2021 Yukon Denali Battery Issue

[01dailey]

The battery in my 2021 Yukon finally came to the end of its life today, suddenly without any pre-warning, and it left me stranded. My vehicle started up just fine when I left my house. After driving several miles I made a stop, parked and turned off the ignition. The moment the engine shutoff I received a dash message that the battery was critically low and that I should restart the engine and let it run to recharge the battery. The warning came a bit too late after the battery went dead. There wasn't enough juice to turn over the engine. This would be like an aircraft terrain warning system going off after the plane hits the ground. A warning this late isn't helpful.

How can the battery run down this way while being driven without any warning that the battery charge is getting low? Had I known the battery was failing I could have driven to a nearby auto center and taken care of it, not spend my next hour waiting for AAA.

This was the original battery, almost 5-years old. I figure that regardless of the battery age, new or old, they are all capable of failing. I just expected some warning of low charge. Not just startup normally in the morning then 3 miles later be dead.

 

[jfoj]

On modern vehicles with all the electrical draws and multiple computers you cannot rely on battery to last more than 3-4 years. Even when you shut the vehicle off, many modules in the vehicle typically stay "Awake" for up to 20 minutes and even then the Keyless Entry/ Keyfob Receiver and some of the OnStar stuff either stays "Awake" or is triggered to "Wake Up" quite often to look for a signal for Remote Start or Unlocking the vehicle.

Colder temps impact a batteries capacity and a bad cell can cause a battery to avalanche quickly. I typically put a "Maintenance" charge on my batteries at least 2 times a year and also check the battery with my fairly advanced professional battery testers. If the battery comes in under 70-75% capacity, I replace it.

Its just not worth getting stranded by a problem battery and I also keep a high capacity jumper battery in the vehicle as well for back up purposes. But if the battery ends up with a bad cell, sometimes even if you get the vehicle started, crazy things can happen and the vehicle can start to disable certain modules to keep the vehicle running.

I also put a label on the battery when I install it because 3-4 years passes quickly when you have life things taking over. My first Yukon Denali is 20 years old!

 

[2024 White Tahoe]

I consider the engine battery a wear and maintenance item. I replace them every 3 - 3 1/2 years, using the OEM battery and rating (my vehicles and family members).

I would rather replace a battery in my driveway when it is sunny and 60 degrees in the Fall, instead of in a deserted parking lot on a holiday weekend while it is snowing.

 

[GMCnewbee]

Good advice! I just had my battery replaced yesterday at about the 3-1/2 year mark. I have a 2022 purchased in February, so it is now 3 years and nine months (3-3/4 years?)

Anyway I did it purely out of caution knowing that 3 to 5 years is the generally accepted battery life here in Florida. I do not want to find out the hard way. I do agree that with the sophistication of electronics these days, maybe GM can figure a way to give us a "heads up", maybe a Low Battery light? Don't we have that?

 

[WalleyeMikeIII]

Good advice! I just had my battery replaced yesterday at about the 3-1/2 year mark. I have a 2022 purchased in February, so it is now 3 years and nine months (3-3/4 years?)

Anyway I did it purely out of caution knowing that 3 to 5 years is the generally accepted battery life here in Florida. I do not want to find out the hard way. I do agree that with the sophistication of electronics these days, maybe GM can figure a way to give us a "heads up", maybe a Low Battery light? Don't we have that?

I do agree, and I replaced mine just last week; vehicle manufactured in Jan 2022. My battery tester said state of health was 81%.

My indicator was that auto stop/start had ceased kicking in…not that I minded that; but it was a good indicator things were not super healthy in the charge storing unit under the hood.

It’s Minnesota, winter upon us, and I didn’t feel like swapping a battery in a parking lot some dark, ten below zero evening. Had the Yukon at the shop last week for transmission, driveline, and oil change service anyway, so told them to put in a new battery.

 

[davidl13]

odyssey extreme batteries are second to none... don't look back

 

[01dailey]

On modern vehicles with all the electrical draws and multiple computers you cannot rely on battery to last more than 3-4 years. Even when you shut the vehicle off, many modules in the vehicle typically stay "Awake" for up to 20 minutes and even then the Keyless Entry/ Keyfob Receiver and some of the OnStar stuff either stays "Awake" or is triggered to "Wake Up" quite often to look for a signal for Remote Start or Unlocking the vehicle.

Colder temps impact a batteries capacity and a bad cell can cause a battery to avalanche quickly. I typically put a "Maintenance" charge on my batteries at least 2 times a year and also check the battery with my fairly advanced professional battery testers. If the battery comes in under 70-75% capacity, I replace it.

Its just not worth getting stranded by a problem battery and I also keep a high capacity jumper battery in the vehicle as well for back up purposes. But if the battery ends up with a bad cell, sometimes even if you get the vehicle started, crazy things can happen and the vehicle can start to disable certain modules to keep the vehicle running.

I also put a label on the battery when I install it because 3-4 years passes quickly when you have life things taking over. My first Yukon Denali is 20 years old!

I understand the age of the battery is a problem, however this issue started in the first 6 months of ownership. I got tired of the dealer telling me to drive it more. It only goes about 3 days without driving. When the battery finally failed, it was 80° weather. After replacing the battery it seems ok so far. I now keep jumpers and a jumper battery with me. I'll probably replace the battery every 2 years now whether it needs it or not.

 

[martinajm]

I replaced my battery today just short of 4 years of ownership. I noticed it taking a bit longer to crank (diesel), and some weird things going on with the electronics. For example, sometimes not of my presets on the audio system showed up, sometimes they did. I never got stranded, but after 4 years it was time.

Now, however, my clock is about 20 minute slow, and everything that I have tried does not solve the problem... My compass in the instrument panel seems to be stuck on North as well.