Transmission/Shifting Won't work 2021 Yukon XL Denali

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mannyp02

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Annnddd......I spoke too soon. Just a few hours after posting my message saying it was fixed, I have now experienced the same issue. Major problem is we just took this vehicle on our vacation and are now 10 hrs from home. I was able to get it to go into gear in order to get it back to our rental property but it was too late in the evening to get it to a GMC dealership. I'll be taking it first thing in the AM, assuming the car will shift into gear, so I'll update once I know more. I also have recognized a new symptom to the problem. If I try remote start and it doesn't work (lights flash but engine does not start) that is an indication that when I crank it, it will not be in gear (doesn't show P illuminated) and it will not accept a gear change. Today I simply turned it on and off multiple times and eventually after about 15 minutes of this, it finally worked. Beyond frustrated at this point.
 

Micahsd

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Annnddd......I spoke too soon. Just a few hours after posting my message saying it was fixed, I have now experienced the same issue. Major problem is we just took this vehicle on our vacation and are now 10 hrs from home. I was able to get it to go into gear in order to get it back to our rental property but it was too late in the evening to get it to a GMC dealership. I'll be taking it first thing in the AM, assuming the car will shift into gear, so I'll update once I know more. I also have recognized a new symptom to the problem. If I try remote start and it doesn't work (lights flash but engine does not start) that is an indication that when I crank it, it will not be in gear (doesn't show P illuminated) and it will not accept a gear change. Today I simply turned it on and off multiple times and eventually after about 15 minutes of this, it finally worked. Beyond frustrated at this point.
That sucks…good luck!
 
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mannyp02

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To update everyone, my vehicle is still at the dealership in FL. They are replacing the TCM again (I've since verified that was what the first dealer replaced, not the ECM) and several other parts in the transmission system although I haven't gotten a list of those parts yet, I've only spoken to them over the phone. At this point, I've decided I do not want this particular vehicle back and will likely be pursuing lemon law under my state's criteria. I've owned the vehicle for 119 days and it's been at the dealership for repairs 35 of those days or roughly 30% of the time I've owned it. The dealership I purchased from has still been fairly useless, only offering to make an "aggressive" offer for my vehicle to facilitate a trade in. No thanks, why would I willingly lose thousands of dollars over an issue that is not my fault? I've begun communicating directly with GMC and I was escalated fairly quickly to a specialist to work on my case. She has sent my case up to her superiors requesting a buy back of my vehicle. I don't know the specifics of what that would include (if just the vehicle sales price, the dealer fees etc., will it be adjusted for mileage?), I decided to hold my questions until I know how they plan to respond. If they deny the request then I will begin the process of a lemon law claim. Needless to say I am very frustrated at this point.
 

Quark

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These vehicles aren't right though some have driven them 645 miles without a problem.

I think you should get a lawyer and GM should pay their fees.
 

Micahsd

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To update everyone, my vehicle is still at the dealership in FL. They are replacing the TCM again (I've since verified that was what the first dealer replaced, not the ECM) and several other parts in the transmission system although I haven't gotten a list of those parts yet, I've only spoken to them over the phone. At this point, I've decided I do not want this particular vehicle back and will likely be pursuing lemon law under my state's criteria. I've owned the vehicle for 119 days and it's been at the dealership for repairs 35 of those days or roughly 30% of the time I've owned it. The dealership I purchased from has still been fairly useless, only offering to make an "aggressive" offer for my vehicle to facilitate a trade in. No thanks, why would I willingly lose thousands of dollars over an issue that is not my fault? I've begun communicating directly with GMC and I was escalated fairly quickly to a specialist to work on my case. She has sent my case up to her superiors requesting a buy back of my vehicle. I don't know the specifics of what that would include (if just the vehicle sales price, the dealer fees etc., will it be adjusted for mileage?), I decided to hold my questions until I know how they plan to respond. If they deny the request then I will begin the process of a lemon law claim. Needless to say I am very frustrated at this point.
Hopefully they make it right. Nobody should have to suffer making payments on a new vehicle that sits in the shop.

