GMC YUKON DENALI · model year

2011 GMC YUKON DENALI

117 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2011GMCYUKON DENALI carries 117 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 2 fires, 0 injuries, 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 2011 YUKON DENALI is unknown or other with 60 filings, followed by air bags (26) and structure:body (12). 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 2011 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.

117
Complaints
0
Crashes
2
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

117 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
UNKNOWN OR OTHER60
AIR BAGS26
STRUCTURE:BODY12
STRUCTURE3
SUSPENSION2
SERVICE BRAKES2
WHEELS2
SEATS2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC1
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION1
CHILD SEAT1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY1
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)1
ENGINE1
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL1

Recent Complaints

20190713UNKNOWN OR OTHER

THE TOP PORTION OF THE DASHBOARD IS CRACKING IN TWO PLACES. ONE OVER THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND THE OTHER CRACK IS BY THE PASSENGER DASHBOARD AIRBAG. THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT WITH THIS GENERATION OF GMC/CHEVY TRUCKS AND SUVS.

20190521AIR BAGS

CRACK IN DASHBOARD ON TOP OF AIRBAG

Mileage: 75,000

20190420AIR BAGS

TAMARA RECALL. THIS RECALL HAS BEEN SINCE 2016 AND STILL NOT RESOLVE. I AM ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY AND PCSING OVERSEAS. I HAVE TO SHIP MY VEHICLE AND THEY WILL NOT SHIP IT WITH AN UNRESOLVED RECALL. I AM NOT SURE WHAT ELSE TO DO...I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND GMC AND THEY OFFER NO RESOLUTION FOR MY ISSUES.

20190417FireSEATS

THE SEAT CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE THE CAR WAS RUNNING. MY CHILD WAS SLEEPING AND SMOKE WAS COMING OUT FROM UNDER HIS BOOSTER SEAT AND HIS LEGS. I CONTACTED GMC AND THEY SAID THIS HAD NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE AND WE SHOULD CONTACT OUR INSURANCE COMPANY, THOUGH, WHEN WE TOOK IT TO THE TECHNICIANS AT THE DEALERSHIP (FOR THE INSPECTION), THEY SAW WHERE TWO WIRES WERE ON TOP OF ONE ANOTHER AND THE SEAT HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM. I SEARCHED ONLINE AND THERE ARE MANY STORIES OUT THERE, I AM JUST NOT SURE IF PEOPLE ARE REPORTING THEM---OR IF THEY REALIZE THAT GMC MAKES SIMILAR CARS SO CADILLAC, SIERRAS, AND OTHER CARS COME FROM THE SAME MOLD.

Mileage: 120,000

20190301STRUCTURE:BODY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 GMC YUKON DENALI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS CRACKED IN THE MIDDLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE DASHBOARD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SUNTRUP BUICK GMC (4200 I-70 NORTH OUTER RD, ST. PETERS, MO 63376, (866) 504-7492) WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE DASHBOARD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,314.

Mileage: 105,314

20190121STRUCTURE:BODY

DASHBOARD CRACKING THROUGH OUT THE TOP OF THE WHOLE DASHBOARD INCLUDING SURROUNDING THE AIRBAG ON PASSENGER SIDE. I WAS TOLD THIS HAPPENS IN MULTIPLE TRUCKS AT THE DEALERSHIP AS WELL AS SHOWN PROOF

Mileage: 95,000

20181012FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE CAR SEAT WARMER IN THE BACK OF THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE OUR SEVEN YEAR OLD WAS ASLEEP IN THE CAR. HE WAS IN HIS BOOSTER SEAT. THE SEAT WARMER WAS NOT ON. (THIS WAS IN AUGUST 2018.) WE SMELLED A BURNING SMELL AND THERE WAS A SMOLDERING FLAME UNDER HIS LEGS. THE CAR WAS STATIONARY, NOT IN MOTION. IT WAS IDLING IN A PARKING LOT.

Mileage: 120,000

20180925AIR BAGS

NUMEROUS DASHBOARD CRACKS ABOVE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND PASSENGER AIRBAG. COULD CAUSE SPLINTERS OF PLASTIC IN CASE OF AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT.

Mileage: 75,000

20180925STRUCTURE:BODY

NUMEROUS DASHBOARD CRACKS ABOVE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND PASSENGER AIRBAG. COULD CAUSE SPLINTERS OF PLASTIC IN CASE OF AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT.

