GMC Yukon XL Complaints (2021)

230 consumer complaints on file.

#11740801May 29, 2026
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
The contact owns a 2021 GMC Yukon. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer for a routine oil change. While driving, the oil low light illuminated. The vehicle was burning an excessive amount of oil. The local dealer was contacted again, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, who referred to the local dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 149,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11739769May 24, 2026
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
The vehicle suddenly began vibrating noticeably when idling and at low speeds. About 30 minutes after this started happening a warning lamp lit up. We drove the vehicle about 2 miles to a local auto parts store to get an initial computer diagnosis of the issue. The test resulted in a code of "P0304" which detected a cylinder #4 misfire and recommended a fuel injector replacement. We brought the vehicle to a local mechanic to get the issue further evaluated. After this evaluation, it was determined that the cylinder #4 misfire was related to a lifter failure. The mechanic explained that this situation could possibly have caused more damage, specifically to the camshaft, but that job was bigger than he was willing to take on. He recommended we get the vehicle towed to the dealership for further evaluation. He also informed us that this situation was common with the engine in this vehicle and GMC is aware of it. He directed us to some articles online that elaborated on the potential known issues related to the automatic fuel management (AFM) system and the related engine damage. The vehicle was towed to a local GMC dealership for evaluation. They found the failed cylinder #4 with associated lifter failure and damaged camshaft. We went forward with the repair at the dealership. We asked the dealership about the known engine issues with this vehicle. They acknowledged the widespread issues but informed us that our particular VIN has not been included in any recalls or safety notifications, so we were responsible for the repairs. The vehicle spent nearly 3 weeks at the dealership. One of the parts was on backorder due to a national shortage, which delayed the repair by about one week. That seems to imply that the parts involved in this repair are in high demand, which raises the question of this being a manufacturing/parts issue that may need to be investigated further.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11738252May 16, 2026
ENGINE
I took my GMC Yukon in for a recall. They changed the oil, programmed my module, changed the cap, and tested the engine, saying it was good. I took it on a trip, 7000 miles later engine locked up.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11737062May 11, 2026
POWER TRAIN, ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
The vehicle drove normally earlier in the day with no major drivability concerns. Later, reverse gear suddenly stopped functioning and the engine would rev abnormally without the vehicle moving properly while in reverse. Shortly afterward, while driving, the vehicle displayed the warning message “Reduce Acceleration – Drive with Care” and began losing acceleration and propulsion. The vehicle would not accelerate normally and later could not exceed approximately 20-35 MPH. The condition created a significant safety concern due to sudden loss of acceleration and propulsion while operating in traffic. The engine RPM would increase abnormally while the vehicle failed to respond properly in drive and reverse. An independent mechanic inspected the transmission and found diagnostic trouble codes P0747, P0776, and P0700 related to transmission pressure control and valve body operation. Inspection also revealed significant metal contamination, sludge, and clutch material inside the transmission pan and filter. Reverse and 2nd gear were determined to be failed/burnt internally. The vehicle was later transported to an authorized GMC dealer for inspection. Dealer confirmed reverse gear would not engage even after adding transmission fluid. Vehicle is currently available for inspection.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11736686May 8, 2026
SUSPENSION, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The vehicle has experienced recurring suspension, drivability, and pulling issues associated with the 4-corner air ride leveling suspension system since early ownership. The first major incident occurred at approximately 4,600 miles when the vehicle displayed suspension warnings and would not accelerate properly past highway speeds. Since that time, the vehicle has repeatedly experienced pulling during acceleration, unstable ride behavior, suspension/leveling concerns, alignment-related issues, and drivability instability. The problem has been reproduced multiple times and documented through approximately 16 repair visits and roughly 74 cumulative days out of service. Dealership service records include repeated suspension inspections, drivability evaluations, wheel alignments, and related repair attempts. The issue remains unresolved and the vehicle is currently back in service again for the same concern. The recurring pulling and instability create safety concerns because the vehicle does not consistently track properly during acceleration and normal driving conditions. Suspension warning messages and drivability symptoms first appeared early in ownership while the vehicle was still under factory warranty. I have also found many similar owner complaints online involving the same suspension system in comparable GM full-size SUV models.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11736218May 7, 2026
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
