What 211 owners told NHTSA about the 2023 GMC Yukon Denali Xl 1500

[XXX] [XXX] [XXX] April 17th, 2025 Spearfish Cadillac Attn: [Service Manager or General Manager] North Main Spearfish, SD 57783 Subject: Engine Failure and Safety Concerns – 2023 GMC Denali Ultimate (6.2L V8) Before ordering my 2023 GMC Denali Ultimate (MSRP $96,000), I raised concerns about online reports of engine problems with the 6.2L V8. I was assured by your staff that there were no known issues with this engine and that I had nothing to worry about. However, within the first year of ownership, I began reading verified reports about widespread engine failures involving this same 6.2L engine across various GM models. I contacted your dealership again and was told that my vehicle’s VIN did not indicate any problem or need for replacement. Since that time, I have experienced two severe engine failures, both at highway speeds of approximately 80 mph. Each failure caused my vehicle to abruptly shut down and lurch into a different lane of traffic—creating traumatic and extremely dangerous situations for both myself and surrounding drivers. In addition, I encountered another instance in which the engine would not start. A stranger helped me jump-start the vehicle on two separate occasions. Believing the issue could be battery-related, I replaced the battery (which was less than three years old), only to suspect later that the engine may have partially locked up. I am formally requesting the following: A written response confirming whether a replacement engine has been or will be installed in my vehicle, and if so, whether it is a new build, remanufactured, or an identical L87 engine model. Confirmation of whether any updated parts or engineering revisions were made to resolve known lifter or bearing issues. Full disclosure of any Customer Satisfaction Programs (CS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11655312

We own a 2023 GMC Yukon Denali with the 6.2L engine. On [XXX], I was driving to work and merging into traffic on [XXX] just south of Nashville. When getting up to speed, the engine shut off and the truck started to decelerate. Only warning light was notification to "Hit Start Button" - which off course I was feverously doing as I was in rush-hour traffic. Luckily, I was able to move across two lanes and came to a stop on the freeway shoulder. Called OnStar services where they sent a tow truck, but the driver didn't know how to tow the truck since he was unable to shift into 'neutral' as the electronic system didn't allow that without the motor on. A second tow truck was sent by my local dealer and then they had to 'drag' the Yukon onto the tow truck bed so they could haul it. After the dealer reviewed the issue, determined we needed an entire motor as the engine oil had metal shavings in it and had frozen the motor. We are one of seven vehicles at our dealership waiting on a new 6.2L motor. GM has provided a large SUV rental during the time we have been waiting. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11654566

GM diagnosis was lower engine failure

NHTSA ODI 11654237

The Onstar module becomes inoperable due to a fault with the onstar module. This is a known issue on many forums and GM has yet to issue a fix with mass reported Onstar module failures. This fault renders useless the safety systems.

NHTSA ODI 11654285

Car suddenly stopped while traveling. Shut down. Took to dealership and they said it’s a catastrophic engine failure.

NHTSA ODI 11654204

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY ON 2/21/25. MY 2023 YUKON (WITH GM ENGINE L87 IN IT) WARNING LIGHT CAME ON CALLING THAT THE TRUCK SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL, PRESS START. PULLED OVER TO BREAK DOWN LANE, RESTARTED AND WENT ON OUR WAY. CALLED DEALERSHIP AND THEY HAVE NOT HEARD OF ANY TYPE OF ISSUE AND STATED TO BRING BY IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN. 8 DAYS LATER THE 2023 YUKON WITH GM ENGINE L87 SIEZED ON 3/1/25 WITH ~23,000 ON IT WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. VECHIE WAS TOWED TO GMC DEALERSHIP WHERE THE SUV WAS PURCHASED AND HAS BEEN SITTING EVER SINCE WHILE WE WAIT FOR A NEW ENGINE COME IN. DEALER HAS BEEN HELPFUL, BUT I HAVE READ THAT THERE IS A BIGGER ISSUE WTH THE L87 ENGINE.

NHTSA ODI 11653858

This vehicle had a complete engine failure. We lost power and could not start it. We were stranded on a busy highway. This all happened going 65 mph. The dealer told us that we would need a complete engine replacement. We had about 16,500 miles on it. I personally know two other people that this has happened too.

NHTSA ODI 11653761

Looks like this is a ongoing issue with my vehicles engine. The truck has 40k miles on it and the entire engine blew.

