2021 GMC Yukon XL AT4
All photo credits
- Photo: 2021 GMC Yukon XL SLT, front 9.24.20 by Kevauto, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Photo: GMC Yukon XL Denali (GMTT1XX) 1X7A6323 by Alexander Migl, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Photo: 2021 GMC Yukon Denali by Calreyn88, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Photo: 2021 GMC Yukon XL SLE, rear 3.24.22 by Kevauto, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Photo: 2023 GMC Yukon XL Denali interior by deathpallie325, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The 2021 GMC Yukon XL AT4 is a 355-hp 5.3-liter with a hydra-matic 10l80 10-speed automatic and four-wheel drive. It starts at $67,800 MSRP.
It makes 355 horsepower and 383 lb-ft of torque. EPA fuel-economy estimates are 15 mpg city and 19 mpg highway.
The Yukon XL measures 225.2 inches long on a 134.1-inch wheelbase and has a curb weight of 5,841 lb.
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Vehicle | |
| Body Type | SUV |
| Powertrain | Gas |
| Price | |
| MSRP | $67,800 |
| MSRP with Destination | $69,495 |
| Destination Charge | $1,695 |
| Engine | |
| Engine Type | 5.3L V-8 VVT DI with Dynamic Fuel Management |
| Displacement | 5.3 L |
| Horsepower | 355 hp |
| Torque | 383 lb-ft |
| Valvetrain | OHV, 2 valves/cyl, VVT |
| Bore and Stroke | 96 x 92 |
| Injection Type | Direct injection with Dynamic Fuel Management (DFM) |
| Drivetrain | |
| Drive Type | Four-wheel drive |
| Transmission | |
| Transmission | Hydra-Matic 10L80 10-speed automatic |
| 1st Gear | 4.69 |
| 2nd Gear | 2.98 |
| 3rd Gear | 2.14 |
| 4th Gear | 1.77 |
| 5th Gear | 1.52 |
| 6th Gear | 1.27 |
| 7th Gear | 1 |
| 8th Gear | 0.85 |
| 9th Gear | 0.69 |
| 10th Gear | 0.63 |
| Reverse | 4.86 |
| Final Drive | 3.23 |
| Fuel Economy | |
| City | 15 MPG |
| Highway | 19 MPG |
| Recommended Fuel | Regular unleaded |
| Suspension | |
| Front Suspension | Independent coil-over-shocks and stabilizer bar; available four-corner air control. Magnetic Ride Control standard on AT4 and Denali. |
| Rear Suspension | Independent multi-link with coil-over shocks and stabilizer bar; available four-corner air control. Magnetic Ride Control standard on AT4 and Denali. |
| Brakes | |
| Front Brake Calipers | Vented Duralife disc with ABS |
| Tires & Wheels | |
| Wheels Front | 20 in aluminum |
| Wheels Rear | 20 in aluminum |
| Tires Front | P275/55R20 all-terrain |
| Tires Rear | P275/55R20 all-terrain |
| Dimensions & Weight | |
| Length | 225.2 in |
| Width | 81 in |
| Height | 76.5 in |
| Wheelbase | 134.1 in |
| Front Track | 68.5 in |
| Rear Track | 68.3 in |
| Ground Clearance | 8 in |
| Approach Angle | 24.5° |
| Departure Angle | 20° |
| Cargo Volume | 41.5 ft³ |
| Curb Weight | 5,841 lbs |
| Interior | |
| Headroom Front | 42.3 in |
| Headroom Rear | 38.9 in |
| Legroom Front | 44.5 in |
| Legroom Rear | 42 in |
| Shoulder Room Front | 66 in |
| Shoulder Room Rear | 64.8 in |
| Hip Room Front | 61.5 in |
| Hip Room Rear | 61.3 in |
Similar cars
Rivals to the 2021 GMC Yukon XL AT4 with similar size, power and price from around the same years.
Safety & Recalls
NCAP safety ratings
| Overall | ★★★★★ |
| Frontal crash | ★★★★★ |
| Side crash | ★★★★★ |
| Rollover | ★★★★★ (21.9 % risk) |
Other tested variants (1)
- 2021 GMC Yukon XL SUV 2WD: 4 ★ overall
Recalls
12 recalls on file with NHTSA for the 2021 GMC YUKON XL. Not every recall applies to every trim or VIN — check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Apr 24, 2025 · ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:HARD PARTS INTERNAL/MECHANICAL
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Suburban, and Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles equipped with a 6.2L V8 gas engine. The connecting rod and/or crankshaft engine components may have manufacturing defects that can lead to engine damage and engine failure.
Consequence: Engine failure increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the engine, and as necessary, repair or replace the engine. For vehicles that pass inspection, dealers will add higher viscosity oil, install 6 oil fill cap, replace the oil filter, and update the owner's manual. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 18, 2025. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N252494000.
NHTSA campaign 25V274000
Oct 24, 2024 · POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE:SOFTWARE
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, 2500, 3500, GMC Sierra 1500, 2500, 3500, 2021 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Tahoe, Suburban, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles equipped with diesel engines. The transmission control valve may fail and cause the rear wheels to lock-up.
Consequence: Rear wheel lock-up can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will install new transmission control module software, free of charge. GM will provide a special coverage program to cover the repair of transmissions that are identified by the remedy software as containing a defective control valve. Owner notification letters were mailed December 12, 2024. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, GMC customer service at GMC 1-800-462-8782 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N242454440.
NHTSA campaign 24V797000
Nov 3, 2022 · EXTERIOR LIGHTING:LIGHTING CONTROL MODULE:SOFTWARE
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Yukon, Yukon XL, Chevrolet Tahoe, Chevrolet Suburban, Cadillac Escalade, and Cadillac Escalade ESV vehicles. The daytime running lights (DRLs) may not deactivate when the headlights are on. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Consequence: Daytime Running Lights that do not deactivate as intended may cause a glare, reducing visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will provide an over-the-air (OTA) update for the Body Control Module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 15, 2022. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N222382220.
