GMC YUKON DENALI XL · model year

2009 GMC YUKON DENALI XL

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

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2009GMCYUKON DENALI XL carries 30 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, 3 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 2009 YUKON DENALI XL is unknown or other with 8 filings, followed by air bags (7) and latches/locks/linkages (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 2009 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.

30
Complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
3
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

30 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
UNKNOWN OR OTHER8
AIR BAGS7
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES3
ENGINE3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM3
STRUCTURE:BODY3
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL1
SERVICE BRAKES1
POWER TRAIN1

Recent Complaints

20210929POWER TRAIN

The contact owns a 2009 GMC Yukon Denali XL. The contact stated while depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle experienced delayed acceleration. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local mechanic but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and informed the contact that they were unable to assist. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.

Mileage: 90,000

20180927AIR BAGS

AIRBAG SERVICE LIGHT IS ON, OIL PRESSURE FLUCTUATION OCCURS AND THE VEHICLE PULLS TO THE LEFT WHEN APPLYING BRAKES AFTER NEW BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS WERE INSTALLED.

Mileage: 180,000

20180927SERVICE BRAKES

AIRBAG SERVICE LIGHT IS ON, OIL PRESSURE FLUCTUATION OCCURS AND THE VEHICLE PULLS TO THE LEFT WHEN APPLYING BRAKES AFTER NEW BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS WERE INSTALLED.

Mileage: 180,000

20180927ENGINE

AIRBAG SERVICE LIGHT IS ON, OIL PRESSURE FLUCTUATION OCCURS AND THE VEHICLE PULLS TO THE LEFT WHEN APPLYING BRAKES AFTER NEW BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS WERE INSTALLED.

Mileage: 180,000

20180815UNKNOWN OR OTHER

TAKATA RECALL. MY DENALI HAS FALLEN ILL TO THE WELL DOCUMENTED POORLY ENGINEERED DASH CRACKING, IN MY CASE AROUND PASSENGER AIRBAG OPEN. THIS CREATES AN EMINENT PERSONAL INJURY SAFETY HAZARD TO FRONT SEAT PASSENGER. IF A SITUATION AROSE WHEREAS AIR BAG WAS ACTIVATED, AS AIRBAG COVER EJECTED, THE DASH BECOMES AN INSTANT INSTRUMENT OF CAPABLE OF GREAT BODILY HARM OR EVEN DEATH, AS SHRAPNEL FILLS THE CABIN, FROM DISINTEGRATING DASH PLASTIC FLYING BACK, IN CERTAIN INJURY TO PASSENGER. GM IS WELL AWARE OF THE DEFECT, YET REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE.

Mileage: 103,480

20180212AIR BAGS

IN JAN. 2018 NOTED CRACK IN DASHBOARD ON DRIVERS SIDE. ALSO THERE WAS A SMALL SLIT IN MIDDLE OF DASH. IN ABOUT 2 WKS NOTED SPLITS ON PASSENGER SIDE OF DASH. ? WHEN IT HAPPENED.

Mileage: 74,200

20180212STRUCTURE:BODY

IN JAN. 2018 NOTED CRACK IN DASHBOARD ON DRIVERS SIDE. ALSO THERE WAS A SMALL SLIT IN MIDDLE OF DASH. IN ABOUT 2 WKS NOTED SPLITS ON PASSENGER SIDE OF DASH. ? WHEN IT HAPPENED.

Mileage: 74,200

20180207AIR BAGS

I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE USED. ITS THE SAME PROBLEM SO MANY OTHERS ARE HAVING. MY DASHBOARD IS CRACKED ON BOTH DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS SIDE ALL THE WAY TO THE AIRBAG. WE HAVE EXTREMELY CONCERNED THAT IF THE AIRBAG GOES OFF, THAT WHOEVER IS DRIVING OR A PASSENGER WILL GET HIT WITH PIECES OF PLASTIC FROM THE DASH CAUSING SERIOUS INJURY. I COULD KEEP PASSENGERS OUT OF THE FRONT, BUT THE DRIVER I CANNOT..WE NEED TO HAVE THIS REPAIRED. I WORK AT A HONDA DEALERSHIP AND HAVE BEEN ADVISED THAT THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN.PAX SIDE HAD A SMALL CRACK WHEN PURCHASED BUT IT IS NOW ABOUT 3 INCHES LONG EACH..

Mileage: 10

20171220STRUCTURE:BODY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 GMC YUKON DENALI XL. WHILE STATIONARY, THE DASHBOARD OF THE VEHICLE BECAME CRACKED ACROSS THE AIR BAG SECTION. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED THE CONTACT WITH CASE NUMBER: 8-3684476402. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 54,000.

Mileage: 54,000

20170629ENGINE

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND ALL OF A SUDDEN A MESSAGE ON THE DASHBOARD SAID ''ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED" AND MY ENGINE SHUT OFF, BRAKES WERE HARDLY WORKING AND I COULD HARDLY STEER OR TURN THE WHEELS. MY CAR COPMLETLY LOST CONTROL AND I WAS LUCKY THERE WERE NO CARS BY ME OTHERWISE AN ACCIDENT WOULD HAVE BEEN INEVITABLE. WHEN I WENT TO THE DEALER THEY TOLD ME THEY HAVE NO ANSWER AND THEY SUGGESTED TO REPLACE MY IGNITION SWITCH AND CAMSHAFT SENSOR TO BEGIN WITH. NO GUARANTY THAT IT'LL FIX MY PROBLEM THEY SAID. READING ONLINE FORUMS LOOKS LIKE I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE. PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT OTHERWISE SOONER OR LATER LIFES WILL BE LOST.