Mine was built in March and I purchased it in April so hopefully I don’t run into that issue. I’m up to 3,100 miles without any issues so far but with everyone taking about lifters and some other odd issues like yours I don’t have a good feeling about it long term.
 

Quark

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Hopefully they make it right. Nobody should have to suffer making payments on a new vehicle that sits in the shop.

Mine was built in March and I purchased it in April so hopefully I don’t run into that issue. I’m up to 3,100 miles without any issues so far but with everyone taking about lifters and some other odd issues like yours I don’t have a good feeling about it long term.
Making it right should include compensation for pain and suffering for selling a known problematic product.
 

Rennsport

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Well Mannyp02, now I have the same problem. 8k miles on a 2021 Tahoe Z71. I was driving about 35mph on a short drive on a flat street just cruising and the first thing that happened was my radio sound dropped to a low level for about 15secs and then came back to normal level, then I press the gas a little to get through an intersection and the Tahoe did a little shack/vibration and then nothing...no response on the gas, so I had to coast over to the side of the road (I was very lucky to have enough momentum to get through the busy street interception!). It would not start back up, so I had to have it towed (and had terrible road side service, ugh). The dealer was not even able to know what the problem was as the modules are so dead they can't even get a reading to know what went wrong. So they ordered a new Engine Control Module and they have no service bulletin on or have ever seen this problem yet. IN OTHER WORDS....we can add this to the growing list of problems with the new 2021 design! I LOVE the new look/ride, but my 2003 Tahoe and 2011 Suburban had NO issues and now it is a NEW tahoe that leaves me stranded. Between the lifter/rod issues and the 11 recalls (yep 11!) I have spend more time at the dealer with this Tahoe than my other cars combined. I will be sadly selling it the moment I can (but I need to find another more reliable towing with some off-road SUV, any suggestions? Maybe it will hang in there for the new 2023 Toyota Sequoia TRD PRO or ?. I will NOT buy a Jeep as they are now owned by FIAT and have lots of problems, even more now. Maybe ford will redo the Expedition...Ford are you listening? This is another huge opportunity like the Bronco taking over some Jeep territory, how about redoing the Expedition to a more special trim towards a Raptor like large SUV that can tow? Pretty please?).
 

Micahsd

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Well Mannyp02, now I have the same problem. 8k miles on a 2021 Tahoe Z71. I was driving about 35mph on a short drive on a flat street just cruising and the first thing that happened was my radio sound dropped to a low level for about 15secs and then came back to normal level, then I press the gas a little to get through an intersection and the Tahoe did a little shack/vibration and then nothing...no response on the gas, so I had to coast over to the side of the road (I was very lucky to have enough momentum to get through the busy street interception!). It would not start back up, so I had to have it towed (and had terrible road side service, ugh). The dealer was not even able to know what the problem was as the modules are so dead they can't even get a reading to know what went wrong. So they ordered a new Engine Control Module and they have no service bulletin on or have ever seen this problem yet. IN OTHER WORDS....we can add this to the growing list of problems with the new 2021 design! I LOVE the new look/ride, but my 2003 Tahoe and 2011 Suburban had NO issues and now it is a NEW tahoe that leaves me stranded. Between the lifter/rod issues and the 11 recalls (yep 11!) I have spend more time at the dealer with this Tahoe than my other cars combined. I will be sadly selling it the moment I can (but I need to find another more reliable towing with some off-road SUV, any suggestions? Maybe it will hang in there for the new 2023 Toyota Sequoia TRD PRO or ?. I will NOT buy a Jeep as they are now owned by FIAT and have lots of problems, even more now. Maybe ford will redo the Expedition...Ford are you listening? This is another huge opportunity like the Bronco taking over some Jeep territory, how about redoing the Expedition to a more special trim towards a Raptor like large SUV that can tow? Pretty please?).
Just curious…what is the build date on yours?
 

Micahsd

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Do you know where this is located? I looked on the driver side where the VIN and GVWR, etc is located but didn't see it.
That’s right where it’s at on that decal inside the driver’s door where the VIN is. There should be a small date code such as 03/21 for March 2021.
 

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