GMC Yukon XL Complaints

683 consumer complaints on file.

#11730894April 13, 2026
ENGINE
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The engine, battery and alternator seem to be failing or not working together. Car will sit in garage for less than 12 hours and will not start the next morning. Take the battery and alternator to get tested and everything passes. Have had the battery tested at multiple times but believe this is due to engine recall. Check engine light comes on, we take it to the GMC dealer and they say they can't determine the issue or why it is happening. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? Car will not start or check engine light comes on in middle of trip. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Service center can't "reproduce" any of the issues and are telling us they have no way of checking why the light comes on in software module. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? Yes Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? Yes, check engine light comes on and then goes away.
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
#11730242April 9, 2026
POWER TRAIN
My car lost all power on a bridge and started jerking me forwards and backwards. High RPMS and eventually lost reverse. Code number p0777. Seems aligned with the newest transmission recall, but my vin is not listed.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11730195April 9, 2026
ENGINE
Motor seized while going 50mph down the road. Motor died and had to get to the side of the road. All electrical stuck on
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
#11730061April 8, 2026
ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN
I own a 2023 GMC Yukon Denali. In Nov. 2023, at about 4,000 miles, the vehicle suffered a complete engine and electrical failure at highway speed while I was traveling with my husband and three small children. It suddenly lost all power in the fast lane, including acceleration and engine function. Steering became extremely heavy, consistent with loss of power steering assist, and the electronics shut down. We had to guide the vehicle across traffic while coasting downhill to the shoulder beyond a guardrail. Traffic had to avoid us, creating a serious safety hazard. The vehicle would not restart. The vehicle was towed and required a complete engine replacement under warranty. After that replacement, additional issues followed. There was an HVAC/defrost concern. In June 2025, the vehicle again became inoperable without warning while parked at a store. It would not start despite repeated attempts, including by a dealership representative. A diagnostic scan produced over a page of error codes, but the dealership could not identify a cause and stated the vehicle was safe. In Dec. 2025, the vehicle engine was inspected under a recall and I was told there were no issues. In Feb. 2026, the vehicle lost heat and was found to have no coolant despite regular maintenance and recent inspection. In Mar. 2026, at about 37,700 miles, the vehicle developed a loud clunking noise while driving. I stopped driving and returned it to the dealership, where I was told the engine had failed again and required another full replacement. The vehicle has now had two engine failures and three engines installed in less than three years. There were no warning lights or prior indications before these failures. I no longer believe this vehicle is safe or reliable for transporting my family.
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
#11729617April 7, 2026
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
I have 60k miles on my 2021 yukon xl denali. the transmission went out in it in January. i have it in the shop in january for a new transmission. i got it back and the transmssion went out again in it. its currently in the shop. the transmission is a 10 speed and has been nothing but issues.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11729589April 7, 2026
ENGINE
Driving 79 mph total engine seizure. Check engine light came on and seconds later a low oil pressure light and turn off engine. Engine died and went into neutral and had to coast to side of highway in middle of nowhere at 11pm at night.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11729551April 6, 2026
POWER TRAIN, ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
While driving in traffic on a 2 lane road with small shoulders, the engine stopped, dash indicated automatic shift to neutral, restart vehicle. vehicle coasted to a stop partially blocking the lane due to lack of shoulder and size of vehicle. Turned off ignition and attempted to restart. there was a click and the dashboard/electronics all went blank/off for several seconds then came back on. Attempted this 4 times with the same results. Called GMC roadside assistance for a tow to the dealership. The vehicle could not be shifted to neutral due to not being able to start. The tow driver had to forcefully pull the vehicle onto the flatbed with the vehicle still in park. I do not know what method was used to get the vehicle off the flatbed tow truck. Vehicle was partially blocking the roadway for an hour before the tow truck arrived leaving me vulnerable to a high speed crash. And leaving the tow operator open to an accident during the 30 minute loading Upon diagnostic the dealer informed me the engine has seized/locked up. All recalls for loss of propulsion were completed at 48,711 miles on September 7, 2025 passing inspection and dealer performing an oil change to 0W40 oil. Engine failure was 3429 miles after the recall was performed with 52,140 miles. There was no warning or difference in driving characteristics prior to failure. There was not a loss of oil pressure prior to failure according to dash gauges.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11729486April 6, 2026
ENGINE
My vehicle experienced complete engine loss while driving due to a crankshaft failure. There were no warning lights, no messages, and no indication of a problem. The vehicle suddenly lost all power in traffic and then the engine seized completely. This is extremely dangerous and could easily cause a crash. The dealership confirmed this is part of the known national crankshaft defect, but the replacement engine is on backorder for over a month, leaving me with an unsafe and unreliable vehicle. GM has replaced or attempted to replace the motor multiple times, and the defect continues. This truck should not be on the road. I am reporting this because it is a serious safety hazard to me and other drivers. A vehicle losing all power with no warning is a life-threatening defect
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11729272April 5, 2026
VISIBILITY/WIPER, BACK OVER PREVENTION: WARNINGS, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
In the 2026 Yukons, almost all physical buttons have been replaced by the giant center touchscreen. When starting my vehicle, about a third of the time the screen will not come on, and can’t be turned back on by any means. It will randomly come back on after a few more trips/restarts. This renders several critical systems inoperable. All HVAC does not work, defrosters aren’t available, back up cameras and parking assist is not available, and control of any navigation functions or options (ie heated/cooled seats) are not possible. There are no physical buttons for these items, so there are no other options. Voice commands do not function properly when the screen is black, so no option there. After my third visit to the dealership and an open case with GM, they are finally authorizing a screen replacement. We will see if this fixes it. However, my previous explanations from GM pointed to a nebulous future software release, with no date or detail.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11728367March 31, 2026
ENGINE
Engine failed with just 3,633 miles. Covert GMC is replacing the entire engine.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11728231March 31, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The panoramic sunroof on my 2023 GMC Yukon Denali Ultimate XL spontaneously exploded while driving westbound on I-20 on March 13. There was no impact from road debris, no vehicles ahead, no overpass, and no external cause. The failure sounded like an explosion or gunshot. Tempered glass shattered with the sunroof in the closed position, showering the interior with glass fragments. Five occupants were in the vehicle at the time. No injuries occurred, but the sudden explosive noise and shower of glass created an extreme distraction and safety hazard while operating the vehicle at highway speed. The incident could easily have caused a loss of vehicle control on the interstate. The component that failed is the factory-installed panoramic power sunroof glass, standard equipment on the Denali Ultimate trim. The vehicle was taken to Lugoff Chevrolet for inspection. The dealer confirmed the glass failure and submitted a request to GM for warranty or goodwill coverage. GM offered to cover only 10% of the repair cost, characterizing the failure as an out-of-warranty wear issue despite the spontaneous nature of the defect. There were no warning signs, cracks, chips, warning lamps, or any indication of a problem prior to the failure. The sunroof was closed at the time. The vehicle has been dealer-maintained with no modifications to the sunroof or roof structure. This is a known industry-wide defect. NHTSA has previously investigated spontaneous sunroof shattering and documented over 4,000 complaints. GM has acknowledged awareness of this issue in other GM vehicles and previously issued corrective actions for sunroof glass on the Buick Regal and Chevrolet Cruze. Other GMC Yukon owners have filed NHTSA complaints describing identical failures. The failed sunroof glass and vehicle are available for inspection upon request.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11728101March 30, 2026
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, ENGINE
The vehicle has the L87 GM engine. It lost complete power and the engine seized up and would not start again. Fortunately I was able to roll into a neighborhood and get off the main road with no issues. The dealer has confirmed the seized engine and a replacement engine has been ordered with no ETA. There was no prior warning of the failure, besides a shuddering, like I was running out of gas, and then a lose of complete power.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11728073March 30, 2026
LANE DEPARTURE: BLIND SPOT DETECTION, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The onstar module of my 2023 GMC Yukon has failed. This is a wide spread issue with recent model GMC's. There are thousands of reports of the same thing happenings. When an onstar module fails, the vehicle loses its safety features. No lane departure, no collision detection or pre-collision braking, no critical system checks. Even the gas and mileage components stop working correctly.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11727406March 27, 2026
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
The contact owns a 2023 GMC Yukon XL. The contact stated that the vehicle was losing oil, and the engine was running rough. There was an abnormal burning odor after driving the vehicle. The vehicle received an oil change; however, two weeks later, the oil warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, where it was determined the oil level was approximately 2 quarts low, and another oil change was performed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11727117March 25, 2026
ENGINE
2021 Yukon Denali 6.2L V8, 137k miles- engine failure—driving down road 55mph and engine light came on, along with check esc and check traction warnings, vehicle began to rough idle and shake, motor knocking. Personally feel this is related to recall but my vin not included says dealership- I feel this recall is affecting way more vehicles than vin’s included. Dealership charged 220$ to plug it in, codes weren’t specific for problem. They are stating “lifter is bad and possibly cam, won’t know if the lifters scarred the cam until they take it apart” and charge me at least 6k is price quoted. No warnings at all before this happened. 137k miles so out of warranty. This put myself and kids in dangerous riding condition as I had to stop and have vehicle towed to dealership.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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