2005 GMC YUKON DENALI — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

THE PLASTIC SURROUND AROUND MY SEAT BELT IS DEFECTIVE. THE PLASTIC TABS HAVE BROKEN FROM NORMAL USAGE AND THE SURROUND NOW IMPEDES EITHER LATCHING OR UNLATCHING, AND THE SEAT BELT COMES UNLATCHED WHEN IT APPEARS TO BE PROPERLY LATCHED. OTHER VEHICLES OF THE SAME YEAR/MODEL HAVE THE SAME ISSUE, AND THE SAME ISSUE HAS OCCURRED ON MULTIPLE SEAT BELTS ON THE SAME VEHICLE. THIS IS CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE, BECAUSE (1) THE SEAT BELT EITHER APPEARS TO BE LATCHED WHEN IT IS NOT; OR (2) THE SEAT BELT WILL NOT UNLATCH WHEN THE RELEASE IS DEPRESSED, PREVENTING OCCUPANTS FROM EGRESSING THE VEHICLE QUICKLY IF NEEDED. THE TABS HOLDING THE PLASTIC SURROUND ARE TOO SMALL AND ALLOW THE BUCKLE TO FLEX AND JAM, OR THEY BREAK OFF AND INTERFERE WITH THE LATCH MECHANISM.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 GMC YUKON DENALI. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED, BUT FAILED TO INFLATE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN FROM THE SCENE AND AWAITING REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

SINCE 2010, MY AIRBAG LIGHT HAS COME ON 5 TIMES. 3 OUT OF THE 5 TIMES, I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE A SENSOR WHICH TYPICALLY COSTS APPROX $400-450. THE OTHER TWO TIMES, THE DEALERSHIP WAS ABLE TO RESET. I AM NOW IN THE POSITION OF HAVING TO SPEND ANOTHER $450 FOR ANOTHER NEW SENSOR IN ORDER TO TURN OFF THE AIRBAG LIGHT OR ELSE I CANNOT PASS INSPECTION. I HAVE ASKED FOR ASSISTANCE FROM GM AND THE DEALERSHIP. BUT, BECAUSE THE LIGHT COMES ON JUST AFTER ONE YEAR OF REPLACING A SENSOR, THE WORK IS NO LONGER UNDER DEALERSHIP WARRANTY. I HAVE FILED A CASE WITH GM ASKING FOR ASSISTANCE SO THAT I CAN GET THE CAR INSPECTED AND CONTINUE DRIVING THE CAR. THEY HAVE SAID THAT THEY CANNOT ASSIST. THEY HAVE LEFT ME WITH VERY FEW OPTIONS. I CAN PAY ANOTHER $450 IN ORDER FOR MY CAR TO BE INSPECTED, OR NOT DRIVE THE CAR AGAIN. THE AIR BAG IS AN IMPORTANT SAFETY FEATURE. BASED ON ALL OF THE OTHER COMPLAINTS ONLINE, THIS PROBLEM IS RECURRING AND APPEARS TO BE A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. THE DISTURBING THING ABOUT THIS ISSUE IS THAT I AM NOT SURE IF THE AIRBAG ACTUALLY IS IN WORKING ORDER.

SINCE 2009, I HAVE BEEN TAKING MY 2005 YUKON DENALI TO BOTH DEALERSHIPS AND OTHER MECHANIC SHOPS TO FIX A VERY HAZARDOUS PROBLEM. TO DATE, NO ONE HAS BEEN ABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP OR ANYTIME WHEN TRAVELING BETWEEN 1- 2-3RD GEARS, THE ACCELERATOR WILL SUDDENLY STOP WORKING AND THE "TRACTION ACTIVE" LIGHT WILL COME ON. FOR APPROXIMATELY 10 SECONDS, THE CAR WILL NOT ACCELERATE. THIS STARTED HAPPENING INFREQUENTLY - 1 PER MONTH - AND OVER THE YEARS HAS BECOME MUCH MORE FREQUENT - 2-3 TIMES A WEEK. THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN WHEN THE ROAD CONDITIONS CHANGE. IT CAN HAPPEN AT ANY TIME UNDER ANY CONDITION. THE SCARY THING ABOUT THIS IS THAT WHEN YOU ARE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP AND OTHER CARS ARE ACCELERATING BEHIND YOU, THEY DON'T ANTICIPATE THAT YOU WILL STOP ACCELERATING (THE BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT COME ON), THEREFORE, THEY ALMOST REAR END ME. IT IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. MY DEALERSHIP DOES NOT KNOW HOW TO FIX IT, YET THERE ARE COMPLAINTS ALL OVER THE INTERNET ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE JUST FILED A CASE WITH GM FOR ASSISTANCE. WE WILL SEE WHAT THEY DO. I BELIEVE A RECALL IS LONG OVERDUE. WHILE WE HAVE NOT GOTTEN IN AN ACCIDENT, THAT IS SIMPLY BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN LUCKY.

THE AIRBAG ERROR LIGHTS ARE ON. MECHANIC SAYS THE FRONT AIRBAG SENSORS WENT BAD. THE HORN DOES NOT WORK. THE DASH LIGHTS ARE BURNT OUT. MANY OF THE STEERING WHEEL CONTROL BUTTON LIGHTS ARE BURNT OUT. THE REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR IS BURNT OUT. THE FUEL PUMP MAKES VIBRATING NOISES.