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FaultScore report

1999 GMC Denali problems

Owners have filed 14 complaints about the 1999 GMC Denali with NHTSA between 1999 and 2010. The largest single group is the brakes. Across this model's run it ranks 6 of 8 worst.

Read the complaints What breaks Worst years for the GMC Denali All 1999 cars
B

FaultScore 26/100

Higher is worse. Measured against the other years of the GMC Denali.

How this is worked out

The numbers

14

Complaints

0

Crashes reported

1

Fires reported

0

Injuries reported

82,500 mi

Median mileage at failure

Half of reported failures happened before this

0%

Failed under 36,000 miles

Inside a typical bumper-to-bumper warranty

What kind of bad

The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.

Complaint volume 30 vs 50 Severity 37 vs 50 Early failure 0 vs 50
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 30
Against the median year of the GMC Denali. 50 means typical for this model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 37
7.1% of these complaints involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of 9.7%.
Early failure — 0
0% of failures with a mileage on record happened under 36,000 miles, against a national rate of 29%.

How 1999 compares with every other GMC Denali

Click any bar 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

What breaks on a 1999 GMC Denali

Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.

Brakes 5 35.7%

Median failure at 106,309 miles

Electrical System 4 28.6%

0 crashes, 1 fires · median 63,000 mi

Windows, Mirrors & Wipers 1 7.1%

Median failure at 65,000 miles

Suspension 1 7.1%

Median failure at 80,000 miles

Steering 1 7.1%

Median failure at 85,000 miles

Transmission & Drivetrain 1 7.1%
Engine & Cooling 1 7.1%

Median failure at 59,000 miles

When it fails

Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all complaints include one.

50,000 – 74,999 miles 4 40.0%
75,000 – 99,999 miles 3 30.0%
100,000 – 149,999 miles 3 30.0%

When owners complained

A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single owner can see from inside their own car.

Aug 1999 peak 1 Oct 2010

Complaints that involved harm

Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.

at 63,000 miles Independence, MO Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

ON APRIL 4, 2006 AT APPROX. 5:00PM OUR 1999 DENALI GMC CAUGHT FIRE AND WAS DESTROYED. IT STARTED TO LOSE POWER AND THEN IMMEDIATELY BURST INTO FLAMES AND WAS A TOTAL LOSS. I FEEL THIS WAS A MANUFACTURE DEFECT OF SOME KIND AND WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THIS INVESTIGATED. I DO HAVE PICTURES TO PROVIDE YOU.

NHTSA complaint #10155973 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

The most recent complaints

In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.

at 119,900 miles Charleston, SC

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I PURCHASED A 1999 YUKON DENALI FROM MY FORMER BROTHER N LAW; HE DIDN'T INFORM ME THAT MY WINDOWS, DOOR LOCKS, RADIO,AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD STOP WORKING. I WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED A BODY CONTROL MODULE; ONE GMC MECHANIC ASKED ME WHAT DOES THIS PART DO. I'M A LADY HOW WOULD I KNOW THESE THINGS. I STILL DON'T HAVE MY VEHICLE REPAIRED. WILL THIS CAUSE ME OTHER PROBLEMS OR CAN I CONTINUE TO DRIVE OFF A WING AND A PRAYER?

NHTSA complaint #10358855 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 106,309 miles Gambrills, MD

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

WHILE RETURNING HOME FROM WORK TODAY I APPROACHED A TRAFFIC LIGHT, PRESSED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND MY FOOT WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR. I HAD TO TURN INTO THE GRASS MEDIAN TO AVOID HITTING THE CARS IN FRONT AS I PRESSED THE EMERGENCY MANUAL BRAKE. BECAUSE I WAS VERY CLOSE TO HOME AT THAT POINT I WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING WHILE USING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP. I CHECKED THE BRAKE FLUID LEVEL AND IT WAS WITHIN NORMAL RANGE.

NHTSA complaint #10282698 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 99,500 miles Grand Rapids, MI

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM ENGAGES WHEN COMING TO A STOP CAUSING VEHICLE TO TAKE LONGER THAN EXPECTED TO COME TO A STOP. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL NEAR ACCIDENTS INCLUDING ALMOST STRIKING A PEDESTRIAN.

