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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

What owners actually said

72 reports
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

159,000 miles · Apr 15, 2013
Electrical System

I HAVE A 2003 GMC YUKON DENALI, IT RECENTLY BEGIN A SKIPPING LIKE MOTION ON THE SPEEDOMETER. THEN AFTER ABOUT A WEEK IT STARTED READING OFF BY ABOUT 30 MPH NOW WHEN DRIVING ITS SITS AT ZERO 90 PERCENT OF THE TIME, THE OTHER 10 PERCENT OF THE TIME IT STAY AT 15 MPH NO MATTER HOW FAST OR SLOW I AM MOVING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10508304

165,140 miles · Apr 15, 2013
Seat BeltsTraction Control SystemVehicle Speed Control

THE SEAT BELTS IN MY 2003 GMC YUKON DENALI KEEP COMING UNBUCKLED. NO MATTER HOW MANY I REPLACE. ALSO I'VE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE TRACTION CONTROL COMING ON. IT'S ALMOST CAUSED A COUPLE OF ACCIDENTS. I'VE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE GMC DEALERSHIP AND THEY'VE INFORMED ME THAT THEY'VE COME ACROSS THIS ISSUE A NUMBER OF TIMES AND HAV…

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THE SEAT BELTS IN MY 2003 GMC YUKON DENALI KEEP COMING UNBUCKLED. NO MATTER HOW MANY I REPLACE. ALSO I'VE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE TRACTION CONTROL COMING ON. IT'S ALMOST CAUSED A COUPLE OF ACCIDENTS. I'VE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE GMC DEALERSHIP AND THEY'VE INFORMED ME THAT THEY'VE COME ACROSS THIS ISSUE A NUMBER OF TIMES AND HAVE NEVER FIXED THE ISSUE AND TO JUST TAP MY GAS PEDAL TWICE TO TAKE THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE TRACTION CONTROL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10508218

113,000 miles · Jan 15, 2013
Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 YUKON DENALI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS STARTED AND BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOY INADVERTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AW…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 YUKON DENALI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS STARTED AND BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOY INADVERTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,000.

NHTSA ODI #10493022

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

90,000 miles · May 11, 2012
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC YUKON DENALI. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 60 MPH WHEN ALL OF THE GAUGES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BECAME STUCK AND SOME WERE PROVIDING INACCURATE READINGS INCLUDING THE FUEL GAUGE AND THE SPEEDOMETER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 90,000.…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC YUKON DENALI. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 60 MPH WHEN ALL OF THE GAUGES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BECAME STUCK AND SOME WERE PROVIDING INACCURATE READINGS INCLUDING THE FUEL GAUGE AND THE SPEEDOMETER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 90,000.

NHTSA ODI #10458139

98,000 miles · Apr 16, 2012
Electrical System

OFF AND ON SINCE LAST YEAR I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH MY ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. JUST OUT OF THE BLUE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL COME ON AND THE "REDUCE ENGINE SPEED" MESSAGE WILL SHOW UP ON THE DASHBOARD. AND MY SPEED WILL SHUT DOWN AND THE VEHICLE WILL ONLY GO ABOUT 25MPH. WE HAD TAKEN IT IN TO A SHOP AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND T…

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OFF AND ON SINCE LAST YEAR I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH MY ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. JUST OUT OF THE BLUE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL COME ON AND THE "REDUCE ENGINE SPEED" MESSAGE WILL SHOW UP ON THE DASHBOARD. AND MY SPEED WILL SHUT DOWN AND THE VEHICLE WILL ONLY GO ABOUT 25MPH. WE HAD TAKEN IT IN TO A SHOP AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND THE ISSUE AND SAID IT WAS JUST A LOW BATTERY. WELL AFTER REPLACING THE BATTERY IT CONTINUES TO DO THIS OFF AND ON. ONCE THE CAR IS SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED IT WOULD BE FINE UNTIL THE NEXT INCIDENT. NOW WHILE DOING RESEARCH ON THIS ISSUE I HAVE READ THAT MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. SOME PEOPLE HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS WHILE ON THE FREEWAY GOING 65MPH. THE ENGINE WILL JUST REDUCE SPEED AUTOMATICALLY. WHY IS THIS NOT A RECALL FOR SAFETY REASONS? WHAT HAS TO BE DONE FOR THERE TO BE A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE?

NHTSA ODI #10455448

78,000 miles · Mar 28, 2012
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC YUKON DENALI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AND FAILED AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED INTO THE FLOORBOARD. THE CONTACT HAD TO UTILIZE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT THE BRAKE LINE WAS RUST…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC YUKON DENALI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AND FAILED AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED INTO THE FLOORBOARD. THE CONTACT HAD TO UTILIZE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT THE BRAKE LINE WAS RUSTED AND LEAKING BRAKE FLUID. THE MECHANIC REPAIRED THE ENTIRE BRAKE LINE AND MASTER CYLINDER. THE CONTACT DID NOT CALL THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10453381

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.