OT 2015-16 GMC Yukon

[otismotis08]

Looks like it finally time to retire the old Navigator. We're looking at a 2015 or 2016 GMC Yukon, probably a Denali. Any experiences or suggestions?

ugh...football season needs to get here soon.

 

[kerpal_68]

I've been a GM tech for the last 12 years and if my wife would have drove one I would have bought her one. She didn't want such a big vehicle so we bought a 19 Traverse.

 

[otismotis08]

I've been a GM tech for the last 12 years and if my wife would have drove one I would have bought her one. She didn't want such a big vehicle so we bought a 19 Traverse.

So thumbs up on a 2015-16 Yukon Denali? Any issues to watch out for?

 

[kerpal_68]

So thumbs up on a 2015-16 Yukon Denali? Any issues to watch out for?

A/C condensers are their biggest problem at this time. I think most of them GM put a special policy out extending the warranty on the condenser though. We will randomly see lifter problems on some but like any vehicle change your oil and don't follow the oil life monitor you will be fine.

 

[ZJSARENOTFREE]

I've been a GM tech for the last 12 years and if my wife would have drove one I would have bought her one. She didn't want such a big vehicle so we bought a 19 Traverse.

We looked at a Tahoe, a Denali, escalade etc... You are correct in the traverse is the way to go. A better look and the seats for us had a lot more room. Lot's of wasted space (for us) in the Tahoe/Yukon.... My parents have a Traverse and love it.

 

[kerpal_68]

I just usually recommend people buying the second generation Traverse as the GM lamda generation made me a lot of money. Thats the older traverses, acadias, enclaves, and outlooks.

 

[lightningjack]

Looks like it finally time to retire the old Navigator. We're looking at a 2015 or 2016 GMC Yukon, probably a Denali. Any experiences or suggestions?

ugh...football season needs to get here soon.

I would look for a CPO https://www.gmc.com/certified-pre-owned Certified Pre Owned in a 2016, with around 30K on the odometer coming off of a lease. There seem to be more trouble spots with the 15's than the 16's. The 16's seem to have some issues with in vehicle electronics more than the 15's.

There is a big issue with the 8 speed transmission behind the 6.2 Liter (clunking, shuddering) that is out there right now, Class action lawsuit pending. They don't seem to have a fix yet, no recall as of yet either. Go with the 5.3 liter and get the older 6 speed, seems to be a more reliable setup.

There have been 3 recalls for the 16's, about 8 for the 15's, Frontal air bags and a Front control arm would be the ones to watch for on the 16's to see if these have been corrected. The A/C condenser like kerpal_68 mentioned popped up as well on a search. Punch in the VIN# here to see of anything pops up on one your interested in. https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls

I'm not a fan of the 20" or 22" wheels, rougher ride unless you get the magnetic ride control but to each their own. They look pretty solid overall, I would stay away from the 8 speed tranny though. Just reading a lot of ugly things.

Good luck

 

[mgbreeze]

I have a 2016 Yukon Denali that's got 30,000 on it. No real issues, a couple of annoyances. Every once in awhile when leaving from a stop it feels like you've been rear-ended. The jolt is something to do with the transmission and the dealership says it's normal. It's definitely not normal, and my father in law's GMC pickup does the same thing. The only other complaint is the engine makes quite a bit of rattling noises at times, which I suspect is a result of the displacement on demand system. We love the truck for the most part. The 6.2 has loads of power.

 

[HuskerLove]

I have a 2016 Yukon Denali that's got 30,000 on it. No real issues, a couple of annoyances. Every once in awhile when leaving from a stop it feels like you've been rear-ended. The jolt is something to do with the transmission and the dealership says it's normal. It's definitely not normal, and my father in law's GMC pickup does the same thing. The only other complaint is the engine makes quite a bit of rattling noises at times, which I suspect is a result of the displacement on demand system. We love the truck for the most part. The 6.2 has loads of power.

I have a Toyota 4Runner that did this exact same thing - the fix was to remove some shaft and then regrease it. The mechanic at Toyota knew exactly what I was talking about and it only cost like $100 to have done. Did this around a year ago and it hasn’t ‘jolted’ since.

I have a 2016 Yukon Denali that's got 30,000 on it. No real issues, a couple of annoyances. Every once in awhile when leaving from a stop it feels like you've been rear-ended. The jolt is something to do with the transmission and the dealership says it's normal. It's definitely not normal, and my father in law's GMC pickup does the same thing. The only other complaint is the engine makes quite a bit of rattling noises at times, which I suspect is a result of the displacement on demand system. We love the truck for the most part. The 6.2 has loads of power.

 

[kerpal_68]

There is a big issue with the 8 speed transmission behind the 6.2 Liter (clunking, shuddering) that is out there right now, Class action lawsuit pending. They don't seem to have a fix yet, no recall as of yet either. Go with the 5.3 liter and get the older 6 speed, seems to be a more reliable setup.

I'm not a fan of the 20" or 22" wheels, rougher ride unless you get the magnetic ride control but to each their own. They look pretty solid overall, I would stay away from the 8 speed tranny though. Just reading a lot of ugly things.

Good luck

GM has came out with a flush procedure for the 8 speeds and I have yet to have one come back after being flushed. The fluid has been redesigned 3 or 4 times. As for the recalls I wouldn't worry about as they have to legally be repaired by the dealer before its sold. I would agree with the 22" rims riding a little rougher. For as far back as you can go the 6.2 liter has had a little bit of a piston slap noise on cold start up. I think the 5.3 had plenty of power though.

 

[kerpal_68]

I have a 2016 Yukon Denali that's got 30,000 on it. No real issues, a couple of annoyances. Every once in awhile when leaving from a stop it feels like you've been rear-ended. The jolt is something to do with the transmission and the dealership says it's normal. It's definitely not normal, and my father in law's GMC pickup does the same thing. The only other complaint is the engine makes quite a bit of rattling noises at times, which I suspect is a result of the displacement on demand system. We love the truck for the most part. The 6.2 has loads of power.

Have they updated the calibrations in your transmission control module had relearned the clutches?

 

[dinglefritz]

Looks like it finally time to retire the old Navigator. We're looking at a 2015 or 2016 GMC Yukon, probably a Denali. Any experiences or suggestions?

ugh...football season needs to get here soon.

IF you're used to a Navigator you probably won't like a Yukon IMO. The GMC and Chevy full sized SUVs are noisier than the Ford/Lincoln equivalents and the newer Expeditions with moon roofs are noisier than the pre-2015 Expeditions. I've got an older Expedition EL with 125K on it and I've thought about trading it off but every time I go drive a newer Expedition or Yukon, I come away saying my old one is quieter and rides nicer. So do I keep Big Red and drive til the wheels fall off and she gets skin cancer or do I bite the bullet and buy the new lighter tinny model? The recycled metal they're putting in the post 2014 vehicles is complete crap. You get a fender ding and you have to replace a whole quarter panel or box side in a pickup. The rear wheel well design on the post 2014 GM pickups and SUVs is complete crap and if you drive on gravel they'll get rocks behind the shroud and they dent the metal from the inside out. Junk. Mechanically there's a lot to like about the new turbo 6s in the Expedition. I have a friend who has a late model Yukon Denali who did the regular recommended service intervals and the engine shelled out at 60,000K. I don't think that's usual but it happens.

 

[lightningjack]

GM has came out with a flush procedure for the 8 speeds and I have yet to have one come back after being flushed. The fluid has been redesigned 3 or 4 times. As for the recalls I wouldn't worry about as they have to legally be repaired by the dealer before its sold. I would agree with the 22" rims riding a little rougher. For as far back as you can go the 6.2 liter has had a little bit of a piston slap noise on cold start up. I think the 5.3 had plenty of power though.

I'm glad they hopefully have a fix for that tranny, a lot of horror stories on those out there.
I'm gonna politely partially disagree on the selling a vehicle with a recall, they can't sell a new vehicle with an open recall. But they can sell a used vehicle with an open recall. I would think any dealer that is selling their same make in used vehicles would have that fixed simply because it's guaranteed money from the manufacturer, whether they got the vehicle it in on trade or auto auction. I see used vehicles with open recalls all the time, it shows up on the Carfax or Autocheck report. Not that that particular dealer has to get it fixed if it's not their same make, I just want people to be aware if their is one on a vehicle they might be looking at.

 

[TravisWalker]

The wife has a 2018 Yukon Denali. Loves it!!!

 

[kerpal_68]

I'm glad they hopefully have a fix for that tranny, a lot of horror stories on those out there.
I'm gonna politely partially disagree on the selling a vehicle with a recall, they can't sell a new vehicle with an open recall. But they can sell a used vehicle with an open recall..

Yep I was wrong after looking into it more. Guess I'm just used to the gm vehicles we take in on trade get done.

 

[otismotis08]

Bought a 2015 Yukon Denali over the weekend. Loving it. Ride is a little stiff, but hey it's a truck right?