NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
23 reports70,000 miles · Sep 1, 2009
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train
WE OWN A 2002 DENALI, THAT WE BOUGHT USED. THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AROUND NOV. 2008 (APPR. 120,000 MILES) WE HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED BUT THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AGAIN SHORTLY THEREAFTER (AROUND 150,000). THROUGH CIVIL LITIGATION, WE FOUND OUT THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD WENT OUT PREVIOUSLY, AT AROUND 70,000 MILES. WE …
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WE OWN A 2002 DENALI, THAT WE BOUGHT USED. THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AROUND NOV. 2008 (APPR. 120,000 MILES) WE HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED BUT THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AGAIN SHORTLY THEREAFTER (AROUND 150,000). THROUGH CIVIL LITIGATION, WE FOUND OUT THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD WENT OUT PREVIOUSLY, AT AROUND 70,000 MILES. WE ARE WONDERING IF THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH DENALIS AND IF ANY COMPENSATION IS AVAILABLE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10282600
Mileage unknown · Apr 6, 2009
Exterior Lighting
FRONT RUNNING LIGHT HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE AND IS OUT AGAIN. MY MECHANIC STATED HE HAS SEEN SEVERAL GMC AUTOS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. IS THERE A RECALL OR REASON? *TR
NHTSA ODI #10264311
31,843 miles · Apr 11, 2007
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 GMC DENALI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VBRAKED VIBRATE WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STOP AND CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE FORWARD A FEW FEET. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD AN INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE AT LOW SPEEDS. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL # 05V379000 FOR THE HYDRAULIC ANTILOCK SER…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 GMC DENALI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VBRAKED VIBRATE WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STOP AND CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE FORWARD A FEW FEET. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD AN INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE AT LOW SPEEDS. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL # 05V379000 FOR THE HYDRAULIC ANTILOCK SERVICE BRAKES. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS INDICATOR LIGHT FAILED TO ILLUMINATE WHEN THE INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE OCCURRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WASS 31,857 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 31,843.
NHTSA ODI #10187546
77,600 miles · Sep 15, 2006
Power TrainSuspension
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH ON A CITY STREET, A CLUNKING SOUND WAS HEARD FOLLOWED BY THE TRANSMISSION FAILING TO SHIFT GEARS UPON ACCELERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION GEAR TEETH WERE FRACTURED AND WORN. THE DEALER DETERMINED THE GEAR TEETH NEEDED TO BE REPLA…
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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH ON A CITY STREET, A CLUNKING SOUND WAS HEARD FOLLOWED BY THE TRANSMISSION FAILING TO SHIFT GEARS UPON ACCELERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION GEAR TEETH WERE FRACTURED AND WORN. THE DEALER DETERMINED THE GEAR TEETH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. UPDATED 10/6/2006 - THE STABILIZER BECAME WORN. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10168365
74,030 miles · Jul 16, 2006
Power Train
FAILURE OF TRANSMISSION COOLER, WHICH IS INSIDE THE RADIATOR, CAUSED TRANSMISSION FLUID AND ANTI-FREEZE TO MIX AND FLOW THROUGH ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION. THE TRANSMISSION WAS RUINED AS A RESULT. THE REPAIR INVOLVED REPLACING THE RADIATOR, ALL ENGINE HOSES, REBUILDING THE TRANSMISSION, FLUSHING ENGINE AND REPLACING FLUIDS AT A T…
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FAILURE OF TRANSMISSION COOLER, WHICH IS INSIDE THE RADIATOR, CAUSED TRANSMISSION FLUID AND ANTI-FREEZE TO MIX AND FLOW THROUGH ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION. THE TRANSMISSION WAS RUINED AS A RESULT. THE REPAIR INVOLVED REPLACING THE RADIATOR, ALL ENGINE HOSES, REBUILDING THE TRANSMISSION, FLUSHING ENGINE AND REPLACING FLUIDS AT A TOTAL COST OF $3047. THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD EXCEPTIONAL CARE AND ALL MAINTENANCE WAS PERFORMED ON SCHEDULE. THE VEHICLE, A SUV WAS NEVER USED OFF ROAD OR TO PULL A TRAILER, AND HAS 74000 MILES. THERE WAS NO WAY TO PREVENT THE PROBLEM AS THE COOLER IN INSIDE THE RADIATOR AND CANNOT BE SERVICED. THE RESULT OF THIS IS EARLY FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION AND THE NEED TO REPLACE SEVERAL ENGINE COMPONENTS THAT WERE IMPACTED. FORTUNATELY THIS WAS DETECTED BEFORE THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND CAUSED A BREAKDOWN OR ACCIDENT. OTHER INCIDENCES OF THIS SAME PROBLEM WERE NOTED UPON INTERNET RESEARCH. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10162502
