2023 GMC Yukon Xl Complaints

ENGINE,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE — Filed 03/30/2026

The contact owns a 2023 GMC Yukon. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine seized. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and was diagnosed with engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact was informed that the repair was covered under an unknown recall repair. The vehicle was released back to the owner; however, the failure reoccurred. The contact stated that the vehicle was idling roughly and jerking abnormally. In addition, the contact stated that the drive to the residence was not a smooth drive. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, where a technician performed a ride-along. The contact stated that the engine seized three times during the ride along. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced a second time. The contact stated that when the vehicle was released, the rear bumper was damaged. Additionally, while attempting to start the vehicle, the Forward Collision Avoidance warning light was illuminated. The vehicle remained with the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 44,000.

POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE — Filed 07/09/2026

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.

ENGINE — Filed 04/20/2026

Engine seized after the pico test. Been 3 months waiting on an engine

POWER TRAIN,ENGINE — Filed 05/27/2025

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.

ENGINE — Filed 06/05/2026

lost power going down highway and coasted to a stop on the side of the road. car was towed to a nearby gmc dealership and after inspection a new 6.2 motor is needed. I did not notice any warning signals when I lost power.

ENGINE — Filed 02/26/2026

Engine 6.2L failed going down the highway. Very Scary

ENGINE — Filed 04/24/2026

I was on the highway heading home with my [XXX] son in the backseat and without warning the engine shut down and luckily we were on the exit ramp and away from heavy traffic. I pulled over to the side and tried to start it again but it won’t even crank. The cabin heater stopped working too, It was -9 Degrees outside that day and we started to freeze, luckily my wife was able to get to us in 20minutes. The vehicle was towed to GM dealership and they confirmed the engine seized and will need a new engine under special coverage N252494003-03. This was after the recall was completed for this vehicle. It had only 61392KMS on it. We live in [XXX] and it gets extreme winters with below -40degree temperatures. It’s a remote area and there is no service on the highway for 200KMS when heading south to city, if this would have happened on the highway with no services and extreme weather we wouldn’t have made it out alive. We are a family of 5 with a [XXX] and a [XXX] and we bought this vehicle after knowing that the engine recall was completed and GM deemed it safe. Unfortunately that’s a lie and GM is putting peoples safety and life at risk. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

ENGINE — Filed 05/01/2026

This vehicle was identified as recalled in 2025 for total engine replacement and the engine did fail in May 2025 it would stall while driving. GMC performed the engine replacement in June of 2025. The car stalled again on Friday May 1. It was taken to the dealer on May 7 and was diagnosed as needing another complete engine replacement. I was told that gmc identified a need to replace more parts after my engine was replaced but I was never informed of this. I was told my this dealership that I am the first vehicle they’ve seen that will require a second full engine replacement It is a 6.3L v8. This car stalled while I was driving with a 3yo in the vehicle.

ENGINE — Filed 04/28/2026

My 2023 GMC Yukon Denali is currently at the dealership due to a manufacturer recall involving the engine. The engine issue occurred while I was driving with my children in the vehicle, which required me to pull over and have the vehicle towed to the dealership After inspection, I was told the vehicle requires a full engine replacement. The dealership has stated there is no estimated time of arrival for the replacement engine due to backorder, and that other customers have been waiting for extended periods. I am currently without my vehicle and have been provided a temporary replacement that is not comparable. The extended delay and lack of timeline are causing significant loss of use.

ENGINE — Filed 04/16/2026

on 2/28/26 i experienced complete engine failure on my 23 Yukon. I was going 70mph on the highway when the engine kicked and and kicked into neutral. the car spent 6 weeks in the dealer to have the engine replaced. i picked up the car on Wednesday, 4/15. On 4/16, i was once again driving, as normal when it suddenly turned off and kicked into neutral. 1 day after I picked up the vehicle it is once again being towed back to the dealer for the same symptoms it had when the entire engine had to be replaced. Both times, there is no warning. The car dings and a message comes up saying "restart vehicle". On 2/28, the car would not restart. On 4/16, the car did restart but only temporarily This is a major safety problem. The first occurrence I was going 70mph on the highway when i lost power. The second occurrence, I was driving 20mph on my neighborhood street and suddenly lost all power.

POWER TRAIN — Filed 04/15/2026

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.

POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE — Filed 03/13/2026

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.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER — Filed 03/13/2026

The panoramic sunroof on my 2023 GMC Yukon Denali Ultimate XL spontaneously exploded while driving westbound on I-20 on March 13. There was no impact from road debris, no vehicles ahead, no overpass, and no external cause. The failure sounded like an explosion or gunshot. Tempered glass shattered with the sunroof in the closed position, showering the interior with glass fragments. Five occupants were in the vehicle at the time. No injuries occurred, but the sudden explosive noise and shower of glass created an extreme distraction and safety hazard while operating the vehicle at highway speed. The incident could easily have caused a loss of vehicle control on the interstate. The component that failed is the factory-installed panoramic power sunroof glass, standard equipment on the Denali Ultimate trim. The vehicle was taken to Lugoff Chevrolet for inspection. The dealer confirmed the glass failure and submitted a request to GM for warranty or goodwill coverage. GM offered to cover only 10% of the repair cost, characterizing the failure as an out-of-warranty wear issue despite the spontaneous nature of the defect. There were no warning signs, cracks, chips, warning lamps, or any indication of a problem prior to the failure. The sunroof was closed at the time. The vehicle has been dealer-maintained with no modifications to the sunroof or roof structure. This is a known industry-wide defect. NHTSA has previously investigated spontaneous sunroof shattering and documented over 4,000 complaints. GM has acknowledged awareness of this issue in other GM vehicles and previously issued corrective actions for sunroof glass on the Buick Regal and Chevrolet Cruze. Other GMC Yukon owners have filed NHTSA complaints describing identical failures. The failed sunroof glass and vehicle are available for inspection upon request.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER,LANE DEPARTURE,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE — Filed 03/11/2026

The onstar module of my 2023 GMC Yukon has failed. This is a wide spread issue with recent model GMC's. There are thousands of reports of the same thing happenings. When an onstar module fails, the vehicle loses its safety features. No lane departure, no collision detection or pre-collision braking, no critical system checks. Even the gas and mileage components stop working correctly.

ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM — Filed 03/22/2026

The vehicle has the L87 GM engine. It lost complete power and the engine seized up and would not start again. Fortunately I was able to roll into a neighborhood and get off the main road with no issues. The dealer has confirmed the seized engine and a replacement engine has been ordered with no ETA. There was no prior warning of the failure, besides a shuddering, like I was running out of gas, and then a lose of complete power.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING — Filed 01/01/2026

The contact owns a 2023 GMC Yukon XL. The contact stated that the vehicle was losing oil, and the engine was running rough. There was an abnormal burning odor after driving the vehicle. The vehicle received an oil change; however, two weeks later, the oil warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, where it was determined the oil level was approximately 2 quarts low, and another oil change was performed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.

ENGINE — Filed 03/20/2026

2023 Yukon XL Denali passed the pico scope changed to 0W40 and 3 months later stopped working in the middle of driving just completely shut down. Engine started to smoke had it towed to dealership and they removed my oil filter and found crankshaft bearings in the filter. Needs a new engine now. Bought it brand new only has 45,000 miles on it currently.

POWER TRAIN,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM — Filed 03/06/2026

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.

POWER TRAIN,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM — Filed 12/26/2025

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.

POWER TRAIN — Filed 01/17/2026

Rear wheel lock up It took two Dealership is going through it's diagnosis but says it needs new valve body upgrade. Been sitting in the shop for 2 months

UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE — Filed 01/30/2026

POST-RECALL 25V274 ( & EA25007, EA25001) EXHAUST INTRUSION WITH CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING HAZARD Following the complete engine replacement under GM recall N252494000, my vehicle has developed a severe and persistent exhaust intrusion that allows toxic exhaust fumes, including carbon monoxide (CO), to enter the passenger cabin. CO levels have measured a peak of 83 PPM and consistent reading between 20-37 over multiple tests. PATTERN OF POST-RECALL EXHAUST SYSTEM FAILURES Vehicle has been in for service 6 times, over 100 days, as part of the engine replacement plus (metal found in the oil pan). Since recall, the vehicle has had an exhaust smell and noise rattle issue with the following exhaust system components deemed failed and been replaced: 1. Radiator cap (leaking onto exhaust) 2. Exhaust muffler (replaced TWICE - June 2025 and August 2025) 3. Exhaust clamps (leaking) 4. Left exhaust manifold (warped) Critical Finding: Despite replacement of virtually the entire exhaust system, the defect persists. This suggests a fundamental design or installation defect related to the engine replacement procedure, NOT isolated component failures. Documented Carbon Monoxide Levels: Between January 30 and February 3, 2026, I conducted 15+ tests using a professional-grade Klein Tools ET180 Carbon Monoxide Meter. Results: • Peak reading: 83 PPM • Multiple readings: 40-72 PPM sustained for 6+ minutes directly at my [XXX] daughter's car seat position • Testing method: Vehicle started via remote start, CO meter placed in cabin, readings recorded over 10-15 minute periods Health Impacts to Family: • Wife and [XXX] daughter consistently experience dizziness, headaches, and nausea when riding in vehicle • Daughter now refuses to ride in vehicle because it makes her feel sick • Symptoms consistent with carbon monoxide poisoning Independent service station verification on January 30th confirmed "vehicle is dangerous to operate with children inside and needs immediate service." INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING — Filed 07/27/2025

