IllustrationTHE REAR LED BRAKE TAIL LIGHT STOPPED WORKING DUE TO A CRACK IN THE CONDUCTIVE PLATE INSIDE THE ASSEMBLY.
2015 GMC Yukon Denali Xl
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2015 GMC Yukon Denali Xl do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 29.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Yukon Denali Xl years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
20–25K
1225–50K
2950–75K
775–100K
5100–150K
0150K+
55 reports with mileage · 10 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Exterior Lighting. Review the 36 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
Exterior Lighting complaints
36 reportsTAIL LIGHT NO LONGER WORKING. SAFETY HAZARD. IT STARTED FLASHING INTERMITTENTLY AND SMELLING FUNNY NOW IT WON'T WORK AT ALL. THIS WILL CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AND OF COURSE IT'S NOT UNDER WARRANTY AS I'M AT 60K BUT GMC WILL DO NOTHING FOR IT EVEN THOUGH THIS IS A WIDELY KNOWN ISSUE. I CONTACTED THEM AND THEY WILL DO NOTHING!
TAILIGHT BRAKE LIGHT NOT WORKING, NO REPLACEMENT BULB AVAILABLE, GM SAYS MUST BE ENTIRE UNIT AND HOUSING FOR $701. THIS IS RIDICULOUS AND ONEROUS. THIS IS CLEARLY A DEFECTIVE DESIGN AND DEFECTIVE PART. SHOULD BE REPLACED OR REPAIRED FOR FREE.
AFTER ABOUT 1 YEAR OF OWNING THIS VERY EXPENSIVE VEHICLE (BOUGHT IT WHEN IT WAS ABOUT 2 YEARS OLD, IE. 2017) USED FROM A GMC DEALER - THE DRIVERS SIDE TAIL LIGHT STARTED WORKING ONLY INTERMITTENTLY AND THEN STOP WORKING ALL TOGETHER. I HAD THE DEALER ESTIMATE THE REPLACEMENT COST AND THEY TOLD ME IT WOULD BE $1,500 TO REPLACE B…
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AFTER ABOUT 1 YEAR OF OWNING THIS VERY EXPENSIVE VEHICLE (BOUGHT IT WHEN IT WAS ABOUT 2 YEARS OLD, IE. 2017) USED FROM A GMC DEALER - THE DRIVERS SIDE TAIL LIGHT STARTED WORKING ONLY INTERMITTENTLY AND THEN STOP WORKING ALL TOGETHER. I HAD THE DEALER ESTIMATE THE REPLACEMENT COST AND THEY TOLD ME IT WOULD BE $1,500 TO REPLACE BOTH TAIL LIGHTS (SAID I NEEDED TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE ASSEMBLY BECAUSE THEY WERE LED????). THIS IS ABSURD ON SO MANY LEVELS...THESE ARE ONE OF THE MOST EXPENSIVE VEHICLES ON THE MARKET AND WITHIN ONLY A FEW YEARS THE TAIL LIGHTS NEED TO REPLACED...AT AN OUTRAGEOUS COST. MY LAST YUKON (2007) DIDN'T HAVE A TAIL LIGHT GO OUT FOR MANY YEARS...AND I BOUGHT A REPLACEMENT BULB FOR $3 AND DID IT MYSELF. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH, IT APPEARS TO BE A "COMMON" ISSUE FOR THESE GMC VEHICLES...AND THE FACT THAT GMC IS WELL AWARE OF THIS IS DOING NOTHING ABOUT A KNOWN AND PERSISTENT ISSUE IS FRUSTRATING.
DRIVERS SIDE BRAKE LIGHT SOMETIMES WORKS, SOMETIMES DOESN'T.
PASSENGER SIDE LED BRAKE LIGHT DOES NOT WORK WHEN BRAKING. ASSEMBLY HAS BEEN REMOVED AND SWITCHED WITH DRIVER SIDE TO VERIFY THAT IT IS NOT THE WIRING HARNESS OR ANY ELECTRICAL BETWEEN THE BRAKES AND THE LED BRAKE LIGHTS.
REPLACED BOTH FRONT STRUTS AT AROUND 91,000 MILES. DEALER SAID STRUTS HAD "LOCKED UP". DEALER REPLACED STRUTS ON FEBRUARY 19, 2018 AT A COST OF $1,818.66. LED BRAKE LIGHTS QUIT WORKING. NOT SURE OF EXACT DATE WHEN THE BRAKE LIGHTS QUIT WORKING.
VEHICLE STARTED HAVING A VIBRATION AT CRUISING SPEEDS AFTER 100K MILES. DEALERSHIP STATES THE DRIVESHAFT IS WHARPED AND NEEDS REPLACING.. REAR TAILLIGHTS ALSO ARE GOING IN AND OUT INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER CLAIMS THE LEDS ARE BAD AND THE WHOLE LIGHT ASSEMBLY NEEDS REPLACING. I HAVE OWNED MANY VEHICLES AND HAVE NEVER HAD ISSUES WITH…
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VEHICLE STARTED HAVING A VIBRATION AT CRUISING SPEEDS AFTER 100K MILES. DEALERSHIP STATES THE DRIVESHAFT IS WHARPED AND NEEDS REPLACING.. REAR TAILLIGHTS ALSO ARE GOING IN AND OUT INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER CLAIMS THE LEDS ARE BAD AND THE WHOLE LIGHT ASSEMBLY NEEDS REPLACING. I HAVE OWNED MANY VEHICLES AND HAVE NEVER HAD ISSUES WITH A BENT DRIVESHAFT OR DEFECTIVE TAILLIGHTS THAT REQUIRE THE WHOLE ASSEMBLY TO BE REPLACED. THE LIGHT ASSEMBLY IS $750 QUOTED BY DEALERSHIP.
DRIVER REAR BRAKE LIGHT IS OUT.
MY PASSENGER SIDE TAIL BRAKE LIGHT WORKS INCONSISTENTLY
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1PE18012 · Brake Vacuum Pump Failure
Opened Nov 20, 2018 · Closed Apr 10, 2022
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes; Service Brakes, Hydraulic; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist:vacuum
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.
Additional source detail variants (3)
Service Brakes
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.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
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.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist:vacuum
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.