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)

209 of 497 complaints match · Lights · clear filters · page 9 of 9

Jul 3, 2018Lights

BOTH BREAK LIGHTS WENT OUT.

NHTSA ODI 11105272

Jun 20, 2018Lights

LED TAIL LIGHT/BRAKE LIGHT FAILURE. THESE TAIL LIGHTS ON THE 2015 TO PRESENT GMC AND CHEVROLET SUVS HAVE PREMATURE FAILURE. THE COST TO THE PUBLIC FOR THESE LIGHTS ARE AROUND 700$ EACH TO REPLACE. GM NEEDS TO RECALL THE TAILLIGHTS OR HAVE THEM WARRANTED FOR THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. THIS CREATES A SAFETY HAZARD FOR DRIVERS AND NOT TO MENTION A POSSIBLE TRAFFIC TICKET COUPLED WITH THE COST ASSOCIATED WITH THE REPLACEMENT; GM NEEDS TO RECALL THESE FOR THE SHEAR FACT THAT THEY COST AS MUCH AS A HOUSE PAYMENT JUST TO REPLACE ONE LIGHT.

NHTSA ODI 11102904

Jun 19, 2018Lights

PASSENGER SIDE BRAKE LIGHT STARTED GOING OUT THEN WILL GO BACK ON AND GO BACK OUT AND THEN IT JUST WENT OUT COMPLETELY THE CAR IS LESS THAN 2 YEARS OLD. BOUGHT IT BRAND-NEW I HAVE BEEN THE ONLY OWNER. THERE IS NO REASON WHY A TAIL LIGHT SHOULD BE GOING OUT BEFORE THE CAR IS EVEN 2 YEARS OLD.

NHTSA ODI 11102501

Jun 11, 2018Lights

TAILLIGHT QUIT WORKING

NHTSA ODI 11101281

May 22, 2018Lights

REAR LED BRAKE LIGHTS ARE NOT WORKING - THEY WORK THEN THEY DON'T WORK IT'S NOT CONSISTENT - SOMETIMES GOING OUT FOR DAYS. THE VEHICLE IS ONLY 2 YRS OLD AND I'M NOT SURE WHAT IS CAUSING THE MALFUNCTION AND DON'T WANT TO PAY 700 TO REPLACE EACH LIGHT. IT IS REALLY UNSAFE TO BE DRIVING.

NHTSA ODI 11097339

Apr 13, 2018Lights

LEFT REAR BRAKE LIGHT ONLY WORKS INTERMITTENTLY, BOTH STATIONARY OR WHILE MOVING. SPORADICALLY WORKS AND THEN DOES NOT WORK.

NHTSA ODI 11084976

Feb 2, 2018Lights

REAR TAIL LIGHTS HAVE MANUFACTURER DEFECT AND ENTIRE PANEL NEEDS TO BE FIXED AS AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE DUE TO LIGHTING FAILURE. SAFETY ISSUE OF BRAKE LIGHTS NOT WORKING AND MANUFACTURER NEEDS TO REPAIR ENTIRE TAIL LIGHT.

NHTSA ODI 11066701

Jan 23, 2018Electrical systemLights

WIFE DRIVING CHILDREN HOME AT NIGHT. USED DASH LIGHT DIMMER WHEEL TO ADJUST DASH BRIGHTNESS. CAUSED ALL LIGHTS, INCLUDING HEADLIGHTS TO TURN OFF

NHTSA ODI 11064313

Jan 31, 2016Lights

HEADLIGHTS ARE TOO DIM AND DO NOT PROVIDE APPROPRIATE VISIBILITY FOR SAFE DRIVING AT NIGHT, PARTICULARLY WHEN NAVIGATING CURVY ROADS AS THE LIGHTS DO NOT PROJECT AN ADEQUATE DISTANCE. FACTORY BULBS HAVE BEEN REPLACED WITH ANOTHER BRAND WITH MINIMAL IMPROVEMENT.

NHTSA ODI 10823337

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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 →