Total Complaints
42 filings
GMC YUKON XL DENALI · model year
42 NHTSA complaints, 4 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2003GMCYUKON XL DENALI carries 42 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 4 crashes, 2 fires, 4 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 XL DENALI is electrical system: instrument cluster/panel with 9 filings, followed by electronic stability control (esc) (4) and tires (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 2003 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.
Total Complaints
42 filings
Crashes Reported
4 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL | 9 |
| ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) | 4 |
| TIRES | 2 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 2 |
| ENGINE | 2 |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 2 |
| VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 1 |
| AIR BAGS | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION:COLUMN SHIFT ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| SUSPENSION | 1 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING | 1 |
ABOUT A MONTH A AGO MY 2003 YUKON XL ALL OF A SUDDEN WOULD NOT DRIVE OVER15 MILES AN HR IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE SHOP TO HAVE DIAGNOSTICS RAN. I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE BATTERY. THE TRUCK RAN FOR ABOUT A MONTH THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE BATTERY WAS BACK DEAD. RETURNED THE TRUCK BACK TO THE SHOP ANOTHER BATTERY WAS PUT IN. IT'S BEEN ABOUT ANOTHER MONTH. THIS TIME I WAS DRIVING FROM MIAMI TO JACKSONVILLE AND THE TRUCK LOST POWER 100 MILES OUTSIDE JACKSONVILLE ON I-95 NORTH. IT HAD ALL POWER JUST WOULD NOT CRANK. HAD IT TOWED TO THE SHOP NOW I'M BEING TO THERE'S A PROBLEM WITH ELECTRICAL.
Mileage: 173,000
ABOUT A MONTH A AGO MY 2003 YUKON XL ALL OF A SUDDEN WOULD NOT DRIVE OVER15 MILES AN HR IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE SHOP TO HAVE DIAGNOSTICS RAN. I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE BATTERY. THE TRUCK RAN FOR ABOUT A MONTH THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE BATTERY WAS BACK DEAD. RETURNED THE TRUCK BACK TO THE SHOP ANOTHER BATTERY WAS PUT IN. IT'S BEEN ABOUT ANOTHER MONTH. THIS TIME I WAS DRIVING FROM MIAMI TO JACKSONVILLE AND THE TRUCK LOST POWER 100 MILES OUTSIDE JACKSONVILLE ON I-95 NORTH. IT HAD ALL POWER JUST WOULD NOT CRANK. HAD IT TOWED TO THE SHOP NOW I'M BEING TO THERE'S A PROBLEM WITH ELECTRICAL.
Mileage: 173,000
ABOUT A MONTH A AGO MY 2003 YUKON XL ALL OF A SUDDEN WOULD NOT DRIVE OVER15 MILES AN HR IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE SHOP TO HAVE DIAGNOSTICS RAN. I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE BATTERY. THE TRUCK RAN FOR ABOUT A MONTH THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE BATTERY WAS BACK DEAD. RETURNED THE TRUCK BACK TO THE SHOP ANOTHER BATTERY WAS PUT IN. IT'S BEEN ABOUT ANOTHER MONTH. THIS TIME I WAS DRIVING FROM MIAMI TO JACKSONVILLE AND THE TRUCK LOST POWER 100 MILES OUTSIDE JACKSONVILLE ON I-95 NORTH. IT HAD ALL POWER JUST WOULD NOT CRANK. HAD IT TOWED TO THE SHOP NOW I'M BEING TO THERE'S A PROBLEM WITH ELECTRICAL.
