RoadVitals

2005 GMC Yukon Denali Xl

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

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.
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Latest Sep 19, 2017
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
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InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
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.
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Overview

Our database contains 34 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2005 GMC Yukon Denali Xl, most frequently naming the electrical, brakes and engine categories. 534 manufacturer communications are on file.

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

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Electrical1020.8%
  • Brakes816.7%
  • Engine612.5%
  • Exterior lighting48.3%
  • Transmission36.3%
  • Driver assistance36.3%
  • Tires & wheels24.2%
  • Steering24.2%

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

Safety recalls

No recalls in our database for this model year

That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Brakes
Filed Sep 19, 2017

STARTED CAR IN THE MORNING TO GO TO WORK. AS I DO EVERY DAY. FOOT ON BRAKE AS USUAL, SHIFT TO DRIVE, TO BEGIN A TURN IN MY DRIVEWAY, IN MAKING THE LEFT TURN, WHICH IS A DOWNWARD GRADE, APPLIED BRAKE, WHICH WENT TO FLOOR. NO RESISTANCE WHATSOEVER, COMPLETE FAILURE OF BRAKES. KEPT FOOT ON BRAKE AND STEERED UP THE GRADE, THEN PUT CAR INTO PARK. GOT OUT, OPENED HOOD. CHECKED MASTER CYLINDER- NO FLUID VISIBLE AT USUAL LINE. CHECKED UNDER VEHICLE, BRAKE FLUID TRAILING ON DRIVEWAY UNDER PATH OF VEHICLE, AND SLOW DRIP FROM UNDER FORWARD FRONT DRIVER SIDE . BRAKE LINES AND CONNECTOR COMPLETELY CORRODED AND RUSTED. HAD I BEEN ON THE ROAD I WOULD HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO STOP, VEHICLE IS DRIVEN BY MY SON AS WELL. OUR LIVES AND THOSE OF OTHERS IN THE VEHICLE AS WELL AS OTHERS THAT MEAD BEEN IN OUR PATH WERE CLEARLY IN DANGER. THIS PROBLEM SHOULD NOT OCCUR, AND IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE.

NHTSA ID
11024280
Incident
Sep 8, 2017
Mileage
145,000 mi
EngineFuel system
Filed May 19, 2017

THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING. WITHOUT WARNING. THIS HAPPENS AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. LOSS OF BRAKES AND POWER STEERING OCCURS AFTER ENGINE SHUTS OFF. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AT VARYING SPEEDS. SPEED VARYING BETWEEN 30 MPH TO 70 MPH. ENGINE WILL RESTART (BE TURNED BACK ON AFTER WAIT TIME AT THE IGNITION) AND DRIVE FOLLOWING THESE INCIDENTS, HOWEVER INCIDENTS REOCCUR. ALSO UPON TAKING IT TO A GMC CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION, SERVICE DEPARTMENT WAS UNABLE TO FIND ANY "CODES" RELATED TO THIS. FUEL PRESSURE WAS TESTED IN STATIONARY POSITION AND IN DRIVING AND FUEL PRESSURE APPEARED FINE. DEALERSHIP NOTED NO ISSUES. UPON PICKING THE VEHICLE UP AFTER INSPECTION THE ENGINE CUT OUT AGAIN WHILE DRIVING ON THE WAY HOME, AGAIN WITHOUT WARNING. INCIDENTS OCCURRED ON DRY ROADS. OUTSIDE TEMPERATURES HAVE VARIED FROM 50 F TO 90 F AND LENGTH OF DRIVE TIME HAS ALSO VARIED FROM THREE HOURS AT TIME OF OCCURRENCE TO ONLY MINUTES AFTER START UP. INCIDENTS HAPPEN AT RANDOM AND NOT EVERY TIME VEHICLE IS DRIVEN.

NHTSA ID
10990506
Incident
May 18, 2017
Mileage
165,670 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Apr 18, 2016

WHILE DRIVING I NOTICED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE WAS ERRATIC GOING FROM ZERO TO 120 MPH. WHEN I STOPPED THE NEEDLE WAS STUCK AT 30 MPH. AT THE SAME TIME THE GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR LIGHT WENT FROM DULL TO NON EXISTENT PREVENTING ME FROM KNOWING WHAT GEAR I WAS IN. THIS WAS HAPPENING SPORADICALLY BUT NOW THE SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE IS ALWAYS ON ZERO AND THE GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR IS NEVER LIT. I SAW ONLINE THAT THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL FOR THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FOR THE SAME SPEEDOMETER PROBLEM I AM HAVING BUT THE RECALL ENDED WITH 2004 VEHICLES EVEN THOUGH THERE IS A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ONLINE WITH THE 2005 MODELS ALSO. I SAW A RECALL (#05023) FOR THE GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR LIGHT. I TRIED CALLING GMC TO HAVE IT FIXED AND WAS TOLD IT IS VIN SPECIFIC. I EXPLAINED THAT THE RECALL DID NOT SPECIFY SPECIFIC VIN NUMBERS. WAS RUDELY TOLD I AM OUT OF LUCK. I TRIED TO ADDRESS BOTH ISSUES WITH GMC TO NO AVAIL. THEY DON'T WANT TO KNOW WHEN THERE IS A PROBLEM. MAYBE THEY WILL LISTEN WHEN SOMEONE IS KILLED. I JUST HOPE IT IS NOT ME!

NHTSA ID
10860204
Incident
Dec 22, 2015
Mileage
102,000 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalEngine
Filed Aug 31, 2015

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WITH MY CRUISE CONTROL SET BETWEEN 50-70MPH, I BEGAN NOTICING MY SPEEDOMETER BEGINNING TO JUMP BETWEEN 0-120MPH CAUSING THE LIMITER TO KICK IN AND ME LOSING THE ABILITY TO CONTROL SPEED. KEEP IN MIND I'M ONLY GOING BETWEEN 50-70MPH. THIS LATER BEGAN OCCURRING WITHOUT THE CRUISE CONTROL ON. SHORTLY AFTER THIS BEGAN HAPPENING ANOTHER PROBLEM STARTED. NOW WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS SET BETWEEN 50-70MPH, THE ENGINE WOULD AUTOMATICALLY ACCELERATE MAXING OUT THE RPM'S AND SENDING THE VEHICLE TO APPROXIMATELY 80-90MPH BEFORE I HAD TO HIT THE BRAKES OR COMPLETELY CUT OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL. LATER ON WHEN I WOULD SET THE CRUISE CONTROL THE VEHICLE WOULD BEGIN TO JERK VIOLENTLY, REVVING HIGH THEN GOING BACK TO NORMAL BEFORE REVVING HIGH AGAIN AND ME SHUTTING OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL. THERE WAS NEVER A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT THE WHOLE TIME THIS WAS HAPPENING. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALER I PURCHASED IT FROM, RANDY MARION GMC IN HUNTERSVILLE, NC, TO BE CHECKED. I WAS TOLD THAT I HAD A BAD MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR. THAT WAS REPLACED BUT THE PROBLEM WAS STILL OCCURRING. I TOOK IT BACK A SECOND TIME AND THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG SO I BEGAN READING BLOGS TO SEE IF ANYONE ELSE HAS HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM. SOME HAD SIMILAR ISSUES AND SAID THE IGNITION COILS MAY BE BAD. I HAD THOSE CHECKED AND ALL WERE GOOD. THIS VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND I AM THE ONLY OWNER. I'VE CONTACTED GM, GENERAL MOTORS, ABOUT THIS AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WERE NO RECALL ISSUES BUT HAVE YET TO HAVE MY CALLS RETURNED BY THE PERSON HANDLING THIS CASE. THIS VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE AND NO ONE SEEMS TO BE LISTENING.

NHTSA ID
10760455
Incident
May 1, 2015
Mileage
130,000 mi
Filed Jun 1, 2015

SEVERAL DAYS AGO - GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR DID NOT ILLUMINATE OR WAS "DULL". THE ILLUMINATION/DIMNESS OF INSTRUMENT WAS SPORADIC. AFTER A FEW DAYS SAME PROBLEM WITH DIGITAL ODOMETER. TODAY, TOOK VEHICLE TO FAULKER GMC, TREVOSE PA (PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE FROM THEM NEW- ORIGINAL OWNER) ONLY 92,000 MILES ON VEHICLE. WAS TOLD NO "RECALLS" FOR MY VIN - CHARGE IS $323.11 TO REPLACE "INSTRUMENT CLUSTER". THERE IS A SPECIFIC RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM - BUT WAS TOLD MY VIN NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL. SEE NHTSA REFERENCE #10010038

NHTSA ID
10722626
Incident
Jun 1, 2015
Mileage
92,000 mi
Body & structureBrakes
Filed Apr 11, 2015
Crash reported

WAS DRIVING ABOUT 30MPH AND HIT THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND WE RAN INTO A TRAILER. THE BRAKE LINES WERE RUSTED SO BAD THAT THEY BUSTED, AND CAUSED THE BRAKE FLUID TO LEAK OUT. THE ESTIMATE TO REPAIR THE BRAKE LINES ALONE IS $2800. *TR

NHTSA ID
10705143
Incident
Apr 10, 2015
Mileage
84,611 mi
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Mar 18, 2015

