2021 GMC YUKON Engine Problems
125 NHTSA complaints on file
All Engine Complaints — Page 2
I have again taken my vehicle in for about 8th time trying to get an understanding of why my vehicle vibrates. Again, I was told that the problem could not be duplicated. However, when picking up, I had a discussion with the service manager whom had driven the vehicle as well.. He stated that he felt and heard something from the rear end. I explained that I had the differential fluid change about 2 months ago due to a growling noise when making a left turn. He printed the service bulletin for the differential and put it with my paper. I was told I would receive a call from him the following Monday to bring my truck back in to further investigate because it sounded like the vehicle has a bad rear end. I have not received a call back and have attempted to make contact with service manager twice....
Knocking coming from engine, seems like engine failure
Purchased certified used from Davis Chevrolet in 2023 with multi-point inspection. Had motor replaced due to engine lifter failure in July 24, 2024. Electronic fuel module failed June 22, 2025. I have had multiple issues in between including alternator, belt/pulley system, rear end issues costing thousands of dollars all while paying a large amount monthly. The vehicle is giving constant issues and is not safe.
Had the engine replaced at 10,342 and the engine just went out again at 85,343 Old engine #N1210061cu8x0090 replaced at 10,342 Faulty replacement engine #t2211729l92x0913 I show this engine is part of the recall from but GMC is telling me my engine isn’t part of this recall and won’t cover my faulty engine that just went out.
On 05.29.25 my 2021 GMC Yukon Denali with 24,000 experienced engine issues and ultimately a total failure. While driving at 65 miles an hour the engine light began blinking and a thumping/knocking noise began on the front passenger side of the vehicle. I was 1 mile away from the GM dealership and went there immediately. They called me two hours later confirming the engine failure and that it would have to be replaced. They stated, however, the engine is experiencing a national backorder. No timeline has been provided for the engine to be received or replaced. I am curious to know if the new engine will come from the same engine group that is currently having issues, and if this can happen again.
The oil level reads way below from what the engine percentage tell me. The vehicle Oil consumption happens to fast. My last two oil changes have been within a month
The #3 lifter on my cars engine failed with 80101 miles on it. The engine started to run weak by shuttering. My wife was driving and the car was shaking at a stop and vibrated upon acceleration. I took the car to the dealer and they said the #3 lifter collapsed and could have caused engine failure. The dealer replaced the lifters on that side of the engine.
We are back on shop for lifter replacement for the 3rd timeand possibly more once they open the project. Valve springs replaced and lifters.
The contact owns a 2021 GMC Yukon. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at 55 MPH with two child passengers, the vehicle went into LIMP Mode. The driver was able to pull over safely to the side of the road. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the crankshaft fractured, causing metal shards to enter the engine. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer recommended that the engine be replaced. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to the dealer and to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 94,558.
The engine was missing and losing power with no check engine lights or messages at all, it is available for inspection. I was 3 hours from home in 4 lane busy traffic in St. Louis taking my daughter to a doctors appointment, losing power is not ideal for this situation and pulling over on the side of this busy road with my whole family in the car is dangerous. When I got the car home I took it to the dealership, they did an inspection and told me that my engine had 20,000 misses and I would need new lifters and a cam. I have not had insurance look at the vehicle since I had the dealership look at it, there has been a recall for this issue on these motors but somehow my vehicle is not on the recall list.
The contact owns a 2021 GMC Yukon. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the Forward Collision Avoidance system erroneously activated, causing the vehicle to suddenly slow down. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who serviced the Forward Collision Avoidance system camera and sensors. No further information was available. Additionally, while driving at highway speeds, there was a knocking sound coming from the engine compartment, and the seat restraint failure message was displayed. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 20,000.
I am having an oil burning issue in my 2021 GMC Yukon Denali 6.2L engine and understand that some Yukon's have been recalled for this, but not all. GMC directed me here. My check engine light went on last week and when it was plugged in it showed critical oil life despite being well below my next scheduled oil change (which has also resulted in me having a Rejected state inspection sticker due to this being in the computer at time of inspection). I am concerned that not all Yukons have been recalled but I'm clearly having the same issue as others as this is only a 4 year old vehicle and otherwise in very good condition. This would be available for inspection by you at any time. Also, this issue has been confirmed with the dealer but my VIN is not part of the current recall. Is there a...
