2015 YUKON NOISE IN CABIN

boazEarl8 · December 9, 2015

My dealer is replacing my vehicle. I had the XL but wondering if the non-XL will work just as well for my travel needs. Other than length and the 3rd row not being as comfortable are there any other differences?

Awesome news, but for me, if I didn't need the length of the LWB, I'd consider a different SUV

I know it's buried in the thread, but can you just summarize everything you tried? Is the dealer taking it themselves (and they will fight GM for the buyback), or did you get a buyback approved?

If the dealer is doing you a solid, you should advertise them.

Edited December 9, 2015 by boazEarl8

yahtzee · December 9, 2015

Awesome news, but for me, if I didn't need the length of the LWB, I'd consider a different SUV

I know it's buried in the thread, but can you just summarize everything you tried? Is the dealer taking it themselves (and they will fight GM for the buyback), or did you get a buyback approved?

If the dealer is doing you a solid, you should advertise them.

What else is there comparable, even to the short one?

Hate the Infinity, Sequoia is dated, Land Cruiser has crappy 3rd row seat config, X5 is small (had a '13 X5 5.0), hated the GL 430, not even considering a Ford, etc.

My dealer has been fantastic so far. I'll be singing their praises once this is finalized. All appears well so far re: the process but it's not over. I believe this is the dealer handling everything on their own. I'm almost 4 months in. They've paid 2 lease payments and the check is approved for the other two. Cautiously optimistic.

yukontruckman · December 9, 2015

What else is there comparable, even to the short one?

Hate the Infinity, Sequoia is dated, Land Cruiser has crappy 3rd row seat config, X5 is small (had a '13 X5 5.0), hated the GL 430, not even considering a Ford, etc.

My dealer has been fantastic so far. I'll be singing their praises once this is finalized. All appears well so far re: the process but it's not over. I believe this is the dealer handling everything on their own. I'm almost 4 months in. They've paid 2 lease payments and the check is approved for the other two. Cautiously optimistic.

I know you are aware, but the SWB doesn't guarantee booming/buffeting free. Will be interested to see if you are able to find a SWB that is problem free.

cltsig · December 9, 2015

Newbie here but my experience so far. Drove a 2016 Yukon 4WD SWB SLT with 22's. We were unaware of the buffetting/vibration issues before the test drive but boy was it bad, almost unbearable for 10 minutes. Upon returning home I found this site. From the sounds of this thread it seems like it is 100% going to happen at some level. So we then drove a few 2016 Tahoes - LTZ, 4WD, one with 22's, one with 20's. The ones with 20's drove better but still had some buffetting. After writing off this line, we figured we would try again. Like somebody mentioned earlier, there is nothing else in this category. Infiniti is hard to see what is going on with those curves on the hood, plus way outdated tech. Sequoia is WAYYY outdated and horrible mileage. Everything else too small or way overpriced (Hello Land Cruiser).

So we went back to the GMC dealer and drove a 2WD, SWB Denali with 20's. The only noise we heard were some trucklike booms going over bumps at low speed which is to be expected, at least to me anway. No ear pressure, no vibrations, no buffeting, seemed pretty normal for what one would expect from an SUV on a truck frame. I asked the salesperson about this issue and he said (swallow grain of salt) that the issue is known and has been addressed by GM in the Yukons by changing glass vendors. The new glass is thicker and has more sound deadening. He said they've had numerous Tahoe's on trade due to this issue and the Yukons they've been replaced with don't have it. I'm not sure I buy it but that's the first I've heard of this resolution.

We're testing driving the vehicle for a few days to see how it does. So far the wife (the one who is most bothered by the buffeting/vibration) says she doesn't feel it at all. So far so good.

In conclusion, I doubt the issue has been resolved by thicker glass because another 2016 Yukon with 22's had it in a bad way. I think it is some combination of wheels, 4WD components and the design of the roof being super susceptible to those. However, it does not appear that all Tahoes and Yukons have this issue. FWIW, the vehicle we're driving now has a build date of 09/15.

Edited December 9, 2015 by cltsig

Zig10 · December 10, 2015

Interesting update from my dealer... The rear differential showed no signs of abnormal wear anywhere. Further, all of the tires were shown to have low road force issues. The picometer results also indicate that the vehicle should be fine.

With all that said, they drove 4 other Yukon XLs on the lot, from SLEs to Denalis, and confirmed that while all of them have some distortion between 30-50 MPH, mine has the buffetting noise significantly worse than any of the others.

So, the $70,000 question is, where do you from here?

Cl Houn · December 10, 2015

Interesting update from my dealer... The rear differential showed no signs of abnormal wear anywhere. Further, all of the tires were shown to have low road force issues. The picometer results also indicate that the vehicle should be fine.

With all that said, they drove 4 other Yukon XLs on the lot, from SLEs to Denalis, and confirmed that while all of them have some distortion between 30-50 MPH, mine has the buffetting noise significantly worse than any of the others.

So, the $70,000 question is, where do you from here?

How educated are they with the picoscope. Is yours the first vehicle they used it on

Zig10 · December 10, 2015

How educated are they with the picoscope. Is yours the first vehicle they used it on

It's the first Yukon they have used it on, but they seemed to have extensive experience with it on the current generation Sierras. I had no reason to believe they didn't understand the issues.

Today at lunch I met with the sales manager and test drove an SLE with 20" rims and a Denali with 22"s, both 2016. Neither of them had the buffetting / pressure issue. Both had some of the "booming" across rough pavement, but nothing that I would have considered a problem.

