378 of the
3,132 complaints filed about the GMC Yukon XL
are about the braking system —
12% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2001.
I got into my car to run some errands. As I drove away from my house, I made a left turn downhill. I noticed vehicles ahead, so I began to slow down. At that moment, I was driving between 20 and 25 mph. When I tried to brake, my brakes failed and started flashing a brake failure warning light. I kept pumping the brake pedal, and eventually, the car slowed down and came to a stop. I turned on my hazard lights, and immediately returned home. My nephew and I were both in the car. Our live flashed in front of us. Thankfully, there were no vehicles directly in front of me or pedestrians. This could have turned out to be the worst day of my life if anyone had been injured.
NHTSA complaint #11754196 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
On [XXX] brake system failure, service ESC, Forward Collision system unavailable and check engine lights came on the dashboard and the vehicle had no brakes. Taken to dealership and Conley GMC advised the Main Module was burnt out. $1200.00. Car was “fixed” and sent out. The next morning all the check engine light along with all other failure lights came on after module was replaced. Taken back to dealership and they advised that everything had to be manually programmed which was done and sent out. [XXX] same dashboard errors were up again. Taken back to dealership and they advised they needed to reprogram manually that was done and sent out. The next morning all lights were back on. It was the weekend so they wouldn’t take the car or provide a rental. May 23rd car was taken back to dealership and Conley advised the master cylinder was bad and had to order parts. $4300.00 in repair cost along with 2.5 week at the dealership and $150.00 in rental cost. I found online that GM knew of this issue with the 2022 GMC Yukon XL vehicles and a recall was made however this vehicle VIN number was not included in this recall. I notified Conley GMC and they stated they were not informed of this issue. I made a claim with GM and told them of this issue and my safety concerns and they advised that because this was not included in the recall that there was nothing they could do and they would not be covering financial assistance or reimbursement and they called this an inconvenience instead of a real safety issue as each time my vehicle had no working brakes. No working brakes causes safety concerns for everyone in the vehicle as well as other vehicles. All work orders are at Conley Buick GMC in Bradenton, Fl. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11747301 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The back hatch would not open while the car was on and in park. Upon reaching in without being in the car, we turned it off, and it engaged reverse on its own, causing it to reverse immediately almost causing terminal harm to myself and my family. It careened into the woods with us unable to stop it due to the immediate speed. No one was in the vehicle, it was solely self propelled. We have a video of the path it took and the damage it caused. When the car wrecked, even when turned off, the lights and windshields wipers engaged by themselves.
NHTSA complaint #11732026 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2015 GMC Yukon XL. The contact stated that while driving 70 MPH and exiting the highway, the brake pedal was depressed but the brake pedal was stiff and stuck, requiring that the transmission be shifted to neutral(N), and to stand on the brake pedal with both feet. The contact continuously pumped the brake pedal, but the vehicle slowly responded and almost crashed into other vehicles. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact's wife and daughter were also inside the vehicle during the failure and were frightened and concerned for their safety during the failure. The dealer was contacted and was provided a description of the failure over the phone. The dealer informed the contact that the vacuum pump and an unknown part had possibly failed. The contact was advised that the failure was possibly related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V645000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); however, the VIN was not included in the recall, and there was no warranty coverage on the vehicle for the failure. Additionally, the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired due to the cost. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 143,000.
NHTSA complaint #11726283 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
After pressing the brake pedal 2 or 3 times the pedal becomes very hard and it is extremely hard to stop the vehicle. All new brake pads and rotors. The brake pedal is loosing vacuum.
NHTSA complaint #11726504 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The ABS system in this vehicle and many other similar GM vehicles of this year have abs pumps that malfunction and/or randomly stop working just to begin working later. My vehicle currently has the abs fuse removed because whenever it’s in the abs pump runs continuously even when the vehicle is off. The vehicle I own is in good shape with only 80,000 miles. similar gm vehicles of this age with more miles have even more issues specially with the abs system it’s worse in vehicles that also come equipped with traction control.