*gas tank had become partially dislodged from the undercarriage. *Entire family was in vehicle at time of incident, including three small children. The safety of an entire family along with any others that may have been on the road, if the car would have combusted due to the gas tank which had just been filled to capacity. *vehicle has been at Mark Christopher GM dealership for over one month. *dealership service dept claims someone tried to steal gas tank. *Mercury insurance company claims mechanical failure. *No warning given from vehicle. We heard a dragging noise while we were driving, pulled over as soon as possible. Upon inspection, it was observed that fuel tank had begun to leak fuel from dragging on the freeway.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11735981May 6, 2026
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
The forward collission system continues to perform phantom braking while driving in traffic resulting in near rear end collisions. The GMC dealer refuses to fix it without charging me for more diagnostic work, which has already been done twice. What is my recourse?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11735751May 5, 2026
ENGINE
We brought vehicle in while still in warranty complaining of rough running engine and dealership said they couldn't find anything wrong. 2000 miles over warranty the Engine fails with all characteristics of the L87 bearing lifter issue. Now GMC does not want to replace without charging us a ton of money.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11735606May 4, 2026
ENGINE
Our 2021 GMC Yukon XL with the 6.2L engine suffered a catastrophic failure requiring the engine to be replaced. The diagnosis was very similar to the GMC 6.2L engines that have been recalled for safety and failure reasons however our vehicle was not included in the recall. The engine only had 75,924 miles and was maintained to the manufacturer's maintenance schedule. The cost to replace the engine was $11,309.87.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11734972April 30, 2026
ENGINE
Without any warning, the V8 L87 6.2 liter engine suddenly seized up, began shaking with significant reduced power. I was fortunate that I could drive slowly to safety and was not on the expressway. In my research, I understand this is related to a design/manufacturing issue with the connecting rods and crankshafts in this type of engine. As I investigated the issue, I found that 600,000 vehicles were recalled with the recall either completely replacing the engine or upgrading the oil type from standard to a thicker, higher-viscosity 0W-40 full synthetic to provide better protection under high stress, along with a new oil cap and filter. In our case, we were directed to change the oil and even with that change, we experienced this dangerous engine failure which cost us $12K ! For that cost of repair, we elected to have the engine replaced for about $1K more to get a 100K mile warranty on the engine. However, our additional concern with the replacement engine is they gave us a remanufactured version of the L87 and we have not found confirmation that they have adequately addressed the design/manufacturing flaws so may be vulnerable to the same seizing issue. We appreciate your attention to this widespread GM issue.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11734931April 30, 2026
SEAT BELTS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
When turning on the car, a message pops up on the dash and will not go away. Dashboard says “ service safety restraint system”
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11733913April 26, 2026
ENGINE
On April 20th, 2025 while accelerating from a stop light, my vehicle (2021 GMC Yukon Denali XL, 6.2L V8) started making a ticking noise and the service engine light started flashing. I was within a few minutes of my house and limped my vehicle home. The next morning, I started it and it exhibited the same symptoms. I called my local GMC Dealer, Wright Buick GMC, and was advised to have the vehicle towed to them. It was towed to the dealership and within a few days I was advised that the engine needed replaced. I had heard a story that there was a pending recall, so I had hoped that this would resolve itself without a bill to me. unfortunately I was advised that there was no actual outcome on how to handle recalls, so if I wanted my vehicle back, I would have to pay the $11K for replacement as I was outside of my power train warranty (I had roughly 73,000 miles on my car). I have hoped for some resolution to include my vehicle in this recall but I have not yet received any word from GMC.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11731590April 16, 2026
ENGINE
I previously opened NHTSA Complaint Number11637208 on January 20, 2025 regarding the internal engine failure of my 2021 Yukon Denial XL on January 3, 2025. After filing that Complaint, the engine in my Yukon was replaced by GMC in February 2025. After replacement, the engine was allegedly tested, given an oil cap change, and OK'd by the GMC dealership. On Sunday, April 12, 2026, the replacement engine in my Yukon failed without warning and left me (and my family members, who were also in the Yukon) stranded in the lane of traffic on the westbound College Drive exit of I-10. We had it towed to the GMC dealership (Royal Buick GMC) the same day, they diagnosed it, and according to text communications I received from them on April 14, 2026, the Yukon's engine needs to be replaced again because the engine internally failed - likely due to the failure of the engine's internal rod bearing. No one in my family feels safe in the Yukon anymore. GMC should not be allowed to replace these engines with more faulty engines. If something more is not done soon, people are going to die because of the wrecks caused by these faulty engines.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11731580April 16, 2026
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
