Used 2016 GMC Yukon XL SUV Consumer Reviews
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XL for empty nesters
Robert Bob, 02/10/2017
updated 02/20/2020
2016 GMC Yukon XL Denali 4dr SUV (6.2L 8cyl 8A)
39 of 40 people found this review helpful
This is a big SUV that doesn't feel big when driving. Easy to park and has a small turning radius. We often have our kids and grandkids with us and routinely haul 7 people in this and love the legroom and cargo room with everyone on board. The ride and quiet cabin are spectacular and the fuel mileage is better than expected. Has tons of torque and pulling our 4,000 lb boat is effortless. It is easy to back the boat up too with large mirrors and good backup camera. Like the auto leveling rear shocks. My only disappointment in the vehicle is GM's decision to eliminate the ability to pause and rewind live radio that my previous vehicles had. This was available before 2016 but GM eliminated it which is a shame. My 2015 GMC Canyon had this feature but a $70,000 vehicle doesn't. Doesn't make sense! Had trouble with torque converter clutch but dealer was able to resolve with fluid flush and new transmission fluid type. Problem caused shudder or vibration in 8th gear that felt like going over rumble strips. RPM fluctuated between 1600 and 1800 when TCC clutch was not happy. Downshifting into 7th gear would eliminate problem at the expense of poorer gas milage. Problem started at 16,000 miles. Have 17,000 miles on it now and problem is gone after fluid flush and change. Car is very quiet and subsequently any rattles are heard very easily. Chased a problem with a rattling/popping noise that sounded like is was coming from the right side dash area. Disassembled many components inside the glove box/dash area looking for it and finally found the noise was coming from the right front inner fender well! The noise could be duplicated by standing on and off the front part of the running board. The noise was from a loose spot weld on inner fender metal. Placing a section of close cell foam under panel solved the noise! Fixed by owner! Still not happy with GMC 22" wheels that cause harsh and rough ride. 22" wheels should not be an option on this car! Changed to Michelin Defender tires and solved vibration problems with original Bridgestone Dueler tires but this 22" size tire has low profile sidewalls which contributes to tires not absorbing bumps well and transmitting the bumps to the passengers. Car would ride much smoother on 18" or maybe 20" wheels. These wheels were a $2,400 option from GMC and it was a waste of money in my opinion. They are also very hard to keep clean and not very happy with the chrome plastic inserts on the wheels. Just learned the owner can't rotate tires and reset TPMS system without a special tool! This tool should be included with a $70,000 vehicle. Unfortunate that a simple routine simple maintenance task can't be accomplished without the $100 tool or a trip to the dealer or tire shop. If the TPMS system is not updated after wheel rotation, tire positions will not agree with dash display in the event of a tire problem. Have recent issue with powered running boards installed by GMC. They fail to extend when doors are opened occasionally. Both sides are affected. They have been lubricated and problem still exists. Car sits very high on 22” wheels and the running boards are critical for wife or kids to get in. Dealer service visit scheduled to diagnose/repair. Finally got dealer to recognize my intermittent running board problem by taking multiple video captures when they failed to extend or retract. They replaced the motors on both sides and they are now working normally. Torque converter clutch shudder returned at 35,000 miles. Dealer replaced trans fluid with a newer updated fluid that doesn’t absorb moisture. Problem has been resolved for now, again! Noticed leaking left axle seal while rotating tires. Taking back to dealer again to repair! Too bad the dealer didn’t notice this problem while changing trans fluid a week earlier! Still love the car and there is nothing comparable in the marketplace. Average MPG on Hwy is 23 and 19 around town. Added oil "catch can" at 37,000 miles and cleaned intake manifold and valves prior to addition. The catch can captures about 4 oz of breather oil every 4,000 miles. Running Amsoil Signature 0W-20 oil full synthetic with once a year change. Catch can should be installed when new to keep intake valves and manifold clean. GDI engines are prone to carbon buildup on valves due to design.
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Electrical nightmare / general poor reliability
Mike, 05/27/2018
updated 11/29/2021
2016 GMC Yukon XL Denali 4dr SUV 4WD (6.2L 8cyl 8A)
11 of 11 people found this review helpful
Over 15 visits to repair electronics. Random faults would appear and had to replace electrical harnesses in the first year. Replaced front wheel bearings after less than 1 year. Continual reprogramming of software. Electronic transmission was erratic and took 3 times to repair. For almost $80K very disappointed. Traded fo Infiniti QX 80
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2016 GMC Yukon XL for sale near you
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Think twice!