NHTSA complaint #11720057 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2023 Yukon Denali XL 6.2l: GM oil change recall performed (October 2025) and GMC dealership noted no issues. Prior to recall oil change, at aprox 5k miles interval (45K total miles), check engine oil light on dash and was over 1 quart low. Next oil change at aprox 50K miles, no check engine light came on, but certified mechanic drained and measure oil level, 1.5 quarts low. Engine often sounds odd at cold start, ticking sound. Now an oil change is $100 more, due to special oil, but not compensated for extra cost. Brake calibers failed. February 2026, engine light on, then off, then hood latch dash light warning now on and off. Huge safety concerns with the 2023 GMC Yukon 6.2L.
NHTSA complaint #11718440 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Catastrophic brake system failure. When leaving my home in Baltimore County, MD, at approx. 10:00am on February 3rd, my vehicle started up normally. As I descended down a hill in our neighborhood the brake system failed and the vehicle would not stop. By standing on the brake pedal I slowed enough to put the vehicle in park as I entered an intersection with the main road. I have since learned this is the 3rd GMC Yukon (years 2023-2024) that has had the same brake failure in 24 hours in our community.
NHTSA complaint #11715252 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2017 GMC Yukon XL. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that while idling, the vehicle started shuddering violently. The contact stated that while driving to the residence at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled and failed to restart. The vehicle was pushed into a church parking lot. The contact's father used a scanner to scan the vehicle, and a DTC for engine misfire was retrieved. The contact's father replaced the spark plugs, but the failure persisted. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine was blown. The vehicle was then towed to another independent mechanic, where the engine was replaced. Additionally, the contact stated that upon depressing the brake pedal, the brake pedal was stiff and required to be pumped several times for the vehicle to respond as intended. The contact stated that the failure occurred while starting the vehicle and while driving at various speeds. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the brakes had been replaced annually, but the failure persisted. The contact stated that the brake pedal shuddered upon starting the vehicle. The contact received a notification for ABS from the OnStar Mobile App. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 148,246.
NHTSA complaint #11703695 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Vehicle was operating on the interstate with cruise control activated. Time was approximately 9:15pm. Weather was fair with temperatures in the lower 60's. Speed was approximately 73mph. Without any audible or warning light notifications the engine stalled and all exterior lighting, power assisted braking and steering was lost. The emergency flashers were immediately activated to warn vehicles in nearby proximity of our emergency status. I tried to restart the engine(the transmission was showing to be in N)with no success. During the attempt to restart, the exterior lighting was restored. With the path of travel now visible, I was able to slow the vehicle to a safe speed and exit from the roadway onto the shoulder. Upon stopping, the vehicle was placed into P and OnStar was notified of the event. We remained in the vehicle until one of our friends was able to take us home. Onstar contacted AAA to remove the vehicle to the nearest GM dealership.
NHTSA complaint #11701672 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The vehicle is experiencing symptoms consistent with the brake vacuum pump failure described in GM Special Coverage Adjustment N182202780, which applies to full-size GM SUVs in this model range. The symptoms include a hard brake pedal upon startup, reduced brake assist, increased stopping distance, and audible vacuum or mechanical cycling noise when the vehicle powers on. This malfunction affects the vehicle’s braking performance and requires significantly increased pedal force, especially during initial operation or low-speed braking. This results in delayed braking response and reduced stopping capability, creating a safety hazard to occupants and others on the roadway. Although the symptoms match the defect described in the bulletin and the vehicle is within the published 10-year/150,000-mile coverage parameters, multiple authorized dealerships and GM corporate have refused to perform a diagnostic or repair because the VIN does not appear in their internal eligibility system. GM Customer Care case number 82474826 documents these interactions. No diagnostic evaluation has occurred because the manufacturer and dealers declined to perform one unless the VIN is pre-flagged, regardless of symptoms. No warning lights or dashboard alerts accompanied the failure. The condition began gradually and has become more noticeable over time. I am concerned that other vehicles experiencing the same defect may also be excluded from inspection or repair due to VIN list limitations, despite meeting the published program criteria.
NHTSA complaint #11701535 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
My brakes stopped working randomly. Alarms started going off in the car. Thankfully I was able to quickly turn right instead of rolling into traffic. This was terrifying and could have caused a very serious wreck.
