2016 GMC Yukon XL reliability record
Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 2016 GMC Yukon XL — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.
- NHTSA complaints
- 266
- 96 in the last 5 years
- Top problem area
- EXTERIOR LIGHTING
- 80 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 3
- see below
- Reported harm
- 13 reported crashes · 3 injuries · 2 fires
How this record compares
raw NHTSA counts, not defect ratesComplaint rank
#2,015
of 4,194 vehicle records
Vs GMC median
+18
median 248 across 165 GMC records
Vs 2014-2018
-31
median 298 complaints in 596 records
Top component share
30%
Exterior Lighting: 80 complaints
What owners report fails — 2016 GMC Yukon XL
- EXTERIOR LIGHTING 80
- SERVICE BRAKES 40
- POWER TRAIN 32
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 30
- ENGINE 26
3 recalls on record for the 2016 GMC Yukon XL
- NHTSA 17V437000 · 2017 · SEAT BELTS:PRETENSIONER A failure of the front air bags or seat belt pretensioners to deploy in the event of a crash necessitating deployment in
- NHTSA 16V256000 · 2016 · SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM Inadequate welds may allow the control arm to separate from the bushing, compromising steering and increasing the risk o
- NHTSA 16V651000 · 2016 · SEAT BELTS:PRETENSIONER A failure of the front air bags or seat belt pretensioners to deploy in the event of a crash necessitating deployment in
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2016 GMC Yukon XL
A vehicle's complaint record hints at the repair and maintenance budget you'll need. Add your state, purchase price, and mileage to the TCO calculator for the full picture.
Open TCO calculatorThese are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 2016 GMC Yukon XL units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Data as of 2026. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2016 GMC Yukon XL reliable?
NHTSA has 266 consumer complaints on record for the 2016 GMC Yukon XL and 3 recalls. The most-reported problem area is exterior lighting (80 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2016 GMC Yukon XL units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 GMC Yukon XL?
Owners most often report problems with: exterior lighting (80), service brakes (40), power train (32), electrical system (30). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
How much does it cost to own a 2016 GMC Yukon XL?
Ownership cost depends on your state taxes, insurance, fuel, and the maintenance the vehicle's reliability record implies. Use the CarOutlay 5-year TCO calculator to estimate the full cost including the repair risk this complaint record suggests.