RoadVitals

2002 GMC Yukon Xl Denali

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.
26
Latest Jul 12, 2018
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.
0
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.
2
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.
0

Overview

Our database contains 26 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2002 GMC Yukon Xl Denali, most frequently naming the brakes, engine and powertrain (other) categories. 2 NHTSA investigations name it; and 87 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

  • Brakes2160.0%
  • Engine411.4%
  • Powertrain (other)25.7%
  • Fuel system12.9%
  • Interior & seats12.9%
  • Suspension12.9%
  • Tires & wheels12.9%
  • Body & structure12.9%

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.

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

DP05009ClosedDefect Petition

PARKING BRAKE FAILURE

Opened Dec 20, 2005
Closed May 31, 2006

ODI'S REVIEW OF COMPLAINT DATA RECEIVED SINCE THE CLOSE OF EA04-011 REVEALED NO INDICATION THAT THE INVESTIGATION SHOULD BE RE-OPENED.MORE DETAILS CAN BE FOUND IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICE ENCLOSED IN THE DP05-009 PUBLIC FILE.ODI RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REOPEN THE INVESTIGATION IN THE FUTURE SHOULD CONDITIONS WARRANT.

PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL
PE05020ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

UNWANTED LOW-SPEED ABS ACTIVATION

Opened Apr 28, 2005
Closed Sep 13, 2005

IN A LETTER DATED AUGUST 29, 2005, GM NOTIFIED ODI THAT IT WAS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1999 THROUGH 2002 C/K PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES TO CORRECT A PROBLEM WITH ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) WHEEL SPEED SENSOR CORROSION THAT MAY RESULT IN UNWANTED ABS ACTIVATION AND EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCES DURING LOW-SPEED BRAKING (RECALL 05V-379).GM'S RECALL COVERS APPROXIMATELY 804,000 VEHICLES CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING 14 SALT-BELT STATES:CONNECTICUT, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, MASSACHUSETTS, MAINE, MICHIGAN, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, AND WEST VIRGINIA.THE RECALL PROCEDURE WILL INVOLVE REMOVING THE SENSOR, CLEANING THE MOUNTING SURFACE, APPLYING A RUST INHIBITOR (ZINC-X) TO THE SURFACE, AND REINSTALLING THE SENSOR.IF NECESSARY, THE SENSOR WILL BE REPLACED. THE POPULATION AND FAILURE REPORT DATA GIVEN IN THIS RESUME ARE FOR THE FULL REGION THAT HAS BEEN CONSIDERED BY ODI AS THE SALT-BELT.THAT INCLUDES DELAWARE, IOWA, MARYLAND, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, WISCONSIN AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA IN ADDITION TO THE 14 STATES INCLUDED IN 05V-379.THE STATES COVERED BY GM'S RECALL HAVE THE HIGHEST INCIDENT RATES FOR THE SUBJECT CONDITION, ACCOUNTING FOR 91% OF THE INCIDENTS, BUT ONLY 24% OF SUBJECT VEHICLE SALES IN THE UNITED STATES.ODI'S ANALYSIS DETERMINED THAT 840 OF THE COMPLAINTS, 244 OF THE CRASHES, AND 16 OF THE INJURIES IDENTIFIED IN THIS INVESTIGATION OCCURRED IN THOSE STATES.THE RESULTING INCIDENT AND CRASH RATES ARE 96.2 AND 28.0 PER 100,000 VEHICLES RESPECTIVELY (NOTE:RATES ARE BASED ON VEHICLE SALES, NOT REGISTERED VEHICLES). THE CORRESPONDING NUMBERS IN THE EXCLUDED PORTIONS OF THE SALT-BELT ARE 399,000 VEHICLES, 81 INCIDENTS (20.3 PER 100,000 VEHICLES), 3 CRASHES, AND NO INJURIES.THE STATISTICS IN THE REMAINING 30 STATES ARE 2,406,000 VEHICLES, 168 INCIDENTS (7.0 PER 100,000 VEHICLES), 31 CRASHES, AND ONE INJURY.GM AND ODI ARE CONTINUING TO MONITOR THE PROBLEM EXPERIENCE IN STATES THAT ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.GM WILL PROVIDE ODI WITH UPDATED COMPLAINT, FIELD REPORT, AND WARRANTY DATA IN NOVEMBER 2005.ODI AND GM WILL REVIEW THAT DATA AND ASSESS THE APPROPRIATENESS OF THE CURRENT SCOPE OF THE RECALL AT THAT TIME.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULELed to recall 05V379000

