GMC SIERRA DENALI · model year

2008 GMC SIERRA DENALI

21 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2008GMCSIERRA DENALI carries 21 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 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 2008 SIERRA DENALI is structure:body with 3 filings, followed by unknown or other (3) and air bags (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 2008 SIERRA 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.

21
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

21 filings

Crashes Reported

0 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
STRUCTURE:BODY3
UNKNOWN OR OTHER3
AIR BAGS3
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE1
EXTERIOR LIGHTING1
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY1
WHEELS1
STRUCTURE1
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)1
SERVICE BRAKES1
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH1

Recent Complaints

20190616AIR BAGS

TAKATA RECALL WENT BACK TO LOCAL CHEVY GMC DEALER AGAIN FOR THE SECOND TIME IN ALMOST 3 YEARS SINCE I RECEIVED MY RECALL LETTER FROM GM. THEY LOOKED UP RECALL AND AGAIN TOLD ME THAT IT HAS BEEN RECALLED BUT THEY HAVEN'T AGREED ON WHOSE GOING TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I AM TIRED OF WAITING AND DRIVING A TRUCK THAT IN MY OPINION IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE WITH THIS SAFETY RELATED ISSUE. I WANT THIS FIXED BECAUSE 3 YEARS IS LONG ENOUGH TO FIGURE OUT WHOSE PAYING AND GET THE JOB DONE. IF IT DOSEN'T GET RESOLVED SOON I WILL HAVE TO TAKE LEGAL ACTION AGAINST GM. I DRIVE THIS VEHICLE DAILY SO IT NEEDS TO BE FIXED.

Mileage: 213,000

20190302UNKNOWN OR OTHER

MAJOR DASH CRACKS

Mileage: 37,000

20180309AIR BAGS

TAKATA RECALL WE GOT THE TRUCK 5/23/2015 WE RECEIVED THE RECALL ON THE AIR BAGS FEW MONTHS LATER WE TOOK THE TRUCK IN TO THE DEALER SHIP ON06/2/2017 THEY TOLD US THEY DID NOT HAVE THE PART TO FIX IT BUT THEY ARE THE ONES THAT TOLD US TO BRING IT IN SO WE GOT HOME I CALLED THE RECALL NUMBER THEN THEY TOLD ME THAT THE PLACE IS FIGHTING TO NOT FIX IT

20170810UNKNOWN OR OTHER

DASH BOARD IN CRACKING IN TWO PLACES OVER THE SPEEDOMETER AND TWO PLACES ABOVE THE AIRBAG. CRACKS ARE CONTINUING TO APPEAR ON MY DASHBOARD WHICH RAISES A CONCERN OF WHETHER IT WOULD SHATTER IF THE AIRBAG WAS TO INFLATE DURING A ACCIDENT.

Mileage: 120,000

20160117AIR BAGS

MAJOR ISSUE INVOLVING CRACKING OF DASH AROUND PASSENGER AIRBAG OPENING AND INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AREA. I HAVE NOTICED SEVERAL VEHICLES COVERING ALL YEARS AND USAGE WITH SIMILAR CRACKS SOME MAJOR. CONCERNED THAT IF AN ACCIDENT WITH FRONT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT INJURY COULD OCCUR DUE TO FRACTURED PLASTIC.

20160117STRUCTURE:BODY

MAJOR ISSUE INVOLVING CRACKING OF DASH AROUND PASSENGER AIRBAG OPENING AND INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AREA. I HAVE NOTICED SEVERAL VEHICLES COVERING ALL YEARS AND USAGE WITH SIMILAR CRACKS SOME MAJOR. CONCERNED THAT IF AN ACCIDENT WITH FRONT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT INJURY COULD OCCUR DUE TO FRACTURED PLASTIC.

