2011 Gmc YUKON DENALI XL

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Average

Quick Summary

The 2011 Gmc YUKON DENALI XL has 91 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.1x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is other problems (38% of all complaints), specifically: the dashboard has cracked around the passenger airbag opening. my belief is if the vehicle activates the airbag in an accident, the dashboard may split into pieces and send the pieces into the passengers. i have found hundreds of complaints about this flaw on the internet.. ⚠️ 2 fire reports filed.

2 fire reports 1 crash report 2 injuries

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

1.1x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

OTHER

35 complaints

38%

• THE DASHBOARD HAS CRACKED AROUND THE PASSENGER AIRBAG OPENING. MY BELIEF IS IF THE VEHICLE ACTIVATES THE AIRBAG IN AN ACCIDENT, THE DASHBOARD MAY SPLIT INTO PIECES AND SEND THE PIECES INTO THE PASSENGERS. I HAVE FOUND HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS FLAW ON THE INTERNET.
• MY 4 YEAR OLD CAR STARTED WITH A SMALL CRACK IN THE DASH AND IS NOT EXTENDING AND THERE ARE SEVERAL CRACKS OVER INSTRUMENT PANEL. AFTER FINDING THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM CONTACTED GM WHO GAVE ME A TOKEN 10% DISCOUNT ON THE 1200$ QUOTE.
• THE DASHBOARD HAS CRACKED AROUND THE PASSENGER AIRBAG OPENING. MY BELIEF IS IF THE VEHICLE ACTIVATES THE AIRBAG IN AN ACCIDENT, THE DASHBOARD MAY SPLIT INTO PIECES AND SEND THE PIECES INTO THE PASSENGERS.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“THE DASHBOARD HAS CRACKED AROUND THE PASSENGER AIRBAG OPENING. MY BELIEF IS IF THE VEHICLE ACTIVATES THE AIRBAG IN AN ACCIDENT, THE DASHBOARD MAY SPLIT INTO PIECES AND SEND THE PIECES INTO THE PASSENGERS. I HAVE FOUND HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS FLAW ON THE INTERNET.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

27 complaints

30%

• MY DASHBOARD IS SEVERELY CRACKED AROUND THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG AND CLUSTER, WHICH A MAY CAUSE MALFUNCTIONING OF THE AIR-BAG. I HAVE DONE NUMEROUS SEARCHES ON THE INTERNET AND I AM SEEING THIS SAME COMPLAINT OVER AND OVER. I AM VERY CURIOUS WITH IT HAPPENING SO MUCH WHY THIS HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED
• THE DASHBOARD HAS CRACKED AROUND THE PASSENGER AIRBAG OPENING. MY BELIEF IS IF THE VEHICLE ACTIVATES THE AIRBAG IN AN ACCIDENT, THE DASHBOARD MAY SPLIT INTO PIECES AND SEND THE PIECES INTO THE PASSENGERS.
• THERE IS A CRACK IN THE DASH NEXT TO THE RIGHT SIDE AIR BAG. I AM CONCERNED IT COULD CONTINUE GROWING AND CAUSE THE AIR BAG TO DEPLOY.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“MY DASHBOARD IS SEVERELY CRACKED AROUND THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG AND CLUSTER, WHICH A MAY CAUSE MALFUNCTIONING OF THE AIR-BAG. I HAVE DONE NUMEROUS SEARCHES ON THE INTERNET AND I AM SEEING THIS SAME COMPLAINT OVER AND OVER. I AM VERY CURIOUS WITH IT HAPPENING SO MUCH WHY THIS HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BODY/STRUCTURE

20 complaints

22%

• DASHBOARD SEVERELY CRACKED AROUND AIRBAG AND CLUSTER, AND MAY CAUSE MALFUNCTIONING OF AIR-BAG. ALSO,THERE ARE COUNTLESS COMPLAINTS REPORTED FOR SAME PROBLEM, DASHBOARD CRACKS, IN INTERNET AND MOST OF THEM WORRIED ABOUT THE SAFETY AND HIGH COST REPLACEMENT. *TR
• MY DASHBOARD IS SEVERELY CRACKED AROUND THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG AND CLUSTER, WHICH A MAY CAUSE MALFUNCTIONING OF THE AIR-BAG. I HAVE DONE NUMEROUS SEARCHES ON THE INTERNET AND I AM SEEING THIS SAME COMPLAINT OVER AND OVER. I AM VERY CURIOUS WITH IT HAPPENING SO MUCH WHY THIS HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 GMC YUKON DENALI XL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE DASHBOARD STARTED TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. THE CONTACT OBSERVED THAT THERE WAS A HUGE CRACK ON THE DASHBOARD NEAR THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG AND THE DRIVER SIDE BEHIND THE STEERING WHEEL. THE FAILURE RECURRED C

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“DASHBOARD SEVERELY CRACKED AROUND AIRBAG AND CLUSTER, AND MAY CAUSE MALFUNCTIONING OF AIR-BAG. ALSO,THERE ARE COUNTLESS COMPLAINTS REPORTED FOR SAME PROBLEM, DASHBOARD CRACKS, IN INTERNET AND MOST OF THEM WORRIED ABOUT THE SAFETY AND HIGH COST REPLACEMENT. *TR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

