GMC DENALI · model year

2003 GMC DENALI

40 NHTSA complaints, 4 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2003GMCDENALI carries 40 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 4 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injury, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2003 DENALI is vehicle speed control with 4 filings, followed by power train:automatic transmission (3) and electrical system: instrument cluster/panel (3). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 2 investigation files overlapping the 2003 DENALI. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

40
Complaints
4
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

40 filings

Crashes Reported

4 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL4
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL3
STEERING2
EXTERIOR LIGHTING2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC2
SERVICE BRAKES2
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM1
STEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICE1
SUSPENSION:FRONT1
STEERING:LINKAGES1
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR1
SEAT BELTS:FRONT1

Recent Complaints

20190108CrashSERVICE BRAKES

I HAVE HAD THE BREAK/STEERING FLUID BOOSTER REPLACED 3 TIMES IN A 6 MONTH PERIOD. HOW GMC CAN CALL THIS A "PROBLEM" BUT NOT A SAFETY ISSUE IS BEYOND ME. I HAVE LOOKED IT UP AND THOUSANDS HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THIS ALONG WITH ALIKE VEHICLES FROM THE SAME YEARS. THE BREAKS AND STEERING LOCK UP WHILE DRIVING ESPECIALLY AROUND TURNS. IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS!!!!! I GUESS NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE HAVE DIED....UUGGHHH .... SO FRUSTRATING!!!!

Mileage: 120,000

20190108CrashSTEERING

I HAVE HAD THE BREAK/STEERING FLUID BOOSTER REPLACED 3 TIMES IN A 6 MONTH PERIOD. HOW GMC CAN CALL THIS A "PROBLEM" BUT NOT A SAFETY ISSUE IS BEYOND ME. I HAVE LOOKED IT UP AND THOUSANDS HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THIS ALONG WITH ALIKE VEHICLES FROM THE SAME YEARS. THE BREAKS AND STEERING LOCK UP WHILE DRIVING ESPECIALLY AROUND TURNS. IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS!!!!! I GUESS NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE HAVE DIED....UUGGHHH .... SO FRUSTRATING!!!!

Mileage: 120,000

20160315EXTERIOR LIGHTING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 (NA) GMC DENALI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING WAS DIM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEADLIGHT BULBS FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 12,000.

Mileage: 12,000

20141029TIRES:SIDEWALL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC DENALI EQUIPPED WITH MICHELIN LTX MS20 TIRES, SIZE: LT245/75R16. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL FOUR TIRES CRACKED ON THE SIDEWALL. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT ALL THE TIRES HAD TREAD SEPARATION AND LOSS OF AIR PRESSURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE AND TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Mileage: 120,000

20140604SERVICE BRAKES

ON JUNE 4, 2014, DRIVING ON A CLEAR, DRY AND SUNNY DAY IN MY 2003 GMC SIERRA DENALI PICKUP TRUCK. ON VIRGINIA DRIVE HEADING EASTBOUND IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY, PA, AT 32 MPH; WITH NORMAL BRAKING ACTION HEADING INTO A CURVE, THE BRAKE PEDAL SURPRISINGLY WENT TO THE FLOOR AND EXPERIENCED LOSS OF BRAKING. FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO NEGOTIATE THE TURN, NARROWLY ESCAPING RUNNING OFF THE ROAD, ONLY BECAUSE IT WAS TWO LANE ROAD IN EACH DIRECTION AND THERE WAS NO NEARBY TRAFFIC AT THE TIME. BRAKE FUNCTIONALITY NEVER RETURNED EXCEPT FOR MINIMAL CAPABILITY NEAR THE END OF PEDAL TRAVEL. PRELIMINARY INSPECTION AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE INDICATES THE BRAKE LINES SHOWED RUSTING IN GENERAL ON THE VEHICLE (AND ALSO THE ADJACENT FUEL LINES), MOSTLY NEAR THE FRONT SECTION OF THE VEHICLE; AND THE FAILURE SEEMED TO BE IN THE HOSE-TO-LINE COUPLING FROM THE BRAKE VALVE NEAR THE MASTER CYLINDER TO WHAT APPEARS TO BE THE ABS CONTROL ASSEMBLY MOUNTED ON THE FRAME UNDER THE DRIVER'S SEAT AREA. THE LINES IN THAT SUSP