NHTSA ODI 11652237

My engine blew up while merging onto the interstate. The vehicle completely shut down. A few minutes prior I could tell there was an issue but until that moment there were no warning lights or issues that could be detected. Vehicle has been at the GMC dealership almost a month waiting for a new engine that is currently on back order

NHTSA ODI 11651769

New Denali less then 1 year old had lifter problems and needed lifters replaced and a camshaft. Started knocking while driving on the highway and tough to travel 4 lanes to get off the road. This is a serious issue.Very concerned because of widespread problems. I hope NHTSA does the same thing they did with Kia regarding the 2.o turbo engines. My last car was a Sorento 2.o turbo with defective engine. Kia agreed to a lifetime warranty for that failure. Luckily they did because mine failed and they replaced the engine. Once replaced I bought the Yukon. Bame similar issue. I hope a settlement included lifetime warranty. Thank you [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11651606

The contact owns a 2023 GMC Yukon. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V674000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); however, the dealer refused to perform the recall repair because the vehicle had a Salvage Title. The contact stated that the dealer would repair the vehicle but only if he paid out-of-pocket for the repair. The contact stated that the dealer had exceeded their authority in declining to complete the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA ODI 11650418

Driving 75 mph on [XXX]. No power under gas pedal. Transmission shifted on its own to neutral and there were no lights warning on the dash. Yes my safety and that of 3 children ([XXX, XXX, and [XXX] ) as well as my mother [XXX] ) and my wife [XXX] ) were all put at risk. I had no way to accelerate or warning from the vehicle that the engine had failed. It just so happened my wife noticed it was in neutral and luckily I had room to get from the left lane to the shoulder where the speed limit is 75 mph. Dash information center said "Press start to restart vehicle". I pulled off safely to the shoulder with 7 passengers (including myself). Tried to restart the car but it was no working. The vehicle wouldn't shut off the electrical accessories either and kept repeating the same warning. The vehicle was inspected at the dealer after it was towed. There were no warning lights or signs of any issues prior to this incident. Had the vehicle for less than 2 years and under 19k miles. GM towed the vehicle to the dealership who held it for the weekend and then Monday afternoon told me the engine was blown. I was not offered a comparable vehicle under their warranty to replace it and was told I need to wait an unknown amount of time to get the vehicle back on the road as all engines are on back order. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11650299

We were driving our 2023 GMC Yukon AT4 from Phoenix, Arizona to Flagstaff, Arizona, which is about 2.5 hours north. A few hours into our drive, about 40 miles away from Flagstaff, as we were driving ~75mph on the [XXX] highway (in the middle of nowhere), all of the sudden our GMC just stopped working - it started slowing down on its own, put itself into Neutral, and nothing was working. We were able to pull over to the side of the road where we used OnStar to reach GMC Service, who called us a tow truck. As we were on with OnStar we tried restarting the vehicle and nothing was responsive. For hours our family, two adults and one child, were stuck on the side of the [XXX] highway with semi-trucks flying by us waiting for the tow truck. We were then told the two truck could only fit two persons, so I had to order my own Uber to pickup myself and my son in the middle of nowhere, leaving my husband to wait alone, dangerously, for the tow truck. Important to note a major winter storm was coming in this afternoon, so with no power it was also freezing cold in the broken down vehicle. The GMC was towed to the Chevy dealer/service center in Flagstaff, who was able to have a mechanic look at the vehicle that day. After a few hours they contacted us and let us know the entire engine blew and would need to be replaced. They let us know this is a "known issue" with certain Chevy/GMC/Cadillac SUV's that have the 6.2 engine. We purchased this vehicle brand new in late 2023 - at the time of this "catastrophic engine failure" issue, it had only ~12,000 miles on it. We were forced to leave our GMC in Flagstaff for repair, and told it would likely be 4 weeks or more to get the new engine. We were also left without a 4x4 vehicle for the entirety of our "vacation" in a major winter storm. There were no warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms of the problem prior to failure. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11649599

Nuna is not responding to customers questions or concerns adequately. They continue to just send you to their recall page. Complaints are as follows: - They also aren't honoring their warranty and replacing or repairing carseats still under warranty. - This recall is also causing damage to other components of the carseat (such as the strap - fraying, other use issues) that Nuna is not addressing. - It took Nuna over 4 months to send out the repair kit. After I contacted them, not vice versa. - The recall replacement seat cushions are extremely difficult to get on the seats, not color matched (the main reason this matters is because customers paid higher prices for various colors and they aren't being made whole financially). This is clearly not a universal fit for all year models. Even adult men are struggling to get these cushions on the chair by pulling them incredibly hard to fit. -Their carseats associated with the recall are failing at random, not in predictable replicable ways. I've had several instances where a child was strapped in and tightened only to find the straps completely loosened as the destination. The variables of child weight in the seat and movement are not being factored into the safety tests associated with this recall. You are testing an empty seat completely cinched down - not realistic to everyday conditions when in use. -Once you repair the carseat it's difficult to get everything lined up perfect to know the button is functioning exactly as designed. I now pull aggressively on the seat straps multiple times every time before I take off to make sure all is well. That doesn't feel like a safety win. -Customers are left with fixing the issue themselves (lots of time spent!). Nuna takes no accountability. Nuna's responses have been horrible. Customer service gets an F. As a repeat customer I am extremely disappointed. I have explored all avenues with Nuna and as a result am filing a NHTSA complaint.

