GMC YUKON DENALI · model year

2006 GMC YUKON DENALI

24 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2006GMCYUKON DENALI carries 24 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 crashes, 3 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 2006 YUKON DENALI is engine with 4 filings, followed by latches/locks/linkages (2) and service brakes (2). 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 2006 YUKON 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.

24
Complaints
2
Crashes
3
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

24 filings

Crashes Reported

2 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
ENGINE4
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES2
SERVICE BRAKES2
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)2
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION1
TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM1
STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS1
TIRES1
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:LOCK1
EQUIPMENT1
VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR1
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TAILGATE:LATCH1
AIR BAGS1
POWER TRAIN1
EXTERIOR LIGHTING1

Recent Complaints

20180905FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE PASSENGER SIDE UNDER DASH BORED CAUGHT ON FIRE. WILE DRIVING DOWN THE STREET IT STARTED TO SMOKE AND I SAW FLAM. I WAS ABLE TO PUT FLAM OUT AND LUCKY WAS A BLOCK FROM HOME. I PARKED IT TURNED IT OFF IT SEAMED LIKE THE FIRE WAS OUT AND NO SMOKE .ABOUT 15 MIN LATER I GO OUT SIDE AND MY TRUCK IS IN FIRE IT BURNT THE WHOLE IN SIDE OF CAB. I BELIEVE IT WAS THE MOTER BLOWER THAT SET ON FIRE DUE TO THATS WERE FIRE CAME FROM .AS WELL WHEN I LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT STILL PERFECT CONDITION. SO ALL FIRE DAMAGE I'S COMPLETEY INSIDE SUV WERE THE MOTER BLOWER IS .

Mileage: 129,474

20180905FireUNKNOWN OR OTHER

THE PASSENGER SIDE UNDER DASH BORED CAUGHT ON FIRE. WILE DRIVING DOWN THE STREET IT STARTED TO SMOKE AND I SAW FLAM. I WAS ABLE TO PUT FLAM OUT AND LUCKY WAS A BLOCK FROM HOME. I PARKED IT TURNED IT OFF IT SEAMED LIKE THE FIRE WAS OUT AND NO SMOKE .ABOUT 15 MIN LATER I GO OUT SIDE AND MY TRUCK IS IN FIRE IT BURNT THE WHOLE IN SIDE OF CAB. I BELIEVE IT WAS THE MOTER BLOWER THAT SET ON FIRE DUE TO THATS WERE FIRE CAME FROM .AS WELL WHEN I LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT STILL PERFECT CONDITION. SO ALL FIRE DAMAGE I'S COMPLETEY INSIDE SUV WERE THE MOTER BLOWER IS .

Mileage: 129,474

20180715STRUCTURE:BODY

REAR LIFT GLASS HINGES ARE DEFECTIVE AND GM HAS KNOWN ABOUT THE ISSUES FOR YEARS AND HAS NOT ISSUED ANY RECALL TO REPLACE. POOR DESIGN IS THE PROBLEM. GLASS FLEW OFF WHILE DRIVING IN NORMAL CONDITIONS. SAFELITE AUTO (972.379-2704) REPLACED GLASS ON 6/16/18. DEFECTIVE HINGE BROKE AGAIN, ON 7/3/18. SAFELITE REPLACED GLASS WITH OEM PART. DEFECTIVE HINGE FAILED AGAIN FROM OEM PART ON 7/11/18. SAFELITE CONTACT LOCAL CHEVY DEALERSHIP, (CLASSIC CHEVY, PLANO, TX, 469.685.1560). ANOTHER OEM PART WILL BE REPLACED ON 7/16/18. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF OWNERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. URL REFERENCE: HTTPS://WWW.GMINSIDENEWS.COM/FORUMS/F31/03-YUKON-XL-REAR-GLASS-HINGES-35335/ NHTSA PLEASE INVESTIGATE ASAP FOR SOMEONE IS HURT OR KILLED FROM THE GLASS FLYING OFF. THANK YOU.

Mileage: 188,750

20171025ENGINE

EXHAUST LEAK BOLT BROKEN PASSENGER SIDE

20170908CrashSERVICE BRAKES

SEVERE BRAKE LINE CORROSION AND CORROSION AT WHEEL SPEED SENSORS CAUSES ABS TO ACTIVATE AT LOW SPEEDS. I HAD 2 NEAR MISS CRASHES AND THEN CAR WOULD NOT STOP AND I HIT A FENCE IN MY YARD YESTERDAY. I HAVE 4 OTHER VEHICLES , A DODGE, BMW, AND 2 HONDA, ALL OLDER THAN THIS ONE, AND DO NOT HAVE THE. CORROSION ON THE BRAKE LINES. THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE MATERIAL USED IN THE GMC BRAKE LINES THAT CAUSES IT TO SEVERELY CORRODE. MALFUNCTION OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY.

