Common Problems with the 2016 GMC Yukon
Transmission Issues — Transmission Shudders And Shakes When Shifting; Transmission Slips, Runs Roughly; Will Not Shift.
Exterior Lighting Problems:
“Passenger tail light goes out. Replaced it twice now and now I have to do it again a 3rd time. They know of this issue but have done nothing to fix it or offer anything to help cover cost”
“Both rail lights went out at the same time. No reason whatsoever”
“Passage tail, brake light works when it want. One day it work the next day it don’t! I’m scared that I will get pulled by the police or somebody hit me in the back.”
“Tail lights/brake lights /signal lights go on and go off danger of being hit from the rear dealer and independent service has confirmed defect and say it is common vehicle has not been inspected be the police or insurance there was no warning lamps or messages first discover 2 years ago when drivers would pull up and say the lights were out......we would stop and look they would come back”
Electrical System Problems:
“The vehicle consistently alerts with service trailer brake system warnings and has progressively become more of a frequent problem with the system doing it constantly even when no trailer is being towed This has been occurring since time of purchase in March 2021 when we purchased the vehicle and has become consistently more frequent over time”
“My vehicle randomly locks up and shuts off while I am taking a sharp turn or parking. A 'Service StabiliTrak' warning flashes on the dashboard. The steering wheel locks and the only way to get this warning to go away is to turn the vehicle off. This is a dangerous hazard as the vehicle can come to an abrupt stop in traffic.”
“This is a very common problem with GM vehicles produced from 2015 to 2019 and is occurring in 5.3L and 6.2L gas engines. The engine coolant temperature sensor is failing and defaulting to a fail safe that turns the electric cooling fans on to full speed because it thinks the vehicle is overheating. When this sensor fails, the engine temperature gauge will not work. When the vehicle is turned off the fans will stay on for 15 minutes at full speed and will deplete the battery. The sensors are being replaced multiple times with different manufacturers and the problem returns in a matter of days or weeks. You can disconnect the battery negative post and reconnect and the problem corrects until it is tripped again at later date. GM has no solution for this. This issue will leave a driver stranded and will cause engine or transmission issues if driven while the vehicle is doing this. There is no check engine light or code tripped while this occurs either.”
“The passenger side blind spot monitoring sensor not working because the sensor came detached from rear bumper for no apparent reason and now is just dangling. Needs to be welded back on the bumper.”
Engine Problems:
“Engine lifter failure causing complete engine failure at 70,000 miles without any warning. All vehicle maintenance done and serviced at dealer 30 days prior. Left our family stranded on a busy 2 lane highway and were lucky to even get off the road.”
“The contact’s wife owns a 2016 Yukon. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at approximately 5 MPH, the engine hesitated and stalled. The contact stated that his wife was able to coast the vehicle into a driveway. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that a lifter in the engine block was damaged and the number two cylinder had failed, and the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was notified of the failure and the contact scheduled an appointment. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 102,000.”
“The contact owns a 2016 GMC Yukon. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH, the vehicle began to shudder and she noticed that the park assists, stabilitrak, and check engine warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle then stalled. The contact was able to shift the vehicle to park and restarted the vehicle. Additionally, the contact stated that after the vehicle stalled, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent at first but had become constant. Additionally, the air bag warning light and an audible chime would sound when the engine stalled. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the failure could not be duplicated. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the failure had recurred. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.”
Suspension and Steering Concerns:
“The contact owns a 2016 GMC Yukon. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle would shake and vibrate. The cause of the failure was not determined. Also, the driver and passenger side retractable running boards would erroneously retract back and forth while driving, and on several occasions, while attempting to exit the vehicle the running board remained retracted causing the driver to fall to the ground and causing injuries to the driver's legs. The cause of the failures was not determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were not notified. The failure mileage was 60,000.”
“Purchased vehicle used 32K miles. Vehicle almost un-rideable due to rough ride & terrible vibration. Took to GMC dealer, they replaced one front shock (completely leaked out) and one bad rim. Truck still rides extremely rough & has a vibration between 35-55 mph. Almost unbearable on longer rides. Tires are brand new. Dealer says that it is within spec. This should be illegal on a $75K msrp "luxury" SUV!”
“Our GMC Yukon locked into 4WD while accelerating/driving (approx 15-25mp) the kids to school through the neighbourhood, jerked violently as though braking hard, and steering was extremely impaired. The "service 4WD" message appeared on our dashboard. The Yukon is locked in 4WD, and extremely difficult to steer and maneuver. It jerks violently when turning. We are unable to drive due to safety concerns.”
“Service power steering drive with care alert appears on my dash”
Brake Problems:
“Brakes will randomly stop working. When the brakes are pressed you have to press all the way down and then vehicle still won’t stop and the only way for the vehicle to come to a complete stop is to press the parking brake. Brakes and rotors have been replaced already and it still happens”
“I was driving with a trailer that has brakes. A warning system light came on ‘trailer brake system’ service came on blind the digital speedometer. Brakes would not engage. A couple of days later the same thing came on now without a trailer. The warning would not go away and kept on chumming every 10 seconds.”
“2016 GMC Yukon. I received a letter that stated my Yukon may have a condition where the brake lights intermittently do not illuminate. In March 2020 the driver's side rear brake light did not illuminate. I brought it to a Chevy/GMC dealer that replaced the tail light at no charge. Now my passenger rear tail brake light does not illuminate. My Yukon has 68800 miles on it and it is going on 6 years old. I still have my letter I received about this issue. Without my tail/brake light it is unsafe to drive my vehicle until I get that brake unit replaced. Will I still be able to my passenger side brake unit replaced at no charge? I haven’t been able to get it replaced due to I had total knee replacement surgery in February 2022”
Sources: www.nhtsa.gov, carcomplaints.com
California Lemon Law and How Valero Law Can Assist
The California Lemon Law offers vital protection for consumers who have purchased or leased vehicles plagued by defects, including the 2016 GMC Yukon. If you're grappling with persistent issues that haven't been effectively resolved despite reasonable repair attempts, or if your vehicle has been out of service for a substantial amount of time due to repairs, you may have strong grounds for a Lemon Law case.
Valero Law, a highly respected Lemon Law attorney firm, specializes in assisting individuals facing challenges like those encountered with the 2016 GMC Yukon. With a deep understanding of the intricacies within Lemon Law cases, we can adeptly guide you through the legal process. Whether it entails negotiating with the manufacturer for a buyback or replacement, or pursuing a legal claim to protect your rights, Valero Law is committed to advocating for your interests.