Mileage: 173,000
DRIVING HOME WHEN I PUSH THE BRAKES, THE BRAKES DIDN'T WORK, BRAKE SERVICE WARNING CAME ON UPON CHECKING ALL THE BRAKE LINES ARE RUSTED AND WHEN IT PRESS THE BRAKES IT APPEARS THE PRESSURE PUNCTURE A LINE. *TR
Mileage: 130,000
WE WERE DRIVING UP IN THE MOUNTAINS AND WE LOST POWER BRIEFLY TO THE ENGINE. THE LIGHTS FLICKERED AND THE DASH BOARD WENT OUT. THEN THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER CAME ON AND THE STABILITY/TRACTION CAME ON TOO. THIS HAS HAPPENED WEEKLY FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS. THIS LAST TIME WAS ALARMING SINCE WE WERE COMING DOWN A MOUNTAIN IN A STORM AND COULD HAVE BEEN STRANDED UP THERE WITH NO RUNNING VEHICLE TO KEEP US WARM. THIS NEEDS TO GET A RECALL OR INVESTIGATION GOING ON THESE VEHICLES. IF YOU GOOGLE THIS ISSUE YOU WILL SEE THAT THERE ARE HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE THAT ARE AFFECTED WITH THIS ISSUE. IT WILL KILL PEOPLE IF THEY EXPECT TO HAVE POWER TO GET THROUGH AN INTERSECTION FAST ENOUGH AND THE VEHICLE GIVES OUT ON THEM. *TR
Mileage: 166,081
WE WERE DRIVING UP IN THE MOUNTAINS AND WE LOST POWER BRIEFLY TO THE ENGINE. THE LIGHTS FLICKERED AND THE DASH BOARD WENT OUT. THEN THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER CAME ON AND THE STABILITY/TRACTION CAME ON TOO. THIS HAS HAPPENED WEEKLY FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS. THIS LAST TIME WAS ALARMING SINCE WE WERE COMING DOWN A MOUNTAIN IN A STORM AND COULD HAVE BEEN STRANDED UP THERE WITH NO RUNNING VEHICLE TO KEEP US WARM. THIS NEEDS TO GET A RECALL OR INVESTIGATION GOING ON THESE VEHICLES. IF YOU GOOGLE THIS ISSUE YOU WILL SEE THAT THERE ARE HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE THAT ARE AFFECTED WITH THIS ISSUE. IT WILL KILL PEOPLE IF THEY EXPECT TO HAVE POWER TO GET THROUGH AN INTERSECTION FAST ENOUGH AND THE VEHICLE GIVES OUT ON THEM. *TR
Mileage: 166,081
I WAS TRAVELING ON A TWO LANE COUNTY ROAD LOCATED IN OLDHAM COUNTY KENTUCKY AND UPON APPROACHING A CURVE, I ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKE TO SLOW THE VEHICLE BUT THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND PROVIDED NO BRAKING ACTION (SEVERELY RUSTED BRAKE LINES BURST AND RESULTED IN TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE ). THE CURVE WAS FOLLOWED BY AN INTERSECTION WITH A STOP SIGN IN MY LANE. LUCKILY THERE WERE NO VEHICLES IN FRONT OF ME AND NO OPPOSING TRAFFIC AT THAT MOMENT, WHICH ENABLED ME, THROUGH THE USE OF GEARS AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE, TO GET THE VEHICLE STOPPED JUST BEYOND THE STOP SIGN. IT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT MODERN VEHICLES WERE DESIGNED WITH REDUNDANCY IN THE BRAKING SYSTEM WHICH WOULD PREVENT TOTAL BRAKING FAILURE, BUT APPARENTLY THAT IS NOT TRUE WITH THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE READ SEVERAL ACCOUNTS OF SIMILAR FAILURES WITH THIS FAMILY OF VEHICLES AND I THINK ACTION NEEDS TO BE TAKEN QUICKLY AS THE NEXT VICTIM MAY NOT BE AS FORTUNATE AS ME AND MY 10 YEAR OLD GRANDDAUGHTER WERE THIS PAST WEEK
Mileage: 177,880
DRIVING 65 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CAR LOSES POWER. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS! THE DASH SAYS REDUCED ENGINE POWER. ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. CODES FOR THE PROBLEM P0120, P0171, P0174, P0300, P2135. I GOT EVERYTHING DONE THAT WAS SUGGESTED THE CODES ARE GONE AND IT'S STILL HAPPENING!! NOT SURE WHAT THE GMC DEALERSHIP IS UP TO BUT THEY DON'T HAVE A CLUE TO WHAT'S CAUSING IT OR HOW TO FIX IT! *TR
Mileage: 117,900
DRIVING 65 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CAR LOSES POWER. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS! THE DASH SAYS REDUCED ENGINE POWER. ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. CODES FOR THE PROBLEM P0120, P0171, P0174, P0300, P2135. I GOT EVERYTHING DONE THAT WAS SUGGESTED THE CODES ARE GONE AND IT'S STILL HAPPENING!! NOT SURE WHAT THE GMC DEALERSHIP IS UP TO BUT THEY DON'T HAVE A CLUE TO WHAT'S CAUSING IT OR HOW TO FIX IT! *TR
Mileage: 117,900
DRIVING 65 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CAR LOSES POWER. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS! THE DASH SAYS REDUCED ENGINE POWER. ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. CODES FOR THE PROBLEM P0120, P0171, P0174, P0300, P2135. I GOT EVERYTHING DONE THAT WAS SUGGESTED THE CODES ARE GONE AND IT'S STILL HAPPENING!! NOT SURE WHAT THE GMC DEALERSHIP IS UP TO BUT THEY DON'T HAVE A CLUE TO WHAT'S CAUSING IT OR HOW TO FIX IT! *TR
Mileage: 117,900
REDUCED ENGINE POWER, STABILITY SYSTEM DISABLED
Mileage: 27,000
REDUCED ENGINE POWER, STABILITY SYSTEM DISABLED
Mileage: 27,000
REDUCED ENGINE POWER, STABILITY SYSTEM DISABLED
Mileage: 27,000
FOR THE LAST 2 YEARS I'VE HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE STABILITY CONTROL / REDUCED ENGINE POWER. THE PROBLEM CAN OCCUR ANYTIME WHILE DRIVING OR EVEN AFTER IT HAS BEEN SITTING. I MUST STOP THE VEHICLE AND TURN IT OFF SEVERAL TIMES FOR IT TO RESET BEFORE I CAN CONTINUE. I'VE HAD THE VEHICLE IN THE SHOP FOR REPAIRS AT THE DEALER, THEY CAN'T SEEM TO FIX THE PROBLEM. AFTER SEVERAL VISITS TO REPAIR SHOPS AND SPENDING NEARLY $2000 ON REPAIRS IT STILL HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS NEEDS TO ADDRESSED AS A FAILURE AND DANGEROUS SITUATION BY G.M. THE VEHICLE IS A 2003 GMC YUKON DENALI XL. *LN
Mileage: 140,000
THE RIGHT HINGE OF THE REAR LIFT GLASS ON MY 2003 GMC YUKON FAILED CAUSING A DANGEROUS CONDITION WHEREBY THE REAR GLASS COULD BLOW OUT, OR OTHERWISE FALL OFF THE CAR WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALER TOLD ME THE ENTIRE REAR LIFT GLASS MODULE MUST BE REPLACED. *TR
Mileage: 128,000
BURNING SMELL IN 2003 GMC YUKON DENALI XL. EVENTUALLY FOUND CHILD'S VELOUR CAR SEAT SMOLDERING AT BASE WITH HOLES BURNED THROUGH THE LEATHER HEATED SEAT. CHILD HAD TOUCHED CONTROL WITH FOOT AND TURNED HEATED SEAT ON. WHEN DISCOVERED, THE CAR SEAT AND LEATHER SEATS WERE BEGINNING TO SMOKE.....COULD HAVE BEEN A TRAGEDY. *TR
Mileage: 55,500
2003 GMC YUKON XL DENALI BRAKE LINES RUSTY AND BURST WHILE WIFE WAS DRIVING AND LOST BRAKES. THIS CAUSED A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. ABOUT A YEAR AGO THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED SEVERAL BRAKE LINES DUE TO THE SAME PROBLEM. ALSO THEY REPLACED THE CALIPERS DUE TO RUSTED BLEED VALVES. THEY ARE USING SUBSTANDARD MATERIALS AND MAKING A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR PEOPLE THAT DRIVE GM VEHICLES. *TR
Mileage: 120,394
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, TACHOMETER STOPPED WORKING. TACHOMETER WOULD EITHER SHOW 8,000 RPMS OR ZERO RPMS NO MATTER WHAT SPEED OR PAYLOAD WAS ON VEHICLE. *TR
Mileage: 67,000
SPEEDOMETER FAILURE, SPEED OF VEHICLE UNABLE TO BE DETERMINED WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AND CITY ROADS.. *TR
Mileage: 70,568
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC YUKON DENALI XL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE SPEEDOMETER DISPLAYED ZERO AND THEN INCREASED TO OVER 100 MPH. THE FUEL AND WATER GAUGES INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EMPTY WHEN THE CONTACT FILLS IT UP. THE DEALER ACKNOWLEDGED THE FAILURES AND STATED THAT ONLY VEHICLES WITH 70,000 MILES OR LESS WOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. HE FILED A FORMAL COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 98,000.
Mileage: 98,000
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.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.