2002 GMC Denali Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Denali years
- Far more complaints than other years 2nd of 14 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 1 recall: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 23 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002 GMC Denali. That ranks 2nd out of 14 Denali model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (6 complaints, 26%), typically at around 3,200 miles. Complaints mention 3 crashes, 1 fire, 3 injuries. There is 1 safety recall covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.
- 23owner complaints
- 1safety recalls
- 1NHTSA investigations
- 3complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2002 GMC Denali problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 6 | 26% | 3,200 | — | — |
| Power Train | 5 | 22% | 72,015 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 3 | 13% | 33,922 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 2 | 9% | 25,000 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 2 | 9% | — | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 2 | 9% | — | — | — |
| Steering | 2 | 9% | 45,000 | — | — |
| Suspension | 2 | 9% | 77,600 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | 4% | 39,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Air | 1 | 4% | — | — | — |
| Structure | 1 | 4% | — | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 1 | 4% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2002 GMC Denali recalls (1)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Seats:front assembly:head restraint
Problem: On certain sport utility vehicles equipped with rearward folding head restraints on the second row seats, two potential pinch points exist on each of the folding head restraints when the restraints are folded rearward as the seatback is folded down.
Risk: If a person were to insert their finger(s) into the pinch point when the head restraint folds, it could trap and pinch the finger(s) causing injury.
Fix: Dealers will install protective covers over the pinch points. Owner notification began november 8, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020, gmc at 1-800-462-8782, or cadillac at 1-800-458-8006.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Parking brake failure (DP05009) — opened Dec 20, 2005, closed May 31, 2006.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
We own a 2002 denali, that we bought used. The transmission went out around nov. 2008 (appr. 120,000 miles) we had the transmission replaced but the transmission went out again shortly thereafter (around 150,000). Through civil litigation, we found out that the transmission had went out previously…
Front running light has been replaced twice and is out again. My mechanic stated he has seen several gmc autos with the same problem. Is there a recall or reason? *tr
Tl*the contact owns a 2002 gmc denali. The contact stated that the vbraked vibrate when attempting to stop and continued to accelerate forward a few feet. The contact stated that the vehicle had an increased stopping distance at low speeds. The mechanic stated that there was a recall # 05v379000…
Dt*: the contact stated while driving 10 mph on a city street, a clunking sound was heard followed by the transmission failing to shift gears upon acceleration. The vehicle was towed to a dealer who determined the automatic transmission gear teeth were fractured and worn. The dealer determined the…
Failure of transmission cooler, which is inside the radiator, caused transmission fluid and anti-freeze to mix and flow through engine and transmission. The transmission was ruined as a result. The repair involved replacing the radiator, all engine hoses, rebuilding the transmission, flushing…
Other GMC Denali years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 Denali | 18 | 0 |
| 2014 Denali | 5 | 0 |
| 2013 Denali | 5 | 0 |
| 2012 Denali | 6 | 0 |
| 2011 Denali | 11 | 0 |
| 2010 Denali | 5 | 0 |
| 2009 Denali | 2 | 0 |
| 2008 Denali | 4 | 0 |
| 2007 Denali | 3 | 0 |
| 2003 Denali | 32 | 0 |
| 2002 | 23 | 1 |
| 2001 Denali | 22 | 1 |
| 2000 Denali | 21 | 1 |
| 1999 Denali | 14 | 1 |
See all GMC Denali problems by year, every GMC model, or the GMC VIN decoder.
Similar GMC models
Embed this 2002 GMC Denali badge on your site
Copy this code into your blog or forum post. It shows live complaint and recall counts and links back here.
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2002 GMC Denali?
Owners most often report engine and engine cooling, power train, service brakes, hydraulic problems. The top one, engine and engine cooling, accounts for 6 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2002 GMC Denali?
Yes, 1 safety recall. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2002 GMC Denali a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Denali model years, the 2002 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.