2016 Gmc YUKON DENALI problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
18 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
55,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2016 model year. Data snapshot: . 14 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Exterior Lighting is the most frequently named component, appearing in 6 of 18 complaints (33.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 6 | 33.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 5 | 27.8% |
| Steering behavior | 4 | 22.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 16.7% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Exterior Lighting | 6 |
| Power Train | 4 |
| Electrical System | 3 |
| Steering | 3 |
| Unknown Or Other | 3 |
| Air Bags | 1 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 1 |
| Engine | 1 |
Exterior Lighting: 6; Power Train: 4; Electrical System: 3; Steering: 3; Unknown Or Other: 3; Air Bags: 1; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 1; Engine: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 2 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 4 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 6 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 6; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (6). 4 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 10 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 2 |
2016: 2; 2017: 1; 2018: 2; 2019: 10; 2024: 1; 2025: 2
Pattern summary
Exterior Lighting leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 5 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10935003 · 2016-12-13 (December 13, 2016)
FRONT BRAKE CALIPERS STICKING CAUSING PREMATURE WEAR OUT OF PADS AND DRIVER SIDE ROTOR AT ~11900 MILES. AFTER FIRST REPAIR, ~900 MILES AND THREE WEEKS LATER, WHILE DRIVING DOWN A SNOW COVERED CITY HILL ABS WAS ENGAGED FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME AND THEN DASH DISPLAYED A "BRAKE FAILURE" WARNING. AFTER THE MESSAGE THE FRONT BRAKES LOCKED UP COMPLETELY, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND INDUCED A SLIDE OF OVER 1000FT DOWN THE HILL. ONCE THE VEHICLE FINALLY CAME TO A STOP, A LOUD SOUND WAS COMING FROM THE UNDER CARRIAGE. POWERING DOWN …
Owner-reported narrative. 12,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10935003 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11151847 · 2018-11-15 (November 15, 2018)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 58,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11151847 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11165981 · 2019-01-09 (January 9, 2019)
"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 START. A MESSAGE WILL DISPLAY ON MY SCREEN SAYING "BATTERY SAVER ACTIVE".
Owner-reported narrative. 68,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11165981 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11180154 · 2019-02-14 (February 14, 2019)
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.
Owner-reported narrative. 43,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11180154 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10919298 · 2016-10-27 (October 27, 2016)
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 TO THE SHAKING. IT AFFECTS THE STEERING WHEEL AT ALL SPEEDS. THIS HAPPENS AT ALL SPEEDS ON ALL TERRAINS. THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS COLD AS WELL AS WARM/HOT. THE VEHICLE WILL SOMETIMES JERK TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT WHEN THE SHAKING GETS REAL BA…
Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10919298 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11076524 · 2018-03-06 (March 6, 2018)
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 BOLT NEEDED TO BE TIGHTENED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT NHTSA ISSUED RECALLS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 45,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVA…
Owner-reported narrative. 45,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11076524 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11221979 · 2019-06-23 (June 23, 2019)
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 DANGEROUS AS IT INTERFERES WITH TRYING TO STOP THE VEHICLE. IT WAS SUCH A HARD JOLT THAT IT FOR A MINUTE I THOUGHT ANOTHER CAR REAR ENDED ME. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST TWICE AFTER I PRESSED THE BRAKE TO BEGIN SLOWING DOWN AS I WAS PREPARING TO PULL INTO A …
Owner-reported narrative. 80,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 11221979 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11230316 · 2019-07-09 (July 9, 2019)
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 DRIVING ON BOTH THE HIGHWAY AND SURFACE STREETS, INCLUDING DAYTIME AND NIGHTTIME), AUDIO/ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM GLITCHES (RADIO VOLUME CHANGES TO AND GETS STUCK RANDOMLY ON HIGHEST VOLUME SETTING (WAS NEVER EVEN SET TO THIS LEVEL) WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING SUD…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11230316 at NHTSA ↗