VehicleVerdict

2016 GMC Yukon problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

One of the years to avoid

With 366 complaints filed to NHTSA — about 2.7 times the median Yukon year — the 2016 model ranks #4 of 37 Yukon years for complaint volume. It lands on the years-to-avoid list.

Lighting leads the complaint categories with 105 reports (29% of the total). In government crash testing it earned 4 of 5 NCAP stars overall.

366

NHTSA complaints

5

Recalls

1

Investigations

4

Crash-involved

0

Fires reported

6

Injuries

0

Deaths

4

NCAP overall · of 5 stars

How does 2016 compare to other Yukon years?

See all Yukon years to avoid →

What are the most common 2016 GMC Yukon problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Lighting10529%
Electrical System5716%
Brakes5314%
Transmission339%
Engine339%
Other329%
Driver Assistance92%
Steering92%
Suspension72%
Fuel System72%
Speed Control62%
Body & Structure51%
Airbags41%
Visibility & Wipers21%
Tires & Wheels21%
Seats10%
Seat Belts10%

Does the 2016 GMC Yukon have recalls?

5 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

19V761000BrakesOctober 24, 2019 · 652,967 units

Defect

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2020 Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, and GMC Yukon, and 2014-2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles equipped with a 5.3-liter engine, a 3.08-ratio rear axle and four-wheel drive. If a wheel-speed sensor fails, while the vehicle is traveling between 41 and 60 mph in four-wheel or automatic mode, the Electronic-Brake Control Module (EBCM) software may activate the driveline-protection system.

Consequence

Unintended activation of the driveline-protection system will cause unintended braking on the wheel on the opposite side of the failed sensor, causing the vehicle to pull to one side unexpectedly, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the EBCM, free of charge. The recall began December 11, 2019. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-630-2438 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N192261050.

19V645000BrakesSeptember 6, 2019 · 3,456,719 units

Defect

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Cadillac Escalade, 2014-2018 Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Sierra, 2015-2018 Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Yukon vehicles. The amount of vacuum created by the vacuum pump may decrease over time.

Consequence

As the vacuum level drops, the brake assist decreases, increasing braking effort, extending the distance required to stop the vehicle, thereby increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the Electronic Brake Control Module, free of charge. The recall began October 8, 2019. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-630-2438, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N192268490.

17V437000Seat BeltsJuly 10, 2017 · 40,683 units

Defect

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 3500 and GMC Yukon and Yukon XL vehicles, and 2015-2017 GMC Sierra HD 2500 and 3500 vehicles. While being previously remedied for recall 16V-651, the affected vehicles may not have received the complete software update necessary to remedy the recall condition. Without the update, certain driving conditions may cause the air bag sensing and diagnostic module (SDM) software to activate a diagnostic test. During this test, deployment of the frontal air bags and the seat belt pretensioners would not occur in the event of a crash.

Consequence

A failure of the front air bags or seat belt pretensioners to deploy in the event of a crash necessitating deployment increases the risk of injury to the driver and front passenger.

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. The recall began on August 4, 2017. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 17287.

16V651000Seat BeltsSeptember 8, 2016 · 3,640,162 units

Defect

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 1500, Buick Encore, and 2014-2016 Buick Lacrosse, Chevrolet Spark EV and SS vehicles. In the affected vehicles, certain driving conditions may cause the air bag sensing and diagnostic module (SDM) software to activate a diagnostic test. During this test, deployment of the frontal air bags and the seat belt pretensioners would not occur in the event of a crash.

Consequence

A failure of the front air bags or seat belt pretensioners to deploy in the event of a crash necessitating deployment increases the risk of injury to the driver and front passenger.

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. The recall began on October 13, 2016. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 16007.

16V256000SuspensionApril 28, 2016 · 3,738 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

Inadequate welds may allow the control arm to separate from the bushing, compromising steering and increasing the risk of a crash.

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. Until the repairs have been made, owners are advised not to drive their vehicles. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 42190.

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

Representative excerpts, cleaned of personal information. These are consumer statements, not verified defects.

BRAKE LIGHT STOPPED WORKING BUT IT CANT BE REPAIRED UNLESS YOU REPLACE THE ENTIRE LIGHT ASSEMBLY. THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. SO MUCH SO, IT IS A 3 MONTH WAIT TO GET IT! NOT TO MENTION IT COSTS $500-800!! NOW I CANT EVEN DRIVE THE CAR BECAUSE OF THE SAFETY CONCERN OF SOMEONE REAR ENDING ME. GMC…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Lighting · July 1, 2019

VEHICLE SHUTS OFF AND ON WHEN MAKING A SHARP TURN. WHEN REVERSING INTO A PARKING SPOT THE TRUCKS STEERING WHEEL GOT STIFF AND EVERYTHING SHUT OFF OFF THEN ON THEN OFF AND ON AGAIN. WHEN REVERSING IT DID IT TWICE MORE. TURNING TO GET OUT OF A CAR WASH CURVE IT SHUT OFF AND ON. TURNING INTO MY…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Electrical System · September 16, 2020

WHILE IN SLOW TRAFFIC, I PRESSED BRAKES TO STOP. THE BRAKE PEDDLE DID NOT COMPRESS DOWN, CAUSING ME TO HAVE TO ENTER THE HIGHWAY MEDIAN TO KEEP FROM STRIKING THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. THE MEDIAN WAS WET AND MUDDY. OUR YUKON HAD TO BE PULLED FROM THE MEDIAN BY A GOOD SAMARITAN.

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Brakes · July 21, 2019 · crash

WHEN IN TRAFFIC AT SLOW SPEEDS THE BRAKE SYSTEM SHUTS DOWN AND TAKES MY BODY WEIGHT TO STOP CAR. HAD CHECKED AND NO VISIBLE LEAK. NOW GMC HAS A FIX BUT CHARGE TO FIX IF OVER WARRANTY MILEAGE. SECOND ISSUE IS THE TRANSMISSION WENT AT 96,000 MILES WHILE HIGHWAY DRIVING LOOSING ALL TOP END GEARS AT 65…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Transmission · May 12, 2019

CAR ENGINE SHUT OFF WITH NO WARNING, I STARTED THE CAR, DROVE ABOUT 50 YARDS TO A STOP SIGN, STOPPED, STARTED TO PULL AWAY AND THE ENGINE COMPLETELY DIED. NO WARNING LIGHTS. I WAS HALFWAY INTO THE STREET. I PUT THE CAR INTO PARK AND WAS ABLE TO START IT AGAIN. THE CAR HAS ABOUT 37,000 MILES AND WAS…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · September 28, 2019

2016 GMC Yukon — common questions

Is the 2016 GMC Yukon reliable?

NHTSA data argues against it: 366 complaints put the 2016 model at #4 of 37 Yukon years. It is one of the Yukon years to avoid.

What are the most common 2016 Yukon problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are lighting (105 complaints), electrical system (57 complaints), brakes (53 complaints).

Does the 2016 GMC Yukon have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns affecting the 2016 GMC Yukon. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Is the 2016 GMC Yukon under NHTSA investigation?

NHTSA opened one investigation into this model year; all are now closed.

Which GMC Yukon years should you avoid?

Based on complaint rates and open investigations, the Yukon years to avoid are 2015, 2007, 2021, 2016, 2023, 1999, 2001, 2017, 2003, 2008, 2022, 2011, 2010, 2013, 2024, 2009, 2012, 2014. The cleanest record among Yukon years belongs to 1987.

How safe is the 2016 GMC Yukon?

In NHTSA's NCAP crash testing, the 2016 GMC Yukon earned an overall rating of 4 out of 5 stars.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.