Reliable Auto DB

2016 GMC Yukon reliability

Is it reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2016 GMC Yukon holds 267 complaints after 11 years, a rate of 12 per year. That is more complaints per year than most Yukon years here — over the median of the other years, which is 8. NHTSA has 5 recalls on file, including Wheel speed sensor, Vacuum, and Frontal.

2012 GMC Yukon
Photo by Kevauto, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0
Complaints

267

Per year

12

Recalls

5

Years on the road

11

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Exterior lighting (104 of 267), then Electrical system (53) and Service brakes (52). Those filings include 4 that report a crash and 4 that report an injury.

Next to 2015 and 2017

The 2015 Yukon has 529 complaints, 23 per year, and the 2017 has 196 complaints, 11 per year. The 2016 has fewer complaints per year than the 2015. The 2016 has about the same number of complaints per year as the 2017.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2016 GMC Yukon. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (5)

Recall hydraulic brakes, antilock and traction control, wheel speed sensor 2019-10-24 · NHTSA campaign 19V761000
Summary 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.
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.
Recall hydraulic brakes, power assist, vacuum 2019-09-06 · NHTSA campaign 19V645000
Summary 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.
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.
Recall air bags, frontal 2017-07-10 · NHTSA campaign 17V437000
Summary 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.
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.
Recall air bags, frontal 2016-09-08 · NHTSA campaign 16V651000
Summary 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.
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.
Recall suspension, front, control arm 2016-04-28 · NHTSA campaign 16V256000
Summary 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.
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.

Complaints by component (267 total)

Exterior lighting
104
Electrical system
53
Service brakes
52
Engine
34
Powertrain
34
Steering
10
Fuel and propulsion system
7
Suspension
7
Speed control
6
Forward collision avoidance
5
Structure
5
Air bags
4
Electronic stability control (ESC)
3
Lane departure
3
Hydraulic brakes
2
Equipment
1
Seat belts
1
Seats
1
Tires
1
Visibility
1
Visibility and wipers
1
Wheels
1
Show 14 more Show less
Crash-flagged

4

Fire-flagged

0

Injury reports

4

Death reports

0

Complaints filed per year

9201662017202018762019472020242021282022122023152024182025122026
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "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."
    Engine · filed 2026-09-10
  • "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…"
    Hydraulic brakes · filed 2026-08-24
  • "Power steering intermittently and unexpectedly stops working."
    Steering · filed 2026-07-20
  • "The contact owns a 2016 GMC Yukon. The contact stated that while the vehicle was at the inspection station for an inspection, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended.…"
    Powertrain · filed 2026-06-30
  • "The contact owns a 2016 GMC Yukon. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal became inoperable and failed to engage properly, with no warning lights illuminated. The contact also…"
    Hydraulic brakes · filed 2026-05-26

NHTSA crash ratings

Version Overall Front Side Rollover
2016 GMC Yukon Denali SUV 4WD 4 stars 5 stars 5 stars 3 stars
2016 GMC Yukon Denali SUV RWD 4 stars 5 stars 5 stars 3 stars
2016 GMC Yukon Denali XL 1500 SUV 4WD 4 stars 4 stars 5 stars 3 stars
2016 GMC Yukon Denali XL 1500 SUV RWD 4 stars 4 stars 5 stars 3 stars
2016 GMC Yukon SUV 4WD 4 stars 5 stars 5 stars 3 stars
2016 GMC Yukon SUV RWD 4 stars 5 stars 5 stars 3 stars

Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.