Mileage: 75,000

20180904UNKNOWN OR OTHER

CRACKED DASH

Mileage: 65,000

20180809UNKNOWN OR OTHER

CAME OUT TO MY GARAGED YUKON TO FIND A SMALL CRACK IN THE DASH AT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. I NOW HAVE ANOTHER VERY LARGE CRACK IN FRONT OF THE STEERING WHEEL. THERE IS ALSO A SECOND CRACK NEAR THE AIRBAG WHICH HAS CREATED A TRIANGLE PIECE OF PLASTIC THAT IS NEARLY LOOSE AND LOOKS LIKE IT COULD FALL IN THE DASH OR BECOME A PROJECTILE IF THE AIRBAG WAS TO DEPLOY.

Mileage: 82,500

20180712AIR BAGS

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 GMC YUKON DENALI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V381000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE GMC DEALER (BOB PALMER'S CHANCELLOR MOTOR GROUP, 2820 MS-15, LAUREL, MS 39440, (601) 651-4719) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

20180610UNKNOWN OR OTHER

MY DASH BOARD CRACKED IN TWO PLACES AND IT HAPPEN AROUND A YEAR AGO BUT JUST LEARNED THAT IT MIGHT BE A MANUFACTURED DEFECT. IT STARTED FROM ONE DAY TO ANOTHER

Mileage: 97,000

20180422UNKNOWN OR OTHER

2011 GMC YUKON DENALI HAS 2 CRACKS ON THE DASHBOARD POSING A SAFETY CONCERN. ONE CRACK IS AT THE CORNER OF THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG AND THE OTHER IN FRONT OF THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS IS AN OBVIOUS DEFECT THAT HAS YET TO BE ADDRESSED BY THE NHTSA OR GMC. THE CONCERN IS AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT AND PIECES OF THE CRACKED DASH BECOMING PROJECTILES. I NOTICED THIS WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION IN DECEMBER OF 2017

Mileage: 105,000

20180327UNKNOWN OR OTHER

THE DASH HAS CRACKED IN TWO PLACES. ONE CRACK IS ABOVE DRIVE CONSOLE AND THE OTHER CRACK IS ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE PASSENGER AIRBAG. THERE IS A SAFETY CONCERN OVER THE PASSENGER AIRBAG. IN ADDITION, THE CRACKED DASHBOARD MAKES TERRIBLE NOISES. THIS CAR ONLY HAS 64,000 MILES AND HAS BEEN STORED MOST OF THE TIME IN THE GARAGE. THERE WAS NO INCIDENT THAT CAUSED THE CRACKS, THEY JUST APPEARED ONE DAY MID JANUARY 2018.

Mileage: 62,000

20180305UNKNOWN OR OTHER

DASHBOARD CRACK

Mileage: 83,000

20180212UNKNOWN OR OTHER

WE PURCHASED OUR VEHICLE SEPTEMBER 2017 AND DIDN'T NOTICE THE CRACKS UNTIL AFTER WE PURCHASED. THIS IS VERY CONCERNING TO ME SEEING THE POTENTIAL RECALL OF THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAGS AND AN OBVIOUS DEFECT HAVING TO DO WITH THE CRACKS FOUND ON MY DASH. ONE CRACK IS OVER THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WHERE MY 14 YEAR OLD SON USUALLY RIDES AND THE OTHER OVER THE STEERING WHEEL. DOES IT REALLY TAKE SOMEONE BEING SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED BEFORE SOMETHING IS DONE?

20180203UNKNOWN OR OTHER

LARGE CRACK ACROSS DASHBOARD IN FRONT OF DRIVER. DEALER WILL NOT FIX AND NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. CLEARLY A DESIGN DEFECT. DEALER WANTS $1,800 TO REPAIR.

20180117UNKNOWN OR OTHER

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 GMC YUKON DENALI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD IN THE VEHICLE HAD SUDDENLY CRACKED. ONE CRACK WAS ON THE CORNER OF THE PASSENGER AIR BAG AND THE OTHER WAS LOCATED ABOVE THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CRACKS MAY INTERFERE WITH THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. THERE WERE NO WARNINGS PRIOR TO THE CRACKS APPEARING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 87,000.

Mileage: 87,000

20180117STRUCTURE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 GMC YUKON DENALI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD IN THE VEHICLE HAD SUDDENLY CRACKED. ONE CRACK WAS ON THE CORNER OF THE PASSENGER AIR BAG AND THE OTHER WAS LOCATED ABOVE THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CRACKS MAY INTERFERE WITH THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. THERE WERE NO WARNINGS PRIOR TO THE CRACKS APPEARING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 87,000.

Mileage: 87,000

Compare 2011GMCYUKON DENALI to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2011 GMC YUKON DENALI have?
The 2011 GMC YUKON DENALI has 117 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 2 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2011 GMC YUKON DENALI?
The most-complained component for the 2011 GMC YUKON DENALI is UNKNOWN OR OTHER with 60 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include AIR BAGS and STRUCTURE:BODY.
Is the 2011 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.