Power Train Problems of GMC Yukon - part 2

I am filing a complaint regarding a potential safety defect in my 2024 GMC Yukon denali (approx. 25,000 miles), which has been in the dealership’s service department for about 30 days due to a faulty valve body in the transmission system. There is currently no estimated date for repair completion due to a lack of available parts. This is the second time the vehicle has been in the shop for the same unresolved issue. Earlier in 2025, I brought the car in due to driveability concerns and error messages appearing on the dash, but the dealership dismissed it and claimed I had “turned the vehicle on wrong,” despite it having a push-button start. The problem persisted until June 2025, when they finally diagnosed the valve body failure. This issue directly affects drivability and vehicle safety, particularly during acceleration and gear shifting. I am concerned that general motors is aware of widespread valve body and transmission failures in these vehicles, yet continues to produce and sell new units while failing to ensure parts are available to support timely repairs. It is unacceptable that a major safety-related transmission issue can sideline a relatively new vehicle for over a month with no resolution in sight. Gm’s lack of urgency in addressing this defect suggests a disregard for consumer safety and reliability. I respectfully request that the NHTSA investigate this issue as a potential pattern of safety defects in gm’s full-size SUV transmission systems.

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Knocking coming from engine, seems like engine failure.

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Problems with the engine shifting gears stalling delayed or won’t engage hard shifting while it’s in motion something’s going on with the engine we’ve called several and had it serviced times of times to ask them what was going on with it in newport oregon you can fill it still when you drive. The problem still is not fixed. It’s been happening since we purchased it took it in right away. We’ve asked if our VIN number has come up for a recall repairs we are worried for safety and are currently parking in the car because the dealership is unable to fix what is wrong with the car. They’re telling us there is something wrong and are aware of the recall and won’t fix the problem dealership refuses to take the car they don’t want it without the recall fixed due to safety concerns. You can definitely fill it when you drive I’m not exactly sure what the other issue if with the sounds it’s making when the issue keeps happening but it’s scary there is the recall on it. They are not taking into consideration or the seriousness of the situation and the safety of lives.

The contact owns a 2021 GMC Yukon xl. The contact stated while driving approximately 45–50 mph, the engine was making an abnormal sound. The contact stopped and lightly depressed the accelerator pedal and continued driving. The contact stated that the transmission failed to shift gear. The rpm increased to high. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired under warranty, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the same dealer who determined that the failure was related to the transmission. The vehicle was repaired but the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to another local dealer, hennessy GMC (145 industrial blvd, mcdonough, GA 30253); where it was diagnosed and the contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 66,000.

The valve body failed on 6/4/25. This caused the car to have a sudden jerk and then suddenly decelerate while driving with my children in the vehicle. It could have caused an accident if another vehicle had been following behind. The vehicle has been at the local GMC dealership for repair for almost 8 weeks now, and is available for inspection by 3rd party upon request. The same part failure has been found in the 2019-2022 models. There was no warning to this happening to my vehicle, just a sudden jerk and deceleration. After it occurred the check engine light came on.

See all problems of the 2023 GMC Yukon 🔎.

Dealership did a tune-up in June 2025 and had my truck for 2 weeks, no issues with transmission discovered or discussed. Now in September 2025, 2018 GMC Yukon has developed a torque converter shutter when driving between 40 and 50 mph. I took the vehicle to an independent shop who told me they had some computer tool to manually control the transmission, and there is an internal failure. There was a transmission flush completed hoping to gain results, however it was very short lived.

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The transmission failed while driving it and no warning lights were visible on the dashboard before hand or afterwards . . The vehicle is presently at a legitimate transmission repair shop and needs a new transmission supposedly this particular vehicle is evidently not included in the recall although the make and model are listed as part of the recall.

See all problems of the 2020 GMC Yukon 🔎.

For whatever reason our 2021 GMC Yukon denali is not listed in the current 2025 GMC motor recall including cams and lifters and accompanying parts. While driving our truck about a mile from the house the vehicle began seizing and shaking (almost as if we had blown several tires); we immediately pulled over and accessed. Called dealership and had truck towed there immediately. We are told that it needs cams and lifters and that b/c our VIN does not pull up a recall that the repairs will cost ~$9800.

SUV appears to get stuck in gear or struggle shifting causing jerky behavior and erratic drivability. Stopped driving and had it towed to dealer. Dealer stated engine code p0747 shown. Dealer stated faulty transmission valve body but no eta on parts. Told to keep driving unless condition gets worse. Vehicle is less than 2 years old and 20,000 miles. Check engine light goes on and off relating to the same condition and sometimes having shift issues.

Driving 58 mph then felt like I slammed on my brakes out of no where then sped up on its own to 42 mph then wouldn’t accelerate but rpm was at 5000. Shortly after my reduced power warning came on. Well the next 12 hours I went to reverse and had nothing! now dealership is saying unknown timeframe for it to be fixed.

