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)

95 of 497 complaints match · Brakes · clear filters · page 2 of 4

Jun 16, 2022Brakes

2016 GMC Yukon. I received a letter that stated my Yukon may have a condition where the brake lights intermittently do not illuminate. In March 2020 the drivers side rear brake light did not illuminate. I brought it to a Chev/GMC dealer that replaced the tail light no charge. Now my passenger rear tail brake light does not illuminate. My Yukon has 68800 miles on it and it is going on 6 years old. I still have my letter I received about this issue. Without my tail/brake light it is unsafe to drive my vehicle until I get that brake unit replaced. Will I still be able to my passenger side brake unit replaced at no charge? I haven’t been able to get it replaced due to I had total knee replacement surgery in February 2022

NHTSA ODI 11469697

Jun 3, 2022Electrical systemLightsBrakes

The driver’s side brake light assembly failure of no brake light when brake is applied. It can be inspected upon request. This may cause another driver to not notice intentions to stop or slowdown and cause an accident. This problem is constant. It has not been inspected. No warnings of the failure has been displayed.

NHTSA ODI 11467261

May 27, 2022Electrical systemBrakes

Both brake lamp assemblies are non-op, no warning in dash and no fuses. GMC #SCA N182180270 stating that 2015 and 2016 Yukon. Extended warranty to 6 years or 72,000 miles. We are out of warranty as of last month. $2,500 to replace the tail lamp assemblies. No letter was sent to owners regarding this safety hazard. This should be a RECALL

NHTSA ODI 11466444

Apr 26, 2022Electrical systemBrakes

I was driving with a trailer that has brakes. A warning system light came on “trailer brake system” service came on blind the digital speedometer. Brakes would not engage. A couple of day later same thin came on now with out a trailer. The warning would not go away and kept on chumming every 10 seconds.

NHTSA ODI 11462327

Jan 24, 2022Brakes

The trailer break service light is coming on. There is not a way to dismiss the sound and comes on every few seconds, it's very distracting a HUGE safety risk. I have contacted GMC Valencia California and they have have several vehicles with the same issue / hazard. This has apparently been going on for years yet GMC refuses to put a recall on the vehicles nor take action on correcting this on this critical issue. This is very upsetting and with all the complaints / concerns it appears nobody cares for the lives this defective issue could cause, especially when towing. Thank you.

NHTSA ODI 11448620

Jan 3, 2022Electrical systemBrakesCrash

THE ENGINE MOUNTED MECHANICAL VACUUM PUMP OUTPUT MAY DECREASE OVER TIME DECREASING THE AMOUNT OF VACUUM/ POWER BRAKE ASSIST. AND THE DRIVERSIDE BRAKE STOP LIGHT WAS DEFECTIVE. .ME AND MY WIFE WERE SCARED AND SHOOK UP. .YES. DEALERSHIP. .DEALERSHIP. NO. .

NHTSA ODI 11446035

Dec 29, 2021BrakesCrash1 injury

The contact owns a 2016 GMC Yukon. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 70 mph, the brake pedal was hard to depress and the brake pedal traveled to the floorboard. The contact mentioned that the brake pedal needed to be pumped in order for the vehicle to be operated. In addition, the contact stated the vehicle failed to stop immediately. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the brake line needed to be flushed. The vehicle was repaired however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the failure was undetermined. The contact mentioned while the mechanic was reversing the vehicle the brakes failed to operate causing the vehicle to crash into a person and a vehicle. The contact stated that the lady sustained multiple injuries that needed medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the brake vacuum pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the same dealer where they informed the contact that the failure was unable to be duplicated. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage 54,000.

NHTSA ODI 11445404

Nov 28, 2021Electrical systemBrakes

Rear driver taillight assembly does not work all the time! One day it works the next day it does not! I had to have the passenger side replaced about 6-8 months ago & it was replaced by the dealer at that time & there was no cost to me as it was under warranty at that time! I think there may be an issue with the LED bulbs! Now the problem is with the drivers side! This is a safety problem and a recall should be issued!!!!It is no longer under warranty & out of pocket cost may be $600 to $1000!

NHTSA ODI 11441870

Jul 30, 2021Electrical systemLightsBrakes

The brake light LED panel stopped working on one side and goes out intermittently in the other side

NHTSA ODI 11427247

Jul 6, 2021Brakes

Vacuum pump loses vacuum, and the brakes are very hard. Occurs when sitting still with the brake applied. Also occurs in reverse at low speeds. My wife refuses to drive her car, due to numerous near fender benders.

