2002 GMC Denali problems
The 2002 GMC Denali has 28 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (18%) concerns engine. After that come brakes (14%) and transmission (11%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 28 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Engine 18% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 3 and 1
- Injuries and deaths
- 3 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 39,000 miles 15 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 3 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 5 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 2 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 5 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 0 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 0 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 0 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 0 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 0 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Among the 15 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 39,000 miles.
Safety-related details: 3 complaints mention a crash; 1 complaint mentions a fire; 3 injuries reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2002 ranks 4th most-complained-about out of 5 model years of the GMC Denali with enough data (20 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 1 safety recall campaign.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
Dt: while driving on the interstate at 70 MPH the consumer was side swiped and knocked into the median, in which the side air bags failed to deploy. Updated 12/27/05.
Dt: the owner turned left in turning lane and applied the brakes and truck kept on . The brakes had been mashed, and they would not stop. The brakes had worked up to the point before the wreck. The vehicle was constantly serviced. Owner's vehicle hit another car, and created a three car pile up. There was one reported injury from this incident. The vehicle is in the shop at this point for repairs.
Brakes cannot be fixed. Each time consumer takes vehicle to dealer, they tell her that nothing is wrong. But, yet she hears air when applying brakes.
We had heard under the hood loud noise. Mainly when we accelerated the vehicle. After assessing the noise, we found that we had a broken tensioner and it was making the belt weak. We called the dealer and replaced the belt and the tensioner, for a total of 3 times. We also found out through a GMC source that this was a common thing for this type of vehicle due to the fact that GMC had not put a filter on the compressor and it would cause it to fail.
Tl*the contact owns a 2002 GMC denali. The contact stated that the vbraked vibrate when attempting to stop and continued to accelerate forward a few feet. The contact stated that the vehicle had an increased stopping distance at low speeds. The mechanic stated that there was a recall # 05v379000 for the hydraulic antilock service brakes. The dealer stated that the vehicle was not included in the recall.