2002 GMC Yukon Xl Denali Owner Complaints

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

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

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

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

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

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

NHTSA ID

10550562

Incident

Nov 1, 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

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

BROKEN/LEAKING BRAKE LINES DUE TO SEVERE UNDERBODY CORROSION: FRAME,BRAKE AND GAS LINES, FRONT SUSPENSION, SPARE TIRE ASSEMBLY, NUTS, BOLTS, EXHAUST PIPES, ETC. ALONG WITH THIS I REPLACED TWO TRANSMISSIONS, ONCE DUE TO RADIATOR FAILURE, FUEL PUMP FAILURE, BRAKE CALIPER FAILURE, A FEW SETS OF REAR PARKING BRAKE SHOES BECAUSE THE ADJUSTMENTS DONT WORK PROPERLY, THREE WINDOW REGULATORS AND ALL WITHIN 163,630 MILES. YEA I'M PIS@#$ OFF. *TR

NHTSA ID

10471949

Incident

Aug 17, 2012

Mileage

163,500 mi

2002 DENALI XL 100.000 MI SUDDEN BRAKE FAILURE PEDAL TO FLOOR NO WARNINGS OF ANY KIND. NEW BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS INSTALLED 8 MONTHS AGO UPON FURTHER INSPECTION AFTER STOPPING VEHICLE ALL HARD BRAKE LINES WERE RUSTED THROUGH CAUSING LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID. *TR

NHTSA ID

10469394

Incident

Aug 4, 2012

Mileage

100,657 mi

REAR BRAKE LINE FAILED WHEN MY WIFE PULLED TRUCK OUT OF DRIVEWAY. ALL BRAKE LINES RUSTED VERY BADLY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10450235

Incident

Mar 4, 2012

Mileage

147,000 mi

BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON COMING DOWN TO FLORIDA. CHECK FLUID AND IT WAS WAY DOWN. TOOK TO MECH. AND DISCOVERED SOME OF THE BRAKE LINES WERE RUSTED. ONE WORST THAN THE OTHER. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND SHOULD BE RECALLED AT NO COST TO THE CUSTOMER. THE NHTSA SHOULD GO AFTER THE MANUFACTURE FOR THIS FEDERALLY REGULATED DEFECT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10436106

Incident

Nov 3, 2011

Mileage

173,598 mi

BRAKE LINE FAILURE ON MY 2002 GMC YUKON DENALI. ALL BRAKE LINES RUSTED AND ONE FAILED WITHOUT A CRASH. *TR

NHTSA ID

10423041

Incident

Aug 26, 2011

Mileage

93,000 mi

VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP DUE TO BRAKE FAILURE, AFTER PULLING OVER THE DISABLED VEHICLE A QUICK INSPECTION REVEALED ROTTED BRAKE LINES RUNNING TO THE ABS CONTROL UNIT WHICH HAD FAILED UNDER BRAKE PRESSURE CAUSING IMMEDIATE LOSS OF BRAKING WITH NO WARNING OR ANY MIL LIGHT STATUS PRIOR TO FAILURE. ALL THE FRONT BRAKE LINES WERE HEAVILY CORRODED AND ALL NEEDED REPLACING BEFORE THE VEHICLE WAS USABLE. *KB

NHTSA ID

10410626

Incident

Jul 4, 2011

Mileage

125,000 mi

THE MAIN REAR METAL BRAKE LINE ON MY 2002 GMC YUKON XL HAS SPRUNG A LEAK DUE TO RUST. THE VEHICLE HAS 63,000 MILES. THERE WAS A SEVERE LOSS OF PEDAL PRESSURE,A LARGE INCREASE IN STOPPING DISTANCES AND LARGE PUDDLES OF BRAKE FLUID UNDER THE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10356301

Incident

Sep 17, 2010

Mileage

63,000 mi

I RECENTLY EXPERIENCED A TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE AFTER DRIVING TO THE GROCERY STORE TODAY. YESTERDAY, I REALIZED THAT TO STOP, I HAD TO PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL ALMOST ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. I KNEW SOMETHING WAS WRONG BECAUSE MY BRAKES HAD BEEN WORKING JUST FINE. TODAY I NOTICED THE SAME PROBLEM AND REPORTED IT TO MY BOYFRIEND, WHO CONDUCTED A VISUAL INSPECTION AT THE BRAKE LINES AND UNDERNEATH THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT, BRAKE FLUID WAS LEAKING OUT RAPIDLY AND WAS PUDDLING UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. HAD I NOT STOPPED, I WOULD HAVE BEEN IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. AS A RESULT, I CAN NOT DRIVE MY VEHICLE BECAUSE THE BRAKES ARE NO LONGER WORKING. I HAVE A 2002 GMC YUKON DENALI XL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10346928

