11 of the 291 complaints about the 2021 GMC Yukon XL are about the driver-assist systems — 4% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 10,302 miles.
11
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
The forward collission system continues to perform phantom braking while driving in traffic resulting in near rear end collisions. The GMC dealer refuses to fix it without charging me for more diagnostic work, which has already been done twice. What is my recourse?
NHTSA complaint #11735981 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
Phantom braking when moving forward after a stop. Dealer can’t replicate or diagnose it, therefore won’t repair it under warranty. It’s happened 6 times now and almost caused 3 accidents.
NHTSA complaint #11720123 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
Phantom braking when moving forward after a stop. Dealer can’t replicate or diagnose it, therefore won’t repair it under warranty. It’s happened 6 times now and almost caused 3 accidents.
NHTSA complaint #11720123 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
While driving my check engine light came on indicating that service was needed on the Electronic Stability Control (ESC), traction control, Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS), brake assist the vehicle top speed reduced to 43mph. My braking system was compromised and I have to travel at reduced speeds on busy roadways to arrive at my destinations. I have taken the vehicle to a certified GMC technician for diagnostics and repair.
NHTSA complaint #11575674 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
Breaking system engages at high-speed for no reason. Very scary incident Breaking system engages at slow speed also for no reason.
NHTSA complaint #11562155 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
Driving down the interstate at 70mph and it randomly slams on the brakes. At about 45mph it let's loose and speeds back up. There's never anything in front of the car and it does it a few times a week. Usually throws everything on the floor that was on the seats and scares the hell out of anyone inside the vehicle. Waiting for it to do it with a semi behind us that can't stop as fast!
NHTSA complaint #11561007 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
The contact owns a 2021 GMC Yukon XL. The contact stated that on numerous occasions while driving approximately 70 MPH, the brake pedal engaged without warning, then the vehicle proceeded to accelerate independently. As a result, the vehicle inadvertently stopped and jerked forward. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the failure could not be duplicated. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 20,504.
NHTSA complaint #11514637 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LANE DEPARTURE: BLIND SPOT DETECTION
The vehicle had a total failure of its rear safety package which includes blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, rear parking sensors and rear safety alert. The warning illuminated on the dash that all of these functions were offline and service was needed. We took the Yukon to a GM dealer and they replaced a computer and had a hard time getting it to program. This failure also affected the HVAC system in the car, with the fan staying on high. After 23 days of service, the dealer thought they fixed it. After two weeks of having the vehicle back the same alert came on 5-6 times in the same day, with another safety package failure. Now the alert doesn’t come on but none of those safety features work, they are all offline. It is bad enough driving a 20’ long vehicle without the safety package working, but now it is worse in that the car doesn’t alert you to the fact it isn’t working and you might not remember that it is defective. This could cause a collision on the highway or result in the driver backing into something or someone, relying on this technology.
NHTSA complaint #11461959 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
BACK OVER PREVENTION: REARVIEW SYSTEM BRAKING
The vehicle had a total failure of its rear safety package which includes blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, rear parking sensors and rear safety alert. The warning illuminated on the dash that all of these functions were offline and service was needed. We took the Yukon to a GM dealer and they replaced a computer and had a hard time getting it to program. This failure also affected the HVAC system in the car, with the fan staying on high. After 23 days of service, the dealer thought they fixed it. After two weeks of having the vehicle back the same alert came on 5-6 times in the same day, with another safety package failure. Now the alert doesn’t come on but none of those safety features work, they are all offline. It is bad enough driving a 20’ long vehicle without the safety package working, but now it is worse in that the car doesn’t alert you to the fact it isn’t working and you might not remember that it is defective. This could cause a collision on the highway or result in the driver backing into something or someone, relying on this technology.
