2010 GMC Sierra Denali: common problems

Owners of the 2010 GMC Sierra Denali filed 10 complaints with NHTSA, most often about structure and air bags. Details by component below, with sources.

Key figures

Owner complaints: 10

What fails most often

1 Structure 40% of all complaints
2 Air bags 20% of all complaints
3 Electronic stability control 10% of all complaints
4 Seats 10% of all complaints

Circle size and colour show each component’s share of NHTSA complaints. Schematic only, not a drawing of the exact model.

Structure: 4 complaints (40% of all).
Air bags: 2 complaints (20% of all).
Electronic stability control: 1 complaints (10% of all).
Seats: 1 complaints (10% of all).

Symptoms owners describe

How many of the 10 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).

A/C or heater1 · 10%
door locks, latches, handles1 · 10%
knocking, grinding or other noise1 · 10%

Components owners complain about

Component	Owner complaints	involving a crash	Technical service bulletins (TSB)
Structure	4	0	0
Air bags	2	0	0
Electronic stability control	1	0	0
Seats	1	0	0
Other	4	0	0

What owners report

Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.

When if ever is nhtsa going to do something about the defective airbags?? I've been waiting for you and gm for 7 years now, to get something done. It's been long enough to do something about it. I live in a state where we get 60 plus inches of rain every year.
Air bags · 2020-11-02 · NHTSA complaint #11372746
Dash cracking at pass airbag ( safety issues ) and numerous cracks on instrument cluster portion of dash... Multiple exact problems and a lawsuit dated jan 2018. Gm needs to replace all these dashboards.
Air bags · 2019-02-09 · NHTSA complaint #11175854
We had to stuff a piece of cardboard in the dash because it rattled so badly. We also have: 1. Passenger door handle chrome peeling and sharp enough to cut 2. A/c control buttons worn off 3. Both front heat/cooled seats have stopped working 4. Running board steps cracked on both sides 5.
Structure · 2015-10-23 · NHTSA complaint #10785656
I had the oil changed at the dealer on the friday prior to august 5, 2013 and the warranty was expiring (at that time) in the very near future. Got in the truck to go over to my father's house and stopped at a local gas station that still does full serve (for a penny or two higher than the self serve down the street).
Structure · 2014-03-31 · NHTSA complaint #10575762
I was traveling on highway 151 at 70 mph when I received a message stating stabilitrak was disabled, followed by reduced engine power message. Within seconds my truck went from 70 mph to 35 mph while on the highway with a semi-truck behind me, a car in the fast lane on my left side, and snow on the rightside shoulder.
Electronic stability control · 2014-02-04 · NHTSA complaint #10562939

When owners complained

NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.

20143
20153
20161
20191
20202

Comparison

By complaint count this model year ranks 10,921 of 36,659 model years in the NHTSA data (top 30% most complained about).

On average one model year of the Sierra Denali has 14 complaints (18 years in the data). This year has 10, below average.

What to check before buying

Structure. Rails, pillars, panel gaps, signs of pulling or welding.
Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
Electronic stability control. ABS/ESC sensors, steering angle, codes after suspension repair.
Seats. Occupant sensor, power adjustment, seat mounts.

Other years of this model

Questions and answers

What are the most common problems with the 2010 GMC Sierra Denali?

Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: structure, air bags, electronic stability control. Total complaints: 10. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: A/C or heater (10%), door locks, latches, handles (10%), knocking, grinding or other noise (10%).

How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2010 GMC Sierra Denali?

NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.

Should I buy a 2010 GMC Sierra Denali from a US auction?

Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.

Other 2010 models

Read also

Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-06.