So, the dealer is arranging a buy back for a new 2016 clone of mine. They will let the tech who confirmed my issue test drive it before I come pick it up.

Still sucks that it's gone this far, but at least it looks like there is an end in sight.

Edited December 10, 2015 by Zig10

Cl Houn · December 12, 2015

Question I have is can you get the buffeting without the vibration, anyone have this?

boazEarl8 · December 13, 2015

Question I have is can you get the buffeting without the vibration, anyone have this?

Yes

Zig10 · December 13, 2015

Question I have is can you get the buffeting without the vibration, anyone have this?

That is exactly what my current Yukon has going on. Buffetting only.

Also got the work order today to see what they tried:

Roof bow bulletin

Rear differential, including pinion bearing and gear lash adjustment

Road force balance all tires

Remove, "relax", reinstall exhast system

"Performed cabin mount settling procedure and clear codes".

I would love to know how you relax an exhaust system. Some nice wine and a full body massage? I would also love to know what was entailed in the last item as well.

In any event, none of it fixed the problem.

FogDucker · December 13, 2015

That is exactly what my current Yukon has going on. Buffetting only.

Also got the work order today to see what they tried:

Roof bow bulletin

Rear differential, including pinion bearing and gear lash adjustment

Road force balance all tires

Remove, "relax", reinstall exhast system

"Performed cabin mount settling procedure and clear codes".

I would love to know how you relax an exhaust system. Some nice wine and a full body massage? I would also love to know what was entailed in the last item as well.

In any event, none of it fixed the problem.

Did they replace your whole rear axle or just the ring/pinion/diff?

FogDucker · December 13, 2015

Have been strongly considering purchasing an 2016 Denali Yukon XL but after reading through these posts I am a little apprehensive of doing so. Will wait and see what happens for now.

I regret buying my 2015i Yukon. I knew about this issue before ordering it and made the erroneous assumption that GM would have addressed this either by the time mine was built [April 2015] or within a year of the first reports of this issue.

I have buyers remorse every time I drive my Yukon at highway speeds. I'm aggravated at all the time I've spent with GM Canada, GM USA and my dealership trying to get answers. I regret all the time I've spent on this forum and other forums trying to piece together what the cause of these issues are and who's done what. I'm angered, mostly with myself, that I bought my the most expensive vehicle that I've ever bought knowing that there was a good chance that it was flawed. I disheartened that so many of you are experiencing exactly the same problem and very few have had it fully resolved. I'm disappointed that 2016s exhibit exactly the same problems.

Last week, I threw a hail mary and emailed several GM executives that work within the K2XX platform. I did get a phone call, but as soon as they learned that I was from Canada, their tune changed. I have always been adamant about buying North American vehicles. Better service and support I thought. Support local businesses, trades and industries.

And here I am with my $70K vibrating/buffeting vehicle with Chinese wheels, a Mexican rear end and deep regret.

What a debacle and more importantly, life lesson.

Cl Houn · December 13, 2015

That magazine needs to interview. That pretty much sums it up

Zig10 · December 13, 2015

I regret buying my 2015i Yukon. I knew about this issue before ordering it and made the erroneous assumption that GM would have addressed this either by the time mine was built [April 2015] or within a year of the first reports of this issue.

I have buyers remorse every time I drive my Yukon at highway speeds. I'm aggravated at all the time I've spent with GM Canada, GM USA and my dealership trying to get answers. I regret all the time I've spent on this forum and other forums trying to piece together what the cause of these issues are and who's done what. I'm angered, mostly with myself, that I bought my the most expensive vehicle that I've ever bought knowing that there was a good chance that it was flawed. I disheartened that so many of you are experiencing exactly the same problem and very few have had it fully resolved. I'm disappointed that 2016s exhibit exactly the same problems.

Last week, I threw a hail mary and emailed several GM executives that work within the K2XX platform. I did get a phone call, but as soon as they learned that I was from Canada, their tune changed. I have always been adamant about buying North American vehicles. Better service and support I thought. Support local businesses, trades and industries.

And here I am with my $70K vibrating/buffeting vehicle with Chinese wheels, a Mexican rear end and deep regret.

What a debacle and more importantly, life lesson.

While I didn't know about this issue with the pressure before I bought, I feel the same way. By far the most expensive vehicle I have ever purchased, and with it the biggest headache and most frustrations. Then to have GM balk at replacing them when it is a known issue is just unconscionable. Where the hell was the NVH team during the design of this vehicle? I can't believe I am about to say this, but I should have bought the Ford...

To answer your previous question, the diff was all in spec, so they did not replace the rear. I forgot to mention they also changed out the prop shaft, but that obviously didn't help either.

By the way, why the heck does it matter if you are in Canada, and why haven't you gone after them via a Lemon Law case? EDIT - I just read about how car companies divide support between Canada and the US. I think it's BS that they won't respond to you because you're North of the border. What a crock.

Edited December 13, 2015 by Zig10

yahtzee · December 13, 2015

Good news. Tomorrow, the article from autoguide.com highlighting the buffeting and vibration issues will go live. I have read it and Stephen Elmer did a great job highlighting owner's experiences as well as the lack of attention GM has given to these issues. If nothing else, I am hoping it will get someone's attention at GM who says, "This really could be an issue - let's get a team on it."

Stay tuned.