2016 Gmc YUKON XL problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
200 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
55,100 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2016 model year. Data snapshot: . 125 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Exterior Lighting is the most frequently named component, appearing in 80 of 200 complaints (40.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 94 | 47.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 28 | 14.0% |
| Steering behavior | 11 | 5.5% |
| Engine operation | 9 | 4.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 9 | 4.5% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 0.5% |
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 | 80 |
| Service Brakes | 40 |
| Power Train | 33 |
| Electrical System | 30 |
| Engine | 26 |
| Unknown Or Other | 10 |
| Steering | 9 |
| Suspension | 8 |
Exterior Lighting: 80; Service Brakes: 40; Power Train: 33; Electrical System: 30; Engine: 26; Unknown Or Other: 10; Steering: 9; Suspension: 8
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 9 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 38 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 49 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 21 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 6 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 9; 25,000 to 49,999: 38; 50,000 to 74,999: 49; 75,000 to 99,999: 21; 100,000 to 149,999: 6; 150,000 and above: 2
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (49). 75 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 |
|---|---|
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 6 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 20 |
| 2019 | 67 |
| 2020 | 33 |
| 2021 | 10 |
| 2022 | 18 |
| 2023 | 8 |
| 2024 | 11 |
| 2025 | 15 |
| 2026 | 10 |
2015: 1; 2016: 6; 2017: 1; 2018: 20; 2019: 67; 2020: 33; 2021: 10; 2022: 18; 2023: 8; 2024: 11; 2025: 15; 2026: 10
Pattern summary
Exterior Lighting leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 94 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 28 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 11 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 10978895 · 2017-04-17 (April 17, 2017)
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.
Owner-reported narrative. 43,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10978895 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11089691 · 2018-04-23 (April 23, 2018)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 GMC YUKON XL. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AT LOW SPEEDS, THE BRAKES FAILED TO SLOW DOWN THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SOUTHERN PINES CHEVROLET BUICK GMC (10722 US-15, SOUTHERN PINES, NC 28387, [phone removed]) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE LINES AND VACUUM PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11089691 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11243866 · 2019-08-14 (August 14, 2019)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 GMC YUKON XL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE SHUDDERED WHEN SHIFTING GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION, TRANSMISSION FLUID, AND WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED; HOWEVER, PARTS NUMBER: 700, 711, 2429, 7371, AND 87571 WERE ON BACKORDER. THE CONTACT CALLED TED BRITT CHEVROLET (46990 HARRY BYRD HWY, STERLING, VA 20164, [phone removed]), BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CON…
Owner-reported narrative. 65,350 miles reported. Look up ODI 11243866 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11252626 · 2019-08-31 (August 31, 2019)
THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT, THE ENGINE IS MAKING A NOISE AND A SERVICE CENTER SAID LOTS OF GM'S VEHICLES ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM ALSO STOP WORKING AND I HAVE TO REPLACE IT
Owner-reported narrative. 189,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11252626 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10888624 · 2016-07-26 (July 26, 2016)
EXCESSIVE VIBRATION/BUFFETING DRONE ISSUES (AT ALL SPEEDS OF THE VEHICLE) HAVE CAUSED SEVERE HEALTH ISSUES AND SAFETY HAZARDS FROM DRIVING THE VEHICLE. WITHIN THE FIRST 8,000 MILES OF OWNING THE CAR, THE CAR HAS NOW BEEN IN SERVICE FOR 40 DAYS AS GM TRIES AND REMEDY THE PROBLEM, BUT THERE DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE A FIX. SO FAR, DIAGNOSTIC TESTS INDICATED THAT THERE WAS A FAULTY BEARING IN THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL THAT LED TO SIGNIFICANT ABNORMAL WEAR THROUGHOUT THE DIFFERENTIAL AND THE DIFFERENTIAL NEEDED TO BE REBUILT. WHEN REBUILDING, THEY DISCOVER…
Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10888624 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11232158 · 2019-07-15 (July 15, 2019)
AT 64,497 MY WIFE'S POWER STEERING WENT OUT ON HER VEHICLE. THIS HAPPENED A DAY AFTER OUR TRIP TO ATLANTA, GA. WE TOOK IT TO OUR LOCAL GMC DEALERSHIP AND WAS NOTIFIED THAT 4 MODULES HAD TO BE REPLACED AND A RECOMMENDED WIRING HARNESS. IN 2015 GMC VEHICLES HAD A SIMILAR ISSUE AND RECALL BUT NOT THE 2016. THIS COST ME $1400 IN REPAIRS.
Owner-reported narrative. 64,497 miles reported. Look up ODI 11232158 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10898532 · 2016-08-25 (August 25, 2016)
BOUGHT SUV 6/25/2016 THE SAME WEEKEND THE ENGINE TURNS OFF AFTER A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN :IT HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES SO FAR. 4 WEEK OLD 2016 YUKON DENALI XL, HAS STALLED 3 TIMES IN LAST 4 WEEKS, ENGINE CUTS OFF AFTER A LEFT OR A RIGHT TURN ONLY AFTER A SHORT DRIVE OUT OF HOME. THE SUV HAS TO BE RESTARTED! COULD HAVE EASILY HAD AN ACCIDENT OR WORSE. I TOOK IT TO THE WESTPOINT GMC DEALER, 3 TIMES. 1ST TWO TIMES, ALL OF SERVICE DEPTARTMENT COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. TODAY, AFTER A STALL, I CALLED ONSTAR, WHO RAN A DIAGNOSTICS TEST,BUT ONSTAR FOUND…
Owner-reported narrative. 4,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10898532 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11270433 · 2019-10-23 (October 23, 2019)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 GMC YUKON XL. WHILE DRIVING AT LOW OR HIGH SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY AS IF IT WOULD FALL APART. ALSO, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CAPPELLINO BUICK GMC (5411 TRANSIT RD, BUFFALO, NY 14221) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A TORQUE CONVERTER SHUDDER FAILURE AND A TRANSMISSION FLUSH WAS COMPLETED. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO DRIVE FOR 200 MILES TO CORRECT THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE ANOTHER TRANSMISSIO…
Owner-reported narrative. 42,241 miles reported. Look up ODI 11270433 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11240156 · 2019-07-28 (July 28, 2019)
THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE LIGHT QUIT WORKING. WILL COME ON WHEN PUSHED AGAINST CAR. DEALER SAID IT WAS ELECTRICAL IN THE BRAKE LIGHT UNIT.
Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11240156 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11479061 · 2022-08-12 (August 12, 2022)
The fuel injectors have gone out on our vehicle. While driving the vehicle, the check engine began blinking and our vehicle went into limp mode- could feel the engine misfiring and the vehicle was shaking. We had a family of five and two dogs in the vehicle and were lucky to be in cell service. A message popped up on our dash stating “engine power reduced.” The local dealership confirmed it is a fuel injector issue. GMC has a current recall In place, however it only includes certain states.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11479061 at NHTSA ↗