While driving in passing lane on interstate highway at approximately 65 mph engine lost power. Dashboard warning "vehicle in neutral" message appeared. "Press start" message appeared. Tried to start the engine but did not start. Slight downhill while on highway and had to make it to right shoulder since no shoulder on left side of highway. Glided across 2 lanes to right lane and luckily an exit came up while still gliding slightly downhill. Exited ramp and got off highway to an empty parking lot. Put vehicle in Park. Since engine failed, power steering was normal as was all electrical components. Once stopped, vehicle was not able to be shifted into Neutral. Message " unable to shift to Neutral under conditions " appeared. Vehicle had to be towed with rear wheels on dollies since it was stuck in Park. Was very lucky to get vehicle across lanes of traffic and off highway to a safe location. Had vehicle towed to nearest GMC dealership where it was diagnosed as internal engine failure covered under recall for this particular engine. (6.2 liter).
2022 GMC Yukon XL: won't start
7 of the 176 complaints about the 2022 GMC Yukon XL describe won't start.
- owner complaints
- 7
- of this car's complaints
- 4%
- recalls
- 1
Won't start by model year
What owners say
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The engine, battery and alternator seem to be failing or not working together. Car will sit in garage for less than 12 hours and will not start the next morning. Take the battery and alternator to get tested and everything passes. Have had the battery tested at multiple times but believe this is due to engine recall. Check engine light comes on, we take it to the GMC dealer and they say they can't determine the issue or why it is happening. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? Car will not start or check engine light comes on in middle of trip. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Service center can't "reproduce" any of the issues and are telling us they have no way of checking why the light comes on in software module. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? Yes Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? Yes, check engine light comes on and then goes away.
Engine Failed after driving 121 miles on Highway from Austin to Sealy. As I exited the Hwy. The motor quit, and would not start. It was stranded in a turn lane at the exit. Tow truck has to remove car from road and tow to dealership where they diagnosed the engine failure
On 8/22/25 was brought to my local GMC dealer for the L87 engine propulsion recall. The dealership tested and said the vehicle passed the test. On 12/3/25 while driving on a multi lane highway the vehicle engine stopped abruptly. The message restart engine appeared on the dashboard. I had to negotiate other vehicle travelling at highway speeds to get to coast off to a side street. The transmission went into "park" and could not be shifted to neutral with a message on the dashboard "transmission cannot be shifted in this configuration". I was blocking the roadway and responding police asked that I attempt to restart the vehicle. I did this numerous times but would not start and the battery ran down. The vehicle was towed to the GMC dealer who said the battery failed and replaced it at my cost even after I told them it was fine and run down from trying to start numerous times while blocking traffic. On 12/17/25 while trying on the same highway, the engine abruptly shut off again in high speed traffic with the same message. I couldn't get fully in the shoulder dye to residual snow from plowing coasting powerless as the vehicle slowed. The transmission locked into park again and I ended up getting towed back to the GMC dealership. They advised me the engine seized up and would have to be replaced. I am still waiting to get the vehicle back
BATTERY: Vehicle died at highway speed 1/12/23 with 25,404 miles on it. Towed to dealership, battery died while driving. Vehicle would not start 12/01/24 at 88,013 miles, battery was dead. ENGINE: Reported engine knocking and high idle 1/30/23 with 26,608 miles on vehicle. In service department until 03/03/03 with no issues found. Took vehicle to another dealership service department 06/06/23 with engine knocking and high idle, no issues found. Received back 06/12/23. Filmed the engine noises and high idle on 06/22/23, engine light came on and returned to service department at 37,265 miles. Engine was replaced after a lengthy wait time for replacement. Cam and Lifters were the issue in original engine. Received vehicle back 08/30/23. MODULES: Reported the display changing 1/30/23 with 26,608 miles, service documents state related to telematics controls. They replaced the module. Vehicle had a delay in shifting, reported on 06/06/23 with 36, 303 miles. Transmission control module was out of calibration and was reprogrammed at a dealership service department. Vehicle shifted into neutral multiple times. Reported to service department 09/08/23 at 38,183 miles. The transfer case lost communication with the brake control module, but they started communicating again without repairs according the service invoice. Then there was a recall for the screen switching displays, which it has done the entire ownership, even after replacing the module. Turned into dealership for that recall, it was updated, the displays still change screens while the vehicle is in use.
