IllustrationTHE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED. *JB *SCC
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
What owners actually said
80 reports1998 GMC YUKON NEEDS TRANSMISSION REPLACED, WHICH IS BECOMING A PROBLEM WITH THIS AND OTHER SUV'S FROM GM. *JB
DRIVER SIDE SEAT (LEFT FRONT CONNECTION) BROKE WHILE GETTING INTO CAR. THE WELDED CONNECTION BROKE THROUGH THE METAL FRAME ON THE SEAT. A REAR END COLLISION WOULD HAVE ALLOWED THE SEAT TO BREAK INTO THE BACK SEAT PASSENGER AREA IF NOT THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE.*JB
A NOTICEABLE PULL TO THE LEFT WHEN GOING AROUND A CURVE THAT GOES TO THE LEFT, IT WILL STARTLE YOU AT FIRST. POSSIBLY THE STEERING BOX OR RELATED STEERING COLUMN. HAS HAPPENED TO MANY TIMES TO REMEMBER. FREINDS OF MINE ALSO EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM WITH 98 TAHOE, I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST MY VEHICLE, THEN I DID SOME RESEARCH …
Read full complaint
A NOTICEABLE PULL TO THE LEFT WHEN GOING AROUND A CURVE THAT GOES TO THE LEFT, IT WILL STARTLE YOU AT FIRST. POSSIBLY THE STEERING BOX OR RELATED STEERING COLUMN. HAS HAPPENED TO MANY TIMES TO REMEMBER. FREINDS OF MINE ALSO EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM WITH 98 TAHOE, I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST MY VEHICLE, THEN I DID SOME RESEARCH AND THERE IS A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM, WHICH GMC SAYS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR ONLY LIKE 45OO VEHICLES INVOLVED , BUT I BELIEVE THERE IS A LOT MORE. PLEASE HELP . *JB
WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, THERE WAS TREAD SEPARATION ON REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE. NO DAMAGE TO VEHICLE. P245/75R16, ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT, 30000 MILES, MOUNTED ON A GMC, YUKON. *AK *SCC
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…
Read full complaint
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
NOISE IN STEERING WHEEL WHEN TURNING. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED.*AK CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY DEALER, THAT THE PROBLEM WAS A SIR COIL IN THE STEERING COLUMN.*SLC
WIPERS OPERATE IN AN INTERMITENT MANNER. THEY SLOW DOWN AND SOMETIMES STOP TOTALLY, AND THEN START OPERATING AGAIN. THEY MAY OPERATE FINE FOR A TIME AND THE START TO SLOW DOWN AND THEN STOP AGAIN. HAVE READ SOME EARLIER YEAR BLAZER AND TRUCKS HAD THE SAME IDENTICAL PROBLEM. TURNED OUT TO BE A CRACKED CIRCUIT BOARD THAT CAUSED TH…
Read full complaint
WIPERS OPERATE IN AN INTERMITENT MANNER. THEY SLOW DOWN AND SOMETIMES STOP TOTALLY, AND THEN START OPERATING AGAIN. THEY MAY OPERATE FINE FOR A TIME AND THE START TO SLOW DOWN AND THEN STOP AGAIN. HAVE READ SOME EARLIER YEAR BLAZER AND TRUCKS HAD THE SAME IDENTICAL PROBLEM. TURNED OUT TO BE A CRACKED CIRCUIT BOARD THAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM. *AK
FRONT ROTORS AND PADS WARPED AND WORN OUT.*AK
ON RIGHT TURNS STEERING WHEEL/ GEAR FEELS IT IS SLIPING ON OCCASIONS, IT FEELS AS IF THE FRONT WHEELS ARE SLIDING ON ICE FOR A SECOND .GMC GARAGE IN EL PASO REPLACED STEERING PUMP, DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM.
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.