GMC YUKON DENALI XL · model year

2008 GMC YUKON DENALI XL

57 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2008GMCYUKON DENALI XL carries 57 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 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 2008 YUKON DENALI XL is air bags with 17 filings, followed by unknown or other (8) and structure:body (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 2008 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.

57
Complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

57 filings

Crashes Reported

1 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
AIR BAGS17
UNKNOWN OR OTHER8
STRUCTURE:BODY5
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM4
ENGINE4
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES3
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)3
POWER TRAIN2
WHEELS2
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING1
STRUCTURE1
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM1
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL1
TIRES1

Recent Complaints

20190525AIR BAGS

TAKATA RECALL LOCAL DEALER CONTINUES TO REFUSE TO REPLACE DEFECTIVE AIRBAG INVOLVED IN GM RECALL 49151 ISSUED IN A JULY 2016! THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN LOUISIANA AND HAS SPENT MUCH OF ITS LIFE THERE - LOUISIANA IS CONSIDERED A CRITICAL, FIRST PRIORITY AREA UNDER YOU RECALL. I NOW UNDERSTAND THAT GM HAS SUBMITTED A THIRD REQUEST FOR WAIVER - PLEASE DENY AND REQUIRE GM TO FOLLOW YOUR ORDER.

20181031AIR BAGS

TAKATA RECALL. WHEN WILL THIS MANUFACTURER RECALL NUMBER 2049152, NHTSA RECALL NUMBER 16V383 BE RESOLVED? INFORMATION BETWEEN GM AND NHTSA HAS BEEN EXCHANGED MULTIPLE TIMES AND THERE HAS BEEN NO RESOLUTION EVEN THOUGH THE DATES FOR INFORMATION EXCHANGE AND PETITIONS IS LONG PAST.

Mileage: 30,000

20180414UNKNOWN OR OTHER

CRACKED DASHBOARD

20180411UNKNOWN OR OTHER

DASHBOARD CRACKED IN TWO PLACES.

20180409STRUCTURE:BODY

THE DASH ABOVE THE GAUGE CLUSTER HAS A HUGE CRACK AND THERE IS ALSO ANOTHER CRACK BY THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. I NOTICED IT WHEN I STARTED THE VEHICLE AFTER IT HAD BEEN PARKED ALL NIGHT IN MY DRIVEWAY. THERE IS NO OTHER DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE.

Mileage: 160,000

20180227AIR BAGS

HAVE A RECALL ON THE PASSENGER TAKATA AIRBAG FOR OVER A YEAR. DEALERSHIP INDICATES THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE THE PART AND WILL NOT HAVE A REPLACEMENT PART. GM IS STATING IT'S SAFE TO DRIVE, EVEN THOUGH 20 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED RELATED TO THE TAKATA AIRBAG SYSTEM. MANUFACTURERS SHOULD HAVE AN OBLIGATION ON KEEPING THEIR CUSTOMERS SAFE. ALSO NO RESPONSE FROM GM ON THE DEPRECIATION OF THE VEHICLES VALUE DUE TO THIS DANGEROUS DEFECT.

20171103AIR BAGS

TAKATA RECALL I HAVE CONTACTED AND CALLED EVERY DEALERSHIP ABOUT THIS AIRBAG RECALL AND THEY ALL TELL ME THE SAME THING THAT IT IS AT THE MERCY OF GENERAL MOTORS AND THEY CAN NOT DO ANY WORK UNTIL GM GIVE THE GREEN LIGHT. I HAVE TRIED TO CONTACT BOTH GM AND TK HOLDINGS BY PHONE BUT TO MY SURPRISE NO ANSWER SO I EMAILED THEM BOTH AS WELL. I READ THAT THERE IS A DEADLINE OF DECEMBER 27TH 2017 AND I DO NOT WANT THE RUN AROUND. THANK YOU

20171031AIR BAGS

I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS A SAFETY RECALL FOR THE AIR BAG ON MY 2008 GMC YUKON XL DENALI. TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, I CONTACTED THE LOCAL GMC DEALER, KEY BUICK GMC, AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE RECALL WAS SET-UP IN JULY, 2016, HOWEVER, THERE IS NO REMEDY AVAILABLE SO FAR. BASED ON MY UNDERSTANDING THE AIR BAG IN THE VEHICLE CAN EXPLODE. I ASSUME THAT GM AND/OR THE MANUFACTURER OF THE AIR BAG SHOULD PLACE THIS MATTER AS THEIR UTMOST PRIORITY TO COME-UP WITH THE REMEDY BEFORE HUMAN LIVES ARE ADVERSELY EFFECTED. PLEASE ADVISE ME HOW I CAN MAKE MY VEHICLE SAFER.

20171030AIR BAGS

TAKATA RECALL I HAVE BEEN SENT A NOTICE SAYING THAT THERE IS A RECALL AND I WOULD BE CONTACTED AS TO WHEN IT CAN BE FIXED. STILL NOTHING AND NOW I GET THIS NOTICE OF CHAPTER 11 BANKRUPTCY. I AM NOT SURE AT THIS POINT WHAT ACTION TO TAKE. IS MY VEHICLE SAFE TO DRIVE? WHEN WILL I GET THE RECALL NOTICE FROM GMC THAT I CAN HAVE IT FIXED.

20171025AIR BAGS

"TAKATA RECALL". BEEN TRYING TO GET AIR BAGS REPLACED BUT DEALERSHIPS KEEP SAYING THEY CANT GET THEM IN

20170806ENGINE

ENGINE FAILURE AT 64,000 MILES. DROVE VEHICLE FROM HOME AND THEN VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY BEGAN SHAKING VIOLENTLY. TRUCK DRIVING FINE UP UNTIL THAT POINT. NO WARNING SIGNS. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BEFOREHAND. VEHICLE NOW AT GMC DEALERSHIP AND NEEDS NEW ENGINE FOR UP TO $10,000. GMC IS NOT COVERING THE EXPENSE. GAVE $2,000 TOWARDS THE REPAIR. VEHICLE PAST WARRANTY PERIOD. ENGINE SHOULD LAST LONGER THAN 64,000 MILES. REGULARLY MAINTAINED.

Mileage: 64,000

20170729AIR BAGS

MY DASH HAS CRACKED IN TWO SPOTS. ONE BY THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE OTHER BY THE PASSENGER AIRBAG. THERE'S A FACEBOOK WHERE ALMOST 7000 PEOPLE ARE REPORTING THE SAME ISSUE. HTTPS://WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/GROUPS/GMDASHCRACK/

Mileage: 87,000

20170729UNKNOWN OR OTHER

MY DASH HAS CRACKED IN TWO SPOTS. ONE BY THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE OTHER BY THE PASSENGER AIRBAG. THERE'S A FACEBOOK WHERE ALMOST 7000 PEOPLE ARE REPORTING THE SAME ISSUE. HTTPS://WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/GROUPS/GMDASHCRACK/

Mileage: 87,000

20170705STRUCTURE:BODY

THE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE CHROME IS PEELING OFF, AND IT CUT MY WIFE'S HAND TODAY. THERE ARE 3 OF THE 4 DOORS THAT HAVE IT PEELING, AND I AM WORRIED ONE OF MY CHILDREN WILL CUT THERE FINGERS ALSO.

Mileage: 165,000

20170510CrashAIR BAGS

I WAS REAR ENDED AT APPROXIMATELY 8:00 AM THIS MORNING. BOTH MY VEHICLE AND THE TRUCK THAT HIT ME LIKELY SUFFERED DAMAGE THAT WILL RESULT IN THEM BEING TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANIES. I HAVE A MAJOR CONCERN ABOUT MY AIRBAGS NOT DEPLOYING. I HAVE NOT YET READ THE POLICE REPORT, BUT THE DODGE RAM TRUCK THAT HIT ME WHILE I WAS STOPPED AT A LIGHT HIT MY YUKON WITH GREAT FORCE. THIS WAS ON A HIGHWAY (204TH STREET) IN ELKHORN, NE

Mileage: 135,000

20170330UNKNOWN OR OTHER

MY DASH HAS CRACKED ABOUT 5 INCHES ABOVE THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FOR NO APPARENT REASON. A SEARCH REVEALS THIS IS SEEMINGLY A COMMON ISSUE WITH MY YEAR VEHICLE.

Mileage: 85,000

20170327AIR BAGS

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 GMC YUKON DENALI XL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE DASHBOARD WAS SPLIT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS SPLITTING DUE TO THE MALFUNCTION OF THE AIR BAG. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V381000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,043. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

