Owners have filed 33 complaints
about the 2016 GMC Yukon Denali XL with NHTSA between 2017 and 2020.
The largest single group is the lights.
Across this model's run it ranks 5 of 13 worst.
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew
an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous
ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 32
Against the median year of the GMC Yukon Denali XL. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 47
9.1% of these complaints
involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of
9.7%.
Early failure — 69
41% of failures with a mileage on record happened under
36,000 miles, against a national rate of
29%.
How 2016 compares with every other GMC Yukon Denali XL
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all
complaints include one.
Under 1,000 miles
13.7%
1,000 – 9,999 miles
13.7%
10,000 – 24,999 miles
27.4%
25,000 – 49,999 miles
1659.3%
50,000 – 74,999 miles
622.2%
75,000 – 99,999 miles
13.7%
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Feb 2017peak 4Aug 2020
NHTSA investigations into the 2016 GMC Yukon Denali XL
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough
complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks
something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
PE18012Opened 20 Nov 2018Closed 10 Apr 2022SERVICE BRAKES
Brake Vacuum Pump Failure
On November 20, 2018, the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened PE18-012 to investigate instances of sudden onset of a hard brake pedal that could result in extended stopping distance due to an issue with the brake assist vacuum pump in model year (MY) 2014 through 2016 GMC Sierra 1500 and Chevrolet Silverado 1500 series pickup trucks and MY 2015 through 2016 Cadillac Escalade, Chevrolet Suburban, Chevrolet Tahoe, and GMC Yukon SUVs.If the brake assist vacuum pump fails to operate as intended, the amount of brake power assist supplied to the driver can be significantly reduced, extendi...
Complaints that involved harm
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
at 40,425 milesChino, CACrash
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
BOTH REAR TAIL LIGHTS HAVE FAILED UNDER 40,000 MILES. DEFECTIVE! PLEASE RECALL!!!
NHTSA complaint #11133227 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 40,425 milesChino, CACrash
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
BOTH REAR TAIL LIGHTS HAVE FAILED UNDER 40,000 MILES. DEFECTIVE! PLEASE RECALL!!!
NHTSA complaint #11133227 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 23,500 milesBiglerville, PACrash
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
FROM PARK ON A FLAT GROUND WITH ENGINE RUNNING WNEN I TRIED TO STOP THE ENGINE IT WENT INT REVERSE ,KNOCKED ME TO GROUND BY DRIVER OPEN DOOR ANDALMOCT KILLEDME. IT WAS TOTALLED BY USAA
NHTSA complaint #11111991 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
Corpus Christi, TX
SUSPENSION
VEHICLE SHAKES AND HAS A ROUGH RIDE
NHTSA complaint #11350168 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 52,000 milesRoswell, GA
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TAIL LIGHT STOPPED WORKED, COMING BACK ON INTERMITTENTLY. $700+ FIX FROM DEALER
NHTSA complaint #11232615 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Brunswick, GA
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
PEOPLE KEPT TELLING ME ONE OF MY TAIL LIGHT WAS OUT BUT EVERY TIME I'D GET HOME MY TAIL LIGHT WAS ON! THIS KEPT GOING ON FOR A FEW WEEKS UNTIL THIS TIME I CHECKED AND IT WAS OFF. I WENT TO HAVE MY OIL CHANGED AND MENTIONED THE ISSUE. THEY DIDN'T SEE A PROBLEM BECAUSE OF COURSE IT WAS BACK ON. ABOUT A MONTH LATER, THE SAME CYCLE STARTED. MY FRIEND NOTICED THAT WHEN I WENT OVER A BUMP IT WOULD FLICK BACK ON. WE TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL GMC DEALERSHIP THAT INFORMED ME IT WAS A COMMON ISSUE IN THESE VEHICLES AND THE COST TO REPLACE WAS ABOUT $1,000. ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP THE ONLY OPTION WAS TO REPLACE AND NOT FIX. I DECIDED TO LOOK UP AN ALTERNATIVE AND FOUND OUT MANY OTHERS WERE EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUES WITH YUKONS RANGING 2-3 YEARS AS MY VEHICLE. AFTER HAVING IT REPAIRED FOR A FRACTION OF THE COST OUTSIDE OF THE DEALERSHIP A MONTH AGO IT'S BACK TO NOT WORKING AGAIN! FRUSTRATING PART IS THAT THIS IS HAPPENING TO SO MANY OTHERS... ON YOUTUBE ALONE THERE ARE SO MANY VIDEOS SHOWING HOW TO REPAIR ON OWN BECAUSE IT'S VERY COSTLY. RECENTLY, I WAS DRIVING AND NOTICED THE PERSON IN FRONT OF ME HAD THE SAME VEHICLE AND THEIR LIGHT WAS OUT AS WELL. I GUESS I'M GOING TO HAVE TO REPLACE IT.