Mileage: 230,000

20170629UNKNOWN OR OTHER

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND ALL OF A SUDDEN A MESSAGE ON THE DASHBOARD SAID ''ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED" AND MY ENGINE SHUT OFF, BRAKES WERE HARDLY WORKING AND I COULD HARDLY STEER OR TURN THE WHEELS. MY CAR COPMLETLY LOST CONTROL AND I WAS LUCKY THERE WERE NO CARS BY ME OTHERWISE AN ACCIDENT WOULD HAVE BEEN INEVITABLE. WHEN I WENT TO THE DEALER THEY TOLD ME THEY HAVE NO ANSWER AND THEY SUGGESTED TO REPLACE MY IGNITION SWITCH AND CAMSHAFT SENSOR TO BEGIN WITH. NO GUARANTY THAT IT'LL FIX MY PROBLEM THEY SAID. READING ONLINE FORUMS LOOKS LIKE I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE. PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT OTHERWISE SOONER OR LATER LIFES WILL BE LOST.

Mileage: 230,000

20170612UNKNOWN OR OTHER

DASHBOARD IS CRACKED ON BOTH THE DRIVERS SIDE AND ON THE PASSENGER SIDE TO THE AIRBAG COMPARTMENT. DID NOT HAVE ANY ACCIDENT OR OTHER DAMAGE, IT JUST CRACKED. I AM CONCERNED THAT WERE THE AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY THAT THE DASHBOARD FRAGMENTS WOULD BECOME PROJECTILES.

20170611UNKNOWN OR OTHER

DASHBOARD IS DEFECTIVE AND A SAFETY HAZARD. IF THE PASSENGER AIRBAG DEPLOYS IT COULD SEND PLASTIC SHRAPNEL THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE.

Mileage: 100,000

20170308AIR BAGS

THERE HAS YET TO BE AN OFFER TO REPAIR THE DEFECTIVE AIRBAGS IN OUR FAMILY VEHICLE. OTHER OWNERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE ARE BEING SENT NOTICES TO DISCONTINUE USE BY NOT ALLOWING ANYONE TO SIT IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AND TO GET IT REPAIRED IMMEDIATELY, AND YET THERE IS NO SUCH ACTION FOR OUR FAMILY VEHICLE. WE DEMAND A REPAIR BE MADE AVAILABLE IMMEDIATELY. THE VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE AND WE CAN NOT FIT OUR ENTIRE FAMILY IN IT WITHOUT SOMEONE SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT.

20170128STRUCTURE:BODY

DASHBOARD CRACKED ABOVE INSTRUMENT PANEL. I GOT IN MY TRUCK, STARTED IT UP, AND HEARD THE DASH CRACK.

Mileage: 85,000

20170128UNKNOWN OR OTHER

DASHBOARD CRACKED ABOVE INSTRUMENT PANEL. I GOT IN MY TRUCK, STARTED IT UP, AND HEARD THE DASH CRACK.

Mileage: 85,000

20161005AIR BAGS

TAKATA RECALL...I LOOKED UP MY VEHICLE VIN NUMBER WHEN THE RECALL CAME OUT AND MY CAR WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE FOR ALMOST A YEAR SINCE AND HAVE NOW TAKEN IT TO TRADE IN ON A NEW CAR. THE DEALERSHIP TELLS ME IT IS PART OF THE TAKATA RECALL AND SINCE THE RECALL IS UNREPAIRABLE AND IS A FATAL RECALL THEY WILL SCRAP THE CAR. I AM NOW OUT MONEY DUE TO NO FAULT OF MY OWN ANDHAVEBEEN DRIVING MY 3 CHILDREN AROUND IN A CAR THAT HAD A FATAL RECALL.

20160804UNKNOWN OR OTHER

THERE IS A CRACK ON MY DASHBOARD NEAR IT AIRBAG.

20160801CrashAIR BAGS

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNED A 2009 GMC YUKON DENALI XL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN DRIVING AT 40 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CAME ACROSS THE DRIVERS PATH AND CRASH DIRECTLY HEAD ON INTO THE DRIVERS VEHICLE. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE STEERING WHEEL FRACTURED AND THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. NO POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED WHIP LASH AS WELL AS THE TWO CHILD PASSENGERS BUT MEDICAL TREATMENT WAS NOT RECEIVED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A YARD AND THE INSURANCE COMPANY WAS TO INSPECT THE DAMAGES. THE CONTACT LATER RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V381000 (AIR BAGS). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

20160622AIR BAGS

WHEN I ENTERED MY VEHICLE I NOTICED A CRACK ON MY DASHBOARD LEADING TO THE PASSENGER AIRBAG PANEL. THE CRACK LEADS TO THE TOP LEFT OF THE AIRBAG PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, LOCATED IN MY DRIVEWAY. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN. WILL THIS INTERFERE WITH DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAG? IN THE EVENT OF DEPLOYMENT, WILL THE DASH COME REMOVED AND INJURE A RIDER? WILL THE PLASTIC SHARDS CAUSE BODILY HARM?

Mileage: 99,629

Compare 2009GMCYUKON DENALI XL to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2009 GMC YUKON DENALI XL have?
The 2009 GMC YUKON DENALI XL has 30 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 0 fires, 3 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2009 GMC YUKON DENALI XL?
The most-complained component for the 2009 GMC YUKON DENALI XL is UNKNOWN OR OTHER with 8 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include AIR BAGS and LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES.
Is the 2009 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.