2021 GMC YUKON XL Recalls, Complaints & Safety

2021 Yukon Denali 6.2L V8, 137k miles- engine failure—driving down road 55mph and engine light came on, along with check esc and check traction warnings, vehicle began to rough idle and shake, motor knocking. Personally feel this is related to recall but my vin not included says dealership- I feel this recall is affecting way more vehicles than vin’s included. Dealership charged 220$ to plug it in, codes weren’t specific for problem. They are stating “lifter is bad and possibly cam, won’t know if the lifters scarred the cam until they take it apart” and charge me at least 6k is price quoted. No warnings at all before this happened. 137k miles so out of warranty. This put myself and kids in dangerous riding condition as I had to stop and have vehicle towed to dealership.

engine failure from the connecting rod and/or crankshaft. There is a current recall for this and my vehicle should be a part of it. I broke down on the side of a highway and had the vehicle towed to GMC dealership. There are now warning lights on with code P0016 and P0324

Vehicle could not detect key fob, key fob had normal operation(lock, unlock, remote start, tailgate open and close, all functional) but unable to start vehicle or power vehicle accessories. Windows opened with key fob and could not close windows, could not put vehicle in neutral, was stranded for 6 hours, unable to scan vehicle due to lack of key detection not allowing accessories to operate to attain connection with modules, unable to tow because couldn’t get vehicle in neutral. Vehicle battery good, key fob battery good. Was stuck with vehicle because couldn’t not close windows. Very unsafe and inconvenient situation.

Vehicle was on highway when alerts started going off and a weird noise started. It scared the occupants as they were going 70mph on the highway when it happened. Luckily they were able to maneuver off the road in time and parked at a convenient store. Towed vehicle to dealership and metal was in the oil as a part failed in the engine. New engine was ordered by the dealership and installed. There were no prior warnings and the vehicle was completely maintained by the dealership. Engine failure in less than 5 years.

Driver side mirror starts moving on its own without any physical buttons being pressed. Accident notification system has failed and has produced a CEL

Lifter failure, resulting in costly repairs and possible catastrophic engine failure while driving. Vehicle has 78,000 miles and has been regularly serviced.

The contact owns a 2021 GMC Yukon XL. The contact stated that while his wife was driving approximately 30 MPH, the vehicle started to lose motive power with the message "Service Transmission Now" displayed. The driver was unable to shift the vehicle into reverse(R) and turned around and returned to the residence. The contact and his wife researched online and found that there was a recall for the transmission for the year and model under NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V797000 (Power Train). The contact had the vehicle towed to a dealer, who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the transmission valve body had failed and needed to be replaced. The contact discussed the recall and was advised by the dealer that the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.

Phantom braking when moving forward after a stop. Dealer can’t replicate or diagnose it, therefore won’t repair it under warranty. It’s happened 6 times now and almost caused 3 accidents.

I experienced complete engine failure at around 76000 miles similar to a current engine recall for 2021 to 2024 6.2L V8 engines. However, my engine isn't included in the current recall. I also experienced the fuel pump control module problem requiring replacement. Again there is a recall for 2021 to 2024 6.2L V8 engines and again my engine wasn't included in this recall.

On August 21, 2025, my vehicle engine died in Connecticut when I was taking my son back to college. I had to have it towed back to South Jersey, where I live. The dealer informed me that my engine failed due to a major recall. I was without my vehicle for three months while they waited for a new engine. My car was returned to me with a refurbished engine.

Right as I was coming up on my powertrain warranty, I began to have lifter issues. I had two repairs of the original lifters that ultimately were not successful. I ended up replacing all lifters with the updated version that apparently repaired previous lifter issues. That repair cost around ~$6K. After six weeks of reasonable driving, I noticed engine oil notices for low engine oil. I was told today at a local dealership that the vehicle now needs engine replacement at $14K-16K. Both the dealer and corporate confirmed my vehicle VIN didn't qualify for the propulsion recall. GMC corporate also said nothing can be done now that the vehicle is out of drive train warranty.

When driving at slow speed and wheels turning right or left you can hear a humming coming from the suspension. Unable to identify the issue. When wheels get straight the humming goes away

While driving my Yukon it felt like there was an issue while it was trying to shift gears. the vehicle would sort of jerk while it was shifting. there also began to have a knocking sound as I drove. I had my children in the car, making this a more stressful situation. Having issues while driving on a highway with other vehicles driving at high speeds. Your vehicle having issues accelerating onto said highway as well. This all happened with only 68,445 miles on the vehicle. I called to schedule an appointment, drove it into the GM dealership. They stated that the lifters needed to be replaced and it would not be covered. As well as a rental vehicle not being covered, so both items came out of pocket. As I drove home from the dealership after they assured me everything was great, the engine light came on. Brought it back into the dealership to fixed again! This time it was the catalyst converter. This issue was covered by warranty somehow even though they stated it was tied together.

The car suddenly experienced engine failure while driving at highway speed (about 70 mph). The check engine light, as well as several other warning lights (Traction control, electronic stability control, etc) came on immediately before a metal-on-metal clunking sound and then loss of power. I was able to pull the car over to the side of the highway, and because of the clunking sound, felt it was unsafe to drive further and had it towed to a local dealer. The car has about 42,000 miles on it, in perfectly maintained condition, with all services performed at the Dealer per the recommended schedule.

The contact owns a 2021 GMC Yukon XL. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost drive power with several unknown warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who determined that the engine had seized and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to report the failure to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 22,000.

12/16/25 (evening): Warnings began cycling across the screen: 1) Service ESC, 2) Vehicle Leveling for Stability, 3) Rear Axel System Off, 4) Engine symbol began flashing, and 5) Service Traction Control. I felt vibration/bouncing while driving as well. 12/17/25 9 AM: Took 2021 GMC Yukon Denali to GMC dealership. They ran a computer scan and reported a misfire, but nothing else appeared to be wrong. They told me that sometimes a low battery can cause the warning lights and messages to cycle. They recommended that I keep driving it and return if the warnings appeared again. 12/17/25 9:18 AM: I left the dealership. I drove 4.5 miles, and all the same warning lights came back on. When I pulled into a parking lot, it smelled like my engine was on fire, and dark smoke was coming from my rear exhaust pipe. I called a flatbed tow truck and had the car returned to the dealership. Mileage: 52,285 GMC 2021Yukon Denali XL 6.2L V8 engine Well-maintained with regular oil changes. The dealership told me there was a lifter failure and that the engine could be damaged and would need to be replaced if the cam, pushrods, etc., were damaged. They also told me I was out of warranty by less than 60 days. The dealership said my warranty expired in October 2025, even though my vehicle is a 2021 with only 52,285 miles. They just informed me that the left lifter was replaced at 6,000 miles and that they will replace the right lifter. I am concerned about further damage down the road, given the recalls on the GMC 6.2L engines.

While driving on a two lane road, my vehicle put itself into Neutral without me doing anything and the engine stopped. All things powered down. The engine stopped. not propulsion, nothing. I tried to pull over to edge of road. Car would not start - no activity. The vehicle had to be towed to the dealership. My safety was put at risk by my car simply stopping while driving down the road. The dealership has confirmed the engine needs to be replaced. There was no warning of engine problems or ANY indicators.

Lifter failure with cylinder #6. Car violently shook prior to this failure. No engine lights or messages until the next day when tried to drive. Ended up towing car to dealer. Car had 76k miles on it. Recall on 6.2L, but not on the 5.3L which is not immune to this same issue as the 6.2L engine.

On December 1, 2025 at around 5pm CST, my 2021 GMC Yukon XL started making a squeeling noise then stopped while driving down the road. It left me stranded in the middle of the road. A P0016 CODE was produced and the engine light came on. I had the vehicle towed the next day to Stew Hanses GMC in Clive, Iowa. The engine was torn down for inspection and was told the rod bearing went bad and it had low oil even though I was within the window since the last oil change and having documented all necessary required maintenance. I was told the engine needs to be replaced and am in the process currently of Stew Hanson GMC replacing all necessary parts. I was told I do not have a recall on the vehicles vin number by GMC corporate and the GMC dealer. It is coming up on a month since the incident happened and vehicle towed to dealership. I do not have pictures from the dealer yet or final invoice as this is still in process. I wanted to document this somewhere.

While driving my 2021 GMC Yukon XL, the vehicle unexpectedly lost acceleration. After lifting off the gas pedal, it jolted forward, triggered a “Reduced Performance” dashboard warning, and remained in what felt like second gear, refusing to shift. I immediately pulled into a parking spot; when I attempted to reverse, the vehicle would not move backward. As you may imagine, this was a major safety concern, as I had my [XXX] and [XXX] children in the vehicle with me. I had the Yukon inspected at a GMC dealership, where a technician confirmed the issue originated from a faulty transmission valve body. My independent research has revealed this to be a widespread defect in the 2021 Yukon XL, prompting GM to issue Special CoverageXXX, which explicitly covers valve-body replacements for 2021 Yukon XLs experiencing reduced performance. Despite meeting these criteria and receiving identical diagnostic alerts, I was informed that my VIN is not covered. I am formally requesting that this safety-related defect—widespread among this model year—be recognized and my VIN included under Special Coverage XXX. The valve body causing the loss of propulsion in my Yukon XL is exactly the same defective component GM has acknowledged and is covering under this program. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

The contact owns a 2021 GMC Yukon XL. The contact stated that while driving at 30 MPH, the gear shifter independently shifted to neutral(N), and the vehicle speed decreased. The contact stated that upon depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle lost drive power. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed, and the dealer determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure NHTSA Campaign Number:25V274000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and filed a case. The contact was also referred to the NHTSA Hotline to file a complaint. The failure mileage was 120,000.

I'm vehicle has experience both active recalls for similar model year but my VIN isn't listed as been one that is covered by the call. 25V274000 and 21V739000.

Low engine oil message keeps flashing after less than 2,000 miles of driver. Excessive oil consumption. Took vehicle to GMC dealership and it was confirmed that an engine replacement or replacement of the pistons and rings is necessary. Only 77,000 miles on the vehicle. My car is currently not a part of the massive recall.

Vehicle indicated that the suspension system was disabled. Vehicle then lost power and disabled itself driving through the Eisenhower Tunnel I-70 Colorado. This tunnel is over a mile and a half long. We called 911 as we were very worried we were going to have another vehicle crash into us as there are no breakdown lanes. The tunnel had to close to West Bound Interstate traffic and the vehicle had to be dragged up a tow truck because the back wheels were locked. The CDOT tow truck then dropped our vehicle outside the tunnel. We had a private tow company (again dragging the locked tires onto the next truck) take us home and to our personal repair shop. Vehicle was diagnosed as a blown engine. We then had to tow our vehicle, again dragging tires, to a GMC certified shop. We have spent $1502 on towing. This vehicle has approximately 57,000 miles and was 9 days out of the powertrain warranty. The repair shop has the same diagnoses and a dead battery because we could not turn the vehicle off. We have no vehicle to drive as ours sits at the repair shop waiting for parts. GM told me we were out of warranty and would not help. The dealership says GM may do cost sharing but will still cost us $2000.