Recent owner complaints

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

Brakes
Filed Jul 12, 2018

I WAS DRIVING ON 58 WEST IN STUART VA WHEN WE CAME AROUND A CURVE AND AN 18 WHEELER WAS BROKEN DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF OUR LANE. TWO VEHICLES WERE STOPPED BEHIND THE TRUCK. I QUICKLY APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. I WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER BETWEEN THE STOPPED TRAFFIC AND THE ONCOMING VEHICLE IN THE OPPOSING LANE TO AVOID A CRASH. A BRAKE LINE HAD BLOWN CAUSING THE BRAKE FAILURE. I HAD ALREADY EXPERIENCED BRAKE FAILURE IN ANOTHER GM MODEL, AND WAS QUESTIONING HOW IT WAS POSSIBLE THAT ONE PERSON COULD HAVE TWO SEPARATE BRAKE LINE FAILURES ON TWO SEPARATE BUT SIMILAR VEHICLES. AS I RESEARCHED IT BECAME CLEAR THAT THIS TYPE OF BRAKE FAILURE WAS COMMON ON THESE TYPES OF VEHICLES. I'VE LIVED IN SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA MY ENTIRE LIFE, AND I HAVE OWNED 30-40 VEHICLES OF ALL MAKES AND MODELS, BUT I HAVE ONLY EXPERIENCED NEAR CATASTROPHIC VEHICLE FAILURE ON TWO OF THOSE VEHICLES, A 2001 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN AND A 2002 GMC YUKON. TO SAY THAT THESE BRAKE LINE FAILURES COULD BE AVOIDED THROUGH ROUTINE MAINTENANCE IS A BRAZEN ATTEMPT TO DEFLECT CULPABILITY TOWARDS A CONSUMER MARKET NEITHER DESIGNED NOR EQUIPPED TO DIAGNOSE PENDING FAILURE WITHOUT WARNING. THESE VEHICLES HAVE INNUMERABLE SENSORS TO INDICATE ALL TYPES OF OF POTENTIAL ISSUES, EVEN SO FAR AS TO REMIND THE DRIVER WHEN THE OIL NEEDS TO BE CHANGED. IF THE MANUFACTURER FEELS THE OWNER IS SO INEPT AS TO TRACK OIL CHANGES EVERY THREE THOUSAND MILES, HOW ON EARTH DO THEY EXPECT THOSE SAME PEOPLE WOULD BE ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE DEGRADATION OF BRAKE LINES, MOST OF WHICH ARE HIDDEN? I'VE NEVER BEEN TO A SHOP AND BEEN ASKED AS PART OF THE MANY SERVICES THEY OFFER, INCLUDING STATE SAFETY INSPECTIONS, "WOULD YOU LIKE US TO TEST YOUR BRAKE LINES FOR POTENTIAL FAILURE?" CV AXLES, BALL JOINTS, BRAKE PADS, ALL ARE INCLUDED IN INSPECTIONS. NOT BRAKE LINES, BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT MAINTENANCE PARTS. GM IS WHOLLY RESPONSIBLE.

NHTSA ID
11110963
Incident
Jul 9, 2018
Mileage
176,000 mi
BrakesSuspension
Filed Sep 23, 2014

TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 35MPH, APPLIED BRAKES FOR UPCOMING STOP SIGN AND BRAKES FAILED. INSPECTION REVEALED THAT BRAKE LINE BROKE AS THE RESULT OF CORROSION TO LINE AT REAR AXLE. MECHANIC STATES ALL BRAKE LINES DEMONSTRATING UNUSUAL AMOUNT OF RUSING, ALL BRAKE LINES REPLACED. MECHANIC STATES FRAME WILL BE RUSTED THROUGH SOON IF NOT BLASTED AND RUSTPROOFED; ALSO STATES THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON NEARLY ALL GM TRUCKS HE SEES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10638294
Incident
Aug 12, 2014
Mileage
89,925 mi
Brakes
Filed Jun 22, 2014

STEPPED ON BRAKE PEDAL TO SLOW DOWN AND BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THERE WAS ENOUGH ROOM IN ANOTHER LANE TO EVENTUALLY SLOW DOWN WITHOUT A COLLISION. GOT UNDER REAR OF VEHICLE AND LOCATED LEAKING BRAKE FLUID LINE. RIGHT REAR PASSENGER BRAKE LINE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10605062
Incident
Jun 21, 2014
Mileage
69,449 mi
Brakes
Filed Jun 13, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 GMC YUKON XL DENALI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHENEVER THE BRAKES WERE ENGAGED, THE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD GRINDING NOISE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS WERE REPLACED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC BUT THE FAILURE REOCCURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING BRAKE FLUID WHICH CAUSED THE BRAKE HUB ASSEMBLY TO MALFUNCTION. AS A RESULT, THE BRAKE HUB ASSEMBLY, THE BRAKE ASSEMBLY AND THE TRANSFER CASE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 165,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 220,000.

