GMC Yukon XL power steering loss problems

Filed Oct 22, 2026 · Electrical, Engine · CO

At around 7pm on Sunday October 18th I was driving on an interstate at about 80mph in the far left lane (of 3 Lanes) when, without any warning whatsoever, the engine power completely shutoff and the car went into neutral. The dash screen said to start the engine due to no power or low battery. I hit the start button and all the lights including all controls, blinkers, dash lights shut off. So with no blinkers, no lights, no power brakes, no power steering we were coasting in the fast lane of a usually unsafe stretch of an interstate at night. Luckily, I was able to navigate without any power to the right shoulder (lucky this was a stretch that had a shoulder) and coast to a stop. I had my wife and 4 kids in the car with me. The car was dead and said the engine battery was low. When the engine start button was pushed nothing happened, car was dead with no heat. We called onstar and requested a tow and were able to order a Lyft ride for my wife and 4 kids. The Lyft driver came to pick them up on the adjacent frontage road and they had to run across the grass median to get into that car, there was no other option to get them off of the unsafe shoulder. I stayed with the car with no power while cars and 18 wheelers speed by me while sitting on the shoulder without any lights or flashers. A highway patrol officer pulled up behind me and when he tried to open the passenger door he was unable to . I was LOCKED INSIDE THE CAR! Luckily the door unlock eventually worked and the door opened. The Patrol office stayed behind me on the shoulder of the interstate while we waited for a tow truck since it was such an unsafe situation. Due to the vehicle not being able to be put into neutral or any gear, it required a specific type of tow truck that was hard to find on a Sunday evening. It was towed to a dealer and diagnosis is catastrophic engine failure with full engine seize. Needs a full engine replacement. Assuming this is part of the massive recall on 6.2L V8 engines. SCARY!

Filed Jun 1, 2026 · Engine · CO

On May 27, 2026 at around 7:30pm my 2018 GMC Yukon XL Denali engined failed. I was exiting E-470 southwest bound at Gartrell Road in Aurora and the engine started knocking loudly and completely quit. As I rolled to a stop I correctly suspected that the engine seized. It would not turn over, a bad odor was present, and smoke was coming from the top of the motor. It was hard to tell exactly from where because of high wind. All belts looked fine and the Castle Rock GMC dealer I had it towed to later confirmed that the engine is seized. Fortunately I was approaching the stop light and not towing anything so the safety risk from loss of power steering and power brakes was lower than normal highway driving speeds a few seconds earlier.

Filed Apr 8, 2026 · Electrical, Engine · MI

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.

Filed Aug 27, 2025 · Brakes, Engine · OH · fire

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)

Filed Jan 22, 2025 · Electrical · VA

I am writing the federal safety agency to advise of a harrowing event involving the vehicle named above. I was driving my 2022 Yukon vehicle equipped with the 6.2L Ecotec3 V8 L87 Engine. As I was traveling, the vehicle suddenly without warning shut down. When this occurred all systems in the vehicle became completely inoperable; i.e., no power steering, no power brakes, nothing, Etc. I was lucky to be able to veer/coast into the Emergency Lane without incident. This situation also caused the vehicle to become almost un-towable, in that the towing company could not get the vehicle out of the Park position to allow the wheels to rotate. They had to use special Skid Plates / devices to essentially force the vehicle to Slide instead of rolling onto the towing vehicle. This added significate hazard and risk of injury because of the problematic situation of loading the vehicle in this manner literally inches from the active travel lanes and took much longer to load than it would have otherwise. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer. The Dealer replaced the Fuel Module and returned the vehicle. This information is being sent to GM as well. After this event I was concerned for driving the vehicle but now after reading about the recent the federal safety agency Investigation into Engine Failures I am much more apprehensive about driving the vehicle. Even if nothing happens individuals who have these vehicles have now lost significant value and face a very difficult time even being able to sell their vehicles at all, or at a much lower price than normal because of the known Defects. I hope this helps the federal safety agency to further their Investigation of GM’s defective vehicles and get these vehicles repaired and/or replaced in a timely manner before tragedy strikes any individuals.

Filed Jan 17, 2025 · Engine · PA

GMC engines are faulty and puts people at risk when they malfunction. The first time the vehicle lost power, It was spitting and sputtering as i was driving with my family in the car. The vehicle Left us sit along side the road of a major highway in freezing temps. The lifters malfunctioned costing 5000 dollars in repairs. Once again started having loss of power and the vehicle shut completely down while driving down the road with my family in it. So no engine means no power steering an etc . Again left us sit along side the road. The main bearing has went in the motor. Now costing us 16,000 in repairs For new engine. Now we are at the cost of 21,000 in repairs. This is a known issue with the v8 engines a yet GM has done nothing to fix or compensate people for their loses. I’m stuck with this vehicle now cause I’m so upside down at this point it’s disgusting. Also sad an auto manufacturer doesn’t NOT stand behind their product as it puts people and their family’s at risk. They NEED TO BE held accountable for this issue as thousands of people have had this issue. I don’t have the other repair bill on me at this time do to the car is in the body shop from a deer accident. But I do have one an can provide it at a later date if needed. Thanks

Filed Mar 7, 2022 · Steering · AR

Last Friday evening, while driving the vehicle on the highway, the power steering suddenly stopped working. I heard a warning chime and saw an indicator "Service Power Steering" message on my display. I managed to steer the vehicle into a parking lot to inspect the engine bay and fuses. When I restarted the engine, the power steering was functioning. The power steering failure has not reoccured since it initially happened. My vehicle is a 2019 year model. I noticed that GM has a recall for 2021 year models for this very same problem. I'm wondering if the recall shouldn't be expanded given my experience.

Filed Nov 9, 2021 · Steering · WI

Multiple times upon starting my Yukon I get a message on the dash that states Power steering disabled drive with care. I have no power steering until the computer has enough time to reset itself, usually about 15 min. This issue has been confirmed at our shop with the code being for the power steering. We have had it into the dealership and they found the same code but were unable to get it to recreate for them. It is not something that happens every day so I would have to leave it with them for a long period of time and that is not an option. This started happening within a couple weeks of buying the vehicle. It started for me in March 2020, with less than 17K miles on the truck.

Filed Jul 10, 2020 · Brakes, Electrical · 72,000 miles · MI

Major safety issues with this vehicle. Another 2015 yukon with no tail or stop lights. I'm over millage on special recall. There should be no time/millage issue on this. Seat belts lock up. Brakes are either good or mussy whenever they want to be. Hard to stop the vehicle. Also when I first purchased the vehicle it would completely die (no lights motor died, no power steering, no air bags, no radio nothing at all on the x-way at 70 MPH) and the dealer could not repair it! Rust on frame rails. (and more).

Filed Jul 15, 2019 · Electrical, Steering · 64,497 miles · FL

At 64,497 my wife's power steering went out on her vehicle. This happened a day after our trip to atlanta, ga. We took it to our local gmc dealership and was notified that 4 modules had to be replaced and a recommended wiring harness. In 2015 gmc vehicles had a similar issue and recall but not the 2016. This cost me $1400 in repairs.