Woman Starts Her GMC Denali SUV. Then It Sputters Out
'Is this normal?'
A woman captured the moment her GMC Yukon Denali sputtered out on video. She then asked the internet if this is "normal." Unfortunately for her, the answer appears to be yes.
On May 31, TikToker Shelby Thomason (@shelbythomason3) posted a video showing a parked GMC Yukon Denali. Its engine is rumbling in a clear sign of distress.
The location on the video indicates the SUV is parked at the Capitol Buick GMC Service Center in San Jose, California. The comments section is rife with complaints about the Denali.
One viewer wrote, "Just traded my 2024 Denali with 22,000 miles for this reason last week."
A massive recall
Now trending
Last month, General Motors announced the recall of an eyebrow-raising 600,000 trucks and SUVs it sold in the United States, including the Yukon and Yukon XL.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that the issue potentially affects the following models released between 2021 and 2024: Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV; Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Suburban, and Tahoe; and GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL.
According to GM’s recall report, "The connecting rod and/or crankshaft engine components in these vehicles may have manufacturing defects that can lead to engine damage and engine failure." If an engine fails while it’s being driven, the car will stop moving forward, which could lead to a crash.
Drivers can reportedly tell that their vehicle is at risk of engine failure if they hear an odd banging coming from under the hood. The NHTSA says to look out for a check engine light, high RPMs, abnormal shifting, or the vehicle not starting. It’s best to avoid driving if you suspect engine issues.
People who suspect their car has been impacted should take it to the dealership for an inspection. If the vehicle passes inspection, it gets an oil change, and the owner will be on his or her way. If the engine is already failing due to the issue, GM will replace it free of charge.
Owners should receive notification letters by mail, or can proactively check their car’s status online using their vehicle identification number (VIN).
On a Reddit thread posted to r/GMC a month ago, commenters expressed confusion and dismay about the recall and its process.
One person wrote, “My concern is how comfortable will I be hauling my family around in it after the dealer tells me I'm just getting the oil replacement. One article (on gmauthority.com I think) said of the reported cases, ‘14,332 involved allegations of lost propulsion’. That's a lot. I do a lot of interstate driving and don't want to be thinking about this as I'm going over the Delaware Memorial Bridge or across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel.”
The NHTSA backs this claim up. Of those alleged incidents when a vehicle abruptly stopped moving while it was being driven, 12 resulted in potentially related crashes and 12 potentially related injuries. All the injuries were minor.
Motor1 reached out to both GM and Shelby Thomason for comment. We will update this story if either responds.
Update June 10, 6:10pm CT: In an email to M1, Thomason shared details about what happened.
"The vehicle is a 2022 Yukon Denali with about 35,500 miles.
While I’m definitely not a car expert, I did notice something felt “off” about 10 miles before we stopped for lunch—about 40 miles outside of San Jose, near Tracy, California. It sounded like motorcycles were approaching from behind, but when I checked around, there was nothing there. That strange sound happened about three times, but I assumed maybe a motorcycle had just sped off quickly and I hadn’t caught it in time.
When we stopped for lunch in Tracy, my husband got out of his vehicle and walked past mine. That’s when he noticed a loud knocking sound coming from under the hood. He popped it open, asked me to give it a little gas, and the knocking got even louder. We immediately called the dealership to let them know something was wrong and asked about getting a tow. They told us to try driving it in instead, but about 20 miles later, while still on the freeway, the engine seized and the car completely lost acceleration.
It was a really scary and traumatic experience, especially with my kids in the car."
She adds that the dealership said that the vehicle requires a full engine replacement and they offered to do just that and sell her back the car.
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