Mileage: 63,000

20140221ENGINE

AFTER JUST A FEW YEARS OF OWNERSHIP, MY 2003 DENALI, WHICH I PURCHASED BRAND NEW, STARTED TO HAVE "POWER DOWN" ISSUES. WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE WOULD JUST LOOSE POWER AND I WOULD HAVE TO PULL OVER AND RESTART THE VEHICLE. GMC HAS ALWAYS ACTED AS IF IT WAS NOT A BIG DEAL AND HAVE OFFERED MANY EXPENSIVE SOLUTIONS. EARLY ON I TRIED THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS AND IT WOULD HELP FOR A WHILE BUT THE PROBLEM ALWAYS COMES BACK. FURTHER, ALL OF MY GAUGES HAVE QUIT WORKING. AGAIN, GM OFFERS VERY EXPENSIVE SOLUTIONS, BUT WILL NEVER OWN UP TO THE FACT THAT THESE VEHICLES ARE DEFECTIVE. AFTER GOING THROUGH THIS FOR SEVERAL YEARS, I GOOGLED THESE ISSUES AND DISCOVERED THAT THERE ARE PAGES AND PAGES OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME ISSUES. I LOVE MY VEHICLE AND NOW HAVE 230,000 MILES ON IT. HOWEVER, I KNOW THAT THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND I AM ALWAYS CONSCIOUS THAT IT CAN HAPPEN AT ANY TIME. I AM ALWAYS PREPARED TO PULL OVER BUT THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES WHEN I WAS NEARLY REAR-ENDED BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE

Mileage: 75,000

20140221VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

AFTER JUST A FEW YEARS OF OWNERSHIP, MY 2003 DENALI, WHICH I PURCHASED BRAND NEW, STARTED TO HAVE "POWER DOWN" ISSUES. WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE WOULD JUST LOOSE POWER AND I WOULD HAVE TO PULL OVER AND RESTART THE VEHICLE. GMC HAS ALWAYS ACTED AS IF IT WAS NOT A BIG DEAL AND HAVE OFFERED MANY EXPENSIVE SOLUTIONS. EARLY ON I TRIED THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS AND IT WOULD HELP FOR A WHILE BUT THE PROBLEM ALWAYS COMES BACK. FURTHER, ALL OF MY GAUGES HAVE QUIT WORKING. AGAIN, GM OFFERS VERY EXPENSIVE SOLUTIONS, BUT WILL NEVER OWN UP TO THE FACT THAT THESE VEHICLES ARE DEFECTIVE. AFTER GOING THROUGH THIS FOR SEVERAL YEARS, I GOOGLED THESE ISSUES AND DISCOVERED THAT THERE ARE PAGES AND PAGES OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME ISSUES. I LOVE MY VEHICLE AND NOW HAVE 230,000 MILES ON IT. HOWEVER, I KNOW THAT THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND I AM ALWAYS CONSCIOUS THAT IT CAN HAPPEN AT ANY TIME. I AM ALWAYS PREPARED TO PULL OVER BUT THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES WHEN I WAS NEARLY REAR-ENDED BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE

Mileage: 75,000

20140221ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

AFTER JUST A FEW YEARS OF OWNERSHIP, MY 2003 DENALI, WHICH I PURCHASED BRAND NEW, STARTED TO HAVE "POWER DOWN" ISSUES. WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE WOULD JUST LOOSE POWER AND I WOULD HAVE TO PULL OVER AND RESTART THE VEHICLE. GMC HAS ALWAYS ACTED AS IF IT WAS NOT A BIG DEAL AND HAVE OFFERED MANY EXPENSIVE SOLUTIONS. EARLY ON I TRIED THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS AND IT WOULD HELP FOR A WHILE BUT THE PROBLEM ALWAYS COMES BACK. FURTHER, ALL OF MY GAUGES HAVE QUIT WORKING. AGAIN, GM OFFERS VERY EXPENSIVE SOLUTIONS, BUT WILL NEVER OWN UP TO THE FACT THAT THESE VEHICLES ARE DEFECTIVE. AFTER GOING THROUGH THIS FOR SEVERAL YEARS, I GOOGLED THESE ISSUES AND DISCOVERED THAT THERE ARE PAGES AND PAGES OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME ISSUES. I LOVE MY VEHICLE AND NOW HAVE 230,000 MILES ON IT. HOWEVER, I KNOW THAT THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND I AM ALWAYS CONSCIOUS THAT IT CAN HAPPEN AT ANY TIME. I AM ALWAYS PREPARED TO PULL OVER BUT THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES WHEN I WAS NEARLY REAR-ENDED BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE

Mileage: 75,000

20130716ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

I AM FILING A COMPLAINT DUE TO A REDUCED ENGINE PROBLEM AND STABILITY CONTROL WHICH KEEPS ENABLING ME TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. ONCE THIS LIGHT AND POWER REDUCES I NEED TO PULL OVER FROM MY DESTINATION AND TURN ENGINE OFF COMPLETELY. I COUNT ABOUT TEN SECONDS IN ORDER TO RESTART THE VEHICLE... ONLY TO START IT AND HAVING IT REDUCE AGAIN. SEVERAL LIGHTS ON DASH BOARD REMAIN ON SUCH AS ENGINE. I HAVE TRIED FIXING THE PROBLEM BUT I GUESS NO ONE REALLY KNOWS HOW TO REPAIR AND THIS HAS BEEN COSTLY. I HAVE READ RESOURCES/CONSUMERS WITH THE SAME YEAR AND VEHICLE MAKE, AND HAVE FOUND THAT THEY HAVE OCCURRED THE SAME PROBLEM. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THIS HAS BEEN A RECALL ON THE GMC CO. AND OR WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND APPARENTLY IT DOES HAVE TO DO WITH GMC THE MANUFACTURE AND WOULD LIKE TO RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM. *TR

Mileage: 163,000

20130716VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

I AM FILING A COMPLAINT DUE TO A REDUCED ENGINE PROBLEM AND STABILITY CONTROL WHICH KEEPS ENABLING ME TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. ONCE THIS LIGHT AND POWER REDUCES I NEED TO PULL OVER FROM MY DESTINATION AND TURN ENGINE OFF COMPLETELY. I COUNT ABOUT TEN SECONDS IN ORDER TO RESTART THE VEHICLE... ONLY TO START IT AND HAVING IT REDUCE AGAIN. SEVERAL LIGHTS ON DASH BOARD REMAIN ON SUCH AS ENGINE. I HAVE TRIED FIXING THE PROBLEM BUT I GUESS NO ONE REALLY KNOWS HOW TO REPAIR AND THIS HAS BEEN COSTLY. I HAVE READ RESOURCES/CONSUMERS WITH THE SAME YEAR AND VEHICLE MAKE, AND HAVE FOUND THAT THEY HAVE OCCURRED THE SAME PROBLEM. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THIS HAS BEEN A RECALL ON THE GMC CO. AND OR WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND APPARENTLY IT DOES HAVE TO DO WITH GMC THE MANUFACTURE AND WOULD LIKE TO RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM. *TR

Mileage: 163,000

20120418SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:SUPPLY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

WITHIN ABOUT 10 MILES OF A MODERATE BRAKING SITUATION AND REACHING HOME, BRAKE PEDAL BECAME PROGRESSIVELY SOFTER AT EACH SUCCESSIVE STOP UNTIL COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE OCCURRED NEAR HOME. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS USED TO SLOW AND STOP VEHICLE IN DRIVEWAY (HOME). RIGHT FRONT STEEL BRAKE LINE WAS FOUND TO HAVE BURST DUE TO EXTENSIVE RUST/CORROSION. EXTENSIVE CORROSION OF MOST BRAKE LINES WAS FOUND AND REPAIRED AT CONSIDERABLE COST AS A PREVENTIVE MEASURE TO HELP AVOID ACCIDENT OR INJURY. THE LOCAL GMC DEALER WAS NOT AWARE OF A RELATED RECALL FOR THIS VEHICLE AND WOULD ONLY REPAIR THE SUV AT THE PREVAILING RATE SINCE A WARRANTY WAS NOT IN EFFECT. THIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE RECALLED AND REPAIRED BY THE MANUFACTURER TO ADDRESS THIS POTENTIALLY CATASTROPHIC DEFECT. *JS

