2008 GMC Yukon Denali Problems
Compared with other GMC Yukon Denali 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 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.
- 4 of its 58 complaints were filed by the end of 2010.
- Most reported problem: Cracked dashboard near the airbag (17 complaints, median 110,000 mi).
Nearby years with a typical complaint level 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
- 58filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 70,000miles, 35 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 0campaigns on record
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
- NHTSA crash rating
- —overall rating starts with 2011 models
- EPA fuel economy
- 14 mpgcombined, 6.2L 8-cyl 4WD/AWD · 12 city / 18 hwy
Sources: NHTSA records for the 2008 GMC Yukon Denali (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error
What owners report
Owners of this model year most often report cracks in the dashboard, often near the passenger airbag, and some say the cracks grow over time and make the dash rattle. Airbag recall repairs are another frequent theme, with owners saying dealers had no parts or remedy available for many months. Door lock and handle failures and occasional sudden power loss are also described, and reported mileage varies widely.
- Body and structure
Cracked dashboard near the airbag
- 17 complaints (29%)
- median 110,000 mi at 8.3 yrs old (11 state mileage)
- filed 2015–2018
Owners describe cracks in the plastic dashboard, often near the passenger airbag, that some say grow over time and make the dash rattle. Some worry that a cracked dash could injure occupants if the airbag deploys. Some say the cracks returned after the dash was replaced, and others say the dealer disagreed that the problem was a manufacturer issue or quoted owner-paid repair costs. Where mileage is given, reports range from 46,000 to 160,000 miles, and some owners say the cracks appeared while the vehicle was kept in a garage or covered parking.
What to check: Inspect the dashboard around the passenger airbag and along the instrument panel for cracks, and ask the seller whether the dash has been replaced and whether the cracks returned.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“Plastic dashboard is cracking. Gmc dealer quoted a $1,000.00 replacement cost. Dealer proposed my cost would be $600.00. Same dealer replaced cracked dashboard once before at no cost to me. This certainly appears to be a manufacturer's defect but dealer disagrees.”
NHTSA complaint #10775982, filed 2015-09, 47,688 miles“Crack forming on dashboard near left corner of airbag. My denali is always parked in a garage and I started noticing it last month. I've seen other people post their dashboard pics with the same crack.”
NHTSA complaint #10780870, filed 2015-10, 74,500 miles - Air bags
Airbag recall repair not yet available
- 13 complaints (22%)
- median 108,000 mi at 8.0 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
- filed 2013–2019
Owners describe airbag recall notices for which dealers said parts or a repair were not yet available, sometimes after calling repeatedly over many months. Some mention the air bag supplier's Chapter 11 filing, and a complaint says the repair was held while a decision on a petition was pending. Some owners say they had not experienced a failure but still could not get the recall work done. Mileage is rarely given, and where it is, the figure is about 108,000 miles; several say the repair had been pending for many months.
What to check: Enter the VIN on the official recall lookup and ask a dealer whether the remedy parts are in stock and whether the recall is open for this vehicle, keeping written notes of each answer.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“Takata inflators : I received a letter sating that my vehicle airbag is under recall and I should contact my local dealership to have them replace them free of charge. I have called them twice since I got the notice and they have told me that I need to contact Gmc to find out who the solution to the problem is because as of right now they cannot offer me anything to fix the issue.”
NHTSA complaint #11047472, filed 2017-11“Takata recall I received a safety recall notice in july 2016 and received a postcard from tk holdings in october 2017 regarding the airbag recall and chapter 11 filing. I have called my Gmc dealer on numerous occasions during the past 16 months to schedule the free repair pursuant to the recall and am repeatedly informed the dealer does not have the parts to address the recall and repair my vehicle. …”
NHTSA complaint #11051512, filed 2017-11 - Latches, locks and linkages
Door locks, latches and handles failing
- 12 complaints (21%)
- median 49,427 mi at 5.4 yrs old (10 state mileage)
- filed 2011–2019
Owners describe power locks and door actuators that fail intermittently, so a door will not lock, unlock or open with the key fob. Some describe a rear door that opened while the vehicle was moving, with a child inside, and others describe lock actuators replaced more than once. Some also report door handles that broke, came loose or fell off, and latches that rusted or stuck. Where mileage is given, reports range from 42,000 to 115,000 miles, and some owners say new failures appeared after earlier repairs.
