AI DamageGMC S Utility: problems, complaints, bulletins
Summary for the GMC S Utility across 4 model years: 131 owner complaints and 0 NHTSA service bulletins, plus repair videos. Pick a year for details.
Model years
What fails most often
- 1 Equipment 95% of all complaints
- 2 Service brakes 2% of all complaints
- 3 Exterior lighting 2% of all complaints
- 4 Electrical system 1% of all complaints
- 5 Fuel system 1% of all complaints
- 6 Tires 1% of all complaints
- Equipment: 124 complaints (95% of all), 6 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Service brakes: 3 complaints (2% of all).
- Exterior lighting: 2 complaints (2% of all).
- Electrical system: 1 complaints (1% of all).
- Fuel system: 1 complaints (1% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 131 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Equipment | 124 | 6 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
Air bags failed to deploy on our gm xuv after major crash into drivers side door and side frame. Called local dealer, referred to gm regional, said "they didn't make the air bags". Wrote to gm home office referred back to regional. Regional said file was in "legal" gave up trying.
A white car stopped or stalled in center lane of highway and was then hit by a green car and we hit the green car "head on" in the rear.. Air bags did not deploy with a direct head on hit at 65 to 70 miles per hour. My truck was a 1997 gmc jimmy.
The vehicle is a total loss and it is utterly unbelievable that the air bags did not deploy. I was so impressed with the raved reviews, consumer reports including safety features, and stylish body that this cadillac escalade became the vehicle of my dreams.
#1 start the vehicle #2 put on seat belt and put car in reverse to back out of driveway.(cant wait for dnx to boot because it takes too long) #3 begin to back out of driveway without back up sensors because they are disabled by the safety warning #4 ok put car in drive and begin commute #5 attempt to change music…
No brakes, car barely stop, stops far beyond intersection traffic light car checked out, brakes and brake line replaced. The service stability, service brake system, service abs, car ding, ding, parking brake light stay on. Informed that hydrolic system inoperable.
Fuel sensor stopped working causing my fuel gauge to always show e and the check engine light to always be on, in addition there are annoying chimes on a frequent basis. This issue began about 50,000 miles ago, I currently have 120,000 miles on the car. I have dealt with it for 3 years.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
What to check before buying
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Exterior lighting. Headlamps, leveling, sensors and mounts after a frontal hit.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Fuel system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
Other models of this make
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.