2018 Denali/Lifter failures and much more

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

finston

TYF Newbie
Joined
Sep 5, 2019
Posts
29
Reaction score
12
Hi everyone,
I've had my 2018 Yukon XL Denali for 2 and a half years. I bought it with 36k miles on it. Here's all I've had done to it:

-Rear AC condenser replacement
-Front wheel bearing replacement
-Both front upper ball joints
-Engine mount
-Leaking coolant coupling/hose
-Lifter failure

Currently it's been in the shop for about a month waiting on the VLOM so we can get the lifters replaced. Scheduled to arrive either this week or next. Luckily my extended warranty has covered all of these and even covered replacing all of the lifters, not only one bank.

I'm at my wits end with this vehicle, and love it dearly. What else at this point can I worry about going wrong? Transmission? Suspension? I have 3k miles left on my warranty. What would you do?
 
Last edited:

Stbentoak

Full Access Member
Joined
Jul 20, 2020
Posts
1,661
Reaction score
1,895
Hi everyone,
I've had my 2018 Yukon XL Denali for 2 and a half years. I bought it with 36k miles on it. Here's all I've had done to it:

-Rear AC condenser replacement
-Front wheel bearing replacement
-Both front upper ball joints
-Leaking coolant coupling/hose
-Lifter failure

Currently it's been in the shop for about a month waiting on the VLOM so we can get the lifters replaced. Scheduled to arrive either this week or next. Luckily my extended warranty has covered all of these and even covered replacing all of the lifters, not only one bank.

I'm at my wits end with this vehicle, and love it dearly. What else at this point can I worry about going wrong? Transmission? Suspension? I have 3k miles left on my warranty. What would you do?
" Luckily my Extended Warranty has covered all of these and even covered replacing all of the lifters, not only one bank."

@OregonVietVet Run the numbers on these fixes and tell me if the "Instead of warranty" is worth it or not. He would have probably paid in the neighborhood of 2K for that warranty 2.5 years ago. Not to mention one month of car rental probably worth at least 1k.....
Just saying....
You may have a completely trouble free vehicle for 10+ years and never do anything to it... If so Consider yourself very lucky.
But there are many many cases of things that shouldn't go wrong that do... and when they do and it's your only vehicle and you need to get back on the road, the money can pile up quick... Real Quick. Not to mention just because it paid for these things.... its not done yet.... and will continue to cover any other dumb thing that comes up on this vehicle for its full duration, even if it totals 10+k.....This is just one example.....
 
Last edited:
OP
OP
finston

finston

TYF Newbie
Joined
Sep 5, 2019
Posts
29
Reaction score
12
" Luckily my Extended Warranty has covered all of these and even covered replacing all of the lifters, not only one bank."

@OregonVietVet Run the numbers on these fixes and tell me if the "Instead of warranty" is worth it or not. He would have probably paid in the neighborhood of 2K for that warranty 2.5 years ago. Not to mention one month of car rental probably worth at least 1k.....
Just saying....
You may have a completely trouble free vehicle for 10+ years and never do anything to it... If so Consider yourself very lucky.
But there are many many cases of things that shouldn't go wrong that do... and when they do and it's your only vehicle and you need to get back on the road, the money can pile up quick... Real Quick. Not to mention just because it paid for these things.... its not done yet.... and will continue to cover any other dumb thing that comes up on this vehicle for its full duration, even if it totals 10+k.....This is just one example.....
I forgot to add engine mount.
 

Danyi2170

Full Access Member
Joined
Apr 18, 2020
Posts
103
Reaction score
110
Location
San Diego
Hi everyone,
I've had my 2018 Yukon XL Denali for 2 and a half years. I bought it with 36k miles on it. Here's all I've had done to it:

-Rear AC condenser replacement
-Front wheel bearing replacement
-Both front upper ball joints
-Engine mount
-Leaking coolant coupling/hose
-Lifter failure

Currently it's been in the shop for about a month waiting on the VLOM so we can get the lifters replaced. Scheduled to arrive either this week or next. Luckily my extended warranty has covered all of these and even covered replacing all of the lifters, not only one bank.

I'm at my wits end with this vehicle, and love it dearly. What else at this point can I worry about going wrong? Transmission? Suspension? I have 3k miles left on my warranty. What would you do?
are you getting an AFM delete or are you just getting the same parts replaced?
 

Thrust

Full Access Member
Joined
Oct 23, 2020
Posts
519
Reaction score
676
Location
ICT
How many miles do you have on it currently?
 

SpyShops212

Full Access Member
Joined
Jan 29, 2022
Posts
372
Reaction score
348
My lifters failed on the passenger side on my 2018 Escalade at 79k last fall. I canceled my extended warranty from GM to get $3500 sent back to my bank. When I have my 2008 Escalade with the same GM warranty and needed from struts I was told it’s not covered because it is a wear and tear item. My front struts failed at 68k and when the dealer told me that, they said it would have been covered if I kept my GM warranty. I ended up paying $2300 for two new front struts and $3200 for the lifters which GM paid $3000 as a curtesy. So I lost $2000 by removing the extended warranty. The GM warranty contract also said shocks are not covered. Go figure!
 

Hoelimited

TYF Newbie
Joined
Jul 17, 2017
Posts
2
Reaction score
2
If you plan on keeping that car, do the afm delete. Once a lifter fails often it comes apart goes through the engine and you go from a 3k arm delete to 8500-9 for a complete engine. You'll be dollars/sense way ahead getting afm/dod removed/deleted now. Warranty only covers whats damaged. Cylinder specific.
 

B-train

Full Access Member
Joined
Sep 12, 2022
Posts
2,258
Reaction score
3,881
Sorry about your sh1tty luck. We bought our first extended warranty when we bought a 2017 Denali with 40k. It only cost $1800 which included a $400, 5yr unlimited tire/wheel warranty. I've blown past the warranty on the truck, but have 1.5 years left on the tire warranty.

I can say that IT PAYED FOR ITSELF!
- 2 new front struts -$1900 - alignment included
- seat vibrator for driver assistance
- complete radio/HVAC module
- trans cooler lines
- trans shudder flush
- (2) 22 inch wheels for flaking clear coat
- 1 rear LED taillight ($600 part)

Wheel warranty paid for 2 tires for road debris, we bought other 2 for matched set.

I'm now at 130K and have had a RANGE Device in since 41k. If sounds as though you have a very proactive shop, or some poor quality control on a couple items. Either way, it's great it's been covered. Keeping the stupid AFM turned off after your lifter replacement will buy you plenty of useful life I'm sure.

I'd keep the truck and use it. I think most bugs are worked out by now. Do yourself a favor and keep up on trans services every 40-50k. Change oil every 5k or less (I personally run 5w-30 instead of 0-20. Better protection in my mind). Skimping on fluids and filters will bite your behind to the tune of WAY more than what the additional fluid would cost.

As far as other failures, it depends on driving habits, maintenance habits, and environmental conditions and care it receives.
 

Forum statistics

Threads
132,312
Posts
1,865,791
Members
96,905
Latest member
1badhg

Latest posts

Top