2023 GMC Yukon XL transmission problems

POWER TRAIN

Vehicle shifted into neutral while driving down the highway, extremely dangerous. Would not shift into gear and could not accelerate. Was able to pull over and the vehicle would not restart. Had to have the vehicle towed to a dealership. Dealership found a blown fuse, problem happened again twice and the dealer could not find the problem. This was July 28th, 2026. On August 20th, while in cruise control, slight ringing noise began, then a loud thump, then a loss of oil pressure. Unable to do anything other than pull over on an interstate with my family. Again, very dangerous. The vehicle would not restart and could not be shifted out of park. Had to have the vehicle towed again. Have also had at least 8 recalls on the vehicle. Unbelievably dangerous situations with my family, aside from inconvenient and expensive.

NHTSA complaint #11758865 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

My 2023 GMC Yukon Denali XL, used as a commercial vehicle for my business, experienced sudden and complete engine failure at approximately 70,000 miles with no prior warning. No check engine light, no unusual noise, and no other symptoms. The vehicle had previously been inspected/serviced under GM Safety Recall 25V-274 (L87 Engine Loss of Propulsion) and had been deemed safe prior to this failure. The failure occurred while driving on a two-lane road in Durango, CO. The vehicle lost all propulsion and came to a stop in the roadway, blocking the lane of travel and forcing other vehicles to cross into the oncoming traffic lane to go around the disabled vehicle. This created a serious and immediate hazard to myself and to oncoming traffic. The vehicle was not driveable and had to be towed. The dealer confirmed catastrophic engine failure requiring a complete engine replacement. After the engine replacement, the Morehart Murphy GMC dealership in Durango also failed to properly recalibrate vehicle sensors. They did not reinstall certain suspension components that had been removed for the engine replacement, requiring multiple additional dealership visits to resolve along with recalibration of the air ride suspension. After the replacement I was getting messages that the vehicle was "too low to drive with caution" and "Reduced Acceleration Drive With Care." This vehicle failure occurred during our peak season (June 10-July 2). The vehicle being out of service, I was required to rent a replacement vehicle at my own expense because GM did not provide a loaner vehicle. I estimate loss revenue at $1k/day. When I attempted to raise this issue with GM directly, their response was to submit letter to a P.O. Box, with no other means of resolution or contact offered. Given that this vehicle had already undergone the recall remedy and was represented as safe, this incident is relevant to NHTSA's ongoing investigation into post-recall L87 engine failures (Recall Query RQ26001).

NHTSA complaint #11758687 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

While driving about 70 mph in the express lanes, the vehicle suddenly lost power and drifted like it went into neutral. There were no warning symbols. The vehicle could not restart even while coasting. After stopping, it locked itself in park and would not shift out of park. My family and I were trapped on the express lanes for over an hour in a dangerous location. The vehicle stayed stuck in park even on the tow truck. The dealer confirmed metal in the oil filter, a blown main fuse, and knocking when starting. The recall inspection and remedy were already done, but the failure still happened. The vehicle is undriveable and the required recall repair cannot be completed because the replacement engine is on backorder with no ETA.

NHTSA complaint #11750354 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

My wife and I were traveling to Denver CO to pick up my son and grandson from the airport. The engine started to make a very exaggerated rattle. We found a dealership near our motel where we took the vehicle to and were told not to drive home that the engine needed to be replaced. We had to arrange our own transportation for both us and the vehicle 8 hrs back to our home in Rapid City, SD where our local dealership replaced the engine. The vehicle had approximately 65,000 miles when this occurred. Fortunately we were in a populated area when this occurred as there is a lot of very sparsely populated area between our home and Denver. This malfunction not only cost me a lot of money but also put my family at risk in unfamiliar areas.

NHTSA complaint #11743381 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

The contact owns a 2023 GMC Yukon XL. The contact stated that while driving on several occasions at various speeds, the vehicle experienced unexpected gear shifting. The check engine warning light illuminated and then disappeared when the vehicle was restarted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact used a handheld diagnostic machine and retrieved DTC: P0747. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 67,000.

NHTSA complaint #11731819 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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.

