Problem Lookup āŗ GMC āŗ Yukon āŗ 2016
Car problem report
2016 GMC Yukon problems, recalls and owner complaints
What the 2016 GMC Yukon has been recalled for and what owners report, from official government data. Updated October 25, 2026.
- 5safety recalls
- 518owner complaints
- 14crash reports
- 2fire reports
- 9injuries reported
518 complaints, against an average of 212 for the other 14 GMC Yukon model years.
Every GMC Yukon model year with its number of owner complaints. Pick a year to compare.
What goes wrong with the 2016 GMC Yukon?
The components named most often in the 518 owner complaints. One complaint can name several, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
What symptoms do 2016 GMC Yukon owners describe?
Found by reading the text of all 518 owner complaints. Tap a symptom for the answer, a real owner quote and any related recall.
- Why do the headlights or taillights fail on my 2016 GMC Yukon?165 owners Ā· 31.9%
- Why does my 2016 GMC Yukon transmission jerk, shudder or shift hard?31 owners Ā· 6%
- Why does my 2016 GMC Yukon stall, lose power or shut off while driving?26 owners Ā· 5%
- Why is the check engine light on in my 2016 GMC Yukon?22 owners Ā· 4.2%
- Why does my 2016 GMC Yukon idle rough, misfire or hesitate?19 owners Ā· 3.7%
- Has the 2016 GMC Yukon had transmission failures?17 owners Ā· 3.3%
Has the 2016 GMC Yukon been recalled?
5 U.S. safety recalls. Repairs are free at a franchised dealer; some are done over the air.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic: Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: Wheel Speed Sensor/Tone Ring 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic: Power Assist: Vacuum 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Air Bags: Frontal 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Air Bags: Frontal 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Suspension: Front: Control ArmDo not drive 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.
Risk: Inadequate welds may allow the control arm to separate from the bushing, compromising steering and increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
What do 2016 GMC Yukon owners report?
12 of the 518 complaints, the most recent for the most-reported components, as the owners wrote them. NHTSA removes names and VINs; long reports are trimmed. CarHooq has not verified individual claims.
The contact owns a 2016 GMC Yukon. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the vehicle was shaking violently. The contact stated that while driving 15 MPH, the vehicle lost automotive power. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact continued driving at a reduced speed. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed, and the contact was informed that the camshaft lobe had failed and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 115,280.
Abs system is not functioning properly, codes are being thrown for multiple things such as cylinder 2, which all spark plugs and coils and spark lines were fixed, then it ran for one day and threw a different code of cylinder 6 misfire with the abs and stailitrx system not functioning correctly. Several parts have been changed on this by professionals and they canāt figure out why this is happening. I donāt have my full hp.
Issues with the 8L90 transmission. The shuddering and hesitation has gotten very bad and having to look into options to repair or replace the transmission
The contact owns a 2016 GMC Yukon XL. The contact stated that while driving 30 MPH, the steering wheel locked up. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V256000 (Suspension); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The dealer was contacted. The manufacturer was contacted by phone and was made aware of the failure but stated that the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 108,346.
The car lost all engine power on the interstate of I10. Leaving me without power, barely able to get to the side of the road. Warning only when lost engine power on the highway. Cannot be driven.
The contact owns a 2016 GMC Yukon. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to stop as intended. The contact stated that there was an abnormal sound coming from the vehicle and the ABS warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that after several attempts, the vehicle stopped. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the vehicle was waiting to be inspected. The contact stated that an unknown recall repair with a similar description was completed in 2024; however, the contact was informed that theā¦
Power steering intermittently and unexpectedly stops working.
Transmission went out very early. Had to get it replaced whenever I reverse. I have to really smash on the break in order for it to stop if it does stop so somethings wrong with the breaking whenever I hit a bump the left side suspension feels like Iām a lose control and sometimes my radio works and sometimes it doesnāt Iāve been trying to work with dealers I have extended warranty on it. Theyāre saying itās not covered something about the brake pump is covered, but the belts are not. The transmission was put in only because it left me stranded. Otherwise I wouldāve been stuck paying for thatā¦
While driving vehicle the vehicle appears to shut off as if someone is turning off the ignition. The steering control becomes stiff, power is lost and electronics flash and turn off and on. This has happened on multiple occasions and is intermittent during acceleration. The accessible grounds have been checked, battery checked and replaced, and alternator checked and verified to be charging appropriately. Several codes are present and have been cleared to return indicating low voltage issues with multiple systems.
The LED left turn signal and blind spot detection ( safety feature) on the left outside rear view mirror suddenly stopped working. The is a TSB for warranty for 2016-2018 GM YUKON (#10-08-64-002D) and it states that the bulletin has been revised to include 2016-2018 year models for this defect. I am starting this claim because I am told by GM that my VIN is not covered under this warranty, yet I am experiencing the same issue stated in the TSB listed above.
