Engine And Engine Cooling Problems of GMC Yukon - part 1

Just over 6k miles, engine failure.

See all problems of the 2025 GMC Yukon 🔎.

Had my oil changed Wednesday and noticed a new noise. Brought to dealership, this particular year is known for 6. 2 l engine failure but was told mine wasn’t in the recall. Well I was told today I have engine issues and they are replacing.

See all problems of the 2024 GMC Yukon 🔎.

Vehicle had lifter failure. This could’ve have caused a devastating accident to myself or family which includes my 8 year old daughter. GMC has knowledge of this problem with this motor.

See all problems of the 2021 GMC Yukon 🔎.

Motor started knocking my safety and my family safety was put at risk because we were driving down the street. The car is now at woody dealership in naperville, IL. Being inspected as we speak. No symptoms prior to failing.

I was traveling with my family on the ohio turnpike. We were traveling west in our 2023 GMC Yukon denali when we lost all propulsion and the engine seized. There was no warning lights or other symptoms prior to this incident on may 3, 2026. In fact, I had the vehicle in for the prescribed recall to test the engine for the known defect earlier in 2026. The vehicle passed that test and was given the upgraded oil change to presumably prevent the engine failure in the future. It did not work. Our safety and others on the turnpike were at risk while we were traveling at highway rates of speed with sudden loss of all propulsion. The vehicle was towed that evening to local gm dealer - yark chevy in [xxx] . Upon inspection on may 5, 2026, the dealership informed me the engine had seized and would be replaced by gm. They were unable to provide a timeline for this repair. I have the tow expense of $260. 70 and now the uncertainty of when I might have a vehicle back. The safety of my family and all others traveling the ohio turnpike that date were at significant risk. The vehicle remains at yark chevy in perrysburg, ohio available for inspection upon request. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

See all problems of the 2023 GMC Yukon 🔎.

For the third time, my vehicle died on me while I was driving; 2 of those times were on the highway going highway speeds. The last (3rd) time, I was towing my travel trailer/RV on the highway. In all incidents, the engine stopped propelling the vehicle. I could see and hear the engine revving but I failed to accelerate. After various warnings on the dash, I was able to pull safely off the road and then the engine just stopped, and nothing else worked. It failed to restart. This could have been a potentially dangerous situation because had I not been able to safely pull over, I would have been rear-ended. My vehicle was not part of the l87 recall for the 6. 2l gm engines but the symptoms sound the same as those that were. The recall probably should have been expanded beyond the dates that gm originally included.

Catastrophic engine failure of 3. 0l diesel engine with only 2000 miles on it.

This vehicle was identified as recalled in 2025 for total engine replacement and the engine did fail in may 2025 it would stall while driving. GMC performed the engine replacement in June of 2025. The car stalled again on Friday may 1. It was taken to the dealer on may 7 and was diagnosed as needing another complete engine replacement. I was told that GMC identified a need to replace more parts after my engine was replaced but I was never informed of this. I was told my this dealership that I am the first vehicle they’ve seen that will require a second full engine replacement it is a 6. 3l v8. This car stalled while I was driving with a 3yo in the vehicle.

I took my vehicle to a dealer to repair something unrelated to the engine. They said the oil pan was leaking and pulled the pan to discover the crank shaft bearings were failing. The vehicle has 53,765 miles at this point. This appears to be the same defect being recalled on the 2022 through 2024 models.

See all problems of the 2020 GMC Yukon 🔎.

