NHTSA vehicle safety data

2003 GMC Denali Recalls & Complaints

We couldn't confirm the NHTSA recall list for the 2003 GMC Denali right now, so this page doesn't state a recall count — check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls for current campaigns. 33 owner complaints are on file.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2003 GMC Denali.

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2003 GMC Denali owner complaints

Owners have filed 33 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 GMC Denali, describing incidents dated March 10, 2003 to January 1, 2018.

Most-cited components

Electrical System 7 complaints
Service Brakes 6 complaints
Steering 5 complaints
Vehicle Speed Control 5 complaints
Engine 3 complaints
Power Train 3 complaints

Of the 33 complaints on file, 3 report a crash; across all 33 complaints, owners report 1 injury (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #11165106 · Filed January 8, 2019
I HAVE HAD THE BREAK/STEERING FLUID BOOSTER REPLACED 3 TIMES IN A 6 MONTH PERIOD. HOW GMC CAN CALL THIS A "PROBLEM" BUT NOT A SAFETY ISSUE IS BEYOND ME. I HAVE LOOKED IT UP AND THOUSANDS HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THIS ALONG WITH ALIKE VEHICLES FROM THE SAME YEARS. THE BREAKS AND STEERING LOCK UP WHILE…
ODI #10849785 · Filed March 15, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 (NA) GMC DENALI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING WAS DIM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEADLIGHT BULBS FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF…
ODI #10651098 · Filed October 29, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC DENALI EQUIPPED WITH MICHELIN LTX MS20 TIRES, SIZE: LT245/75R16. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL FOUR TIRES CRACKED ON THE SIDEWALL. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT ALL THE TIRES HAD TREAD SEPARATION AND LOSS OF AIR PRESSURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE…

Read all 33 complaints

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2003 GMC Denali in 2 investigations. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

Defect Petition DP05-009: PARKING BRAKE FAILURE
Closed May 31, 2006
Engineering Analysis EA04-011: PARKING BRAKE FAILURE
Closed May 10, 2005
- Recall 05V-161

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

We couldn't confirm the NHTSA recall list for the 2003 GMC Denali right now — this is not a confirmed "no recalls". Check the VIN at NHTSA.gov/recalls for the official status.

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 2003 GMC Denali. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

33 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2003 GMC Denali.

Steering; Service Brakes

ODI #11165106

Crash

Incident: January 1, 2018 · Filed: January 8, 2019

I HAVE HAD THE BREAK/STEERING FLUID BOOSTER REPLACED 3 TIMES IN A 6 MONTH PERIOD. HOW GMC CAN CALL THIS A "PROBLEM" BUT NOT A SAFETY ISSUE IS BEYOND ME. I HAVE LOOKED IT UP AND THOUSANDS HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THIS ALONG WITH ALIKE VEHICLES FROM THE SAME YEARS. THE BREAKS AND STEERING LOCK UP WHILE DRIVING ESPECIALLY AROUND TURNS. IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS!!!!! I GUESS NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE HAVE DIED....UUGGHHH .... SO FRUSTRATING!!!!

Exterior Lighting

ODI #10849785

Incident: January 6, 2016 · Filed: March 15, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 (NA) GMC DENALI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING WAS DIM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEADLIGHT BULBS FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 12,000.

Tires

ODI #10651098

Incident: August 1, 2013 · Filed: October 29, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC DENALI EQUIPPED WITH MICHELIN LTX MS20 TIRES, SIZE: LT245/75R16. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL FOUR TIRES CRACKED ON THE SIDEWALL. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT ALL THE TIRES HAD TREAD SEPARATION AND LOSS OF AIR PRESSURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE AND TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Service Brakes

ODI #10596077

Incident: June 4, 2014 · Filed: June 4, 2014

ON JUNE 4, 2014, DRIVING ON A CLEAR, DRY AND SUNNY DAY IN MY 2003 GMC SIERRA DENALI PICKUP TRUCK. ON VIRGINIA DRIVE HEADING EASTBOUND IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY, PA, AT 32 MPH; WITH NORMAL BRAKING ACTION HEADING INTO A CURVE, THE BRAKE PEDAL SURPRISINGLY WENT TO THE FLOOR AND EXPERIENCED LOSS OF BRAKING. FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO NEGOTIATE THE TURN, NARROWLY ESCAPING RUNNING OFF THE ROAD, ONLY BECAUSE IT WAS TWO LANE ROAD IN EACH DIRECTION AND THERE WAS NO NEARBY TRAFFIC AT THE TIME. BRAKE FUNCTIONALITY NEVER RETURNED EXCEPT FOR MINIMAL CAPABILITY NEAR THE END OF PEDAL TRAVEL. PRELIMINARY INSPECTION AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE INDICATES THE BRAKE LINES SHOWED RUSTING IN GENERAL ON THE VEHICLE (AND ALSO THE ADJACENT FUEL LINES), MOSTLY NEAR THE FRONT SECTION OF THE VEHICLE; AND THE FAILURE SEEMED TO BE IN THE HOSE-TO-LINE COUPLING FROM THE BRAKE VALVE NEAR THE MASTER CYLINDER TO WHAT APPEARS TO BE THE ABS CONTROL ASSEMBLY MOUNTED ON THE FRAME UNDER THE DRIVER'S SEAT AREA. THE LINES IN THAT SUSPECTED FAILURE AREA APPEARED MOST SERIOUSLY RUSTED AND BULGED. CURRENTLY SPEAKING WITH A GMC DEALER TO UNDERSTAND THE REPAIR OPTIONS AND POSSIBLE RECALLS. *TR

