2017 GMC Yukon: jerking or lurching

Filed Apr 8, 2026 · Transmission · MT

The 2017 GMC Yukon has serious transmission issues that GM continues to ignore, and it is going to get someone hurt. I was stopped at a red light, and when it turned green, I pressed the gas pedal but the car would not move. I pressed harder, and then it suddenly lurched forward about 30 feet. If there had been a car in front of me, I would have hit them and likely caused injuries. When I took it to the dealership, they said it needed a full transmission replacement, which was not covered. I had to pay out of pocket. I was only about $10,000 outside the warranty when it failed, and GM refused to stand behind their product or help in any way. I was already financing the vehicle and should not have had to pay for a new transmission on a car that was less than four years old with relatively low miles. This is not just my experience. Many others have had the same issue. GM knows about it and chooses not to acknowledge it. They are lucky no one has been seriously injured or killed because of it. Going to attach all of the proof of people "coincidentally" experiencing the same issue.

Filed Mar 30, 2026 · Transmission · GA

The 8-speed automatic transmission (Hydra-Matic 8L90) on this 2017 GMC Yukon SLT 5.3L V8 has failed. This is a repeat failure — the transmission was previously rebuilt in 2020 under a GM recall/service action for the same known defect affecting this transmission type. The transmission has now failed again in 2026, approximately six years after GM's prior repair. Prior to failure, the vehicle exhibited hard shifting, shuddering during acceleration, and hesitation between gear changes — symptoms consistent with the known defect pattern documented across 2015–2019 GM vehicles equipped with this transmission. The failure was confirmed by a service center. The vehicle is currently not safely drivable. Safety concern: erratic and unpredictable gear changes, including sudden lurching and hesitation during acceleration, create a dangerous condition for the driver, passengers, and other vehicles on the road. GM has been contacted through their Customer Assistance Center (case opened). GM's initial position was that they cannot assist because the vehicle is out of warranty. However, this is a repeat failure of a previously repaired known defect. GM issued 13+ technical service bulletins on this transmission and has been aware of the root defect since at least 2018. A federal class action (Speerly v. General Motors, E.D. Michigan) covering this exact vehicle type and transmission has been certified and upheld by the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. The prior GM repair did not remediate the underlying defect.

Filed Dec 29, 2025 · Engine · WV

I started noticing issues with my transmission around 55,000 miles on it. It first started with no noticing that it wouldn’t gear down when it needed to, and then when it finally did gear down, it would really jerk the vehicle. I started calling GMC then and questioning and putting in a claim. Just went back-and-forth four months. Now it was getting worse to where I could feel the transmission slipping it wouldn’t kick into upper gear or lower gear. Again, I was still calling GMC and reporting these issues. I was told to take it and have a transmission oil change, which I did costing me $300. I still noticed this problem and I continue to call. I kept being told that they would have somebody call me back which nobody ever called me back to find out specifics. I took it to a GMC garage have them put it on a machine, and I was told that it needed a new transmission and this wasn’t something GMC was covering. This new transmission cost me $6200 and was done on 1/5/25. Please remember this vehicle only had 64,000 miles on it, which is absolutely ridiculous to need a transmission at this mileage. I again had called in January 2025 reporting this and was told someone would call me back and never heard from them.

Filed May 8, 2025 · Transmission · CO

My 2017 GMC Yukon SLT,, has been having shifting problems, including hard or delayed shifts, clunking, jerking, and even sudden jolts when downshifting.Rough or jerky shifts, particularly during acceleration and deceleration, a delay in engaging gears, especially when shifting from park to drive or reverse. Transmission shifts are very rough in slow traffic with as much as one to two-second delays in shifting into gear with a loud thump. It is so rough that it feels like someone may have ran into your back bumper. It is also bad enough that it startles the driver, and it could be a safety issue

Filed May 7, 2025 · Suspension · KY

Magneride defect - struts leaking !!! 85,000 miles This is unacceptable- car is dangerous- bouncing - rough ride- shaky- jerking Should be a recalll! Look it up online- many many complaints!