First incident April 9 2024 not even a month after purchased. Vehicle dashboard lit up light a christmas tree all warning lights while driving on highway. Vehicle shook and sputtered and turned off. The vehicle was serviced explanation given was loose spark plugs on a new vehicle. 2nd incident roughly month after recall repair for engine propulsion campaign. February 26 and 27 2026 . While driving the following lights came on engine failure ,brake failure , service transmission now unable to shift soon. I was terrified because I could not control the vehicle. I had the vehicle towed to the dealership. The answer to the issues was battery failure. Third incident April 17th 2026 I driving on highway 70 miles check engine light comes on flashes dashboard goes dark. Vechicle sputters and shut down. I restarted the vehicle the warning on the display disappeared and the vehicle restarted. I reached returned the vehicle again to the dealership because the problem resumed slowing down even though I’m depressing the gas. Vehicle is shifting and dragging. Resulting unexpected lurching. My vehicle has been at the dealership since end of April 2026 it remains there currently. My representative stated a code indicating misfiring has appeared 18 times. Also everyday my vehicle keeps saying software update even I installed the update and it says complete. I know gm is not updating my vehicle software everyday. That indicates there is a computer issue as well. My anxiety level is through the roof at this point. I complained before about this same failures in a Cadillac escalade prior to it lurching forward and crashing. I filed a complaint before February 2024 . There is something really wrong with gm engines and software. I know I’m not the only one experiencing these problems.

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.

My 2023 GMC Yukon denali is currently at the dealership due to a manufacturer recall involving the engine. The engine issue occurred while I was driving with my children in the vehicle, which required me to pull over and have the vehicle towed to the dealership after inspection, I was told the vehicle requires a full engine replacement. The dealership has stated there is no estimated time of arrival for the replacement engine due to backorder, and that other customers have been waiting for extended periods. I am currently without my vehicle and have been provided a temporary replacement that is not comparable. The extended delay and lack of timeline are causing significant loss of use.

I am filing this complaint regarding my GMC Yukon denali, currently at greg lair GMC in canyon, texas, for gm safety recall n252494000, NHTSA campaign number 25v274, l87 engine loss of propulsion. My vehicle has been at the dealership for over two weeks for this recall, which in my case requires a complete engine replacement. I have been advised the repair may take another 4 to 5 weeks. During this time, neither general motors nor greg lair GMC has provided a comparable loaner vehicle or adequate transportation. This is not routine maintenance, elective service, or damage caused by me. My vehicle is unavailable because of a gm safety recall involving potential engine damage, engine failure, and loss of propulsion. The burden of this manufacturer issue should not be placed on the customer. I was told gm only can reimburse $44 per day for a rental. That amount does not reasonably cover a comparable vehicle to a Yukon denali and may not even cover a basic rental in the current market. A compact sedan or small vehicle is not an acceptable substitute for a full size SUV. I pay for and rely on a Yukon denali because my family needs the seating capacity, space, size, safety, and functionality of a full size vehicle. My family has more people than seats available in many compact vehicles. Being forced into a smaller vehicle is not only inconvenient, it creates a safety and functionality concern. If this recall is widespread and repair times are expected to take several weeks, general motors should have ensured that dealerships had access to comparable loaner vehicles or adequate rental authorization. I should not have to compromise my family’s safety, transportation needs, work obligations, or daily responsibilities because of a manufacturer safety recall and complete engine replacement. I am requesting that this complaint be documented and reviewed. General motors and greg lair GMC should provide a comparable full size SUV loaner, arrange and pay for a full size SUV.

I am filing this formal complaint to report a series of catastrophic, life-threatening mechanical failures involving my 2023 GMC Yukon. This vehicle has become a weapon on the road, exhibiting erratic behaviors that nearly resulted in a multi-vehicle fatality on a high-speed highway. 1. High-speed power loss (highway failure while my wife was traveling at 60 mph in heavy highway traffic, the vehicle’s transmission spontaneously and without warning disengaged and shifted into neutral. This caused an immediate and total loss of motive power. In a split second, my wife was left piloting a 6,000-pound unpowered projectile in the middle of high-speed traffic. By the grace of god alone, she managed to navigate to the shoulder without being rear-ended. This is a clear "sudden loss of motive power" defect that poses an immediate threat to life. 2. Unintended directional movement (reverse shift) following a total engine replacement—a repair that took over 45 days—the vehicle has now developed a new, terrifying defect. While stopped at a traffic light, the vehicle spontaneously engaged in reverse. This unintended movement occurred without driver input, creating a high risk of pedestrian strikes and intersection collisions. 3. Systematic failure and dealer evasion the vehicle previously exhibited "ghost shifts" into park and neutral at low speeds. Despite my repeated warnings to the general motors service department, I was dismissed until the engine ultimately failed. Furthermore, the dealership has been inconsistent and evasive regarding the serial numbers of the replacement components, leading me to believe that unsafe or defective parts are being recycled into these vehicles. General motors is aware of these powertrain defects, yet they continue to allow these "death traps" to remain on the road. My family will not be the "crash test dummies" for gm’s manufacturing negligence.

Engine failure with the 6. 2 engine. My engine failed the pico test in July of 2025 with 66k miles. The entire engine was replaced and I was told this would “fix” the engine issue. On April 25, 2026, my engine failed while I was driving at highway speeds. The engine was knocking and I pulled over as I could not accelerate it. I had it towed and was told by the dealership that the rod bearings failed and I would need an entire new engine. 9 months and 10k miles after a brand new engine was installed. This will be the third engine in this vehicle since I’ve owned it. Gm’s “fix” for the 6. 2 recall is not a fix. It’s pushing the problem down the road, risking lives by putting people in vehicles with known engine failures and no true fix.

See all problems of the 2022 GMC Yukon 🔎.

I was on the highway heading home with my [xxx] son in the backseat and without warning the engine shut down and luckily we were on the exit ramp and away from heavy traffic. I pulled over to the side and tried to start it again but it won’t even crank. The cabin heater stopped working too, it was -9 degrees outside that day and we started to freeze, luckily my wife was able to get to us in 20minutes. The vehicle was towed to gm dealership and they confirmed the engine seized and will need a new engine under special coverage n252494003-03. This was after the recall was completed for this vehicle. It had only 61392kms on it. We live in [xxx] and it gets extreme winters with below -40degree temperatures. It’s a remote area and there is no service on the highway for 200kms when heading south to city, if this would have happened on the highway with no services and extreme weather we wouldn’t have made it out alive. We are a family of 5 with a [xxx] and a [xxx] and we bought this vehicle after knowing that the engine recall was completed and gm deemed it safe. Unfortunately that’s a lie and gm is putting peoples safety and life at risk. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

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.

The contact owns a 2022 GMC Yukon. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost automotive power. The hazard lights, collision, road traction, and check engine warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the cam lobe and cylinder #6 lifter had failed, and the lifter and camshaft needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 82,000.

The contact owns a 2023 GMC Yukon. The contact stated that while driving approximately 70-72 mph, the vehicle lost automotive power, and the engine seized. The engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 45,504.

Engine started with a rough idle, I attributed this to mileage. Check engine light did not come on until days before scheduling service. Per diagnostic from Chevrolet service department: lifter roller damaged and camshaft damaged on lobe. Need to replace camshaft and lifters. This has been diagnosed by Chevrolet dealer mechanics at ferman Chevrolet north tampa, in tampa florida. Check engine light came on 4 days before I took it for diagnostic. Chevrolet and GMC have issued a recall on 2021+ but this remains outside that recall. I'm quoted for an $11,343 repair on a vehicle that has gotten regular synthetic oil changes at the dealership since I bought it with approx 80k miles on it. Metal was not noticed in the prior oil changes, latest which was.

My wife was driving down the highway and out of no where there was a loud taping sound, the vehicle started running real bad (skipping), the vehicle lost power and she lost control of the steering. As a result, she ran off the road into a ditch. This is a known concern with the 6. 2 liter engines and all signs are pointing to lifter failure. She could have ben seriously injured and gm is responsible for this.

See all problems of the 2016 GMC Yukon 🔎.

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.

We have had no issues with this vehicle at all. Then one day notice a ticking in the area of the valve covers. Sounded to be more on drivers side. Thought maybe just the oil was low which has never happened before. Oil level was fine. I always change oil on regular intervals and there were no check engine lights and engine continued to run fine with no loss of power or ticking changing. It was our only vehicle so we had to continue to drive that day. Wife was driving and said vehicle shuddered and started sounding funny and check engine light came on she was able to drive back home. Now ticking is worse with a clucking rattling sound now coming from oil pan. After some internet searching it very much sounds like issues many others are having with the 6. 2l gm engine.

See all problems of the 2019 GMC Yukon 🔎.

Engine suffered catastrophic failure without warning while traveling highway speeds after being cleared during recall check and suggested oil viscosity change. Most recent dealer performed service on 4/3/26 showed no mechanical issues and engine failed 2 weeks later on 4/17/26.

I was driving on the highway, I-55 n just north of bloomington. I was on cruise control and was coming up to a lane merge going into construction zone. I braked, moved over, turned off cruise control and noticed the engine was cut off and rpm’s dropped to 0. Luckily I was able to get to the shoulder before the highway merged with no shoulder in construction zone. I have the 6. 2 l engine in the GMC and have been through propulsion test and 2 oil changes since the test. My engine failed during highway travel and I see on several threads this unfortunately is an unsafe situation others have been in. What are my options as I do not feel safe in a vehicle that will turn off unexpectedly on highway travel.

Good afternoon, I am submitting this complaint to report a serious and potentially life-threatening safety issue involving my 2022 GMC Yukon denali. While traveling northbound on state road 417 (toll road) in florida, approaching exit 45, I was driving approximately 75 mph when, without any warning, the vehicle suddenly shifted itself into neutral. A message immediately appeared on the dashboard instructing me to press the start button, and the vehicle rapidly lost power and began to decelerate in the middle lane of a high-speed highway. This sudden loss of power created an extremely dangerous situation that could have easily resulted in a major collision. Vehicles behind me were traveling at highway speeds, and I had no ability to safely maintain speed or predict the failure. The lack of warning makes this issue especially concerning, as there was no opportunity to take preventive action. After the incident, I contacted onstar for assistance. The vehicle was towed to carl black GMC, where the service advisor confirmed that the engine requires a full replacement. A complete engine failure occurring suddenly at highway speeds, without warning, is not just a mechanical issue—it is a critical safety hazard. This type of failure puts not only the driver but also passengers and surrounding motorists at serious risk of injury or death. It is deeply concerning that a vehicle of this age and caliber would experience such a catastrophic failure. Issues like this must be addressed immediately, as they have the potential to cause severe accidents if they continue to occur without warning. I strongly urge that this matter be investigated thoroughly and that appropriate action be taken to ensure that other drivers are not placed in similar dangerous situations. I was fortunate that my children were not in the vehicle at the time of this incident. The outcome could have been far worse. Please let me know if additional information is required.

On 2/28/26 I experienced complete engine failure on my 23 Yukon. I was going 70mph on the highway when the engine kicked and and kicked into neutral. The car spent 6 weeks in the dealer to have the engine replaced. I picked up the car on Wednesday, 4/15. On 4/16, I was once again driving, as normal when it suddenly turned off and kicked into neutral. 1 day after I picked up the vehicle it is once again being towed back to the dealer for the same symptoms it had when the entire engine had to be replaced. Both times, there is no warning. The car dings and a message comes up saying "restart vehicle". On 2/28, the car would not restart. On 4/16, the car did restart but only temporarily this is a major safety problem. The first occurrence I was going 70mph on the highway when I lost power. The second occurrence, I was driving 20mph on my neighborhood street and suddenly lost all power.

2021 Yukon denali. Inspected by dealer under recall. Passed dealership test and new oil viscosity adjustment completed by dealer at 39k miles. Told no issues with vehicle continue to drive it. Today 4-14-26 on the interstate traveling 75mph the engine seized and lost all power. Instrument panel showed 0rpm as I coasted to a stop and the engine lost all power. I placed the vehicle in park on the shoulder and attempted to restart. Nothing! engine would crank. Towed to olathe GMC dealer and they took one looke at it , diagnosed it said it had all symptoms of total engine failure. Ordered me an engine and told 6 weeks out. Sent me home in a loaner. Service department told me they get one everyday sometime more than 1. They have hertz rental on standby for warranty loaner vehicle. I find it spilling that these vehicles come time to be sold. They’re all bad according to the service department. I also find it very frustrating that they park the broken defective vehicles at the very back of the dealer lot to hide the graveyard of 6. 2’s from the public. My vehicle is under 5 year 60k warranty and engine is being replaced, but the tech could not share the extent of what would be replaced. All he mentioned was the block. Zero warning engine just went up like a grenade at 75mpg on the highway. Wife’s vehicle and left me stranded 2 hours from home on a work trip.

