11 of the 17 complaints about the 2002 GMC Sierra Denali are about the braking system — 65% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 76,815 miles.
11
Complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
SERVICE BRAKES
THE METAL BRAKE LINES HAVE CORRODED BADLY AND NOW FAILED. VERY UNSAFE, CRASH WAITING TO HAPPEN.
NHTSA complaint #11166237 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
I DID NOT KNOW ABOUT THIS SITE AND THIS ACCIDENT HAPPENED IN OCT 2014. I WAS GOING AROUND A CURVE WITH 40 MPH SPEED LIMIT AND I WAS GOING 40 MPH. I STARTED TO BRAKE AS THIS WAS DOWNHILL AND A VERY LARGE TRUCK AND I DID NOT WISH TO INCREASE SPEED AS I FOLLOWED THE CURVE. MY BRAKES DID NOT RESPOND AND SANK TO THE FLOOR WITH NO RESISTANCE. I HAD NO STEERING ABILITY EITHER. I ENDED UP IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION WITH A VERY LARGE TREE AND THE AIRBAGS FAILED. I SPLIT MY HEAD OPEN ON THE STEERING WHEEL DESPITE BLOCKING MY FACE WITH MY FOREARMS CROSSED; A DE-GLOVING 10-12 INCH LACERATION DOWN TO THE SKULL THAT WRAPS FROM MY NOSE BRIDGE AROUND TO MY RIGHT EAR IN THE CIRCULAR SHAPE OF THE STEERING WHEEL. MY RIGHT LEG WAS PINNED INTO THE CENTER DASH AREA AS THE ENGINE BLOCK AND STEERING COLUMN WERE SHOVED INTO THE CAB. I HAD TO BE REMOVED FROM MY VEHICLE WITH THE JAWS OF LIFE BY EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAMS. I AM LUCKY TO BE ALIVE. MY QUADRASTEER WAS DECLARED TOTALED BY USAA INSURANCE AND DESTROYED WITHOUT MY KNOWLEDGE. I CALLED USAA 3 DAYS AFTER THE CRASH AFTER FINDING SO MANY BRAKE FAILURES ON THIS VEHICLE/YEAR MODEL AND WAS TOLD IT WAS ALREADY DESTROYED, SO DOING AN INVESTIGATION WAS NOT POSSIBLE. I HAVE LIVED IN PAIN AND ALSO PARALYZING FEAR OF DRIVING SINCE THEN; 3 YEARS. I AM A DISABLED MILITARY VETERAN WITH PTSD AND PRIOR BRAIN SURGERY AND THIS ACCIDENT CAUSED TO ME ISOLATE SO SEVERELY I COULD NOT EVEN ATTEND MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS DUE TO MY NEW FEARS OF DRIVING & RIDING IN VEHICLES. MY LIFE IS NOW RUINED BY THIS ACCIDENT. DECREASING VA DISABILITY DUE TO INABILITY TO ATTEND APPOINTMENTS CAUSED A $1000.00 PER MONTH LOSS OF BENEFITS. I CAN'T AFFORD MY BILLS AND HAVE BEEN STRUGGLING WITH THE VA TO GAIN ACCESS TO MEDICAL EVALUATIONS SINCE THEY ARE NOW STRIVING TO CUT BENEFITS FROM ANYONE THEY CAN. PLEASE RECALL NOW!!!!! WHO ELSE HAS TO BE HURT OR KILLED?????
NHTSA complaint #11030762 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE. I WENT TO APPLY MY BRAKES AND PEDAL WENT RIGHT TO FLOOR, LUCKILY I HAD THE PRESENTS OF MIND TO USE EMERGENCY BRAKE.
NHTSA complaint #10616474 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
100% BRAKE FAILURE DUE TO RUPTURED METAL BRAKE LINE, SEVERE CORROSION. ALL LINES REQUIRE REPLACEMENT. GMC NOTIFIED, NO REPLACE PARTS SUPPORTED BY MANUFACTURER. TRUCK STOPPED WITH USE OF EMERGENCY BRAKE.
NHTSA complaint #10443253 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 GMC SIERRA DENALI. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO STOP, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND ALSO NOTICED THAT BRAKE FLUID WAS LEAKING ON THE DRIVER SIDE. THE CONTACT LATER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE CORRODED. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 75,000.
