GMC Yukon Denali

GMC Yukon Denali

Our promise. We provide a buying advantage with verified reviews and unbiased editorial research.

Overall Rating3.5 out of 5
See all 112 reviews & ratings

About GMC Yukon Denali

The GMC Yukon Denali is a full-size SUV. Read more General Motors reviews to learn about other models.


GMC Yukon Denali Reviews

ConsumerAffairs has collected 112 reviews and 936 ratings.

Recent
  • Recent
  • Oldest
  • Most helpful
Any
  • Any

A link has directed you to this review. Its location on this page may change next time you visit.

How do I know I can trust these reviews about GMC Yukon Denali?
  • 4,307,388 reviews on ConsumerAffairs are verified.
  • We require contact information to ensure our reviewers are real.
  • We use intelligent software that helps us maintain the integrity of reviews.
  • Our moderators read all reviews to verify quality and helpfulness.
Page 1 Reviews 0 - 10
Customer ServiceCoveragePriceStaff

Reviewed Sept. 15, 2023

Title: GMC Denali: A Costly Nightmare with Poor Customer Service

Rating: ★☆☆☆☆ (1/5)

I purchased a GMC Denali six months ago for a hefty price tag of $96,000, expecting a premium driving experience and the reliability that usually comes with a luxury brand. However, my experience with this vehicle has been nothing short of a nightmare, and the customer service from GM has been equally disappointing.

The trouble began when I started experiencing electrical issues with the vehicle. These issues culminated in a terrifying incident on the freeway, where the car dangerously shut off, forcing me to coast to safety amidst high-speed traffic. This incident not only put my life in danger but also posed a significant risk to others on the road.

When I reached out to GM for assistance, I expected a prompt and reassuring response. Instead, I was met with disappointment and frustration. GM has refused to cover the cost of a replacement vehicle while I wait for the new engine to be installed. This has left me in a vulnerable position, having to pay for a rental car for three weeks and counting, which is an added financial burden that I never anticipated.

What's even more disheartening is GM's dismissive attitude toward the situation. Their response was, "sometimes new cars need new engines," which is an unacceptable and callous way to address a problem of this magnitude. A car that costs nearly $100,000 should not require such a major repair within the first six months of ownership, and GM's failure to take responsibility for this issue is both infuriating and unacceptable. Furthermore, the staff at GM have been elusive and show a profound lack of concern for their customers' safety and satisfaction. It's as if they've forgotten the importance of customer loyalty and the reputation of their brand.

In conclusion, my experience with the GMC Denali has been a costly and dangerous ordeal. GM's unwillingness to provide adequate support and their dismissive attitude towards the issue have left me deeply dissatisfied. I expected more from a brand that claims to offer luxury and reliability, but what I received was nothing but disappointment and frustration. Buyers beware, and think twice before investing your hard-earned money in a GMC Denali.

Thanks for your vote! Report
Customer ServiceStaff

Reviewed June 9, 2023

The experience with a fully loaded GMC Yukon Denali has been nothing short of agonizing. It is disheartening to witness the lack of initiative, understanding, and competency exhibited by the individuals responsible for customer care at GMC headquarters. Despite investing $100k in this vehicle, the engine unexpectedly broke down just under a year after purchase, leaving my business partner stranded in the middle of heavy traffic on a Los Angeles freeway. Astonishingly, there were no warning signs whatsoever—no illuminated dashboard lights or engine indicators. It simply ceased to function.

Upon having the vehicle towed to the GMC dealer, we endured a week-long wait before being notified that the engine failure was caused by disintegrated metal pieces. Although the repair fell under warranty, GMC failed to provide any form of accommodation during the month-long replacement process. We were left without a replacement vehicle, a rental car, or even a courtesy ride to and from the dealer.

GMC has finally accepted responsibility for the faulty manufacturing of the engine. However, obtaining the necessary reimbursements has been a painstakingly drawn-out process. They have demanded an extensive array of documents, ranging from commercial lease agreements and rental receipts to bank statements showcasing the vehicle identification number (VIN) on payment transactions. This bureaucratic maze has unduly delayed the reimbursement process, while we continue to suffer the consequences.

