GMC Yukon XL won't start problems

Filed Aug 26, 2026 · Engine · FL

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).

Filed Aug 23, 2026 · Acceleration, Engine · OH

Was driving the vehicle at 70 mph on the highway without any issues for several hours and suddenly the vehicle lost power and had no propulsion. It went into neutral automatically and the engine shut off while driving. Thankfully I was on a downward slope and could steer the vehicle off the very busy highway. Once safe, I tried to restart the car but the engine would not start or turn over. Roadside assistance came to help as well as a flatbed tow truck. It was taken to a nearby GMC dealer but it remains completely dead despite the battery being fully charged and all of the electronics working. No known error codes are showing up. It’s an L87 engine and was part of the GM recall. The recall work was completed in Nov 2025.

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 13, 2026 · Engine · CO

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.

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 Mar 30, 2026 · Engine, Fuel system · NC

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.

Filed Mar 14, 2026 · Engine · CO

Drove vehicle to town and back, 20 mile round trip. When entering my property, the Engine stalled while pulling into driveway. Upon cranking, was very hard to start. When taking the next trip after engine stall, vehicle died in motion at 60mph approaching a traffic intersection with no warning, leaving very little time to navigate to the shoulder and off the roadway. Engine will not crank over, suspect Engine has failed again, currently at dealer awaiting diagnostics. No lights, warnings, noises or indications of Engine failure were observed during the drive cycle.

Filed Feb 24, 2026 · Engine · TX

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

Filed Feb 9, 2026 · Engine · CO

On 12/22/2025 I took my 2023 GMC Yukon in for the L87 recall. After receiving information that my vehicle passed the recall they told me that the oil would be change to from OW-20 to OW-40 and that my oil changes would go up in price (double the price) due to the oil being a high performance oil. On 01/05/26 exactly two weeks and 616 miles later our engine and lights completely stopped working while driving it on the road!!! The vehicle would not start or switch into neutral so we could get the vehicle off the road due to blocking traffic! The vehicle was towed the GMC dealership and had to have a new engine replacement. We were out of our vehicle for 31 days. Now our vehicle rear view camera guidelines have stopped working and now have to put that under warranty claim.

Filed Jan 20, 2026 · Electrical, Engine · NJ

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