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2003 GMC Yukon Denali Xl

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2003 GMC Yukon Denali Xl do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 29.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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

31 reports with mileage · 1 unknown

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.

  • Service Brakes. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electronic Stability Control (esc). Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

3 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

4 reports
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68,650 miles · Dec 30, 2011
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, HydraulicCrash

WHEN DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS (LESS THAN 10 MILES PER HOUR) OR STARTING FROM A STOP, THE TRACTION CONTROL WILL AUTOMATICALLY ENGAGE WHEN THE GAS PEDAL IS APPLIED. WHEN THE TRACTION CONTROL ENGAGES, A TOTAL LOSS OF INPUT TO THE ENGINE RESULTS AND THE VEHICLE DOES NOT MOVE (IT ESSENTIALLY STALLS). I WAS ALMOST STRUCK IN AN INTERSEC…

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WHEN DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS (LESS THAN 10 MILES PER HOUR) OR STARTING FROM A STOP, THE TRACTION CONTROL WILL AUTOMATICALLY ENGAGE WHEN THE GAS PEDAL IS APPLIED. WHEN THE TRACTION CONTROL ENGAGES, A TOTAL LOSS OF INPUT TO THE ENGINE RESULTS AND THE VEHICLE DOES NOT MOVE (IT ESSENTIALLY STALLS). I WAS ALMOST STRUCK IN AN INTERSECTION WHILE WAITING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN ON A GREEN LIGHT IN EARLY DECEMBER OF 2011. I WAS STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION WAITING TO TURN LEFT. WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO TURN LEFT, I GAVE THE GAS PEDAL SOME INPUT, THE TRACTION CONTROL ENGAGED, AND MY VEHICLE STOPPED BECAUSE THERE WAS NO ENGINE INPUT AND WAS ALMOST HIT BY AN ON-COMING CAR. LUCKILY, THIS HAD HAPPENED BEFORE AND I KNEW TO EITHER FLOOR THE GAS PEDAL OR TO LET OFF THE GAS ENTIRELY AND THEN FLOOR IT AGAIN TO GET THE TRACTION CONTROL TO DISENGAGE AND GET POWER TO THE ENGINE. ANOTHER RELATED ISSUE IS THE ABS ENGAGING FOR NO REASON. THIS ALSO HAPPENS AT LOW SPEEDS (LESS THAN 10 MPH). WHEN THE ABS ENGAGES, THE VEHICLE WILL TRAVEL ANOTHER TWO TO THREE FEET PRIOR TO STOPPING. THE ABS ISSUE RESULTED IN MY HITTING A POLE IN A PARKING LOT. IT TOOK SEVERAL YEARS TO FINALLY DETERMINE WHAT THE ISSUE WAS AND IT TURNS OUT IT WAS A RESULT OF FRONT WHEEL SPEED SENSOR CORROSION AND AN INCREASED AIR GAP BETWEEN THE WHEEL SPEED SENSOR AND THE RELUCTOR RING DUE TO RUST AND DEBRIS BUILT UP ON THE SENSOR MOUNTING SURFACE. GM ACKNOWLEDGED THIS WITH A SAFETY RECALL (#05068C: PRODUCT SAFETY) FOR SOME VEHICLE MODEL YEARS 1999-2002. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND GM FAILS TO RECOGNIZE THAT VEHICLES LIKE MINE (A 2003) AND EVEN LATER MODELS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. WHAT IS EVEN MORE FRUSTRATING IS THAT THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT PROPERLY DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM FOR SEVERAL YEARS BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT "REPLICATE THE PROBLEM ." I WOULD ENCOURAGE THE NHSTA TO INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE. *KB

NHTSA ODI #10441727

175,981 miles · Oct 25, 2011
Engine And Engine CoolingVehicle Speed Control

I WAS DRIVING MY YUKON 2003 DENALI AND THE ERROR MESSAGE SHOWED UP "REDUCED ENGINE POWER". I WASN'T ABLE TO GET THE SPEED UP TO 30 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY. I PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT AND HAD SOMEONE COME PICK ME UP. WHEN I WENT TO PICK UP MY VEHICLE, THE MESSAGE NO LONGER APPEARED AND IT FUNCTIONED AT NORMAL SPEEDS. I AM NERVOUS…

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I WAS DRIVING MY YUKON 2003 DENALI AND THE ERROR MESSAGE SHOWED UP "REDUCED ENGINE POWER". I WASN'T ABLE TO GET THE SPEED UP TO 30 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY. I PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT AND HAD SOMEONE COME PICK ME UP. WHEN I WENT TO PICK UP MY VEHICLE, THE MESSAGE NO LONGER APPEARED AND IT FUNCTIONED AT NORMAL SPEEDS. I AM NERVOUS ABOUT TRAVELING WITH MY FAMILY IN THE VEHICLE NOW. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10432820

160,000 miles · Jan 25, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

2003 YUKON DENALI. REDUCED ENGINE POWER WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE, HIGHWAY AND OR STREET. NO MATTER WHAT THE SPEED WITHOUT WARNING THE POWER SHUTS DOWN AND YOU HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO TRY TO GET THE SIDE AND TURN OFF THE KEY AND LET IT SIT. THEN TRY AGAIN. I HAVE HAD IT IN THE SHOP SIX TIMES OVER THE PAST THREE MONTHS STIL…

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2003 YUKON DENALI. REDUCED ENGINE POWER WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE, HIGHWAY AND OR STREET. NO MATTER WHAT THE SPEED WITHOUT WARNING THE POWER SHUTS DOWN AND YOU HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO TRY TO GET THE SIDE AND TURN OFF THE KEY AND LET IT SIT. THEN TRY AGAIN. I HAVE HAD IT IN THE SHOP SIX TIMES OVER THE PAST THREE MONTHS STILL NOT REPAIRED AND ONGOING HAZARD TO ME AND WHOEVER IS IN THE VEHICLE WITH ME OR BEHIND ME. HELP PLEASE! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10378669

115,000 miles · Apr 13, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC YUKON DENALI. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY WITH NO PRIOR WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND HAD IT TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP. THE DEALER STATED THAT ALTHOUGH NOT CERTAIN, THE FUEL TANK COULD HAVE CAUSED THE …

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC YUKON DENALI. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY WITH NO PRIOR WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND HAD IT TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP. THE DEALER STATED THAT ALTHOUGH NOT CERTAIN, THE FUEL TANK COULD HAVE CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES. IN JANUARY 2010, THE DEALER REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 115,000.

NHTSA ODI #10325444

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.