Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2019 GMC Yukon owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2019 GMC Yukon. The contact stated while driving at various speeds and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle hesitated to respond and jolted while responding. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and an independent mechanic; however, the failure could not be duplicated. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the vehicle decelerated to 25 MPH independently while the RPMS were significantly high. The contact depressed the accelerator pedal, and the engine revved. The vehicle jolted and accelerated to 65 MPH; however, the failure recurred. The contact depressed the accelerator pedal and the vehicle resumed speed, then the vehicle jerked and lost motive power. The contact was able to pull to the side of the road. The contact restarted the vehicle and continued driving; however, the vehicle stalled. …
The contact owns a 2019 GMC Yukon Denali. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal sound coming from under the vehicle. No warning light was illuminated. Additionally, the vehicle had an oil change approximately 50 miles prior to the failure. The contact stated that the vehicle lost automotive power and the contact was able to pull into a nearby gas station. The vehicle failed to restart. The message "Battery System failure" was displayed on the instrument panel. The contact stated that the GMC App diagnosed the vehicle with Stabili-trak Stability Control System Failure. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer where it was diagnosed with metal shaving in the engine which caused the noise. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost and remained at the local dealer. …
The contact owns a 2019 GMC Yukon. The contact stated that after starting and exiting the vehicle to allow it to warm up, the contact later noticed that the vehicle had turned off. The vehicle was towed to a first mechanic, who was unable to restart the vehicle or determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was towed to a second mechanic, where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The dealer was contacted and provided an estimate for the repair, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the dealer's estimate was higher than the mechanic's estimate. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and suggested purchasing a new vehicle. The failure mileage was approximately 170,000.
The contact owns a 2019 GMC Yukon. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, her husband noticed an abnormal tapping sound coming from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, who determined that the drive belt needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to another local dealer, Gerry Lane Buick GMC (6615 Florida Blvd., Baton Rouge, LA 70806) to be diagnosed and it was determined that the lifters had failed. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and provided a partial reimbursement for the repair. The failure mileage was approximately 73,000.
The contact owns a 2019 GMC Yukon Denali. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine made loud knocking sounds, and the vehicle lost motive power. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle went into LIMP Mode but was able to drive to the residence. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the lifters had failed, and that the engine needed to be disassembled for further inspection. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 72,000.
The contact owns a 2019 GMC Yukon. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, there was an abnormal ticking sound coming from the vehicle. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the water pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with engine failure, and lifters and cam phaser failures. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 7,000.
The contact owns a 2019 GMC Yukon. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, there was an abnormal knocking sound coming from the engine, and the engine failed to run. The message "Shut off Vehicle - Service at Local Dealer" was displayed; however, no warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer where it was diagnosed, and the contact was advised that the lifters, cam shaft, and push rods were faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 76,300.
The contact owns a 2019 GMC Yukon. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal rattling sound coming from the engine compartment, prompting the contact to discontinue driving the vehicle. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the cam shaft. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 170,000. The VIN was not available.
The contact owns a 2019 GMC Yukon. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle briefly hesitated and jerked before returning to normal functionality. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the transmission. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 111,000.
Driving out a town 400 miles away, with a young passenger in my car on [redacted] in rush hour traffic, i started hearing a slight ticking sound then moved into a full blown knock on my drivers side ( I recorded it). within minutes, my oil light came on and my dash notification reading "engine overheating idle" with the knocking really load. I had to cross 3 lanes to traffic quickly to get to the shoulder of the road, which was NOT a safe place. I smelled smoke and cut the the engine off. I popped the hood to see that there was now no coolant (that is all I knew to look for). I immediately called OnStar Roadside assistance. 2 hours later, I was towed to a local hotel room. Car completely dead. not lights, couldn't lock it, nothing. I had to pay a large fee (almost $2k) to have my car towed back to NC from AL not to mention having rent a rental car to get us home. …
Engine complaints in other Yukon years
Frequently asked questions
How common are engine problems on the 2019 GMC Yukon?
NHTSA has 31 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 2019 GMC Yukon, 53% of the model year's 58 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2019 GMC Yukon engine problems?
No. NHTSA lists no engine & cooling recall for the 2019 GMC Yukon, though it has 2 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2019 GMC Yukon engine problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 82,000 miles, and 20% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 0 fires and 2 injuries to engine & cooling problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.