Home · 2015 GMC Yukon Denali Xl 1500 · Complaints

What 977 owners told NHTSA about the 2015 GMC Yukon Denali Xl 1500

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (977)Crash / fire / injury (24)Lights (489)Electrical system (168)Brakes (158)Transmission & drivetrain (102)Engine (63)Steering (51)Body & structure (28)Suspension (27)Fuel system (23)Visibility & wipers (11)

489 of 977 complaints match · Lights · clear filters · page 15 of 20

Nov 30, 2018Electrical systemLights

THE REAR TAILLIGHT WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. I HAVE REPORTED IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE ONLY FIX IS TO REPLACE THE HOUSING UNIT AT $1500. IT HAS BEEN REPORTED AND IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH GMC.

NHTSA ODI 11155148

Nov 30, 2018Lights

INTERMITTENT FAILED PASSENGER TAIL LIGHT ON A 2015 YUKON, WORKS OCCASIONALLY. QUOTED 650$ TO REPAIR POORLY MANUFACTURED LED LIGHTS!

NHTSA ODI 11155272

Nov 29, 2018Lights

TAKATA RECALL. ISSUES WITH BOTH BRAKE LIGHTS GOING OUT.

NHTSA ODI 11154817

Nov 28, 2018Electrical systemLightsBrakes

WE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE ON 11.21.18 AND THE BRAKE LIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY DON'T WORK. THEY WERE WORKING AT THE TIME WE DROVE IT OFF THE LOT. THE BULBS WERE TESTED BY OUR MECHANIC AND HE STATED THAT THE GMC YUKON OF THIS YEAR ARE KNOWN TO HAVE MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKE LIGHT HOUSING UNITS ON THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE ELECTRICAL BOARD ASSOCIATED WITH IT HAS ISSUES THE MECHANIC STATED. I REVIEWED MANY POST ONLINE AND WONDER WHY THIS ISN'T A REQUIRED RECALL. TO ME THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN AND WE BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE TO TRANSPORT MY KIDS AND WIFE. I'D LIKE THIS TO BE CONSIDERED A RECALL IMMEDIATELY.

NHTSA ODI 11154415

Nov 12, 2018Lights

RIGHT TAIL LIGHT ISN'T WORKING. JUST BOUGHT THE CAR.

NHTSA ODI 11151038

Nov 8, 2018Lights

REAR LIGHTS AND BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT WORK ON BOTH SIDES.

NHTSA ODI 11150053

Nov 7, 2018Lights

LED BRAKE LIGHTS GO OUT QUICKLY WITHOUT ANY WARNING ON THE DASHBOARD. MULTIPLE ONLINE COMPLAINTS OF SAME ISSUE TO THE POINT THAT MULTIPLE BUSINESSES ADVERTISE ABOUT THIS SPECIFIC FIX. DEALERSHIP WANTS $1500 FOR REPAIR OF BOTH AND DESPITE ONLINE ADVERTISEMENTS THEY DENY THIS IS A PROBLEM. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE SINCE WHATEVER THE CAUSE IT BYPASSES THE DASHBOARD ALARM. YOU HAVE TO FIND OUT VIA ACCIDENT, COLLISION, OR BY RECEIVING A TICKET.

NHTSA ODI 11149955

Oct 30, 2018Lights

BRAKE LIGHTS HAVE GONE OFF AND ON FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS BEFORE FINALLY GOING OUT. DEALERSHIP REFUSED THERE WAS A PROBLEM WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND NOW THE REPAIR WILL COST $1700

NHTSA ODI 11144101

Oct 30, 2018Lights

REAR TAIL LIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY WORKING. PROBLEM OCCURS WHEN STATIONARY OR MOVING, CAN CHANGE FROM FUNCTIONING TO NOT FUNCTIONING AND BACK WHILE IN MOTION.

NHTSA ODI 11144134

Oct 29, 2018Lights

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 GMC YUKON DENALI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE BRAKE LIGHT WAS REPLACED BY THE CONTACT BUT FAILED AGAIN A FEW DAYS LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CAPITOL BUICK GMC (408-335-7526, 909 CAPITOL EXPRESSWAY AUTO MALL, SAN JOSE, CA 95136) AND THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE TAIL LIGHTS AND THE BRAKE LIGHTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.

