RoadVitals

2002 GMC Sierra Denali Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
13
Latest Jan 10, 2019
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
5
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
1

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2002 GMC Sierra Denali, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Reports by component

Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category

  • Brakes1062.5%
  • Steering318.8%
  • Airbags16.3%
  • Electrical16.3%
  • Engine16.3%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Each component in detail

What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words

Brakes

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.

10
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

THE METAL BRAKE LINES HAVE CORRODED BADLY AND NOW FAILED. VERY UNSAFE, CRASH WAITING TO HAPPEN.

NHTSA ID 11166237 · filed Jan 10, 2019

I DID NOT KNOW ABOUT THIS SITE AND THIS ACCIDENT HAPPENED IN OCT 2014. I WAS GOING AROUND A CURVE WITH 40 MPH SPEED LIMIT AND I WAS GOING 40 MPH. I STARTED TO BRAKE AS THIS WAS DOWNHILL AND A VERY LARGE TRUCK AND I DID NOT WISH TO INCREASE SPEED AS I FOLLOWED THE CURVE. MY BRAKES DID NOT RESPOND AND SANK TO THE FLOOR WITH NO RESISTANCE. I HAD NO STEERING ABILITY EITHER. I ENDED UP IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION WITH A VERY LARGE TREE AND THE AIRBAGS FAILED. I SPLIT MY HEAD OPEN ON THE STEERING WHEEL DESPITE BLOCKING MY FACE WITH MY FOREARMS CROSSED; A DE-GLOVING 10-12 INCH LACERATION DOWN TO THE SKULL THAT WRAPS FROM MY NOSE BRIDGE AROUND TO MY RIGHT EAR IN THE CIRCULAR SHAPE OF THE STEERING WHEEL. MY RIGHT LEG WAS PINNED INTO THE CENTER DASH AREA AS THE ENGINE BLOCK AND STEERING COLUMN WERE SHOVED INTO THE CAB. I HAD TO BE REMOVED FROM MY VEHICLE WITH THE JAWS OF LIFE BY EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAMS. I AM LUCKY TO BE ALIVE. MY QUADRASTEER WAS DECLARED TOTALED BY USAA INSURANCE AND DESTROYED WITHOUT MY KNOWLEDGE. I CALLED USAA 3 DAYS AFTER THE CRASH AFTER FINDING SO MANY BRAKE FAILURES ON THIS VEHICLE/YEAR MODEL AND WAS TOLD IT WAS ALREADY DESTROYED, SO DOING AN INVESTIGATION WAS NOT POSSIBLE. I HAVE LIVED IN PAIN AND ALSO PARALYZING FEAR OF DRIVING SINCE THEN; 3 YEARS. I AM A DISABLED MILITARY VETERAN WITH PTSD AND PRIOR BRAIN SURGERY AND THIS ACCIDENT CAUSED TO ME ISOLATE SO SEVERELY I COULD NOT EVEN ATTEND MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS DUE TO MY NEW FEARS OF DRIVING & RIDING IN VEHICLES. MY LIFE IS NOW RUINED BY THIS ACCIDENT. DECREASING VA DISABILITY DUE TO INABILITY TO ATTEND APPOINTMENTS CAUSED A $1000.00 PER MONTH LOSS OF BENEFITS. I CAN'T AFFORD MY BILLS AND HAVE BEEN STRUGGLING WITH THE VA TO GAIN ACCESS TO MEDICAL EVALUATIONS SINCE THEY ARE NOW STRIVING TO CUT BENEFITS FROM ANYONE THEY CAN. PLEASE RECALL NOW!!!!! WHO ELSE HAS TO BE HURT OR KILLED?????

