MYRModel Year Report

2016 GMC Yukon XL

■ Significantly worse — known issue year
2016 GMC Yukon XL
BUILT 2026-08-02

This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

How is this computed?

COMPLAINTS PER YEAR

Complaints per year, GMC Yukon XL Bar chart of distinct NHTSA complaints filed per model year, 2016 highlighted. 1999: 3 complaints 1999 2000: 69 complaints 2001: 120 complaints 2002: 95 complaints 2003: 102 complaints 2003 2004: 87 complaints 2005: 42 complaints 2006: 17 complaints 2007: 95 complaints 2007 2008: 69 complaints 2009: 23 complaints 2010: 28 complaints 2011: 47 complaints 2011 2012: 13 complaints 2013: 22 complaints 2014: 11 complaints 2015: 306 complaints 2015 2016: 199 complaints 2016 2017: 143 complaints 2018: 51 complaints 2019: 62 complaints 2019 2020: 43 complaints 2021: 198 complaints 2022: 149 complaints 2023: 184 complaints 2023 2024: 57 complaints 2025: 22 complaints 2026: 22 complaints 2026
2016: 199 complaints
View as data table
YearComplaints
19993
200069
2001120
200295
2003102
200487
200542
200617
200795
200869
200923
201028
201147
201213
201322
201411
2015306
2016199
2017143
201851
201962
202043
2021198
2022149
2023184
202457
202522
202622

KNOWN PROBLEM AREAS

EXTERIOR LIGHTING 40%

40% of complaints: exterior lighting — 80 distinct reports on file.

SERVICE BRAKES 20%

20% of complaints: service brakes — 40 distinct reports on file.

CRASH
Show complaint excerpts

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 GMC YUKON XL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED.

NHTSA ODI report, 20191210

A CAR BRAKED IN FRONT OF ME GOING AROUND 40 MILES PER HOUR. I WAS UNABLE TO STOP IN TIME AND REARENDED THEM. THIS CAR IS PART OF THE GM RECALL FOR BRAKES

NHTSA ODI report, 20190911

POWER TRAIN 16%

16% of complaints: power train — 32 distinct reports on file.

Show complaint excerpts

I LEASED A 2016 YUKON DENALI XL ON 9/15/15. IT HAS TWO MAJOR PROBLEMS. 1. BUFFETING/PRESSURE NOISE - A NOISE AS IF A WINDOW IS CRACKED, EXCEPT IT'S NOT CRACKED.

NHTSA ODI report, 20160111

ON 11/13/15, "SERVICE 4WD SYSTEM" MESSAGE APPEARED ON THE SCREEN RENDERING THE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THIS ISSUE OCCURRED LESS THAN A WEEK AFTER PURCHASE (297 MILES ON THE ODOMETER AT THE TIME THAT THE ISSUE OCCURRED).

NHTSA ODI report, 20151209

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 15%

15% of complaints: electrical system — 30 distinct reports on file.

CRASH FIRE
Show complaint excerpts

Driving a company vehicle [XXX], heavy smoke started coming from under the drivers side dash. Unhooked battery, the smoke stopped. I had vehicle towed to a local garage. They advised the engine wiring harness and other wiring had caught on fire.

NHTSA ODI report, 20241229

ENGINE 13%

13% of complaints: engine — 26 distinct reports on file.

CRASH
Show complaint excerpts

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 ODI report, 20260422

SAFETY TIMELINE

▮ 2016 — complaint volume: 199
R 20160518 — suspension

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.

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.

Campaign 16V256000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20161013 — air bags, seat belts

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...

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.

Campaign 16V651000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20170804 — air bags, seat belts

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...

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.

Campaign 17V437000 — check if this car was fixed

I 20181120 — PE (closed 20220410)

Brake Vacuum Pump Failure

BUY-SMART CHECKLIST

2016 GMC Yukon XL — pre-purchase inspection

  • Test/inspect for exterior lighting issues (80 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for service brakes issues (40 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for power train issues (32 reports on file for this year).
  • Verify recall 16V256000 (suspension) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 16V651000 (air bags, seat belts) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 17V437000 (air bags, seat belts) has been completed.
Inspected by ______________ Date ______________

OTHER YEARS OF THIS MODEL

BEST YEARS

▲ 2005 ▲ 2020 ▲ 2011

WORST YEARS

■ 2015 ■ 2021 ■ 2023

See all years ranked →

FAQ

Is the 2016 GMC Yukon XL reliable?

Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 2016 GMC Yukon XL is rated "significantly worse".

What are the most common problems with the 2016 GMC Yukon XL?

The most-reported component is exterior lighting, accounting for 40% of complaints on file.

How many recalls does the 2016 GMC Yukon XL have?

3 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-07-11 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.