NHTSA ODI 11143798

Oct 22, 2018Electrical systemLightsBrakes

MY PASSENGER FRONT LIGHT COVER IS ACQUIRING CONDENSATION WHICH MAKES THE LIGHTS GO OFF AND ON, AND MY DRIVER SIDE BRAKE LIGHT WORKS ONLY INTERMITTENTLY. MY INSURANCE OR WARRANTY WON'T COVER ANYTHING TO FIX THESE LIGHT ISSUES. THESE ISSUES STARTED ABOUT MAY 2018. WE WEREN'T IN A WRECK OR SUSTAINED ANY DAMAGES THAT WOULD HAVE LED TO THESE ISSUES. I HAVE TALKED TO TWO OTHER OWNERS OF THE SAME MAKE/MODEL/YEAR VEHICLE AND WE ALL HAVE SAFETY ISSUES THAT ARE NOT BEING RESOLVED BY GM VWARRANTIES. I WANT TO SEE GM ISSUE RECALLS AND ACCEPT COMPLETE FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR REPAIRS. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SEE THE REAR LIGHTING SYSTEM REDESIGNED SO THE COMPONENTS ARE NOT DEPENDENT ON EACH OTHER. MY BRAKE LIGHT WENT OUT AND INSTEAD OF BEING ABLE TO REPLACE A BULB THE ENTIRE UNIT HAS TO BE REPLACED AT $1700.00 THAT WE JUST SIMPLY DO NOT HAVE.

NHTSA ODI 11141808

Oct 21, 2018Lights

THE PASSENGER SIDE TAILLIGHT HAS FAILED. THIS WAS NOT DUE TO COLLISION, AND IT APPEARS TO BE A WIDE SPREAD ISSUE AFTER READING HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ONLINE.

NHTSA ODI 11141687

Oct 20, 2018Lights

DRIVER SIDE LEFT BRAKE LIGHT LED POOR QUALITY, FAILED. TURN SIGNAL WORKS, BRAKE LIGHT DOESN'T. LEDS ARE SUPPOSED TO LAST LONGER THAN INCANDESCENT BULBS (AND AT THE EXPENSIVE PRICE OF $500+ TO FIX THIS EACH TIME IT GOES OUT PEOPLE WILL BE LESS APT TO FIX), BUT THIS IS APPARENTLY A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM FROM LOOKING INTO IT. THERE WAS NO CATALYST THAT SET THE PROBLEM OFF, JUST FAILED ON ITS OWN.

NHTSA ODI 11141584

Oct 12, 2018Lights

REAR TAIL LIGHT NOT WORKING

NHTSA ODI 11139970

Oct 12, 2018Lights

THE REAR LEFT LIGHT DOES NOT WORK CONSISTENTLY. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY THE DEALER THE WHOLE LIGHT ASSEMBLY WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACE AT A COST OF $800. THE YUKON IS PASSED THE 3 YEAR WARRANTY BY A FEW MONTHS BUT BELOW THE 36000 MILES. THE EXTENDED WARRANTY DOESN'T COVER THE LIGHT ASSEMBLY EITHER. GO FIGURE. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE REAR LED LIGHTS ON THIS GMC SUV ACCORDING TO NUMEROUS WEB SITES.

NHTSA ODI 11140043

Oct 6, 2018Lights

PURCHASED MY 2015 GMC YUKON IN JUNE 2017. WHEN I INITIALLY PURCHASED THE VEHICLE EVERYTHING WAS FINE. AROUND MAY OR JUNE OF 2018 THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT WAS FILLED WITH CONDENSATION AND I WAS QUOTED $1462 FOR LABOR AND PARTS. MIND YOU THE VEHICLE HAD LESS THAN 50K MILES ON IT. I SENT A COMPLAINT TO THE CORPORATE OFFICE AND ENDED UP PAYING $860 DOLLARS TO HAVE IT FIXED. HERE IT IS NOW OCTOBER AND NOW BOTH THE BRAKE LIGHTS ARE INTERMITTENTLY WORKING. I JUST TOOK THE TRUCK IN FOR A RECENT RECALL FOR A STEERING ISSUE. I'M NOT UNDERSTANDING WHY THERE ARE SO MANY ISSUES RELATED TO THE LIGHTS. SO I WILL NOW HAVE TO PAY GET THE TAILLIGHTS FIXED. THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER ISSUES NOT TESTED AND I AM CURRENTLY FLU AT THE POINT OF READING THIS VEHICLE IN.