4 complaints

• THE SEAT HEATER IN THE REAR RIGHT SEAT OVERHEATED AND CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE MY 10 YR. OLD CHILD WAS SEATED IN IT. WE WERE IN MOTION AT THE TIME ON THE INTERSTATE. I BELIEVE THE HEAT MECHANISM FAILED AND OVERHEATED AND WOULD NOT SHUT OFF CAUSING THE CUSHION TO CATCH ON FIRE. MY INSURANCE WILL NOT COVE
• POWER LIFTGATE WON'T OPEN, UNLOCK OR LOCK. ACTUATOR HAS BEEN CHANGED ALONG WITH BOTH STRUTS. COULD IT BE THE POWER LIFT GATE MODULE?
• WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE DOOR LOCKS BEGAN TO CYCLE, NAV SYSTEM AND RADIO ON AND OFF. AFTER STOPPED, REMOTE CAR LOCK INOPERATIVE, TRIED TO START VEHICLE AND THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF ANY ELECTRICAL POWER WITH THE KEY ON....I THOUGHT IS WAS A DEAD BATTERY. AFTER CYCLING THE IGNITION KEY SEVE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

“THE SEAT HEATER IN THE REAR RIGHT SEAT OVERHEATED AND CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE MY 10 YR. OLD CHILD WAS SEATED IN IT. WE WERE IN MOTION AT THE TIME ON THE INTERSTATE. I BELIEVE THE HEAT MECHANISM FAILED AND OVERHEATED AND WOULD NOT SHUT OFF CAUSING THE CUSHION TO CATCH ON FIRE. MY INSURANCE WILL NOT COVE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

3 complaints

• VALVE LIFTERS NEED REPLACED. RESEARCHED AND THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE SEVERAL PEOPLE ARE HAVING WITH THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE. REPAIR SHOP ALSO SAID A COMMON REPAIR FOR THIS MODEL.
• TRUCK STARTED SPUTTERING WHILE DRIVING. I HAD IT TOWED HOME AND THEN TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THE LIFTERS IN THE ENGINE WERE BROKE AND THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE CAN SHAFT. TOLD ME THIS IS NORMAL AND HAPPENS TO VEHICLES LIKE MINE REGULARLY. I HAVE ONLY OWNED THE TRUCK THREE YEARS AND HAVE MA
• ONE WEEK AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE I BROKE DOWN DUE TO AN OIL PRESSURE SENSOR. TWO WEEKS AFTER THAT I BROKE DOWN (STALLED OUT IN THE ROAD) DUE TO 2 LIFTERS COLLAPSING AND THE CAMSHAFT BEING DAMAGED. AFTER REPLACING ALL LIFTERS, THE CAMSHAFT, SPARK PLUGS AND WIRES, AS WELL AS ANOTHER OIL PRESSURE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“VALVE LIFTERS NEED REPLACED. RESEARCHED AND THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE SEVERAL PEOPLE ARE HAVING WITH THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE. REPAIR SHOP ALSO SAID A COMMON REPAIR FOR THIS MODEL.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

BODY/STRUCTURE(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 91 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
OTHER: THE DASHBOARD HAS CRACKED AROUND THE PASSENGER AIRBAG OPENING. MY BELIEF IS IF THE VEHICLE ACTIVATES THE AIRBAG IN AN ACCIDENT, THE DASHBOARD MAY SPLIT INTO PIECES AND SEND THE PIECES INTO THE PASSENGERS. I HAVE FOUND HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS FLAW ON THE INTERNET.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
AIR BAGS: MY DASHBOARD IS SEVERELY CRACKED AROUND THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG AND CLUSTER, WHICH A MAY CAUSE MALFUNCTIONING OF THE AIR-BAG. I HAVE DONE NUMEROUS SEARCHES ON THE INTERNET AND I AM SEEING THIS SAME COMPLAINT OVER AND OVER. I AM VERY CURIOUS WITH IT HAPPENING SO MUCH WHY THIS HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BODY/STRUCTURE: DASHBOARD SEVERELY CRACKED AROUND AIRBAG AND CLUSTER, AND MAY CAUSE MALFUNCTIONING OF AIR-BAG. ALSO,THERE ARE COUNTLESS COMPLAINTS REPORTED FOR SAME PROBLEM, DASHBOARD CRACKS, IN INTERNET AND MOST OF THEM WORRIED ABOUT THE SAFETY AND HIGH COST REPLACEMENT. *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: THE SEAT HEATER IN THE REAR RIGHT SEAT OVERHEATED AND CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE MY 10 YR. OLD CHILD WAS SEATED IN IT. WE WERE IN MOTION AT THE TIME ON THE INTERSTATE. I BELIEVE THE HEAT MECHANISM FAILED AND OVERHEATED AND WOULD NOT SHUT OFF CAUSING THE CUSHION TO CATCH ON FIRE. MY INSURANCE WILL NOT COVE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)