Mileage: 108,043

20170227AIR BAGS

I BOUGHT THIS SUV FROM LEGENDS AUTO SALE. AFTER I BOUGHT IT, I NOTICE THE ENGINE BAY WAS REAL RUSTY LIKE ITS BEEN IN WATER OR DRIVEN OVER LOTS OF WATER. I DIDNT GET A CAR FAX AT TIME OF PURCHASES BUT DID CAR FAX MYSELF , AND IT APPEARED THAT VEHICLE IS FROM NEW ORLEANS. WITH ALL THE DIRT AND GRIM COMING OUT OF VEHICLE ITS DIFFENTLY FROM NEW ORLEANS. SO FAR I REPLACED NEW PADS AND ROTORS, MASTER CYLINDER, BRAKE SWITCH, NEW SPARK PLUGS AND WIRES. THE PROBLEM OCCURRING NOW IS THAT MY TRAC LIGHT AND ABS LIGHT WILL COME ON AFTER HALF HOUR OF DRIVING AND CAR SEIZES UP AND I'M UNABLE TO ACCELERATE. I WOULD HAVE TO SHUT OFF ENGINE AND LET REST FOR HALF HOUR TO AN HOUR BEFORE LIGHTS GOES AWAY AND I'M ABLE TO MOVE AGAIN. I'M NOT SURE BUT IT MIGHT BE DUE TO IT BEING IN THE FLOOD THUS CAUSING CORROSION AND RUSTING IN ALL PARTS OF VEHICLE. I DON'T HAVE DOCUMENTS ON ME AT THIS TIME AS I MISPLACED IT BUT CAN GET IT AGAIN AND UPLOAD IMAGE.

Mileage: 133,221

20170227SERVICE BRAKES

I BOUGHT THIS SUV FROM LEGENDS AUTO SALE. AFTER I BOUGHT IT, I NOTICE THE ENGINE BAY WAS REAL RUSTY LIKE ITS BEEN IN WATER OR DRIVEN OVER LOTS OF WATER. I DIDNT GET A CAR FAX AT TIME OF PURCHASES BUT DID CAR FAX MYSELF , AND IT APPEARED THAT VEHICLE IS FROM NEW ORLEANS. WITH ALL THE DIRT AND GRIM COMING OUT OF VEHICLE ITS DIFFENTLY FROM NEW ORLEANS. SO FAR I REPLACED NEW PADS AND ROTORS, MASTER CYLINDER, BRAKE SWITCH, NEW SPARK PLUGS AND WIRES. THE PROBLEM OCCURRING NOW IS THAT MY TRAC LIGHT AND ABS LIGHT WILL COME ON AFTER HALF HOUR OF DRIVING AND CAR SEIZES UP AND I'M UNABLE TO ACCELERATE. I WOULD HAVE TO SHUT OFF ENGINE AND LET REST FOR HALF HOUR TO AN HOUR BEFORE LIGHTS GOES AWAY AND I'M ABLE TO MOVE AGAIN. I'M NOT SURE BUT IT MIGHT BE DUE TO IT BEING IN THE FLOOD THUS CAUSING CORROSION AND RUSTING IN ALL PARTS OF VEHICLE. I DON'T HAVE DOCUMENTS ON ME AT THIS TIME AS I MISPLACED IT BUT CAN GET IT AGAIN AND UPLOAD IMAGE.

Mileage: 133,221

20170227ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

I BOUGHT THIS SUV FROM LEGENDS AUTO SALE. AFTER I BOUGHT IT, I NOTICE THE ENGINE BAY WAS REAL RUSTY LIKE ITS BEEN IN WATER OR DRIVEN OVER LOTS OF WATER. I DIDNT GET A CAR FAX AT TIME OF PURCHASES BUT DID CAR FAX MYSELF , AND IT APPEARED THAT VEHICLE IS FROM NEW ORLEANS. WITH ALL THE DIRT AND GRIM COMING OUT OF VEHICLE ITS DIFFENTLY FROM NEW ORLEANS. SO FAR I REPLACED NEW PADS AND ROTORS, MASTER CYLINDER, BRAKE SWITCH, NEW SPARK PLUGS AND WIRES. THE PROBLEM OCCURRING NOW IS THAT MY TRAC LIGHT AND ABS LIGHT WILL COME ON AFTER HALF HOUR OF DRIVING AND CAR SEIZES UP AND I'M UNABLE TO ACCELERATE. I WOULD HAVE TO SHUT OFF ENGINE AND LET REST FOR HALF HOUR TO AN HOUR BEFORE LIGHTS GOES AWAY AND I'M ABLE TO MOVE AGAIN. I'M NOT SURE BUT IT MIGHT BE DUE TO IT BEING IN THE FLOOD THUS CAUSING CORROSION AND RUSTING IN ALL PARTS OF VEHICLE. I DON'T HAVE DOCUMENTS ON ME AT THIS TIME AS I MISPLACED IT BUT CAN GET IT AGAIN AND UPLOAD IMAGE.

Mileage: 133,221

Compare 2008GMCYUKON DENALI XL to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2008 GMC YUKON DENALI XL have?
The 2008 GMC YUKON DENALI XL has 57 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2008 GMC YUKON DENALI XL?
The most-complained component for the 2008 GMC YUKON DENALI XL is AIR BAGS with 17 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include UNKNOWN OR OTHER and STRUCTURE:BODY.
Is the 2008 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.