Mileage: 198,000

20151010ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL SYSTEM KICK IN BRINGING THE VEHICLE TO A STOP! THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS WHILE IN TRAFFIC AND IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN. DEALER SUGGEST REPLACING THE BRAKE SENSOR OR DISABLING IT. FIRST OCCURRENCE OF THIS EVENT THE VEHICLE HAD 35K MILES. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL GIVEN THE IMPLICATIONS OF A FAULTY SYSTEM.

20140517POWER TRAIN

WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A RED LIGHT AND TURNING RIGHT, THE POWERTRAIN SUDDENLY DISENGAGED, NEARLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT FROM UNSUSPECTING DRIVERS BEHIND MY YUKON. THE ENGINE REMAINS ON, THE SHIFTER (AUTOMATIC) HAS NOT MOVED AND INDICATES "DRIVE". MOVING THE SHIFTER TO OTHER GEARS DID NOT HELP EITHER. THINKING QUICKLY, I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE, PLACED VEHICLE IN "P", RESTARTED, AND SHIFTED BACK TO "D" WHICH DID NOT WORK. I THEN PLACED ENGINE IN "3" AND WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING IN THIRD GEAR UNTIL ARRIVING HOME. THE GMC DEALER SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG, WENT AHEAD AND CHANGED A SHIFT CABLE FOR $1,100 AND I CONTINUE TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. *JS

Mileage: 65,000

20140517EXTERIOR LIGHTING

THE UPPER BRAKE INDICATOR LIGHT (BAR) ON TOP OF THE REAR LIFT GATE DOOR MALFUNCTIONED. I DID NOT REALIZE THAT IT HAD NOT BEEN WORKING OR FOR HOW LONG. OBVIOUSLY THIS WAS A DANGEROUS SITUATION. THE DEALER CLAIMS IT "BURNED OUT" AFTER DISCOVERING IT DURING INSPECTION OF ANOTHER PROBLEM, HOWEVER, NONE OF MY OTHER VEHICLES HAVE EVER NEEDED REPLACEMENTS FOR THESE LED LIGHTS. AFTER PAYING $300, FOR A NEW BRAKE LIGHT BAR IT WORKED. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT IT SHORTED OUT OR MAY HAVE HAD WIRES THAT BECAME CORRODED. JUST ONE OF A MULTITUDE OF CONTINUING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. *JS

Mileage: 64,000

20140328AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 GMC YUKON DENALI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE STARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE SERVICE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY STATED THAT THE IMPACT AIR BAG SENSORS NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. UPDATED 06/10/14*LJ UPDATED 06/12/2014 *JS

Mileage: 50,000

20131017ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

REDUCED ENGINE POWER FORCED THE VEHICLE TO REMAIN UNDER 25 MPH ON A BUSY ROAD WHERE I WAS UNABLE TO PULL OFF DUE TO LACK OF SHOULDER. RESTART OF THE VEHICLE AFTER I CAME TO A PLACE I COULD STOP, YIELDED THE SAME ERROR AND LACK OF POWER. *TR

20131017ENGINE

REDUCED ENGINE POWER FORCED THE VEHICLE TO REMAIN UNDER 25 MPH ON A BUSY ROAD WHERE I WAS UNABLE TO PULL OFF DUE TO LACK OF SHOULDER. RESTART OF THE VEHICLE AFTER I CAME TO A PLACE I COULD STOP, YIELDED THE SAME ERROR AND LACK OF POWER. *TR

20130302ENGINE

NOISE COMING FROM DRIVERS SIDE LIKE LIFTER NOISE FOUND FIRST TWO BOLTS ON THE HEAD BROKEN FOR THE MANIFOLD. *TR

Mileage: 120,875

20120912ENGINE

GOING APPROXIMATELY 5-10 MPH ON A SIDE STREET THE ENGINE SURGED WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED AND THE BRAKES DID NOT WORK. HAD TO PUT THE TRUCK IN PARK TO STOP. SUV WAS IMMEDIATELY TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. DEALERSHIP REPORTS NO COMPUTER RECORD OF INCIDENT NOR PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE OR BRAKES OVER A PERIOD OF A WEEK OF TESTING. *TR *JS

Mileage: 101,000

20120912SERVICE BRAKES

GOING APPROXIMATELY 5-10 MPH ON A SIDE STREET THE ENGINE SURGED WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED AND THE BRAKES DID NOT WORK. HAD TO PUT THE TRUCK IN PARK TO STOP. SUV WAS IMMEDIATELY TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. DEALERSHIP REPORTS NO COMPUTER RECORD OF INCIDENT NOR PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE OR BRAKES OVER A PERIOD OF A WEEK OF TESTING. *TR *JS

Mileage: 101,000

20120810FireLATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TAILGATE:LATCH

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 GMC YUKON DENALI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR LIFTGATE WOULD NOT OPEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTICS WHERE THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THE PLASTIC HOUSING AROUND THE CABLE THAT CONTROLLED THE REAR LIFTGATE MECHANISM WAS MELTED. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE LATCH MECHANISM PART WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.

