2016 GMC Yukon transmission and drivetrain problems
75 of the 517 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2016 GMC Yukon name the transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA’s “Power Train” heading — the transmission, transfer case, driveshafts, axles and differentials — NHTSA files them under one heading). Filed under the same heading: 546 manufacturer bulletins. Every figure below is a document in a federal file, linked; none is a failure rate, and none is a verdict on any one car.
What owners filed about the transmission and drivetrain
Source: NHTSA complaint database0 of the 75 reports a crash · 0 a fire · 0 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2015: 1 · 2016: 4 · 2018: 2 · 2019: 15 · 2020: 9 · 2021: 6 · 2022: 9 · 2023: 2 · 2024: 7 · 2025: 13 · 2026: 7
Half of the 37 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the transmission and drivetrain problem between 55,000 and 92,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
517 complaints in all about the 2016 GMC Yukon, 7 filed in 2026. The whole picture, every system →
Counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many of these were sold; nothing here is a rate. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so “Power Train” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: GMC Yukon transmission and drivetrain problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the transmission and drivetrain. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
The contact owns a 2016 GMC Yukon Denali. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the transmission was slipping between gear. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the failure could not be duplicated. The dealer replaced the transmission fluid twice; however, the failure recurred.
Automatic 8 speed transmission shudder issues. Slipping, Jerking, clunking, delay, loss of power. Local GMC "replaced fluid as in latest service bulletin"
Vehicle shudders, jerks excessively, and shifts erratically when accelerating. Had transmission serviced, fluid flushed, pan cleaned, transmission filter changed. Metal shavings were found in the pan and filter and covering magnet in pan. During flush metal shavings were recovered from oil cooler.
My 2016 Gmc Yukon sle vibrates really bad on high speeds starts from 70mph and up I took it to do a wheel balance and the problem is still there also I check the VIN for any recalls and nothing I search and I have seen that all chevy tahoes cadillac escalade Gmc Yukon have the same problem and they havent fix it.
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 maneveur.
What is on file about the transmission and drivetrain
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications546 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading
The 0 newest are listed; every one is on the model year’s page. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.
Trouble codes named on this system
Codes a bulletin or an owner’s complaint about the 2016 GMC Yukon names on this model year; a code with a record of its own links it.
Other systems with a record on the 2016 GMC Yukon
Source: the same files- brake problems 98 complaints
- electrical problems 90 complaints
- engine problems 64 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre transmission and drivetrain problems common on the 2016 GMC Yukon?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 75 owner complaints naming the transmission and drivetrain on this model year (15% of everything owners filed about it), and 546 manufacturer bulletins are filed under the same heading. Whether it is a problem on one particular car is a diagnosis, not a count, and a count says nothing about how many were sold.
Is there a recall for the transmission and drivetrain on the 2016 GMC Yukon?
No recall campaign is filed under this heading for this model year (there are 5 filed under other headings). A bulletin is not a recall: it carries no federal duty to repair for free.
When do transmission and drivetrain problems show up on the 2016 GMC Yukon?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 80,100 miles; half of them between 55,000 and 92,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Power Train" heading cover?
The transmission, transfer case, driveshafts, axles and differentials — NHTSA files them under one heading. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.