GMC YUKON XL DENALI · model year

2002 GMC YUKON XL DENALI

35 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2002GMCYUKON XL DENALI carries 35 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 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 2002 YUKON XL DENALI is service brakes with 9 filings, followed by service brakes, hydraulic (8) and engine and engine cooling:engine (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 2002 YUKON XL 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.

35
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

35 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
SERVICE BRAKES9
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC8
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP2
POWER TRAIN2
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:ABS WARNING LIGHT1
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE1
TIRES1

Recent Complaints

20180712SERVICE BRAKES

I WAS DRIVING ON 58 WEST IN STUART VA WHEN WE CAME AROUND A CURVE AND AN 18 WHEELER WAS BROKEN DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF OUR LANE. TWO VEHICLES WERE STOPPED BEHIND THE TRUCK. I QUICKLY APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. I WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER BETWEEN THE STOPPED TRAFFIC AND THE ONCOMING VEHICLE IN THE OPPOSING LANE TO AVOID A CRASH. A BRAKE LINE HAD BLOWN CAUSING THE BRAKE FAILURE. I HAD ALREADY EXPERIENCED BRAKE FAILURE IN ANOTHER GM MODEL, AND WAS QUESTIONING HOW IT WAS POSSIBLE THAT ONE PERSON COULD HAVE TWO SEPARATE BRAKE LINE FAILURES ON TWO SEPARATE BUT SIMILAR VEHICLES. AS I RESEARCHED IT BECAME CLEAR THAT THIS TYPE OF BRAKE FAILURE WAS COMMON ON THESE TYPES OF VEHICLES. I'VE LIVED IN SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA MY ENTIRE LIFE, AND I HAVE OWNED 30-40 VEHICLES OF ALL MAKES AND MODELS, BUT I HAVE ONLY EXPERIENCED NEAR CATASTROPHIC VEHICLE FAILURE ON TWO OF THOSE VEHICLES, A 2001 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN AND A 2002 GMC YUKON. TO SAY THAT THESE BRAKE LINE FAILURES COULD BE AVOIDED THR

Mileage: 176,000

20140923SERVICE BRAKES

TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 35MPH, APPLIED BRAKES FOR UPCOMING STOP SIGN AND BRAKES FAILED. INSPECTION REVEALED THAT BRAKE LINE BROKE AS THE RESULT OF CORROSION TO LINE AT REAR AXLE. MECHANIC STATES ALL BRAKE LINES DEMONSTRATING UNUSUAL AMOUNT OF RUSING, ALL BRAKE LINES REPLACED. MECHANIC STATES FRAME WILL BE RUSTED THROUGH SOON IF NOT BLASTED AND RUSTPROOFED; ALSO STATES THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON NEARLY ALL GM TRUCKS HE SEES. *TR

Mileage: 89,925

20140923SUSPENSION

TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 35MPH, APPLIED BRAKES FOR UPCOMING STOP SIGN AND BRAKES FAILED. INSPECTION REVEALED THAT BRAKE LINE BROKE AS THE RESULT OF CORROSION TO LINE AT REAR AXLE. MECHANIC STATES ALL BRAKE LINES DEMONSTRATING UNUSUAL AMOUNT OF RUSING, ALL BRAKE LINES REPLACED. MECHANIC STATES FRAME WILL BE RUSTED THROUGH SOON IF NOT BLASTED AND RUSTPROOFED; ALSO STATES THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON NEARLY ALL GM TRUCKS HE SEES. *TR

Mileage: 89,925

20140622SERVICE BRAKES

STEPPED ON BRAKE PEDAL TO SLOW DOWN AND BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THERE WAS ENOUGH ROOM IN ANOTHER LANE TO EVENTUALLY SLOW DOWN WITHOUT A COLLISION. GOT UNDER REAR OF VEHICLE AND LOCATED LEAKING BRAKE FLUID LINE. RIGHT REAR PASSENGER BRAKE LINE. *TR

Mileage: 69,449

20140613SERVICE BRAKES

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 GMC YUKON XL DENALI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHENEVER THE BRAKES WERE ENGAGED, THE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD GRINDING NOISE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS WERE REPLACED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC BUT THE FAILURE REOCCURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING BRAKE FLUID WHICH CAUSED THE BRAKE HUB ASSEMBLY TO MALFUNCTION. AS A RESULT, THE BRAKE HUB ASSEMBLY, THE BRAKE ASSEMBLY AND THE TRANSFER CASE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 165,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 220,000.

