FaultScore

Worst years for a GMC Denali

Owners have filed 219 complaints about the GMC Denali with NHTSA across model years 1999 to 2015. More of them are about the brakes than anything else.

Avoid

2002 GMC Denali

28 complaints — the highest FaultScore of any year, mostly engine & cooling.

Cleanest on record

2012 GMC Denali

10 complaints — the lowest FaultScore of the graded years.

Every GMC Denali year, graded

The grade compares each year against the rest of this model's own run — never against another car. Click any bar or row to open that year's report.

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded
Year Grade Complaints Crashes Fires Median miles Most reported
2015 C 27 1 0 50,000 Lights
2014 5 0 0 67,000 Engine & Cooling
2013 7 0 0 24,400 Airbags
2012 A 10 0 0 100,000 Other & Unspecified
2011 A 13 0 0 114,239 Other & Unspecified
2010 6 0 0 Other & Unspecified
2009 2 0 0 Airbags
2008 7 0 0 Airbags
2007 3 0 0 Transmission & Drivetrain
2003 D 40 4 0 63,000 Brakes
2002 D 28 3 1 39,000 Engine & Cooling
2001 D 31 3 0 64,300 Brakes
2000 D 26 4 0 117,000 Brakes
1999 B 14 0 1 82,500 Brakes

What breaks on a GMC Denali

Across every model year on file. Follow a row for that part's complaints and the year it was worst.

Brakes 33 15.1%

Worst in 2000

Worst in 2011

Airbags 23 10.5%

Worst in 2011

Electrical System 21 9.6%

Worst in 2003

Transmission & Drivetrain 20 9.1%

Worst in 2002

Engine & Cooling 19 8.7%

Worst in 2002

Steering 14 6.4%

Worst in 2003

Lights 11 5.0%

Worst in 2015

Fuel & Propulsion 9 4.1%

Worst in 2001

Body & Structure 7 3.2%

Worst in 2012

Suspension 7 3.2%

Worst in 2002

Acceleration & Cruise Control 7 3.2%

Worst in 2003

Tires 6 2.7%

Worst in 2000

Seat Belts 5 2.3%

Worst in 2002

Complaints filed over time

Every complaint about every GMC Denali, by the month it reached NHTSA.

Aug 1999 peak 7 Feb 2021

Compare the GMC Denali

Side by side on complaint history. Remember that raw totals track how many were sold as much as how good they were.