2008 GMC Sierra Denali Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2008 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
- Body & structure633.3%
- Airbags316.7%
- Electrical211.1%
- Fuel system15.6%
- Interior & seats15.6%
- Exterior lighting15.6%
- Other / unspecified15.6%
- Visibility15.6%
- Brakes15.6%
- Driver assistance15.6%
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
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
MAJOR ISSUE INVOLVING CRACKING OF DASH AROUND PASSENGER AIRBAG OPENING AND INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AREA. I HAVE NOTICED SEVERAL VEHICLES COVERING ALL YEARS AND USAGE WITH SIMILAR CRACKS SOME MAJOR. CONCERNED THAT IF AN ACCIDENT WITH FRONT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT INJURY COULD OCCUR DUE TO FRACTURED PLASTIC.
GMC HAS THE DOOR HANDLES MADE IN MEXICO OUT OF PLASTIC. WHEN YOU GO TO OPEN THE DOOR THE HANDLE BREAKS OFF IN YOUR HAND. GMC KNOWS THIS A MAJOR DESIGN FLAW BUT REFUSES TO STAND BEHIND THE PROBLEM. JUST GOOGLE "GM DOOR HANDLES BREAK" AND HUNDREDS OF POSTINGS COME UP! MY CHILD WENT TO GET INTO THE TRUCK THE OTHER DAY AND THE HANDLE BROKE OFF IN HIS HAND CAUSING HIM TO FALL BACKWARDS. *TR
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
TAKATA RECALL WENT BACK TO LOCAL CHEVY GMC DEALER AGAIN FOR THE SECOND TIME IN ALMOST 3 YEARS SINCE I RECEIVED MY RECALL LETTER FROM GM. THEY LOOKED UP RECALL AND AGAIN TOLD ME THAT IT HAS BEEN RECALLED BUT THEY HAVEN'T AGREED ON WHOSE GOING TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I AM TIRED OF WAITING AND DRIVING A TRUCK THAT IN MY OPINION IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE WITH THIS SAFETY RELATED ISSUE. I WANT THIS FIXED BECAUSE 3 YEARS IS LONG ENOUGH TO FIGURE OUT WHOSE PAYING AND GET THE JOB DONE. IF IT DOSEN'T GET RESOLVED SOON I WILL HAVE TO TAKE LEGAL ACTION AGAINST GM. I DRIVE THIS VEHICLE DAILY SO IT NEEDS TO BE FIXED.
TAKATA RECALL WE GOT THE TRUCK 5/23/2015 WE RECEIVED THE RECALL ON THE AIR BAGS FEW MONTHS LATER WE TOOK THE TRUCK IN TO THE DEALER SHIP ON06/2/2017 THEY TOLD US THEY DID NOT HAVE THE PART TO FIX IT BUT THEY ARE THE ONES THAT TOLD US TO BRING IT IN SO WE GOT HOME I CALLED THE RECALL NUMBER THEN THEY TOLD ME THAT THE PLACE IS FIGHTING TO NOT FIX IT
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER CAME ON AND WENT CRAZY AND SO DID THE RADIO. THE TRUCKS BRAKES LOCKED UP AND CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE TRUCK TURNED OFF AND WHEN I TRIED TO TURN IT BACK ON IT WAS DEAD. OPEN UP THE HOOD AND DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY AND RECONNECTED AND THE TRUCK TURNED ON THIS HAS NOT BEEN THE ONLY TIME IT HAS HAPPEN. *TR
MY TRUCK STARTED TO ACTIVATE THE BRAKES IN THE MIDDLE OF THE 3 LANE 680 FREEWAY, DOORS STARTED TO LOCK AND UNLOCK, NAVIGATION WENT DARK, MULTIPLE DIFFERENT DISPLAYS ON DASHBOARD, NUMBER OF LIGHTS FROM THE AIR CONDITIONER UNIT, CAME ON. ACCELERATION OR BRAKES WOULD NOT RESPOND, WE WERE UNABLE TO DRIVE OFF THE FREEWAY. IT WAS A SCARY MOMENT, WE WERE LUCKY THAT NO BIG RIG WAS FOLLOWING US, OR IT WOULD HAD RUNS US OVER, AND PROBABLY KILLED US. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
