RoadVitals

2011 GMC Yukon Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
14
Latest Jan 24, 2025
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
9%
of 158 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
4

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2011 GMC Yukon submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 14 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming engine

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Driver assistanceEngineFuel system
Filed Jan 24, 2025

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 ID
11638185
Incident
Jan 23, 2025
Driver assistanceEngineFuel system
Filed Aug 25, 2024

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 ID
11610673
Incident
Aug 24, 2024
EngineFuel system
Filed Feb 2, 2024

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

NHTSA ID
11569513
Incident
Feb 2, 2024
EngineFuel systemInterior & seats
Filed Nov 17, 2023
2 injuries reported2 deaths reported

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 ID
11555752
Incident
Jul 4, 2023
ElectricalEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Jul 14, 2021

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 ID
11424772
Incident
Jul 10, 2020
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Jan 20, 2021

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 ID
11389079
Incident
Jan 17, 2021
Mileage
145,000 mi
BrakesDriver assistanceEngine
Filed Nov 28, 2020

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 ID
11376909
Incident
Oct 12, 2020
Mileage
125,000 mi
AirbagsEngine
Filed Mar 18, 2019

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 ID
11189806
Incident
Sep 12, 2017
Mileage
158,000 mi
AirbagsDriver assistanceEngine
Filed Feb 6, 2018
Crash reported

AIR BAG

NHTSA ID
11067277
Incident
Feb 1, 2018
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Jan 18, 2018

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 ID
11063593
Incident
Jan 6, 2018
Mileage
109,000 mi
Engine
Filed Aug 9, 2017

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 ID
11013966
Incident
Aug 6, 2017
Mileage
177,199 mi
Engine
Filed Jun 20, 2016

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 ID
10875282
Incident
Aug 4, 2015
Mileage
70,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jan 30, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 GMC YUKON. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND A LOUD ABNORMAL NOISE WAS HEARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VALVES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 185,000.

NHTSA ID
10679948
Incident
Jan 30, 2015
Mileage
185,000 mi
Driver assistanceEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Jan 25, 2013

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 ID
10494730
Incident
Jan 21, 2013
Mileage
41,697 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .