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2001 GMC Denali

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →
22Owner complaints

Model-year median: 8.5

1Recall campaigns

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1Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
14
199921
200022
200123
200232
2003
Compare all Denali years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Power Train
5Engine And Engine Cooling
3Fuel System, Gasoline
3Service Brakes, Hydraulic
3Steering
3
All reported categories
Air Bags
2Electrical System
2Service Brakes
2Exterior Lighting
1Parking Brake
1Seat Belts
1Seats
1Structure
1Suspension
1Unknown Or Other
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 17 of 22 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

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.

  • Power Train. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

2 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

2 reports
Clear category filter
90,000 miles · Jun 18, 2008
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingPower Train

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 GMC DENALI. EVERYTIME THE VEHICLE UNDERGOES A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE, THE CONTACT HAS TO PLACE AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF OIL BACK IN THE ENGINE SHORTLY AFTERWARDS. IN ADDITION, THE BATTERY TERMINAL CABLES SPORADICALLY LOOSEN AND CAUSE THE ALTERNATOR TO FAIL. THIRDLY, WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE 4 …

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 GMC DENALI. EVERYTIME THE VEHICLE UNDERGOES A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE, THE CONTACT HAS TO PLACE AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF OIL BACK IN THE ENGINE SHORTLY AFTERWARDS. IN ADDITION, THE BATTERY TERMINAL CABLES SPORADICALLY LOOSEN AND CAUSE THE ALTERNATOR TO FAIL. THIRDLY, WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE SPONTANEOUSLY ENGAGES. LASTLY, THE VEHICLE IDLES ROUGHLY WHEN IT IS STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, BUT THEY COULD NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT HAS COPIES OF THE VEHICLE'S SERVICE HISTORY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 163,000.

NHTSA ODI #10231471

34,651 miles · Nov 5, 2003
Electrical System

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 55 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER RESTARTED VEHICLE AND WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER. HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR ANALYSIS. *AK THE VEHICLE WOULD BE IDLING AND WOULD DIE. THE DEALER COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM BUT KNEW IT HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH FUSES. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED…

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WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 55 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER RESTARTED VEHICLE AND WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER. HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR ANALYSIS. *AK THE VEHICLE WOULD BE IDLING AND WOULD DIE. THE DEALER COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM BUT KNEW IT HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH FUSES. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AND REPLACED THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL MODULE. ABOUT A MONTH AND A HALF LATER THE VEHICLE STALLED AGAIN WITHOUT WARNING WHILE APPROACHING AN INCLINE AND A CURVE. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PULL ONTO THE SHOULDER. THE CONSUMER REQUEST THAT THIS PROBLEM BE INVESTIGATED. *SCC *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10046359

Official recalls

1

02V253000 · Seats:front Assembly:head Restraint

Sep 17, 2002

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH REARWARD FOLDING HEAD RESTRAINTS ON THE SECOND ROW SEATS, TWO POTENTIAL PINCH POINTS EXIST ON EACH OF THE FOLDING HEAD RESTRAINTS WHEN THE RESTRAINTS ARE FOLDED REARWARD AS THE SEATBACK IS FOLDED DOWN.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF A PERSON WERE TO INSERT THEIR FINGER(S) INTO THE PINCH POINT WHEN THE HEAD RESTRAINT FOLDS, IT COULD TRAP AND PINCH THE FINGER(S) CAUSING INJURY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL PROTECTIVE COVERS OVER THE PINCH POINTS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN NOVEMBER 8, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, GMC AT 1-800-462-8782, OR CADILLAC AT 1-800-458-8006.

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

1

DP05009 · Parking Brake Failure

Opened Dec 20, 2005 · Closed May 31, 2006

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Parking Brake; Parking Brake:conventional; Parking Brake:conventional:mechanical

ODI'S REVIEW OF COMPLAINT DATA RECEIVED SINCE THE CLOSE OF EA04-011 REVEALED NO INDICATION THAT THE INVESTIGATION SHOULD BE RE-OPENED.MORE DETAILS CAN BE FOUND IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICE ENCLOSED IN THE DP05-009 PUBLIC FILE.ODI RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REOPEN THE INVESTIGATION IN THE FUTURE SHOULD CONDITIONS WARRANT.

Additional source detail variants (3)

Parking Brake:conventional

ODI'S REVIEW OF COMPLAINT DATA RECEIVED SINCE THE CLOSE OF EA04-011 REVEALED NO INDICATION THAT THE INVESTIGATION SHOULD BE RE-OPENED.MORE DETAILS CAN BE FOUND IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICE ENCLOSED IN THE DP05-009 PUBLIC FILE.ODI RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REOPEN THE INVESTIGATION IN THE FUTURE SHOULD CONDITIONS WARRANT.

Parking Brake:conventional:mechanical

ODI'S REVIEW OF COMPLAINT DATA RECEIVED SINCE THE CLOSE OF EA04-011 REVEALED NO INDICATION THAT THE INVESTIGATION SHOULD BE RE-OPENED.MORE DETAILS CAN BE FOUND IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICE ENCLOSED IN THE DP05-009 PUBLIC FILE.ODI RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REOPEN THE INVESTIGATION IN THE FUTURE SHOULD CONDITIONS WARRANT.

Parking Brake

ODI'S REVIEW OF COMPLAINT DATA RECEIVED SINCE THE CLOSE OF EA04-011 REVEALED NO INDICATION THAT THE INVESTIGATION SHOULD BE RE-OPENED.MORE DETAILS CAN BE FOUND IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICE ENCLOSED IN THE DP05-009 PUBLIC FILE.ODI RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REOPEN THE INVESTIGATION IN THE FUTURE SHOULD CONDITIONS WARRANT.