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2002 problems

FaultScore report

2002 GMC Yukon XL Denali problems

Owners have filed 35 complaints about the 2002 GMC Yukon XL Denali with NHTSA between 2002 and 2018. The largest single group is the brakes. Across this model's run it ranks 3 of 3 worst.

Read the complaints What breaks Worst years for the GMC Yukon XL Denali All 2002 cars

FaultScore 25/100

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

How this is worked out

The numbers

Complaints

Crashes reported

Fires reported

Injuries reported

127,994 mi

Median mileage at failure

Half of reported failures happened before this

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.

The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.

Complaint volume — 50: Against the median year of the GMC Yukon XL Denali. 50 means typical for this model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 0: 0% 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 2002 compares with every other GMC Yukon XL Denali

Click any bar to open that year's report.

29 35 42

01 02 03

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks on a 2002 GMC Yukon XL Denali

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

Brakes 21 60.0%

Median failure at 121,700 miles

Engine & Cooling 4 11.4%

Median failure at 130,750 miles

Transmission & Drivetrain 2 5.7%

Median failure at 135,050 miles

Seats 1 2.9%

Tires 1 2.9%

Median failure at 163,500 miles

Windows, Mirrors & Wipers 1 2.9%

Median failure at 163,500 miles

Fuel & Propulsion 1 2.9%

Median failure at 163,500 miles

Acceleration & Cruise Control 1 2.9%

Suspension 1 2.9%

Median failure at 89,925 miles

Body & Structure 1 2.9%

Median failure at 163,500 miles

Electrical System 1 2.9%

When it fails

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

25,000 – 49,999 miles 2 7.1%

50,000 – 74,999 miles 3 10.7%

75,000 – 99,999 miles 5 17.9%

100,000 – 149,999 miles 8 28.6%

150,000+ miles 10 35.7%

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.

Oct 2002 peak 8 Jul 2018

NHTSA investigations into the 2002 GMC Yukon XL Denali

An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.

DP05009 Opened 20 Dec 2005 Closed 31 May 2006 PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL

PARKING BRAKE FAILURE

ODI'S REVIEW OF COMPLAINT DATA RECEIVED SINCE THE CLOSE OF EA04-011 REVEALED NO INDICATION THAT THE INVESTIGATION SHOULD BE RE-OPENED.MORE DETAILS CAN BE FOUND IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICE ENCLOSED IN THE DP05-009 PUBLIC FILE.ODI RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REOPEN THE INVESTIGATION IN THE FUTURE SHOULD CONDITIONS WARRANT.

PE05020 Opened 28 Apr 2005 Closed 13 Sep 2005 SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE

UNWANTED LOW-SPEED ABS ACTIVATION

IN A LETTER DATED AUGUST 29, 2005, GM NOTIFIED ODI THAT IT WAS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1999 THROUGH 2002 C/K PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES TO CORRECT A PROBLEM WITH ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) WHEEL SPEED SENSOR CORROSION THAT MAY RESULT IN UNWANTED ABS ACTIVATION AND EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCES DURING LOW-SPEED BRAKING (RECALL 05V-379).GM'S RECALL COVERS APPROXIMATELY 804,000 VEHICLES CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING 14 SALT-BELT STATES:CONNECTICUT, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, MASSACHUSETTS, MAINE, MICHIGAN, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, V...

