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Random Quote: A smooth sea never made for a skillfull sailor...lannyard
Russ: Man do you know how to hit a raw nerve. My 03 Denali XL has about 60K in mileage and must have been just before or after yours in the production line. Just put $2500 into it for a variety of issues including it's 3rd mid steering linkage (the steering column actually felt loose in your hands), running lights out constantly, idiot lights in the center arm rest which display the heated captain's chair's for rear occupants activation buttons (one half of the console is on, the other off) which was going to be almost $500-$600 bucks to replace just to have the activation buttons illuminated!!! Don't thinks so... And the list goes on.
Was always a Ford guy who never had many problems with our Expeditions and Explorers but I had to have the Denali. Sold the missus on buying it and it has been the biggest piece of sh_t i've ever owned. I'll never live this one down. Sorry GM guys but never again...
Whether it's GM, Ford or Dodge, I really don't think you're going to find one company that is consistantly trouble free. I've owned them all and they all seem to have their issues. If you look at consumer reports, Toyota and to some degree Honda are about the only auto makers out there with a clean repair history. Sad, but true.
It would be nice to see the big 3 start reducing the number of models that they carry and start concentrating on engineering some quality controll. That, and design a Chevy or Ford car that someone can feel proud of owning. The majority of their cars feel like stripped down rental cars.
Surfside, sorry to hear about your problems, maybe we should compare VIN numbers to see if our trucks were built on the same day! In my case it's not GM's fault that components go bad on vehicles, unless of course they are accepting substandard products to assemble into their vehicles. It's funny that the two common repeate problems have been running lights and the drivers side power window motor. That is just to much of a coincedence to a be a coincedence.
The bottom line I guess is that I'm the only one complaining about the truck but my wife drives it every day and she loves it. I, like most of you that pay the extra money for something, expect to be rewarded with a trouble free vehicle for a longer period of time.
I have a similar story. I bought a 2001 Yukon XL Denali brand new. Today the vehicle has a 175K miles and still going. It has been a horible vehicle from a reliability stand point. I certainly loved the utility of hauling things, moving kids in and out of college dorms, etc....Thank God I bought a 5 year/100,000 mile extended warranty. I calculated my repairs once within the 100,000 miles. The cost was $12,000. After the warranty expired it was another $7,000. Unfortuntaely for me I can only scratch the service of servicing my own vehilce. This is the last full size SUV in my lifetime. (especaially a GMC vehicle)
Here is a partial list of items:
1) AC/Heater blower motor.--covered
2) All 4 electric window motors.--2 were covered, 2 out of my pocket
3) 1/2 the clear coat peeled off the vehicle--this was covered.
4) Bearngs in front differnetial
5) Air ride system broke due to a failure in the rear air shocks.
6) Mechanical part between the steering mechanism and the front end.
7) Front end parts (Pitman arm, ball joints, idler arms, etc...)
8) Fuel Pump
9) Wheel bearings
10) AC compressor and associated parts
11) Water Pump
12) Typical items---2 complete break jobs with rotors
13) front hubs
14) Transmission within first 100,000 miles
15) Fan clutch--would not spin fan fast enough
16) Alternator
'04 Suburban here. Bought it with 30K miles, now have 125K miles.
Problems since I owned it:
1. Fuel Pump
2. Drivers Side window motor
3. Lost function of tach, Speedo and Fuel gauges. I hear it's very common problem. I took the gauge package out myself (very easy, can find it on Youtube) and just sent it to a guy who rebuilds them for $72.00.
Otherwise, I think that's all that went wrong.
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I have an '06 Denali...109K miles on the clock. Still on the original brakes. Other than a new battery, tires and oil changes every 5K miles, it looks and runs like its brand new. Was offered $17K to trade it in on a 2010 one about a month ago, but decided to keep it.
The only recurring issue I've had is the fuel gauge is not the most accurate. GM has replaced both the instrument cluster and the fuel sensor in the tank but its still not right. After 5+ years, I have a pretty good idea of when its time to fill up.
The 2008 Tahoe we have has had its share of minor issues. The driveline clunk is still there...it needed a brake job at 40K miles, and the original tires lasted 28K miles, despite rotating every 6K miles and being diligent on the air pressure. I'm trying to decide whether to buy it out as the lease is up in May....
I will be pro gm. They are the base for most mercruiser engines. I also have an older suburban with 660,000 miles. Still trucking. I feel like you should give one more chance. I have had tons of bad luck with ford.
RE: 2003 Yukon XL Denali problems 
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