Mileage: 165,000

20140213SERVICE BRAKES

THE BRAKE LIGHT CAN ON IN THE DASH, 2-11-14, CALLED THE GMC DEALER, PELLEGINO BUICK/GMC, 815 N BLACK HORSE PIKE, WILLIAMSTOWN, NJ 08094, PHONE 856-629-0101.THEY ADDED BRAKE FLUID AND SAID NO LEAKS. MILEAGE AT DEALER 135074. I DROVE ABOUT 40 MILES, THE BRAKE LIGHT CAME BACK ON, I CALLED DEALER AND DROVE RIGHT BACK TO THEM.. THEY CHECKED AGAIN AND SAID THE BRAKE LINE HAD RUPTURED, IT WAS FULLY COATED WITH RUST. IT IS SO BAD THEY CAN NOT USE A WRENCH TO GET NUTS OFF. BECAUSE OF ALL THE RUST ON THE BRAKE LINES. NEED TO CHANGE THE LINES, CALIPERS, AND ROTORS, TOTAL COST APPROX $1,400.00 WILL ADVISE MORE WHEN YUKON IS RETURNED REPAIRED. *TR

Mileage: 135,054

20131101SERVICE BRAKES

BRAKE LINES SEVERELY RUSTED, BRAKING FLUID LEAKING, NEEDED FULL REPLACEMENT. *TR

20130210SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

WHILE STOPPING FOR THE STOP SIGN DOWN THE BLOCK FROM MY HOUSE THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. I COULD NOT STOP THE TRUCK, I HAD TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE TRUCK. I BROUGHT THE TRUCK BACK HOME AND FOUND OUT THAT THE BRAKE LINE HAD RUSTED THROUGH CAUSING THE BRAKE FLUID TO LEAK OUT.

Mileage: 75,000

20130121SERVICE BRAKES

WHILE UNDER VEHICLE TO REPLACE GAS FILTER IT HAD BECOME EVIDENT TO ME THAT THE BRAKE LINES WHERE THEY ENTER THE ABS UNIT WERE FAIRLY RUSTED. AS I INVESTIGATED FURTHER TO AREAS NOT EASILY VISIBLE I HAD DISCOVERED THAT ALL THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE LINES ARE EXTREMELY RUSTED AND IMMINENT FAILURE IS EVIDENT. IN MENTIONING THIS TO A FRIEND HE SUGGEST I CHECK ON LINE AS HE HAD HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM. I WAS ABSOLUTELY TAKEN ABACK TO SEE HOW COMMON THIS FAILURE IS ON THESE VEHICLES AND THAT GMC IS AWARE OF IT, YET THEY HAVE NEVER APPRISED ME OF THIS "POSSIBLE CONDITION"' AND THAT I SHOULD TAKE NECESSARY ACTION TO PREVENT FAILURE WHICH COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH ! I HAVE BEEN A MECHANIC FOR MANY YEARS AND HAD WORKED FOR GM SOME YEARS BACK. I HAVE NEVER OBSERVED SUCH DETERIORATION IN A VEHICLE OF THIS AGE. THIS VEHICLE IS EXTREMELY WELL MAINTAINED IN BOTH PERIODIC AND PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE. I DO NOT LIVE BY THE WATER, WE LIVE IN A MODERATE CLIMATE AND VEHICLE IS NOT SUBJECT TO ANYTHIN

Mileage: 146,247

20120822SERVICE BRAKES

BROKEN/LEAKING BRAKE LINES DUE TO SEVERE UNDERBODY CORROSION: FRAME,BRAKE AND GAS LINES, FRONT SUSPENSION, SPARE TIRE ASSEMBLY, NUTS, BOLTS, EXHAUST PIPES, ETC. ALONG WITH THIS I REPLACED TWO TRANSMISSIONS, ONCE DUE TO RADIATOR FAILURE, FUEL PUMP FAILURE, BRAKE CALIPER FAILURE, A FEW SETS OF REAR PARKING BRAKE SHOES BECAUSE THE ADJUSTMENTS DONT WORK PROPERLY, THREE WINDOW REGULATORS AND ALL WITHIN 163,630 MILES. YEA I'M PIS@#$ OFF. *TR

Mileage: 163,500

20120822STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS

BROKEN/LEAKING BRAKE LINES DUE TO SEVERE UNDERBODY CORROSION: FRAME,BRAKE AND GAS LINES, FRONT SUSPENSION, SPARE TIRE ASSEMBLY, NUTS, BOLTS, EXHAUST PIPES, ETC. ALONG WITH THIS I REPLACED TWO TRANSMISSIONS, ONCE DUE TO RADIATOR FAILURE, FUEL PUMP FAILURE, BRAKE CALIPER FAILURE, A FEW SETS OF REAR PARKING BRAKE SHOES BECAUSE THE ADJUSTMENTS DONT WORK PROPERLY, THREE WINDOW REGULATORS AND ALL WITHIN 163,630 MILES. YEA I'M PIS@#$ OFF. *TR

Mileage: 163,500

20120822POWER TRAIN

BROKEN/LEAKING BRAKE LINES DUE TO SEVERE UNDERBODY CORROSION: FRAME,BRAKE AND GAS LINES, FRONT SUSPENSION, SPARE TIRE ASSEMBLY, NUTS, BOLTS, EXHAUST PIPES, ETC. ALONG WITH THIS I REPLACED TWO TRANSMISSIONS, ONCE DUE TO RADIATOR FAILURE, FUEL PUMP FAILURE, BRAKE CALIPER FAILURE, A FEW SETS OF REAR PARKING BRAKE SHOES BECAUSE THE ADJUSTMENTS DONT WORK PROPERLY, THREE WINDOW REGULATORS AND ALL WITHIN 163,630 MILES. YEA I'M PIS@#$ OFF. *TR

Mileage: 163,500

20120822ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

BROKEN/LEAKING BRAKE LINES DUE TO SEVERE UNDERBODY CORROSION: FRAME,BRAKE AND GAS LINES, FRONT SUSPENSION, SPARE TIRE ASSEMBLY, NUTS, BOLTS, EXHAUST PIPES, ETC. ALONG WITH THIS I REPLACED TWO TRANSMISSIONS, ONCE DUE TO RADIATOR FAILURE, FUEL PUMP FAILURE, BRAKE CALIPER FAILURE, A FEW SETS OF REAR PARKING BRAKE SHOES BECAUSE THE ADJUSTMENTS DONT WORK PROPERLY, THREE WINDOW REGULATORS AND ALL WITHIN 163,630 MILES. YEA I'M PIS@#$ OFF. *TR

Mileage: 163,500

20120822FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

BROKEN/LEAKING BRAKE LINES DUE TO SEVERE UNDERBODY CORROSION: FRAME,BRAKE AND GAS LINES, FRONT SUSPENSION, SPARE TIRE ASSEMBLY, NUTS, BOLTS, EXHAUST PIPES, ETC. ALONG WITH THIS I REPLACED TWO TRANSMISSIONS, ONCE DUE TO RADIATOR FAILURE, FUEL PUMP FAILURE, BRAKE CALIPER FAILURE, A FEW SETS OF REAR PARKING BRAKE SHOES BECAUSE THE ADJUSTMENTS DONT WORK PROPERLY, THREE WINDOW REGULATORS AND ALL WITHIN 163,630 MILES. YEA I'M PIS@#$ OFF. *TR

Mileage: 163,500

20120822TIRES

BROKEN/LEAKING BRAKE LINES DUE TO SEVERE UNDERBODY CORROSION: FRAME,BRAKE AND GAS LINES, FRONT SUSPENSION, SPARE TIRE ASSEMBLY, NUTS, BOLTS, EXHAUST PIPES, ETC. ALONG WITH THIS I REPLACED TWO TRANSMISSIONS, ONCE DUE TO RADIATOR FAILURE, FUEL PUMP FAILURE, BRAKE CALIPER FAILURE, A FEW SETS OF REAR PARKING BRAKE SHOES BECAUSE THE ADJUSTMENTS DONT WORK PROPERLY, THREE WINDOW REGULATORS AND ALL WITHIN 163,630 MILES. YEA I'M PIS@#$ OFF. *TR

Mileage: 163,500

20120822VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

BROKEN/LEAKING BRAKE LINES DUE TO SEVERE UNDERBODY CORROSION: FRAME,BRAKE AND GAS LINES, FRONT SUSPENSION, SPARE TIRE ASSEMBLY, NUTS, BOLTS, EXHAUST PIPES, ETC. ALONG WITH THIS I REPLACED TWO TRANSMISSIONS, ONCE DUE TO RADIATOR FAILURE, FUEL PUMP FAILURE, BRAKE CALIPER FAILURE, A FEW SETS OF REAR PARKING BRAKE SHOES BECAUSE THE ADJUSTMENTS DONT WORK PROPERLY, THREE WINDOW REGULATORS AND ALL WITHIN 163,630 MILES. YEA I'M PIS@#$ OFF. *TR

Mileage: 163,500

20120806SERVICE BRAKES

2002 DENALI XL 100.000 MI SUDDEN BRAKE FAILURE PEDAL TO FLOOR NO WARNINGS OF ANY KIND. NEW BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS INSTALLED 8 MONTHS AGO UPON FURTHER INSPECTION AFTER STOPPING VEHICLE ALL HARD BRAKE LINES WERE RUSTED THROUGH CAUSING LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID. *TR

Mileage: 100,657

20120304SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

REAR BRAKE LINE FAILED WHEN MY WIFE PULLED TRUCK OUT OF DRIVEWAY. ALL BRAKE LINES RUSTED VERY BADLY. *TR

Mileage: 147,000

20111116SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON COMING DOWN TO FLORIDA. CHECK FLUID AND IT WAS WAY DOWN. TOOK TO MECH. AND DISCOVERED SOME OF THE BRAKE LINES WERE RUSTED. ONE WORST THAN THE OTHER. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND SHOULD BE RECALLED AT NO COST TO THE CUSTOMER. THE NHTSA SHOULD GO AFTER THE MANUFACTURE FOR THIS FEDERALLY REGULATED DEFECT. *TR

Mileage: 173,598

20110902SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

BRAKE LINE FAILURE ON MY 2002 GMC YUKON DENALI. ALL BRAKE LINES RUSTED AND ONE FAILED WITHOUT A CRASH. *TR

Mileage: 93,000

Compare 2002GMCYUKON XL DENALI to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2002 GMC YUKON XL DENALI have?
The 2002 GMC YUKON XL DENALI has 35 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2002 GMC YUKON XL DENALI?
The most-complained component for the 2002 GMC YUKON XL DENALI is SERVICE BRAKES with 9 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC and ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE.
Is the 2002 GMC YUKON XL 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.