Most common 2016 GMC Yukon Denali XL problems
Share of the 29 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
GMC Yukon Denali XL complaints by model year
Best Yukon Denali XL years: 2006, 2014, 2003. Years to avoid: 2011, 2015. Compare all years →
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2016 GMC Yukon Denali XL:
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…
What 2016 GMC Yukon Denali XL owners say
Lights
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.
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.
Electrical system
On 2/28/2018 I had just left the airport in oakland ca, approx 8:00 pm. 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 8:30 pm. 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. …
Electrical issues: while driving the information panel go's blank. We have experienced this twice while driving, we lose the speedometer, tech, and everything on the display panel. Radio, skips channels even after the switch was replaced. Drive train: down shifts abruptly while accelerating onto interstate on ramps, either lunging forward or lunging backward. Been in the GM shop three time to try and fix issue. There have been bulletins issued to try and fix without success to-date. They are aware that is a problem, because Ford and GM on the 2018's, I was told by the sales persons that this issue was fixed. I am aware of the Chevy transmission issue and I am concerned that this maybe a similar safety concern. As far as I know the transmission has not jumped out of gear on its own. I am looking at a shop ticket and they are calling the issue a shutter during torque converter locks up.
Transmission & drivetrain
Electrical issues: while driving the information panel go's blank. We have experienced this twice while driving, we lose the speedometer, tech, and everything on the display panel. Radio, skips channels even after the switch was replaced. Drive train: down shifts abruptly while accelerating onto interstate on ramps, either lunging forward or lunging backward. Been in the GM shop three time to try and fix issue. There have been bulletins issued to try and fix without success to-date. They are aware that is a problem, because Ford and GM on the 2018's, I was told by the sales persons that this issue was fixed. I am aware of the Chevy transmission issue and I am concerned that this maybe a similar safety concern. As far as I know the transmission has not jumped out of gear on its own. I am looking at a shop ticket and they are calling the issue a shutter during torque converter locks up.
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
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2016 GMC Yukon Denali XL a good car?
Based on 29 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2016 Yukon Denali XL rates average: 1.2× as many complaints as a typical year of the Yukon Denali XL at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2016 GMC Yukon Denali XL?
The lights — 15 complaints, 52% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the electrical system (4) and transmission & drivetrain (3).
How many recalls does the 2016 GMC Yukon Denali XL have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2016 GMC Yukon Denali XL. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the GMC Yukon Denali XL?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2006, 2014 and 2003. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2011 and 2015. See the full GMC Yukon Denali XL years comparison.
At what mileage do 2016 GMC Yukon Denali XL problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 44,000 miles; 71% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.