Mileage: 125,000

20120423VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR

ON 4/22/2012 MY REAR GLASS WINDOW EXPLODED IN MY DRIVEWAY FOR NO REASON. NO ONE WAS AROUND IT ARE TOUCHED THE VEHICLE FOR AT LEAST 3 HOURS. GOOD THING MY NEWBORN WAS NOT IN THE VEHICLE AND THAT I WAS NOT DRIVING. *TR

20110908EQUIPMENT

A PANASONIC DVD PLAYER, FACTORY EQUIPMENT AND INSTALL, IS SITTING BEHIND THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AND 1/3 WAY INTO THE REAR PASSENGER SEAT. IT HANGS DOWN ABOUT 4". MY 4 YEAR OLD SON IS UNABLE TO GET INTO HIS CAR SEAT WITHOUT HITTING HIS HEAD. I HIT MY HEAD WHILE ENTERING THE CAR AND RECEIVED A CONCUSSION. I HAVE PERMANENT BRAIN DAMAGE AND DISABILITIES NOW. GMC IS AWARE OF THE SAFETY ISSUE, (DEALER REP) BUT NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED. THE STYLE OF DVD PLAYER WAS CHANGED TO A SMALLER SIZE AND SET IN THE CENTER FRONT. WHAT ARE THE HEAD ROOM STANDARDS? PLEASE! THE DEALER ADMITS FAULT, BUT IS ONLY WILLING TO GIVE ME A "GOOD DEAL" ON A TRADE IN. FAILED COMPONENTS DID NOT HAVE MY ISSUE. SELECTED ANOTHER TO SEND COMPLAINT. *TR UPDATED IVOQ 03/06/12

Mileage: 74,000

20110715LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:LOCK

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 GMC YUKON DENALI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN HE WAS UNABLE TO OPEN THE REAR LIFT GATE. AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ACTUATOR FOR THE REAR LIFT GATE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

Mileage: 106,000

20101228LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

ALL 4 DOOR LOCK ACTUATORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED IN LESS THAN 3 YEARS. THE 2 TODAY TOTAL OVER $500 IN PARTS AND LABOR. *TR

Mileage: 41,000

20100926TIRES

ON AUGUST 31, 2010 WHILE DRIVING NORTH NEAR RED BLUFF, CALIFORNIA ON INTERSTATE 5 (I-5) AT 60 MPH WHEN WE INCURRED A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE RIGHT REAR GOODYEAR WRANGLER TIRE ON OUR GMC YUKON DENALI. THESE TIRES ARE OEM TIRES FROM GMC AND HAVE NEVER BEEN OFF THE VEHICLE FOR ANY REPAIRS ' ONLY REGULAR TIRE ROTATIONS. WE IMPACTED NO ROAD HAZARDS TO CAUSE THIS FAILURE AS WITNESSED BY THE FOLLOWING: 1.I OBSERVED NO ROAD HAZARDS PRIOR TO TIRE FAILURE. 2.GRANT - LES SCHWAB TIRE CENTER EMPLOYEE WAS RIGHT BEHIND ME AND OBSERVED NO ROAD HAZARDS. GRANT STOPPED TO ASSIST US WITH CHANGING THE TIRE. 3.THE TIRE BEAD WAS SEPARATED AND SIDEWALL SPLIT YET NO DAMAGE WAS CAUSED TO THE WHEEL RIM AS NOTED BY REDDING, CA. WINGFOOT EMPLOYEES AND GRANT AND DON - LES SCHWAB TIRE CENTER EMPLOYEES. THE LOGIC BEING THAT IF A ROAD HAZARD CAUSED FAILURE OF THE BEAD IT WOULD HAVE DAMAGED THE RIM TOO. I HAVE PICTURES ON FILE. FROM WHAT WINGFOOT AND LES SCHWAB EMPLOYEES PLUS INTERNET ARTICLES TELL ME, THE FA

Mileage: 31,500

Compare 2006GMCYUKON DENALI to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2006 GMC YUKON DENALI have?
The 2006 GMC YUKON DENALI has 24 NHTSA complaints, 2 crashes, 3 fires, 1 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2006 GMC YUKON DENALI?
The most-complained component for the 2006 GMC YUKON DENALI is ENGINE with 4 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES and SERVICE BRAKES.
Is the 2006 GMC YUKON 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.