What 295 owners told NHTSA about the 2021 GMC Yukon Denali Xl 1500

On November 14,2025 my engine failed on the highway going 80 mph to 0 mph in the passing lane. Almost caused a major accident on US23. I’ve asked my dealership Bowman Chevrolet repeatedly to inspect my engine for the recall and have been denied every time. Most recent was October when I had my oil changed and I was told it wasn’t my turn and the recall for my vehicle was pending. I had my vehicle flatbed towed to the dealership where it sits dead in their parking lot. Thank God we didn’t die on the freeway that night. It was a horrible experience.

NHTSA ODI 11699629

While driving vehicle on 11/08/2025, vehicle made a popping noise and loss power. We were out of town and had to pay out of pocket to have vehicle towed to a dealership and hour away from our home. Dealership diagnosed issue with engine failure due to lifter fell and caused damage to cam shaft and bore. I will be without a vehicle for an additional 2 to 4 weeks waiting on a back ordered engine from GM, and continue making payments on vehicle as well. This issue seems to be an ongoing problem that GM is ignoring…….GM should compensate towing, car rental, and repair/ replacement charges due to failure.

NHTSA ODI 11699201

I’m not happy with just a change in oil viscosity because the car has already been on the road for 70000 miles before we were aware of the recall on the engine. Changing the oil viscosity doesn’t help when there is a underlying engine problem it should be replaced not just change your oil and send you on your way because now I’m always wondering and worried if the engine will still fail when my kids and wife are in the car. Furthermore I just had it inspected and the oil changed to new viscosity a week ago and the oil level is already half way on the dipstick so I’m taking back to the dealership to express my concern. If I would have known this was going to be an issue with this suv I would have purchased something else. I’d just like the engine replaced so that I don’t have to worry every time I pull out of the driveway with my family. My power steering assist still whines and there is no open recall on it. I think GMC should be responsible for replacing engines and power steering assembly and power steering motors on 2021 GMC YUKON DENALIS because of the wear and tear they have endured before the recall was taken care of by adding a different viscosity oil because the damage has already been done.

NHTSA ODI 11698109

The contact owns a 2021 GMC Yukon. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine seized. The brake pad sensor warning light illuminated. In addition, the contact stated that the vehicle continued to roll forward. The contact was able to drive the vehicle to the shoulder of the road. The contact stated while attempting to restart the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start. The contact stated that a nearby driver assisted by providing a jumpstart. The vehicle was driven to the residence. The vehicle was then taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with alternator failure. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously taken to two independent mechanics, and the vehicle was diagnosed with alternator failure. The dealer was made aware of the failure. The contact was informed that the failure was a known failure with similar vehicles. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure with the alternator and the brake pad sensor. The contact was informed that the repairs were not covered under warranty or recall. The failure mileage was approximately 95,000.

NHTSA ODI 11698010

The contact owns a 2021 GMC Yukon. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the fuel pump module had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 30,000.

NHTSA ODI 11697692

Electronics- module went out @40,000 brand new car Drive train teal differential went out

NHTSA ODI 11697734

See attached document for complaint. On [XXX], I purchased a certified pre-owned 2021 GMC Yukon Denali for $85,481.76. Since then, I've had multiple service appointments prompted by dashboard alerts, OnStar reports, and noticeable engine hesitation and knocking noises while driving. The attached invoices reflect services I paid for based on dealership recommendations to address these issues. Unfortunately, this experience has been convoluted and stressful. I've received conflicting information from GM representatives at 1-866-467-9700 and various dealerships. In fact, several dealerships have expressed strong concerns about the qualifications of the hotline staff to provide accurate guidance regarding the recall. Despite the time, energy, and financial resources I've invested, I remain a loyal GM customer and proud owner of a 2017 Chevrolet Colorado, 2022 Cadillac XT6, 2022 Buick Encore GX, and the affected Yukon Denali. Considering the circumstances and the unresolved issues surrounding this recall, I respectfully request financial compensation close to the original bill of sale amount of $85,481.76. I believe this would be a fair and appropriate gesture given the extent of the stress, inconvenience and cost I've incurred. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11696514

My GMC Yukon with 6.2 is using 1 quart of oil every 1000 miles. An oil consumption test was performed and documented with the dealer. In addition there is now a very rough idle while at a stop. The date on the engine build is just months ahead of the current recall.

NHTSA ODI 11696477

I purchased the vehicle in July 2024. I drove the car for 10 days, and when I was driving 65 mph, the check engine light blinked three times and then went off. After that, the engine made a sound that was not there before. I took the vehicle to the dealership and they had the car for many weeks, concluding that the lifters broke and the engine needed to be replaced. The dealership said they replaced the engine and the car was returned to me towards the end of August. Since then, the AC has been worked on three different times in the past year and on the third attempt, there is finally cool air coming out of the driver's air vents. The driver's seat AC blowers malfunctioned and were repaired. The dealership put the original engine's belt back on and then broke. The electric system inside glitches from time to time when you first start the car. The front windshield wipers will randomly swipe while driving. After getting a regular oil change, the car sprang an oil leak due to the cap not being tight enough. Over the past 5 months, there has been a random popping sound in the front driver's side area when coming to a stop that two dealerships can not figure out. The belt in the engine still makes a high-pitched sound when first starting up and lasts for about 1 minute. While in park or sitting at a light, the engine will idle up and down from time to time. The vehicle has been worked on by the dealership where it was purchased and also a GMC dealership.

