2015 GMC YUKON XL Engine Problems

23 complaints about Engine

23
Complaints
0
Crashes
1
Fires
0
Deaths

High Severity Issue

This component has been associated with crashes, fires, or deaths.

This Problem Across All Years

All Engine Complaints (23)

Dec 9, 2025

The contact owns a 2015 GMC Yukon XL. The contact stated that when the vehicle was started, the vehicle started shaking with a tapping sound coming from the engine compartment. The contact stated that there were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed around the block, the failure persisted. The vehicle was parked at the residence. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the lifters in the engine were loose, and the lifters and the right side of the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

Mileage: 100,000

Jul 8, 2025

The Active Fuel Management (AFM) system malfunctioned causing not all engine cylinders to fire at critical times, thus causing a safety issue when the vehicle has insufficient power traveling at highway speed. The AFM is intended to transition from 8 cylinder power to 4 cylinder power to save fuel. However it malfunctioned so that it couldn't transition back from 4 cylinder power. The malfunction occurred while driving at highway speed, approximately 70 mph and towing a trailer. There were no warning messages or other symptoms prior to the failure. This malfunction necessitated removal and replacement of the engine. A certified mechanic completed the repair work.

May 14, 2025

The contact owns a 2015 GMC Yukon XL. While the contact's wife was driving 50 MPH, the engine seized. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed with engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. In addition, the contact stated that the vehicle failed to start several times; however, the battery and the alternator were replaced. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start and was towed to the destination. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 127,000.

Mileage: 127,000

May 1, 2025

While driving my check engine light came on. Engine was shaking and running awful. Smoke was coming from the tailpipe. Mechanic upon inspection informed me that a lifter had failed. Causing damage to the cylinder head. Also causing the fuel injectors to fail. The cylinder head had to be removed and sent to machine shop for repairs. Mechanic informed me that this is a very common failure for LS motors. Repair bill was $5300 for parts and labor.

Apr 30, 2025

in september the check engine light came on and the care began making aloud knocking noise. When we brought it to our mechanic he let us know that the engine had bad connection rods and I would need a new engine. The mechanic stated he has seen this multiple times on GM V8 Motors

Apr 30, 2025

In December 2024 took my GMC Yukon XL to a mechanic. They replaced the lifter in the driver side of the engine. 2500 miles later it is back in the shop for the same side. Now there is a bent rod. One of the lifter/Rod spots collapsed. The mechanic is in contact with the local GMC dealer to figure out what the next steps are. The recent symptoms had to have car towed back to Fairly reliable Bobs mechanic. Pictures were taken and sent to GMC. First time this happened I heard a Tic in the engine and took it straight to the mechanic. second time this happened. Engine light came on flashing, Trackton light came on, Lost power, there was a shimmy when slowing down and a shake at the stop. I will note the second time this happened below.

Apr 27, 2025

While driving, the check engine light started to blink and there was a steady knocking coming from the engine. This is the same issues that GMC is currently recalling newer model vehicles for. Safety was at risk because the engine failure happened while driving.

Apr 16, 2025

The contact owns a 2015 GMC Yukon XL. The contact stated that while his wife was driving approximately 35 MPH, there was an abnormal sound coming from the engine compartment before the vehicle stalled. The driver was able to steer the vehicle into a parking lot. The contact stated that his wife attempted to restart the vehicle; however, the vehicle failed to restart. The contact stated that his wife observed that the check engine warning light illuminated while attempting to restart the vehicle. The contact had the vehicle towed to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that prior to the engine failure, the vehicle had been towed to the same dealer for a failure to start. The contact stated that the starter motor and a 12-Volt battery were replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 127,000.

Mileage: 127,000

Apr 7, 2025

Lifter failure due to AFM. Car shuttered suddenly and then threw codes and had a bad misfire with engine shaking. Spent $6,700 to rebuild.

