2023 GMC Yukon Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2023 GMC Yukon, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Engine14854.8%
- Powertrain (other)3613.3%
- Electrical259.3%
- Driver assistance145.2%
- Brakes114.1%
- Fuel system114.1%
- Visibility62.2%
- Steering51.9%
- Body & structure31.1%
- Interior & seats31.1%
- Seat belts20.7%
- Other / unspecified20.7%
- Exterior lighting20.7%
- Tires & wheels10.4%
- Transmission10.4%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
2023 Yukon with 6.2; was "tested" at a local dealership in November 2025. Engine passed. Was given oil change with new oil/oil cap. In June of 2026, engine seized despite passing test in November & running the new oil since then.
The engine tries to die when in park. While stopped at a red light, it died and stated conditions not met to shift. Had to hit park button then restart it. This has happened 4 times. With & without auto start feature on
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
About 6 times during higher speed operation 80+km/hr during a downshift, the rear wheels lock up causing panic from screeching tires and sudden deceleration. Extremely unsafe. The vehicle is in with the dealership and as suspected, they can't find any issues with codes or transmission pressures. We even have a sound recording of the tires locking up. Typical symptoms of the valve body failure. Hopefully there's parts available soon.
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.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
I have a 2023 GMC Yukon AT4. The OnStar/telematics system stopped working. The blue OnStar button does not function and the vehicle no longer communicates with the myGMC app, resulting in loss of connected and OnStar services. A GMC dealership diagnosed a failed OnStar/telematics module and advised that the module must be replaced at a cost of approximately $1,200. I am concerned because this failure affects access to OnStar communication and emergency-related services. I have found reports from other GM owners describing similar telematics/OnStar module failures, and GM has issued service information addressing K73 telematics-module communication faults. I have also opened a case with GMC Customer Assistance. I am reporting this because I believe the repeated failure of a system used for emergency communication warrants investigation.
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.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
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)
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The vehicle experienced a malfunction associated with a failed Over-The-Air (OTA) software update affecting electronic control modules. The (ECM), (BCM), and related electronic systems appeared to lose stability during operation. The vehicle attempted to reboot while being driven and displayed multiple system warnings. The vehicle is currently at the dealership and is available for inspection upon request. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk?While driving, the vehicle began malfunctioning and attempting system reboots. The dashboard flickered, warning lights, and the vehicle exhibited unstable behavior. During a prior event, the vehicle experienced unintended acceleration and abrupt deceleration. This created a risk of loss of vehicle control, particularly in traffic. I have small children in this vehicle, and the unpredictable electronic behavior while in motion posed a significant safety concern. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? The dealership confirmed that a previous event was caused by a failed OTA software update. The vehicle has since malfunctioned again while driving and has been taken back to the dealership for further inspection. The dealership has acknowledged module instability and opened a TAK case with the manufacturer. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? The vehicle has been inspected by GMC1 dealership. A case has been opened with GM Customer Care. No police or insurance reports. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? 9 days prior to the first major malfunction, the check engine light illuminate. On April 1, the check engine light re-appeared and the vehicle attempted to reboot again while driving.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
Brakes failed to engage. Many lights lit up on dashboard and warning not to exceed 35 mph. It was determined this was due to a faulty brake system control module.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
The engine tries to die when in park. While stopped at a red light, it died and stated conditions not met to shift. Had to hit park button then restart it. This has happened 4 times. With & without auto start feature on
Vehicle had previously undergone the GM 6.2L engine recall inspection on October 17, 2025, and was determined to have passed. On June 13, 2026, at approximately 80,390 miles, the vehicle suddenly lost propulsion while being driven with five children in the vehicle. The vehicle became inoperable and required towing. Dealer subsequently diagnosed engine failure and has ordered a replacement engine. This failure happened with out warning.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
The vehicle is equipped with “rain-sensing windshield wipers” but they do not work due to poor design. They should not have failed this quickly (33,000 or so miles). The windshield wipers must be manually activated because of this defect, but since the manufacturer thought they would be automatic, they made the manual activation very hard to access. It is very dangerous trying to activate them while operating the vehicle because A) your eyes are off the road for an extended period in poor conditions and B) the control is in a hard-to-reach area. You have to turn the nob 6-7 positions to put the wipers on low or high, and for the first 5 positions the windshield wipers don’t activate.