Routine oil change by professional local mechanic. Upon completion we were told that the vehicle would not turnover. The mechanic diagnosed and found that were 2 recalls for our vehicle - one for the fuel pump module and one for the engine. We had our vehicle towed to the local GM dealership. They then replaced the fuel control module. GM tried to manually crank over but engine seized once again. We spoke to the GM Advisor prior to this and were told that our vehicle was not part of the engine recall because our VIN was not listed as part of it even though our vehicle had the same exact issues as described in the engine recall and was for the exact year/make/model of the engine. The dealer quoted us $14,896 to replace the engine. They stated they would submit a Goodwill claim to GMC to help discount the cost to repair/replace the engine. The dealer called back later that day and said GMC would be willing to cover 30% of the cost so our expense would be around $10,000. All this for a vehicle we've only driven for less than a year and a half. The vehicle went in for a routine oil change and has never had any issues prior to this. This happened suddenly without any sort of warning. To make matters worse, our powertrain warranty expired a day or two before this occurred. We are still trying to fight with GMC to cover this engine failure. The car has less than 75,000 miles and is only used for basic personal needs like driving to school and the store so it is shocking that the engine would suddenly fail like this and to make matters, the manufacturer refuses to take responsibility for it and to cover it under the recall even though there has been known widespread issues with this engine.

The contact owns a 2021 GMC Yukon XL. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the low engine oil warning light illuminated. The contact checked the oil dipstick and noticed that the oil level was extremely low. The contact stated that the vehicle was serviced by the dealer a month prior, and the oil change was performed. The contact stated that the oil level required to be topped off several times while driving the vehicle to the dealer. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where an oil consumption test was performed, and the vehicle was diagnosed with engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact referenced an unknown recall with a similar failure description; however, the VIN was not included in a recall. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 74,500.

The contact owns a 2021 GMC Yukon XL. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V274000 (Engine and Engine Cooling), and the vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the recall inspection test was performed, and the contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the dealer had initially ordered the wrong engine. The dealer then ordered the correct engine; however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.

GM's 2021/2024 6.2 engine recall began with vehicle production March 1st, 2021. My Yukon XL Denali was produced Feb 26, 2021, THREE days before the recall start. The engine was replaced by GM approximately 6/21/2023 (previous owner), the replacement engine was built the 129th week of 2023. With my recent call to GM, they only reference the original vehicle's build date. If my vehicle missed that by three days, and now has another engine built during this recall period (2023), they have no help for me, it is NOT covered in this safety recall. Neither GM or my dealer has been able to tell me which oil to run 0w20 or 0w40. This vehicle's engine failed just outside of the current recall dates. With the expansion of dates, I can have my motor inspected and be covered under the extended year and milage warranty given to other owners. I am requesting NHTSA to expand the existing recall date. Thank you.

Vehicle Information Make: GMC Model: Yukon XL Denali Year: 2021 VIN: [XXX] 1. What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The engine failed due to defective lifters and camshaft components, along with excessive oil consumption. These issues rendered the vehicle inoperable and required over $10,000 in repairs. The failed components are available for inspection upon request. 2. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? The engine failure occurred while the vehicle was in motion, creating a dangerous situation for my family and other drivers. Sudden loss of engine power could have led to a collision or left us stranded in unsafe conditions. 3. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes. The issue was diagnosed and confirmed by DeFouw GMC in Lafayette, Indiana. GMC has acknowledged the defect and agreed to cover all but $2,000 of the repair costs. 4. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? The vehicle has been inspected by DeFouw GMC. GMC is aware of the issue under Case #[XXX]. No inspections have been conducted by police or insurance representatives. 5. Were there any warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? No, it all happened at once. The vehicle was extremely well cared for, and GM has all of the oil change records. Additional Comments: We have been without our family vehicle since [XXX], and GMC has not provided an estimated arrival date for the replacement engine. We are now entering month four without a vehicle, which has severely impacted our family’s mobility and safety. This delay is unacceptable and reflects poorly on GMC’s commitment to customer safety and service. Has also cost us over $10,000 out of pocket, which I will seek reimbursement for legally, if I must. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U