Feb 23, 2025

While traveling at highway speed, without warning, check engine light started flashing. Pulled off the highway at the next exit and vehicle died in the middle of the road. Towed vehicle to mechanic who inspected vehicle and found no compression (zero psi) on cylinder 1 indicating a major engine failure, rendering engine unrepairable and the vehicle worthless. Either cam, lifter, piston failure in cylinder 1 causing massive engine failure and making the engine unrepairable due to metal shavings in the engine. This is the L87 engine, 6.2L V8 that has been plagued by problems by millions of GM owners. This car had been meticulously serviced and maintained with regularly scheduled full synthetic oil changes. The car have no indication of engine problems beforehand until the engine blew up at highway speeds.

Jan 31, 2025

Collapsed lifter due to AFM system

Jan 20, 2025

My wife drives a 2015 GMC Denali with the 6.2L engine. My daughter has an almost identical 2016 Denali with the same 6.2L engine. The 2015 had a serious event at approximately 125,000 miles when one of the rocker arm springs broke under ordinary driving conditions and caused the vehicle to be disabled in the midst of heavy traffic. The 2016 had a virtually identical event at 135,000 miles, which caused the rod to be ingested into the cylinder. I believe the rocker arm springs on these engines are defective, also evidenced by after-market double springs being sold for this engine. I have replaced all rocker arm springs on the 2016 with double springs and will do so shortly on the 2015. The GM dealer in Corpus Christi, TX where we had the 2016 towed told me that the only solution for it was to replace the entire engine at a cost of $11,000+. I paid the dealer $1,000+, towed the truck to San Antonio, and had a mechanic in my employ rebuild it for approximately $2,000. The 2015 had not broken the rod and was repaired by a dealer in San Antonio for approximately $1,250. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Sep 30, 2024

I keep getting a warning on my display on dash about my trailer brake system is not working. Also my temperature gauge stops working and I have to take off negative cable on battery to reset it. Temperature control sensor has been replaced but the problem still continues to happen.

Jul 10, 2024

The radiator was replaced under PI1513F in 2020. I am currently experiencing the same coolant leak and thermostat issues. Coolant leaked into 4th cylinder and blew head gasket

Nov 13, 2023

My engine went out, and I had to have it rebuilt. There was a check engine light on. My steering goes out and in without warning while driving. I have talked to the dealership, and they stated that all safety recalls were done on my vehicle. My safety and those of others were put at risk when the steering failed. I almost crashed my vehicle in traffic. There were no warning messages prior to the failure. I did see that there was a recall in 2019 and the dealership will not inspect the vehicle without payment.

Aug 1, 2022

The contact owns a 2015 Yukon XL. The contact stated that while stopped at traffic light, several unknown warning lights illuminated. The contact was able to drive home safely. The vehicle was then towed to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed of a cylinder #1 misfire that had damaged the lifters. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and stated that the vehicle had exceeded mileage for the warranty coverage. No further assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 110,345.

