2016 GMC Yukon XL · symptom sheet
Tail lights or brake lights fail
- 78owner reports
- 52,530median miles
- $709median quote
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Aug 11, 2023 · checked Oct 2, 2026
84 of the 201 complaints on this car are about the exterior lighting. 78 of those describe tail light failure, which makes it the most reported problem on the 2016 Yukon XL.
Tick what matches of 78 reports
Tail light failure on other Yukon XL years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2021, 2022, 2023, 2026.
What this problem usually is
These owners find a tail light or brake light dead, and then learn the fix is a whole lamp assembly rather than a bulb. Water inside the lens comes up again and again.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the LED module (30 reports), the tail light assembly (17 reports) and the bulb (6 reports).
Recalls and investigations
No recall on the exterior lighting covers the 2016 model year as of Oct 2, 2026.
What owners paid
41 of the 78 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $650 to $800.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 42,306 and 65,000 miles, from the 61 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 2 service bulletins or notices for the 2016 GMC Yukon XL that deal with this problem. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
This service bulletin provides information on Exterior Lamp Condensation and Water Leak Information and Replacement Guidelines.
This service bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on Exterior Lamp Condensation and Water Leaks and Replacement Guidelines.
What owners wrote
“My issue pertains to a known problem. The driver's side tail light has failed. GM issued Special Coverage Adjustment N182180270 because of this issue where the part was covered for up to 6 years or 72k miles. Mine failed after 6 years and 4 or 5 months at 66k miles. It's utterly ridiculous that a defective, $800 light is fine to break after 6 years with no warranty assistance.”
Filed Jun 6, 2022 · 72,000 miles
“The driverâs side brake light assembly failure of no brake light when brake is applied. It can be inspected upon request. This may cause another driver to not notice intentions to stop or slowdown and cause an accident. This problem is constant. It has not been inspected. No warnings of the failure has been displayed.”
Filed Jun 3, 2022
“The brake light LED panel stopped working on one side and goes out intermittently in the other side”
Filed Jul 30, 2021
“GM issues a specials service campaign N182180270 Tail lights Inoperative, goes to 72000 miles the subject vehicle has 75000. Both rear tail brake lights do not work and the third brake light.”
Filed Jun 30, 2021 · 72,000 miles
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 78 reports involved a crash. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Taking it to a shop? How to describe this problem so it gets found
Other problems on this car
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 41 reports