GMC Denali Problems by Year
GMC Denali years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Denali year: 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2015. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 2003 Denali: 32 complaints, 0 recalls
- 2002 Denali: 23 complaints, 1 recall
- 2001 Denali: 22 complaints, 1 recall
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 2009 Denali: 2 complaints, 0 recalls
- 2007 Denali: 3 complaints, 0 recalls
- 2008 Denali: 4 complaints, 0 recalls
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common GMC Denali problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 23 | 11 | 5 |
| Electrical System | 21 | 9 | 0 |
| Power Train | 20 | 6 | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 20 | 5 | 3 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 14 | 5 | 0 |
| Steering | 14 | 6 | 2 |
| Exterior Lighting | 11 | 4 | 0 |
| Service Brakes | 8 | 5 | 2 |
| Structure | 7 | 6 | 0 |
| Suspension | 7 | 6 | 0 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 7 | 3 | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 6 | 3 | 0 |
| Tires | 6 | 2 | 0 |
| Engine | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 4 | 3 | 0 |
| Seat Belts | 4 | 3 | 1 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Air | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Parking Brake | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Visibility | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Visibility/wiper | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Equipment | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Seats | 1 | 1 | 0 |
All GMC Denali model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 Denali | 18 | 0 | — | Exterior Lighting | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2014 Denali | 5 | 0 | — | Electrical System | |
| 2013 Denali | 5 | 0 | — | Air Bags | |
| 2012 Denali | 6 | 0 | — | Unknown or Other | |
| 2011 Denali | 11 | 0 | — | Unknown or Other | More complaints than other years |
| 2010 Denali | 5 | 0 | — | Unknown or Other | |
| 2009 Denali | 2 | 0 | — | Air Bags | |
| 2008 Denali | 4 | 0 | — | Air Bags | |
| 2007 Denali | 3 | 0 | — | Air Bags | |
| 2003 Denali | 32 | 0 | — | Electrical System | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2002 Denali | 23 | 1 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2001 Denali | 22 | 1 | — | Power Train | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2000 Denali | 21 | 1 | — | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | Far more complaints than other years |
| 1999 Denali | 14 | 1 | — | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | Far more complaints than other years |
More from GMC: all GMC models · GMC VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which GMC Denali years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 1999 (14), 2000 (21), 2001 (22), 2002 (23), 2003 (32), 2015 (18) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Denali year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the GMC Denali?
Air Bags, with 23 complaints across 11 model years.
How many recalls does the GMC Denali have?
2 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.