2016 GMC Yukon Xl

On November 20, 2018, the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened PE18-012 to investigate instances of sudden onset of a hard brake pedal that could result in extended stopping distance due to an issue with the brake assist vacuum pump in model year (MY) 2014 through 2016 GMC Sierra 1500 and Chevrolet Silverado 1500 series pickup trucks and MY 2015 through 2016 Cadillac Escalade, Chevrolet Suburban, Chevrolet Tahoe, and GMC Yukon SUVs.If the brake assist vacuum pump fails to operate as intended, the amount of brake power assist supplied to the driver can be significantly reduced, extending the subject vehicle stopping distance. GM stated that the root cause of pump failures was due to foreign debris such as oil sludge in the engine oil. GM stated that this debris can become trapped by the oil inlet filter screen. Under normal operation, this screen allows a small amount of oil into the brake vacuum pump. The foreign debris can, over time, clog the pump which can cause a loss of lubrication and a reduction in the amount of vacuum produced leading to a hard pedal and extended stopping distance.On December 13, 2018, GM issued a Special Coverage (N182202780) for the brake vacuum pump issue in MY 2014-2017 trucks and 2015-2017 SUVs on the K2XX platform for 6 years or 72,000 miles. Special Coverage repair includes the replacement of the vacuum pump and vacuum pump belt. Consumers received notification of the coverage via mail. On September 6, 2019, GM notified NHTSA that it was conducting safety recall 19V-645 which reprograms the electronic brake control module (EBCM) and included approximately 3.5 million trucks and SUVs. In October 2019, GM extended the terms of special coverage N182202780 to 10 years or 150,000 miles as well as now including the entire scope of recall 19V-645. In October 2020, GM expanded the scope of coverage N182202780 to include the MY 2018 Escalade and 2019 Tahoe.The remedy implemented in GM recall 19V-645 appears to be sufficient in addressing the safety-related concerns of this issue. Loss of vacuum assist now occurs at a progressive rate as well as there being a more timely warning of a brake problem to the driver through the driver information center (DIC). In view of the recall action and revision to the special coverage, this Preliminary Evaluation is closed. The agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by new circumstances. The ODI reports cited above are available for review online at NHTSA.gov under the identification numbers in the attached document.

The contact owns a 2016 GMC Yukon XL. The contact stated that while driving 30 MPH, the steering wheel locked up. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V256000 (Suspension); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The dealer was contacted. The manufacturer was contacted by phone and was made aware of the failure but stated that the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 108,346.

NHTSA ID

11765007

Incident

Dec 4, 2025

Mileage

108,346 mi

1. My vehicle is having transmission issues with shuddering and shifting. M5U RPO code 8L90 transmission. 2. My safety and the safety of others is a concern if the transmission is not working as intended my vehicle could be at risk an accident that could be avoided. 3. The problem has not be reproduced or confirmed by a dealer I work on my own vehicles and I am going to repair this issue myself if able. 4. There are no trouble codes on my vehicle when scanned with an OBD2 scanner.

NHTSA ID

11761928

Incident

Aug 15, 2026

After my child had thrown up all over the car seat her father had taken her inside to clean up and I took the car seat apart to throw the pieces into the washer to clean them. The harness strap did not come out fully clean so I contacted Graco for a replacement piece and I was told that they don’t replace those and that the strap being removed totaled my car seat. It has a woven material tab that goes up through the hard plastic base and locks in by opening itself. It’s essentially a T in the material so it can be folded to go back through the hard plastic base. I was told that since the manual doesn’t provide instructions regarding that piece that I should know it’s not to be removed. No where in the manual, on the car seat or on the strap says it’s not to be removed. I did not damage/break/cut any pieces to get it in or out of the car seat. I was a mom in a panic trying to clean the car seat as quickly as possible so I could tend to my sick child. There were no warning signs telling me anywhere not to remove it. I don’t want other parents to do what I did and have a totaled car seat that they continue to use. I did not have the manual at the time of removing the pieces for cleaning but I have since located the PDF and read through all 96 pages.

NHTSA ID

11746486

Incident

Jun 1, 2026

My wife was driving down the highway and out of no where there was a loud taping sound, the vehicle started running real bad (skipping), the vehicle lost power and she lost control of the steering. As a result, she ran off the road into a ditch. this is a known concern with the 6.2 liter engines and all signs are pointing to lifter failure. She could have ben seriously injured and GM is responsible for this.

NHTSA ID

11732911

Incident

Apr 21, 2026

TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON 8L90 8 SPEED TRANSMISSION. 93,000 MILES.

NHTSA ID

11732277

Incident

Apr 1, 2026

I am submitting this complaint to report what I believe to be a serious and systemic safety defect involving GM 6.2L engines equipped with fuel efficiency systems such as Active Fuel Management (AFM) or Dynamic Fuel Management (DFM). I have experienced catastrophic engine failure in two separate GMC Yukon Denali vehicles with nearly identical symptoms, which strongly suggests a broader design defect rather than isolated mechanical issues. My first vehicle, a 2015 GMC Yukon Denali XL, developed significant engine performance problems consistent with known lifter and camshaft failures widely reported in GM vehicles using these fuel efficiency systems. Due to ongoing reliability concerns and the financial burden of potential repair, I was forced to trade this vehicle at a loss. My second vehicle, a 2016 GMC Yukon Denali XL equipped with the same engine platform, suffered sudden and catastrophic engine failure in February 2026. This failure occurred abruptly and without meaningful prior warning, rendering the vehicle inoperable and creating a potentially hazardous situation. Sudden engine failure of this nature presents a significant safety risk, particularly if it occurs at highway speeds or in heavy traffic. An oil service had been performed on this vehicle in December 2025 at a Jiffy Lube franchise. After the failure, an independent service provider documented that the oil fill cap had been left loose. However, the Jiffy Lube franchise and its insurance carrier have denied responsibility, asserting that the engine failure is attributable to known defects and reliability issues associated with GM’s fuel efficiency engine systems. As a result, both the manufacturer and the service provider are denying responsibility for a catastrophic mechanical failure that has serious safety implications. This leaves consumers exposed to sudden engine failure risk with no meaningful recourse. Based on my direct experience with two separate vehicles exhibiting similar catastroph

NHTSA ID

11727109

Incident

Feb 28, 2026

AFM system failed resulting in engine replacement.

NHTSA ID

11719971

Incident

Nov 10, 2025

I was test driving the vehicle after some and as I was test, driving it, the steering lot up on me. Luckily, I was entering a residential area when it occurred down the street from my residency; in which I was able to drive it to my residency, during that short ride, you could smell a burning smell coming out along with some crackling noises. I had to get the vehicle towed a week later to the mechanic shop where they fix one of my engine problems and verified that I needed a new power steering unit and gave me a quote, I couldn’t afford the word and started doing research and came across the recall for the power steering within my vehicle year, make and model. I replaced the power steering unit, but I’m having a difficult time celebrating the system..

NHTSA ID

11719051

Incident

Jan 11, 2026

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