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2013 GMC Yukon Denali Xl 1500
Solid pick. The public record on this car is clean for its age. Inspect it, then negotiate with confidence.
180 owner complaints · 0 recalls · data verified July 25, 2026 · source: NHTSA
Why buy?
Airbags problems dominate (34% of complaints, typically reported near 50k miles).
Very few owner complaints for its age and sales volume.
Complaints are overwhelmingly minor: almost none involve crashes, fires, or injuries.
Zero recalls, rare for a car this age.
Score breakdown, by factor
Full methodology →#82 of 515Among the 2013 models with a matured record, the 2013 GMC Yukon Denali Xl 1500 ranks #82, scoring higher than 81% of them. See the 2013 ranking →
Complaints filed per year
Fading = early teething worked out. Climbing = problems aging in.
How it crashes
NHTSA’s own crash tests, separate from the reliability score above.
4/5 overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating · 2013 GMC Yukon Denali XL 1500 SUV RWD
Rollover risk in a single-vehicle crash: 24%
1 open NHTSA defect investigation on file, separate from the recalls above.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings. Star ratings compare vehicles within the same class and size, not across every car on the road.
The road ahead
What breaks on a 2013 GMC Yukon Denali Xl 1500, plotted where owners report it happening.
Also reported (mileage varies): Engine (13) · Electrical system (9) · Steering (5)
Mileage medians come from owners who mentioned an odometer reading in their NHTSA complaint. Treat them as a rough guide.
Airbags
34%62 complaints · typically near 50k mi · 1 in the last 2 years
“The issue is that we have to sign off on liability for the dealer to install the new safety airbag to state that we are accepting a cracked dashboard. This is ridiculo…”
Body & structure
24%43 complaints · typically near 51k mi
“The contact owns a 2013 GMC Yukon. The contact stated that he noticed there was a crack on the passenger’s side dashboard. There were no warning lights illuminated. Th…”
Engine
7%13 complaints · 2 in the last 2 years
“The truck locks start locking and unlocking on their own, the stabilitrac and traction control will cycle between on and off, the motor will shut off, it goes to limp …”
Electrical system
5%9 complaints
“The truck locks start locking and unlocking on their own, the stabilitrac and traction control will cycle between on and off, the motor will shut off, it goes to limp …”
Check it against this car’s mileage
Type the odometer reading on the actual car you’re looking at to see which of these problem areas owners tend to report before it, around it, or after it.
We can place 2 of this model's commonly reported problem areas against a mileage. Nothing is stored.
Read all 180 owner complaints in their own words → · just the 6 crash/fire/injury reports →
Recalls (0)
No recall campaigns on file for this model year.
Questions to ask the seller
Questions worth asking the seller of this GMC before you buy, drawn from its public record:
- Owners of this model report airbags problems more than anything else (owners tend to report it near 50k miles). Has this car shown any airbags symptoms, and are there repair records for it?
- Owners of this model report body & structure problems more than anything else (owners tend to report it near 51k miles). Has this car shown any body & structure symptoms, and are there repair records for it?
- Has this car been in any accident or had any structural, airbag, or flood-related repair? Do you have a clean title and a recent history report (Carfax / AutoCheck)?
- How many owners has it had, do you have the maintenance records, and why are you selling it?
- Are you open to me having an independent mechanic inspect it before we settle on a price?
Before you hand over money
Check the VIN for open recalls
NHTSA’s free lookup shows whether this exact car had its recall remedies completed.
Free NHTSA VIN check ↗Get a pre-purchase inspection
A $150 to $250 independent inspection of this exact 2013 GMC YUKON DENALI XL 1500 beats every score on the internet, including ours.
What to ask forNot set on the 2013? See how every Yukon Denali Xl 1500 model year scores →
Cross-shopping? Compare the 2013 GMC Yukon Denali Xl 1500 against another car →
What owners say
Real owners of this exact model-year, shown separately from the NHTSA score. If they disagree, that’s worth knowing.