Most common 2015 GMC Denali problems
Share of the 18 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
GMC Denali complaints by model year
Best Denali years: 2010, 2013, 2014. Years to avoid: 2003, 2002, 2015, 2000. Compare all years →
What 2015 GMC Denali owners say
Lights
We bought our 2015 Denali 1 year ago and have approx 50,000 miles and the passengers side tail light is out. After researching taillight problems for my make and model this seems to be a very common issue. This should be considered as a recall but when looked into, I see it is not. Its a shame to spend so much money on a vehicle to have the tail light out at 3 years (after factory warranty is already out) and you have to replace the whole tail light instead of one piece.
Both LED brake lights have failed. If you tap them they wok for a minute but when driving they go out again. The seat vibrates to alert you of obstacles but the motor in the seat only work periodically. The rear window wiper has failed. The yukon has been driven 3 years and 50K mi and now needs thousands of dollars in repairs because of the defective parts used.
Transmission & drivetrain
Tl* the contact owns a 2015 GMC Denali. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the vehicle downshifted and was unable to upshift into the higher gears. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact called the local dealer sterling Buick GMC (5853 frontage rd. I 49 south, opelousas, la 70570, [phone]) and made the dealer aware of the failure. The vehicle had not been diagnosed nor repaired as of yet. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 148,000.
The vehicle will often shift unpredictably. Moving from a dead-stop, the vehicle will sometimes demonstrate significant hesitation (to shift) followed by a loud and violent engagement. In some instances the vehicle feels like it has been hit by another vehicle. The automobile will shudder and slip and jerk when it shifts between gears. The vehicle is unsafe to operate. The dealer can not fix the issue, but understands the vehicle problems.
Electrical system
While thankfully driving in the slow lane on the interstate in st. Louis my stability light came on the truck then slowed down on its own then went into four-wheel-drive then revved up to 6000 rpms then every service light came on on the dash when pulling to the side of the road the car then would not drive forward it stayed in neutral regardless of gearshifting it then began to cycle through all of the service request for the vehicle. After having to have the vehicle towed to the nearest dealership which was three hours away from my house they informed me the following morning the power steering control gearbox had went out and fried all the electrical's inside the vehicle. The vehicle has less than 39,000 miles after contacting GMC they told me there was nothing they could do that there was nothing on a recall list for my vehicles VIN number. …
Both LED brake lights have failed. If you tap them they wok for a minute but when driving they go out again. The seat vibrates to alert you of obstacles but the motor in the seat only work periodically. The rear window wiper has failed. The yukon has been driven 3 years and 50K mi and now needs thousands of dollars in repairs because of the defective parts used.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2015 GMC Denali a good car?
Based on 18 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2015 Denali rates use caution: 1.5× as many complaints as a typical year of the Denali at the same age. It is one of the Denali years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2015 GMC Denali?
The lights — 6 complaints, 33% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the transmission & drivetrain (5) and electrical system (4).
How many recalls does the 2015 GMC Denali have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2015 GMC Denali. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the GMC Denali?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2010, 2013 and 2014. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2003, 2002, 2015 and 2000. See the full GMC Denali years comparison.
At what mileage do 2015 GMC Denali problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 62,000 miles; 36% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.