← New search

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 →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
Compare all Denali 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

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

Steering complaints

3 reports
Clear category filter
64,300 miles · Oct 25, 2005
Exterior LightingFuel System, GasolinePower Train

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE TRANSMISSION SEAL WAS DEFECTIVE AFTER A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MILES, IT ALLOWED THE COOLING SYSTEM TO LEAK INTO THE TRANSMISSION. WHEN ACCELERATING THE TRANSMISSION WOULD DOWN SHIFT INTO FIRST GEAR, THIS WOULD MAKE THE VEHICLE JUMP. THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AT AN INTERSECTION. WHEN THIS OCCURRED THE VE…

Read full complaint

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE TRANSMISSION SEAL WAS DEFECTIVE AFTER A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MILES, IT ALLOWED THE COOLING SYSTEM TO LEAK INTO THE TRANSMISSION. WHEN ACCELERATING THE TRANSMISSION WOULD DOWN SHIFT INTO FIRST GEAR, THIS WOULD MAKE THE VEHICLE JUMP. THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AT AN INTERSECTION. WHEN THIS OCCURRED THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE DRIVEN HOME AND TO THE DEALERSHIP IN FIRST GEAR. IT WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM. THE TRANSMISSION SEAL BROKE BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION WAS DOWN SHIFTING TOO HARD. *AK UPDATED 11/16/2005 - THE HEADLAMP LENS WAS LOOSE. THE POWER STEERING PULLEY WAS OUT OF POSITION AND CAUSED THE SERPENTINE BELT IS SQUEAKING. THE PULLEY WAS REPOSITIONED. A SMALL FUEL VAPOR LEAK WAS DETECTED POSSIBLY FROM FUEL FILLER CAP NOT BEING FULLY TIGHTENED. THE FUEL PUMP LEAKED WHEN THE TANK WAS FULL. IT WAS NECESSARY TO REPLACE THE FUEL TANK SENDING UNIT. *NM A FRONT END ALIGNMENT WAS PERFOMED ON THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 01/19/06.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10140731

48,500 miles · Jun 6, 2005
Steering

I HAD A POWER STEERING FAILURE THAT HAPPENED IN A PARKING LOT ON SAT. JUNE4TH SHORTLY AFTER TURNING ON MY AIR CONDITIONING. I WAS ATTEMPTING TO LEAVE A PARKING LOT WHEN I THOUGHT MY ENGINE HAD STALLED BECAUSE I HAD NO POWER STEERING. HAD THE TIMING IN THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING BEEN IN A DIFFERENT SITUATION IT COULD HAVE BEEN TR…

Read full complaint

I HAD A POWER STEERING FAILURE THAT HAPPENED IN A PARKING LOT ON SAT. JUNE4TH SHORTLY AFTER TURNING ON MY AIR CONDITIONING. I WAS ATTEMPTING TO LEAVE A PARKING LOT WHEN I THOUGHT MY ENGINE HAD STALLED BECAUSE I HAD NO POWER STEERING. HAD THE TIMING IN THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING BEEN IN A DIFFERENT SITUATION IT COULD HAVE BEEN TRAGIC FOR ME, MY FAMILY AND/OR OTHERS !!! I TOOK MY VEHICLE INTO KELLER AUTOMOTIVE IN SHELBY TOWNSHIP, MI. AFTER I HAD CAUSED JIM CAUSLEY PONTIC IN MT. CLEMENS MICHIGAN TO FIND OUT IF THIS ITEM MIGHT STILL BE UNDER WARRANTY. AFTER I FOUND OUT IT WASN'T I TOOK IT TO KELLERS WHERE THEY ALMOST IMMEDIATELY KNEW WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. I BELIEVE THEY STATED THAT IT WAS THE SHAFT IN THE POWER STEERING PUMP THAT FAILS. THOUGH THEY DID SAY THEY HAVE NOT SEEN IT OFTEN IN MY MODEL THEY SAID IT WAS SEEN IN OTHER LIGHT DUTY GM TRUCKS THAT SHARE THE SAME POWER STEERING PUMP. THEY STATED TO ME THAT GM HAS UPGRADED THEIR PUMPS TO HAVE A HEAVIER DUTY SHAFT WHICH WAS $394 FOR THE PART ALONE. IF THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM I WOULD DEFINITELY CONSIDER IT A SAFETY ISSUE AND EXPECT GM TO ANNOUNCE A RECALL REGARDING THIS ISSUE. I WILL HOLD ON TO MY RECEIPT IN HOPES THAT GM WOULD COME TO THE TABLE REGARDING RESOLVING THIS ISSUE OR THAT THE NHTSA COULD POSSIBLY FORCE THE ISSUE IF NECCESSARY. IF THIS IS AN ISOLATED INCIDENT I'M SORRY FOR WASTING YOUR TIME BUT I WOULD HOPE THAT SOMETHING COULD BE DONE BEFORE THE POTENTIAL LOSS OF LIFE OCCURS IF I AM CORRECT IN UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS IS NOT UNCOMMON, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND HELP !!, SINCERELY, PERRY M. HOUSER

