RoadVitals

2003 GMC Yukon Denali Brakes Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Brakes reportsComplaints 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.
18
Latest Jul 28, 2017
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
25%
of 72 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
4
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1

What this page shows

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2003 GMC Yukon Denali submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 18 reports on file name it.

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

Owner reports naming brake

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Brakes
Filed Jul 28, 2017

BRAKES LINES RUSTED WHICH LED TO CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF BRAKE SYSTEM. REPAIR COST $1,000. THERE ARE MULTIPLE THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS TYPE OF BRAKE FAILURE IN THIS MAKE, MODEL, & YEAR. THIS SHOULD BE A MANDATORY FACTORY RECALL. SOMEONE IS GOING TO DIE BECAUSE GM IS NOT BEING FORCED TO FIX THEIR FAULTY EQUIPMENT. MY VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AND WHEN I DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL THE PEDAL WENT COMPLETELY TO THE FLOORBOARD. I WAS DRIVING STRAIGHT AHEAD IN MODERATE CITY TRAFFIC & NARROWLY MISSED STRIKING THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME ON A CITY STREET. MY MASTER CYLINDER WAS COMPLETELY EMPTY OF BRAKE FLUID WHEN EXAMINED. I WAS TRAVELING 25 MPH AND MY VEHICLE HAS 110,000 MILES. (THE NEXT PAGE WOULDN'T ALLOW ME TO ENTER THE SPEED & MILEAGE INFORMATION WHERE IT WAS REQUESTED)

NHTSA ID
11011368
Incident
Jul 24, 2017
Brakes
Filed Jun 19, 2016

BRAKES FAILED WHILE DRIVING ON CITY STREET WITH NO WARNING COULD NOT STOP AT RED LIGHT. IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER AND NOTICED BRAKE FLUID LEAKING FROM LEFT SIDE OF VEHICLE FROM A BROKEN BRAKE LINE.

NHTSA ID
10875146
Incident
Jun 2, 2016
Mileage
145,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Oct 3, 2014
Crash reported

MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING AND WHEN SLOWING DOWN THE BRAKES FAILED TO WORK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO STOP AND COLLIDED WITH THE VEHICLE IN FRONT. LUCKILY NOBODY WAS INJURED IN THIS COLLISION. AFTER INSPECTION, I NOTICED FLUID ON THE GROUND AT THE REAR LEFT (DRIVER'S SIDE REAR), AND LOOKED UNDER THE VEHICLE TO SEE WHERE THE FLUID MAY BE COMING FROM. I SAW THAT THERE WAS FLUID COATING A LARGE AREA OF THE UNDERBODY, AND ALSO SEE THE BRAKE LINE ATTACHED TO THE FRAME AS WET AND RUSTED. I HAVE PICTURES SAVED AS A REFERENCE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10641315
Incident
Oct 3, 2014
Brakes
Filed Feb 22, 2014
Crash reported

DRIVING ALONG WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN I NEEDED TO BRAKE FOR CURVE AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT DOWN TO THE FLOOR. I RAN OFF INTO A GRASSY FIELD TO PREVENT A SERIOUS INJURY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10565437
Incident
Feb 20, 2014
Mileage
136,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Sep 2, 2013

I WAS DRIVING HOME AT NIGHT AFTER GETTING GAS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE GAS SHORTAGE DURING THE MAJOR SNOW STORM IN THE NORTH EASTERN UNITED STATES. AS I WAS APPROACHING A LIGHT I PRESSED ON THE BRAKES AND IT WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR. I THEN BROUGHT IT TO A MECHANIC AND WHEN IT WAS PLACED ON A LIFT THEY NOTICED THE ENTIRE BOTTOM OF THE CAR WAS RUSTED INCLUDING THE BRAKE LINES. THEY ENDED UP REPLACING THE ENTIRE BRAKE LINE SYSTEM DUE TO EXCESSIVE RUST. *JS

NHTSA ID
10538363
Incident
Oct 29, 2012
Mileage
67,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Aug 19, 2013
Crash reported

AFTER STEPPING ON MY BRAKES AGGRESSIVELY TO STOP FOR A DOG CROSSING THE ROAD. I RECEIVED A BRAKE STABILITY NOTICE ON MY DASH. SINCE I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD, I PUT THE CAR INTO DRIVE TO GET OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CAR DID NOT SLOW DOWN AFTER I PUMPED THE BRAKES, AND TRIED TO THROW THE CAR IN REVERSE TO REDUCE THE SPEED. I COASTED INTO A PARKED SUBARU ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND BECAUSE OF THE REAR IMPACT THE SUBARU THAT I HIT PUSHED INTO TOYOTA HIGHLANDER IN FRONT OF IT. THEREFORE THREE CARS AFFECTED BY THE ACCIDENT. MY CHILDREN WERE IN THE CAR WITH ME AND THAT WAS THE WORST PART, I WOULD HAVE COASTED RIGHT INTO A BUSY INTERSECTION ON MAIN STREET HAD I NOT STOPPED THE WAY THAT I DID. AFTER TAKING THE TRUCK TO MY MECHANIC HE MENTIONED THAT I POPPED TWO BRAKE LINES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10536077
Incident
Aug 7, 2013
Mileage
127,835 mi
Brakes
Filed Jun 17, 2013

I WAS TRAVELING DOWN A CITY STREET AND WENT TO STOP AT A RED LIGHT. I APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WAS VERY SOFT SO I PUSHED A LITTLE HARDER AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. I HAD TO SWERVE INTO A GAS STATION PARKING LOT TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT AND APPLY THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. I CRAWLED UNDER THE VEHICLE AND SAW THAT THERE WAS BRAKE FLUID DRIPPING FROM THE FLOOR AND THE HARD LINES UNDER THE DRIVER SIDE FLOOR. IT IS GETTING TAKEN TO THE DEALER TONIGHT TO HAVE THE ISSUE FIXED. PLEASE MAKE GM RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS ISSUE AND TO PAY US BACK AS THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM AND VERY EXPENSIVE TO FIX. IF I WOULD HAVE HIT THE BRAKE A COUPLE SECONDS LATER I WOULD HAVE MISSED THE ENTRANCE TO THE GAS STATION AND REAR-END THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. *TR

NHTSA ID
10520125
Incident
Jun 13, 2013
Mileage
98,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jan 1, 2013

RUSTED BRAKE LINES CAUSED IMMEDIATE LOSS WITH NO WARNING. LOSS OF BRAKES WERE CATASTROPHIC WITH ONLY EMERGENCY BRAKES AVAILABLE. CAR CAME TO A CONTROLLED STOP ON MEDIAN BUT COULD OF BEEN MUCH WORSE GIVEN NO OTHER VEHICLES IN THE VICINITY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10490636
Incident
Dec 28, 2012
Mileage
123,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Sep 7, 2012

BRAKE LINE BURST WHILE UNDER A HARD BRAKING SCENARIO. FURTHER INSPECTION REVEALED ALL LINES UNDER AND UP TO THE PROPORTIONING VALVE ARE ALL ROTTING TO THE POINT OF NEEDING TO BE REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10474191
Incident
Sep 3, 2012
Mileage
114,010 mi
Brakes
Filed Jul 25, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC YUKON DENALI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, SHE ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT BRAKE. THE CONTACT HAD TO REMOVE HER FOOT FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY NEEDED TO REPLACE THE BRAKE LINES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 120,000.

NHTSA ID
10467720
Incident
Jul 19, 2012
Mileage
120,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Mar 28, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC YUKON DENALI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AND FAILED AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED INTO THE FLOORBOARD. THE CONTACT HAD TO UTILIZE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT THE BRAKE LINE WAS RUSTED AND LEAKING BRAKE FLUID. THE MECHANIC REPAIRED THE ENTIRE BRAKE LINE AND MASTER CYLINDER. THE CONTACT DID NOT CALL THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10453381
Incident
Mar 28, 2012
Mileage
78,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Dec 19, 2011

TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE AFTER A LONG TRIP. *TR THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKE FAILURE WAS A RESULT OF RUSTED BRAKE LINES. UPDATED 05/08/12

NHTSA ID
10440511
Incident
Dec 18, 2011
Mileage
69,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Sep 24, 2011

ALL OF THE BRAKE LINES ARE COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT. MY WIFE HAD A COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE WHILE DRIVING MY DAUGHTER TO SCHOOL. BRAKE LINE OVER FRAME LEADING FRONT TO BACK FAILED AND COMPLETELY EMPTIED THE MASTER CYLINDER OF BRAKE FLUID, RESULT CAR WOULD NOT STOP. THIS MUST BE MADE INTO A RECALL, AS THE POSSIBILITY OF A MAJOR ACCIDENT AND LOSS OF LIFE IS VERY PROBABLE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10427003
Incident
Sep 23, 2011
Mileage
75,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Apr 28, 2010

I HAVE A 2003 GMC YUKON DENALI WITH APPROXIMATELY 12K MILES WHEN THE BRAKE LINES CORRODED AND CAUSED BRAKE FAILURE. NO ACCIDENT,NO INJURIES . IT SEEMS LIKE THE WHOLE UNDERCARRIAGE IS CORRODING. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN OUT OF SERVICE TO BE REPAIRED. SEEMS TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE OF IMPORTANCE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10327934
Incident
Jan 15, 2010
Mileage
12,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Apr 19, 2010
Crash reported1 injury reported

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC YUKON DENALI. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH ON WET ROAD CONDITIONS; APPROACHING A TRAFFIC STOP LIGHT, THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR WITH PRESSURE APPLIED. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SLOW DOWN AND CRASHED INTO A POLE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE HEAD AND BODY. THERE WAS NO MENTION OF A POLICE REPORT FILED FOR THE INCIDENT. THE INSURANCE COMPANY DID NOT INVESTIGATE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THE DEFECT WAS RELATED TO A MANUFACTURER INVESTIGATION ACTION NUMBER PE10010 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC: POWER ASSIST: HYDRAULIC: HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS). THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR THE MALFUNCTION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,005. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10326494
Incident
Jan 1, 2009
Mileage
15,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jun 13, 2007

BRAKE FAILURE AT 34000 MILES. *AK

NHTSA ID
10193298
Incident
Jun 10, 2007
Mileage
36,900 mi
Brakes
Filed Dec 20, 2004

THE FRONT LEFT BRAKE WOULD LOCK UP DURING RIGHT TURNS. WOULD HAVE TO RELEASE BRAKE PEDAL TO CONTROL STEERING. BROUGHT VEHICLE TO GMC DEALER. UNABLE TO LOCATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
10104112
Incident
Dec 17, 2004
Brakes
Filed Feb 3, 2004

WHILE TRAVELING DOWN A HILL AND UPON DEPRESSING BRAKES CONSUMER NOTICED BRAKE PEDAL VIBRATED HARD AND TRAVELED TO FLOORBOARD. CONSUMER REPEATEDLY DEPRESSED BRAKES TO COME TO A NORMAL STOP. *AK

NHTSA ID
10057428

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.

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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .