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)

18 of 497 complaints match · crash/fire/injury only · clear filters

Apr 22, 2026SteeringSpeed controlEngineCrash

My wife was driving down the highway and out of no where there was a loud taping sound, the vehicle started running real bad (skipping), the vehicle lost power and she lost control of the steering. As a result, she ran off the road into a ditch. this is a known concern with the 6.2 liter engines and all signs are pointing to lifter failure. She could have ben seriously injured and GM is responsible for this.

NHTSA ODI 11732911

Dec 29, 2024Electrical systemFire

Driving a company vehicle [XXX], heavy smoke started coming from under the drivers side dash. Unhooked battery, the smoke stopped. I had vehicle towed to a local garage. They advised the engine wiring harness and other wiring had caught on fire. They couldn't repair it. On [XXX]. I had the vehicle towed to the local GMC dealer in Bedford, VA. At first they said they could fix it, then around 7/3/24 they said the couldn't fix it, charging several hundreds of dollars. On July 5/2024 I had the vehicle towed to a GMC dealership in Lynchburg, VA who I had check with and said they could fix it. The first part of September 2024, this dealership advised me the couldn't fix the vehicle. I had the vehicle tow to our companies office in Lynchburg. The dealerships are saying they can't get the needed wiring harnesses. Our insurance company had sent an adjuster to the GMC in Bedford, VA. No warning lamps came on before the smoke. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11632955

Dec 8, 2023Seat belts1 injury

The contact owns a 2016 GMC Yukon XL. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the rear passenger's side seat belt inadvertently tightened around her daughter's stomach. The contact's daughter pressed the seat belt button and unlatched the seat belt; however, she was unable to remove the seat belt because it seized around her stomach. The contact had to cut the rear passenger's side seat belt to release her daughter. The contact's daughter sustained marks on her stomach from the seat belt, but no medical attention was received. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the contact was offered a discount on the replacement of the rear passenger's side seat belt. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.

NHTSA ODI 11559193

Sep 11, 2022Electrical systemFire

While driving down the freeway, I received a warning that the charging system was not working and had a red battery light come on on the dash. I exited the freeway trying to get to a safe place, the dash and infotainment system begun to flash on and off. We heard a loud pop, smelt something burning, saw smoke coming into the cabin and then flames from under the hood near where the battery is located.

NHTSA ODI 11483879

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

Sep 15, 2021SuspensionBody & structure1 injury

The contact owns a 2016 GMC Yukon. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle would shake and vibrate. The cause of the failure was not determined. Also, the driver and passenger side retractable running boards would erroneously retract back and forth while driving, and on several occasions, while attempting to exit the vehicle the running board remained retracted causing the driver to fall to the ground and causing injuries to the driver's legs. The cause of the failures was not determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were not notified. The failure mileage was 60,000.

NHTSA ODI 11433095

Nov 24, 2020AirbagsCrash2 injuries

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2016 GMC YUKON . THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE RAN A RED LIGHT AND T-BONED HER VEHICLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. THE CONTACT AND THE PASSENGER BOTH SUSTAINED INJURIES AND WERE TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL VIA AN AMBULANCE. THE CONTACT SUFFERED A HERNIATED DISC, A CERVICAL NECK STRAIN, AND RIGHT SHOULDER AND NECK PAIN. THE PASSENGER ALSO SUSTAINED A CERVICAL NECK STRAIN AS WELL AS INJURIES TO HER NECK. THE WHEREABOUTS OF THE OTHER DRIVER WERE UNKNOWN. A POLICE WAS FILED AT THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS INITIALLY TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT TOW YARD; HOWEVER HER INSURANCE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO ANOTHER TOW YARD FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT AUTO BODY SHOP TO DETERMINE IF THE VEHICLE COULD BE SALVAGED; HOWEVER,THEY DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS DUE TO THE EXTENSIVE DAMAGE. MASTER BUICK GMC(3710 WASHINGTON RD, AUGUSTA, GA 30907) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE AIR BAG FAILURE AND THEY REFERRED HER BACK TO HER INSURANCE TO DETERMINE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50,000. INVALID VIN.

NHTSA ODI 11376189

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

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

Dec 10, 2019BrakesCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 GMC YUKON XL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. PRIOR TO THE CRASH, THE BRAKE VACUUM PUMP WAS REPLACED, BUT THE BRAKES DID NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER SERVICED AT MICK DONALD'S GMC(5155 STATE ST, SAGINAW, MI) PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V645000(SERVICE BRAKES) IN WHICH THE ELECTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL MODULE WAS REPROGRAMMED. AFTERWARDS, THE BRAKES OPERATED NORMALLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000.

NHTSA ODI 11288081

Sep 11, 2019BrakesCrash

A CAR BRAKED IN FRONT OF ME GOING AROUND 40 MILES PER HOUR. I WAS UNABLE TO STOP IN TIME AND REARENDED THEM. THIS CAR IS PART OF THE GM RECALL FOR BRAKES

NHTSA ODI 11254852

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

Apr 26, 2019AirbagsSeat beltsCrash1 injury

WHILE ENTERING PARKING LOT OF A WALMART STORE, THE FRONT SENSORS DID NOT SHOW AN OBJECT (WHILE IN BLIND AREA OF WINDSHIELD AND DOOR POST). DRIVER HIT CONCRETE BASE OF STREET LIGHT IN PARKING LOT GOING ABOUT 10 MILES PER HOUR IN SPEED. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY NOR DID SEAT BELT TIGHTEN TO RESTRAIN DRIVER. DRIVER'S BODY WAS THROWN INTO THE STEERING WHEEL WITH RIGHT ARM TAKING THE FULL IMPACT. DRIVER SUFFERS A BROKEN STERNUM, TORN BICEP TENDON, SEVERELY DISLOCATED RIGHT SHOULDER, TORN ROTATOR CUFF TENDONS, TORN MUSCLE FIBERS FROM ELBOW, BROKEN WRIST AND TORN TENDONS ON BACK OF HAND.

NHTSA ODI 11203908

Oct 22, 2018AirbagsCrash1 injury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2016 GMC YUKON. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 TO 65 MPH, A TRACTOR TRAILER REAR ENDED THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE IMPACT CAUSED THE CONTACT TO REAR END THE PRECEDING VEHICLE AND PUSHED BOTH VEHICLES INTO THE RIGHT LANE. THE TWO VEHICLES CAME TO A STOP WHEN THEY ENTERED A DITCH. THE CONTACT'S HEAD STRUCK THE STEERING WHEEL. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT RECEIVED. THE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO O'CONNOR AUTO PARK (199 RIVERSIDE DRIVE, AUGUSTA, MAINE 04330, (866) 483-3057), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED (REPORT NUMBER: 18S091850). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,000.

NHTSA ODI 11141758

Oct 3, 2018Electrical systemLightsCrash

BOTH REAR TAIL LIGHTS HAVE FAILED UNDER 40,000 MILES. DEFECTIVE! PLEASE RECALL!!!

NHTSA ODI 11133227

Jul 17, 2018Crash

FROM PARK ON A FLAT GROUND WITH ENGINE RUNNING WNEN I TRIED TO STOP THE ENGINE IT WENT INT REVERSE ,KNOCKED ME TO GROUND BY DRIVER OPEN DOOR ANDALMOCT KILLEDME. IT WAS TOTALLED BY USAA

NHTSA ODI 11111991

Apr 17, 2017AirbagsCrash2 injuries

TAKATA RECALL OR SENSOR FAILURE. WHILE DRIVING 45MPH, AND JUST SLAMMED THE BRAKES REAR ENDING THE STOPPED CAR IN FRONT OF ME. THE AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. I HAD EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO MY FRONT END AND THE CAR I HIT WAS TOTALED. THAT AIR BAG SHOULD OF DEPLOYED.

NHTSA ODI 10978895

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 →