NHTSA ODI 11648902

While driving on the highway, engine suddenly shut down, no warnings or alarms were noticed, during the last engine start or during driving, engine is not able to start again, even after trying to jump it, all electronics respond

NHTSA ODI 11648562

Engine seized up entirely while driving causing catastrophic damage that requires a whole new motor.

NHTSA ODI 11648502

The contact owns a 2023 GMC Yukon. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power. The contact pulled over to the shoulder of the roadway, where the vehicle was able to be restarted. The contact became aware that the vehicle had entered LIMP Mode. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who was unable duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 44,000.

NHTSA ODI 11647976

I was traveling on the highway when my 2023 Yukon Denali engine shut off and switched to the neutral gear with any warnings. The dashboard display read "press start again" as I coasted to the shoulder of the highway. I was able to put the vehicle in "park" and re-start the engine after a couple of tries. I got a couple miles down the road, got off on an exit ramp then it shut off again and I again coasted to the shoulder of the highway. Again the display read "press start again", but this time the vehicle would NOT restart at all. I had full electrical power in the vehicle during both engine failures. I had the vehicle towed to my local GMC dealership. The dealership told me that I needed a new engine after assessing the vehicle.

NHTSA ODI 11647972

Engine had catastrophic failure, engine shut down with no warning while driving at highway speed. Huge vehicle safety concern.

NHTSA ODI 11647252

The Telematics control module became defective and could not communicate with the BCM and serial data gateway module, causing a check engine light, loss of ONSTAR communications, clock, navigation, and remote vehicle-to-app communication. This part was known to be defective by GM. GM replaced the part starting in 2021 on Escalade models but not others. Service update # N212331730. The TCM became defective less than 24 months after purchase. The dealer stated the vehicle was over mileage for the warranty. The total repair cost was $1846, of which $1110 was labor. Replacement of the TCM was required to clear the check engine light.

NHTSA ODI 11647261

i was with my entire family 3 hours from home on a ski trip loaded with gear and the motor decided to go. i had to pull into an abandoned lot, leave my family in a car with no heat, walk 6 miles up a mountain to get another vehicle and pick up the family. Then i had to call a local tow company to drive out pick up the vehicle and myself and drive 3 hours home drop the vehicle at the dealer and then myself at home. The vehicle was not even pulled in for 2 weeks to be looked at (no other vehicle was available) and then they told us the motor was shot - lifters cam and other things and that the head gasket was on back order indefinitly. This happened the beginning of February its now March 6, the vehicle is in pieces at the dealer with no time frame of when we can get it back. Meanwhile its costing me 1670$/ mo plus insurance. For a 100k$ vehicle to go with 30k miles is wildly unacceptable. I have had no luck getting a return call from a representative with GM which is why i am filing this complaint now.

NHTSA ODI 11646772

My vehicle started making a terrible noise. I had it towed to the nearest GM service center. It was determined that the vehicle, a 2023 Yukon Denali (less than 26000 miles) needed a new engine due to thrust bearing failure causing the engine block to be scored and contamination of debris internally.

NHTSA ODI 11646582

Engine failed on interstate causing total stoppage. 18,000 miles on the vehicle and GM had to replace the engine completely which took 3 months. ZERO warning lights prior to the failure, no check engine light once failure occurred.

NHTSA ODI 11646165

The contact owns a 2023 GMC Yukon. The contact stated while her husband was driving at 75 MPH, the vehicle independently accelerated without depressing the accelerator pedal. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the transmission started to downshift, and the vehicle started losing motive power. The contact's husband merged to the side of the road and turned off the vehicle. While the vehicle was off, the message to press enter to start the vehicle was displayed; however, the vehicle failed to restart. The vehicle was then towed to a dealer and diagnosed with total engine failure. The local dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not repaired because the vehicle was not under recall. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 34,000.

NHTSA ODI 11646222

The engine lost power then suddenly stopped running while driving on an interstate.

NHTSA ODI 11645900