Subject: Assistance Request – Vehicle Engine Failure Shortly After Purchase I am reaching out for assistance regarding a serious issue with a vehicle I recently purchased. Approximately two weeks after purchasing the vehicle, the engine failed completely. I was driving it to pick up my daughter from school and when I went to go from stopping at a red light the engine light started flashing, the car said lowering for stabilization, and it started smoking and wouldn't go. I was almost hit due to the engine just stalling. When I was able to drive it was shaking and I couldn't go past 30. I made it to the dealership that was 7 mins away and had a guy from service come out. There wasn't any warnings before the engine went out. The dealership has informed me that I am responsible for the repair cost even though vehicles of the same year, make, and model have an active engine recall for this exact issue. Despite this, the dealership and manufacturer have refused to cover or assist with the repair, and there is currently no estimated time for replacement parts or a loaner vehicle. I have documentation from Greg Hubler on there diagnosis. I believe this situation may involve a warranty, recall, or consumer protection concern, and I would like to know what steps I can take or if your office can assist with resolving this matter.

I had a complete engine failure in my 2021 Yukon XL Denali while driving 70mph on the highway. My vehicle warning lights all of a sudden came on and my cruise control was disengaged. My vehicle started shaking and then started smoking. It was taken to our GMC dealership immediately and it was discovered that the engine had failed even though my VIN is not listed in the L87 Recall. No warning lights appeared prior to this failure. I will attached our invoice from the dealership and their description of the problems.

While operating the vehicle at normal highway speed, the engine suddenly failed without warning. The vehicle immediately lost power, forcing me to coast to the shoulder. This created a dangerous situation in active traffic. The vehicle was later towed to an authorized GM dealership. The dealer inspected the vehicle but refused to provide assistance or take responsibility for the engine failure. Based on the symptoms and information available, the failure appears to be caused by a known GM engine defect. This issue poses a serious safety hazard since the engine can fail abruptly during highway driving, increasing the risk of accidents or injury. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate this matter and that GM be held accountable for addressing this known defect.

Lifters failed

The contact owned a 2021 GMC Yukon XL. The contact stated that while driving 70 MPH, the “Service Safety Restraint Device” warning light illuminated. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, and the contact was informed that the air bag was not repaired correctly because there was electrical tape and packing foam inside the air bag housing. The air bag was replaced and the front driver seat belt was replaced, and the vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and opened a case. The approximate failure mileage was 117,000.

The contact owns a 2021 GMC Yukon XL. The contact stated that while driving 6 MPH, the vehicle experienced a complete loss of automotive power and all electrical components shut off, with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where the vehicle was diagnosed, and the contact was informed that the engine had failed and needed to be towed to a local dealer where the vehicle was diagnosed a second time, and the contact was advised that the engine had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V274000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) as a possible cause of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 133,000.

The contact owns a 2021 GMC Yukon XL. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed, and determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V274000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 66,000.

The engine has a knocking noise. Very noticeable. Started around 3 weeks ago and has done it on multiple occasions.

Manufacturer Recall NumberN252494000 NHTSA Recall Number25V274 Recall StatusRecall Incomplete, remedy not yet available

My 2021 GMC Yukon XL Denali is part of the April 2025 recall for the 6.2L V8 engine defect. The dealership confirmed the engine must be replaced, but the part is on backorder, potentially for several months. In the meantime, GMC only authorized a GMC Acadia as a courtesy vehicle. The Acadia is not comparable to our Yukon XL. We are a family of six, and while the Acadia has a third row, there is almost no cargo space with it in use. Our Yukon XL has over three times the cargo capacity, which is necessary for safely transporting luggage and sports equipment during our frequent trips (2–3 times per month). Because of this, we have already been forced to rent a larger SUV at our own expense for a recent trip. GMC’s Courtesy Transportation Program states that owners should receive comparable transportation during recall repairs. Despite escalating through the dealership, GMC Customer Assistance, and even the regional manager, we were denied a comparable loaner or guaranteed rental coverage. This leaves our family in an unsafe and impractical situation while waiting months for the recall repair.