A valve in the transmission is sticking causing a loss of power, engine light warnings to flash, and hard gear shifts from park to drive or reverse. First occurred on 5/25/25, went to the dealer service department on 5/26/25. Part still not available and it’s been sitting at the dealership since.

In may 2025, my vehicle suddenly started jerking, shaking, and almost stalled out while driving. I was on a busy 3 lane roadway with 6 passengers total. As I would try to accelerate, the power was significantly decreased. I felt it jerk between shifting several times. My check engine light came on. I was so scared that someone would hit my vehicle and injure us. I brought it to a GMC dealership. They said that my transmission failed, metal in the transmission fluid. How is this possible? upon researching this problem, this is a common issue with the 2017 GMC Yukon denali. There are class action law suits and lemon law lawsuits against GMC regarding this problem which causes major safety concerns. My vehicle has been well maintained with lots of service records to prove it. I have babied her and I’ve never towed anything. This transmission issue needs to be addressed and recalled. I need a new transmission which will cost between $5,000-$7,000. This is just horrible and disappointing regarding the quality and reported issues that are not being recalled by GMC.

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The contact owns a 2021 GMC Yukon. The contact stated that while accelerating, the vehicle jumped and hesitated while accelerating until the vehicle exceeded 20 - 25 mph. The contact stated that at 1,500-2500 rpm, the failure recurred. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that while looking online, the contact discovered information about NHTSA campaign number: 25v274000 (engine and engine cooling) with a similar failure. The dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 25v274000 (engine and engine cooling). An appointment was scheduled for the vehicle to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure, and it was confirmed that the VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 25v274000 (engine and engine cooling); because the manufacturing date was 3 months after the date for the vehicles listed under the recall. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was 75,000.

We are back on shop for lifter replacement for the 3rd timeand possibly more once they open the project. Valve springs replaced and lifters.

Driving down the expressway at 65mph, and the vehicle completely stops, almost causing a collision. After researching the problem at the GMC dealer, it appears that the entire engine has internally failed. Apparently it was a complete engine failure.

See all problems of the 2015 GMC Yukon 🔎.

The contact owns a 2016 GMC Yukon. The contact stated while driving 70 mph, and attempting to accelerate, the vehicle jerked, then briefly lost motive power before the engine seized. The contact was able to coast to the side of the road. The transmission warning light was illuminated. The vehicle failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to a friend's residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired for the most recent failure. Days before the failure, the vehicle jerked while driving at various speeds. The vehicle was taken to auto zone; however, no cause for the failure was found. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 143,000.

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My name is [xxx] , and I am writing to formally lodge a complaint regarding a serious safety defect in my 2023 GMC Yukon with a 3. 0 duramax diesel engine. The issue involves the transmission valve body, which has caused rear wheel lockup at highway speeds. I experienced this issue at 34,000 miles on my vehicle, and it has been in the shop for over 5 weeks with no estimated time on parts availability. Despite opening a case with gm support, as detailed in the attached email transcript, I have not received a resolution. Gm has refused to replace the complete transmission on the vehicle and only offered to replace the valve body. This is unacceptable as the defective valve body has already caused damage to the transmission. I also opened a bbb auto line case, which was closed immediately after I denied the offer from the gm support representative. This raises concerns about a potential conflict of interest, as the bbb auto line seemed aware of my interactions with gm support. I am seeking a complete transmission replacement with a valve body upgrade kit from nextgen transmission, which I believe would resolve the issue. However, gm has not accepted this offer. I request that the NHTSA investigate this matter promptly to ensure the safety of my vehicle and others that may be affected by this defect. If this issue is not resolved, I will have no choice but to pursue legal action. Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter. Sincerely, [xxx] [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

Driving at 55mph and suddenly the car starts to shack and warning/notification lights copme up on the dash. Check engine traction control service light suspension service was able to drive it to GMC dealership nearby 2. 6mile.

Transmission issue - 2021 Yukon xl broke down 5/6/25 while driving with 2 of our children in the vehicle. The rpms skyrocketed but the vehicle wouldn't go. Was hard shifting and speed would not exceed 35ish mph. Message popped up on vehicle that said acceleration throttled and engine light came on. Took it to dealership and it is a known problem. Transmission needs a valve body replacement. This part is on national backorder for months. Spoke with the dealership on 6/5/25 and they still do not have an eta. They ordered one on 3/19/25 that still has not arrived. I received a case number from gm but they are extremely unhelpful.