20151023UNKNOWN OR OTHER

DASH IS CRACKED IN THREE PLACES, THE SAME AS ALL THE OTHERS. DOOR HANDLES PEELING AND CUT MY CHILD'S HAD

20150603LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 GMC SIERRA DENALI. THE CONTACT STATED ALL THE DOOR LATCH HANDLES REPEATEDLY BROKE. THE CONTACT'S SON ATTEMPTED TO OPEN THE DOOR AND THE HANDLE COMPLETELY FAILED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED MORE THAN SEVEN TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,000. UPDATED 7/16/15*CN

Mileage: 5,000

20141218ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER CAME ON AND WENT CRAZY AND SO DID THE RADIO. THE TRUCKS BRAKES LOCKED UP AND CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE TRUCK TURNED OFF AND WHEN I TRIED TO TURN IT BACK ON IT WAS DEAD. OPEN UP THE HOOD AND DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY AND RECONNECTED AND THE TRUCK TURNED ON THIS HAS NOT BEEN THE ONLY TIME IT HAS HAPPEN. *TR

Mileage: 91,030

20141002ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

MY TRUCK STARTED TO ACTIVATE THE BRAKES IN THE MIDDLE OF THE 3 LANE 680 FREEWAY, DOORS STARTED TO LOCK AND UNLOCK, NAVIGATION WENT DARK, MULTIPLE DIFFERENT DISPLAYS ON DASHBOARD, NUMBER OF LIGHTS FROM THE AIR CONDITIONER UNIT, CAME ON. ACCELERATION OR BRAKES WOULD NOT RESPOND, WE WERE UNABLE TO DRIVE OFF THE FREEWAY. IT WAS A SCARY MOMENT, WE WERE LUCKY THAT NO BIG RIG WAS FOLLOWING US, OR IT WOULD HAD RUNS US OVER, AND PROBABLY KILLED US. *TR

Mileage: 128,000

20141002SERVICE BRAKES

MY TRUCK STARTED TO ACTIVATE THE BRAKES IN THE MIDDLE OF THE 3 LANE 680 FREEWAY, DOORS STARTED TO LOCK AND UNLOCK, NAVIGATION WENT DARK, MULTIPLE DIFFERENT DISPLAYS ON DASHBOARD, NUMBER OF LIGHTS FROM THE AIR CONDITIONER UNIT, CAME ON. ACCELERATION OR BRAKES WOULD NOT RESPOND, WE WERE UNABLE TO DRIVE OFF THE FREEWAY. IT WAS A SCARY MOMENT, WE WERE LUCKY THAT NO BIG RIG WAS FOLLOWING US, OR IT WOULD HAD RUNS US OVER, AND PROBABLY KILLED US. *TR

Mileage: 128,000

20141002ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

MY TRUCK STARTED TO ACTIVATE THE BRAKES IN THE MIDDLE OF THE 3 LANE 680 FREEWAY, DOORS STARTED TO LOCK AND UNLOCK, NAVIGATION WENT DARK, MULTIPLE DIFFERENT DISPLAYS ON DASHBOARD, NUMBER OF LIGHTS FROM THE AIR CONDITIONER UNIT, CAME ON. ACCELERATION OR BRAKES WOULD NOT RESPOND, WE WERE UNABLE TO DRIVE OFF THE FREEWAY. IT WAS A SCARY MOMENT, WE WERE LUCKY THAT NO BIG RIG WAS FOLLOWING US, OR IT WOULD HAD RUNS US OVER, AND PROBABLY KILLED US. *TR

Mileage: 128,000

20140625STRUCTURE:BODY

GMC HAS THE DOOR HANDLES MADE IN MEXICO OUT OF PLASTIC. WHEN YOU GO TO OPEN THE DOOR THE HANDLE BREAKS OFF IN YOUR HAND. GMC KNOWS THIS A MAJOR DESIGN FLAW BUT REFUSES TO STAND BEHIND THE PROBLEM. JUST GOOGLE "GM DOOR HANDLES BREAK" AND HUNDREDS OF POSTINGS COME UP! MY CHILD WENT TO GET INTO THE TRUCK THE OTHER DAY AND THE HANDLE BROKE OFF IN HIS HAND CAUSING HIM TO FALL BACKWARDS. *TR

