What 208 owners told NHTSA about the 2023 GMC Yukon Denali

On June 25, 2026 my 2023 GMC Yukon Denali with 53,456 miles was brought to an authorized GMC dealership after displaying a Service 4WD warning light and exhibiting a groaning noise when shifting into Drive and Reverse. The vehicle was diagnosed with the following brake system fault codes: P25A2, C0511, C0517, C1595 and C1596. These codes indicate brake control module failure and wheel speed sensor faults which are safety critical components. The dealership confirmed these findings but stated the repairs are not covered under the GMC powertrain warranty. Given that these are safety critical brake system failures on a nearly new vehicle with only 53,456 miles, we contacted GMC Customer Care on July 1, 2026 to request coverage under goodwill warranty as we believe these failures constitute a manufacturing defect. A case was opened however after 7 days no case advisor has been assigned and no decision has been made despite two promised timelines not being met. The brake system failures on a nearly new vehicle represent a serious safety concern as these systems directly affect the vehicle's ability to stop safely. The vehicle has been at the dealership since June 25, 2026 and remains unrepaired.

NHTSA ODI 11749116

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 failure and became inoperable. The contact stated that while the driver was attempting to restart the vehicle, the battery warning light and engine warning light illuminated, and the "Low Battery - Start Engine" message was displayed. The vehicle was towed directly to a dealer to be diagnosed. The dealer was unable to determine the cause of the failure but provided an estimate for the valve springs inspection. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and was working with the dealer to determine how to repair the vehicle. The failure mileage was approximately 71,481.

NHTSA ODI 11747346

The panoramic sunroof has a substantial leak, even though the 2023 vehicle only has 33,000 miles on it. The drain lines are clear but water continues to significantly leak out of the rear passenger seatbelt housing onto the seatbelt. There is also significant water drainage through the rear interior lights onto the upper legs of rear passengers (children in car seats), causing a severe electrical hazard. The leaking caused by the drainage defect affects the interior lighting, the seatbelts, and is a potential electric hazard. This seems to be a common occurrence and the manufacturer should repair their defective products. The drainage pipes are obviously either not assembled correctly or the materials don’t hold up. This should not be occurring in a $55,000 vehicle with 30,000 miles. I have multiple videos I can provide but the file sizes are too large to upload, so I took screenshots. I am going to pay for the repair but I should be reimbursed by GMC.

NHTSA ODI 11747070

The contact owns a 2023 GMC Yukon. The contact stated while driving 55 mph, there was blinking on the front screen of the vehicle, impeding contact to be able to see miles per hour of vehicle, odometer, among other vehicle details the screen displays. The failure mileage was approximately 46,400.

NHTSA ODI 11741919

Ok so my first issues were with the vehicle stalling while driving in gear. Happened a few times intersections off-ramps etc…and the car would roll to a stop. Luckily no one killed. Again happened a few times. Went to dealer they “fixed”it. Then it happened a couple other times…scary shit…went to dealer then they“Fixed” it again. Happened again I didnt bring it back. By this point I was carrying a 10 millimeter wrench in the glovebox to disconnect the battery so the body computer would reset. Car would start after cycling the power from the battery terminal. And Those were my electrical problems …As far as mechanical problems I brought car in for the recall notice “ the pico test’ . Went for the recall oil change /test/per the recommendations.300 miles later car engine failure at 70 miles an hour on route [XXX] south wife driving. She started crying doesn’t want anything to do with this car. Too many incidents… safety of my family at risk. Please help. FYI i am a mechanic / car electrician [XXX] so could probably be much more descriptive if need be Tow trucks Ubers rental cars etc… shit show. Engine died April 16 so car has been at a dealer in [XXX] for 31days. I have dealer receipts and some play by play video of a few of the incidents INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11738914

