What 399 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 GMC Yukon Denali Xl 1500

My Yukon Denali XL GM engine that was put in on 07/2022 has already failed. It failed as I was driving down highway at 65 mile per hour. It failed on 04/12/2025. I paid almost $7,000 to have my engine replace due to the original engine failing in early 2022. Now the engine that I paid thousands of dollars for has already failed and has no compression in cylinder 4. I have researched this and can see GM is currently in litigation over car owners reporting engine failure due to either liftors or cams. My car should be considered in this class action lawsuit against GM. It's wrong for a company to take so much money from owners and use an engine that GM knew had issues and was faulty to place it into my vehicle only to have it fail and now make my vehicle undriveable and I am told it's another $8,000 to repair it. GM should address this issue with my vehicle and replace this engine that I had put in in 07/2022. GM was aware of this engine problem with my model car Yukon. GM knew this particular engine that they used in my vehicle on 07/22 (A GM engine) had the issue that GM is being sued for and sure enough the engine has now failed in my Yukon. Please hold GM accountable for this and include my car in this lawsuit.

NHTSA ODI 11733987

Recurring System Problems: My vehicle continues to exhibit intermittent system failures, causing unpredictable and potentially dangerous driving conditions. These issues have included: engine stalling, braking issues, electronic system malfunctions].

NHTSA ODI 11638185

There are several incidents reported regarding ongoing assessment with GMC interplay activity I have noticed this have become a dangerous drive ability inside acceleration controls Governor sets whiling driving engine play transmission shifts this have gone beyond everyday practices during drive times this have been very noticeable during anyone time RPM gauges constantly disrupted radio functions remote controls are at play many problems are being serious illegal assessed during drive compulsive fuel guagement.I have been placed at dangerous risk by interplay noticability. Now slight tick sounds after full services sparkplug and wire as tuneup oil changes fuel services and coolant same recurring problems continued after serviced alignment services.controls are very strong

NHTSA ODI 11610673

GMC shuts down while driving. Almost caused 2 accidents. Then it starts back up. Very dangerous!!!

NHTSA ODI 11569513

Engine coolant is usually water–based, and may also be oil. A three–valve–per–cylinder was originally slated for the LS7, and was abandoned imputable to design complexities. E85 ethanol should is an understatement to the ‘war on fossil fuels.’ The L98 is a modified version of the L76, with increased power and reduced redundant hardware. A Vee engine is common configurations of internal combustion consisting of two cylinder banks connected to a common crankshaft.

NHTSA ODI 11555752

Keep getting traction control and stability issue warnings along with reduced engine power. Idles up and down and rough Car was parked haven’t moved

NHTSA ODI 11450278

I have replaced the battery and alternator. My door locks keep locking and unlocking on the own while driving, all my electrical in my car dim and keep resetting, my gauges are going all over the place. My car will turn itself off. While stopped at a red light, it seems to want to go on its own. While not running, I get in to leave, and my key at times don’t want to turn over. Then at times I try to start it and it will tell me theft control and won’t crank. When I’m out of my vehicle at home, my car will lock itself when the setting is turned off. The problem has been going on for a year but only getting worse now.

NHTSA ODI 11424772

MY 5TH CYLINDER EXPLODED. I HAD A P0305 CODE FOR 5TH CYLINDER MISFIRE, TOOK INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY REPLACED THE COIL PACK ON THAT CYLINDER ON 10/20/2020 AND 01/17/2021 THE 5TH CYLINDER EXPLODED CAUSE CHUNKS OF METAL TO BE THROWN THROUGH THE SIDE AND CAUSE A CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE. IT WAS STATIONARY IN A PARKING LOT BUT I WAS JUST ABOUT TO PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE TO DRIVE WHEN I HEAR A NOISE AND SHUT THE CAR OFF. UPON FURTHER RESEARCH THERE IS CURRENTLY A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST THE GM FOR THE HIGH FAILURE RATE OF 2010-2014 YEARS FOR VEHICLES THAT USED THE 5.3LITER ENGINES; THE 6.2 LITER ENGINE, THE ONE IN MY VEHICLE, WAS MANUFACTURED IN THE SAME PLANT AS THE 5.3 LITER. GM FAILED TO DISCLOSE TO THE PUBLIC OF THE KNOWN DEFECT TO THE ENGINES.

NHTSA ODI 11389079

HAVING AN ONGOING ISSUE WHILE DRIVING. I'VE BEN ON THE HIGHWAY IN THE RAIN AND SNOW GOING 65-70 MPH AS WELL AS DRY PAVEMENT. ALL OF A SUDDEN MY DASHBOARD WILL LIGHT UP SAYING SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL, BRAKE SYSTEM, ABS , PARK ASSIST OFF AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS UP AND BLINKS . I WILL LOOSE MY BRAKES I THEN HAVE TO PUMP MY BRAKES SEVERAL TIMES TO GET TO EVEN SLOW DOWN OR STOP . IT'S ALSO HAPPENED WHEN I AM DRIVING DOWN A RESIDENTIAL STREET. WHEN I PULL OVER TURN THE TRUCK OFF AND GOES BACK TO NORMAL FOR A SHORT DISTANCE. WEATHER DOESN'T SEEM TO BE A FACTOR OR SPEED. TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY DON'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. HAD THEM REPLACE BEARINGS AS WELL AS SPEED SENSORS AND IT IS STILL HAPPENING. AND I HAD A CODE COME UP FOR CYLINDER MISFIRE AND KNOCK SENSOR. THEN TAKE IT GARAGE AND NOTHING IS WRONG.

NHTSA ODI 11376909

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HWY ON APPROXIMATELY 04/08/2020 I HEARD A LOUD POP AND THEN A TICKING SOUND. I PULLED OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO LOOK AT THE MOTOR TO FIND THAT 4 OF MY EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS WERE BROKEN OFF. BOTH OF THE FRONT AND REAR BOLTS ON BOTH MANIFOLDS WERE MISSING AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE EXHAUST PORT WAS LEAKING. AFTER TAKING IT TO A SHOP TO BE LOOKED AT, THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH GM V8 ENGINES AND HAS BEEN FOR YEARS. THIS ISSUE COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT IF SOMEONE GETS OUT OF THEIR VEHICLE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THEY OR ANOTHER OPERATOR ISN'T PAYING ATTENTION, SOMEONE COULD GET RUN OVER. I DON'T HAVE ANY PICTURES AS MY SUV IS IN THE SHOP BEING REPAIRED.

NHTSA ODI 11322414

ONE WEEK AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE I BROKE DOWN DUE TO AN OIL PRESSURE SENSOR. TWO WEEKS AFTER THAT I BROKE DOWN (STALLED OUT IN THE ROAD) DUE TO 2 LIFTERS COLLAPSING AND THE CAMSHAFT BEING DAMAGED. AFTER REPLACING ALL LIFTERS, THE CAMSHAFT, SPARK PLUGS AND WIRES, AS WELL AS ANOTHER OIL PRESSURE SENSOR JUST IN CASE THE OTHER ONE WAS BAD I STILL HAVE LOW OIL PRESSURE. THIS COST $3,000.00! I LEFT THE SHOP AND BROKE DOWN ON MY WAY HOME WITH A FLASHING ENGINE LIGHT AND THE STABILITRAK LIGHT AND MESSAGE FLASHING. IT SHOOK SO HARD I THOUGHT IT WOULD EXPLODE IN THE ROAD AND THEN STALLED OUT! IT WAS TOWED BACK TO THE SHOP WHERE IT CONTINUES TO SIT. ITS BEEN THERE 3 WEEKS. ITS BEEN AT THE SHOP LONGER THAN I'VE GOTTEN TO DRIVE IT. AFTER GOOGLING WHAT MIGHT BE CAUSING THE PROBLEM IT APPEARS THIS IS NOT UNCOMMON AND GMC/CHEVROLET IS WELL AWARE OF THE FAULTY ENGINE. THOUSANDS OF POSTS ARE ON DIFFERENT SITES COMPLAINING HOW EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE PUT THEIR VEHICLE IN THE SHOP AND HAD THE REPAIRS DONE, THERE IS SOMETHING IN THE ENGINE THAT CAUSING THE ISSUES AGAIN! THE MANUFACTURER IS WELL AWARE THEY ARE PUTTING LIVES AT RISK REPEATEDLY AND CAUSING FINANCIAL HARDSHIPS FOR THE CONSUMER BUT IT IS OBVIOUS THEY ARE CONCERNED ONLY ABOUT THEIR BOTTOM LINE AND NOT LIVES.

NHTSA ODI 11229916

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 GMC YUKON. WHILE DRIVING AND COMING TO A STOP, THE ENGINE REVVED AS IF THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V381000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED SOUTHTOWNE CHEVROLET BUICK GMC (LOCATED AT 695 BULLSBORO DR, NEWNAN, GA 30265, (678) 826-4777) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 158,000. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 11189806

TRUCK STARTED SPUTTERING WHILE DRIVING. I HAD IT TOWED HOME AND THEN TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THE LIFTERS IN THE ENGINE WERE BROKE AND THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE CAN SHAFT. TOLD ME THIS IS NORMAL AND HAPPENS TO VEHICLES LIKE MINE REGULARLY. I HAVE ONLY OWNED THE TRUCK THREE YEARS AND HAVE MAINTAINED IT WELL WITH LOW MILEAGE.THEY TOLD ME IT WOULD BE $6700 TO FIX. WHEN I COMPLAINED, THE REP TOLD ME $5500. I ASKED FOR A SUPERVISOR WHO THEN STATED THAT GMC WOULD OFFSET THE COST AND IT WAS NOW $3311. IT WOULD SEEM THAT IF THIS IS A REGULAR OCCURRENCE IN VEHICLES LIKE MINE, GMC WOULD DO SOMETHING TO ENSURE IT DOESN'T HAPPEN. IN ADDITION THERE IS STILL NO REMEDY AVAILABLE FOR THE TAMARA INFLATOR.

NHTSA ODI 11074579

AIR BAG

NHTSA ODI 11067277

TRAVELLING AT SPEED ON THE HIGHWAY (60 MPH) , THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND A STABILITRAK MESSAGE IS SHOWN. POWER TO THE ENGINE IS DRAMATICALLY REDUCED. CAR SHAKES VIOLENTLY AND IT IS DIFFICULT TO GET OFF THE HIGHWAY. A SECONDAY MESSAGE APPEARS TO CHECK THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY. VERY CLOSE TO GETTING REAR ENDED. THIS IS A MAJOR DEFECT THAT HAS TO BE ADDRESSED. IT HAS ALSO OCCURRED ON A 2014 GMC YUKON XL THAT WE OWN.

NHTSA ODI 11063593

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 GMC YUKON. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED AND A LOUD POPPING AND KNOCKING NOISE WAS HEARD. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE LIFTERS IN THE ENGINE WERE DAMAGED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 177,199.

NHTSA ODI 11013966

VALVE LIFTERS NEED REPLACED. RESEARCHED AND THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE SEVERAL PEOPLE ARE HAVING WITH THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE. REPAIR SHOP ALSO SAID A COMMON REPAIR FOR THIS MODEL.

NHTSA ODI 10985931

I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY DRIVING THROUGH BOSTON IN THE FAST LANE, GOING ABOUT 70MPH WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND THE ENGINE REDUCED POWER LIGHT AND MY VEHICLE TOTALLY LOST POWER TO THE GAS PEDAL. I WAS ABLE TO GET INTO THE SLOW LANE BUT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO GO FASTER THAN 35MPH AND THERE WAS HARDLY POWER TO MY GAS PEDAL. LUCKILY, I MADE IT TO AN OFF RAMP, AS I STARTED TO COME TO A STOP, THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING VERY ROUGH AND IT FELT LIKE IT WAS SHAKING THE VEHICLE BACK AND FORTH. I BARELY MADE IT INTO A EMPTY PARKING LOT AND SHUT THE ENGINE OFF. I MANAGED TO MAKE IT TO MY MECHANIC, WHO GOT A THROTTLE SENSOR CODE FROM THE ENGINE. HE TOLD ME ABOUT A SPECIAL COVERAGE ADJUSTMENT #12273B FROM GMC, REGARDING THIS EXACT ISSUE AND TOLD ME TO TAKE IT TO GMC. GMC TOLD ME, MY VEHICLE ISN'T LISTED FOR THIS ADJUSTMENT, EVEN THOUGH, IT SAYS IT SHOULD COVER 2008-20111 GMC YUKONS. APPARENTLY, GMC SAID MY VIN ISN'T LISTED AS HAVING THE FAULTY PART. I ALMOST DIED THIS MORNING IN THE FAST LANE IN BOSTON WITH THE EXACT PROBLEM GMC DESCRIBES IN THE 12273B. GMC SAID I'M NOT COVERED AND HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET. ABSURD. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10938494

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 GMC YUKON. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND RESTARTED INDEPENDENTLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

NHTSA ODI 10875282

THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER AND THE STABILI-TRAC SYSTEM WARNING APPEARED IN THE DIC, THEN THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM WARNING APPEARED IN THE DIC, THEN ENGINE POWER REDUCED BY 16% IN THE DIC. DROVE VEHICLE TO EXIT RAMP AND TURNED ENGINE OFF. VEHICLE RESTARTED WITH ONLY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON AND NO WARNINGS IN THE DIC. THE ENGINE DID NOT HOWEVER RUN SMOOTHLY. I TOOK IT TO A DEALER WHO CLEAR SOME CODES AND REPLACED THE TPS. CHECKED ALL FUSES. NO FURTHER PROBLEM. HOWEVER A FRIEND HAS THE SAME VEHICLE IN A 2010 MODEL. SAME PROBLEM DEALER REPLACED A THROTTLE BODY. CHECK OUT THE GM FORUM AT [XXX] THIS FORUM SHOWS LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM AND IN SOME CASES CAUSING ACCIDENTS. MY VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ON 1-24-2013, AND SO FAR IT APPEARS THAT MY PROBLEM HAS BEEN RESOLVED, HOWEVER IT APPEARS GM IS NOT REALLY FIXING THE PROBLEM. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THIS FOR THE NEXT OUT OF TOWN TRIP I TAKE. *TR PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ODI 10494730