Mileage: 110,345

Jul 22, 2020 Fire

OUR 2015 YUKON XL DENALI CAUGHT FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHILE WAITING AT STOP LIGHT ON SAT, WITH MY WIFE AND CHILDREN INSIDE. IT WAS A HOT DAY, OVER 95 DEGREES, AND WE WERE TURNING LEFT ACROSS TRAFFIC WHEN WE REALIZED THE SMELL AND SMOKE WAS COMING FROM OUR VEHICLE. SMOKE WHIFFED FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND NOXIOUS FUMES FILLED THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT, SCARING ME AND MY FAMILY. WE FINISHED THE TURN AND IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER, SHUTOFF THE TRUCK, AND ALL ESCAPED FEARING IT WOULD BURST INTO FLAMES. WHATEVER WAS BURNING APPEARED TO STOP ONCE THE IGNITION WAS OFF. I OPENED THE DRIVER DOOR, POPPED AND RAISED THE HOOD TO LOOK FOR THE PROBLEM. I COULD SEE THAT A BELT, BEHIND THE SERPENTINE BELT, HAD SNAPPED, AND THERE WAS CHARRED DEBRIS ON THE EXPOSED MECHANICAL PULLEY FOR THE AC COMPRESSOR. AFTER FURTHER INSPECTION, I RESTARTED THE TRUCK WITH THE AC OFF, AND MONITORED FOR SMOKE. THE TRUCK SEEMED OK TO DRIVE HOME , SO WE DID WITHOUT AC ON A 95 DEGREE DAY. ON MONDAY WE DROVE THE TRUCK TO A TRUSTED MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION. THEY DIAGNOSED THE COMPRESSOR SEIZED AND ESTIMATED REPAIRS WERE $1,240. THE TRUCK IS GARAGED KEPT, AND GENTLY USED WITH ONLY 37,500 MILES. WE PURCHASED THE GMC CERTIFIED TRUCK IN JULY 2018 FROM A DEALER. I CREATED AN ACCOUNT ON GMC.COM & LOOKED THROUGH WARRANTY COVERAGE. A SPECIAL COVERAGE HAD BEEN EXTENDED FOR AC DEFECTS, BUT IT LAPSED IN MARCH, 2020. LOOKING FURTHER; MANY THOUSANDS OF GM OWNERS HAD SAME PROBLEM FROM SAME DEFECTIVE AC CONDENSER COMBI-COOLER. I CALLED GM TO COMPLAIN THEY NEVER TOLD US OF ABOUT A DEFECTIVE AC SYSTEM. THEY SAID ONLY A GM DEALER COULD DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM, BECAUSE THEY ARE 'EXPERTS'. THAT SAME 'EXPERT' DEALER HAD SERVICED OUR YUKON 4 TIMES OVER THE PAST 2 YEARS AND NEVER ONCE SHARED THE INFORMATION ABOUT THE DEFECTIVE AC SYSTEM. GM & DEALER COLLUDED TO ALLOW WARRANTY TO EXPIRE.

Mileage: 37,500

May 26, 2020

I PURCHASED BY VEHICLE IN THE SUMMER OF 2015. IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP NUMEROUS TIMES FOR VARIOUS ISSUES, MOSTLY ELECTRICAL INVOLVING THE COMPUTER AND SOFTWARE, OR ISSUES INVOLVING MY TIRES OR STEERING WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL.. MY "DRIVER ASSIST" HAS MALFUNCTIONED MANY TIMES AND I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE SHOP TO HAVE IT REPAIRED ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS. LAST SUMMER MY FRONT AND REAR LIGHTS STARTED FLICKERING AND STOPPED WORKING. I SPENT $800 FOR THE BACK PASSENGER BRAKE LIGHT AND ALMOST $1000 FOR THE FRONT DRIVER HEAD LIGHT ASSEMBLY. I ALSO HAD TO GET A NEW BATTERY FOR THIS VEHICLE. MY 2015 GMC YUKON XL IS NOW MALFUNCTIONING AGAIN AND THIS TIME, I AM TOLD THAT THE SEAT MOTOR (THAT ALERTS YOU WHEN YOU ARE NEAR AN OBSTACLE HAS BURNED OUT.) ABOUT 4 DAYS AGO, I BECAME AWARE OF TICKING NOISE WHILE MY CAR HAS BEEN IDLE. I IMMEDIATELY SCHEDULED A MAINTENANCE APPOINTMENT. TODAY, I AM ALSO INFORMED THAT MY "LIFTERS" ARE BAD ON THE VEHICLE AND MY ENGINE IS GOING BAD. I AM TOLD THE AIR CONDITIONING CONDENSER HAS BURNED OUT, I AM TOLD THE MOTOR UNDER MY SEAT IS BURNED OUT. I HAVE PERFORMED ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, I GET OIL CHANGES REGULARLY AND USE HIGH QUALITY SYNTHETIC OILS. I TAKE MY CAR TO THE SHOP AT LEAST 2X PER YEAR FOR PROBLEMS AND SOME MAJOR REPAIR IS ALWAYS REQUIRED. THIS IS A CAR THAT I AM GOING INTO THE 5TH YEAR OF OWNERSHIP THIS SUMMER. ORIGINALLY. I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR BRAKES, NOW I AM TOLD THERE IS NOT, BUT I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR IN FOR VARIOUS RECALLS AT LEAST 3X. THIS IS AN UNSAFE, DEFECTIVE VEHICLE. EVERY SYSTEM FAILS. I AM NOW IN SEARCH OF A NEW VEHICLE. I HAVE DRIVEN OTHER GM VEHICLES (GRAND AM, HUMMER) AND NONE HAVE REQUIRED SO MUCH REPAIR COSTS. TODAY I AM TOLD THAT IT WILL COST $6800 TO REPAIR MY VEHICLE TO MAKE IT SAFE. MY REPAIR RECORDS WILL SHOW THE REPAIRS AND SERVICE CHARGES I HAVE PAID SINCE PURCHASE. THIS IS A LEMON. *TR

