2016 Gmc YUKON problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
266 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
54,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2016 model year. Data snapshot: . 145 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Exterior Lighting is the most frequently named component, appearing in 97 of 266 complaints (36.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 107 | 40.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 37 | 13.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 18 | 6.8% |
| Steering behavior | 14 | 5.3% |
| Engine operation | 9 | 3.4% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 1.1% |
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 | 97 |
| Electrical System | 53 |
| Service Brakes | 52 |
| Engine | 33 |
| Power Train | 33 |
| Unknown Or Other | 32 |
| Steering | 10 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 7 |
Exterior Lighting: 97; Electrical System: 53; Service Brakes: 52; Engine: 33; Power Train: 33; Unknown Or Other: 32; Steering: 10; Fuel/Propulsion System: 7
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 15 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 42 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 45 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 25 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 15 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 15; 25,000 to 49,999: 42; 50,000 to 74,999: 45; 75,000 to 99,999: 25; 100,000 to 149,999: 15; 150,000 and above: 3
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (45). 121 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 | 9 |
| 2017 | 6 |
| 2018 | 20 |
| 2019 | 76 |
| 2020 | 47 |
| 2021 | 24 |
| 2022 | 28 |
| 2023 | 12 |
| 2024 | 15 |
| 2025 | 18 |
| 2026 | 11 |
2016: 9; 2017: 6; 2018: 20; 2019: 76; 2020: 47; 2021: 24; 2022: 28; 2023: 12; 2024: 15; 2025: 18; 2026: 11
Pattern summary
Exterior Lighting leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 107 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 37 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 18 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 11011875 · 2017-07-31 (July 31, 2017)
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. THE REST OF MY JOURNEY HOME WAS UNEVENTFUL, UNTIL I ARRIVED HOME. I PULLED INTO MY GARAGE, AND ATTEMPTED TO BACK OUT SO I CHECK UNDER THE VEHICLE TO MAKE SURE THERE WASN'T ANYTHING LEAKING. AS I BACKED OUT, MY BRAKES WOULD NOT ENGAGE PROPERLY AGAIN A…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11011875 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11066701 · 2018-02-02 (February 2, 2018)
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.
Owner-reported narrative. 35,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11066701 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10870916 · 2016-05-25 (May 25, 2016)
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.
Owner-reported narrative. 510 miles reported. Look up ODI 10870916 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10873535 · 2016-06-09 (June 9, 2016)
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 IN TO CLYDE REVORD MOTORS, 7900 EVERGREEN WAY EVERETT, WA. 98203 FOR THE MECHANIC TO TEST DRIVE. MECHANIC CONCLUDED THE NONCONFORMITIES DID EXIST. ON MARCH 3, 2016 I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN TO CLYDE REVORD MOTORS, 7900 EVERGREEN WAY EVERETT, WA. 9820…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10873535 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11115870 · 2018-08-06 (August 6, 2018)
FAULTY WIRING ON TAIL LIGHTS. LIGHT WENT OUT VERY QUICKLY. NON-FUNCTIONING NOW.
Owner-reported narrative. 25,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11115870 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11141758 · 2018-10-22 (October 22, 2018)
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, [phone removed]), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VE…
Owner-reported narrative. 44,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11141758 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11206066 · 2019-05-07 (May 7, 2019)
REAR BRAKE LIGHTS KEEP GOING OUT, PARKING ASSIST SENSORS DO NOT WORK, SATELLITE ANTENNA LEAKS WATER ON TO STEERING WHEEL WHEN IT RAINS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11206066 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10896342 · 2016-08-16 (August 16, 2016)
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 STALL, CALLED ONSTAR, RAN A DIAGNOSTICS, FOUND NOTHING OF VALUE , I LEFT IT AT DEALERSHIP AND CONTACTED DISTRICT MGR. MATT TILLSON . I WAS TOLD THAT THEY WOULD ESCALATE THE ISSUE. I DID TELL DEALER THAT GMC AND DEALERSHIP WOULD BE AT FAULT IF VEHICL…
Owner-reported narrative. 4,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10896342 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11329246 · 2020-06-16 (June 16, 2020)
YUKON HAS 27,855 MILES ON IT AND THE FUEL INJECTORS HAVE GONE BAD AND STALLS WHILE DRIVING. IDLES ROUGH AND WHEN ACCELERATING THE YUKON JOLTS. COST IS $2,200 DEALER IN CHANTILLY VA. CHECK ENGINE STATES THAT THE VEHICLE MISFIRES BASED ON DEALER'S DIAGNOSTIC. NO WARRANTY TO COVER THE VEHICLE. OTHER COMPLAINTS OF OWNERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME SYSTEMATIC FAILURES OF THE FUEL INJECTORS AND THERE IS BACK LOG FOR THE PART. NOT SURE HOW A LOW MILEAGE VEHICLE WOULD NEED TO REPLACE FUEL INJECTORS WITH LESS THAN 30,000 MILES. OTHERWISE THE VEHICLE I…
Owner-reported narrative. 2 miles reported. Look up ODI 11329246 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11372901 · 2020-11-03 (November 3, 2020)
CAR KEEPS RUNNING ROUGH, STUTTERING WHEN SWITCHING OFF, SMELLS LIKE GAS. ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND GOES OFF EVERY OTHER DAY. STARTED AFTER FUEL INJECTOR RECALL, DEALERSHIP SAYS IT'S THE FUEL PUMP LEAKING AND UNRELATED TO THE FUEL INJECTOR PROBLEM. I DON'T KNOW IF THEY CHANGED THE GASKETS AND THE LINES WHEN FIXING THE INJECTORS. IT'S A HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP WITH DIRECT INJECTORS.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11372901 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11702947 · 2025-12-04 (December 4, 2025)
THE fuel pressure line from the fuel pump to the flex fuel sensor chaffed a pin hole leak near the front top of the fuel tank. This caused a significant fuel smell and trace leak at the front of the fuel tank which could lead to a fire or explosion. The new hose has a longer chaffing covering leading me to believe gm knew about this issue. vehicle has 127,000 miles. I feel gm should reimburse me for this repair as a fuel line should not have ever chaffed through and leaked.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11702947 at NHTSA ↗