Incident

Aug 2, 2010

Mileage

130,989 mi

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES, PEDAL UNEXPECTEDLY WENT TO FLOOR & BARELY AVOIDED COLLISION. HAD CAR TOWED TO DEALER, NOTIFIED DEALER OF BRAKE LINE FAILURE THAT NHTSA & GM ARE AWARE OF, AFTER THERE FOR 2 DAYS & DEALER NOT RETURNING OUR CALLS, WAS EVENTUALLY NOTIFIED 4 CORRODED BRAKE LINES NEED REPLACEMENT AT MY EXPENSE, STILL WAITING FOR ESTIMATE OF REPAIR COST GOING ON 3 DAYS. MY HUSBAND WAS A MECHANIC AT GM DEALERS FOR OVER 12 YEARS & NEVER SEEN 1 STATIC BRAKE LINE RUPTURE NEVERMIND 4 BECOME DEFECTIVE AT THE SAME TIME ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING THE VEHICLE BARELY HAS 60,000 MILES ON IT & HAS ALWAYS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED. DEALER WAS VERY UNCOOPERATIVE IN SEEKING GM REMEDIATION ASSISTANCE FOR US OR TAKING ANY SELF-INITIATIVE ANYTIME TO KEEP US INFORMED, VEHICLE OUT OF SERVICE & HAS BEEN AT DEALER FOR GOING ON 3 DAYS NOW, AFTER NOT FOLLOWING UP WITH US NOR RETURNING OUR CALLS JUST REACHED DEALER RIGHT BEFORE CLOSING TIME & WAS INFORMED THEY STILL CANNOT LOCATE PARTS AT FACTORY OR ANYWHERE ELSE, FACT THAT 4 LINES DEFECTIVE SIMULTANEOUSLY & STILL UNABLE TO LOCATE PARTS CLEARLY INDICATES MANUFACTURING DEFECT... NO CAR, NO SERVICE, NO PRICE, NO PARTS, WHEN WILL IT EVER END? RECOMMEND URGENT PRIORITY -IF NOT REMEDIED QUICKLY- MANY LIVES COULD BE LOST! *TR

NHTSA ID

10328143

Incident

Apr 25, 2010

Mileage

59,990 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 GMC YUKON XL DENALI. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH AND SLOWING DOWN TO MAKE A STOP THE ABS BEGINS TO ACTIVATE WITHOUT WARNING CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO DRAG TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR FURTHER INSPECTION. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT BECAUSE THERE ARE NO CURRENT RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE AND THE WARRANTY BEING EXPIRED, NO COMPENSATION WOULD BE OFFERED BUT HE WAS ADVISED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE INSPECTED BY A DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 121,700 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 124,391.

NHTSA ID

10284906

Incident

Sep 7, 2009

Mileage

121,700 mi

WHINING IN ENGINE-FOUND TO BE BAD BEARINGS AND METAL IN DIFFERENTIAL. WAS TOLD COULD HAVE MADE CAR LOCK UP AT ANYTIME (IMAGINE THAT IN HEAVY TRAFFIC). THIS IS SECOND CAR IN FAMILY WITH EXACT SAME PROBLEM ALTHOUGH WAS TOLD IT WAS "RARE". *TR

NHTSA ID

10256588

Incident

Jan 22, 2009

Mileage

106,600 mi

VEHICLE LIGHTING, ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT, FLICKERS CONSTANTLY, HAS BEEN TO REPAIR SHOP SEVERAL TIMES, ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY CHECK OUT FINE. NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW AN ANSWER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10240595

Incident

Aug 31, 2008

TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 GMC YUKON DENALI XL. WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 65 MPH UNDER NORMAL DRY CONDITIONS THE VEHICLE STALLED. THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNS THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ABOUT TO STALL. ONCE THE FAILURE OCCURRED THE CONTACT LOST THE BRAKING SYSTEM AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED AS WELL. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT A CRASH. THIS FAILURE HAPPENED ON THREE OTHER OCCASIONS WITH OUT INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY FIXED THE THROTTLE BODY AND WATER PUMP. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR AFTER THE REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAS THE REPAIR ORDER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000 .

NHTSA ID

10222485

Incident

Jul 24, 2007

Mileage

98,000 mi

AFTER TWO PREVIOUS "REPAIRS" (ONE A RECALL), OUR GMC ABS BRAKES ARE NOW MALFUNCTIONING FOR THE THIRD TIME. THE ABS BRAKE SYSTEM ACTIVATES ON DRY PAVEMENT AT SLOW SPEEDS, RESULTING IN A LONGER THAN NORMAL STOPPING DISTANCE. ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, COLLISIONS HAVE NARROWLY BEEN AVOIDED AS THE ABS BRAKE PEDAL "CHATTERING" PREVENTS NORMAL BRAKING AT CRUCIAL TIMES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10215495

Incident

Jan 1, 2008

Mileage

38,600 mi

BRAKE FAILURE. IT APPEARS THE MATERIAL THE ROTORS ARE MADE OF ARE NOT UP TO SPECIFICATIONS PROBABLY MADE IN CHINA. THE SURFACE OF THE BRAKE PAD AREA IS FLAKING OFF THUS DRASTICALLY, REDUCING THE BARKING POWER OF THE VEHICLE, 2002 GMC YUKON XL DENALI. *AK

NHTSA ID

10090912

Incident

Sep 11, 2002

Mileage

38,868 mi

VECHICLE HESITATION, I WAS PROCEEDING TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN WHEN MY DENALI HESITATED TO MOVE AND I WAS STUCK IN AN INTERSECTION, IT TOOK MY VECHILE MORE THAN 5 SECONDS TO KICK INTO GEAR LUCKILY THERE WAS NO CARS COMING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION OR MY DAUGHTER AND MYSELF WOULD PROBABLY NOT BE HERE. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR MORE THAN A YEAR AND A HALF. WHICH OF COURSE THE DEALER CANT DIAGNOSE, CHANGING THE THROTTLE BODY & TURBINE SHAFT HAS NOT DONE ANYTHING FOR MY VECHILE IT STILL HESITATES....I REPORTED IT TO MY INSURANCE COMPANY IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE VECHICLE. IT IS DEFINITLY AN UNSAFE VECHILE TO DRIVE.

NHTSA ID

10068055

Incident

Oct 19, 2003

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT VEHICLE HESITATION. DEALER WAS CONTACTED, AND HAD REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY SENSOR. ALSO ABS LIGHT TURNED ON DASH, AS WELL AS THE GAUGES. DEALER WAS CONTACTED ANDS STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10037962