The contact owns a 2018 GMC Yukon. The contact stated after the vehicle was serviced, while driving 30 MPH and depressing accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to respond. The contact stated that the vehicle hesitated, and the contact shifted to a lower gear to drive to the residence safely. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the…
2018 GMC Yukon powertrain problems
severe 16 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500 · see powertrain across all vehicles →
Complaints
16
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
1crash
When does it fail?
Of the 16 powertrain complaints filed for the 2018 GMC Yukon, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 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
Powertrain accounts for 23% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 6 categories tracked.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2018 GMC Yukon has recurring transmission failures requiring full replacement, motor mount wear causing shaking and noise, and a known thermostat-radiator issue that can disable the vehicle at highway speeds without recall coverage for this model year. Multiple owners report no warning lights before critical failures occur, making pre-purchase inspection and transmission fluid analysis essential.
2018 GMC Yukon owners describe widespread transmission problems: slipping, jerking during gear changes, torque converter shudder between 40–50 mph, inability to shift out of first gear, and sudden shifting into neutral while driving. Several have required complete transmission replacement; one owner faced a $8,200 bill for transmission, radiator, and oil cooler replacement. Valve body failures are pending parts at dealerships (reported wait of 7 weeks in one case), yet GM has not issued recalls for the 2018 model despite identical valve body part numbers in recalled vehicles from other years.
Motor mount deterioration causes snapping, clicking sounds during acceleration and braking, plus significant shaking.
A thermostat cycling defect causes radiator stress fractures and coolant leaks on 2014–2018 models with 4.3L, 5.3L, or 6.2L engines (per GM bulletins P11513A and P11513F). The issue can force the vehicle into reduced-power mode at highway speeds, stranding drivers. GM provided special coverage for 2014 models only (5 years/100,000 miles); 2015–2018 owners have no coverage.
One owner lost power steering on the highway, followed by cascading electrical failure and inability to start the vehicle. Another reported rear wheel separation from the axle while exiting the highway, causing collision and a 180-degree spin with no airbag deployment. Most critical failures occur without warning lights or fault codes until limp mode engages or the vehicle becomes undriveable.
Same GMC Yukon powertrain reports on nearby years: 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2020 · 2021
Failure modes owners describe
Transmission Failure / Complete Replacement
Complete transmission failure requiring full replacement. Owners report transmission slipping, jerking during gear changes, hesitation on acceleration, torque converter shudder, inability to shift out of first gear, and shifting into neutral while driving. Some failures occur without warning lights or diagnostic alerts until limp mode engages.
When: Varying mileage; reported at 104,000 miles, 58,000 miles, 101,000 miles; some failures in early ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Transmission slipping; Jerking when changing gears; Hesitation on acceleration; Torque converter shudder between 40-50 mph; Vehicle unable to shift out of first gear; Vehicle shifts into neutral while driving 30 mph; Limp mode activation; Sluggish acceleration at highway speeds; Stalling while driving
Codes mentioned: 0700, P0723, P11513A, P11513F
Repairs/costs cited: Full transmission replacement cited; transmission fluid changed at dealer; valve body replacement reported as awaiting part (7 weeks in one case); second owner of same model experienced identical valve body issue; one replacement at 500 miles; transmission and radiator with engine oil cooler replacement quoted at $8,200
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Valve body recalls exist for other year GM vehicles with same transmission, but 2018 Yukon not included despite same part number; TCM reprogrammed at dealer but failure persisted; no recalls found for 2018 model transmission issues despite complaints since year one
Motor Mount Failure
Motor mount deterioration and failure, requiring replacement. Owners report snapping and clicking sounds during acceleration and stopping, along with severe shaking while driving.