Electrical System; Vehicle Speed Control; Engine

ODI #10565247

Incident: January 3, 2005 · Filed: February 21, 2014

AFTER JUST A FEW YEARS OF OWNERSHIP, MY 2003 DENALI, WHICH I PURCHASED BRAND NEW, STARTED TO HAVE "POWER DOWN" ISSUES. WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE WOULD JUST LOOSE POWER AND I WOULD HAVE TO PULL OVER AND RESTART THE VEHICLE. GMC HAS ALWAYS ACTED AS IF IT WAS NOT A BIG DEAL AND HAVE OFFERED MANY EXPENSIVE SOLUTIONS. EARLY ON I TRIED THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS AND IT WOULD HELP FOR A WHILE BUT THE PROBLEM ALWAYS COMES BACK. FURTHER, ALL OF MY GAUGES HAVE QUIT WORKING. AGAIN, GM OFFERS VERY EXPENSIVE SOLUTIONS, BUT WILL NEVER OWN UP TO THE FACT THAT THESE VEHICLES ARE DEFECTIVE. AFTER GOING THROUGH THIS FOR SEVERAL YEARS, I GOOGLED THESE ISSUES AND DISCOVERED THAT THERE ARE PAGES AND PAGES OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME ISSUES. I LOVE MY VEHICLE AND NOW HAVE 230,000 MILES ON IT. HOWEVER, I KNOW THAT THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND I AM ALWAYS CONSCIOUS THAT IT CAN HAPPEN AT ANY TIME. I AM ALWAYS PREPARED TO PULL OVER BUT THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES WHEN I WAS NEARLY REAR-ENDED BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. ALSO, I RARELY LET ANY OTHER FAMILY MEMBER DRIVE THE VEHICLE AND WHEN I DO I WARN THEM OF THE ISSUE SO THAT THEY ARE PREPARED. THIS ISSUE IS FIRST AND FOREMOST VERY DANGEROUS AND SECONDLY A TRUE HASSLE AND INCONVENIENCE. MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE POWERS DOWN. THIS HAS CAUSED ME TO HAVE TROUBLE PASSING EMISSIONS AS WELL. I HAVE WANTED TO TRADE OR SELL THE VEHICLE BUT I AM CONCERNED ABOUT MY LIABILITY KNOWING ABOUT THIS ISSUE. *TR

Vehicle Speed Control; Electronic Stability Control (ESC)

ODI #10525211

Incident: April 15, 2013 · Filed: July 16, 2013

I AM FILING A COMPLAINT DUE TO A REDUCED ENGINE PROBLEM AND STABILITY CONTROL WHICH KEEPS ENABLING ME TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. ONCE THIS LIGHT AND POWER REDUCES I NEED TO PULL OVER FROM MY DESTINATION AND TURN ENGINE OFF COMPLETELY. I COUNT ABOUT TEN SECONDS IN ORDER TO RESTART THE VEHICLE... ONLY TO START IT AND HAVING IT REDUCE AGAIN. SEVERAL LIGHTS ON DASH BOARD REMAIN ON SUCH AS ENGINE. I HAVE TRIED FIXING THE PROBLEM BUT I GUESS NO ONE REALLY KNOWS HOW TO REPAIR AND THIS HAS BEEN COSTLY. I HAVE READ RESOURCES/CONSUMERS WITH THE SAME YEAR AND VEHICLE MAKE, AND HAVE FOUND THAT THEY HAVE OCCURRED THE SAME PROBLEM. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THIS HAS BEEN A RECALL ON THE GMC CO. AND OR WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND APPARENTLY IT DOES HAVE TO DO WITH GMC THE MANUFACTURE AND WOULD LIKE TO RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM. *TR

