GMC YUKON DENALI XL · model year

2003 GMC YUKON DENALI XL

52 NHTSA complaints, 8 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2003GMCYUKON DENALI XL carries 52 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 8 crashes, 0 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 2003 YUKON DENALI XL is service brakes with 11 filings, followed by electronic stability control (esc) (8) and electrical system (5). 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 YUKON DENALI XL. 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.

52
Complaints
8
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

52 filings

Crashes Reported

8 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
SERVICE BRAKES11
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)8
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM5
ENGINE5
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING4
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC4
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL4
STEERING3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL2
UNKNOWN OR OTHER2
POWER TRAIN2
PARKING BRAKE1
TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM1

Recent Complaints

20180125ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

THE CLUSTER FROM ALL THE DASHBOARD HAS STOP WORKING THE SPEEDOMETER THE GAUGES EVERYTHING

20180125ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE CLUSTER FROM ALL THE DASHBOARD HAS STOP WORKING THE SPEEDOMETER THE GAUGES EVERYTHING

20180125UNKNOWN OR OTHER

THE CLUSTER FROM ALL THE DASHBOARD HAS STOP WORKING THE SPEEDOMETER THE GAUGES EVERYTHING

20170930SERVICE BRAKES

THERE IS NO WARNING CODE FOR THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE BOOSTER WHEN IT STARTS TO GO BAD THAT SHOWS UP ON THE ABS/ODB SCANNER. YOU WILL BE DRIVING AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN YOUR STEERING GETS STIFF, THE BRAKE PEDAL IS HARD TO PRESS AND YOU CAN'T STOP AS GOOD AS YOUR USED TO IN THE VEHICLE. THIS ISSUE CAN CAUSE ACCIDENTS IF SOMEONE STOPS SUDDENLY IN FRONT OF YOU.

Mileage: 260,545

20170930ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

THERE IS NO WARNING CODE FOR THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE BOOSTER WHEN IT STARTS TO GO BAD THAT SHOWS UP ON THE ABS/ODB SCANNER. YOU WILL BE DRIVING AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN YOUR STEERING GETS STIFF, THE BRAKE PEDAL IS HARD TO PRESS AND YOU CAN'T STOP AS GOOD AS YOUR USED TO IN THE VEHICLE. THIS ISSUE CAN CAUSE ACCIDENTS IF SOMEONE STOPS SUDDENLY IN FRONT OF YOU.

Mileage: 260,545

20160726SERVICE BRAKES

THE STABILITY CONTROL WARNING HAS COME ON SEVERAL TIMES ON MY VEHICLE. THE BRAKES DO NOT WORK, AS YOU HAVE TO PUSH ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND SOMETIMES IT TAKES TIME BEFORE THE VEHICLE STOPS. I HAVE HAD BRAKE LINES REPAIRS AND THE PROBLEM STILL IS THERE. WE CANNOT USE VEHICLE UNTIL THE ISSUE IS RESOLVED. OUR MECHANIC ADVISED US TO FILE A COMPLAINT ON THIS ISSUE BECAUSE IT IS AN ACTIVE ISSUE WITH GMC DENALI YUKON'S FOR YEARS. WE NEED ASSISTANCE TO HAVE THIS RESOLVED TO USE OUR VEHICLE.

Mileage: 90,000

20160726ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

THE STABILITY CONTROL WARNING HAS COME ON SEVERAL TIMES ON MY VEHICLE. THE BRAKES DO NOT WORK, AS YOU HAVE TO PUSH ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND SOMETIMES IT TAKES TIME BEFORE THE VEHICLE STOPS. I HAVE HAD BRAKE LINES REPAIRS AND THE PROBLEM STILL IS THERE. WE CANNOT USE VEHICLE UNTIL THE ISSUE IS RESOLVED. OUR MECHANIC ADVISED US TO FILE A COMPLAINT ON THIS ISSUE BECAUSE IT IS AN ACTIVE ISSUE WITH GMC DENALI YUKON'S FOR YEARS. WE NEED ASSISTANCE TO HAVE THIS RESOLVED TO USE OUR VEHICLE.

Mileage: 90,000

20151012SERVICE BRAKES

I LET MY FREIND TAKE VEHICLE AND SHE SAID WHEN SHE BRAKED THE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR.SHE WAS HALF MILE AWAY AND MADE IT BACK .I LOOKED AT LEVEL IN MASTER CYLINDER AND HAD TO PUT FLUID IN.NOTICED BRAKE FLUID ON THE UNDERCARRIGE WHICH LED ME TO RUSTED BRAKE LINE UP FRONT.

Mileage: 89,875

20150815SERVICE BRAKES

I WAS DRIVING WITH MY 14MONTH OLD BABY IN THE CAR AND ALL OF A SUDDEN I HAD NO BRAKES AT ALL. MY PARKING BRAKE COULDN'T STOP ME EITHER SO I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND THEN FORCED IT INTO PARK SO I DIDN'T CRASH. THE BRAKE LINES ARE COMPLETELY CORRODED AND I DIDN'T HAVE ANY NOTICE OR IDEA UNTIL THE BRAKES WERE ALREADY GONE.

