2008 GMC Yukon Denali XL Problems
Compared with other GMC Yukon Denali XL years
Typical for this model
50/100 1.0× a typical year · 50 = typical
- Complaint rate is 1.0× that of a typical GMC Yukon Denali XL year, weighted for crashes, fires, injuries, recalls and mileage, and allowing for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints.
- 2 of its 42 complaints were filed by the end of 2010.
- Most reported part: Air bags (17 complaints, median 97,000 mi).
Nearby years with fewer complaints than typical and no open NHTSA investigation: 2010
Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated
- Complaints
- 42filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 86,000miles, 30 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 2008 GMC Yukon Denali XL (complaints, recalls, investigations). Report an error
NHTSA recorded 42 consumer complaints for the 2008 GMC Yukon Denali XL. The part named most often is air bags, with 17 complaints (40% of the total), followed by other or unknown (8) and body and structure (6). 30 of the complaints include a mileage, and 33% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 86,000 miles. Of all complaints, 1 involved a crash, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 1,103 technical service bulletins for this model year. Air bags complaints overlap with 9 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Other or unknown complaints overlap with 27 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Compared with the other 4 GMC Yukon Denali XL model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 50 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (typical for this model). The comparison allows for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints, but not for how many vehicles were sold.
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.
- Air bags17 40%
- Other or unknown8 19%
- Body and structure6 14%
- Electrical system4 9.5%
- Engine4 9.5%
- Fuel system2 4.8%
- Wheels2 4.8%
Also reported: Brakes (1), Engine cooling (1), Exterior lighting (1), Tires (1), Vehicle speed control (1), Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (1).
Example complaints
Air bags: “I was rear ended at approximately 8:00 am this morning. Both my vehicle and the truck that hit me likely suffered damage that will result in them being totaled by the insurance companies. I have a major concern about my airbags not deploying. I have not yet read the police report, but the dodge ram truck that hit me while I was stopped at a light hit my yukon with great force. This was on a highway (204th street) in elkhorn, ne”
NHTSA complaint #10984721, filed 2017-05, 135,000 milesOther or unknown: “Our 2008 Gmc Yukon Denali Xl has developed a crack in the dashboard right at the corner of the airbag. We have concerns if the passenger side airbag ever deploys, sharp pieces of the broken dash may break loose and injure passengers in our vehicle.”
NHTSA complaint #10876524, filed 2016-06, 95,000 milesBody and structure: “The dash above the gauge cluster has a huge crack and there is also another crack by the passenger side airbag. I noticed it when I started the vehicle after it had been parked all night in my driveway. There is no other damage to the vehicle.”
NHTSA complaint #11083974, filed 2018-04, 160,000 milesElectrical system: “The 2008 Gmc yukon and 2008 GM suburbans have a widespread well-documented, repeated failure of the door lock actuators as a result of a defect which GM will not address via recall. I have had two separate incidents of failed door locks in my 2008 Gmc yukon. When the actuator fails, my children are able to open the car door while the car is in motion. …”
NHTSA complaint #10442354, filed 2012-01, 41,000 milesMileage when problems were reported
33% of the 30 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 41,000 and 115,000 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
Recalls and investigations
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 2008 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. 1,103 on record; the latest 10 are shown.
- 11023091Sep 9, 2025Other or unknown. New Vehicle Monitoring Programs Section in IVH
- 11021792Aug 7, 2025Other or unknown. This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have an intermittent no crank, no start, or start stall concern with the security light coming…
- 11020816Jul 18, 2025Other or unknown. This PI communicates the requirement to provide a pico file to receive diagnostic assistance from TAC.
- 11019074May 30, 2025Other or unknown. This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about the use of J-35616-64B and Mini 50 terminal test probe, replacement terminals, and terminated leads.
- 11019073May 30, 2025Other or unknown. This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about the use of J-35616-64B and Mini 50 terminal test probe, replacement terminals, and terminated leads.
- 11019072May 30, 2025Other or unknown. This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about the use of J-35616-64B and Mini 50 terminal test probe, replacement terminals, and terminated leads.
- 11017868Apr 11, 2025Steering. This service bulletin provides a procedure to flush and bleed power steering system to correct a power steering noise or fluid leak concern that is caused during extremely low temperatures.
- 11017252Mar 28, 2025Electrical system, Other or unknown. This service bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on OnStar Module 2G Sunset Information.
- 11012907Dec 18, 2024Engine. This service bulletin explains how to measure for oil consumption and possible reasons for loss of oil.
- 11010544Oct 7, 2024Engine. This service bulletin explains how to measure for oil consumption and possible reasons for loss of oil.
Other model years of the GMC Yukon Denali XL
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 29 | 42,212 | 0 | 4 | — | 97 · More | Falling |
| 2015 | 65 | 60,000 | 0 | 4 | — | 94 · More | Falling |
| 2014 | 5 | 51,510 | 0 | 4 | — | — | Not enough data |
| 2013 | 13 | 68,975 | 0 | 4 | — | — | Not enough data |
| 2012 | 23 | 57,000 | 0 | 4 | — | — | Stable |
| 2011 | 69 | 76,000 | 0 | — | — | 40 · Typical | Falling |
| 2010 | 29 | 70,000 | 0 | — | — | 22 · Fewer | Stable |
| 2009 | 22 | 72,100 | 0 | — | — | — | Falling |
| 2008 | 42 | 86,000 | 0 | — | — | 50 · Typical | Stable |
| 2007 | 61 | 89,010 | 0 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Rising |
| 2006 | 11 | 102,000 | 0 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 2005 | 34 | 82,000 | 0 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2004 | 49 | 103,000 | 0 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2003 | 32 | 130,000 | 0 | — | — | 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 2008 GMC Yukon Denali XL have?
NHTSA recorded 42 consumer complaints for the 2008 GMC Yukon Denali XL as of Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 2008 GMC Yukon Denali XL is reported most often?
Air bags is named most often, in 17 complaints (40% of the total), followed by other or unknown with 8.
Has the 2008 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 2008 GMC Yukon Denali XL reported?
Among the 30 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 86,000 miles and the middle half falls between 41,000 and 115,000 miles; 33% 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.
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.