Service Brakes, Air

ODI #10455716

Incident: April 15, 2012 · Filed: April 18, 2012

WITHIN ABOUT 10 MILES OF A MODERATE BRAKING SITUATION AND REACHING HOME, BRAKE PEDAL BECAME PROGRESSIVELY SOFTER AT EACH SUCCESSIVE STOP UNTIL COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE OCCURRED NEAR HOME. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS USED TO SLOW AND STOP VEHICLE IN DRIVEWAY (HOME). RIGHT FRONT STEEL BRAKE LINE WAS FOUND TO HAVE BURST DUE TO EXTENSIVE RUST/CORROSION. EXTENSIVE CORROSION OF MOST BRAKE LINES WAS FOUND AND REPAIRED AT CONSIDERABLE COST AS A PREVENTIVE MEASURE TO HELP AVOID ACCIDENT OR INJURY. THE LOCAL GMC DEALER WAS NOT AWARE OF A RELATED RECALL FOR THIS VEHICLE AND WOULD ONLY REPAIR THE SUV AT THE PREVAILING RATE SINCE A WARRANTY WAS NOT IN EFFECT. THIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE RECALLED AND REPAIRED BY THE MANUFACTURER TO ADDRESS THIS POTENTIALLY CATASTROPHIC DEFECT. *JS

Fuel System, Gasoline; Equipment; Electrical System

ODI #10402393

Incident: March 15, 2010 · Filed: May 23, 2011

I HAVE A 2003 YUKON DENALI AND WHEN IT HIT THE 65,000 MILES MARK THE FUEL GAUGE STOPPED WORKING LEAVING ME TO TELL HOW MUCH GAS I HAD LEFT USING THE AUTOMATIC COMPUTER TELLING YOU HOW MANY MILES TO EMPTY. NEXT THE OIL GAUGES STOPPED WORKING. FINALLY REACHING 80,000 MILES MY SPEED ODOMETER QUITE WORKING LEAVING ME TO NOT KNOWING THE SPEED I AM TRAVELING THIS QUITE WORKING WHILE I WAS DRIVING DOWN A HIGHWAY. TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE MY RPMS ARE STARTING TO GO GOOFY WHICH MEANS THAT TO IS GOING TO STOP WORKING AS WELL. I WAS TOLD THAT HAVING MY DASH TAKEN OFF AND FIXED COULD RUN ANYWHERE BETWEEN 1,000.00 NOT INCLUDING LABOR FEES. WHICH IS CRAZY THAT GMC DOESN'T STAND BEHIND ITS WORK. PEOPLE CANT AFFORD TO BE PAYING FOR THIS TO GET FIXED LET ALONE SPEEDING TICKETS. I BELIEVE SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE AFTER READING ABOUT SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM WITH THE ALL HAVING THE SAME YEAR YUKON DENALI.. YOU PAY ALL THIS MONEY FOR A VEHICLE AND SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPENS!!! *TR

Vehicle Speed Control

ODI #10393087

Incident: March 1, 2010 · Filed: March 28, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC DENALI. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER A FEW MINUTES, THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED YET THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE PERSISTED INTERMITTENTLY BUT RECURRED MOST DURING WARMER TEMPERATURES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TWO DIFFERENT DEALERS AND AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE THROTTLE BODY, WIRING HARNESS AND SENSORS WERE REPLACED. THE TIRES WERE ROTATED AND THE PRESSURE WAS CHECKED BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE THROTTLE BODY WAS REPLACED A SECOND TIME BUT STILL THERE WAS NO RESOLUTION TO THE FAILURE. WHEN PERFORMING A DIAGNOSTIC ON THE VEHICLE, THE SAME EXACT FAILURE CODES WERE ALWAYS GENERATED ADVISING OF A THROTTLE BODY FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. UPDATED 5/2/11 *CN UPDATED 1/11/11 *CN

Electrical System; Equipment

ODI #10358855

Incident: August 12, 2010 · Filed: October 2, 2010

I PURCHASED A 1999 YUKON DENALI FROM MY FORMER BROTHER N LAW; HE DIDN'T INFORM ME THAT MY WINDOWS, DOOR LOCKS, RADIO,AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD STOP WORKING. I WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED A BODY CONTROL MODULE; ONE GMC MECHANIC ASKED ME WHAT DOES THIS PART DO. I'M A LADY HOW WOULD I KNOW THESE THINGS. I STILL DON'T HAVE MY VEHICLE REPAIRED. WILL THIS CAUSE ME OTHER PROBLEMS OR CAN I CONTINUE TO DRIVE OFF A WING AND A PRAYER? *TR

Other GMC Denali model years

Check your 2003 GMC Denali VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your GMC Denali at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

Check a GMC VIN