Home · 2016 GMC Yukon Denali Xl 1500 · Complaints

What 497 owners told NHTSA about the 2016 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 (497)Crash / fire / injury (18)Lights (209)Brakes (95)Electrical system (88)Transmission & drivetrain (71)Engine (57)Steering (20)Suspension (16)Body & structure (13)Speed control (10)Fuel system (9)

Newest first · 497 complaints · page 13 of 20

Aug 26, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

VEHICLE BEGAN HESITATING DURING ACCELERATION. PROBLEM OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY AT FIRST BUT NOW OCCURS EACH TIME THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON OCCASIONALLY. THIS JERKING CAUSES SAFETY ISSUES WHEN TRYING TO INCREASE SPEED. MANY COMPLAINTS ARE ON LINE FROM OTHER OWNERS WITH SAME ISSUE

NHTSA ODI 11246350

Aug 26, 2019Lights

THE PASSENGER SIDE BRAKE LIGHT STOPPED WORKING WITH NO INDICATION ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM FOR MODEL YEARS 2015 THRU 2019 DUE TO A DESIGN/MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THE REPAIR INVOLVES REPLACING THE ENTIRE TAILLIGHT ASSEMBLY FOR ABOUT $800. THE DEALER WILL NOT REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY AFTER 2 YEARS OR 24,000 MILES EVEN THOUGH IT IS A SAFETY RELATED DEFECT. THERE IS NOT A SAFETY RECALL AT THE PRESENT TIME. MY VEHICLE IS OVER 2 YEARS OLD BUT ONLY HAS 20,000 MILES.

NHTSA ODI 11246421

Aug 26, 2019Lights

THE LED LIGHTS ON THE LEFT REAR TAIL LIGHT ARE DEFECTIVE. THEY FLICKER OR DO NOT WORK AT ALL. THE VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 43,000 MILES. TO FIX THE ISSUE REQUIRES REPLACING THE ENTIRE TAIL LIGHT AT A COST OF MORE THAN $800. IT SHOULD BE A RECALL ON A DEFECTIVE PART.

NHTSA ODI 11246544

Aug 23, 2019Electrical systemLights

TAIL LIGHTS ALTERNATING NOT WORKING. THERE SEEMS TO BE SOME ELECTRICAL ISSUE WITH THE LED TAIL LIGHTS. THIS IS A MASSIVE PROBLEM AND ALL OVER THE INTERNET. GMC IS CHARGING $1000 PER TAIL LIGHT TO FIX DESPITE THIS BEING A DEFECT. MANY COMPANIES AND YOUTUBE VIDEOS POPPING ABOUT A BOUT THIS: HTTP://WWW.LEDFIX.COM/YUKONTAILLIGHTREPAIR.HTML HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=NNLDJPYMDZC

NHTSA ODI 11246035

Aug 19, 2019Lights

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 GMC YUKON XL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE TAIL LIGHT WAS INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO PRINCE CHEVROLET OF ALBANY (2701 LEDO ROAD, ALBANY, GEORGIA 31707, 229-432-6271) TWICE FOR THE TAIL LIGHT FAILURE; HOWEVER, THE DEALER STATED THAT THE REPLACEMENT LED LIGHT WAS NOT AVAILABLE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

NHTSA ODI 11245091

Aug 14, 2019Transmission & drivetrainEngine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 GMC YUKON XL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE SHUDDERED WHEN SHIFTING GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION, TRANSMISSION FLUID, AND WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED; HOWEVER, PARTS NUMBER: 700, 711, 2429, 7371, AND 87571 WERE ON BACKORDER. THE CONTACT CALLED TED BRITT CHEVROLET (46990 HARRY BYRD HWY, STERLING, VA 20164, (703) 955-3610), BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD ATTEMPT TO LOCATE THE PARTS; HOWEVER, NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS A LEMON. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,350.