2008 GMC SIERRA DENALI HAS INTERMITTENT FUEL GAUGE OPERATION. AFTER FILLING UP THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING THE FUEL GAUGE NEEDLE WILL DROP FROM FULL TANK INDICATION TO EMPTY TANK INDICATION EVEN THOUGHT THE TANK IS FUEL OF FUEL. THE DEALER HAS REMOVED THE TANK AND REPLACED THE FUEL SENDING UNIT, BUT HAS NOT RESULTED IN A FIX JUST AN EDUCATED GUESS. ALSO IN THE MORNINGS THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCES A VERY LOUD KNOCKING NOISE WHICH WHEN CONFRONTED AT THE DEALER WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS A NORMAL NOISE. OCCURS EVERYDAY IN THE MORNING AND WHEN LEAVING WORK IN THE AFTERNOON. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 GMC SIERRA DENALI. THE CONTACT STATED ALL THE DOOR LATCH HANDLES REPEATEDLY BROKE. THE CONTACT'S SON ATTEMPTED TO OPEN THE DOOR AND THE HANDLE COMPLETELY FAILED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED MORE THAN SEVEN TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,000. UPDATED 7/16/15*CN
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
MY 2008 GMC SIERRA DENALI HAS WATER CONDENSATION IN BOTH OF THE TAIL LIGHTS. ITS NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE ON ANY OF MY GMC TRUCKS AND THIS DENALI WASN'T CHEAP.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE TIRES SEAL AT THE WHEELS LEAK AIR CONTINUOUSLY. CAUSING THEM TO BE REFILLED. IF THEY GO DOWN POSSIBLE ACCIDENTS CAN RESULT. GM WILL DO NOTHING. THE WHEELS ARE CORRODING AND CAUSING THE PROBLEM. RIGHT WHERE THE TIRE MEETS THE WHEEL. *KB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 GMC SIERRA DENALI. THE CONTACT STATE THAT DURING RAINY WEATHER, WATER WOULD LEAK INTO THE VEHICLE FROM THE SUNROOF RESULTING IN SEVERE WATER DAMAGE TO THE HEADLINER. THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
MY TRUCK STARTED TO ACTIVATE THE BRAKES IN THE MIDDLE OF THE 3 LANE 680 FREEWAY, DOORS STARTED TO LOCK AND UNLOCK, NAVIGATION WENT DARK, MULTIPLE DIFFERENT DISPLAYS ON DASHBOARD, NUMBER OF LIGHTS FROM THE AIR CONDITIONER UNIT, CAME ON. ACCELERATION OR BRAKES WOULD NOT RESPOND, WE WERE UNABLE TO DRIVE OFF THE FREEWAY. IT WAS A SCARY MOMENT, WE WERE LUCKY THAT NO BIG RIG WAS FOLLOWING US, OR IT WOULD HAD RUNS US OVER, AND PROBABLY KILLED US. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
MY TRUCK STARTED TO ACTIVATE THE BRAKES IN THE MIDDLE OF THE 3 LANE 680 FREEWAY, DOORS STARTED TO LOCK AND UNLOCK, NAVIGATION WENT DARK, MULTIPLE DIFFERENT DISPLAYS ON DASHBOARD, NUMBER OF LIGHTS FROM THE AIR CONDITIONER UNIT, CAME ON. ACCELERATION OR BRAKES WOULD NOT RESPOND, WE WERE UNABLE TO DRIVE OFF THE FREEWAY. IT WAS A SCARY MOMENT, WE WERE LUCKY THAT NO BIG RIG WAS FOLLOWING US, OR IT WOULD HAD RUNS US OVER, AND PROBABLY KILLED US. *TR
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
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .