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2003 GMC Yukon Denali

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2003 GMC Yukon Denali do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 32.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

58 reports with mileage · 14 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.

  • Electrical System. Review the 25 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

6 crash reports1 fire reports1 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

25 reports
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82,000 miles · Apr 4, 2009
Electrical System

SPEEDOMETER HAS QUIT WORKING. WE HAD AN 2004 IMPALA THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE SPEEDOMETER, THOUGHT THERE MIGHT BE ON THIS ONE ALSO. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10264155

100,500 miles · Jan 21, 2009
Electrical System

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC YUKON DENALI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES FAILED. THE GAUGES REMAIN AT ZERO WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR, BUT THE MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE EXCEEDED THE 70,000 MILE REQUIREMENT TO REPAIR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC YUKON DENALI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES FAILED. THE GAUGES REMAIN AT ZERO WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR, BUT THE MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE EXCEEDED THE 70,000 MILE REQUIREMENT TO REPAIR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,500. UPDATED 02-26-09 *BF UPDATED 02/26/09. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10255835

33,000 miles · Jul 17, 2008
Electrical SystemPower Train

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC YUKON DENALI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT EVERYTIME HE ACTIVATED HIS LEFT TURN SIGNAL, THE HAZARD WARNING LIGHTS WOULD ILLUMINATE. SECONDLY, THE GAUGES ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL WERE INOPERATIVE. THIRDLY, THE BATTERY CONSTANTLY FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. LASTLY, WHEN SWITCHING GEARS ON THE VEHIC…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC YUKON DENALI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT EVERYTIME HE ACTIVATED HIS LEFT TURN SIGNAL, THE HAZARD WARNING LIGHTS WOULD ILLUMINATE. SECONDLY, THE GAUGES ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL WERE INOPERATIVE. THIRDLY, THE BATTERY CONSTANTLY FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. LASTLY, WHEN SWITCHING GEARS ON THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS AND A TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR TWICE, AND THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL AS WELL. EVEN AFTER ALL OF THE REPAIRS WERE MADE, THE ELECTRICAL FAILURES STILL PERSIST. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 47,400.

NHTSA ODI #10234681

Mileage unknown · May 22, 2008
Electrical System

I HAVE A 2003 GMC YUKON DENALI THAT AT APPROXIMATELY 60,000 THE SPEEDOMETER STOPPED WORKING PROPERLY. I WOULD BE DRIVING IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA AND THE SPEEDOMETER WOULD READ 100 MPH OR MORE. SOMETIMES IT WOULD GET STUCK ON A CERTAIN SPEED EVEN AFTER PARKING. I LOOKED INTO GETTING IT FIXED BUT I WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD COST BETWEE…

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I HAVE A 2003 GMC YUKON DENALI THAT AT APPROXIMATELY 60,000 THE SPEEDOMETER STOPPED WORKING PROPERLY. I WOULD BE DRIVING IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA AND THE SPEEDOMETER WOULD READ 100 MPH OR MORE. SOMETIMES IT WOULD GET STUCK ON A CERTAIN SPEED EVEN AFTER PARKING. I LOOKED INTO GETTING IT FIXED BUT I WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD COST BETWEEN 500 OR 1000 DOLLARS AND THERE WAS A POSSIBILITY THE WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER IT. I HAVE NOW SEEN THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM AND IT IS A SHAME THAT A VEHICLE COMPANY AS GMC HAS NOT STEPPED UP TO HELP US FIX THIS PROBLEM SINCE IT IS A DANGER TO HAVE A PROBLEM SUCH AS THIS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10228616

43,000 miles · Apr 7, 2008
Electrical System

I HAVE A 2003 GMC YUKON DENALI AND AT 43,000 MILES, ONLY 3 YEARS OLD (IF THAT) IN AUGUST OF 2006, MY SPEEDOMETER JUST STOPPED ONE DAY BUT ONLY AFTER STICKING FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS ON 20-30 MPH. I WAS TOLD IT WOULD COST $435 TO FIX IT; BUT, I REFUSED BECAUSE IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED. I BOUGHT IT IN FAYETTEVILLE, NC. AFTER R…

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I HAVE A 2003 GMC YUKON DENALI AND AT 43,000 MILES, ONLY 3 YEARS OLD (IF THAT) IN AUGUST OF 2006, MY SPEEDOMETER JUST STOPPED ONE DAY BUT ONLY AFTER STICKING FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS ON 20-30 MPH. I WAS TOLD IT WOULD COST $435 TO FIX IT; BUT, I REFUSED BECAUSE IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED. I BOUGHT IT IN FAYETTEVILLE, NC. AFTER RESEARCHING I FOUND OUT I WAS NOT ALONE IN OWNING A GM DEFECT, AS WELL AS, GM'S KNOWLEDGE OF THIS DEFECT SINCE AT LEAST 2003 IF NOT LONGER. THIS SHOWS A FLAGRANT DISREGARD FOR OUR SAFETY AND A VOLUNTARILY DECEITFUL ACT ON GMC'S BEHALF THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10223526

Mileage unknown · Feb 20, 2007
Electrical System

HEADLIGHT FLICKER HAD DEALER WORK ON IT AND REPLACE ONE HEADLIGHT BUT THIS DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. DEALER SAID THIS WAS NORMAL. NOTICE THE FLICKER WHEN I GO OVER BUMPS OR WHEN CORNERING TO THE LEFT. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10183011

40,000 miles · Jan 9, 2007
Electrical System

THE SPEEDOMETER ON MY 2003 GMC YUKON DENALI, WITH 40,000 MILES, HAS QUIT WORKING. THROUGH RESEARCH IT APPEARS THAT MANY GM OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM AND GM INSISTS ON REPAIR COSTS RANGING FROM $500 TO $1000 DOLLARS. THE SPEEDOMETER IN MY VEHICLE HAS STOPPED WORKING WHILE DRIVING DOWN THEN HIGH WAY. THIS FAILURE C…