The brake system control module, engine control module, and vehicle stability control system have repeatedly failed across 24 months and 9 repair attempts at two authorized GMC dealerships in Tennessee. As of March 17, 2026 the vehicle has 27 active diagnostic fault codes including U160F and U1610 (brake system control module lost communication on both CAN buses), U1611 (engine control module lost communication), and C2A0A (vehicle stability control disabling inhibited). All components are available for inspection at Beaman GMC in Antioch, Tennessee where the vehicle currently remains in an undrivable condition. Safety risk: Vehicle has stalled on the highway with my family including young children in the car. Brakes have randomly engaged over 100 times with nothing around and also failed to engage when needed. Stability control is disabled. These are active safety failures confirmed by GMC's own diagnostic scans. The problems have been confirmed by both Darrell Waltrip GMC and Beaman GMC across 9 visits. GMC's own Technical Assistance Center (Case XXX) was involved and could not resolve the defects. The vehicle was returned with more active codes than at drop-off after 57 consecutive days in GMC custody. Two unresolved GMC safety recalls are open on this vehicle — L87 engine loss of propulsion (N252494003) and brake fluid leak detection failure — directly related to the reported defects. Warning codes have been present and documented since October 2023 beginning at 1,381 miles. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11728908

On 3/3/2026 during the night-time hours, I was traveling on the freeway in my 2023 GMC Yukon at over 65 MPH when I received a notice from the instrument cluster stating that the battery was low and oil pressure was low. Before I could pull over to a safe location, the Yukon turned off while in motion. My wife and two children were in the vehicle. The Yukon stalled in the number one lane of the off-ramp. I had to remove my children and wife from the vehicle while in the roadway on busy throughfares and in darkness. I attempted to jumpstart the Yukon, but efforts were unsuccessful. The Yukon was towed to the dealership where I purchased it purchased from. The Yukon was returned to my custody on 3/10/2026 stating it was an issue with the battery. While driving the Yukon home it began to bog down and stalled out in-front of my residence as it was being driven by my wife. After arriving home (night-time), I went to check the Yukon, and it started with no issues. I drove the Yukon to see if the errors would occur again. While driving the Yukon on the freeway, the Yukon RMPs indicated close to redline and I received a notification from the instrument cluster stating to turn the vehicle off (traveling at about 70-75 MPH). Once again, I was unable to pull off to a safe location before the Yukon turned off on its own while still in motion; I attempted to jumpstart the Yukon but attempts were unsuccessful. The Yukon was towed again to dealership. On 3/11/2026 I was advised that the engine had seized and on 3/13/2026 I was advised by GMC the engine needed to be replaced (this was covered under powertrain warranty). The approximate milage of the vehicle is at about 42,200.

NHTSA ODI 11725410

Rear camera for in cabin rear view is improperly sealed for cold weather and constantly fogs which renders the camera worthless. I was also sent brand new side lights from gm that were improperly sealed and built condensation them after a month or two.

NHTSA ODI 11716954

Full system error codes displayed on dashboard, Drive Train Error, Steering Colume error, brake system error, "Car will not operate a speed greater than 40 mph, happened 3 times dealership on first inspection advise it was an interface with the factory installed Lojack system and disconnected, Last same sincerio (note..no Lojack connected) same as above the new diagnosis is the battery low voltage to system and throwing everything off.

NHTSA ODI 11714481

While driving approximately 63 mph on a busy roadway, my 2023 GMC Yukon experienced a sudden failure of the brake system, including loss of normal braking capability along with failures of the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) and ABS systems. The vehicle displayed warning messages stating “Brake System Failure” and “Service ESC” and entered a reduced-speed mode. Prior to this incident, there were no warning lights, messages, or symptoms indicating a problem. During the failure, the brakes became largely unresponsive, placing me, my two minor children who were passengers in the vehicle, and surrounding motorists at serious risk of a high-speed collision. After extended deceleration, a minimal amount of braking power partially returned, allowing the vehicle to eventually come to a stop. The vehicle has not yet been inspected by a dealer, manufacturer, police, or insurance representatives, and the issue has not yet been reproduced or confirmed by a service center. The vehicle remains available for inspection upon request and has not been repaired. This incident occurred without prior warning and involved a sudden and dangerous loss of braking capability at highway speed.

NHTSA ODI 11712998

My vehicle experienced a sudden and complete loss of OnStar and telematics functionality during or immediately following a routing/software update. I had taken my vehicle in for my engine recall and noted another software update was required and specifically was told by multiple service members over the phone that the onstar services/telematics module was impacted and this update should resolve it. After some initial research it appears this is related to N212331730, which impacts OnStar and telematics services. I brought the vehicle to an authorized GMC dealer for the recall. After inspection, the dealer informed me that the telematics control module has failed and must be replaced. This failure resulted in the loss of all OnStar safety-related services, including emergency response and vehicle communication features. The failure appears directly related to the recall condition or software update process, yet I am being told the module replacement is not covered. This creates a safety concern because emergency communication systems required for crash response and roadside assistance are nonfunctional. I am concerned that the recall remedy may be causing or accelerating telematics module failures and that affected vehicles may be left without critical safety systems unless owners pay out of pocket.

NHTSA ODI 11708547

Purchased 2023 GMC Yukon on August 21, 2025 and after starting the vehicle on October 2, 2025 the whole instrument panel cluster malfunctioned, failed to turn on, currently does not work and is available for inspection upon request. The instrument panel cluster is all black, it shows glitching flashing white lines on the right side of it therefore being unable to read the speedometer, fuel gauges, tire pressure, oil life, engine temperature, etc.. Prior to the instrument panel cluster malfunction, there were no warning indicators. Being unable to view the instrument cluster, makes the vehicle hazardous & risky to utilize for me and my family. This vehicle has not been confirmed or inspected at this time.

NHTSA ODI 11694475

Onstar module bad

NHTSA ODI 11694252

we brought my 2023 gmc yukon into Parks GMC in greenville sc on july 26, 2025 for the engine recall that we received a letter from. We left it as we were going on vacation for the week and picked it up the following saturday august 2nd. the next week my engine light started lighting up and my husband contacted the dealership and we were asked to bring it back in. We did and were told that we now had a bad Telematics Communication Interface Control Module that was causing my engine light to come on and that we were going to have to pay $600.00 out of our pocket to have this repaired. After researching we found that this is a VERY common and widespread problem with a lot of owners right after they bring their vehicles in to be serviced. We declined the repair, one because they did not have the part in stock as that apparently is also a big problem of not being able to get the part in stock and two because we feel like we should not have to pay to have this part replaced as it appears to be a widespread issue that is happening. The dealership also charged me $182 for diagnostic charges that I once again feel like we should not have had ton pay. Please advise us asap. our contact info is [XXX] [XXX] & [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11683839

The contact owns a 2023 GMC Yukon. The contact stated that on several occasions, the vehicle failed to immediately start. During the failure, the contact received a message that the battery power was low. The contact stated that the vehicle was jumpstarted. The battery was replaced, but the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer on several occasions, but the cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 11,000.

NHTSA ODI 11670779

I am experiencing ongoing issues with the infotainment system in my vehicle, which has remained unresolved despite multiple service visits. The system frequently blacks out, reboots while driving, and fails to function entirely at times, for days at a time. This is more than an inconvenience — it presents several serious safety concerns, including: •Loss of the rearview camera and parking assist features, making reversing hazardous. •Inability to access hands-free calling and navigation, increasing the risk of driver distraction and noncompliance with hands-free driving laws. •Disruption of access to climate controls and safety alerts that are routed through the infotainment system. •Frequent system crashes while driving, which divert my attention from the road. These issues compromise both the safety and usability of the vehicle, and I am requesting immediate action to resolve the problem under warranty.

NHTSA ODI 11660485

Liftgate Opening without pushing the button, it just randomly opens.

NHTSA ODI 11656001

Approximately 14’000 miles we were told a rod went through the engine. Our vehicle failed at a high rate of speed leaving myself, wife, and 2 young children to pull off a major highway and call for police to help slow traffic. This happened while driving 70 mph on the highway. The only warning we received was when the car went from “D” drive to “N” neutral on the highway. Fortunately, we had enough time to pull to the side of the road before complete engine failure. GMC road side was not helpful. We were told we would have to find a ride home over an hour away, and when our ride arrived, so did the tow truck. Then, they had to drag the vehicle onto the flatbed because the tow truck company did not have the unlocking device for the wheels. Upon getting it to our house, the tow truck company had to rock our vehicle off the bed! We were not able to tow it where we purchased it. We either had to tow it to the nearest GM dealer or our house. We chose our house because the nearest GM dealer from where we broke down would've been over an hour away from our house. Our second engine failed 2200 miles later while my wife was sitting at a light in a busy intersection. The car again went from “D” to “N,” and it was immovable. The cops had to be called because the tow company couldn’t come fast enough. We were towed out of the intersection, but I waited over 5 hours with several dropped tows for a tow company. That occurred on my birthday. We are now on our third engine, and GMC wouldn’t warranty the engine. Our brand new tires went at 32,000 miles because GMC could not confirm or deny that rocking our vehicle on and off the flatbed three times didn’t affect the alignment. The front two tires inside tread was worn. I was told the tires from the factory are 50+ thousand mile tires. We barely got 32,000 miles. We’ve had multiple issues with electronics, back up camera, and media package. The Lemon Law won’t cover us because our first engine did not fail before 12,000 miles.