Caleb Rutledge, 11/06/2017
2016 GMC Yukon XL Denali 4dr SUV 4WD (6.2L 8cyl 8A)
24 of 26 people found this review helpful
We bought this vehicle because we love the yukon Denali's. We replaced a 2009 Denali. Unfortunatly the price does not reflect the quality. We paid just under $85,000 out the door for our loaded Denali XL. We knew going in that there could be transmission problems because of other reviews. What we didn't know is that everything in this vehicle is cheaply made. It shows nice but is only "skin deep", and it has very thin skin. We are very disappointed in almost ever aspect of this vehicle, when you pay $85k for a vehicle you have certin expectations. It is on it's way back to the dealership for it's 3rd warranty work, on the engine ( same 6.2 from 2007-2014 ) we don't even mention the deterioating leather and low quality of materials to thhe dealer. Oh and the Yukon only has 21,000 miles so far. We are planning on selling it at this point, probably go to Toyota, BMW, or Mercedes-Benz for quality, GMC isn't cutting it for the price tag they want.
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Very Disappointed in GMC YUKON
Shelly Bowen, 02/14/2018
2016 GMC Yukon XL SLT 4dr SUV (5.3L 8cyl 6A)
17 of 18 people found this review helpful
At 53,000 miles the luggage rack came loose and would hit the top on the Yukon and sound like someone hit it with a big boulder. It wasn’t covered under the warranty or Ext warranty. The dealer did talk to GMC and it cost us $100.00 instead of $1200.00 but instead of replacing with the Chrome Railing like it had they replaced it with solid black. Also, the control panel that is on the front window fell off and messed up the automatic lights as well as the cruise control. The seat belt would not retract after we picked it up at the dealer after they fixed the roof rails/luggage rack. So, back in the shop. Very disappointed after paying over $60,000.00 for a vehicle that continues to have problems! It’s was our first GMC and our LAST GMC!!! We have friends that has had some of the same issues with.
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A Fancy Suburban
W Mendel, 06/13/2018
updated 06/24/2024
2016 GMC Yukon XL Denali 4dr SUV 4WD (6.2L 8cyl 8A)
6 of 6 people found this review helpful
This is a very comfortable SUV. The Denali 6.2 engine is worth the extra cost. It is very responsive and has good gas mileage. I get 17 mpg around town (not too many stoplights) and I get 21+ mpg on highway running at 76 mph. The on board computer is optimistic about gas mileage, telling me I get about 1 mile per gallon more than I really get by my own measurements over several long trips. Nevertheless I get better gas mileage than most pickup trucks and many smaller SUVs. Cargo area is not as good as my old Suburban and the second row seats do not fold flat--a problem if you haul a lot. With the Denali 6.2 the car drives and handles very well--this is a fast SUV. Developed a transmission problem at 26,000 miles: thumping and ratcheting. Dealer service rep said he knew what is was and changed transmission fluid and filter free. Truck works well now, but makes me wonder what the problem really was. My last Suburban had three transmissions; I hope I am not on the same track again. City mileage has slipped to 16, but I got 22 mpg on a 110 mile trip today. The transmission is working fine now. Ops! At just under 100,000 miles the fancy magnetic shock absorbers started leaking; new ones cost me $4,000 for the four of them. No choice but to repair since new cars are expensive and difficult to find now. The shock absorber thing is a real rip off. The truck required a second transmission put in at about 150,000. No surprise as GM uses a cheap, no good transmission that is too light duty for a full sized truck. Meanwhile still getting good service out of the truck since putting thousands of dollars in upkeep. If you buy one of these get rid of at at the end of warranty, or else bend over and take it. Now over 200K. Truck is running well at the moment, but needed a new horn. In order to replace the horn, the dealer had to remove the whole front bumper assembly. It was a costly bumper bummer. If you need the space and hauling then this truck is worth the pain involved in upkeep, otherwise get a Toyota or KIA.
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Dumped it after 6 months
rob kowalski, 12/24/2017
2016 GMC Yukon XL Denali 4dr SUV 4WD (6.2L 8cyl 8A)
17 of 20 people found this review helpful
Bought this SUV brand new. Loved the ride height, power, and engine sound. We have 4 small kids. The only way to change the rear zone temp is from the rear. My kids were in car seats, and too young to manage the controls anyway. Bad design. Heat was either on or off, couldn't adjust temp. After five weeks the rear view camera stopped working every third time we put it in reverse. GMC replaced center console 3 times and it never fixed. I told them it must be a wiring issue but they said that is too hard and expensive to try to fix. It was a brand new truck! They told me they were going to charge me $3200. The truck was a few months old at that point, and I had bought it brand new from that dealer with 10 miles on it. After 5 months a plasticky smell started coming from heat. Dealer could not find anything wrong and said it must have been our fault and they were done. Lost a good bit of money but traded it in for another Sienna minivan. So much happier again.
Impressed! And still Impressed!
Albert, 09/20/2016
updated 10/12/2021
2016 GMC Yukon XL SLT 4dr SUV 4WD (5.3L 8cyl 6A)
9 of 10 people found this review helpful
I had narrowed it down to the GMC Yukon SLT and the up coming Armada/QX80 and Ford Expedition. I was impressed with the interior and ride, and it cost less. The styling was also something that I preferred over the Nissan products and some of the features. Such as; Adjustable Pedals, lower rear end gear ratio on the HD tow package, easier to get into third row seat, proven engine and 6 speed auto, standard 18" wheels ( better for towing) and interior lay out. My wife is so happy with the Yukon, that I think she would live in it. I have now had this Yukon for 36 months, still love it! No problems so far. I am much happier with the 5.3L then I would the Ford 3.5 twin turbo. I felt the Ford engine would not holdup in the long run against the tried and true V8. Update 10/2/2019. Recently I had a problem with a wearing spot on the leather drivers seat. I contacted local dealer and GMC and they replaced the seat bottom, it took about two weeks but I was very pleased with both GM and the dealer on how they handled this problem without giving me any guff. Just returned from a 3 week road trip. I was very pleased with the comfort, the adaptive cruise control and heated/cooled seats and the quiet ride. My wife loved watching the overhead DVD player with our FireStick. Even at speeds up to 80mph. I got 22.9 miles per gallon.
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A piece of junk
Girlie, 09/16/2018
2016 GMC Yukon XL Denali 4dr SUV (6.2L 8cyl 8A)
22 of 27 people found this review helpful
Since 2016 up until today's date I have had my 2016 Yukon XL Denali 10 times...the liner was falling from the roofs few months after I bought it, sunroof had to be repaired no.the after I bought it, the whole computer brain went out months into the purchase, left tail light and now my right, the AC I. The passagers chairs AC is out,my AC period is out, the handle paint started chipping and it was replaced but chipping again plus my manifold melted and I get to get stuff done. All new 4 tires...just garbage.
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Love It So Far
Peter R, 12/06/2016
2016 GMC Yukon XL SLT 4dr SUV 4WD (5.3L 8cyl 6A)
5 of 6 people found this review helpful
I love the on board computer for the driver. Coming home from a golf trip right after we got the car, I averaged 29 MPG on the highway for 25 miles. If you drive it smoothly, you will get good gas mileage. All the USB outlets are awesome for traveling with phones and ipads. I am surprised at how small the glove box is for such a large vehicle and I wish the cup holders were bigger. I have read reviews of people complaining about the sluggish gas pedal, but that does not bother me one bit. This is a large SUV, I am not driving it like a sports car.
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Smooth Ride
Gmc, 09/17/2020
updated 03/21/2022
2016 GMC Yukon XL SLT 4dr SUV (5.3L 8cyl 6A)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
We bought our 2016 GMC SLT certified a year old, we were aware of the electric/electronic issues the car was known to have, so we purchased a bumper to bumper warranty. We have now had it over 5 years, it has 80k mi and we have driven several road trips including one across the U.S. The 31 gallon gas tank makes road trips a breeze. It is easy to drive, very smooth, powerful, very roomy and comfortable with all the bells and whistles you would want. Its great on gas for the size of vehicle, we love it. We have had a few temporary glitches with the cameras, and radio. But nothing major. We have had to replace the heated seat elements on 2 rows of seats, and a rear taillight, that were thankfully were covered under our extended warranty. The AC compressor just went out around 78k mi and was a 850$ Repair. We previously owned a Land Rover LR3 which had a LOT of problems and was a money pit. Overall we are still very happy with our purchase, there is no other suv out there I would want over it.