NHTSA complaint #11730061 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

2023 GMC Yukon XL 6.2L V8 experienced progressive engine defects starting in first year. At 7,445 mi (Jan 2023), first dealer visit for engine issues. At 10,315 mi (Apr 2023), Cyl 2 fuel injector failed (internally open), vehicle TOWED to dealer, replaced under warranty. At 14,982 mi (Aug 2023), identical Cyl 7 injector failure (internally open), replaced under warranty. Two identical failures on different cylinders within 15,000 mi indicates systemic defect. By 30,409 mi (Aug 2024), dealer performed engine decarbonization due to carbon buildup from fuel injection issues. Dealer recommended additional decarbs at 38,077 mi and 42,577 mi. At 56,028 mi (Mar 2026), engine suffered catastrophic failure: piston ring failure causing excessive oil consumption and engine destruction, requiring full engine replacement. This matches GM's known 5.3L/6.2L V8 piston ring defect (subject of $150M class action settlement). Defective injectors caused incomplete combustion, carbon buildup on piston rings, ring tension loss, and catastrophic engine failure. Vehicle also has unfixed suspension defect (camber bolt/alignment). Vehicle visited dealer 8+ times. Engine failure poses serious safety risk from sudden power loss at highway speeds. Vehicle available for inspection.

NHTSA complaint #11726556 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

High pressure fuel pump housing failed and filled the cabin with fumes. Rendered the the Yukon unsafe to drive with fuel flooding the engine compartment. Took the dealer 57 days to repair the car. No warning lights, only indication was the fumes in the cabin.

NHTSA complaint #11725722 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

Transfercase was casuing the Yukon to serge when in auto mode. No codes warning lights were presented. The dealer did not find any codes but when the transfer case was removed the oil was drained to which metal shavings were found in the oil. After getting the Yukon back the transmission began to exibit the same type of issues. Currently the Yukon is back in the shop.

NHTSA complaint #11725724 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

driving 70mph on highway when engine suddenly failed. engine turned off and kicked into neutral. had to pull over on busy highway in a powerless car and have car towed. it is now getting a full engine replacement at 42k miles.

NHTSA complaint #11723206 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

i had taken care of the recall items in regards to the failing 6.2L engine. I was driving on the highway (going ~70mph) when all of a sudden the car kicked into neutral and the engine shut off. I was able to pull over, but the engine would not turn on. Electronics worked, but I think i had a total engine failure at 42k miles.

NHTSA complaint #11721363 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

Transmission surging. Transmission stays in one gear.

NHTSA complaint #11719486 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

I am reporting a catastrophic engine failure involving my 2023 GMC Yukon XL Denali, which was subject to a GM-issued recall related to engine failure. On January 10, 2026, at approximately 1:00 a.m., while traveling at highway speed (approximately 65+ mph) on a multi-lane highway, the engine suddenly failed without warning, resulting in a complete loss of power. I was forced to make immediate evasive maneuvers to reach the shoulder while avoiding semi-trucks and other vehicles. The sudden loss of power created an extremely dangerous situation for myself, my passengers, and surrounding traffic. After the engine failure, the vehicle could not be placed into neutral, preventing it from being moved out of traffic if it had stopped in an active lane. This design issue significantly increased the risk of a collision. I was stranded on the roadside for several hours in cold conditions awaiting a tow. The failure was later confirmed by an authorized GMC dealer, who diagnosed the engine as failed and replaced the entire engine assembly. The vehicle and replaced components should be available for inspection through the dealership. The manufacturer had previously issued a recall for this vehicle related to engine failure, and I had requested a buyback prior to this incident due to safety concerns. That request was denied unless the vehicle experienced a failure. There were no warning lamps, messages, or symptoms prior to the failure. The only warning message appeared after the engine failed, indicating an engine overheating or “engine hot” condition, which occurred after power was already lost. This incident represents a serious safety defect that resulted in loss of propulsion at highway speed with no advance warning.

NHTSA complaint #11716511 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

Following a catastrophic engine failure in my 2023 GMC Yukon XL Denali, I discovered that the vehicle could not be shifted into neutral once the engine failed. This prevented the vehicle from being moved out of traffic if it had stopped in an active lane. The inability to place the vehicle into neutral after a loss-of-power event creates a serious safety hazard, particularly on high-speed roadways. In the event of a failure occurring in traffic, occupants may be left stranded in a travel lane with no ability to push or reposition the vehicle, significantly increasing the risk of a rear-end or multi-vehicle collision. This condition occurred immediately following the engine failure and was not accompanied by any prior warning or instructions to allow safe vehicle repositioning. I am unaware of any manual or mechanical override that would allow the vehicle to be shifted into neutral under these conditions. This design behavior represents a safety defect because it compounds the danger of a propulsion loss by preventing drivers from removing the vehicle from harm’s way.