I took my vehicle into the GMC dealer near my home in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin (Napleton) on April 30, 2025 to have the L87 engine recall addressed. I had a video with sound where a loud clacking noise could be clearly heard, coming from the passenger side of the engine. The service attendant and the mechanic assigned to my vehicle listened to it and both agreed that the sound was not normal, or good. Four hours later, they called and said the vehicle was ready to be picked up. They did neither pass or fail the engine, and didn't put in thicker oil. I was told that they aren't doing anything until they received clearer direction from GM. This is very disappointing for me and now afraid to drive on the highway for fear of catstrophic failure and potential crash. I called another GMC dealer nearby, in Watertown, WI, who...
The vehicle’s air suspension system failed multiple times, followed by failures in the rod and/or crankshaft engine components. Currently, the vehicle is also experiencing engine warning lights and reduced propulsion issues. The vehicle is currently at the dealership and is available for inspection upon request. The loss of propulsion and engine failures create a serious safety hazard on the road, as the vehicle can unexpectedly lose speed or stop functioning, increasing the risk of rear-end collisions or being stranded in dangerous traffic situations. The dealership has explicitly stated that the vehicle is not safe to drive due to the risk of potential accidents. Yes, the dealership has confirmed the air suspension failure and the engine component damage. However, they have not yet been able to identify the exact cause of the current reduced propulsion issue despite multiple service attempts. The vehicle has been inspected multiple times by the dealership’s service...
Driving down highway. Engine failure, loss of power. Ended up being lifter and camshaft failure.
The engine needs replaced and GM doesn't have any engines or know when we will get any engines. Evidently this affects numerous 6.2 liter engines that GM made from 2021-2024.
Driving approx 60mph on expressway and engine stuttered for 3-4 seconds, check engine light came on and vehicle completely shut down. Wouldn't restart. Family with kids had to cross 4 lanes of traffic to make it to the shoulder of an on-ramp. Towed to dealership and they stated the motor seized and needs a complete replacement. Vehicle has 72,000 miles on it, always stored in a temperature controlled attached garage, oil changes before schedule at the local dealership.
Engine, just froze while driving.
I was driving my Yukon with my family back from a trip and my Yukon engine shut off while on the highway. The vehicle went into neutral but I was driving down a hill when is all happened. Luckily there wasn’t much traffic and I was able to pull of to the side of the road. There was no check engine light or indication of any issues prior to this incident happening. After this incident, the vehicle turned back on and was able to drive home. Now it is seating at a dealership waiting for a new engine with no eta on a new engine.
Crank shaft has failed.
Vehicle has an engine knocking. The oil pressure will drop and will go into low power
I've taken my 2021 Yukon Denali to GMC dealers complaining of "clacking" noise coming from the passenger side of the engine on 3 occasions. Each time, they tell me that they do not hear anything. Now, I see that the L87 engine has defective bearings which could lead to abrupt engine failure which could lead to a dangerous situation. I envision power sliding on the highway going 70 mph and ultimately rolling over and getting killed. I am now frightened to travel on the highway and see no resolution forthcoming from GM. They are just looking at $. My wife and I are [XXX] and travel to Florida from Wisconsin every year for winter. The Yukon to me was the most expensive, ni est vehicle that I have ever owned, but now feel like I could die anytime while driving it. Who would want to buy it now with this...
I was driving down the interstate traveling 75 mph and with any warning the vehicle shifted into neutral. I made my way to the side of the interstate with any ability to accelerate on a busy stretch of highway. I had my children in the car with me. After making my way off the road, I shifted car to park and it wouldn’t go back into drive. I turned the car off, in an effort to put the car back into drive. The car wouldn’t not restart. We were stranded in the side of the interstate 6 hours from home. I had the vehicle towed to Ed Morse GMC in Rolla, MO. The let me know after a few days that my vehicle needed a new engine and that this has been an issue with other 2021 GMC Tahoe vehicles. We decided to have the vehicle towed to Bob Howard...
