2002 Gmc DENALI: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
23 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
36,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 13 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 23 complaints (13.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 5 | 21.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 17.4% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 4.3% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 3 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 2 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 2 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 1 |
| Air Bags:Side/Window | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys | 1 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 3; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 2; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 2; Air Bags:Frontal: 1; Air Bags:Side/Window: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 3 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 7 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 7; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (7). 10 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2002 | 6 |
| 2003 | 4 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2005 | 5 |
| 2006 | 3 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2009 | 2 |
2001: 1; 2002: 6; 2003: 4; 2004: 1; 2005: 5; 2006: 3; 2007: 1; 2009: 2
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 4 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10003208 · 2003-01-22 (January 22, 2003)
ENGINE TAPS LOUDLY UPON STARTUP. THIS METALLIC TAPPING OCCURS AFTER OVERNIGHT PARKING AND ALSO IF SITTING FOR AN HOUR OR SO. WHEN DRIVING COLD ENGINE, VALVE CLATTER OCCURS BEFORE EACH SHIFT OF THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. EMAIL AND TELEPHONE CORRESPONDENCE WITH GM LEFT ME WITH THEIR OFFER TO PROVIDE EXTENDED WARRANTY ON ENGINE, OF WHICH I DECLINED. PART OF THEIR RESPONSE: WE APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW YOUR CONCERNS WITH YOUR 2002 GMC SIERRA DENALI. WE HAVE EXAMINED REQUEST NUMBER 1-60877406 IN WHICH YOUR ENGINE TAPPING NOISE IS DOCUM…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10003208 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10010052 · 2003-03-06 (March 6, 2003)
THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10010052 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10029871 · 2003-07-22 (July 22, 2003)
CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH ENGINE OVERHEATING. DEALER WAS CONTACTED, AND STATED THAT IT WAS NORMAL. THIS HAS OCCURRED OVER FIVE TIMES. OVERHEATING UP TO OVER THE RED SIGN OF OVERHEATING. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, AND STATED THAT THEY WON'T DO ANYTHING.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 3,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10029871 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10043146 · 2003-10-18 (October 18, 2003)
UPON FIRST START-UP IN THE MORNING THE ENGINE TAPS FOR 10 TO15 SECONDS. THE LENGTH OF TIME AND NOISE LEVEL INCREASES WHEN THE VEHICLE SITS FOR TWO DAYS. IT IS PARKED ON LEVEL GROUND AND THE OIL LEVEL IS GOOD. IT SOUNDS TO ME LIKE A LIFTER IS LEAKING DOWN. SHORTLY AFTER VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, IT WAS BROUGHT BACK BECAUSE OF AN OIL LEAK. THE DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT DISC THAT THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL CONNECTOR ON THE LEFT SIDE WAS WHERE THE OIL WAS ORIGINATING FROM AND CORRECTED THE LOOSE VENT CONNECTOR. THE DEALER SERVICE INVOICE DOESN'T STATE HO…
Owner-reported narrative. 592 miles reported. Look up ODI 10043146 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10089965 · 2004-08-30 (August 30, 2004)
BOTH REAR TAILGATE STRAPS SNAPPED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 39,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10089965 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10105964 · 2005-01-08 (January 8, 2005)
AT 34,000 MILES IT STARTED WITH A SQUEAKING NOISE UNDER THE TRUCK WHEN MOVING. DEALERSHIP COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. NOISE CONTINUED. INDIVIDUAL FOUND THAT THE "PLASTIC PARTS" USED IN THE UNIVERSAL JOINT WERE BROKEN UP INSIDE. REPLACEMENT PARTS CONSISTED OF THE SAME PLASTIC PARTS WHICH ARE IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT NOW AT 62,000 MILES. SERVICE DEPARTMENTS ARE NOT FULLY KNOWLEDGEABLE OF THE DENAHLI SYSTEM OR ITS PARTS AND SPEND MORE TIME ORDERING THE WRONG PARTS. ALSO THE ENGINE HAS CUT OUT ON ME WHILE DRIVING. LUCKLY I WAS TRAVELING AT LESS THAN …
Owner-reported narrative. 32,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10105964 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10107392 · 2005-01-13 (January 13, 2005)
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE DRIVER HEARD A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT. THE VEHICLE JERKED AND VIBRATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 45,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10107392 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10113035 · 2005-06-02 (June 2, 2005)
WHILE DRIVING AND UPON EVERY STOP, THE CONSUMER WOULD HEAR NOISES COMING FROM THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE. TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALER. A FEW WEEKS LATER THE BRAKES FAILED, AND THE CALIPER SPLIT IN HALF. *NM THE NOISE HAD COME FROM THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE DUE TO BRAKE FAILURE. BRAKE FLUID WAS FLOWING OUT. THE TEETH WAS FOUND BROKEN OUT OF THE DISC BRAKE. THE 3/4 BY 3/4 INCH HIGH BRACKET EXPERIENCED A "HUMP" INSIDE OF IT WHICH MADE THE WHEEL WOBBLE. ALSO TWO OF THE 4 WHEEL ANTILOCK DISC BRAKES WERE NOT ON THE BACK WHEELS. *SC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10113035 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
02V253000 · Seats:Front Assembly:Head Restraint
Reported: 2002-09-17 (September 17, 2002)
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH REARWARD FOLDING HEAD RESTRAINTS ON THE SECOND ROW SEATS, TWO POTENTIAL PINCH POINTS EXIST ON EACH OF THE FOLDING HEAD RESTRAINTS WHEN THE RESTRAINTS ARE FOLDED REARWARD AS THE SEATBACK IS FOLDED DOWN.
Consequence: IF A PERSON WERE TO INSERT THEIR FINGER(S) INTO THE PINCH POINT WHEN THE HEAD RESTRAINT FOLDS, IT COULD TRAP AND PINCH THE FINGER(S) CAUSING INJURY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL PROTECTIVE COVERS OVER THE PINCH POINTS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN NOVEMBER 8, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, GMC AT 1-800-462-8782, OR CADILLAC AT 1-800-458-8006.
NHTSA campaign record ↗