Yukon years we score, it ranks 7th-worst. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2018 GMC Yukon?
No. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns on the 2018 GMC Yukon, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system.
Which GMC Yukon years are better?
Among the GMC Yukon years we track, the 2011 (13%), the 2012 (15%) and the 2013 (15%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2018 (54%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/gmc-yukon
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Combined across 4 body styles NHTSA files separately.