The Lemon Index2016 GMC Yukon.
The 2016 GMC Yukon is one of the worst years by owner complaints: 126 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 236, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about lights, it has 5 recalls, and it gets 17 to 19 mpg combined. The best GMC Yukon year is 2012.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 288 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every GMC Yukon year. 2016 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 39K to 77K miles on the car (159 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- lights complaints mostly came at 40K–74K miles
- electrical complaints mostly came at 25K–71K miles
- brakes complaints mostly came at 39K–62K miles
Recalls 5
- brakes 2019
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.
- brakes 2019
The amount of vacuum created by the vacuum pump may decrease over time.
- airbags 2017
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.
Show all 5 recalls
- airbags 2016
In the affected vehicles, certain driving conditions may cause the air bag sensing and diagnostic module (SDM) software to activate a diagnostic test.
- suspension 2016
The front upper control arms may have inadequate welds near the control arm bushing.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems GMC told dealers about
GMC sent dealers 1845 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Effective November 18th, 2014, P/N 23248791 (Wireless Charging Module) will be placed on…
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Government investigations
- ClosedBrake vacuum pump failure2018–2022
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GMC Yukon SUV RWD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ |
| GMC Yukon SUV 4WD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ |
| GMC Yukon Denali SUV RWD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ |
| GMC Yukon Denali SUV 4WD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ |
Fuel cost and engines
About $3400–3800 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 5.3L 8-cyl, 6.2L 8-cyl.
In owners' words
Right led brake light has stopped functioning. Through online search engine, I've discovered that this is an increasingly frquent problem that GMC has refused to address.
2016 GMC Yukon owner · NHTSA complaint 11206330
More owner reports
Drivers side tail light/brake started failing, only working intermittently while driving and while stopped. Now only a small outer corner of the the light is working.
NHTSA complaint 11254155
Left rear taillight is out. Car has <40k miles and required a $675 part to fix
NHTSA complaint 11169842
Quick answers
Is the 2016 GMC Yukon reliable?
No, it is one of the worst by government complaints. It drew 2.4× the average car's complaints filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 236; 100 is average, lower is better). The best GMC Yukon year by this measure is 2012.
What are the most common 2016 GMC Yukon problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are lights (49%), electrical (15%) and brakes (14%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2016 GMC Yukon have?
5 safety recalls (latest: brakes). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2016 GMC Yukon get?
17 to 19 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2016 GMC Yukon safe?
NHTSA gave it 4 out of 5 stars overall in its best tested version. Ratings differ by body style, and the full table is on the advanced page.
At what mileage do 2016 GMC Yukon problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 39,500 and 77,200 miles. The middle report was at 54,000 miles, from 159 complaints.
Does the 2016 GMC Yukon have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 7% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2016 GMC Yukon cost in fuel a year?
About $3400 to $3800 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2016 GMC Yukon have?
5.3L 8-cyl, 6.2L 8-cyl.
What GMC Yukon year is better than the 2016?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2012, 2020 and 2019.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works