Complaints about the 2026 GMC Yukon XL peaked in 2025, with 3 filed
Owner complaints about this model year, by the year they were filed with NHTSA.
SUV, gasoline, 4WD/4-Wheel Drive/4x4, built in United States. Owner complaints on file from Nov 1, 2025 to Oct 1, 2026.
Owner complaints about this model year, by the year they were filed with NHTSA.
Owner complaints by component. Hover or focus a bar for the crash, fire, injury or death count.
Check a specific vehicle by VIN on NHTSA's site: a campaign may cover only part of a model year's production.
| Campaign | Filed | Subject | Component | Vehicles | Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26V-304 | May 14, 2026 | Incorrect bolts may have been installed on the left and right front wheel hubs, which can result in the bolts loosening or deforming over time | Wheels | 2,457 | Part replacement |
| 26V-289 | May 7, 2026 | Component missing from the drivetrain transfer case may cause the front and/or rear wheels to lock up without warning to the driverDo not drive | Powertrain | 66 | Part replacement |
| 26V-114 | Feb 26, 2026 | General Motors has decided that certain 2027 Chevrolet Bolt EV, 2025-2026 Cadillac OPTIQ, Chevrolet Colorado, Equinox EV, GMC Canyon, 2026 Buick… | Equipment | 5,861 | Not stated |
The full text of every complaint filed with NHTSA about this model year, newest first. Complaints are filed by owners and are not verified by NHTSA; NHTSA removes personal details before publishing.
35 complaints on file, page 1 of 2.
Total Engine failure. This is the second time. The vehicle had under 2000 miles when the first engine failure happened and left us sitting on the Turnpike. Very unsafe!! We were assured we received a new "upgraded" engine only to find out GM decided to roll the dice with our lives and the lives of our family (grandchildren) and put another bad engine in our vehicle. I will never feel safe with this vehicle or that they are putting in "new" parts.
NHTSA complaint 11768288What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? ""6.2L Engine Failed with 4,785 miles"" How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? ""Engine Failed in active highway jug handle and required police assistance and vehicle needed to be towed to the dealer."" Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? ""The dealer has confirmed that the engine failed and needs to be replaced."" Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? ""At this point only the dealer."" Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear?"" No just started sputtering and shout down.""
NHTSA complaint 11767078The contact owns a 2026 GMC Yukon XL Denali. The contact stated that while driving 65 MPH, the engine seized. There was an abnormal burning odor inside the vehicle. The contact stated that the failure had occurred while driving on a busy highway in the middle lane. The local Police arrived and assisted with directing traffic. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact was informed that the failure was a known failure with the vehicle. The manufacturer was contacted by email and made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 5,000.
NHTSA complaint 11765285The contact owned a 2026 GMC Yukon XL. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle suddenly turned off and lost engine power. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was pulled over to the side of the road and was then towed to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The vehicle was diagnosed with engine failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The dealer confirmed the engine failure. The failure mileage was 1,800.
NHTSA complaint 11764137Computer screen is black 90% of the time. During this vehicle has no back up cameras, no control of air conditioning, no control of heat or defrost, no heated seats, no mapping system, no vehicle safety display of tire pressure, oil life, brake life, no ability to control radio. These features cannot be turned on with manual push buttons as they are controlled thru the computer screen. 2 complaints to GMC have resulted in them stating they have no fix as it is a software issue. They have refused dealer request to replace the computer. As a [XXX] with health issues, the vehicle has sat parked due to no air conditioning. With NNY winter weather approaching, vehicle is unsafe without heat or defrost. Vehicle was purchased on XXX and problem was immediate. I find it amazing that GMC has had 9 months to resolve and they do not have a single competent software engineer! GMC case #XXX issued on XXX6. Buy back denied as GMC states it does not meet NYS Lemon law because vehicle is drivable. I disagree as I feel it is unsafe. GMC case # XXX opened on XXX. On XXX I was notified by phone from GMC that Tech case was being closed as they have no way of repairing. Again, requested new computer but was immediately denied as they continue to use software excuse. GMC rep. stated it is my responsibility to periodically contact a GMC dealership to see if a repair is available. All GMC correspondence has been by phone as they will not put anything in writing. Meanwhile I have an $ 80,000 vehicle that I feel is unsafe heading into snow and cold. NYS AG complaint was a waste of time as they determined I should hire an attorney and take GMC to court. I do not want to risk my safety or anyone else on the road. Common sense tells me if my home computer had a blank screen, I would have to replace it! On XXX I left vehicle at NYE GMC in [XXX] for 5 days. They confirmed there is no fix, they confirmed screen is black majority of the time. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint 11763128The L87 engine seized and receiving a full engine replacement now
NHTSA complaint 11762825The shark fin antenna has a plastic cover that is only held on by 4 plastic clips. Hi winds or car wash can compromise the cover by breaking at least two of the plastic clips allowing air to get underneath the cover and then the cover falls off. I consider this a safety issue due to the fact that if your on a highway and it comes off it can crash thru another vehicle’s windshield causing a collision with other vehicles or cause serious injury to the occupants of the vehicle it strikes. I looked online and it seems to be happening to numerous GM vehicles with it falling off.