NHTSA complaint #11716513 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

On January 19, 2026, Recall 25V274 was performed on my vehicle, and this was not disclosed to me when I picked up the vehicle from the dealership, Courtesy Buick GMC in Louisville, KY. I only found out when I got home and read through all the service notes. I contacted the dealer on January 19 after I got home, asking for explanation and have not heard back. The Recall Remedy failed. Since the service, symptoms of hesitation, lack of propulsion and low MPG persisted. As of Feb 1, the vehicle has suffered a transmission failure and is unsafe. The dealer told me verbally everything was fine, and in the service notes from Jan 19, they noted vehicle as 'Operating as Designed and Within Spec' despite performing safety recall work."

NHTSA complaint #11714813 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

I am writing to formally file a complaint regarding a serious and ongoing issue with my vehicle that has placed my safety at risk and resulted in significant inconvenience and financial burden due to General Motors’ failure to honor my warranty in a timely manner. While driving on the highway, my vehicle suddenly began losing power and displayed flashing warning messages indicating that it would not shift into gear or out of gear and that power could be lost. This created an extremely dangerous driving situation and posed a serious safety risk to me and other motorists. I brought the vehicle in for warranty service, but General Motors was unable to honor the warranty repair in a timely manner. As a result, I was without my vehicle for several months while it sat undrivable on the dealership lot. Once the vehicle was finally repaired and returned to me, the exact same transmission-related incident occurred again. Once again, I was left without the vehicle for an additional period of days. This repeat failure has severely shaken my confidence in the reliability and safety of the vehicle. When I picked up the vehicle after the subsequent repair, I was informed by a General Motors technician that the brakes and rotors were most likely pitted and damaged and would need repair or replacement because the vehicle had been sitting undrivable for such an extended period of time. I was explicitly told this damage was expected due to the prolonged inactivity caused by the unresolved warranty issue. It is critical to stress that the vehicle only sat undrivable for such a long period of time as a direct result of General Motors’ inability to honor the warranty in a timely manner. Despite this, I am now being told that the brake and rotor damage is considered a “maintenance issue,” even though a General Motors technician directly advised me that this damage would occur as a consequence of the vehicle sitting for months due to warranty delay

NHTSA complaint #11707972 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

Engine oil level drops significantly well before the oil change interval. Vehicle consumes excessive oil without warning lights or leaks. Risk of engine damage or failure if oil level is not closely monitored. Condition discovered during normal use.

NHTSA complaint #11707703 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

Vehicle has 56000 miles currently and at 47000 transmission had to be replaced due to defective valve body. At 56000 miles, motor was replaced due to broken lifter. The vehicle currently will not start.

NHTSA complaint #11707028 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

While driving the vehicles went into limp mode with a transmission issue. Vehicle was towed to the dealership where I was informed the transmission body valve has failed. Vehicle has been out of service for 3 week so far, still not fixed.

NHTSA complaint #11704737 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

On May 23, 2025, I purchased a 2023 GMC Yukon XL VIN: [XXX] from the GMC dealership.
 At the time of sale, I specifically asked about the active GM engine recall. They assured me the vehicle had been inspected and was unaffected. On October 30, 2025, the engine catastrophically failed on a highway while my family — including my two small children — were in the vehicle. This created a dangerous emergency situation as I had to avoid high-speed traffic. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA complaint #11696722 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

OnStar module doesn’t work it went out in January 2025 there’s a 1000’s of other users in the in the OnStar module community complaining of the same issues . When you take it to the dealership they will not assist and will not warranty it out

NHTSA complaint #11683136 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

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.

NHTSA complaint #11674733 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

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.

NHTSA complaint #11670305 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

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.

NHTSA complaint #11665082 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

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.

NHTSA complaint #11664657 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

Cam shaft The problem was corrected by a licensed mechanic

NHTSA complaint #11661688 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

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.

NHTSA complaint #11657745 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

Multiple issues...I bought the vehicle in Oct. 2023 1. BRAND NEW.... First day I brought the vehicle home there was a whining sound coming from the transmission. The reaction carrier assembly had to be replaced along with all other components. The transmission had to be completely removed from the vehicle and repaired. 2. In May of 2024 I had to have the lifters replaced on one side of the motor. 3. Right now it's in the shop with a blown motor. Yes there's only about 43,000 miles on it and the motor is blown and has to be fully replaced.

NHTSA complaint #11655483 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

I was going about 53 mph and went to pass another vehicle. While in the oncoming traffic lane, the transmission went out. The engine revved up and the gas pedal did not work. The vehicle has been inspected and was found to have a faulty control module that possibly caused the failure within the transmission. The parts are all on "indefinite backorder" and I have a $50,000 loan on a $60,000 vehicle that is now a paper weight.

NHTSA complaint #11655532 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.