Dropped my 2022 Yukon denali off may 7, 2025 to mike reed chevy due to failed transmission. Order was placed may 15, 2025 for a valve body part. Multiple phone calls were made without success on status of repair. I was forced to drive to the dealership for answers on June 10. I was told that due to my car being under warranty I am at the mercy of gm. The part needed is apparently on indefinite backorder. Contacted gm to expedite part and was told it could be 3+ months before I can expect my car back. Claim number with gm is 55328239. After doing research, there is over 2000 people who are experiencing the same issue. Mike reed chevy nor gm offered assistance with a rental to offset the inconvenience. It was only until I demanded to speak with the service manager that I was given a rental car. As someone who manages a hospital, the delay in obtaining this part has caused significant hardship, and to date, there has been no clear timeframe provided for when the part will become available or when repairs can be completed. As a consumer, I am left without reliable transportation as the dealership has requested me to return my rental. The lack of transparency or timeline for resolution is deeply concerning. This has not only impacted my ability to fulfill daily responsibilities, but has also raised broader concerns about the availability of necessary vehicle parts and the protections in place for consumers in similar situations. I am seeing guidance or intervention from your office to help expedite this matter, whether through direct communication with the manufacturer, identifying legal remedies available under consumer protection laws, or advocating on behalf of consumers facing unreasonable delays in vehicle repairs due to supply chain issues. Any assistance or direction your office can provide would be greatly appreciated.

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Valve body failure 72000 miles and warranty ended at 60000.

My 2017 GMC Yukon slt,, has been having shifting problems, including hard or delayed shifts, clunking, jerking, and even sudden jolts when downshifting. Rough or jerky shifts, particularly during acceleration and deceleration, a delay in engaging gears, especially when shifting from park to drive or reverse. Transmission shifts are very rough in slow traffic with as much as one to two-second delays in shifting into gear with a loud thump. It is so rough that it feels like someone may have ran into your back bumper. It is also bad enough that it startles the driver, and it could be a safety issue.

Purchased a GMC denali Yukon ultimate xl June last year . 103 thousand. Bought it in for first oil change at 5500 miles the car has been leaking oil ,too, now its been back three times and still leaki9ng oil. Last week brought it back told service advisor itys leaking at the oil pan by the plu it drips everynight on the floor of my garage and I am put oil in it every two weeks. Anyway they said they didd the dye twicw and didnt find the leak, I said let me show thhe mechanic the spot it leaks . I went in shop under vehicle showed the mechanioc he looks and says ok now I see it its need a rear main seal and oil pan gasket. So now I am bringing it in on the 134th of this month for a repair. The vehicle was made June 20-04 and tullety GMC says my 6. 2 is not involved in recall the lady checked her computer. . I would have never bought this vehicle knowing GMC knew they had an iossue with the ngine. My resale value will be hurt big time by all; the negative publicity. I hear they want to put zero 40 thicker oil to patcvh a sick engine ,,thats a band aid on a engine wiith lo0ose clearances. And why is the 2025 6. 2 going top keep using zero twenty and not zero 40 oil. I [xxx]I think , this engine in this GMC is noisy in the motrning also when cold . I think I am gettingb a [xxx] story . I only have 13200 miles and the car is still leaking after 3 visits . Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

Loud noises started under the car and eventually shut off in middle of the interstate, thank fully another person help us move the car to the shoulder and nothing happened.

I am writing to formally report a serious issue with my 2021 GMC Yukon xl. The vehicle has developed multiple severe problems, including: •significant loss of engine power •noticeable engine knocking noises •transmission slipping while driving •transmission movement even when the vehicle is at a full stop these issues not only impair the performance of the vehicle but also raise serious safety concerns. The loss of power and the slipping transmission could lead to a dangerous situation while driving, placing both myself and other motorists at risk.

Transmission jerking upon acceleration at all speeds. Reproduced and confirmed by the dealer to be a faulty transmission valve body. Part is on back order and vehicle has been returned to me as it is “driveable” as per dealership rep. No warning lamps.

The transmission shifts hard in low gears. I have done research, and it seems like this is a common problem that a vast amount of these vehicles have. I honestly think that this is has to be looked into for a recall. There is countless information on the web with videos, other owners, and transmission businesses explaining about it.

On April 30, 2025, my 2023 GMC Yukon with 68,000 miles on it (8,000 miles outside of the warranty and that I had purchased on 4/27/2024) randomly downshifted as I was turning into a parking lot and gave me a computer notification stating "service transmission now, unable to shift soon. " I immediately put my car in park and called onstar for her to read me the computer code. She said it came up with two codes so we brought it to wyatt johnson GMC in clarksville tennessee. They plugged in their computer reader and that's when the service provider informed me that my car was un-drivable because it was unsafe. We left it there for them to do a diagnostic test on it to see exactly what is wrong with it. A few days later they contacted us and informed us that it was a malfunction in the transmission valve body. The dealership informed us that it would cost $2754. 25 to fix but the issue is the part is on back order and they don't know when it will be available. We have been in contact with the dealership and with general motors customer service almost weekly trying to find out, when the part will be available and where I am on "the list" and no one has an answer. With the personal research that I have done, I have seen that people have been waiting for over a year. I also know that there are current class-action lawsuits for gm's Yukons for years a little older than mine and currently multiple complaints for the newer Yukons for the same transmission valve body issues. The dealership does not give out loaners anymore after covid. I have asked, general motors. Customer service has informed me that it's up to the dealership if they will give me one general motors said they would look into a possible reimbursement program if I have to purchase a rental, but they will only cover a car that cost $44 a day and that is not including taxes and extra fees, but I can't afford to rent anything and I'm missing work.

I have had major transmission failure in my 2021 GMC Yukon denali (6. 2l v8, 10-speed automatic). The vehicle has approximately 72,000 miles. Recently, a critical internal clip/retainer in the transmission broke loose, sending metal debris throughout the transmission. This catastrophic failure has rendered the vehicle undrivable and requires a complete transmission replacement. Unfortunately, the vehicle is just outside the powertrain warranty, yet I firmly believe this failure is due to a manufacturing/design defect – not normal wear and tear. I purchased this Yukon denali as a premium, flagship SUV and have maintained it carefully. I expected the transmission to last well beyond 72k miles under normal use. It is disappointing and that a core component failed so early. Not only has this imposed a significant financial burden, but it also undermines my confidence in the vehicle’s safety and reliability for my family. A modern transmission should not self-destruct at this mileage, especially given gm’s reputation and the denali’s top-of-the-line status. Importantly, I have discovered multiple known issues and gm bulletins related to the 10-speed automatic transmission used in my Yukon. For example, gm issued a major recall in late 2024 (NHTSA campaign 24v797000, gm recall #n242454440) affecting 2021 Yukon models (among others) due to a defective transmission control valve that could fail and cause the rear wheels to lock up, this demonstrates that gm has acknowledged serious problems in the 10l80/mqc 10-speed transmission design. Additionally, a recent gm service bulletin (pip6008c, Jan 24 2025) indicates that internal transmission retaining rings can dislodge, causing the internal gears to separate – which leads to loss of reverse and internal damage. This scenario is similar to what happened in my transmission. My family was left stranded away from home with no warning. The vehicle just stopped working. The warning lamp did not come on until diagnostics was run.

On [xxx] my spouse was 20 miles west of jamestown, nd on [xxx]. Our 2022 GMC suddenly lost power at interstate speed, shifted into neutral. My spouse was able to coast the vehicle to avoid traffic and drift to the shoulder of the road leaving her stranded on the shoulder of the interstate. Vehicle has been towed to nearest gm dealer and diagnosed the problem related to recent recall. Gm has been less than helpful in this scenario. This has created an extremely frustrating issue as I am informed gm knew about this issue prior to issuing a recall which in turn resulted in unnecessary risk to myself and family. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

Vehicle has 32,000 miles and the valve body has gone out and now parts for possibly months. My vehicle has been in the shop over these first 2 years over 2 months. Now this issue with the valve body it has been in over two weeks and they claim it will be months before they can get parts. This issue puts the vehicle in limp mode and most likely is damaging the clutrch packs as they go out. People all over the forums are having issues with these 10 speed transmissions. Something needs to be done to help out those affected.

The contact owns a 2023 GMC Yukon. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to reverse as needed. The contact stated that the transmission was stuck in neutral. The contact stated that while driving 35 mph, the transmission was slipping. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the valve body needed to be replaced. The dealer informed the contact that parts were on backorder. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, and a claim was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 72,000.

I am formally requesting a complete refund for my vehicle. It has only 6,300 miles, and the remedy provided for the recall does not adequately address the issue. The recall explicitly indicates defects in the engine components (rods/cam shafts) that may lead to a loss of propulsion. Merely inspecting the vehicle and adding thicker oil does not resolve the underlying problem; it only postpones the inevitable expiration of my warranty. Currently, there are no warning lights illuminated, as the vehicle is not driven frequently. The recall raises significant concerns, and gm should be taking more substantial measures than simply applying thicker oil as a solution. This approach feels like a temporary fix rather than a genuine resolution. I have communicated with the dealership, and have been informed there is currently no solution available for this matter. They are awaiting further instructions on how to proceed. I request a more thorough investigation into this issue for an appropriate refund, and I also wish to have this matter documented for future reference.

The contact owns a 2016 GMC Yukon. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle unexpectedly downshifted with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the transmission had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 250,000.

Total valve body failure in the transmission at 30k miles. I was traveling with my daughter on the freeway at 65 mph and the vehicle went into limp mode. No indication of problems prior to this incident. Vehicle has been at dealer going on a month now. They have no valve bodies available, on a national backorder. They replace it with the valve body that is known to fail again. Gm knows about this problem and the solution they offered was only a software upgrade so the back tires don't lock up when this happens. My daughter and I could have been seriously hurt or killed.