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2005 GMC Yukon Denali

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2005 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

36 reports with mileage · 13 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 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

2 crash reports3 fire reports0 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

19 reports
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125,000 miles · Dec 10, 2015
Air BagsElectrical SystemExterior Lighting

THE AIRBAG ERROR LIGHTS ARE ON. MECHANIC SAYS THE FRONT AIRBAG SENSORS WENT BAD. THE HORN DOES NOT WORK. THE DASH LIGHTS ARE BURNT OUT. MANY OF THE STEERING WHEEL CONTROL BUTTON LIGHTS ARE BURNT OUT. THE REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR IS BURNT OUT. THE FUEL PUMP MAKES VIBRATING NOISES.

NHTSA ODI #10809434

78,000 miles · Oct 27, 2014
Electrical SystemEngine

I WAS DRIVING ON THE 55 FREEWAY, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY ELECTRICAL GPS, RADIO, AND POWER TURNED OFF FOR APPROX. 5 SEC. AND THE DASH REBOOTED, AND RADIO REMAINED OFF, AND THE CAR WAS STILL CRUISING, BUT LOSING SPEED. I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND HAD TO RESTART WHILE CRUISING. IT IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. SPOKE TO G…

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I WAS DRIVING ON THE 55 FREEWAY, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY ELECTRICAL GPS, RADIO, AND POWER TURNED OFF FOR APPROX. 5 SEC. AND THE DASH REBOOTED, AND RADIO REMAINED OFF, AND THE CAR WAS STILL CRUISING, BUT LOSING SPEED. I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND HAD TO RESTART WHILE CRUISING. IT IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. SPOKE TO GMC PARTS DEPT. ON THE PHONE, AND HE STATED THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THIS VEHICLE. THIS HAS HAPPENED APPROX. 5 TIMES. I SHARED THAT INFORMATION TO THE PARTS DEPT. AND HE STATED THAT THEY COULD DO A DIAGNOSTIC THAT WOULD COST A PRETTY HI AMOUNT TO CHECK, AND IF NOTHING COME OUT OF IT I ASKED. THEN HE STATED NOTHING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10650452

95,000 miles · Jun 28, 2014
Electrical System

MY 2005 GMC YUKON DENALI REAR TAILGATE / HATCH IS LOCKED AND THE ELECTRONIC LOCK MOTIVATOR WILL NOT OPEN THE REAR TAILGATE / HATCH. THERE IS NO KEY NOR MANUAL WAY TO OPEN REAR TAILGATE / HATCH. THE DEALER SAID THAT THEY WERE NOT SURE WHAT IT WOULD COST TO FIX ALTHOUGH IT WOULD BE NO MORE THAN $450.00. SINCE THIS VEHICLE HAS THR…

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MY 2005 GMC YUKON DENALI REAR TAILGATE / HATCH IS LOCKED AND THE ELECTRONIC LOCK MOTIVATOR WILL NOT OPEN THE REAR TAILGATE / HATCH. THERE IS NO KEY NOR MANUAL WAY TO OPEN REAR TAILGATE / HATCH. THE DEALER SAID THAT THEY WERE NOT SURE WHAT IT WOULD COST TO FIX ALTHOUGH IT WOULD BE NO MORE THAN $450.00. SINCE THIS VEHICLE HAS THREE ROWS OF SEATS THERE IS NO MANUAL WAY TO OPEN THIS REAR TAILGATE / HATCH FOR THE PASSENGERS IN THE THIRD ROW OF SEATS TO GET OUT IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY. THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD HAVE INCLUDED AN ALTERNATE WAY TO OPEN THIS HATCH FOR EMERGENCY'S. WHETHER IT WOULD BE A KEY FROM THE OUTSIDE OR A DOOR HANDLE ON THE INSIDE. WE FEEL THAT TYPE OF VEHICLE SHOULD BE REVIEWED AND IT SHOULD INCLUDE VARIOUS YEARS OF THIS GMC VEHICLE, THE CHEVROLET TAHOE, AND THE CHEVROLET SUBURBAN WHICH HAVE THE SAME SETUP FOR THIS SAFETY REASON. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE AND REVIEW OF THIS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10607323

115,000 miles · May 28, 2014
Electrical System

IT APPEARS IN MY INVESTIGATING THIS THROUGH ONLINE SEARCHES AND FORUMS, THERE ARE 1000'S OF GM VEHICLES THAT HAVE HAD THEIR SPEEDOMETERS QUIT WORKING AND IS QUITE A MONEY MAKER FOR GM AND THEIR DEALERSHIPS, SINCE THEY 'HAVE' TO DO IT SO IT CAN BE REPROGRAMMED FOR MILEAGE AUTHENTICITY! WITH THESE 1000'S OF GM VEHICLES HAVING FAU…

