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GMC Yukon Denali XLModel year report

2003 GMC Yukon Denali XL Problems

Complaints
32filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
130,000miles, 31 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 Yukon Denali XL (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 32 consumer complaints for the 2003 GMC Yukon Denali XL. The part named most often is brakes, with 16 complaints (50% of the total), followed by electronic stability control (8) and electrical system (7). 31 of the complaints include a mileage, and 3% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 130,000 miles. Of all complaints, 3 involved a crash, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 98 technical service bulletins for this model year. Brakes complaints overlap with 1 technical service bulletin 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.

Example complaints

Brakes: “I was driving with my 14month old baby in the car and all of a sudden I had no brakes at all. My parking brake couldn't stop me either so I put the car in neutral and then forced it into park so I didn't crash. The brake lines are completely corroded and I didn't have any notice or idea until the brakes were already gone.”

NHTSA complaint #10748915, filed 2015-08, 136,500 miles

Electronic stability control: “I was driving down the road to work and I hit the brakes and the brake pedal was not firm. I hit the brake pedal again and the brake pedal went to the floor. I had a hard time stopping the big SUV and would have hit another car had this happened at a stop light or anywhere where I have to rely on my brakes as the stopping distance was easily quadrupled if not more.”

NHTSA complaint #10559845, filed 2014-01, 150,000 miles

Electrical system: “Driving to work and reduce engine power came on. Engine stalled out and would not gain speed. I was in a lot of traffic when this happen and my vehicle cause a incident because of the sudden engine reduced all speed. Gmc should do some research about this problem and inform the public of all the dangers these vehicles are causing for public transportation. This is ludicrous that Gmc does not have these vehicle off he streets and destroyed knowing that they are putting people lives in danger. I will never ever buy a Gmc vehicle again.”

NHTSA complaint #10543184, filed 2013-09, 181,000 miles

Engine: “Vehicle powers down without any pattern, rhyme or reason. It will do it at 5 MPH, and at 55 MPH, when driven a lot, and when not. Reduced engine power light turns on, vehicle suddenly slows to 25 MPH max, steering becomes hard, brakes too. Then will totally shut off immediately. I have replaced the battery, throttle body assembly and wiring harness twice. Fuses, fuel pump and filters, oil, and everything else as recommended. It put me in the ditch. It stranded me in the center of a freeway in winter. When it sits for a while, it resets, only to do it again. T/c light turns on also. …”

NHTSA complaint #10660403, filed 2014-11, 145,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

3% of the 31 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 90,000 and 160,000 miles.

0%0–100%10–253%25–5013%50–7519%75–10029%100–15035%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (31 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 130,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

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

20106201220146620162018
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.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2003 GMC Yukon Denali XL. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
Yukon Denali XL · sedan not rated4 / 3——3

Ratings before the 2011 model year come from an older, less demanding test and are not comparable with ratings for 2011 and later.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Recalls and investigations

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 2003 GMC Yukon Denali XL 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. 98 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 98 bulletins →

Other model years of the GMC Yukon Denali XL

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
20162942,21204—97 · MoreFalling
20156560,00004—94 · MoreFalling
2014551,51004——Not enough data
20131368,97504——Not enough data
20122357,00004——Stable
20116976,0000——40 · TypicalFalling
20102970,0000——22 · FewerStable
20092272,1000———Falling
20084286,0000——50 · TypicalStable
20076189,0100——Not compared (before 2008)Rising
200611102,0000———Not enough data
20053482,0000——Not compared (before 2008)Stable
200449103,0000——Not compared (before 2008)Stable
200332130,0000——Not compared (before 2008)Stable

All GMC Yukon Denali XL model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2003 GMC Yukon Denali XL have?

NHTSA recorded 32 consumer complaints for the 2003 GMC Yukon Denali XL as of Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

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

Brakes is named most often, in 16 complaints (50% of the total), followed by electronic stability control with 8.

Has the 2003 GMC Yukon Denali XL 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 Yukon Denali XL reported?

Among the 31 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 130,000 miles and the middle half falls between 90,000 and 160,000 miles; 3% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program.

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.