GMC Yukon XL Complaints

2,896 consumer complaints on file.

#11713229January 25, 2026
ENGINE
Driving after dark on a main street in St George Utah, the engine suddenly surged and then revved down. It felt like someone jamming it into 4WD. Traffic was tailgating me, and I was nearly hit. I could not pull completely out of the right lane. I put on hazard lights. Check engine light came on, and TCS light came on. I decided to get out of traffic & crawled forward about 30 yards into a Sinclair station lot, then backed it into a spot where a tow truck could get it. It was clearly not drivable. Called AAA and a driver was able to get to me within 1/2 an hour. Checked the AAA website for mechanics since I was merely travelling through St. George and had no knowledge of the area. Hawker's Automotive was listed first, with many excellent reviews. Tow truck arrived and driver loaded it on the JerrDan bed. I asked him to take me to the Hawker's garage location. I locked it and put the key in the overnight box with my name, number, and description. Next day the mechanics said lifter arm was collapsed. Needed tearing down, replacing and probably new camshaft. Gave me estimate for "estimated" repair of about $8,000 or new engine at about $12,000! This is a KNOWN GMC failure apparently. Recalls have been initiated on newer models, but every mechanic will tell you that this happens all the time to all the 6.2L, V8 engine at around 150,000. I bought it used at about 156,000 miles and have put about 5,000 miles on it. And changed the oil at purchase, and about 1,000 miles ago. I researched model and year before purchasing. All online reviews I found were positive. Nothing out there on this know manufacturing flaw. But now when I type in 'catastrophic engine failure 2016 Denali XL" many many reviews and videos state that it is a known problem to both GMC and NHTSA. I or someone could have been killed by such a dramatic loss of power! This is a SAFETY issue and NHTSA needs to review ALL THE COMPLAINTS ON FILE ALREADY. Thankyou
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11713057January 24, 2026
POWER TRAIN
Good morning. It’s about the safety recall for loss of propulsion due to manufacturing defects that can lead to engine damage and engine failure. GM notified me about this in September 2025 . So, I drove my vehicle to the dealership to inspect my vehicle , my SUV passed the examination, they replaced the oil recommending now another one with higher viscosity, new oil cap and an owner’s manual insert free of charge. Ladies and gentlemen; My concern from here on now is, just doing this is going to give me a peace of mind? Meaning the manufacturer defects issue is not longer in my vehicle? I paid a top dollar for this specific unit because I like to travel across the country even to go to Mexico. Right now I’m driving the truck silent, no music at all.driving the vehicle just to go to the store, to buy groceries,very short trips, around my neighborhood Trying to hear any noise, any knocking noise on my engine, observing the dashboard controls constantly, my family and I decided to stop traveling due to my vehicle is not secure to do it with this particular 6.2 engine because my notification letter from GM says that if the vehicle fails during operation will lose control increasing the risk of crash. As a GM customer, using my vehicle with my family I don’t feel safe and comfortable with my vehicle therefore I am asking and expecting for a better solution from General Motors. Not just replacing the oil for another one with a higher viscosity because doing this only is telling me that it’s just a cheap remedy, but the manufacturer defects are still there with my vehicle . I know they extended the warranty to cover this defect if something happens in the future, but isn’t about that , is about the safety, the concerns, the feelings of the family members involved in this insecure situation while driving this vehicle in the highway at 70 miles an hour.Ladies and gentlemen. I am pretty sure you can help us with this petition , GM should be able to do something way better.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11712413January 21, 2026
STRUCTURE:BODY, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
There have been several issues for which I had to take my vehicle to the dealer. I did the engine oil recall. Then 4 months later my engine was destroyed. I’ve had several issues with oil leaks. I had an issue with my running boards a few times. And I’ve had an ongoing issue that the dealer hasn’t been able to fix - a water leak (I believe stemming from the moonroof), water gets into my vehicle, on my floorboard, and behind the dash. I’ve called to record these incidents with the dealer and taken it in several times, but they are never able to duplicate it, but they have witnessed the water leakage after the incidents (which happens during heavy downpours, and isn’t all the time because my vehicle is in the garage when I’m not at work).