NHTSA complaint #11231221 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 31,900 milesYuba City, CA
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TAILLIGHTS, BRAKELIGHTS WORK INCONSISTENTLY. NOTHING IS WRONG WITH THE BULBS. IT IS THE ASSEMBLY AND DESIGN. IT WILL COST ABOUT 1200-2000 DOLLARS. VEHICLE BARELY HAS 32000 MILES ON IT. THIS CAN LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #11220844 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 1 milesST. Cloud, FL
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
LED BRAKE LIGHT ON DRIVER SIDE JUST STOPPED WORKING. NO DAMAGE DONE TO THE EXTERIOR.
NHTSA complaint #11217998 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 45,000 milesKansas City, MO
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
LED TAILLIGHT BRAKE LAMP WENT OUT. IT'S DEFECTIVE. TOO MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH NEW VEHICLES.
NHTSA complaint #11210080 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 30,000 milesSmithtown, NY
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
RIGHT TAIL LIGHT IS OUT. CANT BELIEVE !! ITS BEEN ONLY 2 PLUS YEARS RUNNING THIS VEHICLE. UNDER 50K MILAGE!! NEED GMC TO REPLACE OR FIX FOR FREE.
NHTSA complaint #11209460 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 48,000 milesGreat Falls, MT
POWER TRAIN
MY 2016 YUKON DENALI XL LURCHES FORWARD WHILE DRIVING ACTING LIKE IT IS HAVING ISSUES SHIFTING GEARS. I HAVE ALSO HAD AN ISSUE TWICE NOW WHERE WHEN I SHIFT FROM PARK TO REVERSE IN MY DRIVEWAY MY VEHICLE GOES FORWARD INSTEAD.
NHTSA complaint #11204871 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 47,000 milesChattanooga, TN
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
MY VEHICLE HAS ONLY 47,000 MILES AND MY PASSENGER SIDE BRAKE LIGHT IS OUT. THERE IS ALSO WATER AND MOISTURE THAT BUILDS UP IN BOTH TAILLIGHTS. I WAS TOLD IT WOULD BE $800 EACH TO REPLACE AND WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW. THE VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN ANY ACCIDENTS. THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE COVERED BY THE MANUFACTURER. THE LED LIGHTS SHOULD NOT GO OUT THIS QUICKLY.
NHTSA complaint #11195302 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 47,500 milesSpring, TX
SERVICE BRAKES
I TOOK MY CAR INTO A GMC DEALER DUE TO A FUNNY NOISE. I HAD TO PAY $800 TO REPLACE MY BRAKE VACUUM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT BRAKING PROPERLY PRIOR TO THIS FIX.
NHTSA complaint #11183704 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 44,000 milesWarrenton, VA
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I WAS ON THE RAMP GOING APPROX. 45-50 MPH ACCELERATING TO BE ABLE TO TURN ONTO THE 70 MPH HIGHWAY WHEN MY SUNROOF EXPLODED. IT WAS LIKE A GUN WENT OFF IN MY VEHICLE. IT SCARED ME TO DEATH AS GLASS WAS FALLING ON ME. I SHUT THE INSIDE PROTECTOR AND LOOKED AROUND AND THERE WERE NO PEOPLE, TRUCKS, CARS OR OVERPASS AROUND. THERE IS GLASS ALL OVER THE INSIDE OF MY VEHICLE. THE PIECES CONTINUED TO FALL THE REST OF MY TRIP. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP IMMEDIATELY AND THE GUY SAID HE NEVER HEARD OF IT. GMC HEADQUARTERS WAS NO HELP EITHER. I HAVE READ THIS IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT.
NHTSA complaint #11183575 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 36,765 milesEastvale, CA
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
BRAKE LIGHT WORK INTERMITTENTLY. VERY DANGEROUS WHEN YOU DON'T IF THEY ARE WORK OR NOT
NHTSA complaint #11183118 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 55,000 milesMenlo Park, CA
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
BOTH TAIL LIGHTS HAVE CEASED TO FUNCTION WITHIN 6 MONTHS OF EACH OTHER. GMC STATES THAT THE ORIGINAL PARTS WERE DEFECTIVE, BUT WILL NOT COVER REPAIR. EACH LIGHT COSTS ~$700 PLUS LABOR. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ISSUE.
NHTSA complaint #11182222 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 65,000 milesPaoli, OK
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
INTERMITTENT TAIL LIGHT/BRAKE LIGHT FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #11170902 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 40,425 milesChino, CACrash
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
BOTH REAR TAIL LIGHTS HAVE FAILED UNDER 40,000 MILES. DEFECTIVE! PLEASE RECALL!!!
NHTSA complaint #11133227 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 40,425 milesChino, CACrash
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
BOTH REAR TAIL LIGHTS HAVE FAILED UNDER 40,000 MILES. DEFECTIVE! PLEASE RECALL!!!
