2016 Gmc YUKON DENALI

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Above Average

Quick Summary

The 2016 Gmc YUKON DENALI has 28 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.3x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is lighting problems (25% of all complaints), specifically: brake light went out at 58k miles, it's an led light and should not go out that fast. upon research this seems to be a manufacture defect effecting 2015-2017 gmc yukons. at no point did my car alert me of the issue, luckily someone pointed it out to me before it caused a wreck.

2 crash reports 2 injuries

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.3x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

LIGHTING

7 complaints

25%

• BRAKE LIGHT WENT OUT AT 58K MILES, IT'S AN LED LIGHT AND SHOULD NOT GO OUT THAT FAST. UPON RESEARCH THIS SEEMS TO BE A MANUFACTURE DEFECT EFFECTING 2015-2017 GMC YUKONS. AT NO POINT DID MY CAR ALERT ME OF THE ISSUE, LUCKILY SOMEONE POINTED IT OUT TO ME BEFORE IT CAUSED A WRECK
• FAULTY TAIL LIGHT HOUSING, RESULTS IN TAIL/BRAKE LIGHTS NOT WORKING. NOT THE RESULT OF DAMAGE, SIMPLY BAD DESIGN IN THE LED HOUSING AND ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS. THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTION WAS POORLY CONSTRUCTED, AND THE ONLY FIX IS TO COMPLETELY REPLACE THE ENTIRE HOUSING AT $750 INCLUDING LABOR.
• OEM LED TAIL LIGHTS HAVE FAILED ON MY GMC WITH 40,000 MILES ON IT. THE BULB IS GOOD, YET THE LED PORTION (WHICH COSTS OVER $800 TO FIX) NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THIS PORTION IS THE ENTIRE REAR BRAKE LIGHT HOUSING. THIS IS VERY COMMON AMONG THESE VEHICLES HEATED SEATS QUIT WORKING ON DENALI. THE BA

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“BRAKE LIGHT WENT OUT AT 58K MILES, IT'S AN LED LIGHT AND SHOULD NOT GO OUT THAT FAST. UPON RESEARCH THIS SEEMS TO BE A MANUFACTURE DEFECT EFFECTING 2015-2017 GMC YUKONS. AT NO POINT DID MY CAR ALERT ME OF THE ISSUE, LUCKILY SOMEONE POINTED IT OUT TO ME BEFORE IT CAUSED A WRECK”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

4 complaints

14%

• SINCE THE DAY I PURCHASED THIS 2016 GMC YUKON XL DENALI THERE HAS BEEN A VIBRATION IN WHAT I THINK IS THE PASSENGER REAR END. I'VE TAKEN IT IN 3 TIMES AND EACH TIME THE DEALER AND THE GM REPRESENTATIVE SAY IT IS "WITHIN SPEC." THIS PROBLEM HAS PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE IS NOW ALMOST UN-DRIVABLE DUE
• I HAVE ONLY OWNED THIS CAR SINCE 3/29/19 AND SEVERAL TIMES NOW MY YUKON'S CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS CAME ON AFTER THE TRANSMISSION BUCKS, JUMPS OR JERKS HARD, NOT SURE WHAT TO CALL IT BUT IT BUCKED OR SHOVED MY CAR FORWARD WHEN TRYING TO SLOW DOWN OR STOP (NOT PRESSING GAS PEDAL). THIS COULD BE DANGERO
• AT LESS THAN 3 YEARS OLD AND 60K MILES, THE FOLLOWING HAS OCCURRED AT DIFFERENT TIMES UP UNTIL NOW: OVERALL ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION INCLUDING DISPLAY ILLUMINATION FAILURE (DISPLAY GOES COMPLETELY BLACK AND/OR DIM WHILE DRIVING - CANNOT SEE SPEEDOMETER ETC. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES WHILE DRIVI

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“SINCE THE DAY I PURCHASED THIS 2016 GMC YUKON XL DENALI THERE HAS BEEN A VIBRATION IN WHAT I THINK IS THE PASSENGER REAR END. I'VE TAKEN IT IN 3 TIMES AND EACH TIME THE DEALER AND THE GM REPRESENTATIVE SAY IT IS "WITHIN SPEC." THIS PROBLEM HAS PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE IS NOW ALMOST UN-DRIVABLE DUE ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

