GMC Yukon XL Complaints

2,896 consumer complaints on file.

#11637042January 20, 2025
ENGINE
My wife drives a 2015 GMC Denali with the 6.2L engine. My daughter has an almost identical 2016 Denali with the same 6.2L engine. The 2015 had a serious event at approximately 125,000 miles when one of the rocker arm springs broke under ordinary driving conditions and caused the vehicle to be disabled in the midst of heavy traffic. The 2016 had a virtually identical event at 135,000 miles, which caused the rod to be ingested into the cylinder. I believe the rocker arm springs on these engines are defective, also evidenced by after-market double springs being sold for this engine. I have replaced all rocker arm springs on the 2016 with double springs and will do so shortly on the 2015. The GM dealer in Corpus Christi, TX where we had the 2016 towed told me that the only solution for it was to replace the entire engine at a cost of $11,000+. I paid the dealer $1,000+, towed the truck to San Antonio, and had a mechanic in my employ rebuild it for approximately $2,000. The 2015 had not broken the rod and was repaired by a dealer in San Antonio for approximately $1,250. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11637208January 20, 2025
ENGINE
On Friday, [XXX] at approximately [XXX], my family was traveling on [XXX] at [XXX} in Colorado. Our 2021 Yukon Denali XL all of a sudden shut down without warning while going up the mountain at a spot where there was no shoulder. The car would not restart despite multiple attempts. We called 911 several times and waited in the lane of interstate traffic for approximately 45 minutes for emergency vehicles to arrive to block the lane. It was one of the most harrowing experiences of our lives. Our car was nearly hit five times by semi-trucks and cars that could not change lanes fast enough, and all we could do was put our flashers on, honk the horn at incoming cars, and tell our four children to lean back in the seat and prepare for impact. When the tow truck arrived, they could not get the car in neutral and the tow truck had to winch the Yukon on the flatbed to tow it. The car was towed to Raton, New Mexico. The mechanic said that he tried to put a bar on the engine and turn it over but it would not move. The vehicle is still at the mechanic’s shop in Raton, New Mexico. I am in the process of trying to get it towed to a GMC dealership. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11637050January 20, 2025
ENGINE
The 2023 Yukon XL shut down while traveling at a speed of 70+ MPH.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11637005January 20, 2025
ENGINE
The engine seized on the garden state parkway new jersey while driving. The car came to a halt on the parkway. This is very dangerous and I am reading that this is a know issue with these GMC Yukon denali engines. They are replacing mine witha refurbished engine on a car i own. I would like them to buy back my car as i dont feel safe driving this vechile. i had to tow the car from NJ to NY 1600 dollars which Gm will not cover. It was a highway tow and i wanted to get the vechile to safery. It was a sunday and i have 3 car seats in the car.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11636995January 20, 2025
ENGINE
I purchased a 2023 Yukon Denali Ultimate new in December 2023. It has 25,000 miles on it. Last week my wife was driving on the interstate and the vehicle abruptly shut down leaving her stranded on a narrow shoulder on a bridge. After it was towed to the dealer, the diagnosis was a connecting rod failure requiring an engine replacement. It was in the shop 2 weeks prior because the vehicle shifted into neutral on its own while driving at 60 mph on the highway, but the dealer found nothing wrong
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11636933January 19, 2025
ENGINE
At 45K miles my 2022 Yukon 6.2L suffered a total engine failure on [XXX] just South of Atlanta, GA in rush hour traffic. My vehicle was completely inoperable and shifted itself into neutral. I barely made it off the road without getting hit. GM had my vehicle over a month and stated it had crankshaft bearing failure. No engines are available on a nation wide back log with no estimate on availability so I'm forced to go another route out of pocket to repair my vehicle. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11636880January 19, 2025
ENGINE
Hi my 2023 GMC Yukon Denali Ultimate died in the middle of the road due to a catastrophic engine failure. That put my family and I in danger on the highway.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11636821January 18, 2025
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
I bought my 2022 Yukon XL on [XXX]. On Friday [XXX], only a few weeks after having my car in the shop (at the dealer) for running rough, it started to make an odd high-pitched noise and running very rough at higher speeds. I immediately called the dealer and asked how quickly I could bring the car in to be checked. They said they had no availability for over 10 days, and offered me an appointment for then. By the next morning, it seemed to be running better and I didn't have to drive much that day so I hoped it would make it until the appointment. That Sunday [XXX], my husband and I drove the car to a sporting event with our children and it seemed to be ok. On our way home, however, just after crossing a long causeway over the bay, the car's motor just stopped working in the middle of driving on [XXX] in Miami. We were in the left lane and had to try to change multiple lanes while coasting only, and were only able to get off the traffic lanes because there happened to be a side street that came up quickly enough to turn onto before the car came to a stop. It was completely unexpected and without warning, and had we been on the interstate or even the causeway we had just come off of, it could've easily caused an accident with my whole family in the car. Once stopped, it wouldn't crank or even try to turn over, no matter what we tried. It took 2 tow trucks because we couldn't even change/move gears enough to put it in neutral, so couldn't use the flat bed that arrived first. We were stuck for hours in a less than desirable area of town. The dealer took a week to look the car over, then said the engine had seized up and would need to be replaced. The engine was on back order and it took over 6 weeks for the replacement. After replacement, 2 separate issues arose over the following 2 weeks, each the result of a component not being properly tightened during the engine replacement by dealer service technicians. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11636721January 18, 2025
