2021 Yukon Denali Any Regrets

[NBonn21]

Greetings all, new to the forum.
Picked up our new Denali here in Toronto a month ago and love it so far but...

I cant help but get a pit in my gut thinking about the valve lifter issue that seems to be prevalent in the 5.3 and 6.2 engines. I know GM is producing 10's of thousands of these trucks each year and many seem not to have issues with the engine but is it a matter of time? There seems to be no manufacturing time frame of this issue that I can see. Apparently they came up with a fix for the broken valve springs some time ago. so that a positive.

From what I gather the issue stems from the Dynamic Fuel Management system and I tried looking for a DFM disabler but there seems to be nothing on the market for the SUV's only pickups.

Its a mixed bag of feelings with this new rig, I love everything about it including the 6.2 engine but there is always the thought of impending doom.

I know it has warranty but who wants to go down that road. Apparently GM not replacing all lifters anyways with some poor folks having repeat failures.

Fingers crossed good luck to all.

 

[MAYukoner]

Nope

 

[B520044]

Greetings all, new to the forum.
Picked up our new Denali here in Toronto a month ago and love it so far but...

I cant help but get a pit in my gut thinking about the valve lifter issue that seems to be prevalent in the 5.3 and 6.2 engines. I know GM is producing 10's of thousands of these trucks each year and many seem not to have issues with the engine but is it a matter of time? There seems to be no manufacturing time frame of this issue that I can see. Apparently they came up with a fix for the broken valve springs some time ago. so that a positive.

From what I gather the issue stems from the Dynamic Fuel Management system and I tried looking for a DFM disabler but there seems to be nothing on the market for the SUV's only pickups.

Its a mixed bag of feelings with this new rig, I love everything about it including the 6.2 engine but there is always the thought of impending doom.

I know it has warranty but who wants to go down that road. Apparently GM not replacing all lifters anyways with some poor folks having repeat failures.

Fingers crossed good luck to all.

Did you test drive an AT4 or SLT while shopping for your Denali? If so, are the Denali seats more comfortable/softer?

Thanks,

 

[NBonn21]

Did you test drive an AT4 or SLT while shopping for your Denali? If so, are the Denali seats more comfortable/softer?

Thanks,

No at the time of order they had no vehicles in stock,so didn’t even sit in one. Seats are a bit on firm side.

 

[Shrubs2K2]

just over 1600 miles on my and no regrets yet

 

[OR VietVet]

No at the time of order they had no vehicles in stock,so didn’t even sit in one. Seats are a bit on firm side.

I love the seats in my 2005. Every seat that I have sat in from 2007 and newer feel very hard to me. Uncomfortable and others here have said the same thing.

 

[steiny93]

Its a mixed bag of feelings with this new rig, I love everything about it including the 6.2 engine but there is always the thought of impending doom.

Every vehicle has its own impending doom scenario, you need to trust warranty or sell it. No sense worrying about a maybe.

Personally, after being around the wife's 2021 denali I'm underwhelmed. I really like the baby diesel (way less noisy then the Ram's) and it is a large SUV. But in the camp of luxury I don't believe it matches up well against the competitors (BMW / Merc as examples). The ride / brakes / no active entry have left me wishing for an X7 as example.

I don't necessarily regret the purchase as the wife is happy, but in my opinion, for the money it isn't anywhere close to as 'luxury' as GM is targeting. But... the wife was in a 2019 Escalade previous, this 2021 has a better ride but worse brakes then the Caddy.

 

[Holy Roller]

Every vehicle has its own impending doom scenario, you need to trust warranty or sell it. No sense worrying about a maybe.

Personally, after being around the wife's 2021 denali I'm underwhelmed. I really like the baby diesel (way less noisy then the Ram's) and it is a large SUV. But in the camp of luxury I don't believe it matches up well against the competitors (BMW / Merc as examples). The ride / brakes / no active entry have left me wishing for an X7 as example.

I don't necessarily regret the purchase as the wife is happy, but in my opinion, for the money it isn't anywhere close to as 'luxury' as GM is targeting. But... the wife was in a 2019 Escalade previous, this 2021 has a better ride but worse brakes then the Caddy.

Curious why you didn’t put her into a ‘21 Escalade?

 

[TollKeeper]

From what I gather the issue stems from the Dynamic Fuel Management system and I tried looking for a DFM disabler but there seems to be nothing on the market for the SUV's only pickups.

The AFM/DFM has nothing to do with the lifter failure. It was a bad batch of products from a supplier.

That being said, I had a order for a Yukon Duramax, but had asked the dealer to hold off on the order until he got one in that I could test drive, since I had never sat in one, as none were available in my area.

