This service bulletin provides information for maintenance cleaning of the fuel injectors and gasoline detergent additive.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2007 GMC Yukon engine problems
moderate 41 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $3,100 · see engine across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
41
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
1crash
1fire
When does it fail?
Of the 41 engine complaints filed for the 2007 GMC Yukon, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Owners have filed 41 engine complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
No new NHTSA engine complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 15 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering engine on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
This bulletin provides information on identifying Non-GM Engine Calibrations for Gasoline Engines using the Tech 2 or GDS 2.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This service bulletin provides guidelines and diagnostic/repair information to technicians regarding vehicle engine oil consumption.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This service bulletin advises of a new fuel injection cleaner kit used for decarbonizing the intake valves to correct conditions of rough idle, Crank no start, extended crank or misfire, MIL with DTCs, and explains how Top Tier fuels should be used to reduce carbon build-up.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This service bulletin provides technicians with information to help identify the differences between what is considered a fluid leak, and what is considered fluid seepage.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of the 2007 GMC Yukon report engine power suddenly disappearing while driving at highway speeds or during braking, with simultaneous loss of power steering and power brakes—a serious safety hazard. The engine stalls, warning lights flash, and drivers must pull over or coast to a stop. Restarting after 5–15 minutes restarts the engine; dealers cannot duplicate the problem or achieve a permanent fix, even after multiple software updates and throttle body replacements.
Valve lifters fail prematurely, causing collapsed lifters and persistent tapping noise, especially on cold start. Repairs run $3,000 to $3,700 and owners dispute GM's claim this is normal wear. Exhaust manifold mounting bolts snap off at relatively low mileage, creating exhaust leaks. The engine consumes 1.5 to 3 quarts of oil between services, with dealers claiming this is within spec.
Throttle body carbon buildup recurs repeatedly, forcing dealers to clean or replace the part every 13,000–15,000 miles. One vehicle suffered an engine fire while parked in a garage, and another had a fuel injector leak raw gasoline onto the garage floor near an open flame. One owner reported the motor "threw a rod" after warning lights illuminated. Cylinder heads have porosity defects acknowledged in GM service bulletins, yet no recall has been issued and warranty claims are denied.
Cooling fans run excessively; starters continue grinding after engine start; and multiple repairs fail to hold. Dealers and GM often claim these issues are normal, leaving owners frustrated and unsafe.
Same GMC Yukon engine reports on nearby years: 2008
Failure modes owners describe
Reduced Engine Power / Stalling on braking or at stops
Engine loses power, stalls, or shuts off while braking, decelerating, or at stops—often at highway speeds. Loss of power steering and brakes accompanies the stall. Traction control and StabiliTrak lights illuminate. Trickle restarts after 5-15 minutes. Dealers unable to replicate or diagnose the issue. Multiple software updates have failed to resolve recurrence.
When: Reported from 10,000 to 200,000 miles; occurs intermittently multiple times per day or per month
Symptoms owners cite: Engine shuts off with no warning while rolling or braking; No power brakes or power steering during stall; Check Engine light illuminates; Service StabiliTrak and Traction Control lights activate; Vehicle limps home at 20 mph after power loss; Engine restarts after car sits idle 5-15 minutes
Codes mentioned: P0101, Service StabiliTrak, Traction Control Off, Reduced Engine Power message
Repairs/costs cited: Throttle body cleaning and replacement attempted multiple times; camshaft position sensor replaced; software updates performed repeatedly (at least three times in one case) without permanent fix. One owner reported replacement of motherboard, gas pedals, wires.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Software update attempted; dealership unable to replicate issue so advised nothing wrong. One owner mentioned GM bulletin #06-06-01-019B regarding porous cylinder head casting.
Exhaust manifold mounting bolt failure
Bolts securing the exhaust manifold to the cylinder head break or snap off. Manifold separates, creating exhaust leak near cylinder head or water temperature sensor. Exhaust escapes into engine bay or potentially into cabin. Some owners report bolts breaking repeatedly on left and right sides.
When: Reported between 44,000 and 62,760 miles; recurring on same vehicle
Symptoms owners cite: Audible exhaust leak or hissing; Visible gap or separation at manifold; Check Engine light may illuminated; Potential fire hazard from exhaust gases near ignition sources
Repairs/costs cited: Broken bolt replaced by dealership; repeated failure on same vehicle requires additional bolt replacement. Repair cost not specified in narratives but perceived as design defect requiring frequent re-repair.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Owner notes GM has bulletin documenting porous defect castings. No recall issued despite apparent widespread occurrence across 2003–2009 model year range.
