2002 GMC Denali Recalls, Complaints & Specs
1 safety recall lists the 2002 GMC Denali, and owners have filed 23 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
1 safety recall for the 2002 GMC Denali
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Head restraint (seats)
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.
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…
23 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2002 GMC Denali have filed 23 complaints with NHTSA; 3 describe a crash and 1 describe a fire. Reports cite 3 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 37,251 miles. Complaints peaked in 2002 with 6 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“We own a 2002 denali, that we bought used. The transmission went out around nov. 2008 (appr. 120,000 miles) we had the transmission replaced but the transmission went out again shortly thereafter (aro”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, September 1, 2009 · Power train
“Front running light has been replaced twice and is out again. My mechanic stated he has seen several GMC autos with the same problem. Is there a recall or reason? *tr”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, April 6, 2009 · Exterior lighting
Compare GMC Denali model years
Recall and complaint counts for every GMC Denali model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 GMC Denali | 1 | 14 |
| 2000 GMC Denali | 1 | 21 |
| 2001 GMC Denali | 1 | 22 |
| 2002 GMC Denali | 1 | 23 |
| 2003 GMC Denali | 0 | 32 |
| 2007 GMC Denali | 0 | 3 |
| 2008 GMC Denali | 0 | 4 |
| 2009 GMC Denali | 0 | 2 |
| 2010 GMC Denali | 0 | 5 |
| 2011 GMC Denali | 0 | 11 |
| 2012 GMC Denali | 0 | 6 |
| 2013 GMC Denali | 0 | 5 |
| 2014 GMC Denali | 0 | 5 |
| 2015 GMC Denali | 0 | 18 |
Checking a specific 2002 GMC Denali
How do I know if my 2002 GMC Denali has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 1 campaign currently lists the 2002 GMC Denali; your car may already have been repaired under it.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised GMC dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 02V253000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other GMC models
- Sierra 15008,930 complaints
- Acadia5,569 complaints
- Yukon4,989 complaints
- Sierra3,937 complaints
- Terrain3,124 complaints
- Jimmy2,720 complaints
- Envoy2,459 complaints
- Yukon XL2,417 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.