2015 GMC Yukon

On November 20, 2018, the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened PE18-012 to investigate instances of sudden onset of a hard brake pedal that could result in extended stopping distance due to an issue with the brake assist vacuum pump in model year (MY) 2014 through 2016 GMC Sierra 1500 and Chevrolet Silverado 1500 series pickup trucks and MY 2015 through 2016 Cadillac Escalade, Chevrolet Suburban, Chevrolet Tahoe, and GMC Yukon SUVs.If the brake assist vacuum pump fails to operate as intended, the amount of brake power assist supplied to the driver can be significantly reduced, extending the subject vehicle stopping distance. GM stated that the root cause of pump failures was due to foreign debris such as oil sludge in the engine oil. GM stated that this debris can become trapped by the oil inlet filter screen. Under normal operation, this screen allows a small amount of oil into the brake vacuum pump. The foreign debris can, over time, clog the pump which can cause a loss of lubrication and a reduction in the amount of vacuum produced leading to a hard pedal and extended stopping distance.On December 13, 2018, GM issued a Special Coverage (N182202780) for the brake vacuum pump issue in MY 2014-2017 trucks and 2015-2017 SUVs on the K2XX platform for 6 years or 72,000 miles. Special Coverage repair includes the replacement of the vacuum pump and vacuum pump belt. Consumers received notification of the coverage via mail. On September 6, 2019, GM notified NHTSA that it was conducting safety recall 19V-645 which reprograms the electronic brake control module (EBCM) and included approximately 3.5 million trucks and SUVs. In October 2019, GM extended the terms of special coverage N182202780 to 10 years or 150,000 miles as well as now including the entire scope of recall 19V-645. In October 2020, GM expanded the scope of coverage N182202780 to include the MY 2018 Escalade and 2019 Tahoe.The remedy implemented in GM recall 19V-645 appears to be sufficient in addressing the safety-related concerns of this issue. Loss of vacuum assist now occurs at a progressive rate as well as there being a more timely warning of a brake problem to the driver through the driver information center (DIC). In view of the recall action and revision to the special coverage, this Preliminary Evaluation is closed. The agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by new circumstances. The ODI reports cited above are available for review online at NHTSA.gov under the identification numbers in the attached document.

While traveling at highway speeds on Interstate 5 in Oregon, my 2015 GMC Yukon Denali experienced a sudden, catastrophic engine failure with zero advance warning. The vehicle instantly lost almost all propulsion and power while surrounded by high-speed traffic, creating an immediate and severe safety hazard on a major interstate. The engine began making a loud, severe knocking noise, and I was forced to navigate across lanes without adequate power to reach the shoulder. The vehicle was towed and inspected by Point S in Creswell, OR, where diagnostics confirmed a P0300 random/multiple cylinder misfire, with cylinder 4 specifically misfiring. Using a stethoscope and scanner to isolate the failure, technicians confirmed a catastrophic rod knock failure at the bottom end of the engine. The vehicle was then taken to Sam’s Automotive Service, where a complete engine replacement was executed at a total out-of-pocket cost of $16,000. General Motors has a well-documented history of internal engine failures on these 6.2L V8 platforms, yet they have failed to issue a safety recall for vehicles experiencing this sudden, dangerous highway power loss.

NHTSA ID

11739721

Incident

Oct 16, 2024

My 6 year old son and I were coming down the road and came up on 2 deer and I was coming up on a sharp curve and when I hit my brakes my steering wheel LOCKED up completely and the steering wheel is so bent where I tried my best to control it but I failed and we hit a tree head on. Broke my nose and my sons leg broke in between the back seat air bag and door air bag

NHTSA ID

11735916

Incident

Feb 2, 2026

The contact owns a 2015 GMC Yukon. The contact stated that while driving at 40 MPH, the rear brakes became inoperable, causing the steering wheel to seize, with no warning lights illuminated. Due to the failure, the vehicle crashed into a tree. The contact and the contact’s child sustained injuries and were transported to a local emergency room for medical treatment. The contact suffered a broken nose and a chest fracture. The contact’s child sustained a broken leg due to deployment of the passenger-side air bag. The contact stated that the air bags deployed during the crash; however, the driver’s air bag failed to deploy. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the contact’s residence. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was not available.

NHTSA ID

11735658

Incident

May 4, 2026

There is a recall on my 2015 GMC Yukon, that I am not the original owner of. The recall is for the brake booster and says that it expired. I have had the car checked by two different shops (both confirmed it was this), and one of them was the local GMC dealership by my house. I called to make an appointment for the recall to be fixed, to which they said they needed to order parts and it would take a few weeks. I dropped the car off three weeks later per their request for then another person to call me and say they won't fix it because it is expired. It is a safety matter that the breaks don't work occasionally.

NHTSA ID

11733233

Incident

Apr 23, 2026

The contact owns a 2015 GMC Yukon. The contact stated that while in reverse(R), the vehicle jerked while depressing the accelerator pedal. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact became aware of fluid spots on the driveway while the vehicle was parked. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who discovered a leak in the transmission oil cooler line. The dealer then informed the contact about NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V152000 (Power Train); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and transferred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ID

11720660

Incident

Dec 2, 2025

Noticed a tick sound. Sent to dealer. Lifter failed. Bent push rod. Took it in Nov 24th. Charged $7,100. Fixed all lifters and bent push rod. Was turning around in my driveway and vehicle just shut off. Took it back to same dealer in Jan 27th. Bad lifter. Same push rod. Still in shop. That’s two months and 2,000 miles and had same failure. That is absolutely ridiculous GM and I should be compensated for this. It has costed me $7100 dollars. They are fixing with a two year warranty but if the failures are so close together, who’s to say it won’t just keep happening. Not only is it a safety issue, it is hurting my finances. I drive this vehicle 2 miles to work at 25 mph, and religiously change the oil at 3,000 miles. It didn’t even get an oil change before it failed again. I am not happy and GM needs to be sued for this. I owe 20,000 on this truck and have spent 7,000 already, and it keeps failing. There needs to be a recall for this model year, and it needs to be a permanent fix. GM knows the quality of this motor is horrible and they won’t do anything about it. It’s not safe. They can my truck for $20,000

NHTSA ID

11715386

Incident

Nov 28, 2025

Electric Power Steering (EPS) assist was lost while I was driving the vehicle. As a result, I had difficulty steering the vehicle without power steering and almost caused a crash.

NHTSA ID

11701192

Incident

Nov 21, 2025

While driving my 2015 GMC Yukon Denali on the highway, the vehicle suddenly began shaking and lost power. I immediately exited the highway for safety and had to “nurse” the vehicle about two miles at 10–15 mph to reach home. The vehicle would no longer run afterward. A mechanic later diagnosed a lifter and camshaft failure. This is a known and common issue with GM 5.3L and 6.2L engines that poses a serious safety risk when it occurs at highway speeds. No warning lights or prior symptoms were present before the failure. I did not report it to the dealer, but the vehicle had to be towed to a mechanic for diagnosis. The vehicle is available for inspection.

NHTSA ID

11698183

Incident

Jul 24, 2025

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