Engine lifter collapse and tapping
Valve lifters fail prematurely, causing collapsed lifter in cylinder (reported in cylinder seven at 44,000 miles) and persistent ticking or tapping noise from the engine, especially at cold start. Noise starts at engine start and may persist or subside as engine warms. Associated with 5.3L engine with Active Fuel Management. Owner notes GM recognizes design flaw but declines warranty repair.
When: Reported from 44,000 to 140,000 miles; ticking often worse in cold weather or on cold start
Symptoms owners cite: Audible ticking or tapping noise from engine, sounds like lifter tap; Noise present on cold start, may worsen in cold weather; Slight loss of power until engine warms; Check Engine light illuminates (in some cases); Service StabiliTrak and Traction Control lights may activate
Codes mentioned: Collapsed lifter diagnosis
Repairs/costs cited: Collapsed lifter repair cost approximately $3,700 for engine repair (one owner, 44,000 miles, out of warranty). Another owner quoted $3,000 for lifter repair. GM dealer suggested baffle installation in oil pan as potential design fix but did not offer it at no charge.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: GM refused warranty coverage outside warranty period despite low mileage (44,000 miles). GM acknowledged design flaw regarding oil draining from top of motor but did not offer repair at no cost.
Excessive oil consumption
Engine burns or leaks oil excessively, requiring addition of 1.5 to 3 quarts between scheduled oil changes (typically every 3,000–5,000 miles). Low oil warning light illuminates. Dealers claim consumption rate is within normal spec, though owners dispute this. One owner reported leak near oil pan seal.
When: Reported from 20,000 to 244,000 miles; ongoing issue lasting years in some cases
Symptoms owners cite: Low oil warning light illuminates; Engine sluggish or lacks power when oil is low; Visible oil spots under vehicle (in some cases); Oil level drops 1–3 quarts between services
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers perform oil consumption tests and claim results are within spec. One owner cited leak near oil pan seal requiring $600+ repair. No definitive root cause or fix provided by dealers.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealers claim consumption is normal; manufacturer does not acknowledge defect. One owner reports low oil indicator and sluggish performance but no repairs performed.
Engine stall with power loss at low speeds and highway speeds
Engine shuts off suddenly while driving, resulting in complete loss of power, no power steering, and no power brakes. Events occur at both low speeds (10 mph) and highway speeds (65–70 mph). Vehicle is towed multiple times; repairs (camshaft position sensor, fuel injector cleaning, engine replacement) fail to prevent recurrence.
When: Reported from 14,000 to 29,400 miles; vehicle stalled three times, repaired three times, still failed
Symptoms owners cite: Engine vibrates violently; Warning lights flash on instrument panel; Complete loss of motive power; No power steering and no power brakes during stall; Vehicle must be towed or allowed to rest before restart
Codes mentioned: Camshaft position sensor fault (replaced twice without fix)
Repairs/costs cited: Camshaft position sensor replaced twice; entire engine replaced under warranty on third failure. One owner reported engine throwing a rod and requiring motor replacement.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Engine replaced under warranty after repeated failures. No TSB or long-term fix documented.
Cooling fan runs continuously or excessively
Cooling fan stays on for prolonged periods while driving or while parked, running 10–15 minutes or longer even at stops. Fan is loud and unusual. Multiple visits to dealership have not resolved the issue; dealers claim behavior is normal.
When: Reported in warm weather (above 85 degrees) at 25,000+ miles
Symptoms owners cite: Loud cooling fan noise; Fan continues running for 10–15 minutes or more while driving; Fan does not stop until engine is shut off and restarted; Issue worse or only present in warm weather
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs recorded; dealers told owners behavior is normal.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership service technicians claim extended fan operation is normal behavior; no recall or service bulletin mentioned.
Engine fire
Vehicle caught fire under hood while parked in driveway at approximately 22,000 miles. Fire spread across vehicle, caused explosion, and burned down entire home. Fire occurred at 5 AM. Police and fire reports filed.
When: Approximately 22,000 miles, vehicle parked in driveway
Symptoms owners cite: Fire ignited under hood; Explosion followed
Repairs/costs cited: No repair attempted; vehicle destroyed by fire.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No manufacturer response documented; incident reported to authorities.
Fuel injector leaking raw fuel
Fuel injector failed, causing raw fuel to leak onto garage floor after short drive (2 miles) from work. Owner had open flame (water heater and furnace) 10 feet away in garage. Owner recognized fire hazard immediately.
