GMC Yukon won't start problems

Filed Nov 3, 2026 · Engine · NV

My brother and I were on our way home from Phoenix to Las Vegas, driving about 70 mph when my 2022 GMC Yukon Denali suddenly shifted into neutral. We pulled over and had to restart the vehicle. We started driving again and a few minutes later the car shifted into neutral for the second time. We pulled over, restarted the car, drove for about a minute and it happened a third time. There was complete loss of control of the vehicle, thus we had no choice but to pull over again. The vehicle completely seized up and would not start again. The car issued a warning stating, “hot oil temperature.” It then issued another warning, stating “low battery,” though all the lights and power were working. The car issued available for inspection at Liberty GMC in Phoenix where I had to have it towed by my AAA. We then had to rent a U-Haul to retrieve the items stuck in the back of my car, which was our reason for the trip in the first place. This situation put us in a dangerous and very unsafe position, as it was dark outside and we had no choice but to maneuver to the side of the road quickly, as cars were flying by on the highway. The engine failure has been confirmed by Liberty GMC, where the car is still sitting and awaiting engine replacement. The vehicle has only been inspected by GMC service at Liberty GMC, to my knowledge. There were no warnings prior to failure. The warnings I mentioned above only happened after the fact.

Filed Oct 28, 2026 · Fuel system · NC

While stopped in a parking lot. I returned my vehicle to drive home, and the car would not start. I had it towed to the dealer. They did a diagnostic inspection for "crank-no-start ". Two trouble codes: P0340 intake single camshaft ignition sensor circuit and P00C6- fuel rail pressure load during engine cranking. Performed diagnostic checks and suspect a broken timing chain and timing tensioner that causes the bottom of the engine to free spin while the top 0.5 does not. These engines are known as interference engines, and anytime there is a mismatch between the top 0.5 and the bottom 0.5, there is the potential for catastrophic failure due to the design of the valve train and bottom 0.5 of the engine. The technician suggested a full engine replacement. I went to the dealer and spoke with the Service Manager, Greg, and he stated that he would reach out to GMC because the VIN number was not part of the recall, although the YEAR/MAKE/MODEL is. I also reached out to GMC to open a claim. To date, I have not heard back, and they have not yet accepted responsibility for replacing the engine.

Filed Oct 26, 2026 · Engine · AR

As I was driving down the road at 60mph, no dash lights or warnings were present. All of a sudden, my 2021 yukon lost all power and I nearly crashed as I was in heavy, fast paced traffic. I got to the side of the road, and it was at this time the engine light came on. Car died and wouldnt start back up.

Filed Oct 11, 2026 · Engine · NC

On September 20, 2026 around noon while traveling in the left lane on interstate 40W in North Carolina the engine of my 2023 Yukon Denali seized up with no warning. The screens shut off, then turned back on, and as I attempted to avoid hitting anyone or causing an accident on the road, I tried to shift it back into gear and it would not shift back into gear. Unable to use the gas pedal I put my right turn signal on along with my hazards and slowly made my way over to the right breakdown lane carefully to avoid causing an accident. I tried to start the engine again and the screens would turn back on, tell me to push the start/stop button again, then the screens would turn back off and on again and the engine would not start back up. In the breakdown lane I checked the battery connections and a couple other things that I thought might be the issue, but I had a feeling this was the engine issue that caused the safety recall on the 6.2 L GMC engine. My safety, my wife’s safety, and every other vehicle around me was put at risk because of this, and it could’ve ended horribly in injury or possible death. Prior to this, I brought the vehicle in for the safety recall inspection, it passed, and they changed the oil and type of oil filter to “fix the issue“. I used OnStar to set up a tow (which we paid for out of pocket), the estimated wait time was four hours, so we called an Uber (which we also paid for out of pocket) that took over an hour and a half to pick us up due to location on the highway. Vehicle was towed to a dealership and is available for inspection if requested. The next business day, the dealership was unable to get the engine to start and diagnosed with complete engine failure. They began the process of setting up a complete engine replacement. Said it may take 3 to 4 weeks. I am skeptical and think it will take more time. There were zero warning lamps, messages, or noises that could be heard prior to the failure which makes this incident so dangerous.

Filed Sep 2, 2026 · Engine · PA

While driving my 2021 GMC Yukon Denali with the 6.2L L87 V8 on a high-speed highway near Somers Point, New Jersey, the vehicle suddenly began bucking and the accelerator stopped responding normally. The vehicle rapidly lost propulsion while I was surrounded by highway traffic and approaching a bridge. I was fortunate to get the vehicle onto the shoulder before reaching the bridge. I was then stranded on the shoulder of a high-speed highway, where the disabled vehicle created a serious safety risk to me and other motorists. The engine shut down and would not restart. It initially cranked as though it was attempting to start, but it did not start. I received a diagnostic alert stating, “Service the engine and transmission system immediately.” The vehicle required a tow. The tow operator later reported that it appeared locked up and could not be shifted into neutral. The vehicle has approximately 77,000 miles and has been serviced regularly. Its most recent oil-change sticker indicated the next oil service was due at approximately 81,000 miles. While safely pulled over, I checked the engine-oil dipstick and confirmed that the engine had oil, with oil visible across the dipstick’s normal measuring area. Despite this vehicle having the 6.2L L87 engine and experiencing a sudden loss of propulsion and no-start condition, its VIN does not currently appear in GM’s public recall lookup for the existing L87 recall. The vehicle is being transported to an authorized GMC dealer, and the precise failed component has not yet been confirmed. This sudden loss of propulsion created an immediate risk of a serious highway collision, particularly because it occurred immediately before a bridge. I understand the federal safety agency is investigating continuing L87 engine failures, including failures involving vehicles outside the original recall population. I am submitting this complaint so this incident is formally documented and considered as part of that investigation.

Filed Aug 27, 2026 · Electrical, Engine · LA

This vehicle has been towed into GMC service 3 times to date. #1. 2/2024 (mil 22,662) would not start, low voltage msg, replaced battery. #2. 4/2026 (mil 57,854) vehicle went into N on its own while I was driving down the road, msg on dash "function not available", I stopped and the engine died & would not restart, no engagement from starter motor, found P0615 present, found blown fuse on battery distribution fuse block, replaced. #3. 7/2026 (mil 63,041) vehicle went into N on its own while I was driving down interstate, msg on dash "function not available", I stopped, the engine died and would not restart, found main battery fuse blown, engine seized, found spun rod bearing full of metal debris, replaced engine, radiator, cooler lines, seals, gaskets, bolts, & fluids. My safety was at risk as I was driving down a highway and the interstate 2 of the times the vehicle put itself in N. The problem has been confirmed by the dealer. The vehicle has been inspected by the dealer's service dept. Prior to these incidents I did not notice any symptoms that would have alerted me of what was to come. **This report is referring to my latest incident which was engine seizure. *Two recalls have been performed, #1. 5/2025 "reprogrammed serial data module" & #2. 11/2025 "engine loss of propulsion recall", replaced oil with 0W-40 & "ECM software update recall", replaced ECM with SPS.

Filed Aug 27, 2026 · Transmission · AL

The powertrain malfunctioned and it at the dealership for an engine replacement. The vehicle lost propulsion on a 2-lane road while passing another vehicle. It cut off completely and started to decelerate. There was no warning or indication that this would happen and was dangerous in that I was accelerating to pass another vehicle when the event occurred. I was able to safely pull into a driveway, but the vehicle would not crank as it could not detect what gear it should be in. It was towed to a GMC dealership locally who confirmed 2 days later that the engine would have to be replaced. It is under warranty and will take 3-4 weeks.

Filed Aug 24, 2026 · Engine · NC

This car was subject to the GM Recall N2524940000 – This is related to engine failure in the vehicle. My Yukon Denali received the recall service on XXX at Liberty Buick GMC in XXX. It was determined that my engine would not fail and the car needed the heavier oil and a new oil filter. The car also received a 10 year warranty on the engine as part of the recall. XXX We were traveling down XXX Southbound on XXX headed to Atlanta to see family for Easter Break. My wife, son CJ (Age -XXX), XXX (XXX), and our English Cream Golden Retriever , Goose. We were traveling at 75 MPH on cruise control when a car came out in front of me. The car slowed down to adjust for the car moving out in front of us and then the engine completely shut-off and the car shifted into neutral. The car electronics turned off briefly, then came back on, with the dashboard saying “Push Start to turn on”. I hit the start button and nothing happens, I pushed the button several more times and still nothing happened. This occurred between 1:45 - 2:00 At this point, I begin to move into the right lane as we are approaching Exit XXX in [XXX]. I pull off on the exit, go about half way down and pull to the side, stopping the car. I place the car into Park and then push start on the car, nothing happens. I attempt to do this for about 5 Minutes and the engine still will not start and the car will not shut off completely (All electronics are still working). There were no warning signs that the vehicle would fail. The vehicle was inspected by GMC who determined that the engine had failed and would require full replacement. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Aug 23, 2026 · Engine, Fuel system · GA

Vehicle loss of power on the Interstate at a high rate of speed. Vehicle would not start and could not be put in Neutral to safely remove from road.

Filed Aug 22, 2026 · Engine · WA

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.