GMC Yukon vehicles have experienced transmission issues such as lurching, clunking jerking and vehicle shaking. After having shown problems with 6-speed, 8-speed and 10-speed transmissions for some time, these GMC Yukon transmission issues have prompted significant class action lawsuits and several more individual lemon law complaints.
Even absent much needed GMC Yukon transmission recalls, many owners have sent complaints to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration regarding the “Chevy Shake” defect and other transmission issues.
If your 2017 or newer GMC Yukon has experienced transmission issues that your dealership or repair facility cannot seem to fix, your vehicle may be defective. Learn about GMC Yukon transmission recalls, common complaints, and how a lemon law attorney can help you recover much needed restitution for your GMC Yukon issues.
Has There Been A GMC Yukon Transmission Recall?
Yes. Here is a list of historic GMC Yukon transmission recalls for the past decade:
- 2013 GMC Yukon Transmission Recalls:
- NHTSA 13V001000 – Shifting Out Of Park. 2013 GMC Yukon and Yukon XL vehicles may shift from park with the ignition key removed or in the OFF position, or may shift out of park while the key is off and the brake pedal is not depressed. This issue makes 2013 GMC Yukon and Yukon XL vehicles fail the federal safety standard “Transmission Shift Lever Sequence, Starter Interlock, and Transmission Braking Effect.”
- 2015 GMC Yukon Transmission Recalls:
- NHTSA 14V152000 – Transmission Oil Cooler Line/Fire. 2015 GMC Yukon and Yukon XL vehicles equipped with a 6-speed automatic transmission may have a transmission coil line not securely seated in the fitting. The oil could contact a hot surface and cause a vehicle fire.
- NHTSA 14V374000 – Transfer Case May Shift to Neutral/Rollaway Risk. 2015 GMC Yukon vehicles may experience an electrical short, which causes the transfer case to shift to neutral without the driver’s input.
- 2021 GMC Yukon Driveshaft Recalls:
- NHTSA 22V036000 – Rear Wheel Driveshaft Assemblies May Fail. Though the driveshafts are not part of the transmission themselves, they are responsible for transmitting power from the transmission to the differential (and ultimately the wheels). In this case, the rear wheel driveshaft assemblies had internal parts that were not heat treated properly and could cause a driveshaft failure.
Though later model year GMC Yukon vehicles have experienced enough transmission problems to warrant class action lawsuits for their 8-speed and 10-speed transmissions, they have yet to be recalled for their transmission issues.
GMC Yukon Transmission Complaints
GMC Yukon SUVs have had such glaring issues with their transmissions that we were able to compile a sample of complaints submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Some GMC Yukon complaints have been edited for grammar and clarity.
2015-2016 GMC Yukon Complaints
2015 GMC Yukon
My truck has 30,000 miles and has the ‘Chevy Shudder’. Why is this not a recall? GMC wants me to pay out of pocket for the transmission flush. When I am driving the truck, it begins shuddering and shaking through certain shift points.
2015 GMC Yukon
The 8-speed automatic transmission on my GMC Yukon Denali has a slippage issue that has persisted in our vehicle for a while unresolved. GM has replaced torque converter and module, and now they are claiming through the dealer that the issue resides with at fluid. This slippage is bad because car jerks and sometimes hard. This issue needs to be addressed by GM as they know they have issues with this 8-speed. The issue happens at stops and at slow speeds.
2015 GMC Yukon
Transmission has been clunky and jerky from purchase. The vehicle vibrates between 30-35 miles per hour when shifting. The vehicle lurches forward when accelerating as if it has difficulty downshifting. The problem is present from simply backing up out of the driveway, modest speeds on city streets, or on the highway. When brought back to the dealer, they claimed it was a software issue and “refreshed” the software. The problem has not gone away and did not improve by this software correction. My internet research indicates that this is a common problem with the new 8-speed transmission for the 2015 Yukon Denali and Cadillac Escalade.
2016 GMC Yukon
Vehicle shudders, jerks excessively, and shifts erratically when accelerating. Had transmission serviced, fluid flushed, pan cleaned, transmission filter changed. Metal shavings were found in the pan and filter and covering magnet in pan. During the flush, metal shavings were recovered from the oil cooler. Transmission continues to display same symptoms and RPMs fluctuate during steady acceleration, described as evidence of transmission slipping.
2016 GMC Yukon
The vehicle’s transmission unexpectedly slips out of gear between 20 and 35 mph. When this occurs, pressing the accelerator merely revs the engine, without forward motion. This occurred 4 times in the first 600 miles of operation. Without power, I can’t navigate out of a dangerous situation.
2017-2024 GMC Yukon Complaints
2017 GMC Yukon
Beginning around 56,000 miles, the transmission started lurching and stuttering at slow speeds. It is worse when cold but never quite goes away. Dealership kept it for 3 days and felt it but said all was within normal range. Beginning around 65,000, it started stuttering when trying to accelerate while in motion, such as on the highway when trying to pass. This is not only annoying, but dangerous when you can’t get the power you need when needed because the transmission can’t decide when to shift.
2017 GMC Yukon
Transmission shifts are very rough in slow traffic with as much as one to two-second delays in shifting into gear with a loud thump. It is so rough that it feels like someone may have ran into your back bumper. It is also bad enough that it startles the driver, and it could be a safety issue. GM is saying that this is normal for this 8-speed transmission. If my car, the one I’m driving now, had this same problem, I would definitely replace the transmission. This is a 2017 Denali with less than 5,000 miles on it. Online there are many complaints about this, and it seems that GM is trying to wait the public out, now that the new vehicles have a new ten-speed transmission. The dealer told me they could not fix the problem and we would have to live with it. Again, this is to me is a major safety issue.
2018 GMC Yukon
No warning light presented to warn of transmission issues. While driving is hesitating sluggish when accelerating and stalling around 60 mph then shifts. Putt Putt then pick up a bit then back down.
2018 GMC Yukon
The vehicle will not go into reverse. The vehicle shifted into neutral while driving 30 mph in traffic and then shifted back to gear aggressively. No fault codes or check engine lights are displayed.
2019 GMC Yukon
Automatic transmission failed. Slipped, skipped, and bucked while driving. Taking a left turn into traffic, the transmission hesitated and just started slipping, almost causing an accident. Dealer confirmed torque converter failed and transmission needed replacement. No warnings. No towing. Just 89,000 highway miles commuting to work. No heavy loads or abuse. Had to replace the transmission, not covered under warranty due to mileage. Not available for inspection.
2019 GMC Yukon
Transmission failed while driving down the road. Transmission revved up while driving and would not go faster then the car started slowing down. Thank goodness this was not on an interstate or it could have caused an accident. Check engine light came on as I was getting to the shoulder of the road.
2020 GMC Yukon
Shortly after the warranty expired my torque converter went out and damaged the transmission. After speaking with several transmission shops this is a known problem with this vehicle! The torque converter and transmission are poorly made, and no matter if you get all of your services this will still happen to you! This should be a recall on this vehicle. Less than 4 years old and I am having to spend over $5,000 to replace a transmission. The vehicle just hit 100,000 miles. If this is a known issue with this vehicle why has it not been recalled? The dealership tried to tell me I just needed battery cables replaced. I decided to get a second and third opinion and as I suspected the transmission was gone. There were NO warning lights, the car just suddenly started not wanting to change gears while driving. At the red light it jumped and wouldn’t move which made the car behind me almost hit me. There were no other symptoms until the gears started not wanting to change. No noises, smells, or any indication that something was wrong. The vehicle is now at a transmission shop awaiting repair. This needs to be a recall if this is a known issue.
2020 GMC Yukon
The transmission is out. Prior to it going out, I experienced loss of power, gear slipping, shuttering and not being able to go among other things. This is very dangerous and can cause serious accidents to occur. This should not be happening on such an expensive and newer vehicle.