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IT APPEARS IN MY INVESTIGATING THIS THROUGH ONLINE SEARCHES AND FORUMS, THERE ARE 1000'S OF GM VEHICLES THAT HAVE HAD THEIR SPEEDOMETERS QUIT WORKING AND IS QUITE A MONEY MAKER FOR GM AND THEIR DEALERSHIPS, SINCE THEY 'HAVE' TO DO IT SO IT CAN BE REPROGRAMMED FOR MILEAGE AUTHENTICITY! WITH THESE 1000'S OF GM VEHICLES HAVING FAULTY SPEEDOMETERS, OR OTHER FAULTY GAUGES...MINE IS STUCK ON 120MPH!! DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE WHEN U REALLY DON'T HAVE ANY IDEA HOW FAST YOU ARE GOING!! I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THEY ARE WELL AWARE OF, AND NOT BECAUSE OF NORMAL USE AND WEAR!! MY 2005 GMC YUKON DENALI WOULD COST $510 + TAX AND HAVE TO B SENT AWAY TO B REPAIRED.... PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS AND ADD THIS TO ALL THE OTHER PROBLEMS GM IS HAVING AND LET'S NOT PUT IT TO THE CONSUMER LIKE THEY HAVE AND ARE DOING! THANK YOU!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10594589

Mileage unknown · May 21, 2014
Air BagsElectrical SystemFuel System, Gasoline

I BOUGHT MY 05' GMC YUKON DENALI NEW. AIRBAG LIGHT CONTINUOUSLY ON - READS, SERVICE AIRBAG. I HAVE TAKEN IT IN FOR SERVICE SEVERAL TIMES BUT MIRACULOUSLY THE GMC SERVICE CENTER SAYS THE LIGHT DOESN'T COME ON WHEN THEY HAVE IT. PFFFTT!- 2005 TO PRESENT! HEATER & AC (HVAC) TEMPERATURE IMPROPER TEMPERATURE OR AIR DELIVERY…

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I BOUGHT MY 05' GMC YUKON DENALI NEW. AIRBAG LIGHT CONTINUOUSLY ON - READS, SERVICE AIRBAG. I HAVE TAKEN IT IN FOR SERVICE SEVERAL TIMES BUT MIRACULOUSLY THE GMC SERVICE CENTER SAYS THE LIGHT DOESN'T COME ON WHEN THEY HAVE IT. PFFFTT!- 2005 TO PRESENT! HEATER & AC (HVAC) TEMPERATURE IMPROPER TEMPERATURE OR AIR DELIVERY. YEAR OF OCCURRENCE - 2010 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM HAS MIND OF ITS OWN. LIGHTS ON DASH, CD AND TAPE DON'T WORK. YEAR OF OCCURRENCE - 2005/6 BOTH CD PLAYER'S AND TAPE CASSETTE PLAYER HAVEN'T WORKED SINCE 2006/7 FUEL SYSTEM SPORADICALLY READS- CHECK GAS CAP. GASOLINE GAGE DOESN'T WORK. YEAR OF OCCURRENCE- 2010 CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON SPORADICALLY- 2008 TO PRESENT. LOCKS DON'T WORK PROPERLY- 2009 REAR WINDOW DEFOGGER WIRE TERMINAL BROKEN OFF OF WINDOW GLASS- YEAR OF OCCURRENCE - 2005/6 THE KEYLESS ENTRY SYSTEM STOPPED WORKING. I HAVE REPLACED KEY FOBS AND BATTERIES SEVERAL TIME'S IT WILL WORK FOR A WEEK THEN FAIL. YEAR OF OCCURRENCE -2007/08 REAR PASSENGER WINDOW'S DON'T WORK PROPERLY, WHEN DOWN THEY WILL NOT GO UP. YEAR OF OCCURRENCE - 2009 CHILD WINDOW LOCK DOESN'T WORK. YEAR OF OCCURRENCE - 2010 SIDE REAR VIEW MIRROR'S DON'T WORK FOR SEVERAL WEEK'S AFTER A CAR WASH. YEAR OF OCCURRENCE 2013 FRONT AND MIDDLE GLOVE COMPARTMENT PEELED WITHIN THE FIRST 6 MONTHS OF OWNING THE VEHICLE. FRONT SEAT HEATER OVERHEATS -IMMEDIATELY AFTER PUSHING SEAT HEATER BUTTON. YEAR OF OCCURRENCE - 2006/7 FRONT SEATS DON'T RECLINE ALL THE WAY DOWN. YEAR OF OCCURRENCE - 2009 MILEAGE IS WRONG - YEAR OF OCCURRENCE 2006/7 MAJOR BRAKE ISSUE- 2007 TO PRESENT MAKES STRANGE PULLING SOUND IN REAR OF VEHICLE WHEN STARTED-2007 TO PRESENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10593313

