IllustrationVEHICLE JERKS IN EITHER DIRECTION WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, CAUSING THE DRIVING TO LOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE. DRIVER HAS TO USE EXCESSIVE FORCE TO PULL THE STEERING WHEEL TO GET THE VEHICLE TO STRAIGHTEN OUT.*AK
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 →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
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
What owners actually said
133 reportsSTEERING WILL SUDDENLY JERK SLIGHTLY TO LEFT OR RIGHT AFTER TURNING OFF HIGHWAY EXIT. STEERING WILL ALSO BECOMES HARD OR SOFT FOR BRIEF MOMENT. MY TIRE INFLATION IS GOOD AND THE FRONT END HAS BEEN ALIGNED SEVERAL TIMES WITH NO AFFECT TO STEERING PERFORMANCE. *AKPROBLEM IS CURRENTLY AN IRRIRTANT BUT COULD POSE A SAFETY ISSUE I…
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STEERING WILL SUDDENLY JERK SLIGHTLY TO LEFT OR RIGHT AFTER TURNING OFF HIGHWAY EXIT. STEERING WILL ALSO BECOMES HARD OR SOFT FOR BRIEF MOMENT. MY TIRE INFLATION IS GOOD AND THE FRONT END HAS BEEN ALIGNED SEVERAL TIMES WITH NO AFFECT TO STEERING PERFORMANCE. *AKPROBLEM IS CURRENTLY AN IRRIRTANT BUT COULD POSE A SAFETY ISSUE IF STEERING JERKED INTO INCOMING TRAFFIC.
ABS FAILS AT LOW SPEEDS. PRESSURE WILL DUMP, PEDAL DROPS OR SHUDDERS, AND VEHICLE WILL CONTINUE TO ROLL FOR 30 FEET BEFORE STOPPING. ABS SELF-CHECKS AND PASSES TEST. I GOT TIRED OF POOR PERFORMANCE AND PULLED THE ABS FUSE TO DISABLE IT. *AK
I HAVE HAD TO HAVE MY 1997 GMC YUKON TOWED THREE TIMES IN THE PAST 6 MONTHS DUE TO ENGINE FAILURE WHILE DRIVING. AT FIRST, THEY THOUGHT IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. THE SECOND TIME, I WAS DRIVING AND THE ENGINE STARTED MISSING, THEN JUST DIED. NO STEERING, NOTHING. IT WAS TOWED TO THE SHOP AGAIN T…
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I HAVE HAD TO HAVE MY 1997 GMC YUKON TOWED THREE TIMES IN THE PAST 6 MONTHS DUE TO ENGINE FAILURE WHILE DRIVING. AT FIRST, THEY THOUGHT IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. THE SECOND TIME, I WAS DRIVING AND THE ENGINE STARTED MISSING, THEN JUST DIED. NO STEERING, NOTHING. IT WAS TOWED TO THE SHOP AGAIN TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION RECHECKED. GOT THE YUKON BACK AFTER A MONTH, DROVE IT HOME (ABOUT 90 MILES)...IT WAS FINE. THEN THE SECOND DAY AFTER GETTING IT BACK, IT AGAIN STARTED JERKING, MISSING, AND THEN DIED. I WAS ON A HILL IN TOWN WHEN IT STOPPED. MY YUKON STARTED ROLLING BACKWARDS, AND I HAD TO FORCE THE WHEEL TO SHARPLY STEER IT INTO A PARKING LOT. I ALMOST HIT SEVERAL CARS THAT DIDN'T KNOW THE VEHICLE HAD LOST POWER. IT HAS ONCE AGAIN BEEN TOWED TO THE SHOP. WHAT IS CAUSING IT TO SUDDENLY MISS THEN DIE? *JB
REPLACED 4 TIRES. PH
AIR BAG FAILURE 1997 YUKON. *MR *JB
STEERING GOES "SOFT" AND MAKES CONTROL OF VEHICLE DIFFICULT FOR A BRIEF TIME. *JB
THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 140,000 MILES, HOWEVER IT WAS NOT CLUTCHES OR BANDS, BUT A "HARDENED" PART IN THE TAIL SHAFT, SINCE THERE WAS NO WARRANTY I HAD TO PAY TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION, THE REPLACEMENT WOULD NOT UP SHIFT, AND I AM NOT SURE I CAN TRUST THE VEHICLE TO CONTINUE TO PERFORM LIKE IT SHOULD, I THINK GM NEEDS TO AD…
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THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 140,000 MILES, HOWEVER IT WAS NOT CLUTCHES OR BANDS, BUT A "HARDENED" PART IN THE TAIL SHAFT, SINCE THERE WAS NO WARRANTY I HAD TO PAY TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION, THE REPLACEMENT WOULD NOT UP SHIFT, AND I AM NOT SURE I CAN TRUST THE VEHICLE TO CONTINUE TO PERFORM LIKE IT SHOULD, I THINK GM NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM, IF WE HAVE PARTS THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO LAST FOREVER BREAKING, IT SOUNDS TO ME LIKE THEY HAVE A RELIABILITY PROBLEM!! I THINK THEY SHOULD PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT! *JB
THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY.*JB
THE CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE WINSHIELD WIPERS. *SCC
Official recalls
0No 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
5EA01018 · 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.