My 2024 GMC Yukon Denali has experienced repeated and serious stalling, restart hesitation, shutdown, and loss-of-propulsion issues that have created an ongoing safety concern for me, my children, and other drivers. On one occasion, while I was actively driving with my children in the vehicle, the Yukon completely lost propulsion and died. I was only able to coast/roll the vehicle to a complete stop because it no longer had power. I previously reported that incident to the federal safety agency. Since then, there have been numerous additional occasions when I have been driving and come to a stop at a traffic light, stop sign, or in traffic and the vehicle has stalled or seriously hesitated before restarting. On September 23, 2026, while driving with my children in the vehicle, I stopped at a red light in heavy traffic. Without warning, the vehicle completely shut off, shifted into neutral, and displayed a message instructing me to restart the vehicle. I had to manually restart the Yukon before I could continue driving. This was the first time while stopped that the vehicle completely shut off, went into neutral, and required a manual restart. During these incidents, my children were in the vehicle and I was surrounded by other vehicles and heavy traffic, creating a serious safety concern. GMC has been repeatedly notified about these issues. Despite multiple complaints and prior repair attempts, the problems have continued and GMC has not provided a meaningful resolution. The cause of the most recent failure is currently unknown.
GMC Yukon hesitation problems
45 of the 5,036 owner complaints about the GMC Yukon describe hesitation when accelerating, most of them for the 2024 model year.
- owner complaints
- 45
- worst model year
- 2024
- typical mileage
- 110,000
By model year
- 20245
- 20232
- 20221
- 20214
- 20202
- 20193
- 20182
- 20174
- 20164
- 20153
- 20131
- 20121
- 20111
- 20091
- 20082
- 20071
- 20062
- 20033
- 20011
- 19991
- 19971
Often reported together
Check engine light 14Stalling 10Jerking 9Loss of power 7Shudder 5Fuel pump 4Slipping 3Knocking 3
What owners say
Issues with the 8L90 transmission. The shuddering and hesitation has gotten very bad and having to look into options to repair or replace the transmission
My vehicle previously experienced engine problems severe enough that the engine was replaced. Despite the engine replacement, the vehicle is continuing to experience an engine misfire, and the check-engine light has been flashing. A flashing check-engine light and active misfire are a serious safety concern because the vehicle may experience rough running, reduced power, hesitation, or potential loss of power while driving. The fact that the misfire continues after an engine replacement raises concerns that the underlying problem was not resolved or that another component or system is malfunctioning. The exact cause of the current misfire is UNKNOWN at this time. The vehicle and/or affected components are available for inspection upon request.
This is a supplemental report to my original complaint (the federal safety agency ID XXX) regarding my 2024 GMC Yukon (VIN [XXX]). I am providing additional detail: prior to GM's recall being issued, I contacted Hatchett Buick GMC by phone and visited in person on multiple occasions reporting engine sputtering, stalling, hesitation, and total loss of power and electrical shutdown while driving. I was repeatedly told these were minor issues not affecting anyone and not to worry about them. As a result, the vehicle was not formally serviced for these issues until September 2025 — roughly three months after the recall was finally announced, more than a year after I purchased the vehicle. Since that recall repair and a subsequent "best guess" repair performed by GM technicians (their own description, not mine), the vehicle continues to sputter, hesitate, stall, and intermittently lose power. I have ongoing safety concerns driving this vehicle INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Engine would tick and burn oil after the updated recall was done. There would be a hesitation occasionally when applying gas when pulling out from stop sign or stoplight. The engine stalled and would not restart. It would crank over but it was a super fast and elongated turn over. We had to call a tow truck and have it towed. The dealership said they found nothing wrong and sent us back out with it. We sent it to another dealership would replaced the auto start stop switch, changed the belts, and did a fuel/valve treatment to clean the fuel system. We got it back and ran it less than 30 days when we picked it up from the dealership after we changed the engine oil, my wife headed out of town on the highway headed to pick up our daughter and the car made it less than 6 miles before it lost power and shut off going 65 mph and almost caused her to get in a wreck. The engine did not turn back over and would not start. Sent it back to the dealership and they found a crank bearing had seized and they replaced the engine. We just got it back but we are not holding our breath since we know so many people here in our small town who have had their engines replaced and we have heard of people getting multiple engines replaced! There fix is not a fix and when these motors go down at highway or freeway speeds it is extremely dangerous. It’s also dangerous for people when they get stranded out in the middle of no where.
The contact owns a 2021 GMC Yukon. The contact stated that while driving at slow speeds from 2 - 30 MPH, the vehicle hesitated and bucked while accelerating and switching between 4- and 8-cylinders operation. The vehicle was taken to the local mechanic who installed a part used to override the engine cylinder mode, and the engine only operated using 8 cylinders. No further information was available. The manufacturer and local dealer were not contacted about the failure. The failure mileage was 102,000.
I am reporting a serious safety defect and unreasonable delay in addressing it under safety recall N252494000 (L87 Engine – Loss of Propulsion). My GMC Yukon has an illuminated check engine light and is now also overheating. According to GM’s own customer service r, this can lead to knocking, unusual engine noises, hesitation, high RPMs, abnormal shifting, reduced propulsion, and sudden loss of propulsion while driving, increasing the risk of a crash. I have contacted multiple dealerships for urgent repair: Cappllino GMC Keller Chevrolet Joe Basil All three have advised me that they do not have enough technicians to get my vehicle in for repair. Each has urged me to continue driving the vehicle despite the active check engine light and recall, and all have refused to provide a loaner vehicle. I have also contacted GMC Corporate directly for intervention. Instead of providing a loaner or expediting repairs, they have only offered post-repair rental reimbursement (up to $44/day after a repair order is opened). This leaves me with no safe transportation option. I have been told I can “drop off” the vehicle, but I have no alternative way to get home or to work. GMC and its dealerships are putting my safety (and the safety of other road users) at serious risk by directing me to continue operating a recalled, overheating vehicle with an active check engine light while refusing to provide any loaner or timely repair. My vehicle has 34,700 miles and is nearing the end of its warranty coverage, which raises additional concerns about potential delay tactics. Please review: The L87 engine defect and related check engine/overheating issues in GMC Yukons. GMC’s handling of this recall, including widespread failure to provide loaners and instructions to customers to keep driving defective vehicles. I authorize the release of my contact information to GMC to assist with the investigation. Attachments I can provide: Screenshots of communications with GMC
The contact owns a 2020 GMC Yukon. The contact stated that while depressing the accelerator pedal, there was an abnormal popping sound coming from the engine compartment, and the vehicle hesitated while accelerating. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The local dealer had not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 44,000.
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.
We were driving on the highway when the service lights came on along with the check engine light started flashing. The truck sounded like it hesitated a little, but the lights turned off and it drove his normal. We exited the freeway as we were close to home came home, parked it turned it off and turned it back on to test it, and it hesitated to turn on so we took it straight to the dealership where they repeated the issue. We left it there. They did not call me so I went up to the dealership the following day to check on this and I had not heard from them they told me why they were on the test drive that the engine had locked up. My vehicle was a part of the initial recall. They told me that it passed the inspection and they changed the oil to the new oil that was required and now at 12,000 miles my engine has failed
Related recalls
Power train: transfer case (4-wheel drive)
- What is wrong
- General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2026 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Suburban, and Tahoe, and GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles with four-wheel (4WD) or all-wheel drive (AWD), and certain 2015-2020 Suburban, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Yukon, Yukon XL, and Tahoe vehicles. A component missing from the drivetrain transfer case may cause the front and/or rear wheels to lock up without warning to the driver.
- Risk
- Front or rear wheel lockup increases the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the remedy is completed. Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the transfer case assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 18, 2026. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1‑800‑462‑8782, Chevrolet customer service at 1‑800‑222‑1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1‑800‑333‑4223. GM's number for this recall is N262557620. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on on May 7, 2026.
Recall number 26V289000 · Recall details
Power train: automatic transmission: fluid/lubricant: valves/valve body
- What is wrong
- General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2022 Chevrolet Tahoe, Chevrolet Suburban, GMC Yukon, GMC Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade, and Cadillac Escalade ESV vehicles equipped with 10 Speed Transmission with ETRS (Electronic Transmission Range Select). The transmission control valve may fail and lock up the rear wheels.
- Risk
- Rear wheels that lock up while driving increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will install new transmission control module (TCM) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 7, 2026. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1‑888‑988‑7267, Cadillac customer service at 1‑800‑458‑8006, GMC customer service at GMC 1‑800‑462‑8782 or Chevrolet customer service at 1‑800‑222‑1020. GM's number for this recall is N252536750. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on on February 12, 2026.
Recall number 26V085000 · Recall details
Power train: automatic transmission: fluid/lubricant: valves/valve body
- What is wrong
- General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, 2500, 3500, GMC Sierra 1500, 2500, 3500, 2021 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Tahoe, Suburban, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles equipped with diesel engines. The transmission control valve may fail and cause the rear wheels to lock-up.
- Risk
- Rear wheel lock-up can increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will install new transmission control module software, free of charge. GM will provide a special coverage program to cover the repair of transmissions that are identified by the remedy software as containing a defective control valve. Owner notification letters were mailed December 12, 2024. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1‑888‑988‑7267, Cadillac customer service at 1‑800‑458‑8006, GMC customer service at GMC 1‑800‑462‑8782 or Chevrolet customer service at 1‑800‑222‑1020. GM's number for this recall is N242454440.
Recall number 24V797000 · Recall details
Power train: driveline: driveshaft
- What is wrong
- General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 GMC Yukon, Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, and Chevrolet Tahoe vehicles. The rear wheel driveshaft assemblies may have internal components that were not heat-treated properly, possibly resulting in driveshaft failure.
- Risk
- Driveshaft failure can cause a sudden loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the left and/or right rear driveshaft assemblies, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 14, 2022. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1‑800‑222‑1020; Cadillac customer service at 1‑800‑458‑8006 or GMC customer service at 1‑800‑462‑8782. GM's number for this recall is N212351030.
Recall number 22V036000 · Recall details
Power train: transfer case (4-wheel drive)
- What is wrong
- General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra vehicles, and model year 2015 GMC Yukon and Chevrolet Suburban and Tahoe vehicles. In the affected vehicles, an electrical signal short may cause the transfer case to shift to neutral without the driver's input.
- Risk
- If the transfer case switches to neutral while the vehicle is parked and the parking brake is not in use, the vehicle may roll away increasing the risk of injury to bystanders. If the transfer case switches to neutral while the vehicle is being driven, the vehicle would lose drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- GM will notify owners, and dealers will re-program the software in the transfer case control module, free of charge. The recall began in early August 2014. Owners may contact General Motors customer service at 1‑800‑222‑1020 (Chevrolet), or 1‑800‑462‑8782 (GMC). GM's number for this recall is 14192.
Recall number 14V374000 · Recall details
Power train: automatic transmission: cooling unit and lines
- What is wrong
- General Motors LLC (GM ) is recalling certain model year 2014 Chevrolet Silverado Light Duty Regular Cab, Double Cab, and Crew Cab 1500 series and model year 2015 Suburban and Tahoe; GMC model year 2014 Sierra Regular Cab, Double Cab, and Crew Cab 1500 Series and model year 2015 Yukon and Yukon XL vehicles equipped with a 6-Speed Automatic Transmission (feature code MYC). The subject vehicles may have a transmission oil cooler line that is not securely seated in the fitting.
- Risk
- If the line is not securely seated and transmission oil leaks from the fitting, the oil could contact a hot surface and cause a vehicle fire.
- Remedy
- GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the transmission oil cooler line connection and repair the vehicles, as needed, free of charge. The recall began on May 19, 2014. Owners may contact Chevrolet at 1‑866‑694‑6546 or GMC owners may contact GMC at 1‑866‑996‑9463. GM's number for this recall is 14121.
Recall number 14V152000 · Recall details
Power train: automatic transmission
- What is wrong
- General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, and Escalade EXT; Chevrolet Avalanche, Express, Silverado HD, Silverado LD, Suburban, and Tahoe; and GMC Savana, Sierra HD, Sierra LD, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles, manufactured between November 7, 2012, through December 18, 2012, for failing to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 102, "Transmission Shift Lever Sequence, Starter Interlock, and Transmission Braking Effect", and FMVSS No. 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention." The vehicles may have been built with a fractured park lock cable or a malformed steering column lock actuator gear in the lock module assembly.
- Risk
- As a result, the vehicle may shift from Park with the ignition key removed or the ignition key in the OFF position. The vehicle may also shift out of Park without application of the brake pedal while the key is off. Either of these scenarios may cause the vehicle to roll away after the driver has exited the vehicle, resulting in a possible vehicle crash and/or injury.
- Remedy
- GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the affected vehicles and replace the steering column as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on January 21, 2013. Chevrolet owners may call 1‑800‑630‑2438. Cadillac owners may call 1‑866‑982‑2339. GMC owners may call 1‑866‑996‑9463.
Recall number 13V001000 · Recall details
Power train: manual transmission: shift pattern indicator
- What is wrong
- Certain sport utility vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission, fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 102, "transmission shift lever sequence, starter interlock and transmission braking effect." under certain vehicle starting conditions, the shift lever position indicator located in the instrument panel cluster may not illuminate. If the shift lever position indicator does not illuminate, the driver may not know which gear the vehicle is in.
- Risk
- The vehicle may move in an unintended direction resulting in possible injury to others outside of the vehicle.
- Remedy
- Dealers will reprogram the instrument panel cluster free of charge. The recall began on february 14, 2005. Owners may contact cadillac at 1‑866‑982‑2339, chevrolet at 1‑800‑630‑2438, and gmc at 1‑866‑996‑9463.
Recall number 05V055000 · Recall details
Power train: automatic transmission
- What is wrong
- The transmission shift-cable lock clip can back out of its installed position resulting in a loss of cable adjustment. When the shift lever is placed in the "park" position, the "park" indicator light may not illuminate.
- Risk
- The vehicle can move unintentionally if the driver does not notice that the indicator light is not on and does not apply the parking brake.
- Remedy
- Dealers will adjust the shift cable and install a lock clip.
Recall number 95V139000 · Recall details
Questions about the GMC Yukon hesitation
Which GMC Yukon years have hesitation when accelerating problems?
The model years with the most reports are 2024 (5 complaints), 2016 (4 complaints) and 2017 (4 complaints).
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