Home · 2015 GMC Yukon Denali Xl · Complaints

What 606 owners told NHTSA about the 2015 GMC Yukon Denali Xl

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 (606)Crash / fire / injury (15)Lights (313)Electrical system (94)Brakes (92)Transmission & drivetrain (58)Steering (37)Engine (33)Suspension (17)Body & structure (16)Fuel system (14)Visibility & wipers (8)

Newest first · 606 complaints · page 12 of 25

Jun 18, 2019Lights

THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS OF MY VEHICLE WENT OUT IN JULY OF 2017 BOTH OF THEM WITHIN A WEEK, DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE. I HAD THE WHOLE LIGHT PANEL REPLACED UNDER THE WARRANTY ON EACH OF THEM AND NOW AGAIN MY PASSENGER-SIDE BRAKE LIGHT HAS GONE OUT. IT CAME BACK ON MOMENTARILY IN THE MORNING AND THEN WENT OUT AGAIN. I HAVE RESEARCHED THE ISSUE AND FOUND THAT MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM ANDA FRIEND OF MINE CURRENTLY HAS ONE OUT ON HER 2017 YUKON WHICH SHE IS TAKING IN TO GET FIXED. SPEAKING WITH THE SERVICE ADVISORS AT THE DEALERSHIP THEY INFORMED ME THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM BUT NO RECALLS HAVE BEEN ISSUED FOR IT. AS OF TODAY THE PART IS ALSO ON BACKORDER AND THEY DO NOT KNOW WHEN THEY WILL GET THE PART IN. SO IN THE MEANTIME I AM WITHOUT A BRAKE LIGHT.

NHTSA ODI 11221043

Jun 14, 2019Lights

BRAKE LIGHTS GIVE OUT ON BOTH SIDES AND ARE VERY EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR

NHTSA ODI 11220212

Jun 13, 2019Lights

BOTH OF THE VEHICLE TAIL LIGHTS HAVE BECOME NONOPERATIONAL DUE TO A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT WORK. THE TAIL LIGHTS ARE A COMPLETE ASSEMBLES AND CONSIST OF LEDS.

NHTSA ODI 11219830

Jun 12, 2019LightsBrakes

VEHICLE FAILS TO STOP PROPERLY AT LOW SPEEDS. BRAKES BECOME 'HARD' AND VEHICLE WILL ROLL TO A STOP. BRAKE LIGHTS APPEAR TO HAVE A SHORT AND WORK INTERMITTENTLY.

NHTSA ODI 11219619

Jun 10, 2019Lights

DRIVERS SIDE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY DOES NOT WORK. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE IT JUST QUIT WORKING.

NHTSA ODI 11219074

Jun 6, 2019Lights

TAIL LIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY WORK. THERE IS NO WAY TO REPLACE A BULB, AND GMC HAS A REPLACEMENT THAT FIXES THE PROBLEM, BUT IT HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED TO FIX THE ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI 11218264

Jun 5, 2019Electrical systemLights

REAR TAILLIGHT RANDOMLY GOING ON AND OFF. INTERIOR LIGHT RANDOMLY FLICKER, THEFT DETERRENT SYSTEM OFTEN ACTIVATES, VEHICLE DASH SYSTEMS RANDOMLY RESET AND MOST RECENTLY VEHICLE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND CAR TURNED OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING WITH MY KIDS IN THE CAR AND IN A SCHOOL ZONE!!!!! THIS COULD HAVE BEEN TRAGIC AND WAS VERY SCARY!!!!

NHTSA ODI 11218199

Jun 5, 2019Brakes

VEHICLE BRAKES FEEL LIKE THEY LOCK UP OFTEN I HAVE TO PUSH AS HARD AS I CAN, THE DASH SAYS "BRAKE ASSIST" OR SOMETHING WHEN THEY FEEL LIKE THEY LOCK UP. I'VE ALMOST HIT CARS SEVERAL TIMES BECAUSE THEY LOCK UP LIKE THIS AND THERES NOTHING I CAN DO. HAPPENS OFTEN AND VARYING SPEEDS 10-70!