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11712332January 21, 2026
ENGINE
My vehicle failed the Picotest that GM is conducting on the engine. It is currently sitting at Romain GMC in Evansville Indiana. I am not sure if I was at risk but the dealership says it's unsafe to drive so my assumption is that my safety was at risk. The dealership states that it will take 3 months before a new engine is installed. There were no symptoms leading up to this recall inspection.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11712106January 20, 2026
STEERING, SUSPENSION, WHEELS
When driving at slow speed and wheels turning right or left you can hear a humming coming from the suspension. Unable to identify the issue. When wheels get straight the humming goes away
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11712083January 20, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
On 8/22/25 was brought to my local GMC dealer for the L87 engine propulsion recall. The dealership tested and said the vehicle passed the test. On 12/3/25 while driving on a multi lane highway the vehicle engine stopped abruptly. The message restart engine appeared on the dashboard. I had to negotiate other vehicle travelling at highway speeds to get to coast off to a side street. The transmission went into "park" and could not be shifted to neutral with a message on the dashboard "transmission cannot be shifted in this configuration". I was blocking the roadway and responding police asked that I attempt to restart the vehicle. I did this numerous times but would not start and the battery ran down. The vehicle was towed to the GMC dealer who said the battery failed and replaced it at my cost even after I told them it was fine and run down from trying to start numerous times while blocking traffic. On 12/17/25 while trying on the same highway, the engine abruptly shut off again in high speed traffic with the same message. I couldn't get fully in the shoulder dye to residual snow from plowing coasting powerless as the vehicle slowed. The transmission locked into park again and I ended up getting towed back to the GMC dealership. They advised me the engine seized up and would have to be replaced. I am still waiting to get the vehicle back
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11712037January 20, 2026
ENGINE
While driving on a major highway at approximately 60 to 65 mph the vehicle shut down loss of power and steering without any warning lights. I was able to safely maneuver the vehicle to the emergency lane and contacted AAA to have it towed to nearest dealership. A fuel pump module was replaced- I have been following gmc recent recall of 600k which gives same scenario for their larger engine failure not including the 5.3L Ecotec V8 that I own. I experienced the same failure. Although it was fixed as a sensor module fault, I believe it’s a bigger problem that is not being addressed.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11712025January 20, 2026
ENGINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
The contact owns a 2024 GMC Yukon XL. The contact stated that while driving at 70 MPH on the highway and attempting to accelerate around a possible drunk driver traveling on the roadway, the vehicle failed to respond as needed. The driver was able to pull over safely. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact called 911 and called for Roadside Assistance, and the vehicle was towed to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed with an engine failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was previously taken to the local dealer to be repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V274000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 32,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11711796January 19, 2026
ENGINE
While driving back home from my trip the truck all a sudden made a squealing noise and the engine just stopped. I was on the high way . I was able to coast the vehicle off onto the exit ramp. The vehicle was towed home. The following day it was towed to the repair shop. The shop has confirmed engine failure. Will need to replace the engine . Still waiting for warranty approval.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11711810January 19, 2026
POWER TRAIN, ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
There is a hesitation when trying to accelerate. The car will then slam forward and there is a rattling noise that the car also makes. This has almost caused accidents. I was driving in town which is where I do most of my driving.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11711975January 19, 2026
ENGINE