NHTSA ODI 11138786

Oct 3, 2018Lights

BRAKE LIGHTS WORK INTERMITTENTLY. THE PROBLEM IS NOT WITH THE LED BUT WITH THE POOR QUALITY OF THE CONTROLLER BOARD. BOTH OF MY TAIL LIGHTS HAVE ENCOUNTERED THIS ISSUE IN THE LAST 4 MONTHS AND THEY ARE VERY EXPENSIVE TO REPLACE. THE PART ALONE IS OVER $ 900.00. I HAVE TALKED TO A COUPLE OF DEALERS ABOUT THIS AND THEY ARE A FREQUENT PROBLEM, AND ONE DEALER SPECIFIED THAT HE HAS SOLD 4 REPLACEMENT UNITS IN THE LAST 24 HOURS. THIS INDICATES THAT THE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY IS VERY POOR QUALITY AND CAN BE A SAFETY HAZARD AS THERE IS NO WAY TO TELL THAT YOUR BRAKE LIGHT ISN'T WORKING UNLESS SOMEONE TELLS YOU.

NHTSA ODI 11133121

Oct 3, 2018Lights

TAIL LIGHTS WORK INTERMITTENTLY. SOME TIMES THEY ARE WORKING FINE, AND THEN FOR SOME REASON ONE OR BOTH WILL SHUT OFF AT DIFFERENT TIMES FOR NO APPARENT REASON.

NHTSA ODI 11133173

Sep 30, 2018Electrical systemLights

DRIVERS AND PASSENGER BRAKE LIGHT GO OUT INTERMITTENTLY. PASSENGER STAYS OFF FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME. LOOKED INTO REPLACING NO IDEA IF IT WILL FIX THE PROBLEM. COST AT LEAST $500. EACH PARTS ONLY. I HAVE SEEN SO MANY OTHER VEHICLES LIKE MINE SAME PROBLEM. HEADLIGHTS ALSO GOING OUT, WATER INSIDE OF COVER. LED AND TURN SIGNAL WENT OUT ON DRIVERS SIDE REPLACED FOR A COST OF $900.00, (JUST FOR THE HEADLIGHT) AGAIN NO GUARANTEE IT WILL KEEP WORKING. ALSO BATTERY WENT DEAD REPLACED BATTERY. NEW BATTERY ALSO WENT DEAD. CAR ALARM WENT OFF THE NIGHT BEFORE BATTERY DEAD IN THE MORNING. HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 3 WEEKS NOW. SAME THING HAPPENS ALARM GOES OFF KILLS BATTERY. SHOWS MASSIVE DRAIN AND SET ABOUT 32 CODES. THE DRAIN DOESN'T REGISTER AFTER THAT. RECHARGE BATTERY CAR IS NOT RUNNING WHEN THIS HAPPENS. PROBLEM REPEATS EVERY TIME AFTER CHARGING THE BATTERY. SOMETHING IN THE WIRING IS SHORTING OUT. TESTED BOTH BATTERIES THEY BOTH TEST GOOD. AFRAID OF WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT WITH THE ELECTRICAL ON THE VEHICLE. NOT SURE IF THE LIGHTS HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THIS OR NOT. WHEN ORDERING HEADLIGHT AND ASKING ABOUT BRAKES TOLD BY DEALER PARTS THEY SURE ARE SELLING A BUNCH OF THESE. I HAVE HAD PEOPLE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD STOP ME TO TELL ME MY BRAKE LIGHT IS OUT. I DID NOT KNOW THAT THE TURN SIGNAL ON THE FRONT WAS NOT WORKING UNTIL A CAR PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME WHILE WAITING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN. I GOT OUT AND LOOKED AT THE LIGHT AND IT WAS NOT WORKING. I CANNOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE AT ALL BECAUSE IT KEEPS DRAINING THE BATTERY. I HAVE A ASE CERTIFIED MASTER TECHNICIAN WORKING ON THE VEHICLE IN A REPUTABLE SHOP.

NHTSA ODI 11132402

Sep 28, 2018Lights

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 GMC YUKON. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE, ONCE WITH THE PASSENGER SIDE BRAKE LIGHT AND THE SECOND FAILURE WAS WITH THE DRIVER'S SIDE BRAKE LIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BOULEVARD BUICK GMC (2800 CHERRY AVE, SIGNAL HILL, CA 90755, (562) 492-1000) FOR BOTH FAILURES AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TAIL LIGHTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000.

