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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

Service Brakes complaints

10 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jul 28, 2017
Service Brakes

BRAKES LINES RUSTED WHICH LED TO CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF BRAKE SYSTEM. REPAIR COST $1,000. THERE ARE MULTIPLE THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS TYPE OF BRAKE FAILURE IN THIS MAKE, MODEL, & YEAR. THIS SHOULD BE A MANDATORY FACTORY RECALL. SOMEONE IS GOING TO DIE BECAUSE GM IS NOT BEING FORCED TO FIX THEIR FAULTY EQUIPMENT. M…

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BRAKES LINES RUSTED WHICH LED TO CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF BRAKE SYSTEM. REPAIR COST $1,000. THERE ARE MULTIPLE THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS TYPE OF BRAKE FAILURE IN THIS MAKE, MODEL, & YEAR. THIS SHOULD BE A MANDATORY FACTORY RECALL. SOMEONE IS GOING TO DIE BECAUSE GM IS NOT BEING FORCED TO FIX THEIR FAULTY EQUIPMENT. MY VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AND WHEN I DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL THE PEDAL WENT COMPLETELY TO THE FLOORBOARD. I WAS DRIVING STRAIGHT AHEAD IN MODERATE CITY TRAFFIC & NARROWLY MISSED STRIKING THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME ON A CITY STREET. MY MASTER CYLINDER WAS COMPLETELY EMPTY OF BRAKE FLUID WHEN EXAMINED. I WAS TRAVELING 25 MPH AND MY VEHICLE HAS 110,000 MILES. (THE NEXT PAGE WOULDN'T ALLOW ME TO ENTER THE SPEED & MILEAGE INFORMATION WHERE IT WAS REQUESTED)

NHTSA ODI #11011368

145,000 miles · Jun 19, 2016
Service Brakes

BRAKES FAILED WHILE DRIVING ON CITY STREET WITH NO WARNING COULD NOT STOP AT RED LIGHT. IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER AND NOTICED BRAKE FLUID LEAKING FROM LEFT SIDE OF VEHICLE FROM A BROKEN BRAKE LINE.

NHTSA ODI #10875146

Mileage unknown · Oct 3, 2014
Service BrakesCrash

MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING AND WHEN SLOWING DOWN THE BRAKES FAILED TO WORK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO STOP AND COLLIDED WITH THE VEHICLE IN FRONT. LUCKILY NOBODY WAS INJURED IN THIS COLLISION. AFTER INSPECTION, I NOTICED FLUID ON THE GROUND AT THE REAR LEFT (DRIVER'S SIDE REAR), AND LOOKED UNDER THE VEHICLE TO SEE WHERE THE FLUI…

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MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING AND WHEN SLOWING DOWN THE BRAKES FAILED TO WORK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO STOP AND COLLIDED WITH THE VEHICLE IN FRONT. LUCKILY NOBODY WAS INJURED IN THIS COLLISION. AFTER INSPECTION, I NOTICED FLUID ON THE GROUND AT THE REAR LEFT (DRIVER'S SIDE REAR), AND LOOKED UNDER THE VEHICLE TO SEE WHERE THE FLUID MAY BE COMING FROM. I SAW THAT THERE WAS FLUID COATING A LARGE AREA OF THE UNDERBODY, AND ALSO SEE THE BRAKE LINE ATTACHED TO THE FRAME AS WET AND RUSTED. I HAVE PICTURES SAVED AS A REFERENCE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10641315

136,000 miles · Feb 22, 2014
Service BrakesCrash

DRIVING ALONG WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN I NEEDED TO BRAKE FOR CURVE AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT DOWN TO THE FLOOR. I RAN OFF INTO A GRASSY FIELD TO PREVENT A SERIOUS INJURY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10565437

67,000 miles · Sep 2, 2013
Service Brakes

I WAS DRIVING HOME AT NIGHT AFTER GETTING GAS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE GAS SHORTAGE DURING THE MAJOR SNOW STORM IN THE NORTH EASTERN UNITED STATES. AS I WAS APPROACHING A LIGHT I PRESSED ON THE BRAKES AND IT WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR. I THEN BROUGHT IT TO A MECHANIC AND WHEN IT WAS PLACED ON A LIFT THEY NOTICED THE ENTIRE BOTTOM OF…

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I WAS DRIVING HOME AT NIGHT AFTER GETTING GAS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE GAS SHORTAGE DURING THE MAJOR SNOW STORM IN THE NORTH EASTERN UNITED STATES. AS I WAS APPROACHING A LIGHT I PRESSED ON THE BRAKES AND IT WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR. I THEN BROUGHT IT TO A MECHANIC AND WHEN IT WAS PLACED ON A LIFT THEY NOTICED THE ENTIRE BOTTOM OF THE CAR WAS RUSTED INCLUDING THE BRAKE LINES. THEY ENDED UP REPLACING THE ENTIRE BRAKE LINE SYSTEM DUE TO EXCESSIVE RUST. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10538363