The vehicle was handed off to the dealer for a routine oil change and transmission flush. The dealer stated over the phone that during the engine's oil draining process, the tech noticed metal particulates in the oil. The oil was allowed to completely drain until no drips fell from the drain plug. The tech then filled the engine with new oil to the correct level. After the trans flush was complete, the tech took the vehicle for a test drive, during which they noticed strange engine noises. The tech then parked the vehicle in the garage bay, where the engine subsequently failed. What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request?: The dealer has not confirmed the exact cause of the failure, however it is expected to be because of a failed connecting rod bearing. The NHTSA may contact the dealership for information regarding...
I was passing a semi truck at 80 mph on the highway, after passing I tried to reduce my speed on the cruise control but got no response from my vehicle. I pulled off the highway and the engine was dead. I feel lucky to be alive the truckers were whizzing by at 80mph while we waited for a tow truck. The dealer has confirmed the engine is seized. There were no warning lights or other symptoms.
Engin failure
I was driving my vehicle at a speed of around 50 MPH when the vehicle had an sudden loss of power. The vehicle displayed press the start button while the vehicle was still moving with the motor off. I pressed the start button and the vehicle shifted to park and went to complete loss of power functions. The hazard lights would not work, the vehicle would not start or move out of park. The vehicle was stuck in the fast lane in park with no way of moving it or warning others with hazard lights. My daughter and I almost got hit by a semi due to the vehicle issues. I had to call 911 to get police there for safety concerns and a tow truck to take the vehicle back to the dealership. The tow truck couldn't get the vehicle out of park as well, so he had to...
I started the 2021 Yukon Denali this morning and there was a slight squeaking noise coming from the front of the car. I began driving and the noise went away. I parked the car and completed an errand. I then started the car to return home and on the way it started making the noise but much louder. I pulled over and the car died and refused to start. GMC Roadside Assistance sent two different tow truck that were not able to tow the car. Tow Truck #1 - Flatbed truck. Car did not go in to neutral because it couldn't start so the driver said that he was unable to pull it up onto the flatbed. Tow Truck #2 - Tow truck w/ Dolly wheels. Driver said it was too heavy for his Dolly to tow the Denali. GMC Roadside Assistance then said that they're two trucks were unable...
One bank of lifters went out while under warranty and were repaired then the other ones went out shortly there after.
Was driving normal down interstate. Interstate has two barrie walls making it a two lane road with no shoulders. Car was almost rear ended 3 times while it was stopped in middle of interstate. Me, my husband, my [XXX] , [XXX] and [XXX] were all in the car. I had to jump out the car while it was still rolling to make sure my children made it to safety before someone didn’t see us and hit us at 70mph. We had to cross the road and jump over a barrier in the construction zone. It took our high way patrol 35 mins just to show up and shut the road down to get the vehicle moved. According to the GM mechanic, a rod went through the block causing a hole. There was no warning of this happening, the car made noise and the vehicle automatically said low oil pressure, shut...
The valves, the pistons had to be replaced. The motor went out. The motor should be replaced but they did not give me that option. The vehicle only has 50K on it. Was kept in the garage. Had regular maintenance. The GM service garage has had this vehicle since 2-11-25.
Had unexpected loss of engine power, rough idle and warning lights. Has been out of service in the GMC dealer for almost 6 weeks to date. No diagnosis. No repair date. No response from GM other than "waiting on diagnosis" No loaner or rental provided. Still under warranty. 6.2 v8. Engine failure suspected. I am reporting this to help switch the investigation to an actual recall of the wide-spread issue with this engine. No documentation written information provided by GM.
Engine locked up, local gmc dealer diagnosis " engine is locked up - metal debris in oil - failed internal components". Engine made a few noises the week before, no other warning signs. Vehicle died in the turning lane of a two lane road. One hour not moving in busy traffic until tow truck arrived
The contact owns a 2021 GMC Yukon. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost automotive power. The Electronic Stability Control warning light was intermittently illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a local independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with a spun rod bearing failure; however, further investigation was needed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 102,000.