NHTSA campaign 22V827000
Aug 11, 2022 · SEAT BELTS:CRITICAL FASTENERS
General Motors, LLC (M) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles equipped with third-row seats. The rivet that retains the buckle to the mounting bracket in the left or right side third-row seat belt buckle assembly may have been improperly formed.
Consequence: A seat belt with a deformed rivet may not properly restrain an occupant, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the rivet head formation on both the left and right side third-row seat belt buckle assemblies and replace seat belt buckle assemblies, as necessary, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters informing owners of the safety risk were mailed September 28, 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed on November 1, 2022. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020; Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006; and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N222372380.
NHTSA campaign 22V617000
Jan 27, 2022 · POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 GMC Yukon, Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, and Chevrolet Tahoe vehicles. The rear wheel driveshaft assemblies may have internal components that were not heat-treated properly, possibly resulting in driveshaft failure.
Consequence: Driveshaft failure can cause a sudden loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the left and/or right rear driveshaft assemblies, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 14, 2022. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020; Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212351030.
NHTSA campaign 22V036000
Sep 23, 2021 · FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP:CONTROL/DRIVE MODULE
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. The fuel pump power control module may cause the fuel pump to fail or operate intermittently, which can interrupt fuel flow to the engine, and cause an unexpected engine stall.
Consequence: An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the fuel pump power control module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on October 14, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020; Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006; or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212332040.
NHTSA campaign 21V739000
Jun 17, 2021 · STEERING:STEERING CONTROL MODULE
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Chevrolet Tahoe, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. A software issue may cause a loss of power steering assist at startup or while driving.
Consequence: Increased steering effort, particularly at lower speeds, increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: The power steering module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 13, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020; Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006; or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212333900.
NHTSA campaign 21V455000
Jun 10, 2021 · AIR BAGS:SRS MALFUNCTION WARNING LAMP/LIGHT
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Buick Envision, Cadillac CT4, CT5, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Tahoe, Corvette, Suburban, GMC Yukon, Yukon XL vehicles. The communications gateway module incorrectly processes a loss of communication with the sensing diagnostic module (SDM), causing the air bag malfunction indicator light to inconsistently illuminate.
Consequence: The air bag malfunction indicator light may fail to warn the driver of a problem with the air bag, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: The communications gateway module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 1, 2021. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, 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 N212338110.
NHTSA campaign 21V421000
Mar 18, 2021 · SEAT BELTS
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, GMC Yukon, Yukon XL, Chevrolet Suburban, and Tahoe vehicles with third-row seating. The third-row outboard seat belts may have been entrapped or misrouted behind the outboard seat-folding mechanism, which could result in damaged seat belts.
Consequence: A damaged seat belt can break during a crash, increasing the risk of injury to the occupant.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the third-row outboard seat belts, replacing any damaged seat belts, and rerouting them if necessary, free of charge. The recall began on April 21, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782, and Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N202313000.
NHTSA campaign 21V190000
Dec 23, 2020 · SEAT BELTS
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Chevrolet Bolt EV and 2021 GMC Canyon and Sierra 1500, 2500 and 3500, Yukon, Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV and Chevrolet Blazer, Camaro, Colorado, Equinox, Silverado 1500, 2500 and 3500, Suburban and Tahoe vehicles. Incorrect bolts may have been used at one or more fastening locations to secure the seat belts to the vehicle. If an incorrect bolt was used, the seat belt may not be properly attached to the vehicle.
Consequence: If a seat belt assembly is not properly attached to the vehicle, the seat belt may not properly restrain an occupant in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the suspect bolts, free of charge. The recall began January 29, 2021. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8785, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N202322230.
NHTSA campaign 20V811000
Dec 17, 2020 · SEAT BELTS
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500, 2021 Chevrolet Suburban and Tahoe and GMC Yukon XL and 2020-2021 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 and 3500 and GMC Sierra 2500 and 3500 vehicles. The seat belt brackets may not be secured to the seat frame in the front-row center seating position.
Consequence: If a seat-belt bracket is not secured, the seat belt may not properly restrain an occupant in the front-row center seat position, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect left-side and right-side front-row center seat-belt bracket attachments and reassemble it correctly as necessary, free of charge. The recall began January 26, 2021. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N202314670.
NHTSA campaign 20V792000
Nov 25, 2020 · SEATS
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Chevrolet Suburban and Tahoe and GMC Yukon and Yukon XL vehicles. During general assembly, a repair involved removal of one or both front seats. The attachment bolts for the front seats may not have been properly reinstalled after the repair was completed.
Consequence: If an occupied front seat has loose or missing attachment bolts, it may move during a crash, increasing the risk of injury to the seated occupant.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the seat attachments for both front seats and install attachment bolts as needed, free of charge. The recall began December 21, 2020. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, and GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267. GM's number for this recall is N202312720.
NHTSA campaign 20V735000
229 owner complaints to NHTSA for the 2021 GMC YUKON XL
Owner Complaints
229 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2021 GMC YUKON XL (2 mention a crash, 1 a fire, 3 an injury). See all on nhtsa.gov
| Engine | 140 |
| Power Train | 49 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 29 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 21 |
| Electrical System | 13 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 7 |
Complaints are unverified reports submitted to NHTSA by owners. They cover the whole model year, not a specific trim, and a count alone doesn't show how common a problem is.
Source: US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (nhtsa.gov), matched as 2021 GMC YUKON XL. US-market vehicles only; data cached for up to 7 days.