2002 GMC Yukon Problems, Recalls & Reliability

218 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2002 GMC Yukon, alongside 5 recall campaigns and 4 defect investigations. It scores 31/100 on the trouble index — a middle-of-the-pack year for this model. Brakes & stability leads the reports, typically around 89,370 miles.

218Complaints
31/100Trouble index
5Recalls
79,500Typical trouble mileage

Typical

Where 2002 sits among all Yukon years

Darker = quieter yearsBrighter amber = more trouble

What owners report

Brakes & stability 101 complaints (46%) · typically ~89,370 miles
“When just about to stop in dry weather, the abs brake system kicks in and makes stopping distance longer.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2002 Yukon
Electrical 17 complaints (8%) · typically ~58,100 miles
Airbags 15 complaints (7%) · typically ~107,000 miles
Other 11 complaints (5%) · typically ~106,000 miles
Transmission & drivetrain 10 complaints (5%)
Wheels & tires 10 complaints (5%)

Mileage when trouble shows up

Among the 150 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 79,500 miles. Half of those reports fall between 48,000 and 131,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.

Recalls (5)

WHEELS 07E106000 2007

CERTAIN FEDERAL-MOGUL REPLACEMENT WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLIES WITH THE BRAND NAMES: NATIONAL, CARQUEST P/NOS. 515020, 515021, 515025, 515053, 515054, 515059, AND 515060, SHIPPED BETWEEN JANUARY 23, 2006, AND DECEMBER 20, 2007, SOLD FOR LIGHT DUTY AND MEDIUM DUTY…

Fix: FEDERAL-MOGUL WILL NOTIFY CUSTOMERS AND WILL REPLACE THE HUB ASSEMBLY FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 7, 2008. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FEDERAL-MOGUL TOLL-FREE AT 877-489-6659.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 06E043000 2006

CERTAIN REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS, FRAM BRAND NAME P/N G3727, WITH DATE CODES X52911 THROUGH X60801 SEQUENTIALLY OR X600141 AND A MEXICO COUNTRY OR ORIGIN MARKING ON THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 18, 2005, THROUGH MARCH 21, 2006, SOLD FOR…

Fix: HONEYWELL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FUEL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 18, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-890-2075 (OPTION 1).

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 05V379000 2005

CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE UNWANTED ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) ACTIVATION. THIS CONDITION IS MORE LIKELY TO OCCUR IN ENVIRONMENTALLY CORROSIVE AREAS. THIS RECALL WILL BE LAUNCHED IN THE "SALT BELT" STATES OF…

Fix: DEALERS ARE TO REMOVE THE WHEEL SPEED SENSOR AND THOROUGHLY CLEAN THE WHEEL SPEED SENSOR MOUNTING SURFACE ON THE BEARING, APPLY RUST INHIBITOR TO THE CLEANED SURFACE, GREASE THE MOUNTING SURFACE,…

STRUCTURE 03V094000 2003

CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCK, VAN, AND MINI VAN CONVERSIONS EQUIPPED WITH SOUTHERN COMFORT BUILT RUNNING BOARDS THAT CONTAIN CERTAIN COURTESY LIGHTS MANUFACTURED BY AMERICAN TECHNOLOGY COMPONENTS, INC. THESE UNITS CONTAIN A COURTESY LIGHT OR LIGHTS THAT MIGHT…

Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WIRING HARNESS ON THESE RUNNING BOARDS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 7, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO…

SEATS 02V253000 2002

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH REARWARD FOLDING HEAD RESTRAINTS ON THE SECOND ROW SEATS, TWO POTENTIAL PINCH POINTS EXIST ON EACH OF THE FOLDING HEAD RESTRAINTS WHEN THE RESTRAINTS ARE FOLDED REARWARD AS THE SEATBACK IS FOLDED DOWN.

Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL PROTECTIVE COVERS OVER THE PINCH POINTS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN NOVEMBER 8, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO…

Federal defect investigations

Brake line corrosion failure PE10010 opened 2010, closed 2011
PARKING BRAKE FAILURE DP05009 opened 2005, closed 2006
UNWANTED LOW-SPEED ABS ACTIVATION PE05020 opened 2005, closed 2005

Led to recall campaign 05V379000.

THROTTLE STICKING CLOSED EA02015 opened 2002, closed 2004

Technical service bulletins

572 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on engine and electrical — are on file for the 2002 GMC Yukon. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.

See the 2002 Yukon TSB list →

Complaint history for this model year

When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.

2001peak 44 in 20052025

Questions buyers ask

Is the 2002 GMC Yukon reliable?

The 2002 GMC Yukon drew 218 complaints in federal safety records — a middle-of-the-pack year for this model. Its trouble index is 31/100, scored against the model's worst year (2007).

What are the most common 2002 GMC Yukon problems?

The top reported problems for the 2002 GMC Yukon are brakes & stability (101 complaints), electrical (17), and airbags (15).

At what mileage do 2002 GMC Yukon problems show up?

Owners most often report 2002 GMC Yukon problems around 79,500 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 48,000 and 131,000 miles.

Does the 2002 GMC Yukon have recalls?

5 recall campaigns apply to the 2002 GMC Yukon. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.

← 2001 Yukon All Yukon years 2003 Yukon →
Data updated 2026-08-20 from NHTSA's public records

Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.