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NHTSA-Verified · Common Problems

2016 GMC Yukon Xl 1500
Common Problems

Ranked from 220 federal NHTSA complaints. Every problem links to the complaint IDs behind it.

11
High severity
16
Medium
5
Low

32 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.

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  1. 1

    Brake Light Failure

    59complaints
    High severityBrakes

    The rear brake lights on the 2016 GMC Yukon fail intermittently or completely, posing a safety risk.

    $150–$1,000est. brake system diagnosis + repair · 1–4 hrs labor
    Get local quotes
  2. 2

    Electrical System Issues with Exterior Lighting

    41complaints
    Medium severityElectrical

    The exterior lighting, including tail lights and brake lights, experience frequent failures and intermittent operation.

    $100–$900est. lighting assembly repair · 0.5–2 hrs labor
    Get local quotes
  3. 3

    Tail Light Failure

    26complaints
    High severityOther

    Tail lights intermittently fail or go out completely, posing a safety risk.

    $100–$900est. lighting assembly repair · 0.5–2 hrs labor
    Get local quotes
  4. 4

    Intermittent brake light malfunction

    20complaints
    Medium severityElectrical

    The rear LED brake lights intermittently fail to work, requiring replacement of the entire assembly.

    $150–$1,000est. brake system diagnosis + repair · 1–4 hrs labor
    Get local quotes
  5. 5

    Service Brake Issues

    16complaints
    High severityBrakes

    Service brakes fail intermittently, causing loss of vehicle control and potential accidents.

    $150–$1,000est. brake system diagnosis + repair · 1–4 hrs labor
    Get local quotes
  6. 6

    Faulty Rear Brake Light Circuit

    12complaints
    Medium severityElectrical

    The rear brake lights intermittently fail to work, posing a safety hazard.

    $150–$1,000est. brake system diagnosis + repair · 1–4 hrs labor
    Get local quotes
  7. 7

    Intermittent electrical system issues

    11complaints
    Medium severityElectrical

    Electrical system components, including gauges and warning lights, intermittently fail to function properly.

    $100–$250est. professional diagnosis · 1–2 hrs labor
    Get local quotes
  8. 8

    Tail light assembly failure

    11complaints
    High severityElectrical

    Tail light assemblies frequently fail, requiring replacement of the entire unit, which is costly.

    $100–$900est. lighting assembly repair · 0.5–2 hrs labor
    Get local quotes
  9. 9

    Brake failure at low speeds

    10complaints
    High severityBrakes

    The brakes become extremely hard to press and fail to stop the vehicle properly at low speeds or when reversing.

    $150–$1,000est. brake system diagnosis + repair · 1–4 hrs labor
    Get local quotes
  10. 10

    Sealed LED assembly failure

    10complaints
    Medium severityElectrical

    The sealed LED assemblies for tail and brake lights fail, necessitating complete replacement.

  11. 11

    Transmission Shuddering and Jerking

    10complaints
    Medium severityTransmission

    Transmission experiences shuddering, jerking, and erratic shifting during acceleration.

    $2,500–$5,500est. transmission rebuild/replacement · 8–16 hrs labor
    Get local quotes
  12. 12

    Vacuum pump failure

    10complaints
    High severityOther

    The vacuum pump fails, causing the brake pedal to become extremely hard to press and the vehicle to be difficult to stop.

  13. 13

    Brake System Malfunction

    8complaints
    High severityBrakes

    The brake system malfunctions, causing the vehicle to lose control and increasing the risk of accidents.

    $150–$1,000est. brake system diagnosis + repair · 1–4 hrs labor
    Get local quotes
  14. 14

    Air Conditioning Issues

    6complaints
    Low severityOther

    The air conditioning system malfunctions, blowing hot air instead of cold air, and requires expensive repairs.

    $800–$1,600est. a/c compressor replacement · 3–6 hrs labor
    Get local quotes
  15. 15

    Faulty Brake Light Assembly

    5complaints
    Medium severityBrakes

    Both brake lights fail to work properly, often requiring expensive replacement of the entire assembly.

    $150–$1,000est. brake system diagnosis + repair · 1–4 hrs labor
    Get local quotes
  16. 16

    Transmission Malfunction and Failure

    5complaints
    High severityTransmission

    The transmission frequently malfunctions, shifting inconsistently and causing the engine to lose power, potentially leading to accidents.

