36 of the
106 complaints filed about the GMC Yukon XL Denali
are about the braking system —
34% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2002.
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.
(RECALL 05V-379) ABS LIGHT HAS BEEN COMING ON INTERMITTENTLY FOR ABOUT 4 YEARS NOW. WE HAVE TAKEN TO NUMEROUS MECHANICS TO NO AVAIL. NOW AFTER LOOKING INTO RECALLS, I FIND THAT THERE ACTUALLY WAS A SOLUTION, BUT WE WERE NEVER NOTIFIED BECAUSE WE DON'T LIVE IN THE CORRECT AREA OF THE COUNTRY. BUT WE DO LIVE CLOSE TO THE AFFECTED AREA. I PURCHASED THE CAR USED ONLY 3 YEARS AFTER IT WAS MADE. THIS VEHICLE COULD HAVE BEEN IN THE AFFECTED AREA PRIOR TO OUR PURCHASE. WE WOULD LIKE TO BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. MY TEENAGE DAUGHTER DROVE THIS VEHICLE TO SCHOOL AND DROPPED OFF OUR 8 YEAR OLD TO SCHOOL FOR TWO YEARS. THIS RECALL SHOULD HAVE BEEN EXPANDED SO THAT I WAS AWARE OF IT TO KEEP MY FAMILY SAFE.
NHTSA complaint #10676303 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DRIVING HOME WHEN I PUSH THE BRAKES, THE BRAKES DIDN'T WORK, BRAKE SERVICE WARNING CAME ON UPON CHECKING ALL THE BRAKE LINES ARE RUSTED AND WHEN IT PRESS THE BRAKES IT APPEARS THE PRESSURE PUNCTURE A LINE.
NHTSA complaint #10653991 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
WE WERE TRAVELING NORTH UP THE SAW MILL PARKWAY FROM BRONX NY. THIS PARKWAY IS TWO LANES WITH 3-4 LIGHTS DEPENDING WHERE YOU GET ON, SO I HAD 3 LIGHTS GOING NORTH. AT THE FIRST LIGHT I NOTICE THE BRAKES WERE WEEK. SECOND LIGHT HAD THE SAME NO PRESSURE BRAKE PEDDLE, AND THEN THE THIRD LIGHT I HAD NO PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE PEDDLE COULDN'T STOP AT THE RED LIGHT AND HAD SEEN THE CARS COMING FROM THE LEFT INTO THE INTERSECTION SO THAT MADE ME SWERVE HARD TO THE RIGHT AND FINALLY CAME TO A STOP. THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE LINE BLEW AND FLUID WAS LEAKING ALL OVER. I HAD BOTH OF MY DAUGHTERS, BROTHER IN-LAW, AND A FRIENDS SON IN THE TRUCK GOING TO A FAMILY PARTY IN CONNECTICUT AROUND 12PM.I HAD A COUPLE THINGS GOING FOR ME OTHER THAN BEING LUCKY, A GOOD DRIVER AND KNOWING THE HIGHWAY VERY WELL. I MADE IT TO THE MECHANIC SHOP AND SAW THAT ALL MY BRAKE LINES ARE RUSTED UP THAT THE MECHANIC DIDN'T WANT TO TOUCH THE OTHERS CAUSE THEY MIGHT BE VERY BRITTLE AND WILL BREAK VERY EASY. THIS TRUCK IS NOT MY MAIN VEHICLE AND IS IN VERY GOOD SHAPE TILL I LOOKED UNDERNEATH.
NHTSA complaint #10626207 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
COMING TO A STOP SIGN THE BRAKE LINE BLEW OUT ON THE LEFT REAR RESULTING IN THE TRUCK NOT STOPPING AND ROLLING THROUGH A STOP SIGN. HAD THERE BEEN A CHILD ON A BIKE, A PERSON WALKING OR ANOTHER VEHICLE COMING THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN AN ACCIDENT. UPON INSPECTION BY A MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT ALL MY BRAKE LINES ARE RUSTED OUT AND NEED TO BE CHANGED. IM STILL WAITING FOR A QUOTE BUT ITS SAID TO BE OVER $1500! GM SHOULD BE ACCOUNTABLE AND THESE TRUCKS SHOULD BE RECALLED!
NHTSA complaint #10615434 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
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.
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.