When: Reported around 6 years of ownership; drive motor mount diagnosed in 2023
Symptoms owners cite: Snapping and clicking sounds when accelerating; Snapping and clicking sounds when stopping; Significant shaking while driving
Repairs/costs cited: Two motor mounts replaced; drive motor mount replacement performed at Koons in Woodbridge, VA
Thermostat Cycling and Radiator Stress Fractures / Coolant Leaks
Thermostat cycling causes stress fractures on radiator, leading to coolant leaks and transmission overheating. Owner cites GM bulletins for 2014-2015 models (Bulletin 15829, P11513A, P11513F) indicating known issue on 2014-2018 Chevrolet and GMC models equipped with 4.3L, 5.3L, or 6.2L engines. Special coverage provided for 2014 models only (5 years/100,000 miles); 2015-2018 models without coverage despite same issue.
When: Applies to 2014-2018 models; one owner's failure in current timeframe
Symptoms owners cite: Coolant leaks; Transmission overheating; Vehicle enters reduced power mode at highway speeds; High risk of being stranded on highway
Codes mentioned: P11513A, P11513F, 15829
Repairs/costs cited: Thermostat and water pump replaced at dealer; radiator and engine oil cooler replacement quoted as part of $8,200 repair; repairs did not resolve intermittent 'Transmission Hot - Idle Engine' message
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: GM bulletins P11513A and P11513F acknowledge issue on 2015-2018 models (similar verbiage to 2014 models) but special coverage only provided for 2014 models (5 years/100,000 miles); 2015-2018 owners ineligible
Power Steering Failure
Loss of power steering function while driving on highway, followed by cascading electrical and powertrain failures.
When: May 31, 2022; repeated June 4, 2022
Symptoms owners cite: Loss of power steering while driving on highway; Inability to shift out of first gear; Vehicle will not shift into park; Engine will not turn off; Vehicle will not start after restart attempt
Codes mentioned: ABS light, Electronic stability control light, Engine light
Repairs/costs cited: Part ordered but delivery delayed to May 6, 2022; issue cascaded to complete electrical failure requiring battery disconnect; vehicle ultimately would not start
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer confirmed no open recalls at time of failure
Rear Wheel Separation
Rear driver-side wheel broke off and separated from vehicle while exiting highway, causing loss of control, collision with barrier, and 180-degree spin. Airbags did not deploy. Multiple industry experts stated this should never occur.
When: At unreported mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Rear wheel separation from rear axle; Loss of vehicle control; No airbag deployment
Repairs/costs cited: No damage to wheel itself; failure attributed to axle issue per industry experts
Reverse Gear Malfunction
Vehicle will not go into reverse. Vehicle also shifted into neutral while driving 30 mph in traffic, then shifted back to gear aggressively.
When: At unreported mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle will not go into reverse; Vehicle shifts into neutral while driving 30 mph; Aggressive shift back to gear
Synthesized from 16 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 4 most recent
I was driving my vehicle and exiting the hw. The rear wheel of the driver side broke off and separated from the car which caused my car to hit the cement beerier on front and the side of the driver side of the vehicle. Then the car turned 180 degrees and hit the beerier on the passenger side and the rear of the car. The air bags never deployed and we discovered that the wheel brook off of the…
I am writing as a concerned owner of a 2018 GMC Yukon Denali, which I purchased in 2018. Over the past six years, I have encountered multiple critical issues with the vehicle, specifically with the transmission and motor mounts. These issues have been both recurring and costly to address, raising concerns over the reliability and safety of the vehicle. Recently, I experienced a complete…
Dealership did a tune-up in June 2025 and had my truck for 2 weeks, no issues with transmission discovered or discussed. Now in September 2025, 2018 GMC Yukon has developed a torque converter shutter when driving between 40 and 50 mph. I took the vehicle to an independent shop who told me they had some computer tool to manually control the transmission, and there is an internal failure. There was…
Had powertrain trouble with your 2018 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 powertrain problem on the 2018 GMC Yukon?
It's a meaningful issue. 16 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $2,500.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Based on the 16 complaints filed, powertrain issues most often appear around 86,333 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $2,500 for powertrain 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 powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain 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/2018/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.