Mileage unknown · Mar 7, 2013
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

PASSENGER HEADLIGHT (LOW BEAM) HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE. INTERMITTENTLY GOES ON AND OFF. SAME WITH 2 OUT OF 3 BRAKE LIGHTS. DOESN'T MATTER HOW MANY TIMES WE REPLACE THE BULBS, WE KEEP HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. IS GMC GOING TO PAY MY TICKET WHEN I GET PULLED OVER? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10501931

65,000 miles · Jun 20, 2011
Electrical System

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 GMC YUKON DENALI. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THE CONTACT NOTICED THE GEAR INDICATOR LIGHT ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS NOT FUNCTIONING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHEN THE CONTACT NOTICED THE LIGHT WAS DIM. THE DEALER COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE HAD NOT COMPLETELY SHUT …

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 GMC YUKON DENALI. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THE CONTACT NOTICED THE GEAR INDICATOR LIGHT ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS NOT FUNCTIONING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHEN THE CONTACT NOTICED THE LIGHT WAS DIM. THE DEALER COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE HAD NOT COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. THE LIGHT COMPLETELY TURNED OFF AND WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

NHTSA ODI #10407545

100,000 miles · Mar 8, 2011
Electrical System

FOR APPROX8 MONTHS MY SPEEDOMETER HAS NOT WORK PROPERLY. AS I'M DRIVING THE "ZERO" MAY BE ANYWHERE FROM REAL ZERO TO 120 MPH. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT DUE TO THE SENSITIVITY OF THE RPM GAUGE TO TELL ME EXACT SPEED. CURRENTLY I DRIVE WITH A GARMAN THAT TELLS ME HOW FAST I'M GOING. I'VE FOUND LOTS OF INFORMATION RELATED TO SPEEDOM…

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FOR APPROX8 MONTHS MY SPEEDOMETER HAS NOT WORK PROPERLY. AS I'M DRIVING THE "ZERO" MAY BE ANYWHERE FROM REAL ZERO TO 120 MPH. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT DUE TO THE SENSITIVITY OF THE RPM GAUGE TO TELL ME EXACT SPEED. CURRENTLY I DRIVE WITH A GARMAN THAT TELLS ME HOW FAST I'M GOING. I'VE FOUND LOTS OF INFORMATION RELATED TO SPEEDOMETER ISSUES ON 2005 GMS YUKON DENALI. THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THERE WAS A RECALL BUT THE SPEEDOMETER BUT I HAD EXCEEDED THE MILEAGE. WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES THAT MAKE? THE DEALERSHIP SAYS IT WOULD BE ABOUT $350 DOLLARS TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS BUT DIAGNOSTICS ALSO CARRY A PRETTY HEFTY FEE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10386927

15,000 miles · Dec 30, 2010
Electrical System

I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY SPEEDOMETER CLUSTER ABOUT 1 YEAR AFTER PURCHASE. IT WORKED MOST OF THE TIME SO DIDN'T TAKE IT IN FOR REPAIR UNDER MY WARRANTY. AFTER 3 YEARS IT STOPPED WORKING ALTOGETHER BUT I WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. I CALLED THE DEALER TO SEE IF THERE WAS A RECALL AND HE SAID THERE WAS BUT I HAD TOO MANY…

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I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY SPEEDOMETER CLUSTER ABOUT 1 YEAR AFTER PURCHASE. IT WORKED MOST OF THE TIME SO DIDN'T TAKE IT IN FOR REPAIR UNDER MY WARRANTY. AFTER 3 YEARS IT STOPPED WORKING ALTOGETHER BUT I WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. I CALLED THE DEALER TO SEE IF THERE WAS A RECALL AND HE SAID THERE WAS BUT I HAD TOO MANY MILES ON THE VEHICLE TO QUALIFY. SO I HAVE BEEN DRIVING WITHOUT A WORKING SPEEDOMETER FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10373579

113,000 miles · Sep 23, 2010
Electrical System

SPEEDOMETER SPORADICALLY FAILS TO INDICATE ACTUAL SPEED OR ZERO. IT SOMETIMES LOCKS UP A SPECIFIC SPEED AND DOES NOT MOVE WHEN SPEED CHANGES. SOMETIMES NO SPEED INDICATION AT ALL.. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10357200

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.