2021 GMC YUKON Complaints

Driving on the highway going 65 mph the engine started making a ticking noise and all of the sudden the car died and barely made it to the shoulder and after that the car wouldn’t start or nothing. Now the dealership had the car for a couple weeks already and still no update on when it’s getting fixed

I was driving down the interstate traveling 75 mph and with any warning the vehicle shifted into neutral. I made my way to the side of the interstate with any ability to accelerate on a busy stretch of highway. I had my children in the car with me. After making my way off the road, I shifted car to park and it wouldn’t go back into drive. I turned the car off, in an effort to put the car back into drive. The car wouldn’t not restart. We were stranded in the side of the interstate 6 hours from home. I had the vehicle towed to Ed Morse GMC in Rolla, MO. The let me know after a few days that my vehicle needed a new engine and that this has been an issue with other 2021 GMC Tahoe vehicles. We decided to have the vehicle towed to Bob Howard GMC in our town, Edmond, OK, and they confirmed a new engine was needed. In all we had to replace the engine, radiator, cooler lines and fuse array. There were zero messages or warnings leading up to this event. This was very u expected, scary and u safe for not just my family in my vehicle, but all the vehicles around my that day on the interstate.

Vehicle wont go in reverse and skips gears and an error came up to reduce acceleration. - Valve body Control assembly needing to be replaced.

The engine failed, specifically the internal engine rod, which apparently came unhinged and caused extensive internal damage. This led to a complete engine failure. The failure was sudden and extreme. The vehicle is currently located at a GMC dealership and remains available for inspection if needed. The dealership also provided oil samples and internal findings to GM for further review.This failure put my safety and my children’s safety at serious risk. I regularly drive this vehicle alone with my children to remote areas—one of the main reasons I purchased this vehicle was because it is marketed as safe, reliable, and built for families. The engine shut off twice while driving before I could get it to a shop, and I was very fortunate it didn't happen on the highway or in a location where I couldn’t pull over safely. Had this occurred at high speeds or in heavy traffic, it could have resulted in a crash or left us stranded in a dangerous situation.Yes. The issue was first diagnosed as catastrophic engine failure by an independent auto shop. They advised me to take the vehicle directly to the GMC dealer. Once inspected, the GMC dealership confirmed full engine failure, radiator failure, and additional issues. They explicitly told me not to drive the vehicle again due to the severity of the internal engine damage. The vehicle is still at their shop- three weeks later. I’m not sure if the manufacturer (GM) has physically inspected the vehicle. However, the dealership has submitted documentation and internal engine testing results—including oil samples—to GM on my behalf. To my knowledge, there has been no inspection by police or insurance representatives.There were no warning lamps, error messages, or dashboard alerts before or during the failure. The only symptom was a very subtle and barely audible noise that appeared shortly before the failure. Within approximately 40 miles, that sound escalated dramatically into a loud rattling. The engine shut off on its own twi

Transmission valve body (transmission control unit) failure at 72,000 miles. This is the 10-Speed transmission that is the subject of several other recalls for diesel versions of the GMC Yukon. No warning lights, and potential for rear wheel lock up.

The vehicle was handed off to the dealer for a routine oil change and transmission flush. The dealer stated over the phone that during the engine's oil draining process, the tech noticed metal particulates in the oil. The oil was allowed to completely drain until no drips fell from the drain plug. The tech then filled the engine with new oil to the correct level. After the trans flush was complete, the tech took the vehicle for a test drive, during which they noticed strange engine noises. The tech then parked the vehicle in the garage bay, where the engine subsequently failed. What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request?: The dealer has not confirmed the exact cause of the failure, however it is expected to be because of a failed connecting rod bearing. The NHTSA may contact the dealership for information regarding an inspection. The dealer is Koons Chevrolet Buick GMC in Clarksville, MD 21029. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk?: UNKNOWN, vehicle was parked at the time of failure Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? : UNKNOWN, There are many forums online in which people have stated similar issues. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others?: UNKNOWN Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear?: UNKNOWN

I was passing a semi truck at 80 mph on the highway, after passing I tried to reduce my speed on the cruise control but got no response from my vehicle. I pulled off the highway and the engine was dead. I feel lucky to be alive the truckers were whizzing by at 80mph while we waited for a tow truck. The dealer has confirmed the engine is seized. There were no warning lights or other symptoms.

On [XXX], my wife and our children were driving back home from Barstow when the vehicle stalled on the [XXX] freeway near Colton, CA. While driving at approximately 50–65 mph, we heard a clanking noise coming from the engine, followed by multiple warning and maintenance lights illuminating on the dash. The vehicle then lost all acceleration power and shut off, leaving my wife and children stranded in the middle lane of moving traffic. All of this happened in a matter of seconds. This situation quickly became a life-threatening incident. Vehicles, including large semi-trucks, were swerving and honking to avoid colliding with our stalled Yukon. Fearing for my family’s safety, I was forced to exit the vehicle in the middle of traffic and physically push the Yukon to the side of the freeway, while trying to keep my wife and children calm inside the vehicle. The panic and distress this caused my family—especially my wife, whose anxiety skyrocketed—is beyond unacceptable. Highway law enforcement arrived and remained there until we were able to get a safety tow off the freeway and out to a service shop with GMC. Just before that, we had received our vehicle back on February 20th, 2025 after being with the GMC dealership since January 3rd, 2025, for engine replacement. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

The contact owns a 2021 GMC Yukon XL. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle shuddered. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the lifters had failed and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was contacted and informed the contact that only one side of the engine lifters replacement was covered. The vehicle was repaired accordingly. Additionally, the contact stated that while driving 55-60 MPH, the engine started shuddering. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The messages "Service ESC", "Forward Collision System Unavailable", "System Failure", and other unknown messages were displayed. The contact was able to drive to the residence. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the engine was blown and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired at the contact's expense. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Action Number: PE25001 (Engine, Engine and Engine Cooling). The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no further assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.

I was driving my vehicle at a speed of around 50 MPH when the vehicle had an sudden loss of power. The vehicle displayed press the start button while the vehicle was still moving with the motor off. I pressed the start button and the vehicle shifted to park and went to complete loss of power functions. The hazard lights would not work, the vehicle would not start or move out of park. The vehicle was stuck in the fast lane in park with no way of moving it or warning others with hazard lights. My daughter and I almost got hit by a semi due to the vehicle issues. I had to call 911 to get police there for safety concerns and a tow truck to take the vehicle back to the dealership. The tow truck couldn't get the vehicle out of park as well, so he had to drag my vehicle onto the tow truck. I have a 2021 Yukon Denali with the 6.2 engine. The dealership told me I need a new engine because of a known failure with the engine. They can't promise me replacing the engine will fix the issue. The vehicle has less then 60,000 miles on it. This engine issue put my life and my daughters life in danger. I had to carry my daughter across the highway because it was unsafe to stay in the vehicle. I can only imagine what could of happened if we were traveling at higher speeds with no way to exit the vehicle. The dealership told me it is going to be 3 to 4 months before I get my vehicle back and they can't promise the new engine won't do the same thing. This is a huge safety concern that GMC needs to address. I am stuck paying for a vehicle that puts my family in danger. Something needs to be done immediately. The dealership told me they have several Yukons in the shop with the same issue waiting for an engine replacement.