2016 GMC Yukon Denali Xl 1500
Common Problems
Ranked from 265 federal NHTSA complaints. Every problem links to the complaint IDs behind it.
12 Common Problems
Ordered by how often owners reported each one to NHTSA. The bar shows how common a problem is relative to the most-reported on this vehicle. Expand any problem to see the federal complaint IDs.
- 1
Intermittent brake light failure
116complaintsSafety riskElectricalBrake lights intermittently fail to work, posing a safety hazard.
$150–$1,000est. brake system diagnosis + repair · 1–4 hrs laborGet local quotes - 2
Tail light assembly failure requiring expensive replacement
74complaintsHigh severityElectricalTail light assemblies fail and require costly replacement, often over $800 per side.
$100–$900est. lighting assembly repair · 0.5–2 hrs laborGet local quotes - 3
Tail Light Assembly Failure
51complaintsHigh severityOtherTail light assemblies intermittently or completely fail, posing a significant safety hazard.
$100–$900est. lighting assembly repair · 0.5–2 hrs laborGet local quotes - 4
Transmission shuddering and hard shifting
43complaintsMedium severityTransmissionTransmission shudders and shifts poorly, causing difficulty in driving.
$2,500–$5,500est. transmission rebuild/replacement · 8–16 hrs laborGet local quotes - 5
Faulty Rear Brake Light Assembly
37complaintsHigh severityElectricalThe rear brake light assembly fails intermittently or completely, posing a safety risk.
$150–$1,000est. brake system diagnosis + repair · 1–4 hrs laborGet local quotes - 6
Intermittent electrical system issues
34complaintsMedium severityElectricalElectrical system components such as climate control and lights malfunction intermittently.
$100–$250est. professional diagnosis · 1–2 hrs laborGet local quotes - 7
Service Brake Malfunctions
31complaintsHigh severityBrakesService brakes intermittently fail to operate properly, leading to hard braking and decreased stopping power.
$150–$1,000est. brake system diagnosis + repair · 1–4 hrs laborGet local quotes - 8
Vacuum Pump Loss of Power Assist
10complaintsMedium severityElectricalVacuum pump loses power assist, leading to hard braking and decreased brake response.
$150–$1,200est. stalling / shutdown diagnosis + repair · 1–5 hrs laborGet local quotes - 9
Steering System Malfunction Causing Loss of Control
9complaintsMedium severitySteeringThe steering system frequently malfunctions, causing the vehicle to lose control and potentially leading to accidents.
- 10
Engine Failure Due to Lifter Issues
7complaintsHigh severityEngineThe engine frequently fails due to lifter issues, leading to engine seizure and requiring replacement.
$4,000–$8,000est. engine replacement · 12–20 hrs laborGet local quotes - 11
Intermittent Brake Malfunction
3complaintsMedium severityOtherBrakes intermittently fail to work properly, especially during low-speed stops, posing a safety hazard.
$150–$1,000est. brake system diagnosis + repair · 1–4 hrs laborGet local quotes - 12
Air Conditioning Failure
2complaintsLow severityOtherAir conditioning system frequently blows hot air instead of cold, reducing comfort and potentially affecting cabin temperature regulation.
$800–$1,600est. a/c compressor replacement · 3–6 hrs laborGet local quotes
Other years & sources
Data source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) owner complaints and recalls. Problems are clustered and ranked from the complaint record; occurrence counts reflect corroborating complaints, not total incidence. Vehicle image is illustrative. Repair-cost figures are typical U.S. independent-shop ranges (parts + labor) for the class of repair shown — actual quotes vary by region, engine, and diagnosis; always confirm with a local shop.