On my way home from work 3 months ago, I pass a dealer, and I could see a Yukon XL Denali from the highway. I got off, and went to have a look. Hated the seats, hated the view out the windshield, hated the center console, loved the BabyDiesel.

I cancelled my order, and bought my Esky a month later. My only complaint about my 2006 Esky, its not nearly as comfortable as my 2000 Tahoe LT-AR.

 

[NBonn21]

I agree about the near luxury feel,not up to the price of the truck.

I love the truck but my biggest dissatisfaction is with the hard ,cheap scratchy lower door panels. Great job on the upper half but come on GM .

 

[MAYukoner]

The complaints here make me chuckle.

 

[MAYukoner]

The AFM/DFM has nothing to do with the lifter failure. It was a bad batch of products from a supplier.

That being said, I had a order for a Yukon Duramax, but had asked the dealer to hold off on the order until he got one in that I could test drive, since I had never sat in one, as none were available in my area.

On my way home from work 3 months ago, I pass a dealer, and I could see a Yukon XL Denali from the highway. I got off, and went to have a look. Hated the seats, hated the view out the windshield, hated the center console, loved the BabyDiesel.

I cancelled my order, and bought my Esky a month later. My only complaint about my 2006 Esky, its not nearly as comfortable as my 2000 Tahoe LT-AR.

Ha guy cancels his 80k order for a 15k esky. Not calling you a liar, but that makes no sense. Entitled to your opinion but cancel an order over a center console? The view? As opposed to a positive website, which I thought I was joining, it’s often a real fear fest and ***** fest about nothing.

 

[lrfinn]

Like the interior space and overall appearance of the vehicle. The cheap plastic on lower door panels (already mentioned)and glovebox is really disappointing. Also car was on a flatbed this AM going to dealer for what I am fairly certain is the lifter/misfire issue in 6.2 L engine, so there’s that. 5K miles.

 

[jayoco]

The AFM/DFM has nothing to do with the lifter failure. It was a bad batch of products from a supplier.

That being said, I had a order for a Yukon Duramax, but had asked the dealer to hold off on the order until he got one in that I could test drive, since I had never sat in one, as none were available in my area.

On my way home from work 3 months ago, I pass a dealer, and I could see a Yukon XL Denali from the highway. I got off, and went to have a look. Hated the seats, hated the view out the windshield, hated the center console, loved the BabyDiesel.

I cancelled my order, and bought my Esky a month later. My only complaint about my 2006 Esky, its not nearly as comfortable as my 2000 Tahoe LT-AR.

Actually, many technical writers blame the lifter issues squarely on the AFM/DFM. But...who knows?

 

[TollKeeper]

Ha guy cancels his 80k order for a 15k esky. Not calling you a liar, but that makes no sense. Entitled to your opinion but cancel an order over a center console? The view? As opposed to a positive website, which I thought I was joining, it’s often a real fear fest and ***** fest about nothing.

If you knew more about me, or why my decisions were made.. Maybe you would understand.. I have 5 blown discs in my back, and am not eligible for surgery. Seat comfort is EXTREMELY important to me. The seats sucked a$$. And what does not dropping 80k on a Yukon, and buying a low mile 10k Esky have anything to do with anything? Judgmental much?

 

[MAYukoner]

If you knew more about me, or why my decisions were made.. Maybe you would understand.. I have 5 blown discs in my back, and am not eligible for surgery. Seat comfort is EXTREMELY important to me. The seats sucked a$$. And what does not dropping 80k on a Yukon, and buying a low mile 10k Esky have anything to do with anything? Judgmental much?

That’s too bad

the comparison is not realistic to me. I’m glad you find that model to provide you with more comfort

I guess also. Plenty of other options for comfort besides a 15 year old truck. Makes me doubt you would drop 80k then. I’ve driven many comfortable rides. But wouldn’t sacrifice everything else in them for seats. What I’m saying is not to call you a liar but you were shopping 80k $ vehicles and spent 10. So I don’t buy that you actually were realistic in dropping 80k

 

[Quark]

I find your argument specious. I was looking at paying cash for a new suv but upon seeing the problems and realizing my old one is a better fit I decided to buy nothing. You can doubt me if you like also.

 

[steiny93]

Curious why you didn’t put her into a ‘21 Escalade?

She was in a 2019 escalade (her 3rd), she absolutely hated the interior controls and couldn't take it anymore.
The escalade controls are not intuitive (operating rear climate / video as an example); every new person in the truck was confused and the pictures didn't make sense. She really didn't like the way the buttons were not press buttons but touch buttons. The kicker was how difficult it was to see how much fuel you have remaining (the placement and color of that gauge is bad), her biggest complaint by far.

