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1997 GMC Yukon

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1997 GMC Yukon do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 103.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 21 of 133 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Steering. Review the 53 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 30 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

9 crash reports3 fire reports2 injury reports

Steering complaints

53 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jan 15, 2000
Steering

DURING ROUTINE DRIVING WHILE MAKING A TURN AT ANY SPEED, VEHICLE WILL SUDDENLY PULL IN DIRECTION OF TURN WITHOUT ANY STEERING WHEEL MOVEMENT. FRIEND OF MINE WITH SAME VEHICLE (EXCEPT GAS POWERED) HAD SAME PROB. AND WAS ADVISED IT WAS A STEERING RELAY IN THE COLUMN AND COULD NOT BE REPAIRED EASILY. CONCERN: DURING CORNERING A HIG…

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DURING ROUTINE DRIVING WHILE MAKING A TURN AT ANY SPEED, VEHICLE WILL SUDDENLY PULL IN DIRECTION OF TURN WITHOUT ANY STEERING WHEEL MOVEMENT. FRIEND OF MINE WITH SAME VEHICLE (EXCEPT GAS POWERED) HAD SAME PROB. AND WAS ADVISED IT WAS A STEERING RELAY IN THE COLUMN AND COULD NOT BE REPAIRED EASILY. CONCERN: DURING CORNERING A HIGHER RATE OF SPEED OR DURING EVASIVE OR DEFENSIVE MANEUVERING - MAY CAUSE VEHICLE ROLLOVER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #717364

Mileage unknown · Dec 26, 1999
Service Brakes, HydraulicSteering

ERRATIC POWER STEENING CONTROL WHILE IN TURNS AND HIGHWAY DRIVING, NOT ALWAYS PRESENT, BUT ABLE TO REPRODUCE WITH PATIENTS OF DEALER ON TEST DRIVE. SINCE NEW DEALER HAS SAID IT WAS TIRE BALANCING AND ALIGNMENT WHICH THEY ATTEMPED TO CORRECT SEVERAL TIME. AFTER ONE OF THESE CORRECTION IN AUG 99, PROBLEM BECAME MORE APPARENT . …

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ERRATIC POWER STEENING CONTROL WHILE IN TURNS AND HIGHWAY DRIVING, NOT ALWAYS PRESENT, BUT ABLE TO REPRODUCE WITH PATIENTS OF DEALER ON TEST DRIVE. SINCE NEW DEALER HAS SAID IT WAS TIRE BALANCING AND ALIGNMENT WHICH THEY ATTEMPED TO CORRECT SEVERAL TIME. AFTER ONE OF THESE CORRECTION IN AUG 99, PROBLEM BECAME MORE APPARENT . WIFE IS DRIVER AND I ALWAYS TOOK THEIR WORD FOR CORRECTION UNTIL I INSISTED THERE IS OTHER PROBLEM AND FIND IT. SO FAR THEY HAVE REPLACED STEERING BOX, PUT ON 4 NEW TIRES AND WHEELS AMONG A HOST OF BALANCING/ALIGNMENTS ETC , NO CORRECTIONS AS OF YET. STEERING WHEEL PULLS ERADICTLY/SHUDDERS FEELS GONE AT TIMES. IS INTERM AT TIMES BUT MUCH MORE PRONOUNCED OF LATE. BRAKES; THERE HAVE BEEN MANY OCCASIONS WHERE THE BRAKES LOCK UP WHEN APPLIED HEAVILY, I LEARNED THIS BY ASKING WIFE AND DUPLICATED IT ON NURMEROUS OCCASIONS WITH ERRATIC REACTION OF THE BRAKE PEDAL. *AK

NHTSA ODI #716458

Mileage unknown · Dec 13, 1999
Service Brakes, HydraulicSteering

WHEN DRIVING AT A SPEED OF 30 MPH AND OVER , THE STEERING RELEASES FOR A FEW SECONDS AND THE VEHICLES WANDER ALL OVER THE PLACE . ALSO THE STEERING FEEL LOOSE AT ALL TIMES. ALSO WHEN STEPPING ON THE BRAKES SOMETIMES THE TRUCK DOESN'T STOP , I ALSO DON'T THINK THE ABS IS WORKING PROPERLY. I TRIED IT IN SLIPPERY CONDITI…