NHTSA ODI 11132114

Sep 26, 2018Lights

2015 GMC YUKON DENALI, BREAK LIGHT MALFUNCTION, DRIVING, PARKED WITH NO INDICATION WHEN IT WILL WORK OR NOT. DEALERSHIP AND GMC SERVICE CENTER CLAIMED THERE WERE NO OR VERY FEW COMPLAINTS HOWEVER I HAVE FOUND HUNDREDS ALREADY. THEY REFUSED TO EVEN LOOK AT THE LIGHT STATING I CAN GET IT REPLACED FOR AROUND $775 BECAUSE THEY CANNOT CHANGE BULBS ON THAT TYPE OF TAIL LIGHT. DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT THIS WAS NEW FEATURE STARTING WITH MY YEAR MODEL AND SINCE GMC WENT WITH ENCASED LED LIGHTS THEY NO LONGER CAN FIX THEM UNDER WARRANTY. THIS WAS NEVER DISCLOSED ANYWHERE AND GMC DOES NOT STATE THAT ANYWHERE I COULD FIND AND WILL NOT COVER IT UNDER FACTORY WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH IT IS OBVIOUSLY A WIRING ISSUE SINCE THE LIGHT DOES WORK SOMETIMES. I ALSO HAD PROOF WITH PICTURES THAT THE TAIL LIGHT DOES WORK SOMETIMES BUT NOT CONSTANTLY AND THE DEALER REFERRED ME TO GMC SERVICE CENTER. THE GMC SERVICE CENTER BASICALLY EXPLAINED THE SAME THING, THAT THEY HAVE NO RECORD OF COMPLAINTS AND THOSE WOULD NOT BE COVERED BECAUSE THE LIGHT IS ACTUALLY BROKE OR OUT, AND THAT IS NOT COVERED. THEY ACTUALLY SUGGESTED I GO BACK TO THE PURCHASING DEALERSHIP WHICH IS THE ONE THAT SENT ME TO THEM, JUST GOT THE GO AROUND WITH NO ACTION. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE IF THE LIGHTS STOP WORKING SUDDENLY, ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT BECAUSE THE WHOLE LIGHT GOES BLACK. NOW I CANNOT GET MY VEHICLE REGISTERED DUE TO THE LIGHT AND WILL NEED TO FIX OR REPLACE A FACTORY ISSUE WITH THE LIGHT JUST TO GET MY VEHICLE INSPECTED AND REGISTERED.

NHTSA ODI 11131820

Sep 25, 2018Lights

PASSENGERS SIDE BRAKE LIGHT WAS ONLY INTERMITTENTLY UNTIL IT QUIT ALL TOGETHER THEN THE DRIVERS SIDE DID THE SAME THING. I CALLED THE LOCAL DEALER ABOUT IT LAST YEAR AND THEY STATED THEY WERE NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND THE COST TO REPLACE THEM WAS OVER $800 EACH.

NHTSA ODI 11131510

Sep 24, 2018Lights

PASSENGER BRAKE LIGHT INCONSISTANLY WILL WORK ONE DAY THEN STOP WORKING. THE NEXT DAY IT WILL BE WORKING AGAIN. THE BRAKE LIGHT IS AN LED STRIP AND CANNOT BE REPLACED. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR MONTHS AND THE CAR HAS 10K MILES. WE NEVER KNOW IF AND WHEN THE LIGHT WILL BE WORKING. I HAVE BEEN TAKING PICTURES DOCUMENTING THE BRAKE LIGHT AND IT APPEARS TO WORK FOR 2 WEEKS THEN GOES OUT FOR A WEEK AND THEN COMES BACK ON FOR TWO WEEKS.

NHTSA ODI 11131062

Sep 21, 2018Lights

ISSUES WITH BACK LED TAIL LAMPS NOT WORKING. I HAVE SEEN MANY ISSUES WITH PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI 11130702

Sep 20, 2018Lights

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 GMC YUKON. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE DRIVER SIDE TAIL LAMP FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BEAMAN BUICK GMC (LOCATED AT 1531 BROADWAY, NASHVILLE, TN) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TAIL LAMP ASSEMBLY MALFUNCTIONED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE TAIL LAMP ASSEMBLY PREVIOUSLY FAILED AND WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000.

NHTSA ODI 11130304

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How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2015 GMC Yukon Denali Xl 1500 verdict →