NHTSA ID 11030762 · filed Oct 2, 2017
All 10 reports naming brakes

Steering

Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

I DID NOT KNOW ABOUT THIS SITE AND THIS ACCIDENT HAPPENED IN OCT 2014. I WAS GOING AROUND A CURVE WITH 40 MPH SPEED LIMIT AND I WAS GOING 40 MPH. I STARTED TO BRAKE AS THIS WAS DOWNHILL AND A VERY LARGE TRUCK AND I DID NOT WISH TO INCREASE SPEED AS I FOLLOWED THE CURVE. MY BRAKES DID NOT RESPOND AND SANK TO THE FLOOR WITH NO RESISTANCE. I HAD NO STEERING ABILITY EITHER. I ENDED UP IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION WITH A VERY LARGE TREE AND THE AIRBAGS FAILED. I SPLIT MY HEAD OPEN ON THE STEERING WHEEL DESPITE BLOCKING MY FACE WITH MY FOREARMS CROSSED; A DE-GLOVING 10-12 INCH LACERATION DOWN TO THE SKULL THAT WRAPS FROM MY NOSE BRIDGE AROUND TO MY RIGHT EAR IN THE CIRCULAR SHAPE OF THE STEERING WHEEL. MY RIGHT LEG WAS PINNED INTO THE CENTER DASH AREA AS THE ENGINE BLOCK AND STEERING COLUMN WERE SHOVED INTO THE CAB. I HAD TO BE REMOVED FROM MY VEHICLE WITH THE JAWS OF LIFE BY EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAMS. I AM LUCKY TO BE ALIVE. MY QUADRASTEER WAS DECLARED TOTALED BY USAA INSURANCE AND DESTROYED WITHOUT MY KNOWLEDGE. I CALLED USAA 3 DAYS AFTER THE CRASH AFTER FINDING SO MANY BRAKE FAILURES ON THIS VEHICLE/YEAR MODEL AND WAS TOLD IT WAS ALREADY DESTROYED, SO DOING AN INVESTIGATION WAS NOT POSSIBLE. I HAVE LIVED IN PAIN AND ALSO PARALYZING FEAR OF DRIVING SINCE THEN; 3 YEARS. I AM A DISABLED MILITARY VETERAN WITH PTSD AND PRIOR BRAIN SURGERY AND THIS ACCIDENT CAUSED TO ME ISOLATE SO SEVERELY I COULD NOT EVEN ATTEND MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS DUE TO MY NEW FEARS OF DRIVING & RIDING IN VEHICLES. MY LIFE IS NOW RUINED BY THIS ACCIDENT. DECREASING VA DISABILITY DUE TO INABILITY TO ATTEND APPOINTMENTS CAUSED A $1000.00 PER MONTH LOSS OF BENEFITS. I CAN'T AFFORD MY BILLS AND HAVE BEEN STRUGGLING WITH THE VA TO GAIN ACCESS TO MEDICAL EVALUATIONS SINCE THEY ARE NOW STRIVING TO CUT BENEFITS FROM ANYONE THEY CAN. PLEASE RECALL NOW!!!!! WHO ELSE HAS TO BE HURT OR KILLED?????

NHTSA ID 11030762 · filed Oct 2, 2017

THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON. SINCE THAT TIME, ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS WHILE TURNING AT SLOW SPEEDS, THE TRUCK HAS STALLED IN AN INTERSECTION. AFTER REVIEWING THE RECALL INFORMATION AND CALLING GM AND OUR DEALERSHIP, NO OPEN RECALLS APPLY TO THE TRUCK. THEY WILL OF COURSE BE HAPPY TO CHARGE US AND MINIMUM OF $101.00 AND MORE TO LOOK AT THE TRUCK AND REPAIR THE PROBLEM. IF THIS IS A RECALL, WHY DOES IT NOT APPLY? *TR

NHTSA ID 10272751 · filed Jun 3, 2009

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Airbags

Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

I DID NOT KNOW ABOUT THIS SITE AND THIS ACCIDENT HAPPENED IN OCT 2014. I WAS GOING AROUND A CURVE WITH 40 MPH SPEED LIMIT AND I WAS GOING 40 MPH. I STARTED TO BRAKE AS THIS WAS DOWNHILL AND A VERY LARGE TRUCK AND I DID NOT WISH TO INCREASE SPEED AS I FOLLOWED THE CURVE. MY BRAKES DID NOT RESPOND AND SANK TO THE FLOOR WITH NO RESISTANCE. I HAD NO STEERING ABILITY EITHER. I ENDED UP IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION WITH A VERY LARGE TREE AND THE AIRBAGS FAILED. I SPLIT MY HEAD OPEN ON THE STEERING WHEEL DESPITE BLOCKING MY FACE WITH MY FOREARMS CROSSED; A DE-GLOVING 10-12 INCH LACERATION DOWN TO THE SKULL THAT WRAPS FROM MY NOSE BRIDGE AROUND TO MY RIGHT EAR IN THE CIRCULAR SHAPE OF THE STEERING WHEEL. MY RIGHT LEG WAS PINNED INTO THE CENTER DASH AREA AS THE ENGINE BLOCK AND STEERING COLUMN WERE SHOVED INTO THE CAB. I HAD TO BE REMOVED FROM MY VEHICLE WITH THE JAWS OF LIFE BY EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAMS. I AM LUCKY TO BE ALIVE. MY QUADRASTEER WAS DECLARED TOTALED BY USAA INSURANCE AND DESTROYED WITHOUT MY KNOWLEDGE. I CALLED USAA 3 DAYS AFTER THE CRASH AFTER FINDING SO MANY BRAKE FAILURES ON THIS VEHICLE/YEAR MODEL AND WAS TOLD IT WAS ALREADY DESTROYED, SO DOING AN INVESTIGATION WAS NOT POSSIBLE. I HAVE LIVED IN PAIN AND ALSO PARALYZING FEAR OF DRIVING SINCE THEN; 3 YEARS. I AM A DISABLED MILITARY VETERAN WITH PTSD AND PRIOR BRAIN SURGERY AND THIS ACCIDENT CAUSED TO ME ISOLATE SO SEVERELY I COULD NOT EVEN ATTEND MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS DUE TO MY NEW FEARS OF DRIVING & RIDING IN VEHICLES. MY LIFE IS NOW RUINED BY THIS ACCIDENT. DECREASING VA DISABILITY DUE TO INABILITY TO ATTEND APPOINTMENTS CAUSED A $1000.00 PER MONTH LOSS OF BENEFITS. I CAN'T AFFORD MY BILLS AND HAVE BEEN STRUGGLING WITH THE VA TO GAIN ACCESS TO MEDICAL EVALUATIONS SINCE THEY ARE NOW STRIVING TO CUT BENEFITS FROM ANYONE THEY CAN. PLEASE RECALL NOW!!!!! WHO ELSE HAS TO BE HURT OR KILLED?????

NHTSA ID 11030762 · filed Oct 2, 2017

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Electrical

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

I PURCHASED A 2002 GMC SIERRA DENALI IN SEPT 2002 NEW FROM A LOCAL DEALER. I AM THE PRIMARY DRIVER AND DO NOT ABUSE THE VEHICLE. I KEEP ALL THE SERVICE WORK UP ON IT THRU THE SELLING DEALER. THE PROBLEM THAT I HAVE IS THAT THE QUDARSTEER CONTROL MODULE WENT OUT AND I CALLED GM FOR A SERVICE REQUEST. GM SET UP AN APPOINTMENT FOR ME WITH THE SELLING DEALER TO CHECK OUT THE PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP CHECKED OUT MY TRUCK AND TOLD ME THAT THE QUDRASTEER MODULE WAS BAD AND NEEDED REPLACED. THEY GOT ON THEIRE COMPUTER AND TRIED TO LOCATE A STEERING MODULE. BELIVE IT OR NOT THERE ISN'T ONE IN THE UNITED STATES. GM DOSEN'T MAKE THEM ANYMORE THEY HAVE BEEN DISCONTUINED. GM PRODUCED THIS TRUCK UNTILL 2005, I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT THEY HAD TO SUPPLY PARTS FOR VEHICLES THAT THEY MADE FOR AT LEAST 10 YR'S I AM NOW STUCK WITH A TRUCK WITH 50,285 MILES ON IT AND WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE MANAGER NOT TO DRIVE IT BECAUSE IT WOULD WEAR UOT MY TIRES. THE DEALERSHIP DISABLED THE QUDRASTEER BUT WHEN I DRIVE IT I HAVE TO KEEP THE STEERING WHEEL TURNED TO THE RT ABOUT A QUARTER TURN. IT DRIVES LIKE A VEHICLE WITH A CENTER BOLT BROKEN IN THE REAR LEAF SPRINGS. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT MY RECORSE IS WITH GM. I CANNOT PUT ANOTHER REAR END IN IT FROM ANOTHER TRUCK BECAUSE THE DENALI'S REAR END IS 5 1/2" WIDER THAN A RUGULAR PU. I THINK GM SHOULD BE MADE TO START MAKING THE PARTS THAT THESE TRUCK'S NEED. I KNOW THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON THAT HAS RUN INTO THIS PROBLEM. ALL GM IS DOING FOR ME IS GIVING ME A LIST OF WEB SITES TO LOOK UP AND TRY TO FIND THE PART MYSELF. THERE ARE NONE!!!!!! MSRP ON THE TRUCK WAS $43,000. THE QUDRASTEER OPTION WAS $4,000. I DON'T THINK THAT I SHOULD HAVE TO PARK MY TRUCK BECAUSE GM DOSEN'S WANT TO MAKE THE PART ANYMORE!!!!!! THE QUDRASTEER WENT OUT IN NOVENBER 2008, I STOPPED AT THE POST OFFICE TO CHECK MY MAIL AND WHEN I GOT BACK IN MY TRUCK AND STARTED IT THE SERVICE FOUR WHEEL STEERING LIGHT CAME ON THE DASH. INEED THIS PART!!!!!! *TR

NHTSA ID 10257056 · filed Jan 31, 2009

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Engine

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS BREAK CAUSING EMISSION FAILURE AND EXHAUST LEAK. THE REPAIR BILL IS UP TO $1000. OR MORE. YOU HAVE TO HAVE A GARAGE DRILL OUT OLD BOLTS AND REPLACE. *TR

NHTSA ID 10373399 · filed Dec 30, 2010

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .