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GMC DenaliModel year report

2003 GMC Denali Problems

Complaints
32filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
50,000miles, 25 complaints with mileage
Recalls
0campaigns on record
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2003 GMC Denali (complaints, recalls, investigations). Report an error

NHTSA recorded 32 consumer complaints for the 2003 GMC Denali. The part named most often is brakes, with 7 complaints (22% of the total), followed by electrical system (6) and steering (5). 25 of the complaints include a mileage, and 48% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 50,000 miles. Of all complaints, 3 involved a crash, 1 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 91 technical service bulletins for this model year. Brakes complaints overlap with 2 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Electrical system complaints overlap with 13 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.

Not compared (before 2008). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Equipment (1), Fuel system (1), Seat belts (1), Suspension (1), Tires (1).

Example complaints

Brakes: “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 driving especially around turns. It is extremely dangerous!!!!! I guess not enough people have died....uugghhh .... So frustrating!!!!”

NHTSA complaint #11165106, filed 2019-01, 120,000 miles

Electrical system: “The speedometer shows inaccurate and erratic readings. Speed appears to be 20 MPH off and will jump to different speeds. No specific event caused this to happen, it just started about a month ago and has progressively gotten worse over time.”

NHTSA complaint #10217321, filed 2008-02, 104,000 miles

Steering: “While getting the vehicle checked up for a vacation, the dealer found that the steering linkage was about to fall out. By chance the mechanism would have fall out while driving, the ability to steer would have been totally lost.”

NHTSA complaint #10083274, filed 2004-07

Vehicle speed control: “I am filing a complaint due to a reduced engine problem and stability control which keeps enabling me to drive the vehicle. Once this light and power reduces I need to pull over from my destination and turn engine off completely. I count about ten seconds in order to restart the vehicle... Only to start it and having it reduce again. Several lights on dash board remain on such as engine. I have tried fixing the problem but I guess no one really knows how to repair and this has been costly. …”

NHTSA complaint #10525211, filed 2013-07, 163,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

48% of the 25 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 30,000 and 104,000 miles.

8%0–1012%10–2528%25–5012%50–7512%75–10020%100–1508%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (25 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 50,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

’035’055’07’10’12’14’19
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Recalls and investigations

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 2003 GMC Denali in the data used here. A recall can apply to some vehicles of a model year and not others, so check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 91 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 91 bulletins →

Other model years of the GMC Denali

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
20151856,0000———Falling
2014567,0000———Not enough data
2013524,4000———Not enough data
2012682,0000———Not enough data
201111114,2390———Not enough data
2010591,3250———Not enough data
20033250,0000——Not compared (before 2008)Stable
20022336,0001———Stable
20012264,3001———Stable
20002187,7021———Stable
19991482,5001———Not enough data

All GMC Denali model years

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2003 GMC Denali have?

NHTSA recorded 32 consumer complaints for the 2003 GMC Denali as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2003 GMC Denali is reported most often?

Brakes is named most often, in 7 complaints (22% of the total), followed by electrical system with 6.

Has the 2003 GMC Denali been recalled?

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year in the data used here. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

At what mileage are problems with the 2003 GMC Denali reported?

Among the 25 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 50,000 miles and the middle half falls between 30,000 and 104,000 miles; 48% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.