When: Early ownership on 6.2L engine model
Symptoms owners cite: Strong fuel smell exiting truck in garage; Raw fuel pooling on garage floor
Repairs/costs cited: Defective fuel injector identified; no repair cost or replacement timing documented.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No manufacturer response documented. Owner mentioned seeing local news blurb about house fires involving 2007 Yukons (same scenario suspected).
Throttle body malfunctions requiring frequent cleaning
Throttle body requires frequent cleaning (every 15,000 miles per dealer claim) to clear fault codes and restore engine function. Check Engine light and rough idle result from throttle body carbon buildup. Throttle body cleaning or replacement is performed multiple times on same vehicle with recurring failures.
When: Reported from 62,000 miles onward; recurring every 13,000–15,000 miles per dealership directive
Symptoms owners cite: Check Engine light illuminates; Rough idle; Engine hesitates from traffic light; Reduced engine power
Codes mentioned: Throttle position fault
Repairs/costs cited: Throttle body cleaned or replaced multiple times; one owner replaced throttle body at 62,000 miles, required cleaning again at 75,000 miles (13,000 miles later). Another owner replaced throttle body; fuel rail and fuel injector cleaned; later fuel pump identified as defective. Throttle body connector also replaced on at least one vehicle.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership advised throttle body cleaning every 15,000 miles as maintenance; parts on national back order at one point suggesting industry-wide failure pattern. No recall issued.
Cylinder head porosity causing coolant loss
Cylinder head has internal porosity defect (porous casting), causing gradual coolant loss with no visible external leak. Dealer diagnosis confirms porous head. One owner's extended warranty claim denied because GM has a service bulletin documenting the defect.
When: Reported at 47,000 miles and later mileages
Symptoms owners cite: Gradual coolant level drop over time; No visible coolant leak detected; Vehicle sluggish or low on power
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer diagnosed porous cylinder head; no repair cost or action documented.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: GM Service Bulletin #06-06-01-019B acknowledges defective casting manufactured by Castech; warranty claim denied; no recall issued.
Engine rough idle and shuddering with warning lights
Engine shudders intermittently, idles rough, and hesitates when moving off from a stop. Check Engine light and Traction Control light illuminate. Fuel injector and fuel rail cleaning attempted; issue persists. Later diagnosed as defective fuel pump (not confirmed repaired).
When: Reported at 244,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Intermittent shuddering; Rough idle; Hesitation from stop light; Check Engine light illuminates; Traction Control light illuminates
Codes mentioned: Check Engine
Repairs/costs cited: Fuel injector and fuel rail cleaned; fuel pump identified as defective; vehicle not repaired.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No manufacturer notification per complaint narrative.
Motor mount fracture
Motor mount fractured at 120,000 miles. Complaint brief; no symptoms or repair details provided.
When: Approximately 120,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Fractured motor mount (symptom impact not described)
Repairs/costs cited: Not diagnosed or repaired.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer not notified.
Starter repeatedly engages during engine start
After engine starts and is running, starter continues to engage, grinding the motor and trying to crank the engine repeatedly. Occurs intermittently, a couple times per week. Not normal operation.
When: Reported at unspecified mileage; occurs every couple days
Symptoms owners cite: Starter motor audibly trying to engage after engine is running; Grinding noise from starter; Intermittent occurrence, not every start
Repairs/costs cited: Owner taps starter to interrupt grinding; no repair documented.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No manufacturer response documented.
Synthesized from 41 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 GMC yukon. The contact was driving 55 MPH when the check engine warning light illuminated and the engine reducing power warning message also illuminated. The vehicle began to lose power and the contact was unable to maneuver the steering wheel. The vehicle was later taken to the dealer for inspection but not repaired. The failure persisted and the contact stated that…
Vehicle gets extremely low gas, 13 MPG on average. Burns oil . Need to add 2-3 quarts of oil between oil changes. Engine cooling fan stays on for extended periods while driving. All of which the dealership says is normal for the truck. They removed the driveshaft because of clunking at 25k mi. Reaction carrier replaced and transmission reconditioned at 36,663 mi after car stopped in the middle…
Low oil pressure stop engine on dash with with oil and reset in motion on highway
Had engine trouble with your 2007 GMC Yukon?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the engine problem on the 2007 GMC Yukon?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 41 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $3,100 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Across the 37 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most engine failures cluster between 43,990 and 120,000 miles, with the median around 78,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 43,990; a quarter make it past 120,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $3,100 for engine repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to engine?
No active recalls currently cover engine issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2007/GMC/Yukon.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.