NHTSA complaint 11762173Filing as a proactive data point for the ongoing NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Engineering Analysis (EA26005) regarding GM 6.2L L87 engine failures. Vehicle is a 2026 GMC Yukon XL AT4 equipped with the 6.2L V8 and 10-speed transmission. The vehicle currently has approximately 2,800 miles and operates perfectly with no mechanical symptoms, ticking, or loss of propulsion. As an active preventive measure against internal component contamination, early engine oil changes were performed at 700 miles and 1,700 miles by a certified franchise dealer (Alpine Buick GMC). The engine continues to use the factory-specified 0W-20 oil viscosity. A magnetic oil drain plug has been installed to monitor for premature ferrous bearing and crankshaft debris at future service intervals. This report is submitted to ensure 2026 model year data running 0W-20 oil is officially documented within the federal investigation scope.
NHTSA complaint 11759989Engine blew at 8,762 miles in the middle of the night with 3 small kids in the car. Currently 41 days waiting for a new engine. We were driving and it started making a clapping sound like something was caught underneath. We had to drive a could miles to find a safe place to pull over. If we increased speed, the clapping increased and it slowed when we slowed. Hauled it to the local dealership and they said it was the engine. The dealership it was purchased at says the same thing. There was no warning. After a couple of miles of the clicking/clamping sound, the car started to shake and then died. There were no warnings or light on the dash of any signs of distress until it died. It was a couple of miles before we even had a safe place to pull over on the side of the highway. Going 70mph on a highway that is posted to be 70mph with 3 kids in the car, in the middle of the night, put my family’s life in danger along with other cars behind us. Clearly safety and quality isn’t GM’s top priority. This is our 5th Yukon. Our 13th General Motors vehicle. To say we are disappointed is an understatement when we have been devoted to GM for over a decade.
NHTSA complaint 11759273I purchased my vehicle from GMC on April 13th and had approximately 4,500 miles on it. It was sold as new and drove it for about a week at 4,994 miles on the highway. During this time, it shifted from drive to neutral , but the vehicle was towed back to the dealership. Upon inspection, it was diagnosed with a seized engine.
NHTSA complaint 11758829This is a follow-up to my previous complaint - 11716917. My second engine, which was installed after my first engine failed after approximately 5,000 miles, also failed. It failed after approximately 5,200 miles on it. I picked up the vehicle after the first engine replacement on 2/19/26 and the second engine failed on 5/18/26. It failed as I was driving to work - I was able to exit the highway and pull into a parking lot. From there I had the vehicle towed to a dealership and they confirmed that the engine had failed and needed a total replacement. This is a 2026 Yukon XL Denali Ultimate with the 6.2 L87 engine. I want to make sure the NHTSA is aware that I’ve now had two complete engine failures and am on my third. I have no confidence in the vehicle and have no reason to believe that my third engine will last. GM has refused to do anything about this vis-a-vis extending my warranty or replacing my vehicle or buying it back.
NHTSA complaint 117586889 months into ownership, with 24,000 miles I had complete engine failure pulling into an intersection. Slamming into park while moving and shutting down. This is a known issue with the GM 6.2 liter engines but I specifically waited to order a 2026 as this was far outside the recall window GM had in place for this known issue and was led to believe the issue was fixed going forward. The car was towed to a GM dealer and sat for 39 days for a complete engine replacement. Now, a week after it has been returned it has sputtered and shut off as I am coming to a stop requiring a restart, not unlike stalling a manual transmission car. I think your agency needs to expand the investigation far further to include 2026 models. This is a 90,000 dollar brand new family hauler that I am supposed to trust my wife and kids are safe in. Now I cannot even trust it will safely take her through an intersection. Thank you for your time.
