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2016 Gmc YUKON XL: complaints, problems and recalls

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.

Owner-reported patterns

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.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior9447.0%
Transmission and shifting2814.0%
Steering behavior115.5%
Engine operation94.5%
Electrical and battery issues94.5%
Fuel system concerns10.5%

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.

Exterior Lighting
80
Service Brakes
40
Power Train
33
Electrical System
30
Engine
26
Unknown Or Other
10
Steering
9
Suspension
8
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Exterior Lighting80
Service Brakes40
Power Train33
Electrical System30
Engine26
Unknown Or Other10
Steering9
Suspension8

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.

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
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0009
25,000 to 49,99938
50,000 to 74,99949
75,000 to 99,99921
100,000 to 149,9996
150,000 and above2

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.

2015
1
2016
6
2017
1
2018
20
2019
67
2020
33
2021
10
2022
18
2023
8
2024
11
2025
15
2026
10
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20151
20166
20171
201820
201967
202033
202110
202218
20238
202411
202515
202610

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.

Examples from the source records

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10809314 · 2015-12-09 (December 9, 2015)

ON 11/13/15, "SERVICE 4WD SYSTEM" MESSAGE APPEARED ON THE SCREEN RENDERING THE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THIS ISSUE OCCURRED LESS THAN A WEEK AFTER PURCHASE (297 MILES ON THE ODOMETER AT THE TIME THAT THE ISSUE OCCURRED). SPECIFIC ISSUE: WHEN THE TRANSFER CASE WAS SET TO "AUTO" IT AUTOMATICALLY SWITCHED TO THE "4WDLO" SETTING, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO LOCK-UP SPECIFICALLY WHEN TURNING OR IN REVERSE GEAR. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSFER CASE CONTROL MODULE SOFTWARE NEEDED TO BE UPDATED / REFLASHED AND THAT T…

Owner-reported narrative. 297 miles reported. Look up ODI 10809314 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10819507 · 2016-01-11 (January 11, 2016)

I LEASED A 2016 YUKON DENALI XL ON 9/15/15. IT HAS TWO MAJOR PROBLEMS. 1. BUFFETING/PRESSURE NOISE - A NOISE AS IF A WINDOW IS CRACKED, EXCEPT IT'S NOT CRACKED. THIS OCCURS AT SPEEDS FROM 24MPH AND UP AND CAUSES EARS TO POP AND IS NOTICEABLE TO VIRTUALLY EVERY PASSENGER I HAVE HAD. 2. WHOLE-TRUCK VIBRATION - OCCURS BETWEEN 70-80MPH IN ENTIRE VEHICLE. WHEEL REPLACEMENTS, TIRE REPLACEMENTS, ROAD-FORCE BALANCING, DRIVESHAFT REPLACEMENT, DRIVESHAFT "BALANCING", ETC....NOTHING HAS FIXED IT. I HAVE DRIVEN 13 2016 YUKON, YUKON XL, TAHOE …

Owner-reported narrative. 7 miles reported. Look up ODI 10819507 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10820354 · 2016-01-14 (January 14, 2016)

VIBRATION AT SPEEDS OVER 72 MPH BECOMES WORSE WHILE GOING UP GRADE WHILE ACCELERATING ..HAS BEEN IN SHOP MANY TIMES NEW TIRES, BALANCED MULTIPLE TIMES ,ALONG WITH SUSPENSION PARTS AND DRIVE TRAIN PARTS. STILL NOT FIXED SUV HAS 22 INCH RIMS.

Owner-reported narrative. 2,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10820354 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10869977 · 2016-05-20 (May 20, 2016)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 GMC YUKON XL. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE VIOLENTLY VIBRATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE WHEELS, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10869977 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10887641 · 2016-07-22 (July 22, 2016)

IN MY YUKON WHILE IDLEL THE CAR START SHAKING SO BAD, IT HAS A VIBRATION YOU CAN SEE THE NEEDLE GOING UP AND DOWN, TOOK IT SEVERAL TIME TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY KNOW IS A PROBLEM WITH THE CAR BUT GENERAL MOTOR COMPANY HAS NOT ISSUE ANY REPAIR FOR THAT AT THIS MOMENT, I CONTACT GENERAL MOTOR COMPANY THEY SAID THE CAR IS OPERATING NORMAL BASE ON THE REPORT PROVIDED BY THE DEALERS, FOR ME IS NOT NORMAL HAVING A BRAND NEW CAR SHAKING AND VIBRATING LIKE IF WILL TURN OF, LOOKS LIKE IF MISFIRED ON THE ENGINE,

Owner-reported narrative. 30 miles reported. Look up ODI 10887641 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 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 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 ↗

Recall history

3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

16V256000 · Suspension:Front:Control Arm

Reported: 2016-04-28 (April 28, 2016)

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and 2016 Cadillac Escalade, Cadillac Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Chevrolet Tahoe, GMC Sierra, GMC Yukon and GMC Yukon XL vehicles. The front upper control arms may have inadequate welds near the control arm bushing.

Consequence: Inadequate welds may allow the control arm to separate from the bushing, compromising steering and increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the left and right front upper control arms and realign the vehicle, free of charge. The recall began on May 18, 2016. Until the repairs have been made, owners are advised not to drive their vehicles. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 42190.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
16V651000 · Seat Belts:Pretensioner | Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module-Inactive | Air Bags:Frontal

Reported: 2016-09-08 (September 8, 2016)

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015-2017 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD, 3500 HD, Tahoe, Suburban, GMC Sierra 2500 HD and 3500 HD, GMC Yukon, GMC Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade and Cadillac Escalade ESV vehicles and 2014-2017 Chevrolet Corvette, Silverado 1500, Trax, Caprice Police Pursuit Vehicle, GMC Sierra 1500, Buick Encore, and 2014-2016 Buick Lacrosse, Chevrolet Spark EV and SS vehicles. In the affected vehicles, certain driving conditions may cause the air bag sensing and diagnostic module (SDM) software to activate a diagnostic test. During this test, deployment of the frontal air bags and the seat belt pretensioners would not occur in the event of a crash.

Consequence: A failure of the front air bags or seat belt pretensioners to deploy in the event of a crash necessitating deployment increases the risk of injury to the driver and front passenger.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reflash the SDM software. Vehicles that have had a previous air bag deployment will have the SDM replaced. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on October 13, 2016. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 16007.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
17V437000 · Seat Belts:Pretensioner | Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module-Inactive | Air Bags:Frontal

Reported: 2017-07-10 (July 10, 2017)

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 Buick Lacrosse and Chevrolet Spark EV, Caprice PPV and SS vehicles, 2014-2017 Buick Encore and Chevrolet Corvette, Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles, 2015-2016 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Tahoe, Trax, Suburban and Silverado 2500 and 3500 and GMC Yukon and Yukon XL vehicles, and 2015-2017 GMC Sierra HD 2500 and 3500 vehicles. While being previously remedied for recall 16V-651, the affected vehicles may not have received the complete software update necessary to remedy the recall condition. Without the update, certain driving conditions may cause the air bag sensing and diagnostic module (SDM) software to activate a diagnostic test. During this test, deployment of the frontal air bags and the seat belt pretensioners would not occur in the event of a crash.

Consequence: A failure of the front air bags or seat belt pretensioners to deploy in the event of a crash necessitating deployment increases the risk of injury to the driver and front passenger.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reflash the SDM software. Vehicles that have had a previous air bag deployment will have the SDM replaced. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on August 4, 2017. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 17287.

NHTSA campaign record ↗