I WAS TRAVELING ON A TWO LANE COUNTY ROAD LOCATED IN OLDHAM COUNTY KENTUCKY AND UPON APPROACHING A CURVE, I ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKE TO SLOW THE VEHICLE BUT THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND PROVIDED NO BRAKING ACTION (SEVERELY RUSTED BRAKE LINES BURST AND RESULTED IN TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE ). THE CURVE WAS FOLLOWED BY AN INTERSECTION WITH A STOP SIGN IN MY LANE. LUCKILY THERE WERE NO VEHICLES IN FRONT OF ME AND NO OPPOSING TRAFFIC AT THAT MOMENT, WHICH ENABLED ME, THROUGH THE USE OF GEARS AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE, TO GET THE VEHICLE STOPPED JUST BEYOND THE STOP SIGN. IT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT MODERN VEHICLES WERE DESIGNED WITH REDUNDANCY IN THE BRAKING SYSTEM WHICH WOULD PREVENT TOTAL BRAKING FAILURE, BUT APPARENTLY THAT IS NOT TRUE WITH THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE READ SEVERAL ACCOUNTS OF SIMILAR FAILURES WITH THIS FAMILY OF VEHICLES AND I THINK ACTION NEEDS TO BE TAKEN QUICKLY AS THE NEXT VICTIM MAY NOT BE AS FORTUNATE AS ME AND MY 10 YEAR OLD GRANDDAUGHTER WERE THIS PAST WEEK.
NHTSA complaint #10557441 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE DRIVING MY 2001 DENALI XL MY BRAKES FAILED AND WAS FORTUNATE THAT I WAS NOT IN TRAFFIC. ONCE I CREPT HOME I WAS ABLE TO SEE THE UNDER CARRIAGE AND THERE WERE LARGE AMOUNT OF CORROSION ON ALL THE EQUIPMENT. CAR IS STILL LAID UP UNTIL I CAN AFFORD REPAIRED.
NHTSA complaint #10554627 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
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.
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.
NHTSA complaint #10471949 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I RECENTLY NOTICED THAT MY SPARE TIRE WAS MISSING. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE SEAR AUTO CENTER THAT HAS BEEN SERVICING IT. WHEN THEY LOOKED UNDER THE CAR THEY SAID THAT IT WAS COMMON FOR THE YUKON SPARE TIRE CABLE TO RUST AND SNAP OFF. SO I LOST THE SPARE TIRE, SPARE WHEEL, AND CABLE SYSTEM TO HOLD THE SPARE UNDER THE VEHICLE. NOT SURE WHERE OR WHEN IT HAPPENED, BUT IT WAS IN THE LAST 2 YEARS. JUST FOUND OUT ABOUT THIS COMPLAINT SERVICE. HAVE ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKES AND ROTORS A NUMBER OF TIMES (AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT), AND HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE A/C UNIT REPAIRED TWICE. THE FIRST TIME I WAS TOLD THAT IT HAD THE WRONG CONTROL HEAD. ALSO, WHENEVER I HIT A BUMP I MOMENTARILY LOSE POWER STEERING.
NHTSA complaint #10471297 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2002 DENALI XL 100.000 MI SUDDEN BRAKE FAILURE PEDAL TO FLOOR NO WARNINGS OF ANY KIND. NEW BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS INSTALLED 8 MONTHS AGO UPON FURTHER INSPECTION AFTER STOPPING VEHICLE ALL HARD BRAKE LINES WERE RUSTED THROUGH CAUSING LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID.
NHTSA complaint #10469394 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AS VEHICLE IS SLOWING TO A STOP, THE ABS ENGAGES LIFTS THE BRAKE PEDAL, ESSENTIALLY ALLOWING THE VEHICLE TO ROLL FORWARD, AND REQUIRING A QUICK REACTION TO STRONGLY DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THIS IS CAUSED BY A FAULTY AND CORRODED ABS SPEED SENSOR, WHICH HAS BEEN RECALLED ON THESE VEHICLES FROM 2002, BUT THE RECALL DOES NOT INCLUDE THE 2001 YEAR. ANOTHER KNOWN ISSUE IS FAULTY ABS MODULES IN THESE VEHICLES WHICH TURN ON THE DASHBOARD BRAKE AND ABS WARNING LIGHTS PERIODICALLY ALTHOUGH THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKES OR ABS.
NHTSA complaint #10444525 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.