Mileage: 47,500

20110523FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

I HAVE A 2003 YUKON DENALI AND WHEN IT HIT THE 65,000 MILES MARK THE FUEL GAUGE STOPPED WORKING LEAVING ME TO TELL HOW MUCH GAS I HAD LEFT USING THE AUTOMATIC COMPUTER TELLING YOU HOW MANY MILES TO EMPTY. NEXT THE OIL GAUGES STOPPED WORKING. FINALLY REACHING 80,000 MILES MY SPEED ODOMETER QUITE WORKING LEAVING ME TO NOT KNOWING THE SPEED I AM TRAVELING THIS QUITE WORKING WHILE I WAS DRIVING DOWN A HIGHWAY. TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE MY RPMS ARE STARTING TO GO GOOFY WHICH MEANS THAT TO IS GOING TO STOP WORKING AS WELL. I WAS TOLD THAT HAVING MY DASH TAKEN OFF AND FIXED COULD RUN ANYWHERE BETWEEN 1,000.00 NOT INCLUDING LABOR FEES. WHICH IS CRAZY THAT GMC DOESN'T STAND BEHIND ITS WORK. PEOPLE CANT AFFORD TO BE PAYING FOR THIS TO GET FIXED LET ALONE SPEEDING TICKETS. I BELIEVE SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE AFTER READING ABOUT SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM WITH THE ALL HAVING THE SAME YEAR YUKON DENALI.. YOU PAY ALL THIS MONEY FOR A VEHICLE AND SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPENS!!! *TR

20110523ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL

I HAVE A 2003 YUKON DENALI AND WHEN IT HIT THE 65,000 MILES MARK THE FUEL GAUGE STOPPED WORKING LEAVING ME TO TELL HOW MUCH GAS I HAD LEFT USING THE AUTOMATIC COMPUTER TELLING YOU HOW MANY MILES TO EMPTY. NEXT THE OIL GAUGES STOPPED WORKING. FINALLY REACHING 80,000 MILES MY SPEED ODOMETER QUITE WORKING LEAVING ME TO NOT KNOWING THE SPEED I AM TRAVELING THIS QUITE WORKING WHILE I WAS DRIVING DOWN A HIGHWAY. TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE MY RPMS ARE STARTING TO GO GOOFY WHICH MEANS THAT TO IS GOING TO STOP WORKING AS WELL. I WAS TOLD THAT HAVING MY DASH TAKEN OFF AND FIXED COULD RUN ANYWHERE BETWEEN 1,000.00 NOT INCLUDING LABOR FEES. WHICH IS CRAZY THAT GMC DOESN'T STAND BEHIND ITS WORK. PEOPLE CANT AFFORD TO BE PAYING FOR THIS TO GET FIXED LET ALONE SPEEDING TICKETS. I BELIEVE SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE AFTER READING ABOUT SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM WITH THE ALL HAVING THE SAME YEAR YUKON DENALI.. YOU PAY ALL THIS MONEY FOR A VEHICLE AND SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPENS!!! *TR

20110523EQUIPMENT

I HAVE A 2003 YUKON DENALI AND WHEN IT HIT THE 65,000 MILES MARK THE FUEL GAUGE STOPPED WORKING LEAVING ME TO TELL HOW MUCH GAS I HAD LEFT USING THE AUTOMATIC COMPUTER TELLING YOU HOW MANY MILES TO EMPTY. NEXT THE OIL GAUGES STOPPED WORKING. FINALLY REACHING 80,000 MILES MY SPEED ODOMETER QUITE WORKING LEAVING ME TO NOT KNOWING THE SPEED I AM TRAVELING THIS QUITE WORKING WHILE I WAS DRIVING DOWN A HIGHWAY. TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE MY RPMS ARE STARTING TO GO GOOFY WHICH MEANS THAT TO IS GOING TO STOP WORKING AS WELL. I WAS TOLD THAT HAVING MY DASH TAKEN OFF AND FIXED COULD RUN ANYWHERE BETWEEN 1,000.00 NOT INCLUDING LABOR FEES. WHICH IS CRAZY THAT GMC DOESN'T STAND BEHIND ITS WORK. PEOPLE CANT AFFORD TO BE PAYING FOR THIS TO GET FIXED LET ALONE SPEEDING TICKETS. I BELIEVE SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE AFTER READING ABOUT SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM WITH THE ALL HAVING THE SAME YEAR YUKON DENALI.. YOU PAY ALL THIS MONEY FOR A VEHICLE AND SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPENS!!! *TR

20110328VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC DENALI. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER A FEW MINUTES, THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED YET THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE PERSISTED INTERMITTENTLY BUT RECURRED MOST DURING WARMER TEMPERATURES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TWO DIFFERENT DEALERS AND AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE THROTTLE BODY, WIRING HARNESS AND SENSORS WERE REPLACED. THE TIRES WERE ROTATED AND THE PRESSURE WAS CHECKED BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE THROTTLE BODY WAS REPLACED A SECOND TIME BUT STILL THERE WAS NO RESOLUTION TO THE FAILURE. WHEN PERFORMING A DIAGNOSTIC ON THE VEHICLE, THE SAME EXACT FAILURE CODES WERE ALWAYS GENERATED ADVISING OF A THROTTLE BODY FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. UPDATED 5/2/11 *CN UPDATED 1/11/11 *CN