STEERING

3 complaints

11%

• SINCE THE DAY I PURCHASED THIS 2016 GMC YUKON XL DENALI THERE HAS BEEN A VIBRATION IN WHAT I THINK IS THE PASSENGER REAR END. I'VE TAKEN IT IN 3 TIMES AND EACH TIME THE DEALER AND THE GM REPRESENTATIVE SAY IT IS "WITHIN SPEC." THIS PROBLEM HAS PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE IS NOW ALMOST UN-DRIVABLE DUE
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 GMC YUKON DENALI. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE STEERING BECAME LOOSE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO NIMNICHT BUICK GMC LOCATED ON, 11503 PHILIPS HWY, JACKSONVILLE, FL 32256 JACKSONVILLE FL, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT A
• WE WERE TRAVELING IN OUR YUKON WHEN ALL POWER WAS LOST TO THE VEHICLE. THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK FUNCTION ENABLED BEFORE WE WERE STOPPED. SINCE THERE WAS NO POWER AND IT IS PUSH BUTTON START, THERE WAS NO WAY TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. OUR DEALER SAID TO THEIR KNOWLEDGE THERE IS NO WAY TO UNLOCK THE WHEE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

3 complaints

11%

• 2016 GMC YUKON DENALI. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DISTRACTING COMPUTER EQUIPMENT IN VEHICLE. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLICATED, ERRATIC, AND CONFUSING. UPDATED 10/2/2017*JS
• WE WERE TRAVELING IN OUR YUKON WHEN ALL POWER WAS LOST TO THE VEHICLE. THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK FUNCTION ENABLED BEFORE WE WERE STOPPED. SINCE THERE WAS NO POWER AND IT IS PUSH BUTTON START, THERE WAS NO WAY TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. OUR DEALER SAID TO THEIR KNOWLEDGE THERE IS NO WAY TO UNLOCK THE WHEE
• AT LESS THAN 3 YEARS OLD AND 60K MILES, THE FOLLOWING HAS OCCURRED AT DIFFERENT TIMES UP UNTIL NOW: OVERALL ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION INCLUDING DISPLAY ILLUMINATION FAILURE (DISPLAY GOES COMPLETELY BLACK AND/OR DIM WHILE DRIVING - CANNOT SEE SPEEDOMETER ETC. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES WHILE DRIVI

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“2016 GMC YUKON DENALI. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DISTRACTING COMPUTER EQUIPMENT IN VEHICLE. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLICATED, ERRATIC, AND CONFUSING. UPDATED 10/2/2017*JS”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

3 complaints

11%

• "TAKATA RECALL" SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM. IT HAS HAPPENED TWO DAYS IN A ROW WITH NO WARNING AND MY VEHICLE WILL NOT START. BATTERY IS GOOD AND ALTERNATOR IS GOOD. MY VEHICLE WAS PARKED BOTH TIMES WHEN THIS HAPPENED. SECURITY LIGHT WILL FLASH IN MY WINDSHIELD BUT TRUCK WILL NOT S
• 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 D

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“"TAKATA RECALL" SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM. IT HAS HAPPENED TWO DAYS IN A ROW WITH NO WARNING AND MY VEHICLE WILL NOT START. BATTERY IS GOOD AND ALTERNATOR IS GOOD. MY VEHICLE WAS PARKED BOTH TIMES WHEN THIS HAPPENED. SECURITY LIGHT WILL FLASH IN MY WINDSHIELD BUT TRUCK WILL NOT S”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

LIGHTING(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 28 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
LIGHTING: BRAKE LIGHT WENT OUT AT 58K MILES, IT'S AN LED LIGHT AND SHOULD NOT GO OUT THAT FAST. UPON RESEARCH THIS SEEMS TO BE A MANUFACTURE DEFECT EFFECTING 2015-2017 GMC YUKONS. AT NO POINT DID MY CAR ALERT ME OF THE ISSUE, LUCKILY SOMEONE POINTED IT OUT TO ME BEFORE IT CAUSED A WRECK
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: SINCE THE DAY I PURCHASED THIS 2016 GMC YUKON XL DENALI THERE HAS BEEN A VIBRATION IN WHAT I THINK IS THE PASSENGER REAR END. I'VE TAKEN IT IN 3 TIMES AND EACH TIME THE DEALER AND THE GM REPRESENTATIVE SAY IT IS "WITHIN SPEC." THIS PROBLEM HAS PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE IS NOW ALMOST UN-DRIVABLE DUE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
STEERING: SINCE THE DAY I PURCHASED THIS 2016 GMC YUKON XL DENALI THERE HAS BEEN A VIBRATION IN WHAT I THINK IS THE PASSENGER REAR END. I'VE TAKEN IT IN 3 TIMES AND EACH TIME THE DEALER AND THE GM REPRESENTATIVE SAY IT IS "WITHIN SPEC." THIS PROBLEM HAS PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE IS NOW ALMOST UN-DRIVABLE DUE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: 2016 GMC YUKON DENALI. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DISTRACTING COMPUTER EQUIPMENT IN VEHICLE. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLICATED, ERRATIC, AND CONFUSING. UPDATED 10/2/2017*JS
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)