127,835 miles · Aug 19, 2013
Service BrakesCrash

AFTER STEPPING ON MY BRAKES AGGRESSIVELY TO STOP FOR A DOG CROSSING THE ROAD. I RECEIVED A BRAKE STABILITY NOTICE ON MY DASH. SINCE I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD, I PUT THE CAR INTO DRIVE TO GET OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CAR DID NOT SLOW DOWN AFTER I PUMPED THE BRAKES, AND TRIED TO THROW THE CAR IN REVERSE TO REDUCE TH…

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AFTER STEPPING ON MY BRAKES AGGRESSIVELY TO STOP FOR A DOG CROSSING THE ROAD. I RECEIVED A BRAKE STABILITY NOTICE ON MY DASH. SINCE I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD, I PUT THE CAR INTO DRIVE TO GET OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CAR DID NOT SLOW DOWN AFTER I PUMPED THE BRAKES, AND TRIED TO THROW THE CAR IN REVERSE TO REDUCE THE SPEED. I COASTED INTO A PARKED SUBARU ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND BECAUSE OF THE REAR IMPACT THE SUBARU THAT I HIT PUSHED INTO TOYOTA HIGHLANDER IN FRONT OF IT. THEREFORE THREE CARS AFFECTED BY THE ACCIDENT. MY CHILDREN WERE IN THE CAR WITH ME AND THAT WAS THE WORST PART, I WOULD HAVE COASTED RIGHT INTO A BUSY INTERSECTION ON MAIN STREET HAD I NOT STOPPED THE WAY THAT I DID. AFTER TAKING THE TRUCK TO MY MECHANIC HE MENTIONED THAT I POPPED TWO BRAKE LINES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10536077

98,000 miles · Jun 17, 2013
Service Brakes

I WAS TRAVELING DOWN A CITY STREET AND WENT TO STOP AT A RED LIGHT. I APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WAS VERY SOFT SO I PUSHED A LITTLE HARDER AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. I HAD TO SWERVE INTO A GAS STATION PARKING LOT TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT AND APPLY THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. I CRAWLED UNDER THE VEHICLE AND S…

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I WAS TRAVELING DOWN A CITY STREET AND WENT TO STOP AT A RED LIGHT. I APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WAS VERY SOFT SO I PUSHED A LITTLE HARDER AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. I HAD TO SWERVE INTO A GAS STATION PARKING LOT TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT AND APPLY THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. I CRAWLED UNDER THE VEHICLE AND SAW THAT THERE WAS BRAKE FLUID DRIPPING FROM THE FLOOR AND THE HARD LINES UNDER THE DRIVER SIDE FLOOR. IT IS GETTING TAKEN TO THE DEALER TONIGHT TO HAVE THE ISSUE FIXED. PLEASE MAKE GM RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS ISSUE AND TO PAY US BACK AS THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM AND VERY EXPENSIVE TO FIX. IF I WOULD HAVE HIT THE BRAKE A COUPLE SECONDS LATER I WOULD HAVE MISSED THE ENTRANCE TO THE GAS STATION AND REAR-END THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10520125

123,000 miles · Jan 1, 2013
Service Brakes

RUSTED BRAKE LINES CAUSED IMMEDIATE LOSS WITH NO WARNING. LOSS OF BRAKES WERE CATASTROPHIC WITH ONLY EMERGENCY BRAKES AVAILABLE. CAR CAME TO A CONTROLLED STOP ON MEDIAN BUT COULD OF BEEN MUCH WORSE GIVEN NO OTHER VEHICLES IN THE VICINITY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10490636

114,010 miles · Sep 7, 2012
Service Brakes

BRAKE LINE BURST WHILE UNDER A HARD BRAKING SCENARIO. FURTHER INSPECTION REVEALED ALL LINES UNDER AND UP TO THE PROPORTIONING VALVE ARE ALL ROTTING TO THE POINT OF NEEDING TO BE REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10474191

120,000 miles · Jul 25, 2012
Service Brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC YUKON DENALI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, SHE ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT BRAKE. THE CONTACT HAD TO REMOVE HER FOOT FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC YUKON DENALI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, SHE ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT BRAKE. THE CONTACT HAD TO REMOVE HER FOOT FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY NEEDED TO REPLACE THE BRAKE LINES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 120,000.

NHTSA ODI #10467720

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.