48,000 miles · Jul 3, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling
WE HAD HEARD UNDER THE HOOD LOUD NOISE. MAINLY WHEN WE ACCELERATED THE VEHICLE. AFTER ASSESSING THE NOISE, WE FOUND THAT WE HAD A BROKEN TENSIONER AND IT WAS MAKING THE BELT WEAK. WE CALLED THE DEALER AND REPLACED THE BELT AND THE TENSIONER, FOR A TOTAL OF 3 TIMES. WE ALSO FOUND OUT THROUGH A GMC SOURCE THAT THIS WAS A COMMON TH…
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WE HAD HEARD UNDER THE HOOD LOUD NOISE. MAINLY WHEN WE ACCELERATED THE VEHICLE. AFTER ASSESSING THE NOISE, WE FOUND THAT WE HAD A BROKEN TENSIONER AND IT WAS MAKING THE BELT WEAK. WE CALLED THE DEALER AND REPLACED THE BELT AND THE TENSIONER, FOR A TOTAL OF 3 TIMES. WE ALSO FOUND OUT THROUGH A GMC SOURCE THAT THIS WAS A COMMON THING FOR THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE DUE TO THE FACT THAT GMC HAD NOT PUT A FILTER ON THE COMPRESSOR AND IT WOULD CAUSE IT TO FAIL. IF THERE ARE NO COMPLAINTS THEN THEY WILL NOT DO A RECALL AND THIS SHOULD COST THE CONSUMER AT LEAST $1,500. LAST NIGHT AS MY HUSBAND FOLLOWED ME ON HIS BIKE, THE TENSIONER FAILED AGAIN AND IT THREW THE BELT BEHIND ME ALMOST HITTING MY HUSBAND IN THE HEAD. I CANT IMAGINE WHAT IT WOULD DO TO GLASS OR A PERSONS HEAD AT 65 MPH. THIS IS DANGEROUS AND UNTIL IT RESULTS IN A FATALITY, GMC WILL NOT RECALL THIS. I HAVE ALSO FOUND OUT THAT GMC WILL PAY A WRONGFUL DEATH LAWSUIT AS OPPOSED TO PAYING TO RECALL ALL OF THEIR "PROFESSIONAL GRADE" PRODUCTS. WHAT A SHAME. I REFUSE TO HAVE THIS BELT FLY OFF AND HIT SOMEONE RESULTING IN DEATH. THIS IS A HAZARD AND GMC SHOULD RECALL ALL OF THEM. SINCERELY, KIM BOGGS. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10161284
25,000 miles · Nov 18, 2005
Air BagsCrashInjury
DT: WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT 70 MPH THE CONSUMER WAS SIDE SWIPED AND KNOCKED INTO THE MEDIAN, IN WHICH THE SIDE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. UPDATED 12/27/05. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10143140
36,000 miles · Jun 13, 2005
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrashInjury
DT: THE OWNER TURNED LEFT IN TURNING LANE AND APPLIED THE BRAKES AND TRUCK KEPT ON . THE BRAKES HAD BEEN MASHED, AND THEY WOULD NOT STOP. THE BRAKES HAD WORKED UP TO THE POINT BEFORE THE WRECK. THE VEHICLE WAS CONSTANTLY SERVICED. OWNER'S VEHICLE HIT ANOTHER CAR, AND CREATED A THREE CAR PILE UP. THERE WAS ONE REPORTED INJURY F…
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DT: THE OWNER TURNED LEFT IN TURNING LANE AND APPLIED THE BRAKES AND TRUCK KEPT ON . THE BRAKES HAD BEEN MASHED, AND THEY WOULD NOT STOP. THE BRAKES HAD WORKED UP TO THE POINT BEFORE THE WRECK. THE VEHICLE WAS CONSTANTLY SERVICED. OWNER'S VEHICLE HIT ANOTHER CAR, AND CREATED A THREE CAR PILE UP. THERE WAS ONE REPORTED INJURY FROM THIS INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE IS IN THE SHOP AT THIS POINT FOR REPAIRS.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10125137
Mileage unknown · Jun 2, 2005
Service Brakes, HydraulicStructureUnknown Or Other
WHILE DRIVING AND UPON EVERY STOP, THE CONSUMER WOULD HEAR NOISES COMING FROM THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE. TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALER. A FEW WEEKS LATER THE BRAKES FAILED, AND THE CALIPER SPLIT IN HALF. *NM THE NOISE HAD COME FROM THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE DUE TO BRAKE FAILURE. BRAKE FLUID WAS FLOWING OUT. THE TEETH WA…
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WHILE DRIVING AND UPON EVERY STOP, THE CONSUMER WOULD HEAR NOISES COMING FROM THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE. TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALER. A FEW WEEKS LATER THE BRAKES FAILED, AND THE CALIPER SPLIT IN HALF. *NM THE NOISE HAD COME FROM THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE DUE TO BRAKE FAILURE. BRAKE FLUID WAS FLOWING OUT. THE TEETH WAS FOUND BROKEN OUT OF THE DISC BRAKE. THE 3/4 BY 3/4 INCH HIGH BRACKET EXPERIENCED A "HUMP" INSIDE OF IT WHICH MADE THE WHEEL WOBBLE. ALSO TWO OF THE 4 WHEEL ANTILOCK DISC BRAKES WERE NOT ON THE BACK WHEELS. *SC *JB
NHTSA ODI #10113035
45,000 miles · Jan 13, 2005
Steering
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE DRIVER HEARD A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT. THE VEHICLE JERKED AND VIBRATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10107392