GMC Yukon engine problems, 2016–2027
1,475 of the 2,908 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the GMC Yukon 2016–2027 name the engine (NHTSA’s “Engine” heading — the engine and its cooling system). The loudest years: 2021 (373), 2023 (326), 2022 (246). Filed under the same heading across these years: 1 recall campaign, 4 NHTSA investigations. Every figure is a linked federal record; none is a failure rate, none a repair cost, and none a verdict on one car.
GMC Yukon engine problems by model year
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsOne row per model year on file, newest first. A year marked in depth has its own page: the complaints, the owners’ words and every document under this heading for that year.
| Model year | Complaints naming the engine | Share of the year’s | Typically at | On file under the heading | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 0 | — | — | — | the year → |
| 2026 in depth | 53 | 72% | — | 4 TSBs · 1 investigation | the record → |
| 2025 in depth | 52 | 63% | — | 58 TSBs · 1 investigation | the record → |
| 2024 in depth | 145 | 83% | 22k | 184 TSBs · 1 recall · 4 investigations | the record → |
| 2023 in depth | 326 | 71% | 38k | 515 TSBs · 1 recall · 4 investigations | the record → |
| 2022 in depth | 246 | 70% | 55k | 592 TSBs · 1 recall · 4 investigations | the record → |
| 2021 in depth | 373 | 67% | 75k | 713 TSBs · 1 recall · 4 investigations | the record → |
| 2020 | 40 | 48% | — | 394 TSBs | the year → |
| 2019 in depth | 71 | 56% | 104k | 544 TSBs | the record → |
| 2018 | 43 | 34% | — | 731 TSBs | the year → |
| 2017 in depth | 62 | 17% | 55k | 849 TSBs | the record → |
| 2016 in depth | 64 | 12% | 74k | 1000 TSBs | the record → |
Two things the counts carry that are not the car: how many of each year were sold, and how long each has been on the road — an older year out-counts a newer one before anything is wrong with it. The share column is the honest comparison across years: what part of that year’s complaints named the engine. Nothing here is a rate.
When the engine complaints were filed, and at what mileage
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled per calendar year, every model year together: 2016: 5 · 2017: 2 · 2018: 6 · 2019: 11 · 2020: 11 · 2021: 11 · 2022: 34 · 2023: 30 · 2024: 58 · 2025: 741 · 2026: 566
Across the model years, half of the 259 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the engine problem between 31,000 and 90,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the engine, from the model years with the most to say. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
Engine failure of lifters and piston rings at 58000 miles. Engine failure at highway speeds causing complete loss of power on highway. It is completely unacceptable to have such catastrophic engine failure on such a new vehicle
Our 2021 GMC Yukon XL for the third time now has shifted from Drive to Neutral and then turned off on us on the highway. The first time GM changed the motor (at approximately 35,000 miles), the second time was about a month ago we were at the White Mountains and it shut off on a highway, the third time was yesterday (with 61,057 miles)…
My engine stopped while I was driving. Unable to accelerate and the car will not start and is dead. Transmission light and DEF service lights came on. Luckily I was able to pull over to safety, barely. It was towed to the GMC dealership and waiting for it to be looked at.
On I was driving about 75mph on the freeway and suddenly the vehicle gear switched from drive to neutral. The vehicle dashboard read "vehicle condition not safe for shift" I tried to put the car back in drive by pushing the drive button but the vehicle was stuck in neutral.
I bought my 2022 Yukon XL on . On Friday , only a few weeks after having my car in the shop (at the dealer) for running rough, it started to make an odd high-pitched noise and running very rough at higher speeds. I immediately called the dealer and asked how quickly I could bring the car in to be checked.
What is on file about the engine, across the years
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsRecall campaign filed under this heading, any model year
- 25V274000 HighApr 24, 2025 · 597,571 vehicles
- General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Suburban, and Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles equipped with a 6.2L V8 gas engine. The connecting rod and/or crankshaft engine components may have manufacturing defects that can lead to engine damage and engine failure.
NHTSA investigations
- EA26005 Loss of motive power due to engine failure post recall remedyopened Aug 20, 2026 · open
- On January 16, 2026, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Recall Query RQ26001. This investigation was opened to assess the remedy effectiveness of Recall 25V-274. ODI has received complaints alleging engine failure in vehicles after the recall remedy had been completed, whether that remedy involved an oil viscosity change or a complete engine replacement. General Motors (GM) issued R…
- RQ26001 Loss of motive power due to engine failure post recall remedyopened Jan 16, 2026 · closed Aug 20, 2026
- On January 16, 2026, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Recall Query RQ26001. This investigation was opened to assess the remedy effectiveness of Recall 25V-274. ODI has received complaints alleging engine failure in vehicles after the recall remedy had been completed, whether that remedy involved an oil viscosity change or a complete engine replacement. General Motors (GM) issued R…
- EA25007 Loss of motive power due to engine failureopened Oct 23, 2025 · open
- The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received 1,157 reports of engine bearing failure failures in the L87 6.2L engine produced by General Motors (GM). Of the 1,157 reports received, 173 are outside of the scope of recall 25V-274. These engines are installed in Model Years (MY) 2019–2024 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500, and 2021-2024MY Chevrolet Suburban and Tahoe, GMC Yukon/Y…
- PE25001 Loss of motive power due to engine failureopened Jan 16, 2025 · closed Oct 23, 2025
- On January 16, 2025, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation PE25001 after receiving complaints and field reports concerning engine failures in MY2019-2024 GM’s full-size truck and SUV T1XX platform equipped with the L87 6.2L V8 engine. These complainants alleged engine bearing failures resulting in knocking and growling noises from the engine’s bottom end and in so…
Other systems with a record on the GMC Yukon
Source: the same filesEvery system, every model year: GMC Yukon problems by year →
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsWhich GMC Yukon years have the most engine complaints?
2021, 373; 2023, 326; 2022, 246. Raw counts, and an older year has had longer to collect them; by share of each year's own complaints the loudest is the 2024 (83%).
Is there a recall for the engine on the GMC Yukon?
Yes — one campaign is filed under this heading across these model years: 25V274000 (2024). A recall is matched by VIN, and applies to specific years; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
When do engine problems show up on the GMC Yukon?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 60,000 miles across the model years; half of them between 31,000 and 90,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Engine" heading cover?
The engine and its cooling system. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.