The component that failed was the Camshaft and Lifters in the Engine - My safety and others was put at risk because while going 45mph, I suddenly lost forward moving power and couldn't go faster than 35 - braking power was sketchy and only responsive when pumped. - I received the following errors on my dash "Service ESC" "Service Traction Control", Reduced Acceleration Drive with Care", "Forward Collision System Unavailable", "Service Emission System" the vehicle would shudder violently- this problem has been confirmed and corrected at a huge expense (see bill) -
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? - Engine Failure, on November 8, not certain engine is available for inspection -2nd Engine Failure, February 27, engine being replaced now and can be inspected How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? -first engine failure happened on highway interchange without warning and stranded the vehicle on a busy highway with 6 passengers (5 of them children) at risk -second engine failed in the middle of an unprotected intersection, and would have caused an accident if other drivers were unable to brake Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? -both engines discovered metal debris in the oil pan Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? -yes, vehicle was inspected by GMC dealership both times Were...
at 60860 my first engine went out General Motors offered no help i have extended warranty it took 3 months to get my Yukon back now 40000 later 2nd engine goes out cannot get a dealer to touch excuse after excuse tried to contact General Motors nobody will talk to me
Motor blew up
Engine or something is making a noise every time turned on and now while turning off
Hello, I am writing this complaint because i bought this 2021 GMC Yukon new from King GMC in Loveland CO. The engine seized up on me while driving once turned off, i was able to get it going and now it has done it again but this time no luck getting it going, Maintenace has always been maintained and up kept, and the more i read about this i am finding out its a problem that everyone is getting with this 6.2 litter engines. The dealer wants to charge me 30k to change the engine and radiator and cooler lines on an already ridiculous overpriced vehicle. I am not sure why there hasn't been a recall issued perhaps because it involves a new engine? over700k people have the same problem. if thier is something you guys can do i dont think its correct the customers have to pay the dues...
All lifters had to be replaced at 5,315 miles on 7/28/21 #7 Piston had to be replaced at 42,431 miles on 5/24/24 This vehicle has the 6.2 L V8 L87 engine that is part of NHTSA Investigation # PE25001 I am reaching the 5yr/50,000 mile drivetrain warranty and am concerned that this engine could have recurring problems.
Engine locked up while driving and left me stranded in the cold for hours
In September 2023, mere months after purchasing this vehicle, I was driving on the Mountain Parkway in Eastern Kentucky. Traveling the 70 mile hour speed limit, everything in the vehicle shut down, including my ability to use my breaks. Luckily, I was able to safely coast to the side of the road, which left me quite vulnerable as patrons passed at 70+ miles per hour. There were no advanced warning such as lamps, messages, or other symptoms of a problem. I had the vehicle towed to Hutch Chevrolet in Paintsville, KY where they indicated to me that the crankshaft locked up due to a crank bearing failure. They had to replace the engine and I was out of pocket $12,631.79.
Had to replace an engine due to a main bearing failure, not the connecting rod failure thats being investigated. We pulled into the driveway with zero issue and zero suspect of issue, changed the oil as routine 5k miles, went to start it, and it blew the 400A starter fuse. It friction welded the crank to the bearing when I ahit the engine off. It looked like it flaked the coating off the bearing, then due to the recommended 0-20 thin oil, it didn't have the proper protection for metal on metal. Hoping that the main bearings get added to this investigation, because they are the same coating. Same manufacturer.
The contact owns a 2021 GMC Yukon. The contact stated that while driving at 60 MPH, the vehicle's engine shut off without warning. The contact was unable to start the vehicle and was left stranded on the roadway for hours. The contact finally managed to have the vehicle towed to a dealer where they diagnosed the vehicle with a defective engine main bearing(engine failure). The vehicle remained in the dealer's possession where it had yet to be repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The failure mileage was 28,450.
My family and I found ourselves stranded on the interstate when our engine failed while we were driving on I-10 at 75 mph. The connecting rod bearing got lodged in the engine, causing it to seize. This put us in an extremely dangerous situation. I believe these vehicles should be recalled. I've been in discussions with GM to buy back the vehicle, but their leadership has declined my request. They are offering to replace the engine, but I do not want this vehicle back.
