My tail light is out only on the brake part the dealers said I have to replace the hole light ive had my car no more than 2 years running well just the light problem the dealer said it happens alot but it was not under warranty they want to charge 600 dlls I think they should fix their issue an not have people spending this much for something they know they should fix
2016 GMC Yukon lighting problems
moderate 87 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $250 · see lighting across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
87
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$250
When does it fail?
Of the 87 lighting complaints filed for the 2016 GMC Yukon, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Lighting accounts for 33% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 9 categories tracked.
Owners have filed 87 lighting complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: 2016 Yukon owners report widespread LED rear tail light and brake light failures starting around 40,000–80,000 miles, requiring $500–$1,662 per assembly replacement with GM warranty expiring before failure occurs. GM's extended special coverage and TSB programs have inconsistent applicability, and headlight moisture intrusion is also documented.
The 2016 GMC Yukon shows a consistent pattern of LED tail light and brake light failure across dozens of complaints. Owners describe the rear brake lights and tail lights going dark intermittently or completely, with no warning to the driver. Because the LED elements are soldered into sealed assemblies, the entire unit must be replaced—not just a bulb. Dealer quotes run $500 to $1,662 per side.
Most failures occur between 29,000 and 80,000 miles, often just after the factory 3-year/36,000-mile warranty expires. Many owners report the internal circuit board develops cracks or metal connections fail under normal road vibration. One owner noted the LED works if you tap the assembly, suggesting a loose connection inside. GM issued a special coverage program (N182180270) for tail light repairs, but several owners report the coverage was denied or expired before their failure occurred.
Headlight fogging with internal moisture is also reported, with replacement costs exceeding $2,000. Dealers acknowledge the tail light issue is widespread—one owner was told "it happens a lot"—yet no factory recall has been issued. Some owners have found third-party services that repair the circuit boards rather than replace entire assemblies, though OEM parts from dealers are in short supply.
Same GMC Yukon lighting reports on nearby years: 2015 · 2017
Failure modes owners describe
Rear LED tail light and brake light failure
LED tail light and brake light assemblies fail completely or intermittently without warning. Owners report the entire sealed assembly requires replacement rather than individual LED bulbs, with no field-replaceable components.
When: Typically 29,400 to 134,000 miles; most failures occur just after or beyond standard warranty expiration (around 3–4 years and 40,000–80,000 miles on these model years).
Symptoms owners cite: Rear brake lights inoperative or intermittent; Passenger side tail light out; Driver side tail light out; Both tail light assemblies fail; Lights work intermittently then fail completely; Lights work when cool, fail when hot; Lights fail without warning while driving; Police citation for inoperative brake lights
Repairs/costs cited: Entire sealed tail light assembly must be replaced; individual LED bulbs cannot be replaced. Dealer quotes range from $500 to $1,662 per assembly (often two assemblies needed). Some owners report third-party repair services (LEDFix, Yukon Tail Light Repair) offering repair rather than replacement. One owner cited $492.75 out-of-pocket under 80/20 warranty offer.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: GM issued Special Coverage Adjustment N182180270 for tail lamp inoperative issues on some 2015–2016 Yukon models, but coverage expired or was denied for vehicles over certain mileage thresholds (typically 80,000 miles or beyond 5 years). GM extended warranty on some models (noted in TSB #10-08-64-002D for 2016–2018 Yukon LED turn signal/blind spot mirror issue), but many owners report notification was not received or coverage was denied. One dealer stated GM had extended warranty but contact was never notified. Manufacturer has acknowledged the issue internally but declined to recall.
Internal circuitry failure in LED tail light assembly
The printed circuit board or metal contacts inside the sealed LED tail light assembly crack or corrode, breaking the electrical connection to the LED elements. Owners describe metal fatigue and flimsy metal connections that fail under normal road vibration.
When: Typically within first 4 years or 43,000–79,000 miles, with some failures as early as 29,400 miles.
Symptoms owners cite: Tail light works intermittently, then fails completely; Tapping on the light assembly causes it to come on briefly, then go out again; Multiple locations on the circuit board are cracked; Rapid flickering of brake lights; Metal connection points corrode or break
Repairs/costs cited: Requires replacement of the entire sealed assembly. One owner reported the circuit board had cracked metal fatigue at multiple weak points. Dealer estimates $500–$1,662 per assembly. Some independent mechanics and third-party services repair the internal circuitry rather than replacing the whole unit.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: GM has not issued a recall. Some owners received TSB letters prompting diagnosis, but dealers either found no failure when the contact brought the vehicle in, or the failure recurred after the vehicle left the dealership. One dealer declined to purchase the part needed to repair the vehicle.
Headlight fogging and moisture intrusion
Both headlight assemblies develop internal moisture and fogging, obscuring the lens and eventually damaging the LED and HID components inside the sealed units.
When: One complaint cited 37,000 miles on a garage-kept vehicle.
Symptoms owners cite: Moisture visible inside headlight assembly; Fogging of headlight lens; Reduced visibility at night; Difficulty seeing road, especially on curvy roads
Repairs/costs cited: Headlight assemblies cost over $2,000 to replace. Extended warranty does not cover lens fogging or moisture intrusion. Dealer estimates not provided.
Left rear LED turn signal and blind spot detection failure
LED left turn signal and blind spot detection safety feature on the left outside rear view mirror suddenly stop working.
When: Not specified in narrative.
Symptoms owners cite: LED left turn signal stops working; Blind spot detection (safety feature) stops working
Repairs/costs cited: Not specified.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: TSB #10-08-64-002D issued for warranty coverage on 2016–2018 GM Yukon models for this defect, but owner was told their VIN is not covered under this warranty despite experiencing the same issue.
Dimness and inadequate range of headlight beam
Headlights are too dim and do not provide adequate visibility for safe night driving, particularly on curvy roads where beam distance is insufficient.
When: Not specified.
Symptoms owners cite: Headlights too dim; Inadequate visibility at night; Poor beam projection distance on curvy roads
Repairs/costs cited: Factory bulbs replaced with aftermarket brand with minimal improvement.
Synthesized from 87 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 5 most recent
Driver side rear LED brake light no longer works.
Driver side, rear lighting fixture not working. All lights for brakes, reverse, do not work. I had to replace the entire light assembly on the Passenger side previously.
The rear lights keep going out, I was told by the dealership that I would have to pay to replace them because my vehicle mileage is outside of the extended warranty. This is a common issue among the 2016 GMC yukon's and I do not think it is fair that I have to cover the repair.
2016 GMC yukon tail light not working. Started not working for a day or two and then worked again and then quit completely.
Had lighting trouble with your 2016 GMC Yukon?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the lighting problem on the 2016 GMC Yukon?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 87 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $250 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the lighting typically fail?
Across the 58 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most lighting failures cluster between 40,000 and 75,000 miles, with the median around 53,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 40,000; a quarter make it past 75,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $250 for lighting repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to lighting?
No active recalls currently cover lighting issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2016/GMC/Yukon.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.