NHTSA ID
10598224
Incident
Nov 20, 2013
Mileage
165,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Feb 13, 2014

THE BRAKE LIGHT CAN ON IN THE DASH, 2-11-14, CALLED THE GMC DEALER, PELLEGINO BUICK/GMC, 815 N BLACK HORSE PIKE, WILLIAMSTOWN, NJ 08094, PHONE 856-629-0101.THEY ADDED BRAKE FLUID AND SAID NO LEAKS. MILEAGE AT DEALER 135074. I DROVE ABOUT 40 MILES, THE BRAKE LIGHT CAME BACK ON, I CALLED DEALER AND DROVE RIGHT BACK TO THEM.. THEY CHECKED AGAIN AND SAID THE BRAKE LINE HAD RUPTURED, IT WAS FULLY COATED WITH RUST. IT IS SO BAD THEY CAN NOT USE A WRENCH TO GET NUTS OFF. BECAUSE OF ALL THE RUST ON THE BRAKE LINES. NEED TO CHANGE THE LINES, CALIPERS, AND ROTORS, TOTAL COST APPROX $1,400.00 WILL ADVISE MORE WHEN YUKON IS RETURNED REPAIRED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10564238
Incident
Feb 10, 2014
Mileage
135,054 mi
Brakes
Filed Nov 1, 2013

BRAKE LINES SEVERELY RUSTED, BRAKING FLUID LEAKING, NEEDED FULL REPLACEMENT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10550562
Incident
Nov 1, 2013
Brakes
Filed Feb 10, 2013

WHILE STOPPING FOR THE STOP SIGN DOWN THE BLOCK FROM MY HOUSE THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. I COULD NOT STOP THE TRUCK, I HAD TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE TRUCK. I BROUGHT THE TRUCK BACK HOME AND FOUND OUT THAT THE BRAKE LINE HAD RUSTED THROUGH CAUSING THE BRAKE FLUID TO LEAK OUT.

NHTSA ID
10498601
Incident
Jan 15, 2013
Mileage
75,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jan 21, 2013

WHILE UNDER VEHICLE TO REPLACE GAS FILTER IT HAD BECOME EVIDENT TO ME THAT THE BRAKE LINES WHERE THEY ENTER THE ABS UNIT WERE FAIRLY RUSTED. AS I INVESTIGATED FURTHER TO AREAS NOT EASILY VISIBLE I HAD DISCOVERED THAT ALL THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE LINES ARE EXTREMELY RUSTED AND IMMINENT FAILURE IS EVIDENT. IN MENTIONING THIS TO A FRIEND HE SUGGEST I CHECK ON LINE AS HE HAD HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM. I WAS ABSOLUTELY TAKEN ABACK TO SEE HOW COMMON THIS FAILURE IS ON THESE VEHICLES AND THAT GMC IS AWARE OF IT, YET THEY HAVE NEVER APPRISED ME OF THIS "POSSIBLE CONDITION"' AND THAT I SHOULD TAKE NECESSARY ACTION TO PREVENT FAILURE WHICH COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH ! I HAVE BEEN A MECHANIC FOR MANY YEARS AND HAD WORKED FOR GM SOME YEARS BACK. I HAVE NEVER OBSERVED SUCH DETERIORATION IN A VEHICLE OF THIS AGE. THIS VEHICLE IS EXTREMELY WELL MAINTAINED IN BOTH PERIODIC AND PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE. I DO NOT LIVE BY THE WATER, WE LIVE IN A MODERATE CLIMATE AND VEHICLE IS NOT SUBJECT TO ANYTHING BUT NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. I HAVE (COLLECTIBLE VINTAGE CARS) OLDEST BEING 36 YEARS OLD AND THE LINES ON ALL CARS LOOK NEW OR IN GOOD SHAPE. TO MY FURTHER DISSATISFACTION I HAD CONTACTED GMC AND THEY DENY ANY KNOWLEDGE OF THIS PROBLEM OR CONDITION. I THINK ALL PARTIES CONCERNED SHOULD CONSIDER THE POSSIBLE CATASTROPHIC OUTCOME OF THIS COMPONENT FAILURE AND ALSO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE SIZE AND WEIGHT OF THESE VEHICLES AND THE POSSIBLE SECONDARY CONSEQUENCES IN AN ACCIDENT AND TAKE IMMEDIATE REMEDIAL ACTION. *TR

NHTSA ID
10493678
Incident
Jan 18, 2013
Mileage
146,247 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.

03-06-01-023I

ENGINE

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

03-06-01-023H

ENGINE

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

General Communication

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Vehicle Wide Programming (VWP) is a new process to update software on GM Vehicles. It provides the ability via a single selection within Techline Connect to first identify which modules need updating and then proceed to updating affected modules (with some exceptions). The updating of modules is completed in parallel instead of the technician needing to update one module at a time. This allows a more streamlined approach for dealers and customers.

24-NA-141

POWER TRAIN

GM is receiving damaged (cracked or broken) transmission cores returned to the reman facilities. The damage is being caused either in the removal process by the technician, or inadequate packaging or shipping. This bulletin advises the dealers to be more careful not to damage the transmissions during removal and to package the core properly for return.

16-NA-383

ENGINE; FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

This service bulletin advises of a new fuel injection cleaner kit used for decarbonizing the intake valves to correct conditions of rough idle, Crank no start, extended crank or misfire, MIL with DTCs, and explains how Top Tier fuels should be used to reduce carbon build-up.

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 Xl Denali by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2003320239.5
2002Viewing260236.6
2001221353.1

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.