2003 GMC Denali Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Denali years
- Far more complaints than other years 1st of 14 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- None on file
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 32 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 GMC Denali. That is the most of any Denali model year in the database (14 years). The most reported problem area is electrical system (6 complaints, 19%), typically at around 75,000 miles. Complaints mention 3 crashes, 1 injury. There are no safety recalls on file for this model year. NHTSA has opened 2 defect investigations involving it.
- 32owner complaints
- 0safety recalls
- 2NHTSA investigations
- 3complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2003 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 6 | 19% | 75,000 | — | — |
| Steering | 5 | 16% | 120,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 5 | 16% | 75,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 3 | 9% | 50,900 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 3 | 9% | 44,000 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 2 | 6% | 141,500 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 2 | 6% | 32,748 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 2 | 6% | 12,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 2 | 6% | 91,500 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 1 | 3% | 90,000 | — | — |
| Engine | 1 | 3% | 75,000 | — | — |
| Equipment | 1 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Parking Brake | 1 | 3% | 48,000 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 1 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Air | 1 | 3% | 47,500 | — | — |
| Suspension | 1 | 3% | 7,000 | — | — |
| Tires | 1 | 3% | 120,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2003 GMC Denali recalls (0)
No safety recalls are on file for the 2003 GMC Denali.
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.
- Parking brake failure (EA04011) — opened Apr 9, 2004, closed May 10, 2005, led to recall 05V161000.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
I have had the break/steering fluid booster replaced 3 times in a 6 month period. How gmc can call this a "problem" but not a safety issue is beyond me. I have looked it up and thousands have had problems with this along with alike vehicles from the same years. The breaks and steering lock up while…
Tl* the contact owns a 2015 (na) gmc denali. The contact stated that the exterior lighting was dim. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the headlight bulbs failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified…
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 gmc denali equipped with michelin ltx ms20 tires, size: lt245/75r16. The contact stated that all four tires cracked on the sidewall. The contact also stated that all the tires had tread separation and loss of air pressure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The…
On june 4, 2014, driving on a clear, dry and sunny day in my 2003 gmc sierra denali pickup truck. On virginia drive heading eastbound in montgomery county, pa, at 32 mph; with normal braking action heading into a curve, the brake pedal surprisingly went to the floor and experienced loss of braking…
After just a few years of ownership, my 2003 denali, which i purchased brand new, started to have "power down" issues. While driving, the vehicle would just loose power and i would have to pull over and restart the vehicle. Gmc has always acted as if it was not a big deal and have offered many…
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 | 32 | 0 |
| 2002 Denali | 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.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2003 GMC Denali?
Owners most often report electrical system, steering, vehicle speed control problems. The top one, electrical system, accounts for 6 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2003 GMC Denali?
No safety recalls are on file for this model year.
Was the 2003 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 2003 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.