At approximately 14,000 miles my 6.2L V8 engine had a lifter go bad on the truck. GMC covered this with warranty at the time. The truck seemed to perform well until I hit approximately 94,841 miles and then a lifter went bad again. I had an 85,000 warranty and this repair was not covered. I was quoted $6,500 to repair the truck by the dealer. I made a social media post and tagged GMC. GMC reached out to me directly and took $1,000 off of the repair and I paid $5,576.48 out of pocket to repair the lifters. GMC also offered an extended 2 year warranty on the engine at that point that is expires in September of 2025. I currently have 143,000 miles on the truck and my intent was to drive this truck for as long as humanly possible. I was told that this was designed to be...
The motor on my 2021 Yukon completely failed while driving on a busy state road. The blown motor was replaced by a local GMC dealership, so I do not know it's status or if it'd be available to inspect. My safety was greatly put at risk. I am blessed that my wife and children were not with me, if they were, I would be even more furious. While driving on a busy state road, the tachometer dropped to zero and the truck automatically shifted into neutral. I quickly realized the engine had shutdown, and attempted a restart while coasting. The motor would not restart and I was lucky enough to coast into a nearby parking lot. Had I been in traffic, on the highway, or at a stop light, the situation could have been even more dangerous. As it was, I was stuck in below freezing temps for several hours...
My 2021 Yukon Denali has roughly 70k miles and this is now the SECOND time that my engine shut off while driving >55mph on the interstate in the past 3 months. The first time, I had the sensation that the car was running out of gas when I went to accelerate. After about 5-10 seconds, the engine turned off, but the electronics stayed on. I coasted to the side of the road and tried multiple times to start it without success. The engine sounded fine while turning over and over, but it would never start. That episode turned out to be a bad fuel pump control module, and after roughly $400 at the local Firestone auto repair shop, I was on my way (FYI, they didn't diagnose it; I learned that was the likely problem by reading online forums and basically demanded they replace the FPCM). Now, here I am...
In July of 2024 while coming back from vacation pulling our boat our 2021 Yukon Denali with 6.2L motor started making noise while traveling on the interstate. I started to get over to the shoulder as the car lost power. I finally got it over to the shoulder as traffic was heavy and it was pouring down rain. As soon as I got it to the side of the road the check engine light came on and the engine died. It would not turn over or restart. After about 3 hours along side the very busy highway in bad weather GM finally sent a tow truck to take it to the dealer. After a week in a half it was finally diagnosed with spun rod bearings and main crankshaft bearings. The car had just over 21,000 miles and had been serviced per the manufactures recommendations. It took over 7 weeks...
Other 2021 GMC YUKON Problem Areas
Power Train
37 complaints
Fuelpropulsion System
35 complaints
Engine And Engine Cooling
24 complaints
Electrical System
21 complaints
Unknown Or Other
18 complaints
Air Bags
15 complaints
Forward Collision Avoidance Automatic Emergency Braking
10 complaints
Steering
10 complaints
Forward Collision Avoidance Warnings
8 complaints
Fuel System Gasoline
8 complaints
Service Brakes
7 complaints
Suspension
6 complaints
Seats
5 complaints
Seat Belts
4 complaints
Vehicle Speed Control
3 complaints
Back Over Prevention Warnings
2 complaints
Electronic Stability Control Esc
2 complaints
Fuel System Gasolinedeliveryfuel Pumpcontroldrive Module
2 complaints
Lane Departure Blind Spot Detection
2 complaints
Service Brakes Airantilockabs Warning Light
2 complaints
Structurebody
2 complaints
Electrical System Instrument Clusterpanel
1 complaint
Electrical Systemalternatorgeneratorregulatorintegrated Starterother Than Propulsion
1 complaint
Engine And Engine Coolingenginecrankcamshaft Position Sensor
1 complaint
Exterior Lighting
1 complaint
Forward Collision Avoidance
1 complaint
Forward Collision Avoidance Dynamic Brake Supportbrake Assist
1 complaint
Lane Departure Assist
1 complaint
Lane Departure Lane Keep Steering Assist
1 complaint
Lane Departure Warning
1 complaint
Tires
1 complaint
Visibility
1 complaint
Visibilitywiper
1 complaint
Wheels
1 complaint