The most recent complaints

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

Filed 12 Jul 2018 at 176,000 miles Ridgeway, VA

SERVICE BRAKES

I WAS DRIVING ON 58 WEST IN STUART VA WHEN WE CAME AROUND A CURVE AND AN 18 WHEELER WAS BROKEN DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF OUR LANE. TWO VEHICLES WERE STOPPED BEHIND THE TRUCK. I QUICKLY APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. I WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER BETWEEN THE STOPPED TRAFFIC AND THE ONCOMING VEHICLE IN THE OPPOSING LANE TO AVOID A CRASH. A BRAKE LINE HAD BLOWN CAUSING THE BRAKE FAILURE. I HAD ALREADY EXPERIENCED BRAKE FAILURE IN ANOTHER GM MODEL, AND WAS QUESTIONING HOW IT WAS POSSIBLE THAT ONE PERSON COULD HAVE TWO SEPARATE BRAKE LINE FAILURES ON TWO SEPARATE BUT SIMILAR VEHICLES. AS I RESEARCHED IT BECAME CLEAR THAT THIS TYPE OF BRAKE FAILURE WAS COMMON ON THESE TYPES OF VEHICLES. I'VE LIVED IN SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA MY ENTIRE LIFE, AND I HAVE OWNED 30-40 VEHICLES OF ALL MAKES AND MODELS, BUT I HAVE ONLY EXPERIENCED NEAR CATASTROPHIC VEHICLE FAILURE ON TWO OF THOSE VEHICLES, A 2001 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN AND A 2002 GMC YUKON. TO SAY THAT THESE BRAKE LINE FAILURES COULD BE AVOIDED THROUGH ROUTINE MAINTENANCE IS A BRAZEN ATTEMPT TO DEFLECT CULPABILITY TOWARDS A CONSUMER MARKET NEITHER DESIGNED NOR EQUIPPED TO DIAGNOSE PENDING FAILURE WITHOUT WARNING. THESE VEHICLES HAVE INNUMERABLE SENSORS TO INDICATE ALL TYPES OF OF POTENTIAL ISSUES, EVEN SO FAR AS TO REMIND THE DRIVER WHEN THE OIL NEEDS TO BE CHANGED. IF THE MANUFACTURER FEELS THE OWNER IS SO INEPT AS TO TRACK OIL CHANGES EVERY THREE THOUSAND MILES, HOW ON EARTH DO THEY EXPECT THOSE SAME PEOPLE WOULD BE ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE DEGRADATION OF BRAKE LINES, MOST OF WHICH ARE HIDDEN? I'VE NEVER BEEN TO A SHOP AND BEEN ASKED AS PART OF THE MANY SERVICES THEY OFFER, INCLUDING STATE SAFETY INSPECTIONS, "WOULD YOU LIKE US TO TEST YOUR BRAKE LINES FOR POTENTIAL FAILURE?" CV AXLES, BALL JOINTS, BRAKE PADS, ALL ARE INCLUDED IN INSPECTIONS. NOT BRAKE LINES, BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT MAINTENANCE PARTS. GM IS WHOLLY RESPONSIBLE.

NHTSA complaint #11110963 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 23 Sep 2014 at 89,925 miles Mansfield, OH

SUSPENSION

TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 35MPH, APPLIED BRAKES FOR UPCOMING STOP SIGN AND BRAKES FAILED. INSPECTION REVEALED THAT BRAKE LINE BROKE AS THE RESULT OF CORROSION TO LINE AT REAR AXLE. MECHANIC STATES ALL BRAKE LINES DEMONSTRATING UNUSUAL AMOUNT OF RUSING, ALL BRAKE LINES REPLACED. MECHANIC STATES FRAME WILL BE RUSTED THROUGH SOON IF NOT BLASTED AND RUSTPROOFED; ALSO STATES THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON NEARLY ALL GM TRUCKS HE SEES.

NHTSA complaint #10638294 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 23 Sep 2014 at 89,925 miles Mansfield, OH

SERVICE BRAKES

NHTSA complaint #10638294 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 22 Jun 2014 at 69,449 miles Royal OAK, MI

SERVICE BRAKES

STEPPED ON BRAKE PEDAL TO SLOW DOWN AND BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THERE WAS ENOUGH ROOM IN ANOTHER LANE TO EVENTUALLY SLOW DOWN WITHOUT A COLLISION. GOT UNDER REAR OF VEHICLE AND LOCATED LEAKING BRAKE FLUID LINE. RIGHT REAR PASSENGER BRAKE LINE.

NHTSA complaint #10605062 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 13 Jun 2014 at 165,000 miles Hayward, CA

SERVICE BRAKES

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 GMC YUKON XL DENALI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHENEVER THE BRAKES WERE ENGAGED, THE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD GRINDING NOISE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS WERE REPLACED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC BUT THE FAILURE REOCCURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING BRAKE FLUID WHICH CAUSED THE BRAKE HUB ASSEMBLY TO MALFUNCTION. AS A RESULT, THE BRAKE HUB ASSEMBLY, THE BRAKE ASSEMBLY AND THE TRANSFER CASE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 165,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 220,000.

NHTSA complaint #10598224 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 13 Feb 2014 at 135,054 miles Sicklerville, NJ

SERVICE BRAKES

THE BRAKE LIGHT CAN ON IN THE DASH, 2-11-14, CALLED THE GMC DEALER, PELLEGINO BUICK/GMC, 815 N BLACK HORSE PIKE, WILLIAMSTOWN, NJ 08094, PHONE 856-629-0101.THEY ADDED BRAKE FLUID AND SAID NO LEAKS. MILEAGE AT DEALER 135074. I DROVE ABOUT 40 MILES, THE BRAKE LIGHT CAME BACK ON, I CALLED DEALER AND DROVE RIGHT BACK TO THEM.. THEY CHECKED AGAIN AND SAID THE BRAKE LINE HAD RUPTURED, IT WAS FULLY COATED WITH RUST. IT IS SO BAD THEY CAN NOT USE A WRENCH TO GET NUTS OFF. BECAUSE OF ALL THE RUST ON THE BRAKE LINES. NEED TO CHANGE THE LINES, CALIPERS, AND ROTORS, TOTAL COST APPROX $1,400.00 WILL ADVISE MORE WHEN YUKON IS RETURNED REPAIRED.

NHTSA complaint #10564238 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 1 Nov 2013 Rockville, MD

SERVICE BRAKES

BRAKE LINES SEVERELY RUSTED, BRAKING FLUID LEAKING, NEEDED FULL REPLACEMENT.

NHTSA complaint #10550562 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 10 Feb 2013 at 75,000 miles Baldwin, NY

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

WHILE STOPPING FOR THE STOP SIGN DOWN THE BLOCK FROM MY HOUSE THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. I COULD NOT STOP THE TRUCK, I HAD TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE TRUCK. I BROUGHT THE TRUCK BACK HOME AND FOUND OUT THAT THE BRAKE LINE HAD RUSTED THROUGH CAUSING THE BRAKE FLUID TO LEAK OUT.

NHTSA complaint #10498601 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 21 Jan 2013 at 146,247 miles Holmdel, NJ

SERVICE BRAKES

WHILE UNDER VEHICLE TO REPLACE GAS FILTER IT HAD BECOME EVIDENT TO ME THAT THE BRAKE LINES WHERE THEY ENTER THE ABS UNIT WERE FAIRLY RUSTED. AS I INVESTIGATED FURTHER TO AREAS NOT EASILY VISIBLE I HAD DISCOVERED THAT ALL THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE LINES ARE EXTREMELY RUSTED AND IMMINENT FAILURE IS EVIDENT. IN MENTIONING THIS TO A FRIEND HE SUGGEST I CHECK ON LINE AS HE HAD HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM. I WAS ABSOLUTELY TAKEN ABACK TO SEE HOW COMMON THIS FAILURE IS ON THESE VEHICLES AND THAT GMC IS AWARE OF IT, YET THEY HAVE NEVER APPRISED ME OF THIS "POSSIBLE CONDITION"' AND THAT I SHOULD TAKE NECESSARY ACTION TO PREVENT FAILURE WHICH COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH ! I HAVE BEEN A MECHANIC FOR MANY YEARS AND HAD WORKED FOR GM SOME YEARS BACK. I HAVE NEVER OBSERVED SUCH DETERIORATION IN A VEHICLE OF THIS AGE. THIS VEHICLE IS EXTREMELY WELL MAINTAINED IN BOTH PERIODIC AND PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE. I DO NOT LIVE BY THE WATER, WE LIVE IN A MODERATE CLIMATE AND VEHICLE IS NOT SUBJECT TO ANYTHING BUT NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. I HAVE (COLLECTIBLE VINTAGE CARS) OLDEST BEING 36 YEARS OLD AND THE LINES ON ALL CARS LOOK NEW OR IN GOOD SHAPE. TO MY FURTHER DISSATISFACTION I HAD CONTACTED GMC AND THEY DENY ANY KNOWLEDGE OF THIS PROBLEM OR CONDITION. I THINK ALL PARTIES CONCERNED SHOULD CONSIDER THE POSSIBLE CATASTROPHIC OUTCOME OF THIS COMPONENT FAILURE AND ALSO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE SIZE AND WEIGHT OF THESE VEHICLES AND THE POSSIBLE SECONDARY CONSEQUENCES IN AN ACCIDENT AND TAKE IMMEDIATE REMEDIAL ACTION.

NHTSA complaint #10493678 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 22 Aug 2012 at 163,500 miles East Stroudsburg, PA

POWER TRAIN

BROKEN/LEAKING BRAKE LINES DUE TO SEVERE UNDERBODY CORROSION: FRAME,BRAKE AND GAS LINES, FRONT SUSPENSION, SPARE TIRE ASSEMBLY, NUTS, BOLTS, EXHAUST PIPES, ETC. ALONG WITH THIS I REPLACED TWO TRANSMISSIONS, ONCE DUE TO RADIATOR FAILURE, FUEL PUMP FAILURE, BRAKE CALIPER FAILURE, A FEW SETS OF REAR PARKING BRAKE SHOES BECAUSE THE ADJUSTMENTS DONT WORK PROPERLY, THREE WINDOW REGULATORS AND ALL WITHIN 163,630 MILES. YEA I'M PIS@#$ OFF.