ENGINE
ENGINE REPLACED
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11636704January 18, 2025
ENGINE
We were driving on the interstate outside of Chattanooga TN when our car went into neutral while we were in the left hand lane next to a 18 wheeler. My husband was driving and we have our four children and dog in the car. We lost acceleration. My husband was successful in getting us off the highway and onto the shoulder. The car started again and we tried to make it to the next exit when it went into neutral again and lost power. This was on [XXX]. We had it towed to the nearest dealer, Integrity Motors. They called us and said that it threw a rod and that the engine was broken and the whole engine would need to be replaced. After replacing the engine (it took 2 months) we picked the car up only to have the engine light come on. I took it to Autozone where they ran the codes and told me that the fuel injectors were bad and possibly the intake manifold gasket. I called Chattanooga and they told me that I should take it to the nearest GMC dealer. Parks GMC in Greenville inspected the car and we had to put in 8 fuel injectors. I have documentation of all of these issues. There was no warning light or any warning that our engine was about to shut down. We could have been in a serious wreck with the 18 wheeler with possible loss of life or injury. We have had significant financial loss. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11636688January 18, 2025
ENGINE
My wife was driving our 2024 Yukon Denali XL when, without warning or any indications, the engine shut down. She lost power to the car car in the middle of a highway, endangering herself, our children and other drivers on the road. She was unable to restart the car or change the gears. She had to call the police to help and they ordered a tow truck to have the car towed. The car had been in for an oil change 2 days prior at the dealership. We had the car towed there and they confirmed the engine needed to be replaced. Looks like we can add this to the laundry list of other GM trucks with the same issue.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11636576January 17, 2025
ENGINE
GMC engines are faulty and puts people at risk when they malfunction. The first time the vehicle lost power, It was spitting and sputtering as i was driving with my family in the car. The vehicle Left us sit along side the road of a major highway in freezing temps. The lifters malfunctioned costing 5000 dollars in repairs. Once again started having loss of power and the vehicle shut completely down while driving down the road with my family in it. So no engine means no power steering an etc . Again left us sit along side the road. The main bearing has went in the motor. Now costing us 16,000 in repairs For new engine. Now we are at the cost of 21,000 in repairs. This is a known issue with the v8 engines a yet GM has done nothing to fix or compensate people for their loses. I’m stuck with this vehicle now cause I’m so upside down at this point it’s disgusting. Also sad an auto manufacturer doesn’t NOT stand behind their product as it puts people and their family’s at risk. They NEED TO BE held accountable for this issue as thousands of people have had this issue. I don’t have the other repair bill on me at this time do to the car is in the body shop from a deer accident. But I do have one an can provide it at a later date if needed. Thanks
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11636676January 17, 2025
ENGINE
Our 6.2L failed unexpectedly after regular maintenance. No warning, just the sound of knocking in the engine then loss of power and bad sounds from the engine. Stranded on side of road. GM wants to replace the entire engine without opening engine, claiming lower engine damage. Technicians say this is spun rod bearing problem that is very common. Dangerous and poor quality.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11636643January 17, 2025
ENGINE
Vehicles engine seized up while accelerating to merge on to highway. There was no warning lights or noises.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11636613January 17, 2025
ENGINE
Engine failed on highway in a different state, was able to drive home but barely made it. 2 newborns, 2 toddlers, and 2 adults were all in the vehicle at the time the engine started squealing. No warning signs. Dealer dropped oil filter and it was full of metal. Official diagnosis was main crank thrust bearing failure. Rebuilt engine was installed under powertrain warranty (37500 miles). GM did not put us in a comparable rental vehicle, so I had to pay out of pocket expenses outside of their rental allowance for a compact car. Dealer charged for an oil change. Dealer changed the rebuilt engine warranty terms upon pickup from 3yr/100,000miles to 12mo/12,000 miles or the current terms of power train warranty, whichever was longer. GM is well aware of this issue and is keeping it quiet. Rebuilt engines are on back order for months because it’s that common of a failure.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11636156January 15, 2025
ENGINE
As we were driving down a main road and taking off from a stop light on NW Expressway we had no warning before the car seemed to die and shift itself to N. It said to press the start button, that did nothing and the car would not power back up besides the lights and dash that were still working. We coasted to a stop in a neighborhood entrance. I'm so thankful I was not on the highway during rush hour traffic. Once stopped, we put it in park and tried to start it. A friend came and tried to jump it and still nothing. The dealership has confirmed it needs a full engine replacement. GM has agreed to help with cost but my car has sat inoperable for over 30 days as the engine is on back order with no ETA. It has a 6.2L engine and I had taken it in for pull consumption tests over the past 2 years. The dealerships were unable to duplicate the problem. Two days prior to the failure I had told my husband it was slow to crank and we needed to have the battery checked. I now believe it was the engine, not the battery. There were no warning lights on and my battery indicter showed to be in the middle (not lacking charge). I am aware of a voluntary customer satisfaction program that GM has issued but they have told me my VIN isn't one of the 5000 affected by this. In visiting with the dealership it appears they will not fully break down my engine until the new one has arrived but they are 90% sure of the cause as they've "seen several of these". This could have been catastrophic to have a car die with warning in traffic.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11635465January 11, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
During the operation of my 2023 GMC Yukon XL AT4 on [XXX], carbon monoxide (CO) entered the cabin, exposing my children and me to dangerously high levels of CO and causing confirmed carbon monoxide poisoning. We were driving with the engine running and the heater on for approximately 21 minutes when the exposure occurred. Symptoms began to escalate that day and into the proceeding days, including severe headache, stomachache, pallor, chest pressure, shortness of breath, fatigue, and neurological issues. My children, particularly my [XXX] and [XXX] , experienced the most severe effects— both were very ill especially my [XXX] . Unfortunately, we initially did not believe it was possible for CO to enter the vehicle cabin, which delayed early intervention and appropriate medical care. Blood testing 4 days later confirmed elevated carboxyhemoglobin levels in my [XXX] , the only one tested. During the incident, the battery warning light was the first indication of trouble, but soon after, many additional error messages began flashing on the dashboard. The vehicle then overheated, decelerated, and eventually shut down while driving. We were in the vehicle under 21 minutes. Upon inspection after the incident, my husband noted a severed belt and potential pulley issues. The exact cause of the CO intrusion has not yet been identified. The vehicle is available for inspection and unaltered to preserve evidence. I am writing GMC and requesting further investigation by GMC. This incident reflects a severe safety issue with potentially life-threatening implications for GMC owners. CO exposure can cause significant harm, and delayed identification in this case placed my family at substantial risk. Immediate investigation and corrective action are essential to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future. Time is critical, as this defect could have catastrophic consequences for other unsuspecting drivers and their families. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
4
Deaths:
0
#11635141January 9, 2025
POWER TRAIN
Transmission failed and was replaced by GM dealership under warranty at 20,670 miles after rough shifts and jerking and lurching movements when driving and when putting vehicle in gear. Truck would also roll if on a hill in Park. Now at 53,438 miles, the same dangerous problems are occurring with only 33,000 miles on the replaced transmission and after inspection, the dealership says the transmission needs to be replaced again. Appears GMC transmission is faulty and dangerous to drive and needs replacement very early in cars lifespan and a transmission should not need replacement so early especially when maintained correctly. Transmissions should last more than 20,000 or 30,000 miles before failing. Estimate for new transmission is $10,000. Called GMC customer service and said nothing they can do out of warranty. Dealership inspected and confirmed problems both times. Check engine light appeared the 2nd time indicating transmission failure but not the first time.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11634461January 6, 2025
POWER TRAIN
The contact owns a 2015 GMC Yukon XL. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission jolted before the vehicle accelerated as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal. No warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that an independent mechanic was contacted; however, the vehicle was not taken to be diagnosed. The contact stated that unknown repairs were performed on the vehicle, but the failure persisted. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle remained at the residence and had not been driven since the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11633323December 31, 2024
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
The contact owns a 2023 GMC Yukon XL. The contact stated that while driving 75 MPH coming to an intersection and attempting to apply the brakes, the vehicle failed to stop as needed. The message brake system failure and speed limited to 62 MPH were displayed on the instrument panel. The vehicle continued and drove through the intersection. The parking brake failed to stop the vehicle. The vehicle ended up stopping in a ditch and was towed to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the battery terminal had detached, causing 20 different modules to fail. The battery cable was tightened. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and opened a case for a possible buyback. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was 25,100.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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