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FaultScore report

2008 GMC Sierra Denali problems

Owners have filed 21 complaints about the 2008 GMC Sierra Denali with NHTSA between 2009 and 2019. The largest single group is the body & structure. Across this model's run it ranks 9 of 14 worst.

Read the complaints What breaks Worst years for the GMC Sierra Denali All 2008 cars
C

FaultScore 41/100

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

How this is worked out

The numbers

21

Complaints

0

Crashes reported

0

Fires reported

1

Injuries reported

68,000 mi

Median mileage at failure

Half of reported failures happened before this

29%

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 47 vs 50 Severity 25 vs 50 Early failure 50 vs 50
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 47
Against the median year of the GMC Sierra Denali. 50 means typical for this model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 25
4.8% of these complaints involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of 9.7%.
Early failure — 50
29% of failures with a mileage on record happened under 36,000 miles, against a national rate of 29%.

How 2008 compares with every other GMC Sierra 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 2008 GMC Sierra Denali

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

Body & Structure 6 28.6%

Median failure at 58,000 miles

Other & Unspecified 3 14.3%

Median failure at 78,500 miles

Airbags 3 14.3%

Median failure at 213,000 miles

Electrical System 2 9.5%

Median failure at 109,515 miles

Doors, Latches & Locks 1 4.8%

Median failure at 5,000 miles

Stability & Traction Control 1 4.8%

Median failure at 128,000 miles

Wheels 1 4.8%

Median failure at 79,000 miles

Windows, Mirrors & Wipers 1 4.8%

Median failure at 45,000 miles

Fuel & Propulsion 1 4.8%

Median failure at 3,000 miles

Lights 1 4.8%

Median failure at 22,000 miles

Brakes 1 4.8%

Median failure at 128,000 miles

When it fails

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

1,000 – 9,999 miles 3 17.6%
10,000 – 24,999 miles 2 11.8%
25,000 – 49,999 miles 2 11.8%
50,000 – 74,999 miles 2 11.8%
75,000 – 99,999 miles 3 17.6%
100,000 – 149,999 miles 4 23.5%
150,000+ miles 1 5.9%

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.

Feb 2009 peak 3 Jun 2019

Complaints that involved harm

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

at 78,000 miles Mcfarland, WI 1 injured

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

I JUST READ THE SAFETY NOTICE FOR GMC 2007 YUKON INTERIOR DOOR HANDLES DELAMINATING AND CREATING SHARP CUTTING EDGES (EA 10004). THE EXACT SAME THING HAS HAPPENED ON MY 2008 GMC DENALI SIERRA (DRIVER SIDE) - I'VE SLICED MY FINGER A 3RD TIME AND AM NOW HAVING THE HANDLE REPLACED AT A COST OF $240. WHEN I CALLED GMC CUSTOMER COMPLAINT LINE THEY OFFERED NO HELP JUST EXCUSES...POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE...WOW, NO WONDER GM WENT BANKRUPT!!

NHTSA complaint #10490928 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

The most recent complaints

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

at 213,000 miles Jasper, AL

AIR BAGS

TAKATA RECALL WENT BACK TO LOCAL CHEVY GMC DEALER AGAIN FOR THE SECOND TIME IN ALMOST 3 YEARS SINCE I RECEIVED MY RECALL LETTER FROM GM. THEY LOOKED UP RECALL AND AGAIN TOLD ME THAT IT HAS BEEN RECALLED BUT THEY HAVEN'T AGREED ON WHOSE GOING TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I AM TIRED OF WAITING AND DRIVING A TRUCK THAT IN MY OPINION IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE WITH THIS SAFETY RELATED ISSUE. I WANT THIS FIXED BECAUSE 3 YEARS IS LONG ENOUGH TO FIGURE OUT WHOSE PAYING AND GET THE JOB DONE. IF IT DOSEN'T GET RESOLVED SOON I WILL HAVE TO TAKE LEGAL ACTION AGAINST GM. I DRIVE THIS VEHICLE DAILY SO IT NEEDS TO BE FIXED.

NHTSA complaint #11220456 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 37,000 miles 7, CA

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

MAJOR DASH CRACKS

NHTSA complaint #11183685 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Jacksonville, FL

AIR BAGS

TAKATA RECALL WE GOT THE TRUCK 5/23/2015 WE RECEIVED THE RECALL ON THE AIR BAGS FEW MONTHS LATER WE TOOK THE TRUCK IN TO THE DEALER SHIP ON06/2/2017 THEY TOLD US THEY DID NOT HAVE THE PART TO FIX IT BUT THEY ARE THE ONES THAT TOLD US TO BRING IT IN SO WE GOT HOME I CALLED THE RECALL NUMBER THEN THEY TOLD ME THAT THE PLACE IS FIGHTING TO NOT FIX IT

NHTSA complaint #11078397 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 120,000 miles Jacksonville, FL

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

DASH BOARD IN CRACKING IN TWO PLACES OVER THE SPEEDOMETER AND TWO PLACES ABOVE THE AIRBAG. CRACKS ARE CONTINUING TO APPEAR ON MY DASHBOARD WHICH RAISES A CONCERN OF WHETHER IT WOULD SHATTER IF THE AIRBAG WAS TO INFLATE DURING A ACCIDENT.

NHTSA complaint #11014532 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Dumas, TX

AIR BAGS

MAJOR ISSUE INVOLVING CRACKING OF DASH AROUND PASSENGER AIRBAG OPENING AND INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AREA. I HAVE NOTICED SEVERAL VEHICLES COVERING ALL YEARS AND USAGE WITH SIMILAR CRACKS SOME MAJOR. CONCERNED THAT IF AN ACCIDENT WITH FRONT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT INJURY COULD OCCUR DUE TO FRACTURED PLASTIC.

NHTSA complaint #10820660 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Dumas, TX

STRUCTURE:BODY

MAJOR ISSUE INVOLVING CRACKING OF DASH AROUND PASSENGER AIRBAG OPENING AND INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AREA. I HAVE NOTICED SEVERAL VEHICLES COVERING ALL YEARS AND USAGE WITH SIMILAR CRACKS SOME MAJOR. CONCERNED THAT IF AN ACCIDENT WITH FRONT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT INJURY COULD OCCUR DUE TO FRACTURED PLASTIC.

NHTSA complaint #10820660 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Corpus Christi, TX

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

DASH IS CRACKED IN THREE PLACES, THE SAME AS ALL THE OTHERS. DOOR HANDLES PEELING AND CUT MY CHILD'S HAD

NHTSA complaint #10785734 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 5,000 miles DE Land, FL

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 GMC SIERRA DENALI. THE CONTACT STATED ALL THE DOOR LATCH HANDLES REPEATEDLY BROKE. THE CONTACT'S SON ATTEMPTED TO OPEN THE DOOR AND THE HANDLE COMPLETELY FAILED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED MORE THAN SEVEN TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,000. UPDATED 7/16/15

NHTSA complaint #10723173 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 91,030 miles Havelock, NC

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER CAME ON AND WENT CRAZY AND SO DID THE RADIO. THE TRUCKS BRAKES LOCKED UP AND CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE TRUCK TURNED OFF AND WHEN I TRIED TO TURN IT BACK ON IT WAS DEAD. OPEN UP THE HOOD AND DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY AND RECONNECTED AND THE TRUCK TURNED ON THIS HAS NOT BEEN THE ONLY TIME IT HAS HAPPEN.

NHTSA complaint #10667174 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 128,000 miles Woodland, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

MY TRUCK STARTED TO ACTIVATE THE BRAKES IN THE MIDDLE OF THE 3 LANE 680 FREEWAY, DOORS STARTED TO LOCK AND UNLOCK, NAVIGATION WENT DARK, MULTIPLE DIFFERENT DISPLAYS ON DASHBOARD, NUMBER OF LIGHTS FROM THE AIR CONDITIONER UNIT, CAME ON. ACCELERATION OR BRAKES WOULD NOT RESPOND, WE WERE UNABLE TO DRIVE OFF THE FREEWAY. IT WAS A SCARY MOMENT, WE WERE LUCKY THAT NO BIG RIG WAS FOLLOWING US, OR IT WOULD HAD RUNS US OVER, AND PROBABLY KILLED US.

NHTSA complaint #10640690 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 128,000 miles Woodland, CA

SERVICE BRAKES

MY TRUCK STARTED TO ACTIVATE THE BRAKES IN THE MIDDLE OF THE 3 LANE 680 FREEWAY, DOORS STARTED TO LOCK AND UNLOCK, NAVIGATION WENT DARK, MULTIPLE DIFFERENT DISPLAYS ON DASHBOARD, NUMBER OF LIGHTS FROM THE AIR CONDITIONER UNIT, CAME ON. ACCELERATION OR BRAKES WOULD NOT RESPOND, WE WERE UNABLE TO DRIVE OFF THE FREEWAY. IT WAS A SCARY MOMENT, WE WERE LUCKY THAT NO BIG RIG WAS FOLLOWING US, OR IT WOULD HAD RUNS US OVER, AND PROBABLY KILLED US.

NHTSA complaint #10640690 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 128,000 miles Woodland, CA

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

MY TRUCK STARTED TO ACTIVATE THE BRAKES IN THE MIDDLE OF THE 3 LANE 680 FREEWAY, DOORS STARTED TO LOCK AND UNLOCK, NAVIGATION WENT DARK, MULTIPLE DIFFERENT DISPLAYS ON DASHBOARD, NUMBER OF LIGHTS FROM THE AIR CONDITIONER UNIT, CAME ON. ACCELERATION OR BRAKES WOULD NOT RESPOND, WE WERE UNABLE TO DRIVE OFF THE FREEWAY. IT WAS A SCARY MOMENT, WE WERE LUCKY THAT NO BIG RIG WAS FOLLOWING US, OR IT WOULD HAD RUNS US OVER, AND PROBABLY KILLED US.