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2016 GMC Yukon XL,
C, 01/17/2017
2016 GMC Yukon XL SLE 4dr SUV 4WD (5.3L 8cyl 6A)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
This is a great vehicle. It is comfortable on long trips at least for the driver. The back seat is tight, but right now some of the kids are small. We have 8 people in our family so we got the 9 seater which gives us one extra space. I'm very happy with the vehicle's road noise, comfort, power, and AWD/4x4 in the winter. This would be my wish list on the next re-design though: I would love to see a "well" in the back cargo space area like in minivans. I know it can't be too deep because of the spare tire, but anything would be helpful. This would naturally increase the cargo capacity, plus things wouldn't roll out when you are on an incline (soccer balls, cantaloupes, watermelons, etc.) Perhaps they could put a faux floor that could come out or stay in depending on the needs of the owner. Also, this is crazy, and maybe I'm the only one to think of this, but I would love to see sliding doors on the suburban/yukon. It's a beast to park, and if you actually have kids like we do, no one is allowed to open doors until we open them for them. If the sliders were there like on a mini van, it would be the ultimate family vehicle. I know a lot of people buy these with small families in mind so it's probably not a big deal to them. And, the running boards are slippery when wet. Could it be possible to put a different coating on them? In any case, it's a great car and I'm glad to have it. GM, what do you think of the ideas?
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.
Mike, 05/31/2021
2016 GMC Yukon XL SLT 4dr SUV (5.3L 8cyl 6A)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
I nice looking truck but too may problems after I buy my Yukon 2016 I have transmission problems and too much noise like old truck it’s not worth it I lost too much money fixing I only have 71000 miles
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The big dog
Jeffrey Hayes, 03/07/2019
2016 GMC Yukon XL SLT 4dr SUV 4WD (5.3L 8cyl 6A)
2 of 3 people found this review helpful
It’s a great truck
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Great Family Transportation
Randy Schaeffer, 08/31/2017
2016 GMC Yukon XL SLT 4dr SUV 4WD (5.3L 8cyl 6A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
This is my sixth Yukon/Suburban. This one is light years ahead of the previous versions.
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Runs forever
HC, 04/13/2019
2016 GMC Yukon XL Denali 4dr SUV 4WD (6.2L 8cyl 8A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Great, safe vehicle. Have a 2008 same model with 200000 mile and still runs great no problems.
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Awesome vehicle!
Daniel Weaver, 01/25/2021
2016 GMC Yukon XL Denali 4dr SUV 4WD (6.2L 8cyl 8A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
We love our GMC Yukon XL! What an amazing ride!!!
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Good on paper. Poor tech reliability
Sup, 07/08/2018
2016 GMC Yukon XL Denali 4dr SUV 4WD (6.2L 8cyl 8A)
2 of 5 people found this review helpful
Looks great. Drives well but poor reliability. Parking and blind assist sensors went out within the first 3 months of purchase. Air conditioning broken after two years. Apple car play annoying. Definitely skip this one and consider the Expedition. Only reason we didn’t buy the Expedition is the new safety tech wasn’t available but with new model it has all the tech.
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Do Not Buy!!!
JT, 09/26/2016
2016 GMC Yukon XL Denali 4dr SUV (6.2L 8cyl 8A)
10 of 140 people found this review helpful
I am so disappointed with my purchase of the 2016 Yukon XL Denali. The issues with this vehicle in just 1 month are endless. The main one being the brakes are sooo bad. I got in an accident after 1 week, because the brakes on the car just dont work. The quality of the seats are so poor, you can feel the springs in the seats. The transmission keeps slipping. I hate this vehicle. DO NOT BUY.
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I call it the living room
Long Distance traveler, 01/05/2023
2016 GMC Yukon XL SLT 4dr SUV 4WD (5.3L 8cyl 6A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
You really appreciate this vehicle after long rides. I've driven to Florida 5 times and taking kids back and forth to colleges all over and being a hockey dad - a lot of traveling - when you get out of this truck - you don't feel beat up! It's like sitting in a living room - very comfortable and very respectable gas mileage too!
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Great for 70,000 miles
River, 11/07/2023
2016 GMC Yukon XL Denali 4dr SUV (6.2L 8cyl 8A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
After 70,000 miles, the transmission turns to mush. About $5,000 to repair.
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Very well taken care if
Cindy Bailey, 07/22/2020
2016 GMC Yukon XL SLE 4dr SUV (5.3L 8cyl 6A)
0 of 2 people found this review helpful
Do your homework then be ready to make your purchase when you find the right car for you