NHTSA ODI 11218202

Jun 4, 2019Lights

THE REAR TAIL LIGHTS WORK PERIODICALLY. I'VE ALREADY REPLACED THE LEFT SIDE AND NOW THE RIGHT SIDE HAS WENT OUT. COST IS $750 TO REPLACE. I AM CURRENTLY HAVING TO WAIT ON A TAIL LIGHT BECAUSE THEY ARE BACKORDERED DUE TO SO MANY OTHERS HAVING SAME PROBLEM (ACCORDING TO DEALER). IT WILL WORK PERIODICALLY AT FIRST BUT IF THIS IS LIKE THE PREVIOUS, IT WILL EVENTUALLY QUIT WORKING ALL TOGETHER. SOMETIME THE BOTTOM HALF IS LIT BUT NOT THE WHOLE LAMP. DEALER COULDN'T TELL ME IF THEY HAD FIXED THE PROBLEM OR IF I WILL BE GETTING ANOTHER FAULTY PART.

NHTSA ODI 11217852

Jun 3, 2019Lights

MY REAR PASSENGER SIDE TAIL LIGHT RANDOMLY WORKS. NO RHYME NOR REASON. WE NOTICED THIS AFTER BCM WAS REPLACED.

NHTSA ODI 11217581

Jun 2, 2019Electrical system

REAR LED TAILLIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY FAIL DUE TO WEAK CIRCUIT BRIDGE DESIGN

NHTSA ODI 11217373

Jun 2, 2019Lights

MY TAILLIGHT ASSEMBLY LED LIGHTS HAVE GONE OUT. I'VE READ ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND IT'S A COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE AND THE DEALER CHARGES CLOSE TO $1000 PER LIGHT TO REPAIR THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI 11217429

Jun 1, 2019Lights

BOTH LED TAILLIGHTS FAILED WITHIN ONE MONTH ON A TRUCK WITH LESS THAN 25000 MILES.

NHTSA ODI 11217284

May 24, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

THE VEHICLE WILL OFTEN SHIFT UNPREDICTABLY. MOVING FROM A DEAD-STOP, THE VEHICLE WILL SOMETIMES DEMONSTRATE SIGNIFICANT HESITATION (TO SHIFT) FOLLOWED BY A LOUD AND VIOLENT ENGAGEMENT. IN SOME INSTANCES THE VEHICLE FEELS LIKE IT HAS BEEN HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AUTOMOBILE WILL SHUDDER AND SLIP AND JERK WHEN IT SHIFTS BETWEEN GEARS. THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO OPERATE. THE DEALER CAN NOT FIX THE ISSUE, BUT UNDERSTANDS THE VEHICLE PROBLEMS.

NHTSA ODI 11209746

May 22, 2019Lights

FOR THE PAST 6 MONTHS I HAD BEEN GETTING REPORTS THAT MY PASSENGER SIDE TAIL LIGHT WASN'T WORKING- WHEN WE CHECKED IT IT WAS... FINALLY SOMEONE TOLD ME IT GOES ON AND OFF. MY YUKON WAS GOING INTO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE POWER STEERING RECALL AND I ASKED THEM TO CHECK. THEY REPLACED THE WHOLE LIGHT AT $800!!! A QUICK INTERNET SEARCH SHOWS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI 11209362

May 21, 2019Lights

THIS IS THE SECOND TAILLIGHT TO FAIL. THE PASSENGER SIDE FAILED AT 35,500 MILES IN OCTOBER 2018. THE DRIVER SIDE HAS NOW FAILED AT 39,000 MILES AND 4 MONTHS LATER. THESE PARTS COST $800 EACH TO REPLACE. A MAJOR REPAIR COST ON A VEHICLE WITH ONLY THIS MUCH MILEAGE. A DESIGN PROBLEM OBVIOUSLY EXISTS AND THIS PROBLEM IS A SAFETY HAZARD!!! JUST WAITING FOR A CRASH TO HAPPEN TO START A CLASS ACTION LAW SUITE.

NHTSA ODI 11208924

May 21, 2019Electrical systemLights

BOTH LED TAIL LIGHT FIXTURES WENT OUT AT ONCE, BOTH NON FUNCTIONING. HAVE TO REPLACE BOTH FIXTURES COSTING OVER $1400 FROM A GM DEALERSHIP.

NHTSA ODI 11209105

May 20, 2019Brakes

PULLING INTO PARKING SPOT LOW SPEED BRAKING POWER WAS LOST.. HARD BRAKE PEDAL.