The contact owns a 2019 Yukon denali. The contact stated that while making a right turn the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was not able to restart. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the lifter went out and caused shaving to go into the oil and then the engine seized up and the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 123,000.

On April 12, 2026, while traveling approximately 65 mph westbound on xxx in [xxx] (just east of exit xxx), the engine in our 2022 GMC Yukon denali failed without any prior warning. This occurred on a four-lane highway where I was in the lane furthest from the shoulder. The engine shut off, the vehicle automatically shifted into neutral, and I had to cross multiple lanes of traffic to reach the shoulder without power steering while the vehicle was rapidly decelerating. I had my [xxx] son and [xxx] dog in the vehicle at the time, which created a significant safety risk. Vdot arrived on scene within minutes but was unable to jump-start the vehicle. I contacted southern Buick GMC kia in greenbrier, va and arranged for towing through their service. The vehicle was towed to their facility the same day. On April 14, 2026, the dealership informed me that the engine had failed and contacted GMC headquarters to order a replacement engine under the vehicle’s VIN. The vehicle remains at southern Buick GMC kia in greenbrier, va, where it is available for inspection by NHTSA. Previously, a picoscope test was performed on October 7, 2025, under warranty code xxx. At that time, the engine was determined not to be eligible for warranty replacement; the oil was changed and a new oil cap was installed. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

My engine starting making a knocking/ticking noise out of no where. I was traveling alone on the highway so I stopped to check it. I got to a gas station and google searched it and it came up that the LS 6. 2 engine that is in my vehicle was recalled on other models because of this issue. I did have a mechanic look at it as well and he agreed it is that same issue that was recalled in other models.

See all problems of the 2017 GMC Yukon 🔎.

I am submitting a complaint regarding a serious engine failure in my 2022 GMC Yukon xl equipped with the 5. 3l engine (VIN: [xxx] ). The vehicle has experienced a complete failure of the lifters and camshaft. Prior to the failure, there were noticeable engine performance issues, including abnormal ticking noises, rough operation, and loss of power. The condition worsened rapidly, ultimately resulting in the engine becoming inoperable. This failure presents a significant safety concern, as the sudden loss of engine performance or power could occur while driving at speed, increasing the risk of a crash. The vehicle is currently not drivable and requires extensive engine repair or replacement. Given the severity of this issue and the potential safety risks, I am requesting that this complaint be formally investigated. I understand that similar issues have been reported in vehicles with this engine, and I believe this may indicate a broader defect affecting reliability and safety. Please let me know if any additional information or documentation is needed. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

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.

While operating my 2021 GMC Yukon at4, my vehicle suddenly developed a popping noise, the check engine light began flashing, and the traction control warning illuminated. The vehicle lost power and had reduced acceleration, forcing me to pull off the road because it was unsafe to continue driving. This created a serious safety risk and appears consistent with reported gm lifter or engine defects.

My Yukon denali xl gm engine that was put in on 07/2022 has already failed. It failed as I was driving down highway at 65 mile per hour. It failed on 04/12/2025. I paid almost $7,000 to have my engine replace due to the original engine failing in early 2022. Now the engine that I paid thousands of dollars for has already failed and has no compression in cylinder 4. I have researched this and can see gm is currently in litigation over car owners reporting engine failure due to either liftors or cams. My car should be considered in this class action lawsuit against gm. It's wrong for a company to take so much money from owners and use an engine that gm knew had issues and was faulty to place it into my vehicle only to have it fail and now make my vehicle undriveable and I am told it's another $8,000 to repair it. Gm should address this issue with my vehicle and replace this engine that I had put in in 07/2022. Gm was aware of this engine problem with my model car Yukon. Gm knew this particular engine that they used in my vehicle on 07/22 (a gm engine) had the issue that gm is being sued for and sure enough the engine has now failed in my Yukon. Please hold gm accountable for this and include my car in this lawsuit.

See all problems of the 2011 GMC Yukon 🔎.