The front windshield wipers suddenly stopped working and will not turn on.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
The engine tries to die when in park. While stopped at a red light, it died and stated conditions not met to shift. Had to hit park button then restart it. This has happened 4 times. With & without auto start feature on
My 2023 Yukon AT4 was taken to certified GMC dealer in November 2025 for the engine recall. The dealership gave my vehicle a clean bill of health at that time and the recall repair was cleared. On Friday, 2/13/26, myself and 5 other family members were en route to my godfather's veteran funeral service in Newtown, PA. We were going 75mph in the middle lane of the PA Turnpike when the motor seized up and vehicle lost all steering control and power. Since it was the side of the turnpike, we were limited in resources and stranded, missing the funeral service due to the length of time it took to get the vehicle loaded on a tow truck. Since the vehicle was unable to release the parking brake, the tow driver(s) were struggling to tow it. My husband, ended up having to go under the vehicle (on the side of the turnpike) to disengage the parking brake to help the tow drivers. This could have been a catastrophic situation. My vehicle was taken to a different GMC dealer than the original one that did the recall check. There are no rental vehicles available, so I am too out of a vehicle necessary for my work and family, with no time frame on the repair of my engine that only has 31,000 miles on it.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
Paint is blistering above windshield along entire length and around sunroof. Also down along left and right side of windshield. Beginnings of blistering top rear quarter panels closer to roof.
GM has failed to resolve repeated issues on my vehicle (VIN: [XXX] ). I was never notified of any official buyback denial. GM Customer Assistance continues to avoid clarifying the status and refuses to provide documentation of the denial. This creates an unresolved safety and reliability concern. I need an investigation into the consistent mechanical defects paired with GM’s refusal to properly process my claim. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
After GMC completed 4 recalls recently, my drivers side seat lumbar support started automatically inflating to the highest setting, as well as the shoulder support. I could not deflate the shoulder support at all, but could deflate the lumbar support, but had to do it every single time I got in the vehicle. After they did additional recalls about 30 days later, the issue got worse and often times I'm unable to deflate the lumbar support at all, making driving extremely uncomfortable and what I would deem slightly unsafe given how inflated the seat is. The fact that the 2nd set of recalls made this situation worse makes me suspect it's related to module updates as opposed to my particular seat. Now I am on the hook for a $1200 fix. 2 different GMC locations did the recalls.....I do not blame either of them, I believe this is a defect GMC should look into asap given they have had similar seat issues in the past.
The contact owns a 2023 GMC Yukon. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the automatic door locks inadvertently engaged when the contact was exiting the vehicle. The contact stated that the vehicle was running, and the key fob was in the ignition. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact was able to unlock the vehicle with the spare key fob. The dealer was not contacted, and the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 8,965.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
seatbelt has come undone on its own multiple times on the drivers seat. nothing was touching or near the red release button when this has occurred. it is not immediately happening but happens while driving. i think its happened five times in the past 1-2 months. i cannot figure out a rhyme or reason. i have never experienced this happen on any vehicle previously.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
The contact owns a 2023 GMC Yukon. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, the transmission shifter failed to shift from park. The contact stated that the "Braking System", Brake Pad Monitor, and Traction Control messages were displayed. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 44,871.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2023 Chevrolet Yukon. The contact stated upon taking the vehicle to the service center for the tire's replacement service, the mechanic informed the contact that the PSI label included an inaccurate PSI recommendation for the 22-inch original tires. The contact stated that the recommended PSI listed on the tire label was for the 20-inch optional tires that were not installed on the vehicle during purchase. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 50.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2023 GMC Yukon. The contact stated that while driving 75 MPH and depressing the accelerator pedal, there was an abnormal clunking sound coming from the front of the vehicle; however, the contact was unsure if the failure was coming from the engine or transmission. The contact pulled over to the right side of the road, exited the vehicle, and inspected the vehicle, but found no failure. There was an unknown warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the failure had occurred on four occasions. An unknown dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was diagnosed, and determined that the valve body needed to be replaced. The valve body was replaced. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 33,395.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .