2016 GMC Yukon: engine and transmission complaints
HIGH COMPLAINT SIGNAL
44%
130 of 296 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system
44% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2016 GMC Yukon are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is a model-level pattern, not bad luck.
Worse than 54% of the 1,230 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 218 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 25%).
The percentage is each model year's drivetrain complaint share. No elevated signal describes the model year, not any one car; a well-kept example of a flagged model can still be the right buy, and any of these still needs an inspection.
What owners reported
ENGINE09/10/2026
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.
POWER TRAIN06/30/2026
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. The contact stated that the transmission had seized, and the vehicle failed to move. In addition, the …
POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER04/30/2026
Transmission went out very early. Had to get it replaced whenever I reverse. I have to really smash on the break in order for it to stop if it does stop so somethings wrong with the breaking whenever I hit a bump the left side suspension feels like I’m a lose control and sometimes my radio works and sometimes it doesn’…
Three of 130 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows more, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
Recall campaigns on this model year (5)
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Cadillac Escalade, 2014-2018 Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Sierra, 2015-2018 Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Yukon vehicl…
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:WHEEL SPEED SENSOR/TONE RING
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 equip…
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
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 Y…
This does not say whether a particular car has an open, unrepaired recall. That depends on the VIN.
Before you buy a 2016 GMC Yukon
Ask the seller whether the transmission has ever been repaired or replaced, and whether the car has shown shuddering, slipping, delayed or harsh shifts, or a whine at speed.
Drive it from a cold start and long enough to warm up. Many transmission faults hide once the car is warm.
Get an independent pre-purchase inspection from a mechanic you choose, and tell them to focus on the transmission.
5 recall campaigns on this model year. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on the VIN; the report checks that.
Ask for service records. A transmission already replaced under warranty is a different car from one that was not.
Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.
Experimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history
report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition
of any individual vehicle. Combined across 4 body styles NHTSA files separately.
