2003 GMC Yukon Denali XL problems
NHTSA has received 52 complaints about the 2003 GMC Yukon Denali XL, and 31% of them involve brakes. Next are engine (17%) and stability control (15%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 52 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Brakes 31% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 8 and 0
- Injuries and deaths
- 0 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 145,000 miles 49 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 | 0 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 0 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 1 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 9 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 7 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 3 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 4 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 7 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 5 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 6 |
| 200k+ miles | 7 |
What the data shows
Of the 49 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 145,000 miles. For brakes specifically, the median reported mileage is about 112,000 miles (16 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 8 complaints mention a crash.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2003 ranks 11th most-complained-about out of 11 model years of the GMC Yukon Denali XL with enough data (7 complaints in that window).
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.
Vehicle powers down without any pattern, rhyme or reason. It will do it at 5 MPH, and at 55 MPH, when driven a lot, and when not. Reduced engine power light turns on, vehicle suddenly slows to 25 MPH max, steering becomes hard, brakes too. Then will totally shut off immediately. I have replaced the battery, throttle body assembly and wiring harness twice. Fuses, fuel pump and filters, oil, and everything else as recommended. It put me in the ditch. It stranded me in the center of a freeway in winter.
I was driving my yukon 2003 denali and the error message showed up "reduced engine power". I wasn't able to get the speed up to 30 MPH on the highway. I pulled into a parking lot and had someone come pick me up. When I went to pick up my vehicle, the message no longer appeared and it functioned at normal speeds. I am nervous about traveling with my family in the vehicle now.
The stability control warning has come on several times on my vehicle. The brakes do not work, as you have to push all the way to the floor and sometimes it takes time before the vehicle stops. I have had brake lines repairs and the problem still is there. We cannot use vehicle until the issue is resolved. Our mechanic advised us to file a complaint on this issue because it is an active issue with GMC denali yukon's for years. We need assistance to have this resolved to use our vehicle.