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There are system and component problems. To start, the instrument cluster is virtually unreadible in the daytime. It is set deeply shrouded, poorly designed with low contrast grey and dark white lettering surrounded with confusing chrome reflections. The needles actually vanish with their ultra low visibility dull brown/red. GM knows about this major botched instrument design but continues producing it.
The build quality is sincerely poor. Don't believe the magazines. Yes, this new Denali is better....but better than what? Better than the substandard ancient previous generation truck. GM's current ads proclaim "We examined everything, we overlooked nothing." What a load of pure B.S. I guess they think that a 6 speed transmission should clunk, bang and lurch as it shifts. As it goes into first gear, the engine actually speeds up which is a scary thing when you're trying to stop!!! This is a major problem that GM knows about but they rushed a half baked design into production. I guess they think A/C should routinely stop blowing cold air and instead blow warm stale smelling air. I guess they forgot to examine the fact that GM is the only maker who FAILED to provide an entry A pillar grab handle thus forcing you to hold onto the steering wheel to pull yourself up to the AWD cab. Now my steering column has become loose and makes noticeable noises when steering. How about all the plastic pieces that actually just FALL OFF when you open the door to the truck. How about driver's door arm rest that constantly interferes with your left leg and knee bruising you over a ride. The console center hatch opens the wrong way and any time you put anything down on the center console, the morons at GM designed the two console compartments to open at a touch. So when you pick anything up off the console, the darn doors alwasy open! What a stupid nuisance and pain. The adjustable steering colum is tragic. GM gives so few detents that each setting is too far from an adjacent setting so finding a comfortable setting is hopeless. The sunvisors are too narrow and leave a 6" gap between the A pillar and the visor. IN the morning, the sun comes in blinding me as I head east and I can't adjust the useless visor in any way to block the intense glare. The windshield wiper washer is another GM botch job. When your windshield is dirty, you turn on the washer and the blades make two complete cycles BEFORE the washer activates. That is GM's way of insuring that you have a good scratched up ruined windshield by your truck's 6 month birthday. Next time you apply your emergency brake, don't hold your breath until you locate the brake release. It is just another GM joke played on the truck owner. If you have to exit the vehicle in an emergency and the car has locked the doors, don't get too frenzied trying to exit by using the door handles. They don't work!~!!!!!!!! Totally UNSAFE and DANGEROUS. If you can't get to the button to unlock the door or try to reach around 180 degrees to manually lift the difficult to reach lock button, you won't get out!!! In an emergency, it is crucial to be able to exit the vehicle. This truck prevents this totally. What are the IDIOTS at GM thinking???? Oh yes, GM 'examined everything and overlooked nothing.' Who are they kidding. This truck is a disappointing embarrasment for GM and GMC. GM service has been another horror story. I am working with a second dealer who hopefully has the skills and know how to fix this problem and defect plagued truck.
tidester, host
SUVs and Smart Shopper
Tnx
I was told it was around $350 to repair & somewhere around $500 to replace.
I went on e-bay & purchase a new one from this vendor who is always selling Escalade & Denali dash clusters on e-Bay
Go on e-Bay & type in 03 or your year Denali & just scrool thru the parts & you'll start to see clusters pop up for around $250
I purchased an Escalade cluster for around $250 brand new it's a nicer cluster than the Denali's cluster & it was a simple install. It was a plug & play swap
I think it had something to do with the armor all they were putting on the dash because I don't let them put it on the dash anymore & the peeling stopped in it's tracks
Flaws:
1. Dash and guages are unreadable in daytime.
2. Back up camera comes on far too slow.
3. Suspension stinks.
4. Gas mileage is terrible - 14 mpg on highway
5. The transmission is terrible and shifts hard.
Also Snake3, you will unfortunately become frustrated with the standard GM corporate reply to your serious defects and problems with the phrase "your vehicle is operating within normal parameters." They will routinely deny the existence of defects and problems while you suffer with them. They keep stating this worn out phrase which serves to incite and ignite pure disrespect and loathing disgust toward GM and their little minions. They spawn and actually ferment customer alienation. They don't have a clue how to treat their valuable customer or regard them. Their methods are tantamount to a tragic and vile corporate policy. They are committing business suicide.
My GMC Sierra Denali junk truck is now in for its sixth major service repair. One of the major issues is the symptom of depressing the gas to modestly accelerate and the engine RPM's ACTUALLY DECREASE!!!! Yes, pressing on the gas causes the engine to slow down. You can hear the motor bog and see the tach drop about 300 to 400 RPM's. To make this TURD move you absolutely have to STOMP on the gas and hope the transmission finds the right gear. My transmission will upshift and downshift rapidly searching for a correct gear to use. Meanwhile, nothing is happening in the speed department.
This truck is a TOTAL DISGRACE and ROTTEN EXCUSE for a "world class" vehicle. I am so disgusted and livid at GM AND their virtually useless and in fact UNTRAINED mechanics. The "tranny specialist" assigned to my truck told me on the initial diagnosis test drive that my truck was the first 6 speed model he ever saw or worked on. I asked if GM had provided special training for the new 6 speed and he said no, they had not. And you wonder why GM mechanics cannot deal with the new technology or fix vehicles? You can become nauseous watching this kind of gross ineptitude in action at the GM dealership.