Fuel economy

Trim Engine Transmission Drive City Hwy Combined Annual fuel cost
Yukon C1500 two-wheel drive 5.3L, 8-cyl Automatic 6-speed Rear-wheel drive 16 23 18 MPG $3600
Yukon C1500 two-wheel drive 5.3L, 8-cyl Automatic 6-speed Rear-wheel drive 16 23 19 MPG $3400
Yukon C1500 two-wheel drive 6.2L, 8-cyl Automatic 8-speed Rear-wheel drive 15 22 17 MPG $3800
Yukon C1500 XL two-wheel drive 6.2L, 8-cyl Automatic 8-speed Rear-wheel drive 15 22 17 MPG $3800
Yukon C1500 XL two-wheel drive 5.3L, 8-cyl Automatic 6-speed Rear-wheel drive 16 23 19 MPG $3400
Yukon C1500 XL two-wheel drive 5.3L, 8-cyl Automatic 6-speed Rear-wheel drive 16 23 18 MPG $3600
Yukon K1500 four-wheel drive 5.3L, 8-cyl Automatic 6-speed Four-wheel drive 16 22 18 MPG $3600
Yukon K1500 four-wheel drive 6.2L, 8-cyl Automatic 8-speed Four-wheel drive 15 21 17 MPG $3800
Yukon K1500 four-wheel drive 5.3L, 8-cyl Automatic 6-speed Four-wheel drive 16 22 18 MPG $3600
Yukon K1500 XL four-wheel drive 5.3L, 8-cyl Automatic 6-speed Four-wheel drive 15 22 18 MPG $3600
Yukon K1500 XL four-wheel drive 5.3L, 8-cyl Automatic 6-speed Four-wheel drive 15 22 18 MPG $3600
Yukon K1500 XL four-wheel drive 6.2L, 8-cyl Automatic 8-speed Four-wheel drive 14 20 17 MPG $3800

Specs and fitment

K2XX refresh, 2015–2020
Body styles SUV
Oil dexos1 5W-30 (V8 per manual) , 8 qt capacity
Tire size 275/55R20, 285/45R22, 265/65R18 (trim dependent)
Towing capacity 8,500 lbs

Known issues for this generation

NHTSA safety recall 21V115000 covers affected vehicles after the agency found that general Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Buick Enclave, Cadillac XT4, XT5, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, Traverse, GMC Yukon, Yukon XL, 2018-2021 Chevrolet Express, GMC Savana, 2019-2020 Chevrolet Blazer, Silverado 1500, GMC Acadia, Sierra 1500, and certain Continental tires sold to the aftermarket for various model year 2018-2021 vehicles. The affected tires were cured for too long during production. Over cured tires may develop a break in the sidewall resulting in sudden air loss or a belt edge separation which could lead to a tread/belt loss. Either condition can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash. Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the tires, replacing them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 22, 2021. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Buick customer service at 1-866-608-8080, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N212329050. When NHTSA lists multiple GM nameplates in one campaign, the published unit count is shared across them.

Compare

Previous year 2015 GMC Yukon Next year 2017 GMC Yukon See every GMC Yukon model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2016 GMC Yukon reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2016 GMC Yukon holds 267 complaints after 11 years, a rate of 12 per year. That is more complaints per year than most Yukon years here — over the median of the other years, which is 8. NHTSA has 5 recalls on file, including Wheel speed sensor, Vacuum, and Frontal.

What are common problems with a 2016 GMC Yukon?

The complaints owners file most often name Exterior lighting (104 of 267), then Electrical system (53) and Service brakes (52). Those filings include 4 that report a crash and 4 that report an injury.

Is the 2016 GMC Yukon more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2015 Yukon has 529 complaints, 23 per year, and the 2017 has 196 complaints, 11 per year. The 2016 has fewer complaints per year than the 2015. The 2016 has about the same number of complaints per year as the 2017.

Has the 2016 GMC Yukon been recalled?

The 2016 GMC Yukon has 5 recalls on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2016 GMC Yukon?

Owners have filed 267 complaints about the 2016 GMC Yukon with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2016 GMC Yukon get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2016 GMC Yukon is 17.8 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

What engine oil does a GMC Yukon use?

US Yukon manuals specify dexos-approved oil for your engine in the maintenance schedule.

What does NHTSA recall 13V-342 cover on the GMC Yukon?

NHTSA safety recall 13V342000 covers affected vehicles after the agency found that general Motors is recalling certain model year 2014 Chevrolet Suburban vehicles manufactured July 9, 2013, through July 22, 2013; and 2014 Chevrolet Tahoe vehicles manufactured July 16, 2013,…

What generation is the 2013 GMC Yukon?

K2XX generation (2012-2014).