NHTSA ODI 11243866

Aug 14, 2019Lights

GMC 2016 YUKON XL DENALI BACK TAILLIGHTS AND BRAKE LIGHTS ARE OUT. ALL OF THEM. VERY DANGEROUS. GMC DENIED RESPONSIBILITY BUT EVERYONE I KNOW THAT HAS THE SAME CAR SAYS THEY HAVE HAD ISSUES. NEVER HAD THIS IN ANY OTHER VEHICLE IN 30+ YEARS OF DRIVING. THEY ARE OBVIOUSLY FAULTY AND THEY NEED TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY

NHTSA ODI 11243880

Aug 13, 2019

AIR CONDITIONING - WE WERE TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP JULY 1ST 2019, AN AIR CONDITIONING HOSE HAS A CRACK IN IT, AND THUS THE REFRIGERANT HAS LEAKED OUT. A NEW HOSE WAS ORDERED. IT IS NOW AUGUST 13TH AND WE STILL DO NOT HAVE OUR VEHICLE BACK. THE DEALERSHIP HAS DOZENS OF VEHICLES THAT ARE IN NEED OF THIS FIX ( WHICH, WE ARE TOLD IS NOT COVERED UNDER ANY WARRANTY SINCE WE HAVE 50,000 MILES ON IT). PLEASE PUSH GM FOR A RECALL, SINCE THE PROBLEM IS A DESIGN RELATED FLAW. 2016 GMC YUKON THANK YOU [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI 11243666

Aug 12, 2019BrakesEngine

VACUUM PUMP. ENGINE LIGHT ON. BRAKE LIGHT ON. DROVE HORRIBLE & COULD HARDLY STOP AT TIMES. CITY STREET

NHTSA ODI 11243184

Aug 11, 2019

THE FRONT COLLISION AVOIDANCE SYSTEM DOES NOT WORK. I CAN SET A 1-3 BAR ALERT ON THE STEERING WHEEL, HOWEVER IN THE 3 MONTHS I'VE OWNED THE CAR AND TRYING DIFFERENT MANEUVERS AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS, I DON'T GET A AN AUDIBLE NOR VISUAL RED LIGHT WARNING THAT I'VE EXPERIENCED ON A NEWER CHEVY IMPALA I DRIVE. THE DASH INFO CENTER BELOW THE GAUGES WILL CHANGE FROM A GREEN SEMI-CIRCULAR 3 BAR SYSTEM TO A YELLOW IF I COME WITHIN THE 3 CAR LENGTHS SET OF ANOTHER VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. I'VE RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE USING GOOGLE AND QUITE A FEW PEOPLE SAY DIFFERENT GMC MODELS WITH THIS SYSTEM ALL BEHAVE DIFFERENTLY. EVERYONE USES THE YOU TUBE VIDEO BY GM AS THE EXAMPLE OF HOW IT IS SUPPOSED TO WORK. NOTE, MY WINDSHIELD NEXT TO THE REARVIEW MIRROR IS CLEAN, SO THE SENSORS ARE NOT IMPEDED. TO ME, SETTING THE SYSTEM TO THE MAXIMUM FORWARD DISTANCE TO AVOID A COLLISION GIVES YOU A FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY THAT COULD EASILY LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT. THE SYSTEM DOES NOT WORK AS DESIGNED.