NHTSA complaint 11758602Unknown brought my car in on July 24, 2026. They reported they do not know what is wrong with the engine, but stated GM is not letting them take it apart and told them to replace the engine. While the car was parked and during acceleration, my car was making a weird noise that got louder during acceleration. A few days prior to this happening, while driving on the highway, my car's emergency lights came on. I had to pull over to turn it off.
NHTSA complaint 11755802The large central infotainment touchscreen (which controls climate control/AC, navigation/maps, audio, backup camera, and all primary vehicle functions) has repeatedly failed by going completely dark/blank without warning on my 2026 GMC Yukon Denali XL purchased new on [XXX]. The screen has gone dark on three separate occasions. First failure occurred prior to [XXX]; vehicle was taken to Champion GMC (7885 W Grand River Rd, Brighton, MI 48114) for repair and returned to me. The screen failed again shortly after. Second repair attempt was made on 06/22/2026; vehicle was returned and the screen failed again immediately. The vehicle is currently at Champion GMC for a third repair attempt as of 06/29/2026. Safety risk: Loss of the screen eliminates access to the backup/rearview camera, speedometer display, climate controls (heat and AC), navigation, and warning indicators — all while operating the vehicle. There is no warning, message, or dashboard indicator prior to each failure. The screen goes dark suddenly and without notice. The problem has been confirmed and repair attempted three times by Champion GMC. The vehicle has not been inspected by police or insurance representatives. The component is available for inspection upon request, as the vehicle is currently at the dealership INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint 11747253I lost all sound on my 2026 GMC Yukon XL with only 150 miles on it. Apparently this is a common issue that needs a recall.
NHTSA complaint 11743343While operating the vehicle, I began to hear a metallic grinding noise originating from the center of the engine compartment. The sound was clearly audible within the cabin. Approximately one mile before the vehicle ultimately failed, the engine began to malfunction. As I slowed to a stoplight, the vehicle started to shake before shutting off abruptly and entering a coasting state. All electrical systems powered down and the vehicle would not restart. Shortly thereafter, heavy smoke began to emit both inside and outside the cabin, visibly coming from the hood and through the air vents. There was also a distinct burning odor. I attempted to restart the vehicle multiple times without success. The dashboard displayed the message: “conditions not suitable to shift.” Due to the vehicle becoming disabled on a curve and posing a safety hazard, I contacted the Sheriff’s Office for assistance to prevent a potential collision. Upon their arrival, it was noted that the engine compartment and hood area were exceptionally hot, particularly where the smoke was originating. The dealership has since confirmed they have also been unable to restart the vehicle. The vehicle has been inspected by the GMC dealer and is currently pending further evaluation by a GM-certified mechanic to determine the root cause. Prior to this incident, there were no warning lights, system messages, or other noticeable symptoms indicating an issue.
NHTSA complaint 11741588Car Engine stopped , shut down on I 475 South Macon GA at 70 mph in left lane. Had to coast to right shoulder. Towed to Hutchinson GMC in Macon GA and it was determined the Engine had locked up. 2026 with 4200 miles, Purchased January 2nd 2026.
NHTSA complaint 11739155The contact owns a 2026 GMC Yukon XL. The contact stated while parked and occupied in the vehicle or driving at night he can only see out of the bottom of the windshield. a dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and they offered no assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and they informed him they will call the dealer to take a look at the vehicle at night. The failure mileage was 150.
NHTSA complaint 11736051Catastrophic engine failure of 3.0l Diesel engine with only 2000 miles on it.
NHTSA complaint 11735729On 3/14/26, on I-75 in Troy, Michigan at 70mph the vehicle, with 4000k miles on the odometer completely shut off. I pushed to restart the engine and it would not restart. My whole family was in the car and we were on a curve. I was able to coast to a flat shoulder. The vehicle would not restart or shift out of park. OnStar took seven hours to tow the vehicle. The dealer is installing a new L87 6.2L engine. I do not have the vehicle back yet. I received an economy car as a loaner. The dealer says GM will not extend the factory warranty despite the engine replacement. My family could have been easily killed.
NHTSA complaint 11734291Technical service bulletins and other notices the manufacturer sent to dealers. A bulletin is not a recall; the 60 most recent are listed.