NHTSA ODI 11695265

The contact owns a 2021 GMC Yukon. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an unusual rumbling sound coming from the engine. In addition, the contact noticed that whenever the accelerator pedal was depressed, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact stated that the failure had been ongoing for approximately one year or more. In addition, the contact stated that the failure was persistent and had occurred approximately ten times. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer nor an independent mechanic. The contact later received notification: NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V274000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, parts for the recall repair were not yet available. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.

NHTSA ODI 11694074

GMC has not responded for the recall of the engine. My vehicle is running bad. I need the vehicle to be service as soon as possible. My saftey depends on GMC keeping there promise to repair the recall engine.

NHTSA ODI 11693229

While my wife was driving to pickup my son from school, the vehicle was stopped at a stoplight and the engine turned off approximately 1 mile after departing the house. After getting the vehicle towed to the dealership because it wouldn’t start, it was determined by the dealership that the engine was seized. The vehicle has 60,500 miles on it and is driven by a suburban woman and has always had all maintenance done at the dealership. The vehicle is parked in our driveway and there are no signs of oil leaks or anything else that would indicate a potential engine failure. This VIN was not recalled with the larger GMC 6.2L engine failure recall, however other 2021 model years were recalled. Recommend immediate expansion of recall due to the unforeseen engine failure while driving with no previous warning lights (oil or check engine) or other indications prior to seizing. This experience indicates that the initial recall was not sufficient enough to locate and identify all of the 6.2L engines affected by the poor quality control issues at GMC.

NHTSA ODI 11692647

I looked up recall information on NHTSA.GOV site and found my car has a recall for engine problems. My GMC app says there are no recalls related to my vehicle and I have never received a communication from GMC stating a recall has occurred.

NHTSA ODI 11692107

“Service safety restraint” light comes on and the dealership cannot pin point exactly what the issue is without taking the entire seat and air bag out. It’s come on 3 times. First time was linked to the overhead console needing replaced. Months later the light came on again and a seat harness connection was bad. It was replaced and light was off. 8 months later the light is back on again and they replaced the connection again and the light is off for now. This is a safety issue and should be a recall!

NHTSA ODI 11691222

Vehicle would not start. Vehicle was towed to GMC dealership for inspection. Vehicle diagnosed with "Fuel Pump Driver Control Module" issue and needed to be replaced. This was a known issue for the 2021 GMC Yukon: GMC Service Bulletin: #24-NA-139 (Release Date August 2024) Emission Recall: N212332040 (Release Date September 2021) Emission Recall: N252516900 (Release Date September 2025) However, this VIN was not covered under the recalls and payment was required out of pocket. Recall(s) need to be expanded to include additional 2021 GMC Yukon VINs - including this one.

NHTSA ODI 11690931

The contact owns a 2021 GMC Yukon. The contact stated that while the vehicle was started and running, there was a hollow clunking sound coming from the engine compartment. The vehicle was taken to a dealer and was diagnosed with crankshaft bearing failure. The contact was informed that the crankshaft bearings needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact believed that the failure was associated with an unknown recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 82,000.

NHTSA ODI 11690480

My 2021 GMC Yukon Denali is affected by NHTSA Recall #25V-274. The recall notice states that defects in the engine’s connecting rod and/or crankshaft can cause engine damage and failure, resulting in sudden loss of propulsion and increasing crash risk. The recall status for my vehicle is currently listed as “Incomplete – Remedy Not Available.” My dealership confirmed that no repair is available and further told me that GMC will not authorize a buyback, trade-in, or loaner vehicle until a remedy is developed. This has left me with an unsafe vehicle that cannot be repaired, yet I am still obligated to make monthly payments. This defect creates a serious crash risk because the engine may fail and the vehicle could lose all propulsion without warning. My family is forced to either risk driving a defective vehicle or go without reliable transportation. Dealer Interaction •Dealer confirmed that the recall is active but has no available remedy. •Dealer stated GMC will not authorize a buyback, trade-in, or loaner vehicle until the recall repair is developed. •I am effectively stranded with an unsafe vehicle and no safe options. Remedy I am requesting that GMC be required to: 1.Buy back my vehicle under federal recall and warranty obligations; or 2.Provide a safe, comparable loaner or replacement vehicle at no cost until the defect is remedied. If a loaner is provided, I will continue making my monthly payments on my Yukon Denali.

NHTSA ODI 11690519

The contact owns a 2021 GMC Yukon. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended while the accelerator pedal was depressed. The messages "Reduce Acceleration - Drive with Care", "Service Traction Control", and "Service ESC" were displayed on the instrument panel. The check engine and traction control warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed, and determined that the high-pressure fuel pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired at the owner’s expense; however, the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken back to the same local dealer, where it was diagnosed as possibly needing a low-pressure fuel pump failure and codes that needed to be cleared. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken back to the same local dealer, where it was diagnosed as needing a high fuel pressure pump reset. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to the same local dealer, where it remained for further investigation. In addition, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V739000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 56,751.

NHTSA ODI 11690313

While driving on the and merging onto the highway, the check engine light and other alerts came on our 2021 GMC Yukon. There was a fluttering noise coming from the engine and the vehicle started to have decreased acceleration. We had to immediately exit the highway and park the vehicle. We then had to take our vehicle to our regular mechanic since GMC dealership was backed up and we needed the vehicle repaired. Our mechanic has identified the issue to be with the engine. The lifters in the engine broke which also damaged the cam shaft. This is a very costly repair. Our vehicle is four years old and out of warranty since we have 80k miles on our four year old Yukon. This problem with the GMC L84 5.3L V8 engines seems to be a common issue and other owners have posted their frustrations on various websites and there is currently no recall on this 5.3L engine. This is a safety issue and a recall should be issued like the one for the 6.2L engine. Why is there no recall for the 5.3L engine? A recall needs to be issued for the GMC L84 5.3L V8.

NHTSA ODI 11690082

I attempted to start my vehicle and it turned over and at the end of trying it sounded like it wanted to start. This repeated itself with no change. I contacted the dealer which I purchased it from and the service mgr said it was the fuel pump control module. Numerous 2021 Yukon had this problem and there is both a service bulletin and a recall for this part. N212332040. My vehicle is NOT on recall. I attempted to have it towed to the local Chevy dealer and was unable to as NO local tow company had the tool to put the transmission in neutral. They all wanted to drag it onto the trailer. Bad design that it can not be put in park if it’s not running. I purchased a replacement fuel pump control module part 13554821 from the dealership. I installed it and the problem was fixed. I have the defective part if needed. This would have been much more of an issue if it happened anywhere other than my house, especially with the inability to put he transmission in neutral !!

NHTSA ODI 11689931

While driving back home on the highway (I-95) on February 26, 2025, my truck stopped accelerating right in the middle of the highway and cut off. Tried to crank it back up to no avail. I had it towed to the nearest GMC dealer which is GMC Coral Springs. They did an inspection and immediately communicated that the fuel pump module had failed and needed to be replaced. The only option at the time was to just have it fixed because I was out of warranty. At the time, I had about 100k miles on it and the guy at the dealer told me that he's supriesed it lasted that long as those modules usually go out before 100k mile. I got it fix and on March 1, 2025, the truck was ready for pickup. Fast forwarding, now GMC is recalling the 2021 Yukon with recall N252516900 for the same EXACT issue. I spoke to GMC corporate this morning to see if I can be reimbursed for the cost. When the rep Tina ran my vin, she states my vin wasn't attached to the recall number. So I was trying to understand that the issues are the same, why can't they reimburse me. Same issue on the same year truck. GMC refused to help me. I'm so disappointed because I'm not even sure why my truck wasn't included in the recall but has the same issue. I need your help. Please and thank you. (I contacted the dealer to have the email me a copy of my invoice for the service at the time, however I haven't received it. I will contact them again to see if they can email it again. But I will obtain a copy of it even if I have to drive out ther)

NHTSA ODI 11689317

Premature failure of the telematics module resulting in inability to access emergency services and other safety-related features. Dealer confirmed the components failures are widespread. Check engine light came on as a result as well as inoperable navigation features that rely on the module connectivity.

NHTSA ODI 11689438

Multiple people including my family are experiencing leaks in 2021 and newer GMC Yukons and Chevy tahoes. The back seatbelt is causing leaks, damaging the interiors. This can cause mold and health issues as well as electrical wiring issues causing accidents due to shortages occurring. Check Reddit on the number of complaints.

NHTSA ODI 11689093

My vehicle fuel pump control module has failed. GMC has an open recall for my year, make and model however claims that my vehicle is not listed on the recall list that came out around 9/15/2025. I contacted GMC and they cannot provide me with a specific reason as to why it’s not included.

NHTSA ODI 11689121

The contact owns a 2021 GMC Yukon. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, there was an abnormal knocking sound coming from the engine. There was no warning light illuminated. Prior to the failure, the contact had received a postcard about a potential engine failure linked to the vehicle; however, the contact disregarded the notice. Due to the failure, the contact had the vehicle towed to the dealer. The dealer performed a diagnostic test and discovered metal shavings at the bottom of the engine oil pan. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle with engine failure. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V274000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) and linked the failure to the recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in the recall. The contact was then referred to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The vehicle remained in the possession of the dealer because parts to repair the vehicle were on backorder. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 93,000.

NHTSA ODI 11687860