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2023 GMC Yukon Denali

Solid pick. The complaint record is strong for its age. It does carry safety recalls, so confirm every one shows "remedy completed" on the VIN before money changes hands.

Recalls, complaint breakdown & inspection checklist, all in a shareable PDF

208 owner complaints · 4 recalls · data verified July 21, 2026 · source: NHTSA

Buywillitcar.com

Why buy?

Engine problems dominate (65% of complaints, typically reported near 18k miles).

Complaints are overwhelmingly minor: almost none involve crashes, fires, or injuries.

Score breakdown, by factor

Full methodology →

#285 of 424Among the 2023 models with a matured record, the 2023 GMC Yukon Denali ranks #285, scoring higher than 32% of them. See the 2023 ranking →

Complaint volume64
Severity89
Recall load71
Trend42

Complaints filed per year

Fading = early teething worked out. Climbing = problems aging in.

20232026 YTD

The road ahead

What breaks on a 2023 GMC Yukon Denali, plotted where owners report it happening.

030k mi60k mi90k mi120k miEngine~18k mi · 135 reportsTransmission & drivetrain~33k mi · 36 reportsElectrical system~18k mi · 24 reportsFuel system~1k mi · 10 reports

Also reported (mileage varies): Engine & cooling (12) · Brakes (11)

Mileage medians come from owners who mentioned an odometer reading in their NHTSA complaint, a rough guide, not a schedule.

Engine

65%

135 complaints · typically near 18k mi · 132 in the last 2 years

am filing a formal complaint regarding my 2023 GMC Yukon Denali, which experienced a catastrophic engine failure while I was driving on the highway with my family. The…

Read the engine complaints →

Transmission & drivetrain

17%

36 complaints · typically near 33k mi · 31 in the last 2 years

Owner was driving at highway speeds and the vehicle experienced multiple sudden stops. After consulting with the GMC certified repair facility, the control valve body …

Read the transmission & drivetrain complaints →

Electrical system

12%

24 complaints · typically near 18k mi · 22 in the last 2 years

The contact owns a 2023 GMC Yukon. While the contact's wife was driving approximately 5-10 MPH on a city street and approaching a stop sign, the vehicle experienced a …

Read the electrical system complaints →

Engine & cooling

6%

12 complaints · 12 in the last 2 years

The contact owns a 2023 GMC Yukon. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the low engine oil warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken t…

Read the engine & cooling complaints →

Check it against this car’s mileage

Type the odometer reading on the actual car you’re looking at to see which of these problem areas owners tend to report before it, around it, or after it.

miles

We can place 3 of this model's commonly reported problem areas against a mileage. Nothing is stored.

Read all 208 owner complaints in their own words → · just the 2 crash/fire/injury reports →

Recalls (4)

Safety recall repairs are free at the brand’s franchised dealers. Before buying, run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and make the seller show the work was done.

Engine And Engine Cooling · 25V274000

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.

Risk: Engine failure increases the risk of a crash.

Fix: Dealers will inspect the engine, and as necessary, repair or replace the engine. For vehicles that pass inspection, dealers will add higher viscosity oil, install 6 oil fill cap, replace the oil filter, and update the owner's manual. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 18, 2025. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N252494000.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic · 24V674000

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2023 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, GMC Sierra 1500, 2023-2024 Chevrolet Tahoe, Suburban, GMC Yukon, Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade, and Escalade ESV vehicles. The electronic brake control module software may fail to display a warning light when a loss of brake fluid occurs. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Vehicle Safety Standard number 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems."

Risk: Without a warning light, the vehicle may be driven with low brake fluid, which can reduce braking performance and increase the risk of a crash.

Fix: The Electronic Brake Control Module (eBCM) software will be updated through an over-the-air (OTA) update or by a dealer, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 25, 2024. Owners can contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N242447990.

Suspension · 23V642000

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2023 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Chevrolet Tahoe, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. The rear suspension outer control arm bolts may not have been properly heat-treated, which can cause the bolts to break.

Risk: A broken suspension bolt can result in misalignment of the rear wheel, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Dealers will replace both rear suspension outer control arm bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 14, 2023. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020; Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006; and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N232415910.

Exterior Lighting · 22V903000

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Cadillac CT4 and CT5; 2021-2023 Buick Envision; and 2022-2023 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. The daytime running lights (DRLs) may not deactivate when the headlights are on. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

Risk: DRLs that do not deactivate as intended may result in a glare, reducing visibility, and increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: The body control module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 23, 2023. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N222386380. This recall expands previous recall number 22V-827.

Questions to ask the seller

Questions worth asking the seller of this GMC before you buy, drawn from its public record:

  1. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2023 GMC Yukon Denali. Can you run this car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and confirm each one shows "Remedy Completed"?
  2. Owners of this model report engine problems more than anything else (owners tend to report it near 18k miles). Has this car shown any engine symptoms, and are there repair records for it?
  3. Owners of this model report transmission & drivetrain problems more than anything else (owners tend to report it near 33k miles). Has this car shown any transmission & drivetrain symptoms, and are there repair records for it?
  4. Has this car been in any accident or had any structural, airbag, or flood-related repair? Do you have a clean title and a recent history report (Carfax / AutoCheck)?
  5. How many owners has it had, do you have the maintenance records, and why are you selling it?
  6. Are you open to me having an independent mechanic inspect it before we settle on a price?

Before you hand over money

Verify the recall work was done

NHTSA’s free lookup shows whether this exact car had its recall remedies completed.

Free NHTSA VIN check

Get a pre-purchase inspection

A $150 to $250 independent inspection of this exact 2023 GMC YUKON DENALI beats every score on the internet, including ours.

What to ask for

Not set on the 2023? See how every Yukon Denali model year scores →

Cross-shopping? Compare the 2023 GMC Yukon Denali against another car →

What owners say

Real owners of this exact model-year, shown separately from the NHTSA score. If they disagree, that’s worth knowing.

See what owners are saying about other cars →

The fine print: this verdict is computed from public NHTSA complaint and recall records for the 2023 GMC Yukon Denali as a model, not for any individual car. A well-maintained example of an “Avoid” can outlast a neglected “Buy”. Informational only, so always get a professional pre-purchase inspection.