(3-17-2015) I WAS DRIVING MY 2005 GMC DENALI XL, (WITH UNDER 35000 MILES) THE BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON, WHEN I GO TO PULL OVER, I REALIZE MY BRAKE PEDAL BOTTOMS OUT, I GET IT TO A GMC DEALER, THEY TELL ME MY BRAKE LINES ARE FAULTY DO TO BAD UNDERCARRIAGE CORROSION AND RUST, AND INFORM ME THAT IT MAY TAKE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS JUST TO CORRECT THE BRAKE LINES, AND THAT OTHER PARTS OR SYSTEMS MAY ALSO FAIL....THEY ALSO SAY IT'S NOT WORTH REPAIRING. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MARYLAND UP UNTIL MAY 2014, WHEN I RELOCATED TO FLORIDA, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVEN MUCH ON A DAILY BASES...MOSTLY ON LONG TRIPS OUT OF TOWN. *TR

NHTSA ID
10695187
Incident
Mar 17, 2015
Mileage
35,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Dec 27, 2014

I WAS TRAVELING ON A LOCAL HIGHWAY AT THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT WHEN I WAS CAUSED TO SLOW DUE TO TRAFFIC. WHEN I PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL THE PEDAL WENT COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR. SCARED TO DEATH I ALMOST ENGAGED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO ENSURE THE VEHICLE WOULD STOP IN TIME. MIND YOU I WAS TRAVELING WITH THREE CHILDREN AND MY SPOUSE IN THE VEHICLE ALL OF WHOSE LIVES COULD HAVE BEEN AFFECTED NOT TO MENTION MY OWN. THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF ANY BRAKE SERVICE NEEDED UNTIL THIS OCCURRED AT THE POINT MY FOOT WAS LITERALLY ON THE FLOOR THE SERVICE BRAKE SIGNAL SHOWED AND DINGING OCCURRED. I ARRIVED HOME WITHOUT INCIDENT AN HOUR LATER BUT STILL NO PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL AND EACH TIME IN ORDER TO STOP I HAD TO APPLY TONS OF PRESSURE SO THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD TOUCH THE FLOOR. I CHECKED THE BRAKE FLUID AND IT WAS MUCH LOWER THAN WHEN WE STARTED OUR TRIP JUST A FEW HOURS PRIOR. I IMMEDIATELY ADDED FLUID. THE FOLLOWING DAY A LARGE SPOT IN THE DRIVEWAY WAS NOTICED AT THE LEFT REAR OF THE VEHICLE. MY SPOUSE CHECKED THE LINE AND SURE ENOUGH THE LINE HAD RUSTED CAUSING A LEAK. I DO NOT RESIDE IN A HIGH SALT AREA NOR DID THE PREVIOUS OWNERS. NORTHERN VA FOR PRIOR OWNERS AND I RESIDE IN THE "CENTRAL" VA AREA. THIS IS NOT ONLY A MAJOR ISSUE BUT A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN. I HAD NOT REALIZED THAT THERE WERE THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME EXACT ISSUE AS WHAT I NOW HAVE. REGARDLESS OF WARRANTY A VEHICLE LESS THAN 10YRS OF AGE SHOULD NOT HAVE CORRODED BRAKE LINES AND FAIL TO WARN THE OWNER AND OPERATOR UNTIL IT IS IN FACT TOO LATE. LUCKILY I DID NOT CAUSE AN ACCIDENT BUT EASILY THERE COULD HAVE BEEN ONE. YET AGAIN ANOTHER GM VEHICLE HAS SUCCEEDED IN BEING NOTHING BUT A SAFETY ISSUE, DEATH TRAP AND EXTREME DISAPPOINTMENT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10668488
Incident
Dec 20, 2014
Mileage
160,000 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

PIP5601C

This PI communicates the requirement to provide a pico file to receive diagnostic assistance from TAC.

PIT5074R

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about the use of J-35616-64B and Mini 50 terminal test probe, replacement terminals, and terminated leads.

PIT5074R

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about the use of J-35616-64B and Mini 50 terminal test probe, replacement terminals, and terminated leads.

PIT5074R

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about the use of J-35616-64B and Mini 50 terminal test probe, replacement terminals, and terminated leads.

23-NA-001

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

This service bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on OnStar Module 2G Sunset Information.

03-06-01-023I

ENGINE

This service bulletin explains how to measure for oil consumption and possible reasons for loss of oil.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

GMC Yukon Denali Xl by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2018200
2017400
2016290140.3
2015650134.4
2014500
2013130028.7
2012230032.5
2011690033.2
2010290030.2
2009220031.8
2008420030.4
2007610143.6
2006110034.3
2005Viewing340035.0
2004490033.6
2003320035.7

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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.