RoadVitals

2005 GMC Yukon Denali Electrical Problems

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

Data refreshed

Electrical 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.
20
Latest Dec 10, 2015
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.
41%
of 49 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.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2005 GMC Yukon Denali submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 20 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 electrical

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

AirbagsElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Dec 10, 2015

THE AIRBAG ERROR LIGHTS ARE ON. MECHANIC SAYS THE FRONT AIRBAG SENSORS WENT BAD. THE HORN DOES NOT WORK. THE DASH LIGHTS ARE BURNT OUT. MANY OF THE STEERING WHEEL CONTROL BUTTON LIGHTS ARE BURNT OUT. THE REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR IS BURNT OUT. THE FUEL PUMP MAKES VIBRATING NOISES.

NHTSA ID
10809434
Incident
Dec 2, 2014
Mileage
125,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Oct 27, 2014

I WAS DRIVING ON THE 55 FREEWAY, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY ELECTRICAL GPS, RADIO, AND POWER TURNED OFF FOR APPROX. 5 SEC. AND THE DASH REBOOTED, AND RADIO REMAINED OFF, AND THE CAR WAS STILL CRUISING, BUT LOSING SPEED. I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND HAD TO RESTART WHILE CRUISING. IT IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. SPOKE TO GMC PARTS DEPT. ON THE PHONE, AND HE STATED THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THIS VEHICLE. THIS HAS HAPPENED APPROX. 5 TIMES. I SHARED THAT INFORMATION TO THE PARTS DEPT. AND HE STATED THAT THEY COULD DO A DIAGNOSTIC THAT WOULD COST A PRETTY HI AMOUNT TO CHECK, AND IF NOTHING COME OUT OF IT I ASKED. THEN HE STATED NOTHING. *TR

NHTSA ID
10650452
Incident
Oct 11, 2014
Mileage
78,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Jun 28, 2014

MY 2005 GMC YUKON DENALI REAR TAILGATE / HATCH IS LOCKED AND THE ELECTRONIC LOCK MOTIVATOR WILL NOT OPEN THE REAR TAILGATE / HATCH. THERE IS NO KEY NOR MANUAL WAY TO OPEN REAR TAILGATE / HATCH. THE DEALER SAID THAT THEY WERE NOT SURE WHAT IT WOULD COST TO FIX ALTHOUGH IT WOULD BE NO MORE THAN $450.00. SINCE THIS VEHICLE HAS THREE ROWS OF SEATS THERE IS NO MANUAL WAY TO OPEN THIS REAR TAILGATE / HATCH FOR THE PASSENGERS IN THE THIRD ROW OF SEATS TO GET OUT IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY. THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD HAVE INCLUDED AN ALTERNATE WAY TO OPEN THIS HATCH FOR EMERGENCY'S. WHETHER IT WOULD BE A KEY FROM THE OUTSIDE OR A DOOR HANDLE ON THE INSIDE. WE FEEL THAT TYPE OF VEHICLE SHOULD BE REVIEWED AND IT SHOULD INCLUDE VARIOUS YEARS OF THIS GMC VEHICLE, THE CHEVROLET TAHOE, AND THE CHEVROLET SUBURBAN WHICH HAVE THE SAME SETUP FOR THIS SAFETY REASON. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE AND REVIEW OF THIS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10607323
Incident
Jun 1, 2014
Mileage
95,000 mi
Electrical
Filed May 28, 2014

IT APPEARS IN MY INVESTIGATING THIS THROUGH ONLINE SEARCHES AND FORUMS, THERE ARE 1000'S OF GM VEHICLES THAT HAVE HAD THEIR SPEEDOMETERS QUIT WORKING AND IS QUITE A MONEY MAKER FOR GM AND THEIR DEALERSHIPS, SINCE THEY 'HAVE' TO DO IT SO IT CAN BE REPROGRAMMED FOR MILEAGE AUTHENTICITY! WITH THESE 1000'S OF GM VEHICLES HAVING FAULTY SPEEDOMETERS, OR OTHER FAULTY GAUGES...MINE IS STUCK ON 120MPH!! DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE WHEN U REALLY DON'T HAVE ANY IDEA HOW FAST YOU ARE GOING!! I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THEY ARE WELL AWARE OF, AND NOT BECAUSE OF NORMAL USE AND WEAR!! MY 2005 GMC YUKON DENALI WOULD COST $510 + TAX AND HAVE TO B SENT AWAY TO B REPAIRED.... PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS AND ADD THIS TO ALL THE OTHER PROBLEMS GM IS HAVING AND LET'S NOT PUT IT TO THE CONSUMER LIKE THEY HAVE AND ARE DOING! THANK YOU!! *TR

NHTSA ID
10594589
Incident
May 15, 2013
Mileage
115,000 mi
AirbagsElectricalFuel system
Filed May 21, 2014

I BOUGHT MY 05' GMC YUKON DENALI NEW. AIRBAG LIGHT CONTINUOUSLY ON - READS, SERVICE AIRBAG. I HAVE TAKEN IT IN FOR SERVICE SEVERAL TIMES BUT MIRACULOUSLY THE GMC SERVICE CENTER SAYS THE LIGHT DOESN'T COME ON WHEN THEY HAVE IT. PFFFTT!- 2005 TO PRESENT! HEATER & AC (HVAC) TEMPERATURE IMPROPER TEMPERATURE OR AIR DELIVERY. YEAR OF OCCURRENCE - 2010 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM HAS MIND OF ITS OWN. LIGHTS ON DASH, CD AND TAPE DON'T WORK. YEAR OF OCCURRENCE - 2005/6 BOTH CD PLAYER'S AND TAPE CASSETTE PLAYER HAVEN'T WORKED SINCE 2006/7 FUEL SYSTEM SPORADICALLY READS- CHECK GAS CAP. GASOLINE GAGE DOESN'T WORK. YEAR OF OCCURRENCE- 2010 CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON SPORADICALLY- 2008 TO PRESENT. LOCKS DON'T WORK PROPERLY- 2009 REAR WINDOW DEFOGGER WIRE TERMINAL BROKEN OFF OF WINDOW GLASS- YEAR OF OCCURRENCE - 2005/6 THE KEYLESS ENTRY SYSTEM STOPPED WORKING. I HAVE REPLACED KEY FOBS AND BATTERIES SEVERAL TIME'S IT WILL WORK FOR A WEEK THEN FAIL. YEAR OF OCCURRENCE -2007/08 REAR PASSENGER WINDOW'S DON'T WORK PROPERLY, WHEN DOWN THEY WILL NOT GO UP. YEAR OF OCCURRENCE - 2009 CHILD WINDOW LOCK DOESN'T WORK. YEAR OF OCCURRENCE - 2010 SIDE REAR VIEW MIRROR'S DON'T WORK FOR SEVERAL WEEK'S AFTER A CAR WASH. YEAR OF OCCURRENCE 2013 FRONT AND MIDDLE GLOVE COMPARTMENT PEELED WITHIN THE FIRST 6 MONTHS OF OWNING THE VEHICLE. FRONT SEAT HEATER OVERHEATS -IMMEDIATELY AFTER PUSHING SEAT HEATER BUTTON. YEAR OF OCCURRENCE - 2006/7 FRONT SEATS DON'T RECLINE ALL THE WAY DOWN. YEAR OF OCCURRENCE - 2009 MILEAGE IS WRONG - YEAR OF OCCURRENCE 2006/7 MAJOR BRAKE ISSUE- 2007 TO PRESENT MAKES STRANGE PULLING SOUND IN REAR OF VEHICLE WHEN STARTED-2007 TO PRESENT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10593313
Incident
Dec 1, 2005
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Mar 7, 2013

PASSENGER HEADLIGHT (LOW BEAM) HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE. INTERMITTENTLY GOES ON AND OFF. SAME WITH 2 OUT OF 3 BRAKE LIGHTS. DOESN'T MATTER HOW MANY TIMES WE REPLACE THE BULBS, WE KEEP HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. IS GMC GOING TO PAY MY TICKET WHEN I GET PULLED OVER? *TR

NHTSA ID
10501931
Incident
Mar 4, 2013
Electrical
Filed Jun 20, 2011

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 GMC YUKON DENALI. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THE CONTACT NOTICED THE GEAR INDICATOR LIGHT ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS NOT FUNCTIONING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHEN THE CONTACT NOTICED THE LIGHT WAS DIM. THE DEALER COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE HAD NOT COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. THE LIGHT COMPLETELY TURNED OFF AND WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

NHTSA ID
10407545
Incident
Mar 15, 2009
Mileage
65,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Mar 8, 2011

FOR APPROX8 MONTHS MY SPEEDOMETER HAS NOT WORK PROPERLY. AS I'M DRIVING THE "ZERO" MAY BE ANYWHERE FROM REAL ZERO TO 120 MPH. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT DUE TO THE SENSITIVITY OF THE RPM GAUGE TO TELL ME EXACT SPEED. CURRENTLY I DRIVE WITH A GARMAN THAT TELLS ME HOW FAST I'M GOING. I'VE FOUND LOTS OF INFORMATION RELATED TO SPEEDOMETER ISSUES ON 2005 GMS YUKON DENALI. THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THERE WAS A RECALL BUT THE SPEEDOMETER BUT I HAD EXCEEDED THE MILEAGE. WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES THAT MAKE? THE DEALERSHIP SAYS IT WOULD BE ABOUT $350 DOLLARS TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS BUT DIAGNOSTICS ALSO CARRY A PRETTY HEFTY FEE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10386927
Incident
Aug 1, 2010
Mileage
100,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Dec 30, 2010

I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY SPEEDOMETER CLUSTER ABOUT 1 YEAR AFTER PURCHASE. IT WORKED MOST OF THE TIME SO DIDN'T TAKE IT IN FOR REPAIR UNDER MY WARRANTY. AFTER 3 YEARS IT STOPPED WORKING ALTOGETHER BUT I WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. I CALLED THE DEALER TO SEE IF THERE WAS A RECALL AND HE SAID THERE WAS BUT I HAD TOO MANY MILES ON THE VEHICLE TO QUALIFY. SO I HAVE BEEN DRIVING WITHOUT A WORKING SPEEDOMETER FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10373579
Incident
Jan 1, 2006
Mileage
15,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Sep 23, 2010

SPEEDOMETER SPORADICALLY FAILS TO INDICATE ACTUAL SPEED OR ZERO. IT SOMETIMES LOCKS UP A SPECIFIC SPEED AND DOES NOT MOVE WHEN SPEED CHANGES. SOMETIMES NO SPEED INDICATION AT ALL.. *TR

NHTSA ID
10357200
Incident
Sep 10, 2010
Mileage
113,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Jun 23, 2010

THE SPEEDOMETER IN MY GMC YUKON DENALI IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10339795
Incident
Jun 17, 2010
Mileage
72,231 mi
Electrical
Filed Jun 16, 2010

SPEEDOMETER ON 2005 YUKON DENALI IS INOPERABLE AND ERRATIC. JUMPS FROM 20-120MPH AND BACK. HAS NEVER READ 0MPH IN PARK, ONLY 20MPH OR MORE..NEVER KNOW MY TRUE SPEED WHEN DRIVING BECAUSE THE NEEDLE FLUCTUATES. HAS ALSO READ 90MPH WHILE SITTING AT A RED LIGHT -SCARED FOR MY SAFETY, AND OTHERS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10336586
Incident
Jun 13, 2010
Electrical
Filed May 15, 2009

GMC 2009 DENALI SPEEDOMETER REST ON 120MPH AT ALL TIMES. VEHICLE SEEMS TO REV UP DURING DRIVING AT TIMES. SPEEDOMETER MOVES AT WILL SOMETIMES REMAINING AT 0MPH. *TR

NHTSA ID
10268799
Incident
Feb 19, 2009
Mileage
60,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Sep 9, 2008

SPEEDOMETER DOES NOT SHOW CORRECT SPEED ALL THE TIME. SOMETIMES REGISTERS 0 MPH OR POSSIBLY 100 MPH AT ANY GIVEN TIME. *TR

NHTSA ID
10241645
Incident
May 18, 2006
Mileage
36,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Mar 25, 2008

MY SPEEDOMETER STOPPED WORKING. ABOUT 4 MONTHS AGO IT STARTED SKIPPING. IT WOULD STAY STUCK ON 60MPH NO MATTER IF I WAS GOING 10MPH OR 75MPH. NOW THE GAUGE IS STUCK ALL THE WAY TO THE RIGHT AND DOESN'T MOVE AT ALL! *TR

NHTSA ID
10222328
Incident
Nov 15, 2007
Electrical
Filed Mar 14, 2008

SPEEDOMETER FAILURE ON MY 2005 YUKON DENALI. NEEDLE GETS STUCK AND WONT RETURN TO NORMAL POSITION. AUTO MANUFACTURERS HAVE BEEN INSTALLING SPEEDOMETERS IN CARS FOR OVER 100 YEARS. VEHICLE IS ONLY 3 YEARS OLD AND HAS 50,000 MILES. GMC WONT RECALL BECAUSE NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED, BUT YET 03-05 WERE RECALLED IN THE SAME MODEL. I FEEL THIS CREATES A COSTLY REPAIR PEOPLE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO MAKE ON SUCH NEW VEHICLES AND SHOULD BE PART OF A SAFETY RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ID
10221196
Incident
Mar 14, 2007
Mileage
52,000 mi
ElectricalTransmission
Filed Feb 14, 2008