NHTSA ODI 11423528

Apr 7, 2021Brakes

THE AC WON'T BLOW COLD. THE BRAKES AREN'T STOPPING THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI 11406922

Feb 27, 2021Electrical systemLightsBrakes

I SEE ALMOST 200 COMPLAINTS AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE? NOT SURE THE POINT OF THIS WEBSITE, BUT, I'M GOING TO PUT MY 2 CENTS IN. MY 2016 YUKON DENALI PASSANGER BRAKE LIGHT HAS GONE OUT, LIKE MANY, MANY OF OTHER PEOPLE. WHY ISN'T THIS A RECALL? OBVIOUSLY, THERE IS A MANUFACTURING ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. AFTER MANY VIDEOS I HAVE WATCHED I SEE THAT THE CIRCIT BOARD COMES APART AND CAN'T BE REPAIRED BUT ONLY REPLACED, AT A EXTREMLY HIGH PRICE. I'VE ALSO SEEN MANY TAIL LIGHT ON THESE YUKONS WORK OFF AND ON, SO, RANDOMLY THEY CAN NOT WORK AT ANY TIME AND POSSIBLY GET YOU REAR ENDED. HOW DO I FILE A CIVIL ACTION COMPLAINT TO HAVE GMC ADDRESS THIS COMPLAINT AND RESOLVE THIS ISSUE? PLEASE ADVISE.

NHTSA ODI 11398196

Feb 20, 2021Brakes

THE SERVICE BRAKE ASSIST MESSAGE APPEARS AND THE BRAKING AT SLOW SPEEDS IS VERY UNRESPONSIVE. TO STOP YOU MUST FULLY PRESS THE BRAKE AND THE BRAKES SEEM NOT TO GRAB. TAKES LONGER DISTANCE TO STOP. THIS IS VERY INTERMITTENT, ONE TIME THEY WORK AND THE NEXT TIME YOU CAN'T STOP UNLESS YOU PUT YOUR FOOT THROUGH THE FLOOR ON THE BRAKE.

NHTSA ODI 11397120

Jan 28, 2021LightsBrakes

BRAKE LIGHTS CUTS ON AND OFF WHEN DRIVING AND THIRD BRAKE LIGHT IS OFF ON MY 2016 VEHICLE ALSO WHEN STEP ON BRAKES PEDAL SOMETIMES GOES TO FLOOR VEHICLE HARD TO STOP A FOR SURE DANGEROUS SITUATION

NHTSA ODI 11390559

Nov 14, 2020Brakes

BOTH BRAKE LIGHTS HAVE STARTED TO FAIL FROM A FAULTY CIRCUIT IN THE LED LIGHT CIRCUIT

NHTSA ODI 11374694

Sep 17, 2020Brakes

ON TWO OCCASIONS WHILE IN A DRIVE THRU LINE, I WOULD PRESS THE BRAKES AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD GO TO THE FLOOR. I HAD TO BASICALLY STAND UP ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO GET THE VEHICLE TO STOP. I HAVE NOT HAD THIS HAPPEN OTHER THAN AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED. I SEARCHED GMC YUKON FOR ANY RECALLS AND FOUND THAT THIS IS A RECALL WITH GMC. WHEN YOU DO A SEARCH OF MY VEHICLE BY VIN, IT STATES NO RECALLS ARE FOUND. I CONTACTED A LOCAL GMC DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING UNLESS MY VIN SHOWS THE ACTIVE RECALL.

NHTSA ODI 11355591

Sep 8, 2020LightsBrakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 GMC YUKON. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A LETTER FROM THE MANUFACTURER WHICH SUGGESTED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE DIAGNOSED IN REGARDS TO THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO COVERT BUICK GMC (11750 RESEARCH BLVD, STE D, AUSTIN, TX 78759, (512) 371-6075) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO FAILURES OR ISSUES FOUND WITH THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS. THE DEALER DISREGARDED THE LETTER AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ISSUE RECURRED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO HER CUSTODY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE FORMER DIAGNOSIS WAS CONFIRMED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SAME DEALER DECLINED THE PURCHASE OF THE PART NEEDED TO FIX THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,655.

NHTSA ODI 11353750

Aug 9, 2020Brakes

ONE BRAKE LIGHT WAS INTERMITTENT, NOW BOTH WON'T WORK AT ALL. DOING AN INTERNET SEARCH, MANY, MANY PEOPLE COMPLAIN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. THE BULB CANNOT BE REPLACED. DEALERS CHARGE $500+ FOR EACH TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY AND WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. THIS IS DANGEROUS FOR BRAKE LIGHTS TO NOT WORK.

NHTSA ODI 11344199

Jul 1, 2020Electrical systemBody & structureBrakesCrash

RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR MY 2016 YUKON XL, DUE TO BRAKE VACUUM PUMP FAULTY. HOWEVER MCGRATH AUTO IN CEDAR RAPIDS, IA RESOLVE TO THIS RECALL WAS TO SIMPLY REPROGRAM THE ELECTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL MODULE. THIS WAS COMPLETED 12/19. BY 2/20 MY BRAKES WERE REQUIRING ME TO PUSH HARDER AND AT TIMES SOUNDED LIKE THEY WERE SKIPPING AND BRAKING FELT DELAYED. I ALSO WAS HEARING A SQUEAK/CLICKING SOUND COMING FROM WHAT SEEMS THE FRONT OF MY VEHICLE ENGINE AREA. DUE TO QUARANTINE I WAS NOT DRIVING OR GOING PLACES BUT ONCE OUR STATE RE-OPENED I CALLED THIS DEALERSHIP TO REPORT THE BRAKE CONCERN AND SCHEDULED APPT. A DAY BEFORE APPT, WHILE STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT AS I MOVED FORWARD IN A VERY SLOW CRAWL MY BRAKES FAILED ME AND I COULD NOT STOP. I BUMPED THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME WHICH RESULTED IN DAMAGE TO BOTH VEHICLES. I REPORTED THIS TO MCGRATH AS I WAS SCARED IMMENSELY ABOUT THE SAFETY OF MY VEHICLE. DURING THE SERVICE APPT 6/11/20 MY CAR WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A FAULTY BRAKE VACUUM PUMP. THE VACUUM PUMP WAS REPLACED AND I WAS TOLD I WAS STILL WITHIN THE WARRANTY . HOWEVER THEY REPLACE ALL 4 TIRES AND CLAIMED TO RECALIBRATE. ON 6/25 WHILE IN COLORADO BRAKE, ABS AND CAL LIGHTS LIT UP, THE STEERING WHEEL POWER WAS GONE, TRAILER BRAKE SYSTEM ILLUMINATE, (NEVER EVEN TOWED A TRAILER) CALLED MCGRATH FROM COLORADO AS I COULDN'T DRIVE MY CAR, I EXPLAINED WHAT WAS HAPPENING, THEIR RESOLVE WAS TO GOOGLE GMC DEALERSHIP IN AREA FOR ME. I FOUND MY OWN IN CADILLAC/GMC DEALERSHIP IN BOULDER. MY CHILDREN AND I ARE WITHOUT A VEHICLE WHILE OUT OF STATE. DEALERSHIP IN BOULDER DIAGNOSED MY VEHICLE WITH FAULTY ELECTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL MODULE. I AM FURIOUS AS THEY SAY IT WILL NOT BE COVERED THROUGH WARRANTY. MY 2016 YUKON IS IN IMPECCABLE CONDITION, ISSUES ALL HAPPENED UPON RECALL WITH ONLY 35,000 MILES. MY EXPERIENCE IS EXACTLY WHAT IS BEING REPORTED BY OTHERS IMPACTED BY THIS RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11331946

Jun 15, 2020Electrical systemBrakes

RIGHT REAR BRAKE LIGHT WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. NO WARNING LIGHTS OR MESSAGES ON THE DASH. PEOPLE HAVE TOLD ME WE HAVE A BRAKE LIGHT OUT, BUT WHEN I CHECK IT LATER IT WORKS. WAS PULLED OVER FOR INOPERABLE BRAKE LIGHT, BUT LATER THAT EVENING THE TAIL LIGHT WAS WORKING. SEEMS TO BE A LOT OF INFO ON INTERNET ABOUT A BROKEN STRIP OF METAL. SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11329074

Apr 22, 2020LightsBrakes

MY BRAKE LIGHTS WILL WORK ONE MINUTE AND GO OUT THE NEXT. I HAD A FRIEND AND MY HUSBAND TELL ME THAT WHEN THEY WERE FOLLOWING ME THE LIGHT WAS OUT WHEN I STOPPED BUT AT THE NEXT STOP OR AT HOME IT WOULD WORK. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR MONTHS. LAST WEEK I TOOK IT FOR STATE INSPECTION AND THE INSPECTOR SAID IT WAS OUT I HAD TO GET IT REPLACED. WHEN I PULLED FORWARD IT STARTED WORKING AGAIN TO PASS INSPECTION. TODAY I TOOK MY YUKON TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND IT WENT OUT AGAIN. OTHERS WAITING TOLD ME THIS IS A RECALL ON OTHER YEAR/MODELS WITH GMC. THERE IS A SHORT IN THE CIRCUIT PANEL.

NHTSA ODI 11321892

Feb 26, 2020Brakes

I PURCHASED MY TRUCK FROM GILROY CHEVROLET IN SEPTEMBER 2019. THE WEEK WE BOUGHT IT MY HUSBAND HAD TO CHANGE THE BREAKS AS THEY NEEDED TO BE CHANGED. SHORTLY AFTER WITHIN A WEEK FROM THAT WE STARTED HEARING A POPPING SOUND FROM THE LEFT FRONT PART OF THE TRUCK. SOMEWHERE NEAR THE AXEL OR TIRE BARING. I CONTACTED THE DEALER AND STATED THEY HAD SOLD ME A CAR WITH NO BREAKS AND WITH THIS MYSTERIOUS NOISE. THEY DIAGNOSED THE CAR, CHARGED ME AND DIDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM I DIDN'T EVEN GET REIMBURSED OR AN APOLOGY FOR BEING SOLD A CAR THAT HAD NO BREAKS. I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR TO A NEW DEALER FOR FURTHER DIAGNOSIS. WHERE THEY ARE ASKING ME TO PAY FOR A DIAGNOSTIC FEE AND DEDUCTIBLE I FEEL THE ORIGINAL DEALER WHO SOLD ME THIS DEFECTIVE CAR SHOULD HAVE TO PAY SINCE I HAVE PAID THESE DUE ONCE ALREADY. ANY TIME THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED ALL THE WAY YOU FEEL AND HEAR THE POPPING NOISE.

NHTSA ODI 11311660

Feb 24, 2020Electrical systemLightsBrakes

BRAKE LIGHT TAILLIGHTS INTERMITTENT TURNS ON AND OFF

NHTSA ODI 11310995

Feb 14, 2020Electrical systemLightsBrakes

BRAKE LIGHTS STOPPED WORKING ALMOST WAS PLOWED INTO BY 18 WHEELER ON I-75. DRIVER WAVED US OVER AND INFORMED US THAT HE DID NOT SEE US TILL RIGHT ON TOP OF US. PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE SYSTEMIC ENOUGH THAT THE GMC SERVICE DEPARTMENT TOLD US THAT IT WAS COMMON ENOUGH THAT THEY KEPT THE BRAKE LIGHTS IN STOCK. ADDITIONALLY THERE ARE NUMEROUS THREADS ABOUT THIS ISSUE ON THE INTERNET AND EVEN UTUBE VIDEOS ON WHERE TO REMOVE MATERIAL TO ACCESS THE OFFENDING CIRCUIT BOARD TO REPAIR THE KNOWN FAULTY CIRCUIT. THE FAILURE OF THESE BRAKE LIGHTS COULD HAVE COST MY FAMILY AND ME OUR LIVES. THE DEALERSHIP WANTED TO CHARGE 1600$ TO REPLACE THE BRAKE LIGHTS. I REITERATE THE BRAKE LIGHT FAILURE IS COMMON ENOUGH THAT THERE ARE NUMEROUS THREADS ON THE INTERNET TO DISCUSS THE KNOWN WEAKNESS OF THE CIRCUIT BOARD

NHTSA ODI 11309195

Feb 7, 2020AirbagsBrakesCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 GMC YUKON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED HOWEVER, THERE WAS A DELAY FOR THE BRAKES TO ENGAGE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND A CASE WAS FILED. THE CONTACT STATED WAS AWAITING AN INSPECTION BY A MANUFACTURER FIELD INSPECTOR. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER AN UNKNOWN BRAKE RECALL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,600. *DT

NHTSA ODI 11307732

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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 →