NHTSA complaint #11700916 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2023 GMC Yukon XL. The contact stated that while driving approximately 25 MPH and depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle failed to respond. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated, and the message "You Have no Brakes - Do Not Drive Over 40 MPH" was displayed. The contact allowed the vehicle to roll to a stop. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle, but the failure persisted. The contact parked the vehicle. The contact stated that the failure had not caused an accident because the contact was driving early in the morning and there was less traffic on the road. The contact stated that her husband started the vehicle later in the day, and the warning lights were off. The vehicle was driven to the dealer to be diagnosed. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle and informed the contact that several DTCs were retrieved, including a DTC for brake failure; however, the flow chart from the manufacturer instructed to first replace the battery and then reset the codes. The dealer replaced the battery, reset the codes and test-drove the vehicle. The vehicle was repaired and returned to the contact. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and supported the dealer's assessment. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.
NHTSA complaint #11699346 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I am writing as the owner of a new 2025 GMC Yukon XL AT4 VIN: [XXX] , purchase date: 01AUG2025, from Elizabeth City GMC, Elizabeth City, NC. This vehicle, equipped with the 3.0L Duramax diesel engine and Super Cruise hands-free driving assistance, was purchased for safe family travel, including space for my wife, our 21-year-old daughter, and our family dog(s). At approximately 4,300 miles—well within the 3-year/36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty—this truck suffered a catastrophic right-rear brake failure directly attributable to a dealer-installed GMC-approved Brembo Performance Brake Upgrade Package, resulting in a near-fatal highway incident and profound emotional hardship for my family. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11699186 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
keep quit working when i was driving , i just pick up from delearship for i another issue with on-star and is not part available is been there for over month not fix and now the brakes issue
NHTSA complaint #11688403 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I was driving down the highway, and my wife and I decided to stop at Costco to get protein bars and gas for the drive home. We also had a [XXX] , [XXX] old, and [XXX] in the car. As we were approaching the end of the exit ramp at approximately 30 miles per hour, the engine jerked the car two or three times then died. When it died, I lost power steering and the car slammed to a stop. The car also displayed an alert about my tow breaking system. I tried to restart it, and smoke began rising from my engine bay. I stopped trying to restart, and got my family onto the hill beside the exit while waiting for a tow. The tech at the GMC dealer stated that the engine had seized on me while driving. The cam shaft can rotate a small amount one way before getting blocked, and likewise the other way. Tech believes that the bearing is responsible, but will not be doing a tear down until September 2. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11683538 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
My vehicle’s engine failed for the second time while driving on the road. The first time a few months ago while my wife was driving. The engine failed and brakes failed. Fortunately she was on a back road a coasted to a stop. Car was towed to dealership. They said there was no problem. Received recall letter about a month ago outlining this issue. Yesterday, [XXX], I was driving with my daughter and the car stopped again while driving. I was in traffic and narrowly missed an accident. Gwinnett county police came to the scene and towed the vehicle to the dealership. I am not sure if the female officer made a report. But she requested the tow truck because I was blocking traffic. We often drive on the highway for work commutes. This could have happened and anyone in my family could have been fatally injured. I would like GMC purchase this vehicle back or replace with a safer model comparable or better. The service department called me this morning from Jim Ellis GMC in Buford, Georgia 678-902-8677, 3600 Buford Drive 30519.I was told that there is no recall for my truck. He told me that there is a safety investigation for a recall. I told him I can bring the letter. He decline. I asked for a courtesy vehicle. He said no, he would have to make a report and it would be up to 48 hours. Once it’s reviewed , then I could go to enterprise car rental to pick up a car. Maybe. The first time Rick Hendrick GMC Duluth , Ga 470-822-3779, 3344 Commerce Ave, Duluth, ga had my truck for about 2 weeks. No fix. No courtesy vehicle or rental. Now I’m without my vehicle for unlimited time. The Jim Elis tech, did acknowledge that there is no fix for what is going on. The local GMC dealers are not making this easy or putting the safety of its customers as a priority. These trucks are NOT safe on the road. This truck cost nearly $100,000 and it is not safe to drive.GMC has a record of the 1st service incident and this latest just happened yesterday. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(
NHTSA complaint #11676562 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.