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2016 GMC Yukon Denali Xl 1500
Solid pick. The public record on this car is clean for its age. Inspect it, then negotiate with confidence.
497 owner complaints · 0 recalls · data verified July 25, 2026 · source: NHTSA
Why buy?
Lights problems dominate (42% of complaints, typically reported near 43k miles).
Zero recalls, rare for a car this age.
Score breakdown, by factor
Full methodology →#300 of 594Among the 2016 models with a matured record, the 2016 GMC Yukon Denali Xl 1500 ranks #300, scoring higher than 47% of them. See the 2016 ranking →
Complaints filed per year
Fading = early teething worked out. Climbing = problems aging in.
How it crashes
NHTSA’s own crash tests, separate from the reliability score above.
4/5 overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating · 2016 GMC Yukon Denali XL 1500 SUV RWD
Rollover risk in a single-vehicle crash: 20%
1 open NHTSA defect investigation on file, separate from the recalls above.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings. Star ratings compare vehicles within the same class and size, not across every car on the road.
The road ahead
What breaks on a 2016 GMC Yukon Denali Xl 1500, plotted where owners report it happening.
Also reported (mileage varies): Steering (20)
Mileage medians come from owners who mentioned an odometer reading in their NHTSA complaint. Treat them as a rough guide.
Lights
42%209 complaints · typically near 43k mi · 1 in the last 2 years
“Both driver and passenger tail light/ brake light assemblies have failed. They started intermittently going out and then failed all together. There is a VERY common is…”
Brakes
19%95 complaints · typically near 50k mi · 11 in the last 2 years
“Engine light keeps appearing and when checked it shows catalytic converter needs replaces and its sensors need replaced. Brake light has short in it and I repaireable”
Electrical system
18%88 complaints · typically near 43k mi · 8 in the last 2 years
“Engine light keeps appearing and when checked it shows catalytic converter needs replaces and its sensors need replaced. Brake light has short in it and I repaireable”
Transmission & drivetrain
14%71 complaints · typically near 90k mi · 21 in the last 2 years
“TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON 8L90 8 SPEED TRANSMISSION. 93,000 MILES.”
Check it against this car’s mileage
Type the odometer reading on the actual car you’re looking at to see which of these problem areas owners tend to report before it, around it, or after it.
We can place 5 of this model's commonly reported problem areas against a mileage. Nothing is stored.
Read all 497 owner complaints in their own words → · just the 18 crash/fire/injury reports →
Recalls (0)
No recall campaigns on file for this model year.
Questions to ask the seller
Questions worth asking the seller of this GMC before you buy, drawn from its public record:
- Owners of this model report lights problems more than anything else (owners tend to report it near 43k miles). Has this car shown any lights symptoms, and are there repair records for it?
- Owners of this model report brakes problems more than anything else (owners tend to report it near 50k miles). Has this car shown any brakes symptoms, and are there repair records for it?
- Has this car been in any accident or had any structural, airbag, or flood-related repair? Do you have a clean title and a recent history report (Carfax / AutoCheck)?
- How many owners has it had, do you have the maintenance records, and why are you selling it?
- Are you open to me having an independent mechanic inspect it before we settle on a price?
Before you hand over money
Check the VIN for open recalls
NHTSA’s free lookup shows whether this exact car had its recall remedies completed.
Free NHTSA VIN check ↗Get a pre-purchase inspection
A $150 to $250 independent inspection of this exact 2016 GMC YUKON DENALI XL 1500 beats every score on the internet, including ours.
What to ask forNot set on the 2016? See how every Yukon Denali Xl 1500 model year scores →
Cross-shopping? Compare the 2016 GMC Yukon Denali Xl 1500 against another car →
What owners say
Real owners of this exact model-year, shown separately from the NHTSA score. If they disagree, that’s worth knowing.