The contact owns a 2023 GMC Yukon. The contact received notice of NHTSA ID Number: 25V274000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The contact stated that while driving on several occasions at various speeds, he and his wife observed noises emanating from the engine compartment. On another occasion while driving and coming to a stop, the vehicle stalled, and a "transmission unable to shift" message appeared. The gear selector was placed in park (P), and the vehicle was restarted, after which it drove normally. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, but it was not diagnosed due the manufacturer only allowing certain vehicle to be repaired at this time, even with the failures that had transpired, and no repairs were made at that time. The contact stated that while driving home in pitch darkness at approximately 30 MPH on a windy road, the vehicle stalled. While attempting to steer the vehicle off the road, it remained halfway in the street and nearly caused over 15 accidents. One near-accident involved a motorcyclist who came around a turn, narrowly missed the vehicle, fell into the street, and was almost hit by oncoming traffic. No police reports were filed as the police could not assist at that time. The contact and her daughter did not sustain injuries but were severely traumatized. It was uncertain if the motorcyclist sustained injuries. The contact stated that when the vehicle was being towed, it would not go into neutral, and the contact observed the frame cracking while being hauled on the tow truck. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but did not provide assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 18,000.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE — Filed 01/21/2025

At 9,900 miles my safety camera system failed which disabled the cruise control and all safety features that used the camera. Car was out of service for nearly two weeks and subsequently fixed by the dealer under warranty at no charge. At 11,300 miles I was driving on an interstate highway in the left lane at rush hour, without warning the car stopped accelerating the car shifted into neutral and totally lost power. It was a very dangerous situation with me in the left lane in heavy traffic. I am a skillful driver and thankfully I was able to make it off the travel lanes on the highway. The temperature was 18 degrees at the time and I had to wait outside for a tow truck. The engine seized without warning or noise and this presents a severe danger to the driver of the vehicle and other vehicles on the highway. There was a substantial possibility that other vehicles could not avoid me as I was exiting the travel lanes. There was also a substantial possibility that the vehicle would simply be in the travel lane stopped on a divided highway.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER — Filed 01/06/2025

During the operation of my 2023 GMC Yukon XL AT4 on [XXX], carbon monoxide (CO) entered the cabin, exposing my children and me to dangerously high levels of CO and causing confirmed carbon monoxide poisoning. We were driving with the engine running and the heater on for approximately 21 minutes when the exposure occurred. Symptoms began to escalate that day and into the proceeding days, including severe headache, stomachache, pallor, chest pressure, shortness of breath, fatigue, and neurological issues. My children, particularly my [XXX] and [XXX] , experienced the most severe effects— both were very ill especially my [XXX] . Unfortunately, we initially did not believe it was possible for CO to enter the vehicle cabin, which delayed early intervention and appropriate medical care. Blood testing 4 days later confirmed elevated carboxyhemoglobin levels in my [XXX] , the only one tested. During the incident, the battery warning light was the first indication of trouble, but soon after, many additional error messages began flashing on the dashboard. The vehicle then overheated, decelerated, and eventually shut down while driving. We were in the vehicle under 21 minutes. Upon inspection after the incident, my husband noted a severed belt and potential pulley issues. The exact cause of the CO intrusion has not yet been identified. The vehicle is available for inspection and unaltered to preserve evidence. I am writing GMC and requesting further investigation by GMC. This incident reflects a severe safety issue with potentially life-threatening implications for GMC owners. CO exposure can cause significant harm, and delayed identification in this case placed my family at substantial risk. Immediate investigation and corrective action are essential to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future. Time is critical, as this defect could have catastrophic consequences for other unsuspecting drivers and their families. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE — Filed 02/05/2023

While driving in a gravel driveway, the window curtain airbags and the middle console airbags deployed, with no collision what so ever causing injury to the driver and should you have a child this could have been very damaging as the airbags came out in all the way back through the vehicle. This incident was inspected by police and fire as OnStar called them as it detected a collision, and without the vehicle being moved from the location the officer said there is nothing that should have caused the airbags to deploy, there is absolutely nothing here in this driveway that could have possible caused airbag deployment, The running boards go in and out, even when on the interstate constantly, and when backing up or going forward at times, and especially in a gravel driveway your automatic breaks will stop you abruptly, so fast that your seat belt will lock up on your and thrust you forward and backwards. The rear entertainment system will screen at times when turning it on will stay black and you have to keep turning it on and off to get a screen to show. No warning lamps or messaging with any of these cases.