The financial toll resulting from this ordeal is staggering, amounting to nearly $24k in damages. This includes exorbitant rental car costs of approximately $4045 for a similar commercial vehicle, lease payments of $1786, a significant loss of business amounting to $13,500, and countless hours—spanning over two months—spent on phone calls, document gathering, and visits to the dealer.

This review serves as a warning to anyone considering the purchase of another GMC vehicle. The incompetence demonstrated by GMC corporate employees, coupled with the arduous and disheartening experience we have endured, highlights the importance of steering clear of such substandard products and the lackluster support offered by the company. Your hard-earned money and peace of mind deserve far better than the disappointing reality of owning a piece of GMC junk.

Thanks for your vote! Report

Not sure how to choose?

Get buying tips about Car Models delivered to your inbox.

    By entering your email, you agree to sign up for consumer news, tips and giveaways from ConsumerAffairs. Unsubscribe at any time.

    Thanks for subscribing.

    You have successfully subscribed to our newsletter! Enjoy reading our tips and recommendations.

    Reviewed July 28, 2021

    This car looks nice but has a lot of similar issues with other reviewers. Purchased this 2015 black Yukon Denali with 45K miles. In 3 years we’ve had to fix/replace $3000 worth of repairs for the following:

    - Front magnetic ride struts locked up and causes rough ride - $1600 to replace.
    - Faulty brake compressor on front brakes causes brake locking when stopping - $700 replacement with some recall coverage.
    - Transmission flush due to stuttering - $500.
    - Passenger seat belt buckle lock broke- $300.
    - Plastic next to driver windows becomes lose and flaps above 55mph- fixed with Gorilla Glue every few months. Quote is $800 for both sides.

    - Paint on hood is fading/cracking.

    Thanks for your vote! Report

    Reviewed Jan. 14, 2021

    I now own my 4th Yukon Denali. I have decided this is my LAST! 2007, 2013, 2015, 2017. Hindsight, the 2007 was my favorite and I have never reached 100,000 miles on any of them! Yes, the technology is more each year, but not necessarily better. I have had everything from broken, cheaply made door handles, panels falling off for no reason, blurry heads-up display screen, to a jumping transmission. You would think with the drastically increasing prices of these vehicles that the engineers designing them would improve the things that current owners have complained to service providers about and document on the warranty, but it seems they don’t change anything with the newer models! They just change the appearance and make things a bit more eye appealing with technology. The transmission in my 2017 model is the straw that breaks the camel’s back for me! DONE with GMC!

    Thanks for your vote! Report

    Reviewed May 12, 2020

    Have owned my 2017 Yukon Denali for about 2 years. Was my dream car and was excited to buy it (Was not cheap). Come to find the worst choice I ever made, endless issues with the Transmission which the dealership says is normal, Shaking issues on highway which I had diagnosed by dealership, they said it was my tires so I replaced them with factory recommended, and same issues with shaking. Took back to dealership and now they say it is my shocks. I have not even hit 60000 miles yet. It has been in the shop at least two months of my ownership. I have a Toyota 4 Runner which never has had issues and a Nissan Xterra that is 230000 miles in with no issues. I believe if you maintain a car well, they last forever, but I guess I had high hopes for my first American Truck. If not resolved by the dealership soon, I am going to take my losses, and go back to quality vehicles.

    Thanks for your vote! Report

    Reviewed May 4, 2020

    I purchased a 2018 Yukon XL Denali in May 2018. In less than 18 months I have corrosion spots on my plastic grill and other trim pieces. When I took it in to my Dealer (King Chevrolet, Buick, GMC in Longmont Co). The service manager said that is caused by the Mag Chloride on the roads and they will not cover it. I explained that this should not happen after only 18 months. I also explained that this is an $80K vehicle and I expect a better product than this. After getting nowhere with the dealership I tried calling the GM customer helpline. This is a waste of time as all they do is play a go between me and the dealership.

