Most common 2016 GMC Yukon XL problems
Share of the 201 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
GMC Yukon XL complaints by model year
Best Yukon XL years: 2014, 2012, 2013. Years to avoid: 2023, 2022, 2021, 2015, 2024. Compare all years →
2016 GMC Yukon XL recalls (3)
Air bags › Frontal › Sensor/control module-inactive
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…
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.
Seat belts › Pretensioner
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…
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.
Suspension › Front › Control arm
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.
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.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2016 GMC Yukon 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 XL owners say
Lights all 84 →
The contact owns a 2016 GMC Yukon XL. The contact stated while driving 75 MPH with her husband driving behind her, he noticed that the taillights were inoperable. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the contact was informed that the taillight functions were inoperable. The contact was informed that the failure experienced was similar to the Special Coverage under N182180270. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was contacted and informed the contact that the vehicle was out of coverage. The manufacturer was contacted and the contact was informed that the vehicle was out of warranty. The failure mileage was 32,022.
The contact owns a 2016 GMC Yukon XL. The contact stated that the passenger's side taillight was inoperable. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer and was informed that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V761000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic, Service Brakes, Electronic Stability Control) however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The approximate failure mileage was 59,000
Brakes all 41 →
The contact owns a 2016 GMC Yukon XL. The contact stated while driving 75 MPH with her husband driving behind her, he noticed that the taillights were inoperable. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the contact was informed that the taillight functions were inoperable. The contact was informed that the failure experienced was similar to the Special Coverage under N182180270. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was contacted and informed the contact that the vehicle was out of coverage. The manufacturer was contacted and the contact was informed that the vehicle was out of warranty. The failure mileage was 32,022.
2016 Yukon XL ~ 90,000 miles. This is the second time I get a low speed braking failure when trying to park, followed immediately by a "Brake Assist Malfunction" warning on the dashboard. Both failures have occurred after a long distance travel. The last one being from Detroit to Chicago on 7/30/22. The failure consisted on the SUV not stopping after I had applied the brake pedal at full when backing up for a parallel parking on a street in Chicago. Same happened after I drove forward almost hitting the car in front of me. The SUV continued moving for about a foot on both situations. Before this incident, similar situation happened on a trip from Detroit to Cleveland on March 2022. The SUV continued to move fwd after I had applied the brakes. In this occasion, I was on a ramp down getting into a parking garage. …
Transmission & drivetrain all 33 →
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.
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. …
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2016 GMC Yukon XL a good car?
Based on 201 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2016 Yukon XL rates avoid: 5.3× as many complaints as a typical year of the Yukon XL at the same age. It is one of the Yukon XL years we suggest avoiding. 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 XL?
The lights — 84 complaints, 42% of all complaints for this model year, most often about tail lights. Next are the brakes (41) and transmission & drivetrain (33).
How many recalls does the 2016 GMC Yukon XL have?
There are 3 recalls for the 2016 GMC Yukon XL, the most recent from July 10, 2017 (sensor/control module-inactive). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the GMC Yukon XL?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2014, 2012 and 2013. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2023, 2022, 2021, 2015 and 2024. See the full GMC Yukon XL years comparison.
At what mileage do 2016 GMC Yukon XL problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 56,000 miles; 37% 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.