2016 GMC YUKON XL Electrical System Problems

While driving vehicle the vehicle appears to shut off as if someone is turning off the ignition. The steering control becomes stiff, power is lost and electronics flash and turn off and on. This has happened on multiple occasions and is intermittent during acceleration. The accessible grounds have been checked, battery checked and replaced, and alternator checked and verified to be charging appropriately. Several codes are present and have been cleared to return indicating low voltage issues with multiple systems.

The car started to have issues shifting when driving- automatic transmission. It would jolt or shudder to try to shift. I was at a light intersection attempting to turn left to go on the on ramp of a highway, it attempted to shift as I sped up from a stop and it got stuck and started making a sound as if you were to press the brake and gas at the same time, similar to that, a car was coming in my direction at the same time and it finally clicked into gear. Absolutely terrified me, my father in law came and switched me vehicles and took mine to the dealership where it stayed for 3 days and they diagnosed it saying it needed a new transmission, quoting us at $11,000. Obviously we can’t afford that. We had all the filters and lines of the transmission cleaned. And now it’s just gotten worse and worse. That was the first time it happened. Now it’ll shudder like that any time it’s switching gears at any speed. Another time since then, it got stuck in the same situation after pulling out of my kids school driveway, it got stuck and wouldn’t click, when it finally did it started shaking uncontrollably in the street and thankfully I live two streets over and made it to my street before it just shut off on its own. I coasted it right into the front of our house and then it would not come back on, at this time we searched the internet over and over to find try to find an easy fix. We let it sit before it came back on. This is our family vehicle. I’ve seen that many many people have this exact issue with this exact same year and model. Its not coincidental and It’s extremely unsafe. Especially with kids in these vehicles. I’m terrified one day when it gets stuck or shuts off we will get hit.

Driving a company vehicle [XXX], heavy smoke started coming from under the drivers side dash. Unhooked battery, the smoke stopped. I had vehicle towed to a local garage. They advised the engine wiring harness and other wiring had caught on fire. They couldn't repair it. On [XXX]. I had the vehicle towed to the local GMC dealer in Bedford, VA. At first they said they could fix it, then around 7/3/24 they said the couldn't fix it, charging several hundreds of dollars. On July 5/2024 I had the vehicle towed to a GMC dealership in Lynchburg, VA who I had check with and said they could fix it. The first part of September 2024, this dealership advised me the couldn't fix the vehicle. I had the vehicle tow to our companies office in Lynchburg. The dealerships are saying they can't get the needed wiring harnesses. Our insurance company had sent an adjuster to the GMC in Bedford, VA. No warning lamps came on before the smoke. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Loses power randomly. More prominent at low speeds and turns. Has lost power going down the road, will turn back on. Stabilitrak lights and jerking steering wheel are more common. Will not always start right back up when it shuts all the way off/loses power. Loses clock but keeps radio stations. Had it scanned. Asked dealer about issues/recalls and information with nothing more than “this is not common” and “we need to schedule a time for you to bring it in”. Times were not soon and they made it seem like it is not an urgent/emergent situation. Would not agree to me being able to talk with a tech. Looked into this as it seems common but nothing definite. Bad battery cables seem prominent, grounding issues, electronic steering module, and a few others. Seems like a GM problem that is known but not being handled. Greatly disappointed after reading up on it. Many vehicles with similar problems had recalls. Not sure how that process works. I was told it depends where it was manufactured/assembled. Wife was able to get a video of it the other day.

I purchased a used 2016 Yukon xl may 20 2024. Over the last month only put 2k miles on it. I continue to receive a message to service trailer brake system. I dismiss this and it continues to chime and be a nuisance popping up blocking my dash from seeing important things like speed etc and the noise is extremely distracting as a driver. I’m unable to use the hands free talking through Bluetooth as it interrupts quite frequently. This makes driving an extremely dangerous and unpleasant ride

I was driving and n the freeway around 70 miles and " TRAILER Brake SERVICE" message appears on the dash board screen We don't pulling nothing on that time and normally we don't use this car for pulling, the other message appears several times is very frustrating. I am the guy in charge for this vehicle.

Like many other complaints..when your driving and accelerating it jerks and try’s to change gears ect. Most recent issue is the temperature sensor went out and my fan was running on full speed. Well I got it fixed and within 2 months it has gone out again! Lastly, the paint on the hood and roof. When I bought the dealership fixed the hood and yet again it’s failing again..

There is a special policy to replace faulty tail lamps. However, the policy is only extended through 72,000 miles or 5 years which is ridiculous, and should be a recall. I had my drivers side tail lamp replaced in February 2022 because it was not working. I wasn’t aware of the mileage and year restrictions at that time. Fast forward to today, I have my passenger side tail lamp intermittently working. Now out of the specific time frame, I’m left to encounter this expense out of my own pocket. Clearly GM is aware of the problem, but has not issued a recall on the tail lamp issue. It’s not just a burned out brake light, but apparently an electrical issue with the way they were initially wired. This is a very dangerous situation, as I have no idea if and when my brake light is out. God forbid if they were to go out and I were to be rear ended due to GMs lack of taking responsibility.

While driving down the freeway, I received a warning that the charging system was not working and had a red battery light come on on the dash. I exited the freeway trying to get to a safe place, the dash and infotainment system begun to flash on and off. We heard a loud pop, smelt something burning, saw smoke coming into the cabin and then flames from under the hood near where the battery is located.

The driver’s side brake light assembly failure of no brake light when brake is applied. It can be inspected upon request. This may cause another driver to not notice intentions to stop or slowdown and cause an accident. This problem is constant. It has not been inspected. No warnings of the failure has been displayed.

Both brake lamp assemblies are non-op, no warning in dash and no fuses. GMC #SCA N182180270 stating that 2015 and 2016 Yukon. Extended warranty to 6 years or 72,000 miles. We are out of warranty as of last month. $2,500 to replace the tail lamp assemblies. No letter was sent to owners regarding this safety hazard. This should be a RECALL

THE ENGINE MOUNTED MECHANICAL VACUUM PUMP OUTPUT MAY DECREASE OVER TIME DECREASING THE AMOUNT OF VACUUM/ POWER BRAKE ASSIST. AND THE DRIVERSIDE BRAKE STOP LIGHT WAS DEFECTIVE. .ME AND MY WIFE WERE SCARED AND SHOOK UP. .YES. DEALERSHIP. .DEALERSHIP. NO. .

LED tail light unit continues to crack (metal inside) and not work. Each replacement is over $500. You have to replace or you’ll be ticketed because it is a safety hazard. It is not a bulb replacement it is a faulty design that is costing people thousands to fix and it’s not right. GMC is aware of this defect and they aren’t doing anything about it. Please help and recall these taillights to be replaced by the updated lights!! Thank you for your time and consideration.

The brake light LED panel stopped working on one side and goes out intermittently in the other side

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 GMC YUKON XL. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING, THE AIR CONDITIONER FAILED TO OPERATE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE AIR CONDITION CONDENSER AND NOTICED THAT IT WAS DAMAGED AND LEAKING. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 71,125. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

Mileage: 71,125

THIRD TIME THE LED CIRCUIT BOARD LED LIGHTS ON REAR TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY HAS SHORTED OUT AND REQUIRED REPLACEMENT DUE TO BRAKE LIGHTS NOT WORKING. GMC IS WELL AWARE THAT THIS IS A FREQUENT ISSUE ON THE YUKONS AND HAS DONE NOTHING ABOUT IT. INDIVIDUAL BRAKELIGHT CIRCUIT BOARD OF LED BULBS CANNOT BE CHANGED OUT BECAUSE IT IS PLASTIC WELDED AND SEALED INTO THE TAIL LIGHT, COSTING $600.00 TO REPAIR EACH TIME IT SHORTS OUT. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD NOT KEEP HAPPENING. THERE ARE FOLKS DRIVING W/O FUNCTIONAL BRAKELIGHTS BECAUSE THEY CANNOT AFFORD THE COST AND FREQUENCY IF REPAIR. IT IS A POORLY MADE ENGINEERING FLAW BY GM THAT DEALER ADMITS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME DUE TO MOISTURE GETTING INTO LIGHT AND SHORTING CIRCUIT BOARD. BRAKELIGHT WILL NOT WORK WHEN STATIONARY OR WHEN IN ANY MOTION.

Mileage: 30,000

RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR MY 2016 YUKON XL, DUE TO BRAKE VACUUM PUMP FAULTY. HOWEVER MCGRATH AUTO IN CEDAR RAPIDS, IA RESOLVE TO THIS RECALL WAS TO SIMPLY REPROGRAM THE ELECTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL MODULE. THIS WAS COMPLETED 12/19. BY 2/20 MY BRAKES WERE REQUIRING ME TO PUSH HARDER AND AT TIMES SOUNDED LIKE THEY WERE SKIPPING AND BRAKING FELT DELAYED. I ALSO WAS HEARING A SQUEAK/CLICKING SOUND COMING FROM WHAT SEEMS THE FRONT OF MY VEHICLE ENGINE AREA. DUE TO QUARANTINE I WAS NOT DRIVING OR GOING PLACES BUT ONCE OUR STATE RE-OPENED I CALLED THIS DEALERSHIP TO REPORT THE BRAKE CONCERN AND SCHEDULED APPT. A DAY BEFORE APPT, WHILE STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT AS I MOVED FORWARD IN A VERY SLOW CRAWL MY BRAKES FAILED ME AND I COULD NOT STOP. I BUMPED THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME WHICH RESULTED IN DAMAGE TO BOTH VEHICLES. I REPORTED THIS TO MCGRATH AS I WAS SCARED IMMENSELY ABOUT THE SAFETY OF MY VEHICLE. DURING THE SERVICE APPT 6/11/20 MY CAR WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A FAULTY BRAKE VACUUM PUMP. THE VACUUM PUMP WAS REPLACED AND I WAS TOLD I WAS STILL WITHIN THE WARRANTY . HOWEVER THEY REPLACE ALL 4 TIRES AND CLAIMED TO RECALIBRATE. ON 6/25 WHILE IN COLORADO BRAKE, ABS AND CAL LIGHTS LIT UP, THE STEERING WHEEL POWER WAS GONE, TRAILER BRAKE SYSTEM ILLUMINATE, (NEVER EVEN TOWED A TRAILER) CALLED MCGRATH FROM COLORADO AS I COULDN'T DRIVE MY CAR, I EXPLAINED WHAT WAS HAPPENING, THEIR RESOLVE WAS TO GOOGLE GMC DEALERSHIP IN AREA FOR ME. I FOUND MY OWN IN CADILLAC/GMC DEALERSHIP IN BOULDER. MY CHILDREN AND I ARE WITHOUT A VEHICLE WHILE OUT OF STATE. DEALERSHIP IN BOULDER DIAGNOSED MY VEHICLE WITH FAULTY ELECTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL MODULE. I AM FURIOUS AS THEY SAY IT WILL NOT BE COVERED THROUGH WARRANTY. MY 2016 YUKON IS IN IMPECCABLE CONDITION, ISSUES ALL HAPPENED UPON RECALL WITH ONLY 35,000 MILES. MY EXPERIENCE IS EXACTLY WHAT IS BEING REPORTED BY OTHERS IMPACTED BY THIS RECALL. *TR

Mileage: 38,000

REAR TAIL LIGHTS (BRAKE LIGHTS) WORK INTERMITTENTLY. THERE IS A "SPECIAL COVERAGE ADJUSTMENT" BUT IT IS SET FOR A MAXIMUM NUMBER OF MILES OR TIME (6-YEARS). I HAVE A 2016 GMC YUKON XL. THE PASSENGER'S SIDE WAS REPLACED IN 2018 AND NOW THE DRIVER'S SIDE IS DEFECTIVE/INOPERABLE. BUT BECAUSE WE ARE AT 96000 THEY WON'T REPAIR. *TR

Mileage: 96,000

RIGHT REAR BRAKE LIGHT WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. NO WARNING LIGHTS OR MESSAGES ON THE DASH. PEOPLE HAVE TOLD ME WE HAVE A BRAKE LIGHT OUT, BUT WHEN I CHECK IT LATER IT WORKS. WAS PULLED OVER FOR INOPERABLE BRAKE LIGHT, BUT LATER THAT EVENING THE TAIL LIGHT WAS WORKING. SEEMS TO BE A LOT OF INFO ON INTERNET ABOUT A BROKEN STRIP OF METAL. SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

Mileage: 91,000

I HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED ON TWO OCCASIONS ON THE ROAD THAT MY TAIL LIGHT WAS OUT. WHEN I WAS ABLE TO CHECK THEM, BOTH TAIL LIGHTS LIT UP THEN TURNED ON. IT MUST BE AN INTERMITTENT ISSUE.

Mileage: 29,500

LEFT AND RIGHT BRAKE/RUNNING LIGHTS WORK INTERMITTENTLY. OCCASIONALLY ONE SIDE WILL WORK AND THE OTHER DOESN'T AND VISE VERSA. MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, NEITHER SIDE WORKS. GM KNOWS ABOUT THIS DEFECT AND REFUSES TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM THAT THEIR MANUFACTURING CAUSED. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN AS MY WIFE AND THREE YOUNG CHILDREN USE THIS VEHICLE ON A DAILY BASIS.

Mileage: 97,000

REAR PASSENGER SIDE LIGHT FIXTURE LED FAILED AS A RESULT OF FAILURE OF METAL CONTACT POINT WITHIN LED ENCLOSURE. ISSUE IS WELL DOCUMENTED ON THE INTERNET HOWEVER GMC HAS FAILED TO RESPONSE. VEHICLE IS ONLY 3 YEARS OLD WITH 79,300 MILES. REPAIR COST WAS ESTIMATED AT $913.

PASSENGER SIDE BRAKE LIGHT STOPPED WORKING (BOTH IN MOTION AND STATIONARY). IT LOOKS LIKE MANY OWNERS ARE ALSO EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM, SO WOULD BE GREAT IF AN INVESTIGATION COULD BE STARTED.

Mileage: 74,500

RUNNING BOARDS FAILING TO WORK PROPERLY ALL THE TIME. SOMETIMES WILL START TO GO DOWN BUT RETURN UP WHEN OPENING DOOR. WILL ALSO FAIL TO GO UP AFTER CLOSING DOOR AND REMAIN DOWN. MIDDLE ROW DVD SCREEN IS BLACK AND NOT WORKING. REAR BRAKE LIGHTS WORKING OFF AND ON. HORRIBLE LOUD SQUEALING SOUND UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WILL ALSO BEGIN TO SHAKE RANDOMLY AND FEELS JUMPY AT TIMES.

Mileage: 55,500

THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE LIGHT QUIT WORKING. WILL COME ON WHEN PUSHED AGAINST CAR. DEALER SAID IT WAS ELECTRICAL IN THE BRAKE LIGHT UNIT.

Mileage: 50,000

AT 64,497 MY WIFE'S POWER STEERING WENT OUT ON HER VEHICLE. THIS HAPPENED A DAY AFTER OUR TRIP TO ATLANTA, GA. WE TOOK IT TO OUR LOCAL GMC DEALERSHIP AND WAS NOTIFIED THAT 4 MODULES HAD TO BE REPLACED AND A RECOMMENDED WIRING HARNESS. IN 2015 GMC VEHICLES HAD A SIMILAR ISSUE AND RECALL BUT NOT THE 2016. THIS COST ME $1400 IN REPAIRS.

Mileage: 64,497

REAR PASSENGER BRAKE LIGHT STOP WORKING, VEHICLE IS ONLY 2 YEARS OLD. WE SHOULD NOT BE HAVING THIS ISSUE SO SOON OR AT ALL, SINCE LED LIGHTS NORMALLY DONT STOP WORKING. I ALSO LOOKED INTO FIXING IT AND ITS GONNA COST $700 DOLLARS. THIS IS RIDICULOUS!

Mileage: 52,000

PROGRESSIVE INTERMITTENT BRAKE LIGHT FUNCTIONALITY THAT EVENTUALLY CULMINATED WITH COMPLETE INOPERABILITY; ONLY THE RIGHT/LEFT BRAKE LIGHT ASSEMBLIES ARE AFFECTED; REVERSE LAMPS OPERATE; UPPER CENTER BRAKE LIGHT FUNCTIONS NORMALLY; THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH GMC BRAKE LIGHT ASSEMBLIES PER MULTIPLE FORUMS

GMC BRAKE LIGHT FAILURE - I OWN A 2016 GMC YUKON XL AND AFTER ABOUT 45,000 MILES THE BRAKE LIGHTS HAVE STARTED INTERMITTENTLY NOT WORKING. AFTER HAVING A GMC TECHNICIAN TELL ME THAT ITS A KNOWN ISSUE AND SEEING HUNDREDS OF OTHERS POSTS ONLINE, IT IS EVIDENT THAT THIS IS A VERY WIDESPREAD PROBLEM. I WAS NEARLY INVOLVED IN A REAR END CRASH ON THE FREEWAY BECAUSE THE DRIVER TOLD ME I DID NOT HAVE ANY BRAKE LIGHTS. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND GMC NEEDS TO CORRECT IT. THEY WANT ME TO PURCHASE 2 REPLACEMENT LIGHT UNITS AT 750.00 EACH.

Mileage: 45,000

BOUGHT SUV 6/25/2016 THE SAME WEEKEND THE ENGINE TURNS OFF AFTER A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN :IT HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES SO FAR. 4 WEEK OLD 2016 YUKON DENALI XL, HAS STALLED 3 TIMES IN LAST 4 WEEKS, ENGINE CUTS OFF AFTER A LEFT OR A RIGHT TURN ONLY AFTER A SHORT DRIVE OUT OF HOME. THE SUV HAS TO BE RESTARTED! COULD HAVE EASILY HAD AN ACCIDENT OR WORSE. I TOOK IT TO THE WESTPOINT GMC DEALER, 3 TIMES. 1ST TWO TIMES, ALL OF SERVICE DEPTARTMENT COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. TODAY, AFTER A STALL, I CALLED ONSTAR, WHO RAN A DIAGNOSTICS TEST,BUT ONSTAR FOUND NOTHING OF VALUE , I LEFT IT AT DEALERSHIP AND CONTACTED DISTRICT MGR. MATT TILLSON . I WAS TOLD THAT THEY WOULD ESCALATE THE ISSUE. I DID TELL DEALER THAT GMC AND DEALERSHIP WOULD BE AT FAULT IF VEHICLE IS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND STALLS NOR STOPS WHILE I AM DRIVING. I DID NOT WANT THE VEHICLE BACK WITHOUT THE PROBLEM HAVING BEEN FIXED. ITS DAY 6 TODAY. I NEED TO MAKE IT ABSOLUTELY CLEAR, I WILL NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK UNTILL THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED, AND FIXED. I DO NOT WANT ME OR MY FAMILY OR GM SERVICE EMPLOYEE INJURED, OR WORSE, OR TO BE INVOLVED WITH A POSSIBLE ACCIDENT IN MY GMC YUKON DENALI XL. A FIELD SERVICE ENGINEER SHOULD HAVE BEEN ON THIS CASE ALREADY ! WILL IT TAKE AN ACCIDENT, OR INJURY BEFORE SOMEONE GETS ASSIGNED?

Mileage: 4,500