    The warranty is very clear that any corrosion problems are covered while in the 3yr bumper to bumper warranty. I have also filed a formal complaint with GMC and 3 months later I still have not heard from them either. I thought that buying a GMC Denali would be like buying a Cadillac. Boy was I wrong. I will never purchase another GM product again.

    Thanks for your vote! Report

    Reviewed March 13, 2020

    Just purchased 2016 GMC Yukon Denali 67k miles. 2 days after purchasing notice the hard shift into first and second gear. Terribly rough ride. Get up to 60 mph shaking and shudder like rumble strips. Rough idle. Took into dealer. We are still under 30 day warranty. They replaced the transmission temp sender to fix the hard shift. To fix the shudder they replaced the control valve on the transmission. They replaced transmission fluid to help with both. Lowered tire pressure to address rough ride (husband already did that and it didn’t help).

    Told us rough idle was normal and this vehicle has “loopy idle” and this is normal. Husband could see caked on dirt residue from leaking both rear shocks. Dealer says shocks not leaking and nothing to do with our rough ride complaint. Now on a 1200 mile road trip and hoping to get back home because all shaking etc still evident and then trading it in ASAP. Never a gmc again. (We had a ‘03 Yukon XL for 17 years and it was a great vehicle.)

    Thanks for your vote! Report

    Reviewed Jan. 19, 2020

    First of all I want to say that this is a magnificent vehicle! Bold, Beautiful, and state of the art technology. My disappointment comes from the fact that, despite the impressive size of the SUV, the width of the front doors is much less than they were on older models and the width of the bucket seats is more narrow. I am 6'4" 210 lbs and I ordered a new Denali with all the bells and whistles that I wanted, all the time thinking this big boy would be accessible to me. Well, it's not! I have to back into the seat, then spin around to drive. When I position the seat for driving, my left shoulder is rubbing the area behind the door.

    The door on this "large SUV" is so narrow I have to maneuver myself to exit the door. I almost feel claustrophobic! The bucket seats are so narrow my hips and my legs are fixed on the raised outer area of the seat! Again, Why? there is a massive center console with far more space than anyone would ever need, and yet GMC chose that over comfortable seats!

    Look, I could understand if this were a compact or even a Sport vehicle. But it is a Large Sport Utility Vehicle! One should expect it to be spacious! But I can access my wife's 500SL better than I can my Denali! I paid $75K for a big vehicle only to find Hobbit sized doors and seats! Hey GMC engineers! Go back to the drawing board, dig out the specs from the 2000s and correct this fatal flaw!

    Thanks for your vote! Report

    Reviewed Dec. 16, 2019

    I recently purchased a 2016 Yukon Denali with 25,000 miles on it. Bought extended warranty to make sure I was covered. The sales man told me that the owner smoked but not in the car. The car had 1 owner and bought from this GMC dealership so they "knew him". I have a new born and a 6 year old and I'm a non smoker. They guaranteed me the smell would come out. Lie. I bought all kinds of air purifiers etc and it still smells like smoke. This should have been my first clue that this dealership was not to be trusted.

    Then the horrible shaking started at 80. It's so bad that my daughter threw up after a long road trip. The dealership is now telling me that I have to buy all new tires in order for the shaking to stop. My tires are new. It's all a run around. I have been up there more than 5 times for this shaking and they are telling me it's a balancing issue. My tires were balanced with one of their fancy balancing machines and it still shakes. My next call is to an attorney. I do not have peace of mind driving my family around in this death trap.

    Thanks for your vote! Report

    Reviewed Dec. 15, 2019

    Very nice vehicle. Has been very reliable and affordable. It is a 2007 Yukon with 150k miles. I have only had to do routine maintenance and low cost repairs so far. I would hop in and drive anywhere in it.

    Thanks for your vote! Report
    Loading more reviews...

    GMC Yukon Denali Company Information

    Company Name:
    GMC Yukon Denali
    Website:
    www.gmc.com