Mileage: 136,500

20150723ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

JUST BOUGHT CAR ELECTRICAL HAS BEEN ACTING UP FOR A WHILE NOW (30 DAYS) AND NOW DASH HAS GONE OUT SUNROOF WONT OPEN PR CLOSE AND DRIVER SIDE PASSENGER WINDOW DOESNT WORK AUTO STORE WONT FIX OR TAKE BACK CAR

Mileage: 217,000

20150723ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

JUST BOUGHT CAR ELECTRICAL HAS BEEN ACTING UP FOR A WHILE NOW (30 DAYS) AND NOW DASH HAS GONE OUT SUNROOF WONT OPEN PR CLOSE AND DRIVER SIDE PASSENGER WINDOW DOESNT WORK AUTO STORE WONT FIX OR TAKE BACK CAR

Mileage: 217,000

20150325SERVICE BRAKES

A DOG RAN OUT IN FRONT OF ME I APPLIED MY BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR HAD IT CHECKED AT BALE CHEVROLET IN LITTLE ROCK ARK. WANTED TO CHARGE ME 6800.00 TO REPAIR HAD IT TOWED BACK TO IL. WHERE I LIVE THAT COST WAS 500.00 BESIDES 200 MILES THAT WAS COVERED BY AAA I,M A 62 YR OLD WOMAN HAD MY GRANDCHILDREN WITH ME IN LITTLE ROCK ARK THIS EXPERIENCE WAS THE SCARIEST TIME IN MY LIFETIME NO WARNING JUST ALL OF A SUDDEN NO BRAKES IN THE WORST TRAFFIC EVER. THE MONEY SPENT ON THIS TRIP WAS VERY EXPENSIVE NOT TO MENTION THE STRESS. *TR

Mileage: 163,975

20150205ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

VEHICLE WENT INTO REDUCED ENGINE POWER AND STABILTRAK WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. REDUCED SPEED FROM 60 TO 10MPH. NOW OCCURS ON A REGULAR BASIS. *TR

Mileage: 200,000

20150205ENGINE

VEHICLE WENT INTO REDUCED ENGINE POWER AND STABILTRAK WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. REDUCED SPEED FROM 60 TO 10MPH. NOW OCCURS ON A REGULAR BASIS. *TR

Mileage: 200,000

20150205ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

VEHICLE WENT INTO REDUCED ENGINE POWER AND STABILTRAK WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. REDUCED SPEED FROM 60 TO 10MPH. NOW OCCURS ON A REGULAR BASIS. *TR

Mileage: 200,000

20150122CrashSERVICE BRAKES

BRAKE PIPE BLEW OUT FROM CORROSION... LIGHT FRONT DAMAGE TO GMC AND REAR END DAMAGE TO CAR IN FRONT FROM LACK OF BRAKING POWER. *TR

Mileage: 95,500

20141123CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

VEHICLE POWERS DOWN WITHOUT ANY PATTERN, RHYME OR REASON. IT WILL DO IT AT 5 MPH, AND AT 55 MPH, WHEN DRIVEN A LOT, AND WHEN NOT. REDUCED ENGINE POWER LIGHT TURNS ON, VEHICLE SUDDENLY SLOWS TO 25 MPH MAX, STEERING BECOMES HARD, BRAKES TOO. THEN WILL TOTALLY SHUT OFF IMMEDIATELY. I HAVE REPLACED THE BATTERY, THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY AND WIRING HARNESS TWICE. FUSES, FUEL PUMP AND FILTERS, OIL, AND EVERYTHING ELSE AS RECOMMENDED. IT PUT ME IN THE DITCH. IT STRANDED ME IN THE CENTER OF A FREEWAY IN WINTER. WHEN IT SITS FOR A WHILE, IT RESETS, ONLY TO DO IT AGAIN. T/C LIGHT TURNS ON ALSO. I FOUND OUT THAT I CAN MANUALLY RESET THE REDUCED ENGINE POWER FOR A FEW MOMENTS (TO GET OUT OF THE CENTER OF THE ROAD) BY TURNING THE IGNITION SWITCH ON AND OFF VERY FAST. IT IS A EXTREME SAFETY HAZARD! I HAVEN'T DRIVEN IT IN MONTHS DUE TO ABSOLUTE FEAR FOR MY LIFE. WHEN ITS IN REDUCED ENGINE POWER MODE, I CAN'T GET IT TO GO ABOVE 25, AND GOING UP HILLS CAN'T GO ABOVE 5MPH. IF I AM PULLING A TRAILER, IT STA

Mileage: 145,000

20141123CrashPOWER TRAIN

VEHICLE POWERS DOWN WITHOUT ANY PATTERN, RHYME OR REASON. IT WILL DO IT AT 5 MPH, AND AT 55 MPH, WHEN DRIVEN A LOT, AND WHEN NOT. REDUCED ENGINE POWER LIGHT TURNS ON, VEHICLE SUDDENLY SLOWS TO 25 MPH MAX, STEERING BECOMES HARD, BRAKES TOO. THEN WILL TOTALLY SHUT OFF IMMEDIATELY. I HAVE REPLACED THE BATTERY, THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY AND WIRING HARNESS TWICE. FUSES, FUEL PUMP AND FILTERS, OIL, AND EVERYTHING ELSE AS RECOMMENDED. IT PUT ME IN THE DITCH. IT STRANDED ME IN THE CENTER OF A FREEWAY IN WINTER. WHEN IT SITS FOR A WHILE, IT RESETS, ONLY TO DO IT AGAIN. T/C LIGHT TURNS ON ALSO. I FOUND OUT THAT I CAN MANUALLY RESET THE REDUCED ENGINE POWER FOR A FEW MOMENTS (TO GET OUT OF THE CENTER OF THE ROAD) BY TURNING THE IGNITION SWITCH ON AND OFF VERY FAST. IT IS A EXTREME SAFETY HAZARD! I HAVEN'T DRIVEN IT IN MONTHS DUE TO ABSOLUTE FEAR FOR MY LIFE. WHEN ITS IN REDUCED ENGINE POWER MODE, I CAN'T GET IT TO GO ABOVE 25, AND GOING UP HILLS CAN'T GO ABOVE 5MPH. IF I AM PULLING A TRAILER, IT STA

Mileage: 145,000

20141123CrashENGINE

VEHICLE POWERS DOWN WITHOUT ANY PATTERN, RHYME OR REASON. IT WILL DO IT AT 5 MPH, AND AT 55 MPH, WHEN DRIVEN A LOT, AND WHEN NOT. REDUCED ENGINE POWER LIGHT TURNS ON, VEHICLE SUDDENLY SLOWS TO 25 MPH MAX, STEERING BECOMES HARD, BRAKES TOO. THEN WILL TOTALLY SHUT OFF IMMEDIATELY. I HAVE REPLACED THE BATTERY, THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY AND WIRING HARNESS TWICE. FUSES, FUEL PUMP AND FILTERS, OIL, AND EVERYTHING ELSE AS RECOMMENDED. IT PUT ME IN THE DITCH. IT STRANDED ME IN THE CENTER OF A FREEWAY IN WINTER. WHEN IT SITS FOR A WHILE, IT RESETS, ONLY TO DO IT AGAIN. T/C LIGHT TURNS ON ALSO. I FOUND OUT THAT I CAN MANUALLY RESET THE REDUCED ENGINE POWER FOR A FEW MOMENTS (TO GET OUT OF THE CENTER OF THE ROAD) BY TURNING THE IGNITION SWITCH ON AND OFF VERY FAST. IT IS A EXTREME SAFETY HAZARD! I HAVEN'T DRIVEN IT IN MONTHS DUE TO ABSOLUTE FEAR FOR MY LIFE. WHEN ITS IN REDUCED ENGINE POWER MODE, I CAN'T GET IT TO GO ABOVE 25, AND GOING UP HILLS CAN'T GO ABOVE 5MPH. IF I AM PULLING A TRAILER, IT STA

Mileage: 145,000

20140724SERVICE BRAKES

THE PROBLEM: BRAKES FAILED WHILE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING. AFTER A HARD BRAKE AT A STOPLIGHT AND DRIVING BRIEFLY, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR BARELY STOPPING THE VEHICLE. BRAKES WERE EXTREMELY MUSHY TO NON-EXISTENT AT TIMES. REPAIR WORK: LOCAL GMC SERVICE DEPARTMENT INDICATED THE BRAKE LINE HAD RUSTED OUT AND THEY REPLACED IT FOR CLOSE TO $1,600. PER THE INVOICE REPAIRS INCLUDED: BRAKE SYSTEM REPAIR/LABOR, BRAKE FLUSH KIT, PIPE KIT AND FLUID. (WHEN ASKED ABOUT BRAKE LINE ISSUES LATER, THE DEALERSHIP STATED THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF ANY PROBLEMS REGARDING THEM WITH GMCS.) HOW IT HAPPENED: WHILE DRIVING WITH MY WIFE AND CHILDREN IN THE VEHICLE, I HAD TO BREAK HARD WHEN I CAME AROUND A BEND TO A RED STOPLIGHT. THOUGH THE BRAKES WORKED, THEY FELT LIKE THEY WERE GIVING JUST A LITTLE AFTER I FINALLY CAME TO A STOP. WE PRECEDED ANOTHER 15-MILES WITH NO INCIDENT AND PULLED INTO RESTAURANT DRIVE-THRU. WHILE SITTING IN THE DRIVE-THRU LANE WITH THE VEHICLE IN GEAR AND MY F

Mileage: 104,726

Compare 2003GMCYUKON DENALI XL to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2003 GMC YUKON DENALI XL have?
The 2003 GMC YUKON DENALI XL has 52 NHTSA complaints, 8 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2003 GMC YUKON DENALI XL?
The most-complained component for the 2003 GMC YUKON DENALI XL is SERVICE BRAKES with 11 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) and ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.
Is the 2003 GMC YUKON DENALI XL 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.