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THE SPEEDOMETER ON MY 2003 GMC YUKON DENALI, WITH 40,000 MILES, HAS QUIT WORKING. THROUGH RESEARCH IT APPEARS THAT MANY GM OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM AND GM INSISTS ON REPAIR COSTS RANGING FROM $500 TO $1000 DOLLARS. THE SPEEDOMETER IN MY VEHICLE HAS STOPPED WORKING WHILE DRIVING DOWN THEN HIGH WAY. THIS FAILURE CAN LEAD TO ACCIDENTS AS WELL AS FINANCIAL BURDENS WHEN HAVING TO PAY FOR SPEEDING TICKETS DUE TO THE FAILURE TO MAINTAIN A SAFE SPEED. AT THIS POINT NOTHING HAS BEEN REPAIRED AS I REFUSE TO PAY GM TO REPAIR A DEFECTIVE PART, WHICH THEY ARE AWARE OF. I UNDERSTAND THAT A FATALITY HAS TO OCCUR BEFORE THE NTHSA AND/OR GM TO TAKE ACTION TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10178224

Mileage unknown · Jan 4, 2007
Electrical System

I HAVE A 2003 GMC YUKON DENALI. THE SPEEDOMETER ON MY VEHICLE IS FAULTY. AT ONE POINT I WAS DRIVING DOWN A RESIDENTIAL STREET AND MY SPEEDOMETER DISPLAY SHOWED THAT I WAS TRAVELING 120 MPH. MY WIFE RECEIVED A SPEEDING FOR TRAVELING 70 MPH IN A 50 MPH ZONE. AT THE TIME THE SPEEDOMETER INDICATED THAT SHE WAS ONLY TRAVELING 50 MPH.…

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I HAVE A 2003 GMC YUKON DENALI. THE SPEEDOMETER ON MY VEHICLE IS FAULTY. AT ONE POINT I WAS DRIVING DOWN A RESIDENTIAL STREET AND MY SPEEDOMETER DISPLAY SHOWED THAT I WAS TRAVELING 120 MPH. MY WIFE RECEIVED A SPEEDING FOR TRAVELING 70 MPH IN A 50 MPH ZONE. AT THE TIME THE SPEEDOMETER INDICATED THAT SHE WAS ONLY TRAVELING 50 MPH. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM BECAUSE WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE WE NEVER REALLY KNOW HOW FAST OR SLOW WE ARE ACTUALLY TRAVELING. HAVE SPOKE WITH OTHER CONSUMERS WHO OWN GMC YUKON AND THEY HAVE STATED THAT THEY HAVE ALSO EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THEIR SPEEDOMETER. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10177763

69,000 miles · Nov 27, 2006
Electrical System

I HAVE A 2003 YUKON WITH 70000 MILES. MY SPEEDOMETER HAS BECOME VERY ERRATIC. AT A FULL STOP IT READS ANYWHERE FROM 15 TO 70 MPH. WHEN DRIVING IT FREQUENTLY EXCEEDS THE 120 MPH MAXIMUM LIMIT EVEN THOUGH I AM TRAVELING WITH THE FLOW OF NORMAL TRAFFIC. I HAVE RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM AND HAVE FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH G…

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I HAVE A 2003 YUKON WITH 70000 MILES. MY SPEEDOMETER HAS BECOME VERY ERRATIC. AT A FULL STOP IT READS ANYWHERE FROM 15 TO 70 MPH. WHEN DRIVING IT FREQUENTLY EXCEEDS THE 120 MPH MAXIMUM LIMIT EVEN THOUGH I AM TRAVELING WITH THE FLOW OF NORMAL TRAFFIC. I HAVE RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM AND HAVE FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH GM SUVS AND TRUCKS MANUFACTURED IN THE 2003/2004 TIME FRAME. THIS IS AN EXTREME SAFETY ISSUE AS NOT RELIABLY KNOWING YOUR SPEED CAN AND WILL CAUSE TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS. THE GMC DEALER SAYS THE SOLUTION IS TO REMOVE THE EXISTING INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER (IPC) AND TO INSTALL A NEW OR RECONDITIONED ONE AT A COST OF OVER $700.00. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10174483

Mileage unknown · May 18, 2006
Electrical System

I OWN A 2003 GMC YUKON DENALI. I'M HAVING A PROBLEM WHERE THE SPEEDOMETER AND HORN ARE INTERMITTENTLY GOING OUT. I CAN DRIVE THE TRUCK ONE DAY AND IT'S FINE AND LATER THAT DAY OR DURING ANOTHER DRIVE, THE HORN WILL NOT WORK AND THE SPEEDOMETER WITH EITHER DO A 'JUMPING' MOTION OR WILL NOT MOVE AT ALL. THERE HAVE BEEN NO CRASH…

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I OWN A 2003 GMC YUKON DENALI. I'M HAVING A PROBLEM WHERE THE SPEEDOMETER AND HORN ARE INTERMITTENTLY GOING OUT. I CAN DRIVE THE TRUCK ONE DAY AND IT'S FINE AND LATER THAT DAY OR DURING ANOTHER DRIVE, THE HORN WILL NOT WORK AND THE SPEEDOMETER WITH EITHER DO A 'JUMPING' MOTION OR WILL NOT MOVE AT ALL. THERE HAVE BEEN NO CRASHES TO DATE. I CALLED MY LOCAL GMC DEALER AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT THEY HAD NOT HEARD OF THESE PROBLEMS WITH THE DENALI BUT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE HORNS ON THE SIERRA TRUCKS...*NM

NHTSA ODI #10157827

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

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.