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2002 Gmc Denali Recalls & Complaints

1

open safety recall on record

Serious

28 owner complaints filed · Severity Index 0.75 · updated 2026-08-07

The recalls

Serious02V253000

Seats:Front Assembly:Head Restraint

IF A PERSON WERE TO INSERT THEIR FINGER(S) INTO THE PINCH POINT WHEN THE HEAD RESTRAINT FOLDS, IT COULD TRAP AND PINCH THE FINGER(S) CAUSING INJURY.

Remedy & full details

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 REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, GMC AT 1-800-462-8782, OR CADILLAC AT 1-800-458-8006.

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.

Complaint volume

28 this model-year 8 median, same year

Volume alone is not a fault rate — popular vehicles attract more reports. Read it next to the severity mix below.

What owners reported happened

3Crashes
1Fires
3Injuries
0Deaths

Across 28 complaints. Severity Index 0.75.

Severity Index weights each complaint's reported outcome (death ×10, injury ×4, fire ×3, crash ×2) and divides by total complaints. It measures how severe reports are, not how often faults occur.

What owners report most

Engine And Engine Cooling…3 · 11%Service Brakes, Hydraulic…2 · 7%Power Train · Automatic T…2 · 7%Service Brakes, Air1 · 4%Exterior Lighting · Turn …1 · 4%Suspension1 · 4%Seat Belts · Rear/Other1 · 4%Engine And Engine Cooling…1 · 4%
  1. Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine — 3 reports
  2. Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip — 2 reports
  3. Power Train:Automatic Transmission — 2 reports
  4. Service Brakes, Air — 1 reports
  5. Exterior Lighting:Turn Signal:Flasher Unit — 1 reports
  6. Suspension — 1 reports
  7. Seat Belts:Rear/Other — 1 reports
  8. Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System — 1 reports
  9. Steering — 1 reports
  10. Seat Belts:Front — 1 reports

What to do

  1. Find your 17-character VIN on the driver's door jamb or the base of the windscreen.
  2. Check it against NHTSA's official lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls — the authoritative record for your exact car.
  3. Book the repair with any franchised dealer. Safety recall work is free, with no time limit and regardless of who owns the car now.

Other model years

1999 (1) · 2000 (1) · 2001 (1) · 2002 · 2003 · 2007 · 2008 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015

Numbers in brackets are open recall campaigns for that year.

Questions

Does an open recall mean the car is unsafe to drive?

Not usually. NHTSA issues a "do not drive" or "park outside" advisory when a defect is dangerous enough to keep you out of the car — those are flagged Critical above. Everything else should be repaired promptly but is not an immediate stop-driving order.

Do I pay for recall repairs?

No. Federal law requires the manufacturer to fix a safety recall free of charge, including parts and labour, whether or not you are the original owner.

Why are there complaints but no recalls?

Complaints are unverified reports filed by owners. They can prompt an investigation, but many never become recalls — either the fault isn't safety-related or it isn't widespread.

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