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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
12,000 miles · Apr 28, 2010
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

I HAVE A 2003 GMC YUKON DENALI WITH APPROXIMATELY 12K MILES WHEN THE BRAKE LINES CORRODED AND CAUSED BRAKE FAILURE. NO ACCIDENT,NO INJURIES . IT SEEMS LIKE THE WHOLE UNDERCARRIAGE IS CORRODING. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN OUT OF SERVICE TO BE REPAIRED. SEEMS TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE OF IMPORTANCE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10327934

15,000 miles · Apr 19, 2010
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrashInjury

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC YUKON DENALI. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH ON WET ROAD CONDITIONS; APPROACHING A TRAFFIC STOP LIGHT, THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR WITH PRESSURE APPLIED. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SLOW DOWN AND CRASHED INTO A POLE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE HEAD AND BODY. THERE…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC YUKON DENALI. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH ON WET ROAD CONDITIONS; APPROACHING A TRAFFIC STOP LIGHT, THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR WITH PRESSURE APPLIED. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SLOW DOWN AND CRASHED INTO A POLE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE HEAD AND BODY. THERE WAS NO MENTION OF A POLICE REPORT FILED FOR THE INCIDENT. THE INSURANCE COMPANY DID NOT INVESTIGATE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THE DEFECT WAS RELATED TO A MANUFACTURER INVESTIGATION ACTION NUMBER PE10010 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC: POWER ASSIST: HYDRAULIC: HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS). THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR THE MALFUNCTION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,005. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10326494

55,000 miles · May 27, 2009
Visibility

WIPER BLADES DO NOT CLEAR DRIVERS SIDE OF WINDSHIELD AT SPEEDS GREATER THAN 55 MPH. THIS MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO DRIVE DURING RAIN DAY OR NIGHT - ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT WHEN THE WATER FILM DISPERSES THE LIGHT AND MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO SEE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10270073

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

71,000 miles · Nov 10, 2007
Steering

I PURCHASED THE 2003 YUKON USED IN DECEMBER 2006. IMMEDIATELY AFTER PURCHASING THIS SUV I NOTICED THE CLUNKING SOUND AND COULD FEEL IT IN THE STEERING WHEEL. WITHIN A FEW MONTHS I BEGAN TO NOTICE THE LACK OF STEERING ASSIST. THEN LAST WEEK WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN ONTO A SIDE STREET, THE STEERING COMPLETELY LOCKED UP CAUSING…

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I PURCHASED THE 2003 YUKON USED IN DECEMBER 2006. IMMEDIATELY AFTER PURCHASING THIS SUV I NOTICED THE CLUNKING SOUND AND COULD FEEL IT IN THE STEERING WHEEL. WITHIN A FEW MONTHS I BEGAN TO NOTICE THE LACK OF STEERING ASSIST. THEN LAST WEEK WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN ONTO A SIDE STREET, THE STEERING COMPLETELY LOCKED UP CAUSING ME TO ALMOST SIDE SWIPE A CAR IN THE OPPOSING LANE. I HAD TO JAM ON MY BRAKES TO AVOID SLAMMING INTO THE OTHER CAR. MY MECHANIC SAID THAT HE THOUGHT THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL ISSUED, BUT COULD NOT LOCATE ANY DOCUMENTATION. I RESEARCHED YOUR WEB SITE AND FOUND DOZENS OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS VERY SAME STEERING FAILURE, BUT NO RECALL INFORMATION WAS FOUND. PLEASE ADVISE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10208594

35,000 miles · Sep 20, 2007
Air BagsCrash

I CAME UP ON AN ACCIDENT THAT WAS ALREADY HAPPENING AND HAD TO SLAM ON BRAKES. AT THAT TIME MY 2003 YUKON DENALI DID NOT STOP IN TIME AND I HIT ANOTHER CAR GOING AT LEAST 45 MILES AN HOUR IN THE REAR. MY WHOLE FRONT END WAS SMASHED IN AND THE PASSENGER HIT THE DASH BUT MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE ONSTAR STOPPED WORKING. *…

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I CAME UP ON AN ACCIDENT THAT WAS ALREADY HAPPENING AND HAD TO SLAM ON BRAKES. AT THAT TIME MY 2003 YUKON DENALI DID NOT STOP IN TIME AND I HIT ANOTHER CAR GOING AT LEAST 45 MILES AN HOUR IN THE REAR. MY WHOLE FRONT END WAS SMASHED IN AND THE PASSENGER HIT THE DASH BUT MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE ONSTAR STOPPED WORKING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10203606

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.