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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

What owners actually said

49 reports
74,500 miles · Aug 6, 2011
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

BRAKE LINE RUSTED AND LEAKING BRAKE FLUID. TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE. *TT

NHTSA ODI #10417798

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

96,000 miles · Dec 22, 2010
Electronic Stability Control (esc)

RANDOMLY WHEN I WOULD DRIVE MY VEHICLE, THE TRACTION CONTROL WOULD JUST TURN ON IN MY CAR WHETHER I WAS DRIVING FAST OR SLOW. I COULD BE DRIVING STEADY WITHOUT STOPPING ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT ANY RHYME OR REASON. I SPECIFICALLY WENT TO A GM DEALERSHIP TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND THEY DIAGNOSED AND SAID IT WOULD BE $529.00. I WENT …

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RANDOMLY WHEN I WOULD DRIVE MY VEHICLE, THE TRACTION CONTROL WOULD JUST TURN ON IN MY CAR WHETHER I WAS DRIVING FAST OR SLOW. I COULD BE DRIVING STEADY WITHOUT STOPPING ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT ANY RHYME OR REASON. I SPECIFICALLY WENT TO A GM DEALERSHIP TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND THEY DIAGNOSED AND SAID IT WOULD BE $529.00. I WENT FORWARD WITH FIXING THE CAR AND THE NEXT MORNING MY CAR WAS NOT FIXED. SINCE THE DEALERSHIP HAS DISENGAGED MY TRACTION CONTROL AND ABS AND SAID TO FIX MY CAR NOW WOULD BE $1500. I NOW AM DRIVING A VERY UNSAFE VEHICLE AND OUT $500 AND NOT SURE WHAT TO DO TO FIX MY VEHICLE WHICH IS A HUGE SAFETY MATTER? I AM LOOKING FOR ASSISTANCE IN GETTING MY MONEY BACK FROM THE DEALERSHIP AND GOING TO ONE THAT IS REPUTABLE SINCE GM SAID THAT THE DEALERSHIP IS PRIVATELY OWNED AND THEY CAN NOT HELP ME.

NHTSA ODI #10372803

146,000 miles · Dec 15, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

1999 TO PRESENT 4.8,5.3 5.7,6.0 LITER ENGINES FROM GM HAVE INFERIOR GRADE METAL IN THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS CAUSING THEM TO BREAK. THE VEHICLES WILL HAVE EXHAUST LEAKS AND FALSE READINGS TO THE OXYGEN SENSORS.THE EXHAUST LEAKS OF RAW EXHAUST GASES IN TO THE ATMOSPHERE TRANSLATE TO EXTRA POLLUTION INTO THE ATMOSPHERE FROM ALL …

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1999 TO PRESENT 4.8,5.3 5.7,6.0 LITER ENGINES FROM GM HAVE INFERIOR GRADE METAL IN THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS CAUSING THEM TO BREAK. THE VEHICLES WILL HAVE EXHAUST LEAKS AND FALSE READINGS TO THE OXYGEN SENSORS.THE EXHAUST LEAKS OF RAW EXHAUST GASES IN TO THE ATMOSPHERE TRANSLATE TO EXTRA POLLUTION INTO THE ATMOSPHERE FROM ALL THESE VEHICLES . THE OTHER MATTER IS THAT THE COMPUTER ON THE VEHICLES ISN'T GIVEN THE CORRECT OXYGEN SENSOR READING BECAUSE OF THE LEAKS ,EITHER GAS LEAKING OUT OR AIR BEING DRAWN INTO THE EXHAUST STREAM CAUSING THE PREMATURE FAILING OF CATALYTIC CONVERTERS. THE COMPUTER ON THE VEHICLES MAY OR MAY NOT WARM THE CUSTOMERS WITH A LIGHT BASED ON THE SEVERITY OF THE EXHAUST STREAM LEAK GM PUT OUT REPLACEMENT BOLTS FOR THIS PROBLEM ,BUT THAT ONLY FIXES THE PEOPLE'S THAT HAVE THE TIME AND OR RESOURCES TO VISIT THE GM DEALERS. ALL THE REST OF THE VEHICLES AND THEIR OWNERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR GETTING THE OLD BOLTS DRILLED OUT AND TRYING TO GET THE VEHICLES FIXED ON THEIR OWN. LOTS OF POLLUTION TAKING PLACE AND MONEY BEING SPENT ON A PROBLEM THAT COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED WITH SOME PROPER GRADE FASTENERS. AND THIS IS ON ABOUT 12,000,000 CARS TRUCKS AND SUVS. THIS IS BEING WRITTEN FROM SOMEONE WHO HAS HAD 25+ CARS AND HAS AN AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEERING BACKGROUND. AND SOMEONE WHO SPENT MONEY AND PRECIOUS TIME ON THIS ISSUE AND REALLY SHOULD NOT HAVE HAD TO. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10370722

110,000 miles · Oct 16, 2010
Latches/locks/linkagesStructure

I HAVE A 2005 GMC YUKON. THE LIFTGATE AND LIFTGATE WINDOW BOTH WILL NOT UNLOCK AND OPEN. THE REST OF THE DOORS AND LOCKS ARE FINE. THESE CAN ONLY BE OPENED FROM THE OUTSIDE, NOT FROM THE INSIDE. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE FOR MY FAMILY, ESPECIALLY MY 4 YEAR OLD WHO RIDES IN THE BACK. IF THERE WERE EVER AND EMERGENCY WE …

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I HAVE A 2005 GMC YUKON. THE LIFTGATE AND LIFTGATE WINDOW BOTH WILL NOT UNLOCK AND OPEN. THE REST OF THE DOORS AND LOCKS ARE FINE. THESE CAN ONLY BE OPENED FROM THE OUTSIDE, NOT FROM THE INSIDE. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE FOR MY FAMILY, ESPECIALLY MY 4 YEAR OLD WHO RIDES IN THE BACK. IF THERE WERE EVER AND EMERGENCY WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO ESCAPE FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10360816

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

68,000 miles · Aug 3, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

2 BOLTS HOLDING THE MANIFOLD TO THE 6 L ENGINE OF MY YUKON DENALI 2005 ARE BROKEN. THERE IS CONSEQUENTLY GAS EMISSION LEAK AT THE SOURCE, NOT COMPLYING TO RESOURCE EMISSION LAWS, POTENTIAL DAMAGE TO THE CATALYSOR. AT THE GARAGE, EXTENDED WARRANTY REFUSED TO COVER THE BOLT AND WORK (BUT THE MANIFOLD IS) ONE OF THE BOLT CAN NOT B…

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2 BOLTS HOLDING THE MANIFOLD TO THE 6 L ENGINE OF MY YUKON DENALI 2005 ARE BROKEN. THERE IS CONSEQUENTLY GAS EMISSION LEAK AT THE SOURCE, NOT COMPLYING TO RESOURCE EMISSION LAWS, POTENTIAL DAMAGE TO THE CATALYSOR. AT THE GARAGE, EXTENDED WARRANTY REFUSED TO COVER THE BOLT AND WORK (BUT THE MANIFOLD IS) ONE OF THE BOLT CAN NOT BE DRILLED BY THE OUTSIDE (NO SPACE) AND HAS TO BE REMOVE BY REMOVING THE HEAD COVER. I AM LOOKING AT A 10 HOURS ESTIMATE OF LABOR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10347027

72,231 miles · Jun 23, 2010
Electrical System

THE SPEEDOMETER IN MY GMC YUKON DENALI IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10339795

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.