NHTSA ODI 11243139

Aug 6, 2019Transmission & drivetrainElectrical system

BRAKE LIGHTS & TORQUE CONVERTER 2016 YUKON DENALI. THE BRAKE LIGHT IS OUT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND IT IS WITHIN 2 WEEKS OF THE WARRANTY EXPIRING. THEY HAD TO ORDER THE PART BECAUSE THERE'S A NATIONAL BACKORDER FOR THE ASSEMBLY. SO CLEARLY I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE. DID SOME RESEARCH AND THIS IS APPARENTLY AN ONGOING PROBLEM. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN A HASSLE FROM THE START. I'M BEGINNING TO BELIEVE THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE AS WELL. I HAD A BATTERY ISSUE THAT THE DEALERSHIP COULDN'T FIGURE OUT EVEN AFTER SHOWING THEM THE ONSTAR ALERT. ORIGINALLY I WAS TOLD ONSTAR WAS PROBABLY JUST SENDING IT AS A MILEAGE ALERT. TURNS OUT AFTER I INSISTED THEY PUT THE VEHICLE ON A MACHINE AND IT SHOWED THE BATTERY WAS INDEED FAULTY. MULTIPLE THINGS HAVE GONE OUT ON A VEHICLE WITH BARELY 30,000 MILES ON IT. THE TORQUE CONVERTER IS ALSO A MAJOR CONCERN BECAUSE IT 'SHED' METAL PIECES WITH THE CAR HAVING LESS THAN 20,000 MILES THEY ONLY DRAINED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THE BULLETIN TOLD THEM TO DO. HOW IS THIS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN AGAIN? MY YUKON DROVE LIKE A LAWNMOWER VIBRATING AND HOPPING. THIS IS THE WORST VEHICLE I'VE EVER PURCHASED, AND WITH THE ISSUES THAT KEEP PILING UP IT LOOKS LIKE WE AREN'T ANYWHERE NEAR THE BOTTOM OF THE PROBLEMS.

NHTSA ODI 11242044

Aug 1, 2019Lights

BRAKE LIGHT/TURN SIGNAL FAIL WITH NO WARNING TO DRIVER. THE FAILURE REQUIRES REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE COMPONENT. DEALER QUOTED $826 TO REPLACE ASSEMBLY. I UNDERSTAND THAT THESE HAVE A VERY HIGH FAILURE RATE. ALONG WITH THE LACK OF WARNING TO THE DRIVER THAT THEIR REAR BRAKE LIGHTS AND TURN SIGNALS ARE NOT WORKING THIS IS SERIOUS PROBLEM. THE FAILURE RATE IS SO HIGH THAT SEVERAL INDEPENDENTS ARE REPAIRING THEM

NHTSA ODI 11241057

Jul 31, 2019Suspension

2016 GMC YUKON DENALI XL 40K MINT CONDITION BOUNCES VIGOROUSLY AT SLOW SPEEDS AND EVEN MORE SO AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. IT IS TO A POINT THE RIDE IS UNBEARABLE AND POTENTIALLY DOWN RIGHT DANGEROUS. I HAVE READ COUNTLESS COMPLAINTS OF THIS SAME ISSUE AND I AS WELL AS MANY OTHERS ARE WONDERING WHY IS THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL ISSUED ON THE SHOCK AND STRUTS ON THESE VEHICLES .(2015-2016)

NHTSA ODI 11240762

Jul 30, 2019Electrical system

PASSENGER TAIL LIGHT/BREAKLIGHT WORKS INTERMITTANTLY OR NOT AT ALL.

NHTSA ODI 11240533

Jul 28, 2019Electrical systemLightsBrakes

THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE LIGHT QUIT WORKING. WILL COME ON WHEN PUSHED AGAINST CAR. DEALER SAID IT WAS ELECTRICAL IN THE BRAKE LIGHT UNIT.

NHTSA ODI 11240156

Jul 26, 2019Lights

MY LEFT TAILLIGHT IS OUT. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE LIGHT IT JUST STOPPED WORKING! IT WOULD WORK SOMETIME AND SOMETIME IT WOULD NOT. NOW IT IS NOT WORKING AT ALL!

NHTSA ODI 11235003

Jul 23, 2019Lights

REAR DRIVER'S SIDE BRAKE LIGHT IS INOPERABLE. MY VEHICLE IS LESS THAN 3 YEARS OLD. IF MY LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENT VIEWS THIS AS A PROBLEM, SO SHOULD THE NHTSA. GMC NEEDS TO RECALL THIS KNOWN PROBLEM. HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE TO REPORT THIS PROBLEM FOR IT TO BE ADDRESSED? THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE!!!

