Certain vehicles listed above, may have a condition where the connecting rod and/or crankshaft engine components in these vehicles may have manufacturing defects that can lead to engine damage and engine failure. This special coverage covers if an engine failure occurs in the vehicle as a result of the condition described above for a period of 10 years or 150,000 miles (240,000 km), whichever occurs first, from the date the vehicle was originally placed in service, regardless of ownership. For vehicles covered by Vehicle Service Contracts, all eligible claims with repair orders on or after May 23, 2025, are covered by this special coverage and must be submitted using the labor operation code
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2022 GMC Yukon XL engine problems
moderate 83 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $3,100 · see engine across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
83
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
1crash
1injury
When does it fail?
Of the 83 engine complaints filed for the 2022 GMC Yukon XL, 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
Engine accounts for 57% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 4 categories tracked.
Owners have filed 83 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.
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.
Under Field Actions N252494000, N252494001, the service procedure includes performing a PICO test on vehicle engines within the identified suspect VIN population. If the engine passes the PICO test, the engine oil will be changed from 0W20 to Mobil 1 Supercar 0W40 dexosR. From that point forward, the engine must use 0W40 dexosR oil products for all future oil change services.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Certain vehicles listed above, may have a condition that could cause the engine coolant control valve to fail an onboard vehicle diagnostic test. If this condition were to occur, the Malfunction Indicator Lamp (Check Engine Light) will illuminate, and a diagnostic trouble code will set. Additionally in some cases, the engine cooling fans may run after the engine is switched off. Dealers are to replace the engine coolant control valve as necessary. The repairs will be made at no charge to the customer.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This technical bulletin provides a procedure to replace the camshaft actuator magnet to correct customer concerns of engine related shudder.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This service bulletin provides information on replacing the intake manifold when the engine is replaced after severe internal engine damage.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2022 GMC Yukon XL models describe engines that fail completely and without warning—typically at highway speeds between 18,000 and 110,000 miles, with most failures clustering between 42,000 and 75,000. The vehicle simply stops. No check engine light. No knocking sound for most owners, though some hear grinding or rattling immediately before stall. The engine quits, often shifts itself to Neutral automatically, and will not restart.
These failures have happened twice—or three times—in the same vehicle. After the first engine is replaced, the second fails the same way months later. Owners describe being stranded on interstate highways, some unable to fully exit traffic, with children in the car. One owner waited 80 minutes for a tow between two 18-wheelers.
Dealers find metal shavings or metal fragments in the oil and filter. They cite crankshaft bearing failure, connecting rod bearing failure, main rod bearing failure, and lifter damage. Full engine replacement is the only remedy. Wait time for replacement engines is currently one to four months or longer due to the volume of identical failures nationwide.
GM issued NHTSA Campaign 25V274000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) for this defect, but several owners report that completing the recall did not prevent subsequent engine failure. Parts for the recall repair remain on extended backorder. Some owners are denied warranty coverage or face out-of-pocket repair costs as high as $16,000. Owners characterize the recall repair as a temporary patch that does not address the root defect.
Same GMC Yukon XL engine reports on nearby years: 2020 · 2021 · 2023
Failure modes owners describe
Complete engine seizure with no warning
Engine suddenly loses all power and stops completely while driving at highway speeds. Owners report no warning lights, warning sounds, or symptoms before failure. Vehicle either shifts to Neutral automatically or becomes immobile. Owners consistently stranded on roads or highways with no chance to prepare or exit safely. Multiple owners report this has happened twice in the same vehicle.
When: Mileage range 18,000 to 110,000 miles; most failures clustered between 42,000 and 75,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden, complete loss of engine power at highway speed; Vehicle shifts to Neutral without driver input; No dashboard warning lights or indicators before failure; Engine will not restart after stalling; Some owners report loud knocking, grinding, rattling, or squealing sounds immediately preceding failure
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers confirm catastrophic engine failure requiring full engine replacement. Metal shavings, metal fragments, or metal in oil and filter found during inspection. Crankshaft bearing failure, connecting rod bearing failure, main rod bearing failure, lifter and camshaft failure, and bent lifters cited by owners. Rebuilt or replacement engines installed under powertrain warranty where available; owners report waiting 1–4 months or longer for engine availability due to high volume of similar failures. Some owners report being charged out-of-pocket ($16,000 mentioned in one case). One owner reports being charged for an oil change after rebuild; another reports warranty terms reduced from 3yr/100k miles to 12mo/12k miles or current powertrain warranty after rebuild.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 25V274000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) issued; some owners report recall repair completed prior to subsequent engine failure. Parts for recall repair remain on extended backorder nationwide with no estimated availability date, delaying or preventing recall completion. GM declined to repair one vehicle, stating failure was not associated with the recall. One owner reports GM refusing to honor warranty on engine after accident caused by power loss. Manufacturer referred some owners to NHTSA Hotline for assistance. Some owners cite this as a 'known national crankshaft defect' and note that the recall 'fix' does not prevent recurrence of failures.
Transmission or shift control malfunction during engine failure
Vehicle automatically shifts from Drive to Neutral without driver input while engine is failing, or displays messages like 'Press Start to Shift' or 'Unsafe conditions unable to shift.' Occurs simultaneously with engine power loss, leaving driver unable to downshift or regain engine control. Creates acute safety hazard on highways as vehicle becomes uncontrollable.
When: At highway speeds; mileage varies, as low as 18,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle shifts to Neutral automatically without driver action; Dashboard messages 'Press Start to Shift' or 'Unsafe conditions unable to shift'; Shifter will not move back to Drive; Vehicle continues coasting at speed with no engine power and limited steering/braking
Repairs/costs cited: No specific transmission repair noted; issue resolves only with engine replacement. One owner reports vehicle would not shift out of Park after stall, requiring flatbed tow with rear wheels locked.
Oil pressure or temperature warning followed by engine failure
Check Engine light, 'Engine Oil Hot' warning, or 'Check Oil' warnings illuminate briefly before engine stalls. In some cases, low oil or metal in oil is discovered after failure. One owner reports no oil in engine causing seizure. Another reports increased oil consumption between service intervals before failure.
When: Mileage range 34,305 to 80,000 miles; warnings may appear days or weeks before catastrophic failure, or seconds before stall
Symptoms owners cite: Check Engine light illuminates intermittently or stays on; 'Engine Oil Hot' or 'Check Oil' warning displayed; Excessive oil consumption between service intervals (one quart per interval reported); Abnormal engine sounds (knocking, ticking, grinding, squealing) preceding or during failure
Repairs/costs cited: Metal shavings or metal fragments found in oil or filter. One independent mechanic diagnosed no oil in engine causing seizure; dealer later provided unknown diagnosis. Owners report dealers unable to determine cause of intermittent Check Engine light, citing inability to reproduce issue or access engine software diagnostics.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: One owner completed recall repair and received instruction to use 0W40 oil and new oil cap with required oil type marking. Dealer then refused to schedule inspection appointment. Manufacturer referred owner back to dealer.
Loss of acceleration and power on highway without full stall
Engine hesitates or fails to respond to accelerator pedal input; vehicle loses speed and power without fully stalling. Some episodes allow restart and limited continuation; others progress to complete stall and failure.
When: Mileage range 48,000 to 80,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Accelerator pedal depressed but engine does not accelerate; Vehicle loses speed gradually or suddenly on highway; Hesitation when stepping on accelerator, especially during gear shifts; Vehicle may lurch or jerk slightly before losing power; No warning lights in many cases
Repairs/costs cited: Full engine replacement required in cases that progress to complete stall. One owner reports recall repair completed prior to event; dealer unable to diagnose cause after two-day inspection.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 25V274000 referenced; one owner noted recall repair parts not yet available at time of failure.
Intermittent Check Engine light and starting issues
Check Engine light comes on and off intermittently, or vehicle refuses to start after sitting in garage for less than 12 hours. Battery and alternator test as good, but engine will not turn over. Issue attributed by owners to engine recall but cannot be reproduced or diagnosed by dealer.
When: Starting in first weeks or months of ownership; ongoing since 2022
Symptoms owners cite: Check Engine light illuminates then extinguishes; Vehicle refuses to start after short idle periods; Clicking sound when attempting to start; Battery and alternator test normally but issue persists
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers unable to reproduce issue or determine software cause. Battery and alternator repeatedly tested and passed. No repair completed.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer unable to diagnose; manufacturer referral to dealer only.