NHTSA complaint #10177720 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 130,000 miles Brookfield, WI

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

1999 GMC YUKON WAS TAKEN TO RUSS DARROW WAUKESHA, INC. CADILLAC/GMC FOR UNWANTED ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) ACTIVATION. DEALER SUGGESTED THIS COULD CAUSE INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCES WHICH COULD LEAD TO A CRASH. DEALER INFORMED VEHICLE OWNER OF RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN 05V379000; WHEEL SPEED SENSOR CLEANING. THAT RECALL LISTED A 1999-2002 YUKON, DEALER WENT ON TO SAY THAT THIS SPECIFIC VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERD? VIN#[XXX]. OWNER PAID FOR THE WHEEL SPEED SENSOR CLEANER BASED ON THE DEALERS RECOMMENTATION THAT IT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE. *NM UPDATED 07/12/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA complaint #10169748 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 63,000 miles Independence, MO Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

ON APRIL 4, 2006 AT APPROX. 5:00PM OUR 1999 DENALI GMC CAUGHT FIRE AND WAS DESTROYED. IT STARTED TO LOSE POWER AND THEN IMMEDIATELY BURST INTO FLAMES AND WAS A TOTAL LOSS. I FEEL THIS WAS A MANUFACTURE DEFECT OF SOME KIND AND WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THIS INVESTIGATED. I DO HAVE PICTURES TO PROVIDE YOU.

NHTSA complaint #10155973 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Chicago, IL

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:SHOES/LININGS

DT: 1999 GMC DENALI. THE CONSUMER PUT NEW BRAKE SHOES/CALIPERS AND ROTORS ON THE VEHICLE. THE REAR BRAKE EQUIPMENT DID NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED DURING THE TIME THE FRONT BRAKE EQUIPMENT WAS REPLACED. THE REAR BRAKES SOON BECAME INOPERATIVE CAUSING THE FRONT TIRES TO WEAR OUT. THE CONSUMER FOUND THE RECALL 05V379000 FOR THE REAR BRAKES. WHEN HE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP THEY STATED THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. THE REAR BRAKES HAVE NOT BEEN FIXED YET. *AK

NHTSA complaint #10135534 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 85,000 miles Greenbelt, MD

STEERING:COLUMN

THE STEERING COLUMN SHIFTER BROKE WHILE PLACING IT INTO DRIVE. THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN HAD TO REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #10105250 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 80,000 miles Festus, MO

SUSPENSION

WHILE TURNING TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT THE TIRES RUBBED THE INSIDE OF THE FRAME. DEALER ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR THE PART FOUR TIMES. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED.

NHTSA complaint #10076203 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Alpharetta, GA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES

BATTERY CABLES LOOSENED FROM THE BATTERY POST. THIS CAUSED VEHICLE TO LOSE POWER . ALSO, BATTERY LEAKED ACID ONTO THE ENGINE.*AK PURCHASED NEW. AT 11K MILES THE BATTERY EXPLODED DUE TO A LOOSE POSITIVE TERMINAL NUT WITHIN THE BATTERY CASING. AT 31K MILES, THE VEHICLE STALLED ON THE ROADWAY DUE TO THE POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE DISCONNECTING FROM THE BATTERY HOUSING. THE POSITIVE TERMINAL NUT CAME LOOSE FROM THE BATTERY HOUSING. AT 44K MILES, THE POSITIVE BATTERY POST LOOSENED AGAIN AND LEAKED BATTERY ACID ON THE BRAKE LINES, THE BATTERY CABLES AND THE STEEL INNER WHEEL LINER. THE ACID ALSO DAMAGE THE OWNERS GARAGE FLOOR.

NHTSA complaint #10063409 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 65,000 miles Hopkinsville, KY

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

WINDSHIELD WIPERS EXPERIENCED THE SAME DEFECT AS STATED IN RECALL 03V159000; BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN.

NHTSA complaint #10039761 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 59,000 miles Andover, MN

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

THE ENGINE FAILED AND LEAKED ANTI FREEZE WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH. THERE WERE 2 LARGE HOLES IN THE ENGINE.

NHTSA complaint #10017315 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 52,000 miles Farmington, NM

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES

THE CONSUMER IS CONCERNED WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING THE VEHICLE STALLED. HE WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND LIFT THE HOOD UP AND NOTICED THAT BATTERY ACID HAD EXPLODED FROM THE BATTERY. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. TS

NHTSA complaint #10003766 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Dewitt, MI

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 15 MPH HAD HEARD A LOUD NOISE FROM TRANSMISSION LIKE SOMEBODY HAD STRUCKED VEHICLE AND CONTINUED DRIVING, BUT WHEN GOT IN FRONT OF HOUSE ENGINE STOPPED WORKING, AND NOTICED THAT TRANSMISSION HAD BLOWNOUT. DEALER WOULD LIKE TO FIX VEHICLE, BUT CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO HAVE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT IT. PLEASE CONSUMER PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #899539 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Shelton, CT

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC

FRONT INSIDE BRAKE PADS WORE DOWN TO METAL IN 9100 MILES. RIGHT FRONT ROTOR WAS SCORED AND NEEDED TO BE TURNED DOWN. DEALER STATES CALIPERS ARE WORKING CORRECTLY. THEN WHY ONLY ARE THE INSIDE PADS WORN.

NHTSA complaint #709885 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.