NHTSA ODI 11234235

Jul 22, 2019BrakesCrash

WHILE IN SLOW TRAFFIC, I PRESSED BRAKES TO STOP. THE BRAKE PEDDLE DID NOT COMPRESS DOWN, CAUSING ME TO HAVE TO ENTER THE HIGHWAY MEDIAN TO KEEP FROM STRIKING THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. THE MEDIAN WAS WET AND MUDDY. OUR YUKON HAD TO BE PULLED FROM THE MEDIAN BY A GOOD SAMARITAN.

NHTSA ODI 11233760

Jul 22, 2019Body & structure

GPS IS NOT WORKING. ANTENNA

NHTSA ODI 11234014

Jul 21, 2019Lights

REAR BRAKE LIGHT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE WAS WORKING INTERMITTENTLY AND NOW WILL NOT WORK AT ALL. I WAS NOT IN AN ACCIDENT AND NO DAMAGE HAS OCCURED TO THE PART. IT JUST STOPPED WORKING. THIS IS AN LED AND IS NOT SUPPOSED TO GO OUT ACCORDING TO GM. GM IS AWARE OF THIS ISSUR AND WILL NOT FIX IT.

NHTSA ODI 11233697

Jul 17, 2019Lights

THE RIGHT SIDE TAIL LIGHT HAS STOPPED WORKING. IT'S GOING TO COST $850 TO REPLACE THE LIGHT. THIS VEHICLE ONLY HAS 42K MILES ON IT. THIS SHOULD NOT BE A PROBLEM WITH A $58K VEHICLE. RESEARCHING THE ISSUE SHOWS THAT THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM. SO MUCH SO THAT THERE IS NOT A TAIL LIGHT TO BE HAD FOR MY VEHICLE! THERE IS A SHORTAGE FROM ALL THAT HAVE WENT OUT.

NHTSA ODI 11232954

Jul 16, 2019Lights

REAR PASSENGER BRAKE LIGHT HAS STOPPED WORKING. TOOK INTO DEALERSHIP AND IT APPEARS GMC DOES NOT COVER UNDER WARRANTY. IT APPEARS THAT THERE ARE NUMEROUS REPORTS OF REAR BRAKE LIGHT ISSUES WITH GMC VEHICLES, SPECIFICALLY YUKONS BUT GMC CONTINUES TO INDICATE THIS IS NOT A PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI 11232301

Jul 16, 2019Lights

BRAKE LIGHT STOPPED WORKING BUT IT CANT BE REPAIRED UNLESS YOU REPLACE THE ENTIRE LIGHT ASSEMBLY. THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. SO MUCH SO, IT IS A 3 MONTH WAIT TO GET IT! NOT TO MENTION IT COSTS $500-800!! NOW I CANT EVEN DRIVE THE CAR BECAUSE OF THE SAFETY CONCERN OF SOMEONE REAR ENDING ME. GMC NEEDS TO RECALL THESE OR PAY THE 3 MONTH CAR RENTAL FEE.

NHTSA ODI 11232451

Jul 16, 2019Lights

TAIL LIGHT STOPPED WORKED, COMING BACK ON INTERMITTENTLY. $700+ FIX FROM DEALER

NHTSA ODI 11232615

Jul 15, 2019SteeringElectrical system

AT 64,497 MY WIFE'S POWER STEERING WENT OUT ON HER VEHICLE. THIS HAPPENED A DAY AFTER OUR TRIP TO ATLANTA, GA. WE TOOK IT TO OUR LOCAL GMC DEALERSHIP AND WAS NOTIFIED THAT 4 MODULES HAD TO BE REPLACED AND A RECOMMENDED WIRING HARNESS. IN 2015 GMC VEHICLES HAD A SIMILAR ISSUE AND RECALL BUT NOT THE 2016. THIS COST ME $1400 IN REPAIRS.

NHTSA ODI 11232158

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Working with the data? Download all 497 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 25, 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 2016 GMC Yukon Denali Xl 1500 verdict →