My family and I received a recall notice from GM. We took the vehicle in promptly and had it "repaired" by an authorized dealer. They replaced the oil cap and placed a sticker in our owner's manual. This Christmas, instead of going to Angel Fire, New Mexico, like we do every year to visit family, we stayed home in the Rio Grande Valley. On December 28, 2025, my family decided to go holiday shopping. With kids home from college, and others off from school, I packed my wife and kids (there are six of us) into our 2023 Yukon XL to go shopping. I was driving down a busy 3 lane road with a 55 mph speed limit. By the Grace of God, I had just turned from the center lane to the right (outer) lane when our Yukon lost ALL POWER and the display read something like "Press Start/Ignition." I was utterly confused because I didn't understand what was happening. The accelerator would not work. My college daughter who was in the back asked "Dad, why did you put it in neutral?" I had not, in fact, put the vehicle in neutral. Scared with the passing traffic and sudden slowing of our Yukon, I had not realized that the vehicle had put me in neutral somehow. I tried to shift or click into the drive, but the vehicle would not respond. At some point my wife started yelling "Memo, GET OVER, GET OVER!!" I was able to coast just into the entrance of a gas station. We waited for a towing company to pick us up. Since the episode, we have now learned about this happening to other people. I can't believe that GM is letting this happen to people. We brought our vehicle in as instructed! We trusted that their "test" showed that our engine was fine. We trusted their alleged fix. I'm still in disbelief that the event occurred. I'm a grown man, and I was frightened when this occurred. I'm thankful to the Lord that one of my kids had not been driving the vehicle, or that we had been on our yearly trip to Angel Fire. Please, please, do your best to ensure that this stops happening to families.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11711967January 19, 2026
ENGINE
Starting at around 1300 miles, we noticed jerking upon acceleration. We took it into the dealership at 1500 due to a check engine light. They replaced the coil in cylinder 1. Then again at 3200 miles, we took it back in for the jerking sensation. They could not replicate the problem. At 4380 miles, we took it back to the dealer for the same issue. They drove it 580 miles and found the lifter valves in bank 1 to need replacement. The repair was performed and then on Saturday 1/17/2026, the car started giving check engine lights every time we accelerated. It would jerk non stop. The car hesitates during acceleration and feels like someone is pressing on the brake as we are accelerating, causing a jerking motion. Coming from a stop, the car feels like it has a hard time accelerating, almost like it is moving against a hard force to try to come up to speed. The car is at the dealer again today for this issue. It is unsafe to drive due to the hesitation during acceleration.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11711888January 19, 2026
ENGINE
While driving my Yukon it felt like there was an issue while it was trying to shift gears. the vehicle would sort of jerk while it was shifting. there also began to have a knocking sound as I drove. I had my children in the car, making this a more stressful situation. Having issues while driving on a highway with other vehicles driving at high speeds. Your vehicle having issues accelerating onto said highway as well. This all happened with only 68,445 miles on the vehicle. I called to schedule an appointment, drove it into the GM dealership. They stated that the lifters needed to be replaced and it would not be covered. As well as a rental vehicle not being covered, so both items came out of pocket. As I drove home from the dealership after they assured me everything was great, the engine light came on. Brought it back into the dealership to fixed again! This time it was the catalyst converter. This issue was covered by warranty somehow even though they stated it was tied together.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11711773January 18, 2026
POWER TRAIN
My 10 speed transmission on my 2020 Yukon XL Denali experienced a total failure. The vehicle will not move under its own power. General Motors has ZERO information on when a replacement Transmission will be available. Some info online shows it could be months. I am told that one dealership out of Eden Prairie, MN has over 40 on back order and some since August 2025. They claim the issue stems from a valve body. Their communication has been terrible and no one within GM that I have spoken to has any information on what is being done. This is completely unacceptable and I believe it is part of a larger issue. They are making it seem like it’s not important and that needs to change.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11711753January 18, 2026
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Good afternoon, My 2023 GMC Yukon XL AT4 with the 6.2L L87 engine (approx. 61,000 miles) suffered a sudden and complete engine failure at highway speed while I was driving between Canton, OH, and Columbus, OH, on the expressway, returning to my home in Cincinnati. There was no warning before the engine lost all power and propulsion. I was traveling in the left lane of the interstate in moderately heavy traffic. When the engine shut down, I only had steering and braking available to me. In addition to losing all propulsion, I also lost all electronics, and there was no shoulder. The complete dashboard shut down. The only reason there was not a collision was that the traffic around me could see what was happening and slowed down themselves. I coasted on through the onramp and found a shoulder where I had three lanes of traffic on my left and two lanes on my right. Less than two months before this incident, the vehicle had been inspected and serviced by an authorized GM dealer, and no engine issues were identified. I was given no indication that the engine was at elevated risk of failure. After the breakdown, GM and the dealer determined that the failure falls under GM Safety Recall N252494002 / NHTSA Campaign 25V274000, which involves internal engine defects in the 6.2L L87 that can cause a loss of propulsion in certain GM trucks and full‑size SUVs widely used as family vehicles. GM is replacing the engine, extending the warranty, and providing a loaner, but this does not change the fact that my family was exposed to a serious safety risk, nor does it address the possibility that other owners may experience sudden loss of propulsion even after their engines “pass” dealer inspection. I am submitting this complaint so NHTSA is aware that a recalled 6.2L L87 engine, inspected shortly beforehand, still failed without warning at highway speed in a primary family‑hauler vehicle, creating a dangerous situation. Regards, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11711548January 16, 2026
POWER TRAIN
The transmission is shaky, Lower gears the truck seems to fight it way into the next gear, I feel this is happening around 3 to 5 gears. One garage told me the power converter was failing. I changed the transmission fluid and filter and it got better, but sill, this is an expensive truck. This is power train, this should be covered to 100,000 miles.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11710415January 12, 2026
ENGINE
The engine experienced a catastrophic mechanical failure after the vehicle had been inspected by the manufacturer and certified as compliant with an engine recall. The failure occurred after the recall remedy/inspection was completed. The engine lost functionality while the vehicle was in use, resulting in loss of propulsion and the vehicle becoming disabled, requiring towing. The engine is currently available for inspection and is awaiting major powertrain repair at an authorized dealership. The sudden engine failure created a safety risk due to unexpected loss of power while driving. No collision occurred. The issue has been confirmed by an authorized dealership. The vehicle had previously been inspected by the manufacturer as part of the recall process prior to the failure. Prior to the failure, there were no known warning lamps or messages indicating an imminent catastrophic failure. The failure occurred after the vehicle had passed the recall inspection. This appears to be a post-recall remedy failure. I am concerned that the recall inspection did not adequately prevent the known defect, as the engine failed after being certified as compliant.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11710376January 12, 2026
ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Vehicle Status: Brand New Current Mileage: Approximately 10,000 miles Incident Description On 1/8/26, while operating the vehicle on the interstate at highway speeds with cruise control engaged, the Check Engine light began to flash. Simultaneously, the vehicle’s warning system issued an alert stating that the engine oil was excessively hot. Immediately after these warnings, the engine began to emit a loud knocking sound and lost all power, shutting off completely while in motion. I was able to safely maneuver the vehicle to the shoulder of the road. Post-Failure Observations Upon inspection under the hood, I noted the engine was radiating extreme heat. I allowed the engine to cool completely before attempting a restart. While the engine attempted to turn over, it failed to start. Diagnostic Alerts Following the mechanical failure, I received multiple critical notifications via the GMC mobile app citing various engine failure errors. Summary Given that this vehicle is brand new with only 10,000 miles, a catastrophic engine failure of this nature is unacceptable. The vehicle was being operated under normal highway conditions when it became inoperable, posing a significant safety risk. I am seeking a full diagnostic review and a permanent resolution under the manufacturer's warranty.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11710011January 9, 2026
ENGINE
The car suddenly experienced engine failure while driving at highway speed (about 70 mph). The check engine light, as well as several other warning lights (Traction control, electronic stability control, etc) came on immediately before a metal-on-metal clunking sound and then loss of power. I was able to pull the car over to the side of the highway, and because of the clunking sound, felt it was unsafe to drive further and had it towed to a local dealer. The car has about 42,000 miles on it, in perfectly maintained condition, with all services performed at the Dealer per the recommended schedule.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11709915January 9, 2026
ENGINE
The contact owns a 2021 GMC Yukon XL. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost drive power with several unknown warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who determined that the engine had seized and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to report the failure to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 22,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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