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2016 GMC Yukon XL: hesitation when accelerating

5 of the 202 complaints about the 2016 GMC Yukon XL describe hesitation when accelerating.

owner complaints
5
of this car's complaints
2%
recalls
0
Is there a fix? 129 service bulletins cover this area of the car. See below

Hesitation when accelerating by model year

  • 2025
    1
  • 2023
    4
  • 2022
    1
  • 2021
    1
  • 2020
    1
  • 2018
    2
  • 2017
    3
  • 2016
    5
  • 2015
    2
  • 2002
    2

What owners say

Filed Feb 11, 2026 · Engine, Fuel system · MN

My vehicle has been in 16 times since I bought it the most recent incident is for the engine which started about six months ago. It’s been in since then for other issues concurrently with this one it hesitates like it’s getting stuck in sand before it wants to go first the mechanic told me he didn’t sense it but the thermostat was stuck open so they fix that. Second time it went in they thought it was some sort of a filter and some other components I’m not sure. Again it was not fixed then my son and I were out in Minnesota freezing cold night in November and go and drive and then when again it was the drive train this time that got fixed a month ago about a week ago it starts making a noise like there’s too much snow in the tires. I get my car washed every few days but I got it washed again and that didn’t fix it so it’s in the shop again and I’m paying for a rental again. I have the Walser guard thank the Lord because it’s paid for itself about 15 times over. I’ve gotten two transmissions, an air conditioner, two sensors the arm that other people have complained about I don’t know exactly the name of it the trailer component that you plug into also blew out my seven way and I had to have my seven way wire fixed so I’m nervous about plugging that back in. My dad passed away and I spent $70,000 of my inheritance by this car. I should’ve flushed it down a toilet instead. Everybody makes fun at work that this car is literally gonna kill my kids and I because every other day it feels like we’re stuck on the side of the road.

Filed Jan 19, 2026 · Engine, Fuel system · OH

There is a hesitation when trying to accelerate. The car will then slam forward and there is a rattling noise that the car also makes. This has almost caused accidents. I was driving in town which is where I do most of my driving.

Filed Feb 24, 2023 · Transmission · 134,000 miles · TX

The contact owns a 2016 GMC Yukon XL. The contact stated that on numerous occasions while driving at various speeds, the vehicle hesitated and jerked. The contact stated that the vehicle lunged forward. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer several times and diagnosed that there was a defect with the transmission. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 134,000.

Filed Sep 28, 2019 · Brakes, Lights · 36,250 miles · NM

My wife was driving down a major road and a person pulled next to her at a stop to tell her that her brake lights were working only part of the time. Gm had just serviced my vehicle and didn't catch it, and upon researching the issue, it is a known faulty design of the tail light assembly. The LED brake light starts intermittently failing at the 2 year point, leading to drivers following drivers to not know that the leading vehicle is stopping. This is a common issue and the only response from gm is to make the customer buy a new $700 brake light assembly. The issue is so common that multiple companies have started brake light repair services and multiple youtube videos exist to walk individuals through the process of repairing their own brake lights. The cost of the repair is so steep that I hesitate to get the problem fixed, and though gm reportedly has developed a replacement light assembly that corrects the fault, they are not taking responsibility for the defective brake light assemble that these vehicles come off the assembly line with. The major danger is that we drive from the front of the vehicle and likely do not know our brake lights are intermittently failing--since gm cannot even catch this when they do service on vehicles (mine had been in the shop for an oil change a few weeks before the brake issue), then they are leaving a lot of customers driving without brake lights to avoid the cost of the repair even though they approved a faulty design.

Filed Aug 26, 2019 · Transmission · 60,000 miles · WI

Vehicle began hesitating during acceleration. Problem occurred intermittently at first but now occurs each time the vehicle is driven. Check engine light comes on occasionally. This jerking causes safety issues when trying to increase speed. Many complaints are on line from other owners with same issue

Questions about the 2016 GMC Yukon XL hesitation

Is hesitation when accelerating a common problem on the 2016 GMC Yukon XL?

5 of 202 owner complaints about the 2016 GMC Yukon XL (2%) mention hesitation when accelerating. The model year with the most reports is 2016.

Is there a recall or service bulletin for this on the 2016 GMC Yukon XL?

There are 0 recalls and 129 service bulletins for the same area of the car. Check them below with your VIN.

Other symptoms on the 2016 GMC Yukon XL

Shudder 14Check engine light 8Jerking 8Loss of power 8Brake failure 6Engine failure 6Stalling 6Transmission failure 6Knocking 5

All model years of the GMC Yukon XL

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