NHTSA complaint #10640690 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 8,822 miles Deland, FL

STRUCTURE:BODY

GMC HAS THE DOOR HANDLES MADE IN MEXICO OUT OF PLASTIC. WHEN YOU GO TO OPEN THE DOOR THE HANDLE BREAKS OFF IN YOUR HAND. GMC KNOWS THIS A MAJOR DESIGN FLAW BUT REFUSES TO STAND BEHIND THE PROBLEM. JUST GOOGLE "GM DOOR HANDLES BREAK" AND HUNDREDS OF POSTINGS COME UP! MY CHILD WENT TO GET INTO THE TRUCK THE OTHER DAY AND THE HANDLE BROKE OFF IN HIS HAND CAUSING HIM TO FALL BACKWARDS.

NHTSA complaint #10605883 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 58,000 miles Savannah, GA

STRUCTURE

DASH CRACKED TOP LEFT CORNER PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG. THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM SIMPLY GOOGLE GMC CRACKED DASH AND YOU SHALL SEE. IF THE AIR BAG DEPLOYS PLASTIC SHRAPNEL WOULD BE SENT ALL OVER THE CABIN. VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM THAT GM IS IGNORING A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED.

NHTSA complaint #10559297 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 78,000 miles Mcfarland, WI 1 injured

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

I JUST READ THE SAFETY NOTICE FOR GMC 2007 YUKON INTERIOR DOOR HANDLES DELAMINATING AND CREATING SHARP CUTTING EDGES (EA 10004). THE EXACT SAME THING HAS HAPPENED ON MY 2008 GMC DENALI SIERRA (DRIVER SIDE) - I'VE SLICED MY FINGER A 3RD TIME AND AM NOW HAVING THE HANDLE REPLACED AT A COST OF $240. WHEN I CALLED GMC CUSTOMER COMPLAINT LINE THEY OFFERED NO HELP JUST EXCUSES...POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE...WOW, NO WONDER GM WENT BANKRUPT!!

NHTSA complaint #10490928 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 18,000 miles Tucson, AZ

STRUCTURE:BODY

EXTERNAL LEFT REAR DOOR HANDLE PULLED OFF WHEN SIMPLY OPENING THE DOOR 11/15/2010. EXTERNAL LEFT FRONT DOOR HANDLE PULLED OFF WHEN SIMPLY OPENING THE DOOR 12/15/2012. TWO DOOR HANDLES POP OFF ON A NEW VEHICLE NOT A DEFECT? SAME FLIMSY PLASTIC FASTENER ATTACHMENT BROKEN IN BOTH CASES. GOOGLE SEARCH INDICATES THIS IS A COMMON DEFECT EXPERIENCED BY NUMEROUS OWNERS THAT GMC AND CHEVROLET WILL NOT ADMIT TO. THE GMC DEALER EVEN ACKNOWLEDGED IT'S A DEFECT! REPAIR COST - $300/HANDLE!

NHTSA complaint #10489378 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 68,000 miles White River Junction, VT

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

AS I REACHERD TO OPEN THE PASSENGER DOOR I SLICED MY FINGER INDEX FINGER AND GOT QUITE A BAD SPLINTER IN MY. MIDDLE FINGER.

NHTSA complaint #10445666 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 79,000 miles Pasadena, MD

WHEELS

THE TIRES SEAL AT THE WHEELS LEAK AIR CONTINUOUSLY. CAUSING THEM TO BE REFILLED. IF THEY GO DOWN POSSIBLE ACCIDENTS CAN RESULT. GM WILL DO NOTHING. THE WHEELS ARE CORRODING AND CAUSING THE PROBLEM. RIGHT WHERE THE TIRE MEETS THE WHEEL.

NHTSA complaint #10425546 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 45,000 miles Huntington Park, CA

VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 GMC SIERRA DENALI. THE CONTACT STATE THAT DURING RAINY WEATHER, WATER WOULD LEAK INTO THE VEHICLE FROM THE SUNROOF RESULTING IN SEVERE WATER DAMAGE TO THE HEADLINER. THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.

NHTSA complaint #10387001 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 22,000 miles Visalia, CA

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

MY 2008 GMC SIERRA DENALI HAS WATER CONDENSATION IN BOTH OF THE TAIL LIGHTS. ITS NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE ON ANY OF MY GMC TRUCKS AND THIS DENALI WASN'T CHEAP.

NHTSA complaint #10374137 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 3,000 miles Hialeah, FL

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

2008 GMC SIERRA DENALI HAS INTERMITTENT FUEL GAUGE OPERATION. AFTER FILLING UP THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING THE FUEL GAUGE NEEDLE WILL DROP FROM FULL TANK INDICATION TO EMPTY TANK INDICATION EVEN THOUGHT THE TANK IS FUEL OF FUEL. THE DEALER HAS REMOVED THE TANK AND REPLACED THE FUEL SENDING UNIT, BUT HAS NOT RESULTED IN A FIX JUST AN EDUCATED GUESS. ALSO IN THE MORNINGS THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCES A VERY LOUD KNOCKING NOISE WHICH WHEN CONFRONTED AT THE DEALER WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS A NORMAL NOISE. OCCURS EVERYDAY IN THE MORNING AND WHEN LEAVING WORK IN THE AFTERNOON.

NHTSA complaint #10258312 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.