Recall repair failure to prevent subsequent engine failure
Vehicle undergoes recall repair (NHTSA Campaign 25V274000) but engine fails again within days to nine months. One owner reports engine failure day after recall repair; another reports third engine replacement nine months and 10,000 miles after brand-new engine installed under recall.
When: One day to nine months after recall repair completion
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle hesitates, loses power, or stalls despite completed recall repair; Abnormal sounds under hood after recall repair; Same symptoms as original failure recur
Repairs/costs cited: Second or third full engine replacement required. One owner reports rod bearing failure nine months after brand-new engine installed.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 25V274000 completed but proves ineffective. Manufacturer unable to provide permanent fix; owners characterize recall repair as 'pushing the problem down the road' rather than solving underlying defect.
Grinding noise on cold start or in reverse
Engine produces grinding noise when initially started or when shifting to Reverse. Owner concerned this is related to the engine recall. No stall or failure at time of report, but owner expresses elevated concern due to recall history and risk factors in household (owner is paralyzed and has young children in vehicle).
When: Observed since purchase; ongoing
Symptoms owners cite: Grinding noise on initial engine startup; Grinding noise when shifting into Reverse; No warning lights
Repairs/costs cited: No repair completed; owner seeking confirmation of cause.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Owner concerned due to 42 reported potential fires related to recall in malfunctioning engines.
Synthesized from 83 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 9 most recent
The contact owns a 2022 GMC Yukon XL. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate, and the engine stalled. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the failure occurred while driving on a busy highway, and the contact's wife and four minor children were also occupants of the…
Purchased used vehicle in June 2025 when purchased was not advised about an open recall vehicle loss power on 07-29-2025 called dealer advised that car had loss power while driving with entire family in vehicle. Brought vehicle in for checking said open recall they ran a scope test said it passed and only a high velocity oil change would be needed this was on 08-06-2025 two weeks later the…
2022 Yukon XL, (49465 miles) while driving in stop and go traffic, engine quit, able to roll off roadway, restart engine and get back in "drive", this occurred three times in succession when we took foot off accelerator, with in 50 minutes (45 min) time line. This occurred on 9/29/24 took vehicle to dealership on 10/14/24 (earliest appointment), they completed two recalls, could not fined any…
One hour into a trip from Reno to Bay Area at 18k miles on my car the vehicle lost power while driving on the highway. It went into neutral and display said to hit start which yielded a warning that ability to shift was no optimal. Preceding the shut down I lost acceleration power. I was able to exit highway and coast off to the side of an exit road where it came to a stop and shifted to park in…
WE purchased this GMC Yukon brand-new in January 2022. Since July 2022 and at 5700 (five thousand) miles, I have been experiencing a repeated Check Engine Light problem. I have taken the vehicle to my local GMC dealer, who has involved GM Engineers, on seven [7] occasions to have the problem fixed, but they have not been able to resolve the issue. I am now concerned that this defect is built-in…
#1April 2024 Engine locked at 42k miles on freeway 70+mph engines basically turns off and in full traffic was barely able to make it off way to the first exit. Yes it was reported since it was under warranty they replaced the engine. No engine was not inspected by anyone ourshould of dealership service dept. no warnings what so ever. #2 August 2025 again engine locked up on freeway at 75+ miles…
Vehicle stopped dead in road while driving on highway. Vehicle unable to shift into park, neautral or drive once engine ceased. 19,000 miles and 1 year of ownership, oil change and service at GM dealer less than 1 month prior to engine failure.
Nothing has yet failed, but my engine has consumed oil but is apparently within the GM standard of less than 1 quart in 2,000 miles. My vehicle is also involved in the GM loss of engine propulsion recall that I was notified of on 4/24, but a remedy for my vin is still not available. How can something that could lead to loss of engine function take this long to remedy?
The contact owns a 2022 GMC Yukon XL. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, there were two loud pops followed by an abnormal rattling sound coming from the engine compartment, before the vehicle lost motive power. The vehicle was pulled over to the shoulder of the roadway, where the vehicle failed to restart. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the…
Had engine trouble with your 2022 GMC Yukon XL?
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 2022 GMC Yukon XL?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 83 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 13 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most engine failures cluster between 55,000 and 72,020 miles, with the median around 60,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 55,000; a quarter make it past 72,020. 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/2022/GMC/Yukon XL.
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.