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2003 GMC Yukon XL Denali Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 32 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 GMC Yukon XL Denali, most often about the electrical (41% of complaints, typically around 67,000 miles). It is the most complained-about Yukon XL Denali model year since 2000.
Most common 2003 GMC Yukon XL Denali problems
Electrical
13 complaints · 41%Half of these problems showed up before 67,000 miles. Parts named most often: instrument cluster/panel, wiring.
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.
I have a 2003 GMC Yukon XL Denali that has a faulty speedometer; doesn't work, or works erratically, reads zero when doing 60. If you turn the engine off it seems to correct the problem, but only briefly. With all the complaints that I've seen regarding this problem, I truly believe gm should recall this in the…
Engine
4 complaints · 13%Parts named most often: exhaust system.
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…
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…
Stability control
4 complaints · 13%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…
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…
Transmission
3 complaints · 9%Parts named most often: automatic transmission, manual transmission, transfer case (4-wheel drive).
When the vehicle's ignition is in the accessory position the transmission can be shifted into reverse, neutral, drive, etc. Without the brake pedal being pressed. My 3 year old was sitting in my lap in the drivers seat in a parking lot listening to the radio in accessory mode he pulled the gear selector down into…
2003 GMC denali front transfer case failure. While driving on the highway I noticed a loud noise for a few seconds, then it stopped, so I drove on home and the next morning I dropped it off at my personal repair shop. To his findings it was the front transfer case. So he called the local dealership and talked to…
Brakes
3 complaints · 9%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…
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…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2003 GMC Yukon XL Denali recalls
NHTSA lists no recalls for this model year.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Parking brake failure
Summary
Odi's review of complaint data received since the close of ea04-011 revealed no indication that the investigation should be re-opened.more details can be found in the federal register notice enclosed in the dp05-009 public file.odi reserves the right to reopen the investigation in the future should conditions warrant.
Parking brake failure
Summary
In a letter dated april 20, 2005, gm notified NHTSA that it had decided that defects that relate to motor vehicle safety exist in certain model year (my) 1999-2002 c/k 1500 series (pbr parking brake system) and my 2001-2005 c/k 2500 and 3500 series (trw parking brake system) pickups with manual transmissions.according to gm, some of these vehicles may have conditions that cause the friction linings to wear to an extent where the parking brake can become ineffective in immobilizing a parked vehicle.gm's action covers an estimated total of 142,585 vehicles.dealers will install a low-force spring clip retainer for vehicles equipped with the pbr parking brake system and install a redesigned park
Questions about the 2003 GMC Yukon XL Denali
- What are the most common problems with the 2003 GMC Yukon XL Denali?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: electrical (13 complaints, typically around 67,000 miles); engine (4 complaints); stability control (4 complaints).
- How many recalls does the 2003 GMC Yukon XL Denali have?
- NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2003 GMC Yukon XL Denali. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls in case one is issued later.
- Is the 2003 a bad year for the GMC Yukon XL Denali?
- It is the most complained-about Yukon XL Denali model year since 2000, with 32 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.
Other GMC Yukon XL Denali years
- 2002
- 2003