Feb 17, 2020

I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE OCTOBER 31'ST 2019 FROM A LOCAL DEALERSHIP. THE MILAGE WAS ABOUT 74K MILES. I HAVE ONLY HAD THIS VEHICLE FOR A FEW MONTHS. MY CONCERN IS THE FOLLOWING. WHILE DRIVING, AT LEAST 7 TO TEN TIMES THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY STALLS. IN OTHER WORDS IT COMPLETELY STOPS. THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS. ALL POWER IS LOST. NO LIGHTS NO NOTHING. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT INTERSECTIONS, IT HAS HAPPENED WHEN TURNING LEFT, IT HAS HAPPENED WHEN TURNING RIGHT. IT HAPPENS WHEN WE ARE YIELDING. SOMETIMES THE DASH STARTS TO FLICKER AND ALSO THE CONSOLE. SOMETIMES LIKE TODAY WITHOUT ANY WARNINGS. THIS IS PUTS ME AND MY FAMILY IN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. PLEASE RESPOND ASAP. I CURRENTLY HAVE 86K MILES ON MY VEHICLE.

Mileage: 86

Nov 10, 2019

ANYTIME THE VEHICLE IS RUNNING THE FUMES FROM THE EXHAUST MAKE ME AND MY KIDS FEEL NAUSEOUS AND GIVING HEADACHES JUST FROM WALKING TO/AROUND THE TRUCK TO GET IN. WE ARE TAKING THIS TRUCK TO THE DEALER ON MONDAY. BEING THE 3RD DEALER WE HAVE TAKEN IT TO IN THE PAST YEAR. HAVE HAD MANY OTHER ISSUES OUT OF THIS VEHICLE AND JUST CANT SEEM TO GET THEM ALL FIXED. FOR SUCH A PRICEY VEHICLE YOU WOULDNT THINK THERE WOULD BE THIS MANY PROBLEMS. THE LIFT GATE IS POPPING NOT WANTING TO OPEN OR SHUTS ON YOU AS YOU WALK UNDER IT. THE WINDOW APPLIQUES ARE JUST SLOWLY FLYING OFF 1 BY 1. TRANSMISSION IS HARD SHIFTING IN LOW GEARS, DURING ACCELERATION AND DECELERATION. WE HAVE A HORRIBLE GRINDING/SQUEAKING NOISE IN THE FRONT THAT YOU CAN FEEL IN THE FLOOR BOARDS. THE BRAKES, WE HAD A MODULE REPLACED, BUT IT STILL FEELS AS IF WHEN PUSHING THE PEDAL IT LOOSES PRESSURE, CAUSING NEAR ACCIDENTS. THIS IS INSANE!!!!!! BOOUGHT THIS TRUCK JUST OVER A YEAR AGO AND HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS. WASTE OF TIME AND MONEY!

Mileage: 85,600

Jul 1, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 GMC YUKON XL. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE BRAKE LIGHT FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FIVE STAR CHEVROLET BUICK GMC (LOCATED AT 495 WATSON BLVD, WARNER ROBINS, GA 31093, (478) 387-4424) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED APPROXIMATELY 5 MONTHS LATER. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS AND AN OIL CHANGE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT LIFTERS ON THE ENGINE AND CONDENSER LINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000.

Mileage: 96,000

May 25, 2017

AIR CONDITIONER CONDENSER FAILED. REPLACEMENT PART IS ON NATIONAL BACK ORDER. WE HAVE BEEN WAITING 5 WEEKS SO FAR AND NO UPDATE FROM GM.

Mileage: 52,000

Sep 26, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 GMC YUKON XL. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT PLACED THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. AFTER TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,712.

Mileage: 64,712