NHTSA complaint #11133227 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 37,900 milesHolbrook, AZ
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
LEFT REAR LED BRAKE LIGHT WORKS ON AND OFF.
NHTSA complaint #11127912 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Riverside, CA
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT WORK INTERMITTENTLY. IT'S MOSTLY THE DRIVER'S SIDE BUT HE BOTH GO ON AND OFF WHEN I'M DRIVING AND PARKED. I HAVE ALMOST BEEN IN SEVERAL ACCIDENTS. I AM AFRAID I AM GOING TO GET REAR ENDED WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR. I HAVE SEEN MANY VEHICLE JUST LIKE MINE WITH AT LEAST ONE BRAKE LIGHT OUT. WHEN HE LOOKED THIS UP ONLINE IT IS A KNOWN ISSUE. MY SISTER HAS THE EXACT SAME YEAR MAKE AND MODEL. SHE EXPERIENCED THE EXACT SAME BRAKE LIGHT ISSUES. SHE OPENED A CASE WITH GM AND THEY WORKED WITH HER TO COVER IT AND CHARGED HER THE DEDUCTIBLE. SHE WAS OVER THE 36K MILES GM CONSTANTLY REFERENCES. THIS IS SO UNSAFE. THE AIR ON THIS VEHICLE ALSO DOES LOT STAY COLD. IT TURNS WARM WHEN I SLOW DOWN.
NHTSA complaint #11123487 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Riverside, CA
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT WORK INTERMITTENTLY. IT'S MOSTLY THE DRIVER'S SIDE BUT HE BOTH GO ON AND OFF WHEN I'M DRIVING AND PARKED. I HAVE ALMOST BEEN IN SEVERAL ACCIDENTS. I AM AFRAID I AM GOING TO GET REAR ENDED WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR. I HAVE SEEN MANY VEHICLE JUST LIKE MINE WITH AT LEAST ONE BRAKE LIGHT OUT. WHEN HE LOOKED THIS UP ONLINE IT IS A KNOWN ISSUE. MY SISTER HAS THE EXACT SAME YEAR MAKE AND MODEL. SHE EXPERIENCED THE EXACT SAME BRAKE LIGHT ISSUES. SHE OPENED A CASE WITH GM AND THEY WORKED WITH HER TO COVER IT AND CHARGED HER THE DEDUCTIBLE. SHE WAS OVER THE 36K MILES GM CONSTANTLY REFERENCES. THIS IS SO UNSAFE. THE AIR ON THIS VEHICLE ALSO DOES LOT STAY COLD. IT TURNS WARM WHEN I SLOW DOWN.
NHTSA complaint #11123487 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Riverside, CA
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TAKATA RECALL - THE BRAKE LIGHTS WORK ON AND OFF. SOMETIMES THEY COME ON AND WE'VE BEEN STOPPED MULTIPLE TIME TO SAY THEY ARE NOT WORKING. I'VE ALMOST BEEN REAR ENDED AS A RESULT! EXTREMELY DANGEROUS DRIVING CONDITION. IT FHAS OCCURRED WHEN I AM AT A STOP LIGHT OR DRIVING AND SLOWING DOWN ON A CITY STREET. I HAVE SEEN MANY GMC YUKON XLS ON THE ROAD WITH NO TAIL LIGHT AND MY SISTER OWNS A 2016 YUKON XL AND IS HAVING THE EXACT SAME ISSUE.
NHTSA complaint #11118810 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 55,313 milesPleasanton, CA
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
DRIVERS SIDE BRAKE LIGHTS WENT OUT, CAR IS ONLY TWO YEARS OLD. THREE WEEKS LATER PASSENGER SIDE BRAKE LIGHTS WENT OUT. DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY FOR THREE HOURS AS PEOPLE HONKED AND ROLLED THEIR WINDOWS DOWN TO LET US KNOW WE DIDN'T HAVE BRAKE LIGHTS. TOOK TO GET FIXED AND THE LIGHTBULBS, WHICH ARE LED AND SHOULD HAVE LASTED LONGER THAN TWO YEARS, ARE NOT REPLACEABLE, THE ENTIRE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY NEEDS TO BE PURCHASED AT $700 A PIECE. WHEN PEOPLE ARE UNABLE TO AFFORD $1400 BEFORE LABOR THEY WILL DRIVE WITHOUT BRAKE LIGHTS. THIS IS A SERIOUS HAZARD AND A RIDICULOUS MANUFACTURING FLAW TO HAVE LIGHT BULBS THAT ARE NOT REPLACEABLE. GMC SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.
NHTSA complaint #11114026 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 76,000 milesArlington, TN
POWER TRAIN
AT 76,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO SHUDDER VIOLENTLY AND HESTITATE. DEALERSHIP GMC WANTS ME TO SPEND 400 ON A FLUID UPGRADE AND HOPE IT FIXES IT IF NOT, I WILL HAVE TO BUY A NEW UPDATED TORQUE CONVERTER BECAUSE THEY SHREWDLY TOOK THE DRIVETRAIN WARRANTY DOWN TO 60000 MILES MONTHS BEFORE I BOUGHT NEW
NHTSA complaint #11112728 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 23,500 milesBiglerville, PACrash
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
FROM PARK ON A FLAT GROUND WITH ENGINE RUNNING WNEN I TRIED TO STOP THE ENGINE IT WENT INT REVERSE ,KNOCKED ME TO GROUND BY DRIVER OPEN DOOR ANDALMOCT KILLEDME. IT WAS TOTALLED BY USAA
NHTSA complaint #11111991 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 57,700 milesDiscovery BAY, CA
SUSPENSION
WHILE DRIVING, THE CAR SUDDENLY STOPPED ABSORBING ANY BUMPS IN THE ROAD. THE HANDLING WENT FROM SMOOTH TO ROUGH RIDE RESULTING IN INCREASE FOCUS OF DRIVING. REMINDER, THIS IS A 2016 VEHICLE. CONTACTED PRESIDENT OF COMPANY TO NOTIFY OF POTENTIAL DEFECT AS THE CAR ONLY HAD 57,714 MILES. I WAS TURNED OVER TO EXECUTIVE SERVICES WITH MY COMPLAINT AND REQUEST FOR REIMBURSEMENT. $910.36 KINDLY INFORMED THEY WERE UNWILLING TO MITIGATE ANY COST AND WARRANTIES DID NOT APPLY. THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED ON 2/27/2018. RECENTLY HAD A BATTER FAILURE AND IM NOW CONCERNED OF COST SHAVINGS BY THE MANUFACTURE. I WANT TO NOTIFY ALL CURRENT OWNERS AND FUTURE BUYERS OF THIS MODEL. IT'S CLASSIFIED AS A LUXERY VEHICLE, YET THE MANUFACTURERS ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT DOESN'T APPEAR TO SUPPORT THE OVERALL CONSTRUCTION OF THIS MAKE. THE SUDDEN FAILURE OF THE SHOCKS IS SUFFICIENT ENOUGH TO CAUSE MOMENTARILY DISTRACTION AND A POTENTIAL SERIOUS ACCIDENT. FORTUNATELY, I WAS IN A STRAIGHTAWAY AND REDUCED SPEED TO A SAFE CONDITION.
NHTSA complaint #11078829 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 57,000 milesDiscovery BAY, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ON 2/28/2018 I HAD JUST LEFT THE AIRPORT IN OAKLAND CA, APPROX 8:00PM. I STOP FOR GAS AT THE CHEVRON STATION ON 98TH AVE, AFTER FUELING, THE CAR WOULD NOT START. REMINDER, THIS IS A 2016 DENALI. I HAD A FEMALE ASSOCIATE WITH ME AND WE HAD AN APPOINTMENT IN SAN FRAMSICO AT 8:30PM. THE CAR HAD LOST ALL POWER AND TWO OTHER PEOPLE HELPED ME PUSH INTO ADJACENT PARKING SPACE. THE AREA IS KNOWN FOR HIGH CRIME, BASICALLY WE WERE EXTREMELY NERVOUS AND STRANDED. FORTUNATELY, WE WERE ABLE TO CONTACT AAA AND SET AN APPOINTMENT TO CHECK OUT THE CAR. WE UBERED TO OUR APPOINTMENT. THE FAILURE OF THE BATTERY LEFT US VUNRABLE AND WE BOTH FEARED FOR OUR SAFETY. THE NEXT DAY, THE LOCAL MECHANIC SAID THE BATTERY SHOULD HAVE LASTED A MINIMUM OF SEVEN YEARS. THEY FELT THE BATTERY WASN'T SUFFICIENT TO HANDLE THE ELECTRONICS THAT WERE BUILT INTO THIS CAR. THEREFORE, POTENTIALLY CREATING A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN WITH ANY OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE. MY COMPLAINT HIGHLIGHTS THE POTENTIAL SAFETY IMPLICATIONS CAUSED BY THE MANUFACTURES DECISION TO REDUCE COST BY INSTALLING A BATTERY WITHOUT THE CAPACITY TO REASONABLY START THE VEHICLE AFTER ONLY TWO YEARS OF USE. I WOULD HOPE ALL OWNERS OF THIS MAKE AND MODEL ARE NOTIFIED OF THIS POSIBLITY. I CAN'T IMAGINE ANY OF MY FAMILY MEMBERS BEING EXPOSED TO THIS SITUATION. THANK YOU!
NHTSA complaint #11078824 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.