NHTSA ODI #10124309

63,900 miles · May 10, 2005
Power TrainSteering

MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING WITH MY FOUR CHILDREN GOING ABOUT 5MPH WHEN HE WENT TO MAKE A LEFT TURN AND LOST THE POWER STEERING. BEING SO CLOSE TO HOME, HE WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT HOME. MY HUSBAND ALSO NOTICED THAT AN AXLE SEAL WAS LEAKING AS WELL AND THIS WAS ALSO CONSIDERED COMMON FOR PROBLEMS. WE USE THIS VEHICLE AS OUR ONLY FAM…

Read full complaint

MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING WITH MY FOUR CHILDREN GOING ABOUT 5MPH WHEN HE WENT TO MAKE A LEFT TURN AND LOST THE POWER STEERING. BEING SO CLOSE TO HOME, HE WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT HOME. MY HUSBAND ALSO NOTICED THAT AN AXLE SEAL WAS LEAKING AS WELL AND THIS WAS ALSO CONSIDERED COMMON FOR PROBLEMS. WE USE THIS VEHICLE AS OUR ONLY FAMILY CAR, SO NATURALLY WE HAD IT FIXED RIGHT AWAY. WHAT REALLY CONCERNED AND ALERTED MYSELF TO THIS COMPLAINT WAS WHEN MY HUSBAND TOOK THE VEHICLE IN TO GET LOOKED AT A MECHANIC TOLD HIM THAT THEY HAVE FIXED THESE TYPES OF PROBLEMS MANY TIMES BEFORE AND IT WOULD ONLY TAKE TWO HOURS. WHEN I WENT TO PICK UP THE VEHICLE, I ASKED FOR MYSELF AGAIN, AND THE SAME MECHANIC TOLD ME IT IS VERY COMMON WITH THESE VEHICLES (SUV"S) WHY DID THIS HAPPENED WITH ONLY 60,000 MILES? THIS IS NOT VERY ENCOURAGING AND IS SOMEWHAT UPSETTING. I AM VERY CONCERNED BECAUSE I AM RELOCATING TO TEXAS AND THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A DISASTER IF WE WERE TRAVEING WITH THIS VEHICLE AND POSSIBLY A TRAILER ATTACHED. I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT IT MAY HAPPEN AGAIN AS I NOTICED THERE WAS A SIMILAR COMPLAINT BEFORE MINE AND THE SAME VEHICLE MAKE AND YEAR. I HAVE NEVER HAD TO REPLACE A STEERING PUMP WITH ANY OTHER VEHICLE I HAVE OWNED. WE BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE USED AFTER IT WAS TURNED IN FROM A LEASE. I AM CONVINCED THAT I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE WITH THIS PROBLEM ALREADY IN MOTION, ALTHOUGH I CANNOT PROVE IT. I WOULD APPRECIATE THIS LOOKED INTO AND A RESPONSE TO MY COMPLAINT IN A TIMELY FASHION. I MAY HAVE OVERLOOKED THIS BUT CONSIDERING THIS MECHANIC INFORMED ME AND MY HUSBAND THAT HE HAS WORKED ON THESE MANY TIMES BEFORE REALLY CONCERNS ME. I WILL CONTINUE TO PURSUE THIS.

NHTSA ODI #10120581

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.