NHTSA complaint #11461959 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
On Wednesday, January 12, 2022, while driving from Columbia, SC to Cincinnati, we were heading northwest through the mountains of North Carolina, on I-40, just east of the TN border. Traffic was fairly steady and heavy, so we were traveling at approximately 45 MPH, in the right lane, winding through the mountains. Our friend, ** ***** was driving, my wife, ********* *****, was sitting in the right front passenger seat, working on her laptop, and I was sitting immediately behind her, also working on my laptop. With a semi-trailer truck slowing ahead of us, *** signaled to make a lane change into the left lane (this is only a two lane highway). As we were transitioning to the left lane, the vehicle suddenly – without any warning or driver inputs – slammed on its brakes, bringing the truck to a sudden and violent stop. Given the violent halting of the truck, we all assumed we had been rear-ended by a truck. The braking was so serious, luggage from the rear of the vehicle shot forward like a missile, striking my wife in the back of the head. She suffered what we believe to be a concussion, and she did seek medical attention in the days following the incident. Sitting behind her, the sudden stopping action caused me to twist my left knee, resulting in what might be a cartilage tear. I also saw my physician in the days following, and he acknowledged the swelling of the left knee. He advised me to monitor the knee carefully, and if the pain persists, to get an MRI. The pain has not gone away, and I plan to get an MRI in the next week or so. Our friend suffered a severely strained back in the incident, and has been treating his back with both ice and heat therapy. This was the THIRD time this happened, each nearly resulting in a tragic accident. The dealer said "it's just a software glitch." The "Brake Assist" program is clearly defective and unsafe.
NHTSA complaint #11449744 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LANE DEPARTURE: BLIND SPOT DETECTION
I'VE OWNED OVER A DOZEN GM TRUCKS OVER THE LAST 20+ YEARS AND THIS MODEL IS THE WORST EVER! MY COMPLAINT: GM TOOK AWAY THE TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS ON THE SIDE MIRRORS. THE TURN SIGNAL INDICATORS ON THE DASH ARE TOO SMALL AND LOCATED WITH MANY OTHER LIGHTS/INDICATORS, SO THEY CANNOT BE SEEN QUICKLY NOR 'EASILY' AND CAN'T BE HEARD UNDER NORMAL TRAFFIC CONDITIONS. THIS CREATES AN INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS SITUATION WITH DRIVER DISTRACTION TRYING TO SEE IF A TURN SIGNAL HAS BEEN ACTIVATED AND INCREASES THE RISK OF VEHICLES NEXT TO THE TRUCK NOT EXPECTING A LANE CHANGE IF THEY ARE AHEAD OF THE TAIL LIGHTS. NUMEROUS TIMES OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS I'VE OWNED THIS VEHICLE, I'VE ALMOST RUN INTO ADJACENT VEHICLES I COULDN'T 'SEE' BECAUSE THE BLIND SPOT WARNING SYSTEM DOES NOT DETECT VEHICLES WELL ENOUGH TO AVOID TURNING INTO THEM AND ALSO BECAUSE I WAS DISTRACTED TRYING TO SEE THE TURN INDICATOR ON THE DASHBOARD, OOK INTO THE SIDE MIRRORS AND WATCH MY DISTANCE TO CARS IN FRONT OF ME. THE TURN SIGNAL INDICATORS ON THE MIRRORS ON THE PRIOR MODEL SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED DRIVER DISTRACTIONS AND INCREASED SAFETY TO THE DRIVER, PASSENGERS AND ADJACENT VEHICLES. GM MUST BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR REMOVING SAFETY FEATURES! THEY MUST BE FORCED TO REPLACE THE MIRRORS WITH ONES THAT HAVE TURN SIGNAL INDICATORS IN THEM LIKE ON PRIOR MODEL YEARS. IF IT'S NOT A SAFETY ISSUE, WHY DID THEY HAVE THE INDICATORS IN THE MIRRORS BEFORE?? REMOVING THE MIRROR SIGNAL LIGHTS WAS OBVIOUSLY A SICK WAY FOR GM TO SAVE A FEW DOLLARS WITH INTENDED DISREGARD FOR THE SAFETY OF IT'S OWNERS, PASSENGERS AND EVERYONE ELSE ON THE ROAD. THESE PROBLEMS EXIST WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STOPPED (BLIND SPOT ISSUES), TURNING, CHANGING LANES AND MOVING ON EVERY TYPE OF ROADWAY, BUT ESPECIALLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHERE HUNDREDS OF FEET ARE TRAVELED IN ONLY A FEW SECONDS, AND DISTRACTIONS BECOME EVEN MORE UNSAFE AND DANGEROUS TO EVERYONE.
NHTSA complaint #11390879 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.