The vehicle experienced a major engine failure involving the 6.2L engine. The failure appeared sudden and premature and is not consistent with normal wear and tear for a vehicle of this type. Prior to the failure, there were intermittent performance concerns and warning indicators suggesting potential engine or drivetrain issues. The vehicle had previously undergone repair related to similar concerns, indicating a possible recurring problem. The failure created a potential safety risk due to the possibility of loss of power while driving, which could increase the risk of an accident, especially at highway speeds or in traffic. The issue has been confirmed by a service provider, and the vehicle requires significant repair. General Motors has been notified but has declined repair assistance, classifying the issue as wear and tear. While no active recall is currently associated with this specific vehicle, similar vehicles with the same engine platform have documented issues, raising concerns about reliability and safety. The failed components are available for inspection upon request.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11731169April 14, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
March 29th 2026 my 2021 Yukon XL engine stalled while driving at 45mph (No prior warning lamps or messages, restart engine came on dash) causing me to immediately pull over and come to a stop still in traffic, it shifted my vehicle into park, I was in an in an un-safe spot and was stuck in park (conditions not correct for shift on dash) because my vehicle would not allow me to shift to neutral and push it to the side of the road, (could not jump start) Had towed to dealership and mentioned Engine Failure and Fuel pump control module Recalls but according to them it was a starter issue, I asked them to still check the fuel pump control module regardless. Picked up vehicle and a week later April 14th the exact same thing happened vehicle stalled while driving dash said Restart Engine while coasting (No prior warning lamps or messages) forcing me to pull over where it rolled to a stop and locked itself into park leaving me in unsafe conditions again. Had towed back to the same dealership and waiting to hear back from them.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11730844April 13, 2026
POWER TRAIN
The contact owns a 2021 GMC Yukon XL. The contact stated that while accelerating approximately 35 - 40 MPH from a stoplight, the contact believed that the engine was going to seize. The message Low Power Mode was displayed on the instrument panel, and the vehicle went into LIMP Mode. The vehicle was immediately taken to the dealer, who retrieved DTC: P0700, P0776, and P1881. The contact researched and became aware of GMC Recall Number: N22382220; however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and confirmed that the VIN was not included. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 167,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11730783April 13, 2026
POWER TRAIN
The contact owns a 2021 GMC Yukon XL. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55 MPH, the vehicle decelerated unintentionally and failed to accelerate above 35 MPH. The vehicle failed to respond when the accelerator pedal was depressed. The contact arrived at the residence and was able to coast into the driveway; however, the vehicle failed to drive forward or reverse. The check engine warning light was illuminated at the time of the failure, with the message “Reduce Acceleration - Drive with Care” displayed. The contact waited for a while and then attempted to move the vehicle, and the vehicle drove forward slowly, and while attempting to reverse(R), the engine revved abnormally but failed to respond. The gear shifter was shifted to drive, but the vehicle failed to respond, and the engine continued to rev until depressing the brake pedal. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, and the contact was informed that the valve body needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired because the part was on back order. The contact researched and associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V797000 (Power Train). The manufacturer was informed of the failure, and it was confirmed that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V797000 (Power Train), and it opened a case. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 82,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11730271April 9, 2026
ENGINE
I was driving my yukon xl with my family and as I was coming to a stop at a stop light my Yukon started to shake violently and make a pinging noise. The check engine light came on and as I drove the car smoke started to come out the exhaust. Luckily I was not on the highway as this could have been a serious safety issue for me and my family. I had my car towed to the dealership and they said the 8th cylinder was completely seized and that it was due to the connecting rod and crankshaft. The engine needs to be replaced. I have maintained my Yukon regularly as recommended by the manufacturer and the car was driving great with no issues or warning of having issues until this engine failure suddenly happened.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11730142April 9, 2026
POWER TRAIN, ENGINE
The contact owns a 2021 GMC Yukon XL. The contact stated that while driving approximately 70 MPH, the vehicle started shuddering and was losing automotive power. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed, and it was determined that the transmission needed to be replaced. The contact stated that it was the second transmission failure in less than 2 months. The vehicle was repaired. The contact was advised by the mechanic that the manufacturer had recommended a diagnostic test on the engine. The diagnostic test had not yet been performed. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 64,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11729886April 8, 2026
ENGINE
The contact owns a 2021 GMC Yukon XL. The contact stated that while driving approximately 50 MPH and merging onto the freeway, the check engine warning started flashing and the vehicle started losing automotive power. The vehicle was driven back to the residence. After stopping the vehicle, the vehicle was idling roughly and was shaking abnormally. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The contact researched online and became aware that there were two open investigations for engine failure that included the year and the model vehicle. The failure mileage was approximately 94,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to GMC Yukon XL