The contact owns a 2016 GMC Yukon Denali. The contact stated that while driving 40 MPH, the contact was notified by another driver that the rear taillights were inoperable. No warning light was illuminated. Neither a dealer nor an independent mechanic was contacted, and the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that there was no recall on the VIN related to the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and opened a case and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The approximate failureā¦
The paint delaminated from the clear coat in certain locations (mainly hood and roof) although the vehicle body has been well maintained. This has caused a foggy scratched appearance to the affected areas where the rest of the car looks great. This problem is well known across many GM vehicles in the 2015-2019 range and has led to significantly decreased value of the vehicle itself
2016 GMC Yukon: questions owners ask
Is the 2016 GMC Yukon reliable?
NHTSA data alone cannot rate reliability, but it shows what owners reported. Owners filed 518 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 GMC Yukon; the most common categories were exterior lighting (210, 40.5%), service brakes (98, 18.9%), electrical system (90, 17.4%). There are 5 safety recalls. 14 complaints mention a crash, 2 mention a fire, 9 injuries were reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 GMC Yukon?
Across 518 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the categories mentioned most often are exterior lighting (40.5% of complaints), service brakes (18.9% of complaints), electrical system (17.4% of complaints), power train (14.7% of complaints), engine (12.2% of complaints). One complaint can name several components.
Does the 2016 GMC Yukon have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 5 recalls for the 2016 GMC Yukon; the most recent (campaign 19V761000, 2019-10-24) concerns Service Brakes, Hydraulic: Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: Wheel Speed Sensor/Tone Ring. 1 recall carries a "do not drive" or "park outside" warning from the manufacturer. Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer; check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Why do the headlights or taillights fail on my 2016 GMC Yukon?
165 of the 518 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2016 GMC Yukon (31.9%) describe headlights, taillights or brake lights failing or condensation in the lamps. One owner wrote: "Both driver and passenger tail light/ brake light assemblies have failed. They started intermittently going out and then failed all together. There is a VERY common issue with these lights. They have been replaced at an approximate cost of $650.00 per light." (NHTSA complaint 11594367, June 2024). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Why does my 2016 GMC Yukon transmission jerk, shudder or shift hard?
31 of the 518 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2016 GMC Yukon (6%) describe harsh, jerky or delayed transmission shifting or shuddering. One owner wrote: "Issues with the 8L90 transmission. The shuddering and hesitation has gotten very bad and having to look into options to repair or replace the transmission" (NHTSA complaint 11767209, September 2026). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Why does my 2016 GMC Yukon stall, lose power or shut off while driving?
26 of the 518 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2016 GMC Yukon (5%) describe the engine stalling, losing power or shutting off while driving. One owner wrote: "My wife was driving down the highway and out of no where there was a loud taping sound, the vehicle started running real bad (skipping), the vehicle lost power and she lost control of the steering. As a result, she ran off the road into a ditch." (NHTSA complaint 11732911, April 2026). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Why is the check engine light on in my 2016 GMC Yukon?
22 of the 518 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2016 GMC Yukon (4.2%) describe the check engine light coming on. One owner wrote: "Car keeps running rough, stuttering when switching off, smells like gas. engine light comes on and goes off every other day. started after fuel injector recall, dealership says it's the fuel pump leaking and unrelated to the fuel injector problem." (NHTSA complaint 11372901, November 2020). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Why does my 2016 GMC Yukon idle rough, misfire or hesitate?
19 of the 518 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2016 GMC Yukon (3.7%) describe rough idling, misfires or hesitation when accelerating. One owner wrote: "Abs system is not functioning properly, codes are being thrown for multiple things such as cylinder 2, which all spark plugs and coils and spark lines were fixed, then it ran for one day and threw a different code of cylinder 6 misfire with the abs andā¦" (NHTSA complaint 11767945, September 2026). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Has the 2016 GMC Yukon had transmission failures?
17 of the 518 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2016 GMC Yukon (3.3%) describe transmission failure, slipping or a replaced transmission. One owner wrote: "Transmission failure, hard shifting, slipping and loss of power also severe shuddering. Very dangerous driving. I had to have the transmission replaced after taking the vehicle to a dealership and upon verification from same dealership reproducing theā¦" (NHTSA complaint 11653984, April 2025). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Check your own Yukon
Counts are a starting point, not a verdict: popular models collect more complaints because more of them are on the road, and NHTSA does not verify individual reports. To see whether a recall is still open on your car, enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls (U.S.) or your registration at check-vehicle-recalls.service.gov.uk (UK). Had a safety problem? Report it to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations and recalls.
Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation recall and complaint databases (public domain), retrieved October 25, 2026. Model year 2016 only; combines NHTSA's entries for YUKON, YUKON DENALI and YUKON DENALI XL 1500.