    $200–$2,500est. drivetrain diagnosis + repair · 1–8 hrs labor
    Get local quotes
  17. 17

    Transmission shuddering and hard shifting

    5complaints
    Medium severityTransmission

    Transmission shudders and shifts poorly, causing difficulty in driving and potential safety issues.

    $2,500–$5,500est. transmission rebuild/replacement · 8–16 hrs labor
    Get local quotes
  18. 18

    Electrical System Issues Leading to Power Loss

    4complaints
    Medium severityElectrical

    The electrical system intermittently fails, causing the vehicle to lose power and requiring frequent repairs.

    $150–$1,200est. stalling / shutdown diagnosis + repair · 1–5 hrs labor
    Get local quotes
  19. 19

    Engine Failure Due to Lifter Issues

    4complaints
    High severityEngine

    The engine experiences catastrophic failure due to lifter issues, leading to loss of power and potential total engine replacement.

    $4,000–$8,000est. engine replacement · 12–20 hrs labor
    Get local quotes
  20. 20

    Steering and Suspension Vibration

    4complaints
    Medium severitySuspension

    Vehicle experiences violent vibrations and buffeting at various speeds, causing discomfort and potential handling issues.

    $150–$1,200est. suspension diagnosis + repair · 1–5 hrs labor
    Get local quotes
  21. 21

    Torque Converter Failure

    4complaints
    High severityTransmission

    The torque converter malfunctions, causing the transmission to slip and the vehicle to lurch forward or backward.

    $1,500–$3,000est. torque converter replacement · 6–10 hrs labor
    Get local quotes
  22. 22

    Fuel System Issues Causing Engine Surges

    3complaints
    Medium severityFuel system

    The fuel system causes the engine to surge and rev down, posing a risk of losing control of the vehicle.

  23. 23

    Steering System Instability

    3complaints
    Medium severitySteering

    The steering system becomes unstable, causing the vehicle to lose control and requiring frequent repairs.

  24. 24

    Brake System Warning Light Continuously On

    2complaints
    Medium severityOther

    The 'Service Trailer Brake System' warning light continuously appears, even when no trailer is attached.

    $150–$1,000est. brake system diagnosis + repair · 1–4 hrs labor
    Get local quotes
  25. 25

    Engine Coolant Temperature Sensor Failure

    2complaints
    Low severityElectrical

    The engine coolant temperature sensor fails, causing the electric cooling fans to run at full speed.

  26. 26

    Engine Stall at Idle

    2complaints
    Medium severityEngine

    Engine unexpectedly stalls at idle, particularly after turns, risking accidents during driving.

    $150–$1,200est. stalling / shutdown diagnosis + repair · 1–5 hrs labor
    Get local quotes
  27. 27

    Engine Stall at Idle Due to Stop-Start System Failure

    2complaints
    Low severityEngine

    The engine stalls at idle, especially during stop-start conditions.

    $150–$900est. stop-start system diagnosis · 1–4 hrs labor
    Get local quotes
  28. 28

    Faulty Power Steering System

    2complaints
    Medium severitySteering

    The power steering system intermittently loses power, especially when coming to a stop or making slow turns.

    $200–$1,500est. power-steering / eps repair · 1–6 hrs labor
    Get local quotes
  29. 29

    Faulty Radio Control Panel

    2complaints
    Low severityElectrical

    The radio control panel frequently malfunctions and needs replacement every 2 years.

    $200–$1,500est. infotainment unit service · 0.5–3 hrs labor
    Get local quotes
  30. 30

    Random Acceleration and Jerking During Driving

    2complaints
    Medium severityTransmission

    The vehicle randomly accelerates and jerks during driving, often without warning.

  31. 31

    Steering Lock-up During Sharp Turns

    2complaints
    High severitySteering

    The steering locks up during sharp turns, making the vehicle difficult to control.

    $200–$1,500est. power-steering / eps repair · 1–6 hrs labor
    Get local quotes
  32. 32

    Taillight Failure Due to Manufacturing Deficiency

    2complaints
    Low severityOther

    Taillights fail due to a manufacturing defect in the LED circuit board connections.

    $100–$900est. lighting assembly repair · 0.5–2 hrs labor
    Get local quotes

Other years & sources

2010 GMC Yukon Xl 15002015 GMC Yukon Xl 15002017 GMC Yukon Xl 1500All NHTSA complaints for this vehicle →

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.