NHTSA ODI 11208608

May 20, 2019Lights

FAULTY REAR BRAKE LIGHTS. THE RIGHT LED MODULE FAILED, AND WAS REPLACED. THEN THE LEFT LED MODULE FAILED ABOUT A YEAR LATER. NOW THE REPLACED RIGHT LED MODULE HAS FAILED FOR A SECOND TIME! EACH REPAIR IS APPROX $650.00 FOR A 'DO IT MYSELF' REPAIR. THESE LED MODULES SHOULD LAST FOR THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE AND NOT FAIL. WIDELY NOTED AS BEING A DEFECTIVE DESIGN. GM SHOULD REDESIGN AND MAKE GOOD ON REPAIRS BEYOND THE STANDARD WARRANTY FOR THOSE OF US THAT ARE OUT OF POCKET.

NHTSA ODI 11208619

May 17, 2019Lights

PASSENGER SIDE BRAKE LIGHT STOPPED WORKING

NHTSA ODI 11208226

May 17, 2019Lights

TAIL LED LIGHTS AND BRAKE LIGHTS STOPPED WORKING THEN START WORKING PARTIALLY THEN BACK TO NOT WORKING, WENT TO HAVE THEM REPLACED AND IT COST $1500.00 AND THEN 6 MONTHS LATER BACK TO PARTIAL WORKING TAIL LED LIGHTS AND BRAKE LIGHT THEN A SMALL STRIP OF THEM WORKING THEN NOTHING AT ALL THEN BACK TO WORKING THEN BACK TO NO LIGHT PERMANENTLY AGAIN!!

NHTSA ODI 11208327

May 17, 2019Lights

I PURCHASED MY 2015 YUKON IN 8/2016 AND IN THE BEGINNING OF 2017 THE TAIL LIGHT ON THE RIGHT SIDE BURNT OUT THE BRAKE LIGHT DID NOT WORK DURING THE DAY BUT AT NIGHT IT WOULD WORK . I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME THE LED LAMP HAD GONE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACE . I CAME FIND OUT THIS LAMP IS ALL ONE PART AND THE COST FOR A SUPPOSEDLY IS OVER $600 JUST THE LAMP . SO I HAD TO BUY THE LAMP AND REPLACED IT MYSELF BUT THEY ASKED ME FOR THE CORE . SO THIS WAS IN 2917 AND NOW TWO YEARS LATER THE SAME LIGHT THAT BROUGHT BRAND NEW IN 2017 IS OUT AGAIN AND I'M HAVING TO SPEND ANOTHER 600 TO REPLACE IT AGAIN. I FEEL SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE TO HELP THE CONSUMER BECAUSE GM DOES NOT CARE ABOUT THIS AND HOW IT AFFECTS THE VONSUR . CAN SOMETHING BE DONE ?

NHTSA ODI 11208372

May 16, 2019Lights

WE PURCHASED A USED 2015 YUKON DENALI LESS THAN 6 MONTHS AGO AND BOTH TAIL LIGHTS HAVE NOW GONE OUT. AFTER READING ABOUT THE ISSUE, IT SEEMS LIKE THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE WITH LIGHTS ON THIS VEHICLE. VERY UNFORTUNATE THAT GMC REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.

NHTSA ODI 11207958

May 16, 2019Electrical systemLightsBrakes

THE MOST DISTURBING CONCERN IS THE FACT THAT I LOST MY BRAKES AS A RESULT OF A KNOWN PROBLEM THAT GM HAS EVEN RECOGNIZED RELATING TO A FAULTY VACUUM BOOSTER PUMP. I INCURRED A $500 REPAIR BILL DESPITE GM'S ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THE PROBLEM AND WILLINGNESS TO PAY FOR CARS WITH LESS THAN 70000 MILES. UNFORTUNATELY, MINE WAS OVER THE ALLOWABLE MILEAGE. ADDITIONALLY, I AM LOOKING AT A $1500 REPAIR BILL FOR A SEALED HEADLIGHT REPLACEMENT AND ANOTHER $300 BILL FOR A SIDE DETECTION SYSTEM ( LANE DEPARTURE WARNING). GM MADE A POOR CAR THAT IS UNSAFE AND IS NOT PROPERLY ADDRESSING THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI 11208132

May 15, 2019Lights

PASSENGER BREAK LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY WORKS. TOOK TO GMC THEY SAID THERE IS NO KNOWN ISSUE WHICH IS A LIE! HUNDREDS OF OWNERS ONLINE HAVING THE SAME ISSUES. THEY SAID THEY CAN'T NAIL DOWN THE ISSUE SINCE THERE'S CLEARLY POWER THERE. THEY WANT ME TO BUY A WHILE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY! ABOUT 900 DOLLARS FOR THE SAME FAULTY PART!

NHTSA ODI 11207659

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Working with the data? Download all 606 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 23, 2026

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 verdict →