Used car safety, rank #50 of 181
GMC Yukon 2WD Safety Rating (2017-20)
Real IIHS driver death rates for the 2017-20 GMC Yukon 2WD, a large SUV, compared with its class and with the current model.
The 2017-20 GMC Yukon 2WD has an IIHS driver death rate of 24 per million registered vehicle years against a large SUVs average of 22.5, which is 7% above the class average. That places it #50 of 181 used vehicles with a safety score of 71.0/100.
What the GMC Yukon death rate means
At 24 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years, the GMC Yukon 2WD is 7% worse than the large SUVs average of 22.5. The 95% confidence interval is 0 to 55, which overlaps the class average, so some of the gap may be chance.
The other-driver death rate of 58 measures the opposite risk: how many drivers of other vehicles died in crashes with a GMC Yukon. It is higher than the GMC Yukon's own driver death rate, the usual pattern for heavier vehicles. Remember that death rates describe vehicles and their drivers together: IIHS adjusts for driver age and gender, but not for where or how carefully people drive. Our score weights this model's own rate at 70% and its class at 30%; see how we rank used cars.
Compared with similar used SUVs
The safest large SUVs in the IIHS study, by our score, with the GMC Yukon 2WD highlighted. It ranks 5 of the 6 shown; the class leader is the Chevrolet Tahoe 2WD at a death rate of 9.
| Vehicle | Years | Death rate | Score | Reliability | Used price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chevrolet Tahoe 2WD | 2017-20 | 9 (0 to 17) | 85.4 | 3.5/5 | $28,000 to $48,000 |
| Chevrolet Tahoe 4WD | 2017-20 | 16 (3 to 28) | 79.2 | 3.5/5 | n/a |
| GMC Yukon 4WD | 2017-20 | 22 (4 to 40) | 74.5 | n/a | n/a |
| Dodge Durango 4WD | 2017-20 | 24 (8 to 39) | 71.0 | n/a | n/a |
| GMC Yukon 2WD (this page) | 2017-20 | 24 (0 to 55) | 71.0 | n/a | n/a |
| Dodge Durango 2WD | 2017-20 | 40 (5 to 76) | 53.1 | n/a | n/a |
Class average for large SUVs: 22.5 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years.
Safety recalls for the GMC Yukon 2WD
A recall is a defect the manufacturer must repair free of charge, however old the car and whoever owns it now. On a used car this matters more than on a new one: the work is only done if a previous owner took it in.
Do not drive
NHTSA says to stop driving this vehicle until that repair is done. Check the VIN before driving it. On a car this age the repair may still be outstanding.
4 recall campaigns on the 2020 model year, covering power train, tires, fuel system, gasoline, service brakes, hydraulic.
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Power train: transfer case (4-wheel drive) Do not drive
Risk: Front or rear wheel lockup increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the remedy is completed. Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the transfer case assembly, free of charge.
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Tires
Risk: Over cured tires may develop a break in the sidewall resulting in sudden air loss or a belt edge separation which could lead to a tread/belt loss. Either condition can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the tires, replacing them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 22, 2021.
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Fuel system, gasoline: delivery, fuel pump
Risk: Over-pressurization can crack the fuel pump and cause leaks, increasing the risk of a fire in the presence of an ignition source.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump, free of charge. The recall began December 18, 2019.
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Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, wheel speed sensor/tone ring
Risk: Unintended activation of the driveline-protection system will cause unintended braking on the wheel on the opposite side of the failed sensor, causing the vehicle to pull to one side unexpectedly, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the EBCM, free of charge. The recall began December 11, 2019.
Recall campaigns from the NHTSA recalls database, retrieved 2026-09-04. A campaign covers a range of build dates, not every car of the model year, and IIHS reports this nameplate across several years while these results are for 2020. Confirm against the VIN. Recalls do not affect the death rate on this page.
GMC Yukon 2WD: Common Questions
Is the GMC Yukon 2WD a safe car?
Not on this measure: its drivers died at a higher rate than its class average. IIHS recorded a driver death rate of 24 per million registered vehicle years for the 2017-20 GMC Yukon 2WD, 7% above the class average (22.5 for large SUVs). That earns a used-car safety score of 71.0 out of 100 and rank #50 of 181 used vehicles.
What is the GMC Yukon 2WD driver death rate?
24 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years, with a 95% confidence interval of 0 to 55. Drivers of other vehicles that collided with a GMC Yukon died at a rate of 58 per million. Source: IIHS driver death rates by make and model, covering 2017-20 models.
How does the GMC Yukon 2WD compare with other large SUVs?
The large SUVs class averages 22.5 driver deaths per million; the GMC Yukon 2WD sits at 24. Among the 6 large SUVs compared above it ranks 5 by safety score; the top of that group is the Chevrolet Tahoe 2WD with a death rate of 9.