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WHEN DRIVING AT A SPEED OF 30 MPH AND OVER , THE STEERING RELEASES FOR A FEW SECONDS AND THE VEHICLES WANDER ALL OVER THE PLACE . ALSO THE STEERING FEEL LOOSE AT ALL TIMES. ALSO WHEN STEPPING ON THE BRAKES SOMETIMES THE TRUCK DOESN'T STOP , I ALSO DON'T THINK THE ABS IS WORKING PROPERLY. I TRIED IT IN SLIPPERY CONDITIONS AND I NEVER FELT THE PEDAL SHAKE . I HAD A 1995 YUKON BEFORE AND IT WORKED FINE. 8AK

NHTSA ODI #716010

Mileage unknown · Nov 26, 1999
Steering

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AT HIGH SPEEDS ON THE HIGHWAY STEERING WAS SO SENSITIVE THAT THE CAR WOULD SWAY FROM SIDE TO SIDE. DEALER HAS REPAIRED VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #851239

Mileage unknown · Nov 5, 1999
Steering

WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 20-55MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD HAVE A LOT OF PLAY IN IT. THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. THE VEHICLE IS UNCONTROLLEABLE AT TIMES. HAS NOT BEEN IN CONTACT WITH DEALERSHIP, BUT WILL CALL SOON. *AK

NHTSA ODI #852607

Mileage unknown · Nov 2, 1999
Steering

EOV SENSOR FAILED CAUSING ERRATIC STEERING--SCARY STUFF

NHTSA ODI #714210

Mileage unknown · Oct 5, 1999
Steering

POWER VARIABLE ASSIST STEERING IS DIFFICULT TO CONTROL DUE TO STEERING WHEEL SPEED SENSOR. MJS

NHTSA ODI #548890

Mileage unknown · Sep 29, 1999
Steering

STEERING SYSTEM MALFUNCATIONED WHILE MAKING A TURN. STEERING WAS VERY LOOSE, IT FELT LIKE DRIVING 'ON ICE" WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED A CRASH. DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE CAUS EOF PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #849228

Mileage unknown · Sep 29, 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipmentSeats

ENGINE: A SPARK KNOCK HAS EXISTED SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED EVENTUALLY GETTING TO THE POINT THAT IS WAS VERY NOTICEABLE EVEN AT 60 MPH ON LEVEL GROUND, CONTINUALLY. DEALER REPLACED SEVERAL COMPUTER COMPONENTS AND EVENTUALLY SERVICE THE HEADS AND INTAKE BY REMOVING AND CLEANING CARBON. 3,000 MILES LATER THE PROBLEM IS BEG…

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ENGINE: A SPARK KNOCK HAS EXISTED SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED EVENTUALLY GETTING TO THE POINT THAT IS WAS VERY NOTICEABLE EVEN AT 60 MPH ON LEVEL GROUND, CONTINUALLY. DEALER REPLACED SEVERAL COMPUTER COMPONENTS AND EVENTUALLY SERVICE THE HEADS AND INTAKE BY REMOVING AND CLEANING CARBON. 3,000 MILES LATER THE PROBLEM IS BEGINNING AGAIN. GAS MILEAGE HAS SUFFERED TO 3 MPG LESS THAN WHEN ORIGINALLY PURCHASED. THE DRIVERS SEAT BASE HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO LOOSNESS. A/C IDLER BELT TENSIONER REPLACED. POWER STEERING HOSE LEAKED. POSER STEERING CONTROL WOULD BE LOST IN RIGHT TURNS AND VALVING HAD TO BE REPLACED. A/C DOES NOT COOL ADEQUATELY AFTER ENGINE WAS LAST SERVICED BY REMOVING HEADS AND INTAKE, REPORTED TO DEALER AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO.

NHTSA ODI #712499

Mileage unknown · Sep 15, 1999
Steering

THE STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY MOVED COUNTER CLOCKWISE SLIGHTLY. THIS HAPPENED 4 TIMES IN A SPAN OF ABOUT 5 MINUTES DURING A 5 HOUR TRIP. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT I HAVE ENCOUNTERED THIS PROBLEM. IT FELT AS IF I LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING FOR A FRACTION OF A SECOND.

NHTSA ODI #711415

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

5

EA01018 · Seat Belt Anchorage Separation

Opened Dec 20, 2001 · Closed Dec 9, 2002

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts:front:anchorage

No summary supplied.