Traveling North bound on Highway 14 in Southern California on January 24, 2025. In the fast lane traveling approximately 70MPH when with no warning what so ever the vehicle shifted into neutral and lost power. Nearly rear ended trying to get out of traffic and to the right shoulder. Once stopped the vehicle would not start, stuck in Park, and could not turn the electronics off. Stuck in vehicle for 3 hours because it was too dangerous to exit vehicle. Tow truck arrived. Tried to jump the battery which by this time was dead. Had to drag the vehicle up the flatbed with wench do to vehicle unable to shift out of Park.
I bought my 2022 Yukon XL on [XXX]. On Friday [XXX], only a few weeks after having my car in the shop (at the dealer) for running rough, it started to make an odd high-pitched noise and running very rough at higher speeds. I immediately called the dealer and asked how quickly I could bring the car in to be checked. They said they had no availability for over 10 days, and offered me an appointment for then. By the next morning, it seemed to be running better and I didn't have to drive much that day so I hoped it would make it until the appointment. That Sunday [XXX], my husband and I drove the car to a sporting event with our children and it seemed to be ok. On our way home, however, just after crossing a long causeway over the bay, the car's motor just stopped working in the middle of driving on [XXX] in Miami. We were in the left lane and had to try to change multiple lanes while coasting only, and were only able to get off the traffic lanes because there happened to be a side street that came up quickly enough to turn onto before the car came to a stop. It was completely unexpected and without warning, and had we been on the interstate or even the causeway we had just come off of, it could've easily caused an accident with my whole family in the car. Once stopped, it wouldn't crank or even try to turn over, no matter what we tried. It took 2 tow trucks because we couldn't even change/move gears enough to put it in neutral, so couldn't use the flat bed that arrived first. We were stuck for hours in a less than desirable area of town. The dealer took a week to look the car over, then said the engine had seized up and would need to be replaced. The engine was on back order and it took over 6 weeks for the replacement. After replacement, 2 separate issues arose over the following 2 weeks, each the result of a component not being properly tightened during the engine replacement by dealer service technicians. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Service bulletins that may apply
- Condition where the connecting rod and/or crankshaft engine components in these vehicles may have...
- Under Field Actions N252494000, N252494001, the service procedure includes performing a PICO test on...
- Condition that could
- This technical bulletin provides a procedure to replace the camshaft actuator magnet to correct customer...
- This service bulletin provides information on replacing the intake manifold when the engine is replaced...
- This bulletin advises the tech to inspect deeper into what may be to main
- The service bulletin advises the tech of a normal transmission shift condition and the delay in throttle...
- This service bulletin provides information to dealership personnel for new vehicles with less than 1,000...
Related recalls
Engine and engine cooling: engine: hard parts internal/mechanical
- What is wrong
- General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Suburban, and Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles equipped with a 6.2L V8 gas engine. The connecting rod and/or crankshaft engine components may have manufacturing defects that can lead to engine damage and engine failure.
- Risk
- Engine failure increases the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect the engine, and as necessary, repair or replace the engine. For vehicles that pass inspection, dealers will add higher viscosity oil, install 6 oil fill cap, replace the oil filter, and update the owner's manual. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 18, 2025. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1‑800‑333‑4223, Chevrolet customer service at 1‑800‑222‑1020, or GMC customer service at 1‑800‑462‑8782. GM's number for this recall is N252494000.
Recall number 25V274000 · Recall details
Questions about the 2022 GMC Yukon XL won't start
Is won't start a common problem on the 2022 GMC Yukon XL?
7 of 176 owner complaints about the 2022 GMC Yukon XL (4%) mention won't start. The model year with the most reports is 2023.
Is there a recall or service bulletin for this on the 2022 GMC Yukon XL?
There is 1 recall and 205 service bulletins for the same area of the car. Check them below with your VIN.
Other symptoms on the 2022 GMC Yukon XL
Engine failure 76Loss of power 32Check engine light 25Knocking 18Stalling 11Won't shift 8Fuel pump 5Harsh shifting 5Oil consumption 5
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