2016 Gmc YUKON

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2016 Gmc YUKON has 366 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 4.6x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is lighting problems (29% of all complaints), specifically: 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..

2 crash reports 1 injury

366

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

4.6x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

LIGHTING

105 complaints

29%

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

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

“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 complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

53 complaints

14%

• SAID VEHICLE MAINTAINS A DEFECT THAT SUBSTANTIALLY IMPAIRS ITS USE AND SAFETY AND DOES NOT CONFORM TO APPLICABLE WARRANTY PROVISIONS. THE VEHICLE'S INFOTAINMENT/INTELLILINK SYSTEM BECAME COMPLETELY DYSFUNCTIONAL ON JANUARY 14, 2017, AND SAID CONDITION WAS REPORTED TO GMC'S INFOTAINMENT CUSTOMER SUP
• WIFE DRIVING CHILDREN HOME AT NIGHT. USED DASH LIGHT DIMMER WHEEL TO ADJUST DASH BRIGHTNESS. CAUSED ALL LIGHTS, INCLUDING HEADLIGHTS TO TURN OFF
• WATER LEAK DUE TO BAD FRONT WINDSHIELD SEAL, WATER LEAK THROUGH GPS ANTENNA, FOUR WHEEL DRIVE MODULE WAS BAD, DVD PLAYER STOPPED WORKING, AND LASTLY A HORRIBLE VIBRATION THAT OCCURRED AROUND 77-83 MPH. TO THE POINT THE VEHICLE DID NOT FEEL SAFE TO HANDLE. TRIM ON THE B POST KEPT COMING LOOSE. THIS A

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

“SAID VEHICLE MAINTAINS A DEFECT THAT SUBSTANTIALLY IMPAIRS ITS USE AND SAFETY AND DOES NOT CONFORM TO APPLICABLE WARRANTY PROVISIONS. THE VEHICLE'S INFOTAINMENT/INTELLILINK SYSTEM BECAME COMPLETELY DYSFUNCTIONAL ON JANUARY 14, 2017, AND SAID CONDITION WAS REPORTED TO GMC'S INFOTAINMENT CUSTOMER SUP”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

53 complaints

14%

• WHILE EXITING THE OHIO TURNPIKE, MY BRAKE PEDAL BEGAN TO STOP DEPRESSING COMPLETELY- TO THE POINT WHERE I COULDN'T PUSH DOWN AT ALL. IT FELT LIKE AN OVER-PUMPED KEG. AS I CONTINUED MY EXIT TOWARD THE TOLL BOOTH, IT SEEMED THAT THE ABS WERE ENGAGING, BUT I WASN'T IN AN EMERGENCY BRAKING SITUATION. T
• GMC YUKON 2016 REAR LIGHTS ARE DEFECTIVE. THIS IS THE 2ND TIME THEY HAVE GONE OUT AND IT IS NOT A QUICK FIX TO REPLACE. COST IS APPROXIMATELY $750 TO REPLACE A LIGHT THAT WILL GO OUT AGAIN DUE TO POOR MANUFACTURING AND QUALITY. THE FIRST TIME IT WENT OUT WAS ONLY A YEAR AFTER PURCHASE. THIS IS THE 2
• WHEN PRESSING THE BRAKE PETAL AT LOW SPEEDS AND IN BUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC THE BRAKE PEDAL BECOMES VERY HARD TO PRESS AND VERY DIFFICULT TO GET THE VEHICLE TO STOP. THIS PROBLEM ALSO IS NOTICED WHEN BACKING THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE AND INTO A PARKING SPOT.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 2 crashes

“WHILE EXITING THE OHIO TURNPIKE, MY BRAKE PEDAL BEGAN TO STOP DEPRESSING COMPLETELY- TO THE POINT WHERE I COULDN'T PUSH DOWN AT ALL. IT FELT LIKE AN OVER-PUMPED KEG. AS I CONTINUED MY EXIT TOWARD THE TOLL BOOTH, IT SEEMED THAT THE ABS WERE ENGAGING, BUT I WASN'T IN AN EMERGENCY BRAKING SITUATION. T”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

33 complaints

• THE VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION UNEXPECTEDLY SLIPS OUT OF GEAR BETWEEN 20 AND 35 MPH. WHEN THIS OCCURS, PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR MERELY REVS THE ENGINE, WITHOUT FORWARD MOTION. THIS OCCURRED 4 TIMES IN THE FIRST 600 MILES OF OPERATION. WITHOUT POWER, I CAN'T NAVIGATE OUT OF A DANGEROUS SITUATION.
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 GMC YUKON. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, THE TRANSMISSION SHUDDERED AND FAILED TO RESPOND APPROPRIATELY. THE RPM GAUGE WAS ERRATIC AND FLASHED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MARVIN K. BROWN AUTO CENTER (1441 CAMINO DEL RIO SOUTH, AUTO CIR, SAN DIEGO, CA 92108
• WHEN IN TRAFFIC AT SLOW SPEEDS THE BRAKE SYSTEM SHUTS DOWN AND TAKES MY BODY WEIGHT TO STOP CAR. HAD CHECKED AND NO VISIBLE LEAK. NOW GMC HAS A FIX BUT CHARGE TO FIX IF OVER WARRANTY MILEAGE. SECOND ISSUE IS THE TRANSMISSION WENT AT 96,000 MILES WHILE HIGHWAY DRIVING LOOSING ALL TOP END GEARS AT

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

“THE VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION UNEXPECTEDLY SLIPS OUT OF GEAR BETWEEN 20 AND 35 MPH. WHEN THIS OCCURS, PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR MERELY REVS THE ENGINE, WITHOUT FORWARD MOTION. THIS OCCURRED 4 TIMES IN THE FIRST 600 MILES OF OPERATION. WITHOUT POWER, I CAN'T NAVIGATE OUT OF A DANGEROUS SITUATION.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

33 complaints

• VEHICLE HAS VIBRATION & NOISE WIHEN IN 4 CYLINDER MODE OF OPERATION. GIVES HEADACHE ON LONG DRIVES. GM SAYS THAT THE VEHICLE IS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. MOST AGRIVATING.
• ON FEBRUARY 27, 2016 PURCHASED A BRAND NEW GMC, YUKON SLE, 2016, AND VIN# ([XXX]). ON FEBRUARY 28 2016 I NOTICED A RUMBLE IN THE ENGINE, A VIBRATION OF THE ENTIRE VEHICLE, A LOUD HISSING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE AND AN EXTREME JERK WHEN TRAVELING UPHILL. ON FEBRUARY 29, 2016 I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE
• 4 WEEK OLD 2016 YUKON DENALI XL, HAS STALLED 3 TIMES IN LAST 4 WEEKS, ENGINE CUTS OFF AFTER A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN, AND IT HAS TO BE RESTARTED! COULD HAVE EASILY HAD AN ACCIDENT OR WORSE. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, 3 TIMES. 1ST TWO TIMES, ALL OF SERVICE DEPT. COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. TODAY, AFTER A

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

“VEHICLE HAS VIBRATION & NOISE WIHEN IN 4 CYLINDER MODE OF OPERATION. GIVES HEADACHE ON LONG DRIVES. GM SAYS THAT THE VEHICLE IS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. MOST AGRIVATING.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

LIGHTING(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 366 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
LIGHTING: 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.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: SAID VEHICLE MAINTAINS A DEFECT THAT SUBSTANTIALLY IMPAIRS ITS USE AND SAFETY AND DOES NOT CONFORM TO APPLICABLE WARRANTY PROVISIONS. THE VEHICLE'S INFOTAINMENT/INTELLILINK SYSTEM BECAME COMPLETELY DYSFUNCTIONAL ON JANUARY 14, 2017, AND SAID CONDITION WAS REPORTED TO GMC'S INFOTAINMENT CUSTOMER SUP
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BRAKES: WHILE EXITING THE OHIO TURNPIKE, MY BRAKE PEDAL BEGAN TO STOP DEPRESSING COMPLETELY- TO THE POINT WHERE I COULDN'T PUSH DOWN AT ALL. IT FELT LIKE AN OVER-PUMPED KEG. AS I CONTINUED MY EXIT TOWARD THE TOLL BOOTH, IT SEEMED THAT THE ABS WERE ENGAGING, BUT I WASN'T IN AN EMERGENCY BRAKING SITUATION. T
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: THE VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION UNEXPECTEDLY SLIPS OUT OF GEAR BETWEEN 20 AND 35 MPH. WHEN THIS OCCURS, PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR MERELY REVS THE ENGINE, WITHOUT FORWARD MOTION. THIS OCCURRED 4 TIMES IN THE FIRST 600 MILES OF OPERATION. WITHOUT POWER, I CAN'T NAVIGATE OUT OF A DANGEROUS SITUATION.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)