Filed Mar 29, 2025 · Transmission · TX

Transmission jerks, shifts hard, loses power… Temp gets 199 just driving… Humming sounds, taken to dealer three time… 188,000 miles…

Filed Jan 22, 2025 · CA

I was driving my car and it started making "clanging" and "banging" noises and jolting/jerking forward. It was scary to drive because of the noise and the jerking foward. I was afraid that my car was going to just stop working, I would get stuck/stranded somewhere or my car was going to blow up. I brought it in to the dealer two times. The first time they thought it was the battery so they replaced the battery but that didn't fix the problem. The second time I left it there for days and they told me that I needed a new transmission. The problem was reproduced and inspected by them. There were no warning lights or messages prior to the failure. The problem started on approximately January 6, 2025. Online, I have read from other sources that 2017 - 2020 GMC YUKONS are know to have transmission problems. My car only has 58,000 miles on it, has been serviced consistently, and should not need a new transmission at this low mileage point.( 150,000 to 200,000 is the norm for transmission replacement)

Filed Jan 5, 2025 · GA

I am submitting this complaint regarding a persistent and significant transmission issue with my 2017 GMC Yukon Denali, which I purchased in June 2024. The transmission has been malfunctioning, causing the vehicle to jerk and hesitate, particularly during acceleration. This component is available for inspection upon request. Safety Concerns: This issue poses a serious risk to my safety and the safety of others on the road. The jerking and hesitation during operation can result in delayed acceleration or unexpected speed changes. These problems have occurred while merging into traffic and driving on highways, creating hazardous situations where immediate and reliable vehicle performance is critical. Reproduction and Inspection: The problem has been reproduced and confirmed by an independent mechanic who inspected the vehicle. The diagnosis identified a transmission malfunction, which appears consistent with reports from other owners of GMC Yukon models. However, the vehicle has not yet been inspected by the manufacturer, police, or insurance representatives. Warning Symptoms: There were no warning lamps or error messages displayed prior to the onset of the issue. The jerking and hesitation began soon after I purchased the vehicle in June 2024 and have progressively worsened over time. I have discovered that GMC has issued recalls for similar transmission issues in later Yukon models (2021 and 2022). However, despite widespread complaints, earlier models like my 2017 Yukon Denali have not been included in these recalls. Given the safety risks associated with this transmission defect and the frequency of similar complaints from other owners, I urge the federal safety agency to investigate this matter. Prompt action is essential to ensure the safety of drivers and passengers in affected vehicles and to hold the manufacturer accountable for addressing this defect.

Filed Nov 10, 2024 · Engine, Transmission · MO

I was taking my client to school. I stopped at the stop sign. When I pushed gas pedal to go, my truck did not go, it strained did a big jerk then went. The next morning it did the same thing & later on that day, it did it again. Two days later I had to stop at red light. When the light turned green I pressed the gas pedal & nothing. It did not go at all. I turned the ignition off and back on twice & put it in drive still did not go but was slowly going backwards. A by-stander stopped to assist me getting my truck out of traffic.

Filed Nov 4, 2024 · Transmission · 140,000 miles · OH

The contact owns a 2017 GMC Yukon. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle started jerking and hesitating while shifting gear. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer to be diagnosed and the contact was informed that the transmission was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 140,000.

Filed Jun 15, 2024 · Transmission · MI

The SUV was stalled after getting in D to drove forward and all of a sudden it’s started with a big jerk and moved forward It went driving ok for them rest of the day but it kept repeating the incident n and off until June 15 when it was stalled on a traffic light I was able to put the emergency flashers and drive it in reverse to a near by parking lot

Filed Sep 22, 2023 · Engine · WI

The engine light has come on spuradically for the last 1.5 years and has been consistently on since May of 2023. This starting approx. 95,000 miles. During this time after starting the Yukon it is chuggy and missing, as I drive off it jerks and darts forward. Seems to be when I stop and start to go this happens, again engine light is always on...sometimes flashing. Starting 9/19/23 (106,000 miles) when slowing down to turn into a parking lot the engine revved high, no movement with the touch of the gas pedal and suddenly takes off with a jerk and a squeal of the tires. VERY SCARY. Since then I have experienced this DAILY, at least once a day. So far it is when I am going slow, either taking off and accelerating or slowing down. The engine and RPMS rev up and go high with no way of moving when touching the gas pedal then suddenly jerks and takes off with the tires squealing. I am also experiencing the transmission shifting VERY hard, mainly when slowing down. I am feeling very timid and scared to drive this vehicle...this is a seriously dangerous situation and can cause a serious accident or life! I believe this fits into the description of the GM Class Action Lawsuit filed over transmission problems. When I previously talked to the dealership they kept saying that there was no recall for the problems and to bring it in. I am not going to continue to get things fixed that do not fix this problem, as I have already. I know of a friend who has the same vehicle/year only a Tahoe and is experiencing the same problem and had work done at a dealership with no fix for their issue neither. Something has to happen with this problem from GM! The contact stated the issue has gotten worse pushing down the gas pedal rendering the vehicle immobile, then all of a sudden it jerks and shifts into gear jolting the vehicle forward.