Mileage: 8,822

20140110STRUCTURE

DASH CRACKED TOP LEFT CORNER PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG. THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM SIMPLY GOOGLE GMC CRACKED DASH AND YOU SHALL SEE. IF THE AIR BAG DEPLOYS PLASTIC SHRAPNEL WOULD BE SENT ALL OVER THE CABIN. VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM THAT GM IS IGNORING A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED. *TR

Mileage: 58,000

20130103STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

I JUST READ THE SAFETY NOTICE FOR GMC 2007 YUKON INTERIOR DOOR HANDLES DELAMINATING AND CREATING SHARP CUTTING EDGES (EA 10004). THE EXACT SAME THING HAS HAPPENED ON MY 2008 GMC DENALI SIERRA (DRIVER SIDE) - I'VE SLICED MY FINGER A 3RD TIME AND AM NOW HAVING THE HANDLE REPLACED AT A COST OF $240. WHEN I CALLED GMC CUSTOMER COMPLAINT LINE THEY OFFERED NO HELP JUST EXCUSES...POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE...WOW, NO WONDER GM WENT BANKRUPT!! *TR

Mileage: 78,000

20121220STRUCTURE:BODY

EXTERNAL LEFT REAR DOOR HANDLE PULLED OFF WHEN SIMPLY OPENING THE DOOR 11/15/2010. EXTERNAL LEFT FRONT DOOR HANDLE PULLED OFF WHEN SIMPLY OPENING THE DOOR 12/15/2012. TWO DOOR HANDLES POP OFF ON A NEW VEHICLE NOT A DEFECT? SAME FLIMSY PLASTIC FASTENER ATTACHMENT BROKEN IN BOTH CASES. GOOGLE SEARCH INDICATES THIS IS A COMMON DEFECT EXPERIENCED BY NUMEROUS OWNERS THAT GMC AND CHEVROLET WILL NOT ADMIT TO. THE GMC DEALER EVEN ACKNOWLEDGED IT'S A DEFECT! REPAIR COST - $300/HANDLE! *TR

Mileage: 18,000

20120128STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

AS I REACHERD TO OPEN THE PASSENGER DOOR I SLICED MY FINGER INDEX FINGER AND GOT QUITE A BAD SPLINTER IN MY. MIDDLE FINGER. *TR

Mileage: 68,000

20110915WHEELS

THE TIRES SEAL AT THE WHEELS LEAK AIR CONTINUOUSLY. CAUSING THEM TO BE REFILLED. IF THEY GO DOWN POSSIBLE ACCIDENTS CAN RESULT. GM WILL DO NOTHING. THE WHEELS ARE CORRODING AND CAUSING THE PROBLEM. RIGHT WHERE THE TIRE MEETS THE WHEEL. *KB

Mileage: 79,000

20110309VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 GMC SIERRA DENALI. THE CONTACT STATE THAT DURING RAINY WEATHER, WATER WOULD LEAK INTO THE VEHICLE FROM THE SUNROOF RESULTING IN SEVERE WATER DAMAGE TO THE HEADLINER. THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.

Mileage: 45,000

20101228EXTERIOR LIGHTING

MY 2008 GMC SIERRA DENALI HAS WATER CONDENSATION IN BOTH OF THE TAIL LIGHTS. ITS NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE ON ANY OF MY GMC TRUCKS AND THIS DENALI WASN'T CHEAP.

Mileage: 22,000

Compare 2008GMCSIERRA DENALI to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2008 GMC SIERRA DENALI have?
The 2008 GMC SIERRA DENALI has 21 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2008 GMC SIERRA DENALI?
The most-complained component for the 2008 GMC SIERRA DENALI is STRUCTURE:BODY with 3 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include UNKNOWN OR OTHER and AIR BAGS.
Is the 2008 GMC SIERRA 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.