I totally regret ever hearing the name General Motors or GMC.
General Motors is a JOKE, a humiliation and a tragic example of what was once mighty but now is humiliated and disgraced by their own ineptitude and incompetance. Maybe some lucky people are not having problems with their vehicles or don't even know if there are defects but that is all cold comfort to the multitude of those suffering and victimized by the corporate treachery, half baked engineering designs and maladroitness of the service department.
http://www.painlessperformance.com/webcatalog/catview.php?SearchField=20
Welcome to the bizarre world of GM.
We just purchased an 07 Denali about 8 weeks ago. We noticed that the RPMs would really go up at any slight up hill slope. Also, the mileage is not accurate, something the dealership is telling us can be attributed to its "newness" and not having been "broken in" quite yet.
We are taking it for its first real dealer visit on Thursday to have them check out the RPM issue...I have been looking up the Lemon Law in Texas and it really looks like the consumer has to prove a pretty tough case in order to get the vehicle deemed a lemon.
You mentioned that you are seeking legal assistance. Are you hiring your own attorney or doing the research yourself?
It's really a shame that one pays over 50K on a vehicle for this! It really hit me that we had a problem when I recently went truck shopping with my sister and we test drove a few SUVs and NONE hesitated up a steep hill much less a slight one. In fact, she accelerated right as she was going up the slope and none of the SUVs hesitated or RPMs raised. We cannot even keep the same speed we are going in our Denali when we encounter an uphill slope, much less speed up!
Does this sound like any of your problems?
Thanks for reading.
1. While cruising between 35 and 60, just tip into (lightly accelerate) the gas pedal and watch what happens. The engine will actually decrease in RPMS. Only GM makes a vehicle that slows down when you apply gas. You can thank the GM computer geeks for this screw up. Rediculous!
2. In an emergency situation, you might stomp on the accelerator pedal to avoid an oncoming vehicle, then lift your foot and then stomp again as you evade a dangerous scenario. Now you try stomping on the gas pedal about two to three second intervals. Try this on the highway as well. The transmission goes crazy. And the lag times are remarkably long. You have no safety margin in the GMC Denali due to delayed engine/tranny response. The drive by wire computer you have gets totally confused and it ceases taking any signals from the gas pedal. You are dead meat.
The check engine light for a while came on periodically and had something to do with the emissions. We had the part replaced by the dealer and is ok now.
We really have enjoyed ours but won't be replacing it with an 07 that's for sure after reading about all the problems most of you have had.
Now they tell me this is normal after the intitial 500 - 600 mile breakin. I was told this is normal...am I the only one with a Yukon that does not think this is acceptable?
I am very disappointed in GM and their Customer Service.
EDBJr
Come on - you need to think it through before you spout off about having a lemon - it's really more of lemon thinking here then it is the vehicle. Get the facts first.
coachman
ihave a yukon 2001. i noticed the service engine sign blinking for about 10 seconds then dissabear. this problem is recurrent. i also noticed some vibration when the car stop and some times i hear clicking sounds in the engine when i suddenly accelarte the car. i took the car to mechanic and got checked by the computer with the diagnosis of (miss fire). the computer couldnot specify which sparkplug, wire or coil is causing this miss fire.
thanks
http://www.wooddashexperts.com/customer/home.php
Now why did the GM dealership miss this, did the mechanic not want to perform this work or are they incahoots with the extended warranty people?
Well I'm still having problems with it, it is so unsafe to drive down the highway that if you have 1 little distraction, your in the other lane. So I took it back to Brakes Plus and they admit there is still a problem, but they can't figure it out and they want me to see a GM experts. I respected that from since I didn't have to pay for everything to get replaced. Now I'm getting ready to go back to the GM experts and if they can't fix it, it will be the last GM vehicle I will ever own. Thinking maybe a Dodge or a Ford. I grew up with GM's my entire life, so this will be a big change for me. And my Denali only has 80,000 miles and the front end is wore out. And if can I want E1 to boycott GM and start looking at something else.
Thank you very much.
Amy
The AC comes in and out when the weather is hot,
The DVD/Radio/Navigation system overheats and is not funtional, and the latest item to break is the speedometer! The darn thing says I am doing 120 at a dead stop! I hate driving my 2 year old around because I am afraid something else might happen. I haven't gotten rid of it because we don't owe anything on it and can't afford to trade it in. Even with all the problems it has, it is still driveable but at the amount of money it cost, we shouldn't be having these problems with a 2004!
I would NEVER buy it again and would advise anyone against doing so. And I can't get the dealerships to do anything about it because it is out of warranty. This is ridiculous!
You have any help with yours yet?
Cindi
What did you have to go through to get the letter? So far I have had no luck.
Bought an 2003 Denali in April 07 have had no issues till today. I would start the truck and have non of the gauges respond ie. tac, oil, pressure etc. If i turn off and restart the gauges would respond. Then today the truck would start normaly as i am driving the truck would just turn off no warning etc. This happend a number of times today. Before i take it to the garage can anyone tell me if they experienced anthing simular to this.
Mario