Mileage: 130,000

20100503SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

BRAKE FAILURE DUE TO RUSTING OUT OF MAIN BRAKE LINE TO REAR OF VEHICLE. *TR

Mileage: 17,000

20100310SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) MARCH 10, 2010 PLEASE REPORT STATUS OF CASE [XXX] U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION SUBJECT; BRAKE LINE FAILURE PROBLEMS ON GENERAL MOTORS TRUCKS GENTLEPERSONS I WOULD LIKE TO REPORT TO YOU A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE WITH GMC AND CHEVROLET PICK UP TRUCKS THAT WILL RESULT IN DEATH. I HAVE A GMC 2003 SIERRA DENALI PICK UP TRUCK THAT HAS EXPERIENCED THIS DEFECT ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS AND I REPORTED MY CONCERN TO GENERAL MOTORS WHEN I FIRST EXPERIENCED THE LOSS OF MY BRAKES IN A LETTER DATED APRIL 10, 2008. AS THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY ONLY THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE LINE WAS REPLACED. THE SECOND TIME I LOST MY BRAKES WAS ON FEBRUARY 23, 2010 THE DEALER REPLACED THE ENTIRE BRAKE LINE SYSTEM AND CHARGED ME OVER $2,000.00 AND THE TRUCK WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY AT THAT TIME. I AM CERTAIN

Mileage: 44,000

20081117ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

THE SUV HAS INTERMITTENT STOPS/STALLS IN THE MIDDLE OF MOVING TRAFFIC. AT THAT POINT THE TRACTION ALMOST AS QUICK AS THE MOTOR POWERS DOWN IT RESETS AND GOES AGAIN. THE GMC DEALER HAS NEVER BEEN ABLE TO FIX IT SO WE WENT TO A HIGHLY RATED ANGIES LIST AUTO REPAIR SHOP AND THEY SUGGESTED REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION WHICH WE HAVE DONOR LAST APRIL. UNFORTUNATELY THAT WAS NO HELP EITHER. I HAVE HAD NO LUCK FINDING A SOLUTION ON THE INTERNET AS WELL. *TR

Mileage: 120,000

20081022AIR BAGS

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC DENALI. WHILE DRIVING 2-5 MPH, THE CONTACT STRUCK A BUMP OR POTHOLE IN THE ROAD. HE HEARD A LOUD BOOM SIMILAR TO A GUNSHOT. THE SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND THE CONTACT MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. ONSTAR NOTICED THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT AND CALLED TO SEE IF MEDICAL ASSISTANCE WAS NEEDED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD BE REPAIRED AT THE COST OF $5,000. THE MANUFACTURER SENT A THIRD PARTY ENGINEER TO INVESTIGATE THE VEHICLE. HE REVIEWED THE EVENT DATA RECORDER AND DECIDED THAT GMC WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIRS. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 90,000.

Mileage: 90,000

20080811ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS

FAULTY PULLY ASSEMBLY ON 2003 GMC VECHICLES THEIR IS A SERVICE BULLETIN OUT ABOUT THE PROBLEM IN 2004. I LEARNED OF THE REPORT 8/7/08.AFTER REPLACING 5 BELTS AND TENSIONERS. AFTER COMPRESSOR BREAKS APART WHILE UNDER CAR TRYING TO FINE THIS HORRIBLE NOISE UPON ACCELERATION.WHILE UNDER WARRANTY I CARRIED THE CAR IN 4 TIMES FOR NOISES ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT NEVER TO BE RESOLVED ,NOW IT IS SO BAD IT IS OBVIOUS WHERE THE PROBLEM IS. THEIR IS NO RECALL YET BUT SHOULD BE,THE MECH. SAYS THEY REPLACE 2 COMPRESSORS A WEEK. SOMEONES SAFETY IS GOING TO BE CHALLENGED BE FOR THIER IS A RECALL. THIS IS MORE DANGEROUS THAN A SEATBELT LATCH OR SPEED CONTROL NOT TO MENTION COSTLY. PLEASE CONTACT ME FOR A FULL STORY. *TR

Mileage: 30,000

Compare 2003GMCDENALI to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2003 GMC DENALI have?
The 2003 GMC DENALI has 40 NHTSA complaints, 4 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2003 GMC DENALI?
The most-complained component for the 2003 GMC DENALI is VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL with 4 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION and ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL.
Is the 2003 GMC DENALI safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.