I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH MY 2005 DENALI SHIFTING. I GO TO STOP AND THEN TAKE OFF AND IT ACTS LIKE ITS SLIPPING AND THEN ALL OF SUDDEN IT GRABS WITH A CLUNK. THIS HAS HAPPEN AT ALL TIMES OF IT BEING DRIVEN. I HAVE TAKEN IT IN TO THE DEALER PUT UNLESS THEY CAN DUPLICATE IT THEN THEY CANT FIX IT. WELL GM WILL NOT PAY THEM FOR WARRANTY WORK UNLESS. NOW IT HAS GOTTEN TO THE POINT THAT IT MADE A LOUD CLUNK AND THEN WAS SLIPPING AS YOU PUSHED THE GAS, SO RIGHT THEN WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALER SO THEY COULD DRIVE IT. THE TRANSMISSION TECH DROVE IT AND LOOK AT THE TRANS FLUID AND IT WAS 1 1/2 QTS LOW. NO LEAKS EVER AND IT HAS BEEN IN TO THE DEALER AT LEAST 5 TIMES AND 3 IN THE LAST 2 1/2 MONTHS AND THE FLUIDS, I HOPE WERE GOOD. TECH TOPPED IT OFF AND IT SHIFTED FINE FOR THE WEEKEND. THEN THE NEXT MONDAY IT STARTED SLIPPING AND HARDLY ACCELERATING AGAIN. TOOK IT BACK IN AND THE TECH CHECKED CODE AND IT HAD SOME TORQUE CONVERTER CODES. THEY REPLACED A WIRING HARNESS IN THE TRANSMISSION. I WORK FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS THEN IT STARTED AGAIN. WE TOOK IT BACK IN AND THE SERVICE DEPT. CALLED GM AND THEY HAD THEM CHANGE THE IGNITION SW (MODULE I THINK). I WILL POST CODE AND EXACT WHEN I GET THE INFO FROM THE DEALER. I WILL SEE IF THIS FIXES IT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10218007
Incident
Aug 1, 2007
Mileage
19,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Oct 30, 2006

MY VEHICLE WILL NOT START MOST OF THE TIME...IT JUST MAKES A CLICKING SOUND. I HAVE TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES TO BE REPAIRED. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEMS STILL HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED. *JB

NHTSA ID
10172177
Incident
Oct 29, 2006
Body & structureElectricalTransmission+1 more
Filed Dec 15, 2005

DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN HE WAS EXITING THE VEHICLE, WITH THE ENGINE OFF IT BEGAN TO ROLL DOWN THE DRIVEWAY. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY FOUND THE BOLT THAT HOLDS THE SHAFT IN THE TRANSMISSION WAS STRIPPED. THE BOLT WAS REPLACED. THEN, WHILE EXITING A PARKING LOT, THE VEHICLE SHIFTED FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL ON ITS OWN. THE INDICATOR STILL READ DRIVE, BUT WOULD NOT GO. HE STATED THE STEERING COLUMN DID REGISTER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS IN DRIVE, AND WHEN DRIVING OVER A BUMP, IT SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, AND THEY STATED TISSUES NORMAL. THE DEALERSHIP STATED THEY ADJUSTED CABLES, BUT THE WORK ORDER HE RECEIVED SHOWED THAT NOTHING WAS DONE. *AK THE DRIVER SIDE MIRROR WASN'T HOLDING, IT WOULD FOLD. THE NAVIGATION RADIO SYSTEM WAS REPLACED. THE HEADLINER WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 01/23/06. *JB

NHTSA ID
10145287
Incident
Nov 10, 2005
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Jun 20, 2005

JUNE 16, 2005 MY WIFE AND I PURCHASED A NEW 2005 GMC YUKON DENALI. EXCITED TO HAVE OUR NEW VEHICLE WE FIGURED EVERYTHING MUST WORK, IT'S NEW. WE FOUND OUT THE NEXT DAY NON OF THE FUNCTIONS IN THE MEMORY PACKAGE WORKED. WE CALLED THE SALESMAN WHO INSISTED WE WERE NOT OPERATING IT CORRECTLY. THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS ALSO DID NOT WORK. I TOOK THE TRUCK BACK TO THE DEALER ON 6/20/05 AND THE SALESMAN TOOK IN INTO SERVICE AFTER HE COULD NOT FIGURE IT OUT. SERVICE DID NOT KNOW WHAT WAS WRONG EITHER. NOW OUR BRAND NEW 40+ THOUSAND DOLLAR TRUCK IS SITTING AT JKOONS PONTIAC-GMC IN VIRGINIA AND THEY HAVE NO CLUE WHATS WRONG.

NHTSA ID
10125972
Incident
Jun 17, 2005
Mileage
100 mi

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 .