IllustrationBUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC DURING RUSH HOUR, BRAKES WENT TO THE FLOOR CAUSING ABOUT A 10 MPH IMPACT INTO PICKUP IN FRONT OF US. GLAD WE WEREN'T UP TO SPEED WHEN THE BRAKES WENT. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, I HAVE RUSTED BRAKE LINES, AND THE FRONT CROSSOVER LINE LEAKING PROFUSELY DUE TO CORROSION OF METAL.
1998 GMC Yukon
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1998 GMC Yukon do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 103.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Yukon years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
20–25K
225–50K
250–75K
1675–100K
7100–150K
7150K+
36 reports with mileage · 44 unknown
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.
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Visibility. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Steering. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
5 crash reports1 fire reports2 injury reports
Unknown Or Other complaints
3 reportsMY CONCERNS ARE A HEALTH ISSUE. I'VE OWNED A 1996 YUKON AND I NOW OWN A 1998 YUKON. AND BOTH HAVE WATER LEAK PROBLEMS IN THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE,THE PROBLEM WITH THE LEAK IS THAT THEY GO UNNOTICED BY THE CONSUMER BECAUSE OF THE LOCATION. WHEN YOU DRIVE YOUR SUV IN WET WEATHER, WATER COMES IN THE VEHICLE SOMEWHERE. THE WHOL…
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MY CONCERNS ARE A HEALTH ISSUE. I'VE OWNED A 1996 YUKON AND I NOW OWN A 1998 YUKON. AND BOTH HAVE WATER LEAK PROBLEMS IN THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE,THE PROBLEM WITH THE LEAK IS THAT THEY GO UNNOTICED BY THE CONSUMER BECAUSE OF THE LOCATION. WHEN YOU DRIVE YOUR SUV IN WET WEATHER, WATER COMES IN THE VEHICLE SOMEWHERE. THE WHOLE BACK OF THE TRUCK GETS WET, HOW WET DEPENDS ON HOW BAD THE WEATHER IS. HARD TO DETECT BECAUSE,YOU DON'T SIT IN THE BACK OF YOUR TRUCK FOR ONE, AND THE CARPET MAT THAT COVERS THE BACK AREA FOR TWO, AND THE FACT THAT IT DRIES UP. MY CONCERNS ARE THE MOLD,AND MILDEW,AND SPORES THAT ARE GROWING, AND GOING UNTREATED. WHAT HAPPENS TO THE SMALL CHILDREN TRAVELING IN THESE VEHICLES,AND THE PEOPLE WITH SEVERE ALLERGIES TO MOLD AND MILDEW. I'VE MADE TWO CASE FILES WITH THEM ON THIS ISSUE AND THEY BOUGHT MY 1996 YUKON BACK FROM ME BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT FIND THE LEAK NOR FIX IT. I AM NOW TRYING TO GET THEM TO TAKE CARE OF THESE PROBLEMS WITH MY 1998. MY SISTER IN-LAW ALSO BOUGHT A 1996 YUKON WITH THE SAME PROBLEM,AND SHE THEN BOUGHT A 1999 TAHOE,AGAIN THE SAME PROBLEM IN THE SAME PLACE. SHE WOULD HAVE NEVER KNOW TO LOOK UNDER THE MAT IF I DIDN'T BRING IT TO HER ATTENTION.
MINE PROBLEM IS SIMILAR TO THIS ONE (ODI ID: 741897 ) THAT I FOUND POSTED ON YOUR WEB SITE. MY MECHANIC SAID HE WASN'T SURE WHAT THE PROBLEM IS BUT WE COULD START BY REPLACING THE STEERING BOX AND GOING FROM THERE. HAVE SPOKEN WITH 2 OTHER YUKON OWNERS AND THEY SAID THEY'VE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM BUT THAT GMC BASICALLY FELT THEY W…
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MINE PROBLEM IS SIMILAR TO THIS ONE (ODI ID: 741897 ) THAT I FOUND POSTED ON YOUR WEB SITE. MY MECHANIC SAID HE WASN'T SURE WHAT THE PROBLEM IS BUT WE COULD START BY REPLACING THE STEERING BOX AND GOING FROM THERE. HAVE SPOKEN WITH 2 OTHER YUKON OWNERS AND THEY SAID THEY'VE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM BUT THAT GMC BASICALLY FELT THEY WERE FEELING SOMETHING THAT DIDN'T EXIST.*AK
Official recalls
298V033000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:disc:rotor
Feb 17, 1998
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS AND MULTI-PURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLES. ONE OR BOTH FRONT BRAKE ROTOR/HUBS WERE BUILT WITH AN OUT-OF-SPECIFICATION GRAY IRON THAT CAN FAIL DURING THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF A DRIVER CONTINUES TO DRIVE WITH A CRACKED ROTOR, THE CRACKS COULD CONTINUE AROUND THE WHEEL MOUNTING BOLT CIRCLE AND ULTIMATELY RESULT IN A WHEEL SEPARATION.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE ROTORS FOR A CORE DATE OF "287" AND, IF FOUND, REPLACE THE ROTOR.
97V142000 · Steering:gear Box (other Than Rack And Pinion)
Aug 29, 1997
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY EXTENDED-CAB PICKUP TRUCKS AND 4-DOOR UTILITY TRUCKS. THE LOWER STEERING SHAFT TO STEERING GEAR PINCH BOLT IS "FINGER LOOSE" OR MISSING ALLOWING THE BOLT TO LOOSEN AND FALL OUT. THE STEERING SHAFT YOKE CAN WEAR CAUSING AN OFF CENTER STEERING WHEEL.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN THE CHASSIS AND CAB CAN CAUSE THE STEERING SHAFT TO SEPARATE FROM THE STEERING GEAR. THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS ARE ARRANGING TO HAVE THE VEHICLES INVOLVED TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND ALTERNATE TRANSPORTATION IS BEING ARRANGED FOR OWNERS. DEALERS WILL THEN INSPECT THE VEHICLE FOR THE PRESENCE OF A PINCH BOLT AND TORQUE THIS BOLT TO PROPER SPECIFICATIONS.
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
3EA01018 · 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.
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.