Vehicle shakes and has a rough ride
The worst 2016 GMC Yukon Denali XL problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
- Lights15
- Electrical4
- Transmission3
- Engine2
- Suspension2
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Lights15
- Electrical4
- Transmission3
- Engine2
- Suspension2
- Brakes1
Recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
Defect investigations
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, extending the subject vehicle stopping distance. GM stated that the root cause of pump failures was due to foreign debris such as oil sludge in the engine oil. GM stated that this debris can become trapped by the oil inlet filter screen. Under normal operation, this screen allows a small amount of oil into the brake vacuum pump. The foreign debris can, over time, clog the pump which can cause a loss of lubrication and a reduction in the amount of vacuum produced leading to a hard pedal and extended stopping distance.On December 13, 2018, GM issued a Special Coverage (N182202780) for the brake vacuum pump issue in MY 2014-2017 trucks and 2015-2017 SUVs on the K2XX platform for 6 years or 72,000 miles. Special Coverage repair includes the replacement of the vacuum pump and vacuum pump belt. Consumers received notification of the coverage via mail. On September 6, 2019, GM notified the federal safety agency that it was conducting safety recall 19V‑645 which reprograms the electronic brake control module (EBCM) and included approximately 3.5 million trucks and SUVs. In October 2019, GM extended the terms of special coverage N182202780 to 10 years or 150,000 miles as well as now including the entire scope of recall 19V‑645. In October 2020, GM expanded the scope of coverage N182202780 to include the MY 2018 Escalade and 2019 Tahoe.The remedy implemented in GM recall 19V‑645 appears to be sufficient in addressing the safety-related concerns of this issue. Loss of vacuum assist now occurs at a progressive rate as well as there being a more timely warning of a brake problem to the driver through the driver information center (DIC). In view of the recall action and revision to the special coverage, this Preliminary Evaluation is closed. The agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by new circumstances. The ODI reports cited above are available for review online at under the identification numbers in the attached document.
PE18012
Technical service bulletins for the 2016 GMC Yukon Denali XL 366
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- Unknown or other
- This PI provides Diagnostics tips on how the LIN bus works and how to diagnosis it.
- Unknown or other
- PI to help diagnose A/C concern
- Unknown or other
- Unknown or other
- Unknown or other
- New Vehicle Monitoring Programs Section in IVH
- Unknown or other
- This service bulletin provides information on Tire Sidewall Irregularities.
What 2016 GMC Yukon Denali XL owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
Tail light stopped worked, coming back on intermittently. $700+ fix from dealer
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.
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.
Led brake light on driver side just stopped working. No damage done to the exterior.
Led taillight brake lamp went out. It's defective. Too many people are having the same problem with new vehicles.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Compare the 2016 GMC Yukon Denali XL
Other model years
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Questions about the 2016 GMC Yukon Denali XL
Is the 2016 GMC Yukon Denali XL reliable?
Owners have filed 29 complaints about the 2016 GMC Yukon Denali XL, close to a typical Yukon Denali XL model year.
What is the 2016 GMC Yukon Denali XL year score?
The 2016 GMC Yukon Denali XL scores 75 out of 100 (average). The score compares it with the other model years of the GMC Yukon Denali XL: 75 is a typical year, 50 means twice the usual complaints, and serious complaints and recalls lower it.
What is the most common problem with the 2016 GMC Yukon Denali XL?
Lights, with 15 complaints, typically around 45,000 miles. Next is electrical (4).
How many recalls does the 2016 GMC Yukon Denali XL have?
No recalls on record.
What year does the GMC Yukon Denali XL have the most lights problems?
The GMC Yukon Denali XL model years with the most lights complaints are 2015 (36 complaints) and 2016 (15 complaints).
VIN decoder
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