What to check: Test every door lock and handle from inside and outside, including with the key fob and the rear liftgate, and ask whether any lock actuator or handle has been replaced and whether the problem returned.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“I went to open my drivers side door to get into my car and the door handle just ripped off. I could not believe it. I'm not a strong woman and I did nothing different then any other day. Now I have to climb through the passenger side and open my door till I can get it fixed. About a year ago I had my back door handle come loose. It did not rip off, but it was not functional. I had to pay to get it fixed. One little thing after another with this car. Ma 10/2 updated 11/08/2017”
NHTSA complaint #10732990, filed 2015-07, 90,000 miles“The rear passenger door does not lock or open with the remote or front drive door switches. Turns out that the lock actuator has gone bad and has to be replaced. My son is 4 years old and due to the fact that we can not lock the door from the front - he opened the rear door while car was driving . Luckily he was in car seat. This could pose a serious problem for parents with young children. While the car was under warranty the same rear passenger door side lock actuator was replaced 3 times. …”
NHTSA complaint #10477084, filed 2012-09, 50,855 miles - Transmission and drivetrain
Sudden power loss or delayed acceleration
- 7 complaints (12%)
- median 49,644 mi at 5.6 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
- filed 2010–2019
Owners describe a delay of several seconds before the vehicle responds to the accelerator, a sudden loss of power, or stalls after which the engine will not restart. Some say the transmission held a gear too high with little power and then downshifted abruptly. According to complaints, the dealer sometimes said the behavior was normal, while others found that a transmission or transmission control module needed replacement. Where mileage is given, reports range from 600 to 115,000 miles, and the lowest-mileage reports describe delayed or weak acceleration.
What to check: On a test drive, check for hesitation, a slow response from the accelerator or shifts into unexpected gears, and ask whether any transmission or control module repair has been done.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“The vehicle does not accelerate when the accelerator is pressed. The vehicle take 5-10 seconds before responding, resulting in delay of merging and stalling at stop lights. It becomes dangerous when entering a highway and taking off, I have had individuals almost slam into me and I have ran into a construction zone. It suddenly take off, leaving the driver off guard.”
NHTSA complaint #10308819, filed 2010-02, 2,000 miles“Intermittent electrical issues. Doors locks and windows don't always work. Sometimes when I shut my car off it dies. Like I can't turn it back on. Running boards don't go up, can't lock it, nothing. Dead. Then 15 minutes later it's fine. Sometimes when driving, it's like it's cutting out, not getting enough power or different warning lights will randomly flash. I just never know when it's going to be working properly. I'm just afraid something will happen while we are driving. We also use the yukon to tow a trailer. …”
NHTSA complaint #11206510, filed 2019-05, 115,000 miles
Buying note. Buyers considering this model year should check the dashboard for cracks near the airbag and ask whether any airbag recall repair has been completed for the vehicle. They should also test the door locks and handles and the acceleration on a test drive before buying.
Summary written with AI from a sample of 49 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.
NHTSA recorded 58 consumer complaints for the 2008 GMC Yukon Denali. 35 of the complaints include a mileage, and 34% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 70,000 miles. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 1,145 technical service bulletins for this model year. Compared with the other 6 GMC Yukon Denali 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 bags22 38%
- Other or unknown12 21%
- Body and structure8 14%
- Electrical system7 12%
- Equipment2 3.5%
- Wheels2 3.5%
- Brakes1 1.7%
Also reported: Engine cooling (1), Fuel system (1), Seat belts (1), Steering (1), Tires (1), Vehicle speed control (1).
Example complaints
Air bags: “I was driving approx. 35 MPH and suddenly cracks started forming around the airbag as well as around the steering column. I am concerned for the safety of occupants if airbags deploy.”
NHTSA complaint #10586082, filed 2014-05, 58,000 milesOther or unknown: “Dash cracked in 2 places: above driving wheel and around air bag. This is the second time I will have had to replace this part in 2 years. After the first replacement, I had been fairly diligent about using a windshield/dash reflective cover when parked outside, but does not seem to have helped prevent same situation from occurring again with cracks in exactly the same places. Cracks on replaced dash are getting worse and entire dash vibrates and rattles when driving as other attachment pieces seem to be cracking underneath. …”
NHTSA complaint #10893585, filed 2016-08, 80,000 milesBody and structure: “Cracked dashboard, deeply concerned about airbag safety if deployed due to proximity to crack and sharp edges adjacent to the passenger airbag. Door handles falling off, even after replacement. Fear of unlawful entry into car. Gm unwilling to correct substandard parts.”
NHTSA complaint #10889318, filed 2016-07, 110,000 milesElectrical system: “Drivers side door lock actuator went out; had replaced by GM dealership in wilkesboro, north carolina. Approximately 1 year later, the drivers side rear passenger door lock actuator failed requiring one to manually activate the door lock each time. When needing to unlock the door, it is impossible for the regular driver of this vehicle to reach the door lock latch to manually unlock the door. Now. 2 weeks ago, the passenger side front door lock actuator no longer works. …”
NHTSA complaint #10480064, filed 2012-10, 45,000 milesMileage when problems were reported
34% of the 35 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 47,000 and 114,500 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
Fuel economy and running cost
EPA ratings for each 2008 GMC Yukon Denali version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).
| Version | Engine | Transmission | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yukon Denali 1500 AWD | 6.2L 8-cyl | 6-speed automatic | 12 | 18 | 14 | $5,850 |
Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.
Recalls and investigations
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 2008 GMC Yukon 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. 1,145 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.
- 11009531Sep 27, 2024Engine. This service bulletin provides information for maintenance cleaning of the fuel injectors and gasoline detergent additive.
- 11009088Sep 16, 2024Transmission and drivetrain. This service bulletin provides information on some vehicles that may rock or move slightly forward or rearward while in Park at start up after cold soak. This condition may be accompanied by a clunk…
Other model years of the GMC Yukon Denali
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 12 | 41,100 | 0 | 4 | — | — | Not enough data |
| 2016 | 18 | 55,000 | 0 | 4 | — | — | Rising |
| 2015 | 73 | 58,000 | 0 | 4 | — | 85 · More | Stable |
| 2013 | 29 | 58,000 | 0 | 4 | 15 | 0 · Fewer | Stable |
| 2012 | 28 | 62,000 | 0 | 4 | 15 | 0 · Fewer | Stable |
| 2011 | 96 | 75,000 | 0 | — | 15 | 74 · More | Stable |
| 2010 | 53 | 79,000 | 0 | — | 15 | 43 · Typical | Stable |
| 2009 | 46 | 75,500 | 0 | — | 14 | 63 · Typical | Stable |
| 2008 | 58 | 70,000 | 0 | — | 14 | 50 · Typical | Falling |
| 2007 | 120 | 90,000 | 0 | — | 14 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2006 | 21 | 77,000 | 0 | — | — | — | Stable |
| 2005 | 49 | 79,000 | 0 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2004 | 109 | 74,000 | 0 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2003 | 72 | 94,426 | 0 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2002 | 29 | 82,870 | 0 | — | 12 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2001 | 35 | 96,000 | 1 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2000 | 18 | 98,000 | 0 | — | — | — | Stable |
| 1999 | 27 | 105,000 | 0 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
All GMC Yukon Denali model years · Best and worst years by complaints
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2008 GMC Yukon Denali?
Owners of this model year most often report cracks in the dashboard, often near the passenger airbag, and some say the cracks grow over time and make the dash rattle. The issues reported most often: Cracked dashboard near the airbag; Airbag recall repair not yet available; Door locks, latches and handles failing.
How many NHTSA complaints does the 2008 GMC Yukon Denali have?
NHTSA recorded 58 consumer complaints for the 2008 GMC Yukon Denali as of Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 2008 GMC Yukon Denali is reported most often?
Air bags is named most often, in 22 complaints (38% of the total), followed by other or unknown with 12.
Has the 2008 GMC Yukon 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.
What gas mileage does the 2008 GMC Yukon Denali get?
The EPA rates the 2008 GMC Yukon Denali (Yukon Denali 1500 AWD, 6.2L 8-cyl) at 14 mpg combined, 12 city and 18 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $5,850 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.
At what mileage are problems with the 2008 GMC Yukon Denali reported?
Among the 35 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 70,000 miles and the middle half falls between 47,000 and 114,500 miles; 34% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).
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.