PE01023 · Seat Belt Anchorage Separation

Opened Jul 17, 2001 · Closed Dec 20, 2001

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts:front:anchorage

ODI HAS RECEIVED ONE (1) COMPLAINT ALLEGING THAT THE 2ND ROW PASSENGER-SIDE SEAT BELT RELEASE BUCKLE ANCHOR DETACHED FROM SEAT FRAME DURING A SIDE IMPACT CRASH.DURING THE CRASH, THE OCCUPANT WAS THROWN FROM HIS SEAT, PARTIALLY EJECTED THROUGH THE REAR QUARTER WINDOW OF THE VEHICLE.OCCUPANT SUSTAINED INJURY.GM HAS SUBSEQUENTLY CHANGED SEAT BELT ANCHORING DESIGN IN MY 2000. ODI HAS COMPLETED A PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION AND HAS DETERMINED THAT FURTHER INFORMATION IS NEEDED TO DETERMINE WHETHER A SAFETY DEFECT EXISTS.

EA00013 · Battery Leaks Acid

Opened May 2, 2000 · Closed Jun 28, 2002

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System

There is no summary currently available

PE99073 · Battery Leaks Acid

Opened Dec 3, 1999 · Closed May 2, 2000

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System

ODI HAS RECEIVED 21 COMPLAINTS WHERE OWNERS ALLEGE THAT THE STANDARD GM FACTORY SUPPLIED AC DELCO BATTERY CASE FAILED, RESULTING IN THE LEAKAGE OF SULFURIC ACID.OF THE 21 COMPLAINT VEHICLES, SIX SUBURBAN, THREE TAHOES, AND ONE YUKON OWNER(S) COMPLAINED ABOUT A LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID FROM DETERIORATION OF THE RIGHT FRONTBRAKE LINE AS A RESULT OF SULFURIC ACID CONTAMINATION.THE REMAINING 11 COMPLAINTS PERTAIN PRIMARILY TO SULFURIC ACID LEAKAGE FROM THE BATTERY CASE.AT LEAST ONE COMPLAINANT STATED THAT THE REPLACEMENT BATTERY ALSO FAILED.SEVERAL OF THE COMPLAINANTS NOTE THAT THE LEAKING ACID HAD COME IN CONTACT WITH A WIRE HARNESS AT THE FRAME IN THE VICINITY OF THE STEEL BRAKE LINE.A FIELD INSPECTION BY ODI INDICATES THAT THE DESCRIBED HARNESS IS THE ABS CONNECTION TO THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL SPEED SENSOR.PRIOR TO THE BATTERY CASE FAILURE, THERE IS USUALLY NO WARNING (SHORT OF AN UNDERHOOD INSPECTION), AND THE ENSURING DAMAGE (SULFURIC ACID CONTAMINATION) IS PROGRESSIVE.OF THE KNOWN BATTERY FAILURES, THERE MAY BE A TEMPERATURE CORRELATION, AS 60% OF THE OWNER COMPLAINTS CAME FROM FOUR STATES; CALIFORNIA, FLORIDA, GEORGIA AND TEXAS.THERE IS ALSO A PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM AND ENGINEERING CHANGE NOTICE TO ADD 1% SILVER TO THE BATTERY'S POSITIVE SIDE TERMINALL, WITH THE EARLIEST IMPLEMENTATION DATE FOR THIS BEING FEB 2, 1998.THE EFFECT OF THIS DESIGN CHANGE IS AS YET UNKNOWN; FURTHER REVIEW IS WARRANTED.AN EA IS BEING OPENED TO GATHER FURTHER APPROPRIATE INFORMATION, CLARIFY ANY DEFECT TRENDS, AND TO ASSESS THE SAFETY IMPLICATIONS AND RISKS CONCERNING THESE FAILURES.

EA99011 · Erratic Power Steering Assist While Driv

Opened May 12, 1999 · Closed Feb 27, 2001

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering

THE OFFICE OF DEFECT INVESTIGATION (ODI) HAS INVESTIGATED ALLEGATIONS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST FLUCTUATIONS IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.FOR DETAILS AND A BASIS FOR THE INVESTIGATION CONCLUSIONS, PLEASE SEE THE CLOSING REPORT IN THE EA99-011 PUBLIC FILE.ODI HAS NOT IDENTIFIED A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLE POPULATION.FUTHER EXPENDITURE OF AGENCY RESOURCES ON THIS SUBJECT DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED AT THIS TIME.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.THE ENGINEERING IS CLOSED.