2021 GMC Yukon
Car started making strange noises in the rear portion and was not driving as it normally would. Proceeded to take the vehicle to a GMC service dept. and was told the rear differential is close to failure and is “shot” and needs to be replaced. The service representative advised us to not drive the vehicle because it is unsafe to operate. Upon investigating it appears there was a recall for 2021 Yukon’s for this same issue however this VIN number was not included in the recall but it appears this is the same issue. My vehicle remains at the service center waiting for the “differential assembly” to be replaced but it is currently on backorder and we were given no time frame of when this will be resolved or when the parts will be available.
2021 GMC Yukon
The contact owns a 2021 GMC Yukon. The contact stated while driving 25 MPH, upon accelerating from a light, the vehicle began to shake and decelerated and failed to accelerate and exceed 25 MPH. The vehicle accelerated, jerked, and stalled. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the fuel pump control module needed to be replaced. The mechanic informed the contact that the parts were on backorder. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V739000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The manufacturer was notified of the failure and opened a case. The failure mileage was approximately 67,150.
2021 GMC Yukon
Vehicle will not shift into gear from Park. When it’s in gear (you can hold the button to select a gear to move), but as soon as you release the button – it goes right back into park. It comes and goes. I’ve been stuck in my driveway. Stuck at the grocery store. Had it once surprise me at a stoplight and was almost rear ended – that time I needed to hold the button to escape to the nearest parking lot. Dealer, of course, was not able to replicate as they said the issue does not throw a code. I have video and pictures, which I have supplied. Sometimes the engine light comes on too. Dealership did say there were some service notes in the system regarding a similar problem, but that GM has yet to issue a TSB. I’m honestly worried this will cause a major accident and I don’t trust having my family in the car. It’s an $86,000 SUV. Unreal and so disappointing.
2023 GMC Yukon
Vehicle shuts off and goes into neutral at highway speeds I am reaching out because it has happened to me three times in a seven month old vehicle and also five family members with Yukon Tahoe, Escalade same issue is very very dangerous please, I beg you take this very seriously and contact me so I could verify to you the other owners that I’ve had the same issue, but have not went far enough to make a complaint. I will prove it to you with other owners, same problem, where the vehicle just shuts off.
2023 GMC Yukon
After driving on an Interstate Highway for approximately 2 hours I exited and brought the vehicle to a complete stop at a stop sign while preparing to turn right onto a busy 2-lane road. I applied moderate gas pedal pressure and the vehicle momentarily accelerated and moved forward but then the engine stalled as the transmission was attempting to shift automatically from 1st to 2nd gear. The vehicle was partially stuck out into the busy road without any power. This created a traffic conflict and near-miss with cars traveling along the 2-lane road that I was attempting to turn onto. I restarted the vehicle and drove it slowly onto the shoulder. The vehicle’s engine repeatedly stalled any time enough gas pedal pressure was applied to cause the transmission to attempt to shift from 1st to 2nd gear. This issue only occurs after the engine and transmission have been running at operating temperature for several minutes. The dealership could not duplicate this issue, but they only drove the vehicle a total of 7 miles over two different occasions. The vehicle was purchased new on June 23, 2023 and had approximately 1,700 miles on it when the issue first occurred. There were no warning lights or messages illuminated prior to the engine stalling. Vehicle is currently at a dealership service department being evaluated.
Have GMC Yukon Transmission Problems? Get A Lemon Law Attorney
If you have recurring problems with your GMC Yukon’s transmission, your vehicle may be a lemon. However, the GMC Yukon is not the only GMC vehicle model experiencing these recurring problems. Read more about the Chevy Shake and your California lemon law rights. If you would like more information, complete the form below to request a free consultation.
Lemon Law Help by Knight Law Group is an automotive lemon law firm that exclusively practices in California. If you are a California resident who purchased or leased a defective vehicle from a licensed dealership in California, we may be able to help you get rid of your potential lemon and recover significant cash compensation. Model year restrictions apply: 2019–Present vehicle models only.
However, we cannot help those who reside outside of California or purchased their vehicle outside of California unless they are active duty members of the Armed Forces, nor will we be able to refer those to a lemon law firm in their states.
To learn more about the California Lemon Law and your legal rights, visit our guide on the California Lemon Law for more information.