Between the two; I don't get significantly (definitely some) more of a 'luxury' feeling being in a 2021 Escalade vs a 2021 Denali; to me they both suffer the same short comings.
The above is why she didn't buy another Escalade.


My 'luxury' comments are being driven by my opinion that with the current MSRP's of the Escalade's and the Denali's they are in competition with some pretty high end SUV's. In particular the BMW X7, Merc GLS, Range Rover Sport and SVR to some extent.
For us, this 2021 Denali was head to head against the 2021 BMW X7. After driving both my wife wanted the size of the Denali and I wanted the 'feel' of the X7, if the X7 was the same size it would have easily won her over as well. Her truck, her decision. But, if you would ask her which is 'nicer' or more 'luxury' she wouldn't hesitate to answer and it wouldn't be the one she bought.

I'd highly recommend everyone test drive some of the other SUV offerings, they are different.

 

[Holy Roller]

She was in a 2019 escalade (her 3rd), she absolutely hated the interior controls and couldn't take it anymore.
The escalade controls are not intuitive (operating rear climate / video as an example); every new person in the truck was confused and the pictures didn't make sense. She really didn't like the way the buttons were not press buttons but touch buttons. The kicker was how difficult it was to see how much fuel you have remaining (the placement and color of that gauge is bad), her biggest complaint by far.

Between the two; I don't get significantly (definitely some) more of a 'luxury' feeling being in a 2021 Escalade vs a 2021 Denali; to me they both suffer the same short comings.
The above is why she didn't buy another Escalade.


My 'luxury' comments are being driven by my opinion that with the current MSRP's of the Escalade's and the Denali's they are in competition with some pretty high end SUV's. In particular the BMW X7, Merc GLS, Range Rover Sport and SVR to some extent.
For us, this 2021 Denali was head to head against the 2021 BMW X7. After driving both my wife wanted the size of the Denali and I wanted the 'feel' of the X7, if the X7 was the same size it would have easily won her over as well. Her truck, her decision. But, if you would ask her which is 'nicer' or more 'luxury' she wouldn't hesitate to answer and it wouldn't be the one she bought.

I'd highly recommend everyone test drive some of the other SUV offerings, they are different.

Okay, so please check me on this:

1) You didn’t put her into a ‘21 Escalade because she had a ‘19 Escalade and hated its user interface.

2) You find the ‘21 Denali not as luxurious as a big BMW or M-B.

3) You prefer the ride on the big BMW and M-B to the Denali.

My questions:

A) Are you aware that a ‘21 Escalade has a completely different user interface than all previous Escalades?

B) Do you know that in the GM hierarchy, Denali is trimmed to near luxury whereas Escalade is luxury?

C) Have you had experience comparing the ride of body-on-frame vehicles (GM truck-based SUVs) to unitized vehicles (BMW and M-B car-based SUVs)? In my experience unitized, regardless of manufacturer, feels taughter - more European - if you will.

 

[MAYukoner]

She was in a 2019 escalade (her 3rd), she absolutely hated the interior controls and couldn't take it anymore.
The escalade controls are not intuitive (operating rear climate / video as an example); every new person in the truck was confused and the pictures didn't make sense. She really didn't like the way the buttons were not press buttons but touch buttons. The kicker was how difficult it was to see how much fuel you have remaining (the placement and color of that gauge is bad), her biggest complaint by far.

Between the two; I don't get significantly (definitely some) more of a 'luxury' feeling being in a 2021 Escalade vs a 2021 Denali; to me they both suffer the same short comings.
The above is why she didn't buy another Escalade.


My 'luxury' comments are being driven by my opinion that with the current MSRP's of the Escalade's and the Denali's they are in competition with some pretty high end SUV's. In particular the BMW X7, Merc GLS, Range Rover Sport and SVR to some extent.
For us, this 2021 Denali was head to head against the 2021 BMW X7. After driving both my wife wanted the size of the Denali and I wanted the 'feel' of the X7, if the X7 was the same size it would have easily won her over as well. Her truck, her decision. But, if you would ask her which is 'nicer' or more 'luxury' she wouldn't hesitate to answer and it wouldn't be the one she bought.

I'd highly recommend everyone test drive some of the other SUV offerings, they are different.

That’s just it. The prices may be comparable. But I’ve been in both the Mercedes and bmw. Yes. Crazy nice. But a glorified version of their smaller count rowers. The x7 and merc cannot be compared for overall size and third row. Luxury wise. No comparison. Not rousing the Germans