NHTSA ODI 11655327

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

While driving the 370 miles from Fairbanks to Anchorage with our family and dogs, our vehicle shut down completely with no warning. The drive is through a very remote section of Alaska. While passing a slower vehicle, our Yukon completely shut down, to include the all controls including the dash and lights. We were unable to complete the pass, leaving us in direct line with on coming traffic with no ability to speed up to get around the other vehicle. The other vehicle, not knowing we had lost all power, continued driving the same speed and eventually we were able to get back into the proper lane and coast to a stop on the side of the 2 lane highway. The vehicle would not start and with the temperatures outside at 12 degrees it got chilly fast. Luckily we travel with all of our winter gear. Had this incident happened on one of the many steep descents or curves with snow and ice, the outcome could have been disastrous. My wife has decided that if the vehicle does get fixed, she does not feel safe driving home in it. Reading online forums show that this is a very common occurrence and individuals are looking into a class action lawsuit against GM due to the safety issues associated with this. An individual passing by had a code reader and tried to reset the ECM but could not. I will include the report.

NHTSA ODI 11641544

Engine Failure at 19K 14Months old 6.2L 2023 GMC Yukon Denali Ultimate "EVERYONE IS HAVING AN ISSUE THESE ENGINES COMING APART" LOW MILAGE

NHTSA ODI 11640081

I have been told the MODULE ASM-COMN INTERFAC Part #86581706 has failed and is on back order, with no anticipated in stock date, and not available to be repaired. This controls the vehicles communication with Onstar which is currently not working. Onstar is sold as a safety feature of the vehicle. In addition I do not have access to the location services of the vehicle, also sold as a safety feature of the vehicle. The vehicle is available to inspection. The problem has been inspected by a GMC Dealer. There were no warning lamps, messages or promts when the module failed. I had to have the failure diagnosed by the dealer to locate the failure.

NHTSA ODI 11635229

Problem Synopsis: Camera Issues in 2023 Yukon Denali Vehicle Information: Model: 2023 Yukon Denali Issue Description: The vehicle's camera system exhibits malfunctioning behavior after the vehicle gets wet, such as following intense rain. Problem Details: Initial Trigger: The problem begins when the vehicle is put into reverse after being exposed to water, particularly following heavy rainfall. Observed Malfunctions: The driver's side camera ceases to function immediately upon engaging reverse. Abrupt braking while in reverse leads to additional failures: The passenger side and forward-facing cameras also go black. Temporary Recovery: The cameras intermittently resume operation based on the vehicle's movement: Stepping on the brakes causes all cameras to go black. The cameras come back online one by one when the car rocks back, likely indicating water displacement around electrical connectors or modules. Hypothesis: The issues are likely caused by water affecting the electrical connections or modules associated with the camera system. This hypothesis is supported by the cameras' behavior correlating with changes in the vehicle's position and the presence of water. Recommendation: A thorough inspection of the camera system's connectors and modules is recommended, with particular attention to waterproofing and potential areas where water might collect and impact electrical components. Attached Evidence: The attached document contains pictures illustrating the camera issues as observed during the malfunction. These images were taken immediately after the intense rain when the vehicle was put into reverse and during the subsequent camera failures. [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] Solon, Ohio [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11598356

Dealer install illuminated sill plates GM Part No.: 84667517 causing dangerous distracted driving since they do now turn off when the doors are shut and driving as advertised. Dealer double checked installation, but I feel GM installation need to be revised. See product description below from GM website: Product Information Help give your vehicle a customized appearance Water, UV and chemical resistant Designed for a precision fit Protect your door sills from scratches and scrapes Kit includes four hardwired door sill plates for the front and rear doors Features the Denali script Make your GMC shine with stylish soft lighting that creates a more upscale appearance Automatically illuminate when door is opened and turn off when door closes

NHTSA ODI 11577128