NHTSA complaint #10363466 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
ABS IS ACTIVATING AT LOW SPEEDS UNDER 10MPH WHEN STOPPING WITHOUT ABS LIGHT COMING ON.
NHTSA complaint #10358569 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
EVERYTIME THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED AND THE VEHICLE SLOWS DOWN TO UNDER 10 MPH, THE VEHICLES ABS SYSTEM KICKS ON. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT THIS HAS BEEN RECALLED ON MANY GMC MODELS BUT NOT THE SIERRA DENALI I HAVE. I HAVE ALSO FOUND THAT MANY OTHERS WITH SIERRA DENALIS HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE AND IT GREATLY INCREASES STOPPING DISTANCE. FURTHER RESEARCH INTO THE ISSUE HAS LED ME TO BELIEVE THIS COULD BE CAUSED BY A FAULTY SPEED SENSOR DUE TO THE ABS KICKING IN WHILE STOPPING AT LOW SPEED.
NHTSA complaint #10355015 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 GMC SIERRA DENALI. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE ABS WHEEL HUB WAS PULSATING, WHICH INDICATED THAT THE ABS HUB SENSORS HAD ENGAGED AT LOW SPEEDS. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE, BUT HE LOST ALL SENSE OF BRAKING CONTROL. HE DROVE HOME AND CALLED THE DEALER, WHO INFORMED HIM THAT THE ABS SENSORS WERE DIRTY AND NEEDED TO BE CLEANED OR REPLACED. NO REPAIRS HAVE YET BEEN MADE. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 05V379000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK) WAS RELATED TO HIS YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 56,000. UPDATED 09/10/08 *BF UPDATED 09/11/08
NHTSA complaint #10232013 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:WHEEL SPEED SENSOR/TONE RING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 GMC SIERRA DENALI. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE ABS WHEEL HUB WAS PULSATING, WHICH INDICATED THAT THE ABS HUB SENSORS HAD ENGAGED AT LOW SPEEDS. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE, BUT HE LOST ALL SENSE OF BRAKING CONTROL. HE DROVE HOME AND CALLED THE DEALER, WHO INFORMED HIM THAT THE ABS SENSORS WERE DIRTY AND NEEDED TO BE CLEANED OR REPLACED. NO REPAIRS HAVE YET BEEN MADE. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 05V379000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK) WAS RELATED TO HIS YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 56,000. UPDATED 09/10/08 *BF UPDATED 09/11/08
NHTSA complaint #10232013 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 GMC SIERRA. WHILE DRIVING UNDER 10 MPH, AND APPLYING THE BRAKES THE PEDAL PULSATED AND THE STOPPING DISTANCE INCREASED. THE DEALER STATED THAT FAILURE WAS IDENTICAL TO RECALL #05V379000. HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36000. *AK UPDATED 06/06/07
NHTSA complaint #10188732 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
VEHICLE HAD SEVERE SYMPTOMS OF NEEDING BRAKE REPLACEMENT AT 32,000 MILES (REARS) AND AGAIN AT 42,000 MILES (FRONTS). A BURNING SMELL COUPLED WITH VERY HOT BRAKE COMPONENTS AND SEVERE PEDAL PULSATION WAS NOTICED. WHEN REPAIRS WERE DONE THE BRAKES WERE FOUND TO BE PREMATURELY WORN OUT AND ALL PARTS SHOWED UNUSUALLY SEVERE RUST DAMAGE. THE BRAKE ROTORS WERE DELAMINATED AND FALLING APART. THE REAR BACKING PLATES, WHICH USUALLY LAST THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE, HAD HOLES RUSTED THROUGH THEM. THE VALVES WERE SO RUSTED THAT THEY NO LONGER CAN BE USED TO BLEED THE OLD FLUID OUT AND WILL EVENTUALLY CAUSE AN INTERNAL RUST CONDITION THAT CAN CAUSE BRAKE FAILURE. IN ADDITION, ON A VEHICLE THAT HAD INADEQUATE BRAKES TO BEGIN WITH, A LARGE PORTION OF THE ROTOR SURFACES WAS NOT EVEN BEING CONTACTED BY THE BRAKE PAD. THIS CAUSED AN UNSAFE CONDITION WHICH DRASTICALLY INCREASED THE STOPPING DISTANCE OF THIS VEHICLE. NEW PARTS WERE INSTALLED AND THE OLD PARTS ARE AVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10160176 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.