IllustrationPLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS, THIS PROBLEM IS ALL OVER THE INTERNET ! IT'S VERY DANGEROUS!! MAKE GMC DO SOMETHING !! MY DEALER MADE ME BUY THE NEW EVO STEERING SENSOR FOR $40. *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 reportsVEHICLE LOST ENTIRE BRAKING WHILE TRYING TO STOP. THIS CAUSED VEHICLE TO ROLLOVER ON ITS ROOF, NO INJURY WAS REPORTED. VEHICLE AT DEALER SHOP. INFORMED THAT BOTH ABS SENSORS FAILED. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SEVERE ERRATIC STEERING WHEN DRIVING AT 50 MPH OR MORE. HARD TO STEER VEHICLE ON THE ROAD WHEN TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED. VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED AT THIS TIME. BUT DEALER WAS CONTACTD VIA PHONE. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
STEERING GIVES WAY WHEN TURNING RIGHT CORNERS. ALSO THERE IS A LOT OF PLAY WHEN DRIVING 30-40 MPH IN THE STEERING. *AK
IF THERE IS LESS THAN TWO GALLONS OF GAS WHEN COMING TO A STOP FUEL SPLASHES AROUND, AND SHUTS THE ENGINE DOWN . GMC HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK DEALER SUGGESTED THAT THE DRIVER TO HAVE MORE THAN TWO GALLONS GAS IN THE TANK ALWAYS. *YH
PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE PARTS AT LOW MILEAGE. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK
THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE WE BOUGHT IT. RIGHT AFTER WE BOUGHT IT WE HEARD A ROAR IN THE REAR END. THE REAR END WAS REPLACE UNDER THE 3YR/36000MILE WARRANTY. SOON AFTER THAT THE ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. JUST RECENTLY WE TOOK A TRIP AND TOWED OUR 18FT. SKI BOAT WITH US. WHEN WE RETURNED MY WIFE NOT…
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THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE WE BOUGHT IT. RIGHT AFTER WE BOUGHT IT WE HEARD A ROAR IN THE REAR END. THE REAR END WAS REPLACE UNDER THE 3YR/36000MILE WARRANTY. SOON AFTER THAT THE ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. JUST RECENTLY WE TOOK A TRIP AND TOWED OUR 18FT. SKI BOAT WITH US. WHEN WE RETURNED MY WIFE NOTICED A PROBLEM THE NEXT DAY. WE HAD NO REVERSE AND THAT PROVED TO BE THE TRANSMISSION. WE CONTACED THE CLOSEST DEALRER TO US: MIKE MORGAN SHREVEPORT, LA. THEY TOLD US THAT THEY WERE SO BACKED UP WITH TRANMISSION PROBLEMS THAT IT WOULD BE AT LEAST A WEEK BEFORE THEY COULD PICK UP THE TRUCK TO EVEN LOOK AT IT. THEN THEY WOULD TELL ME WHAT THEY THOUGHT. WELL, I PAID $25,000 FOR A VEHICLE TO SIT WITH A BAD TRANSMISSION AND THEY THINK I WILL LET IT SIT WHILE MY WIFE AND CHILDREN WALK!!! I DON'T THINK SO! DURING THE LAST OF JULY, MY BROTHER AND LAW AND I REPLACE THE STARTER ON THIS SAME TRUCK TO THE TUNE OF $250.00 YESTERDAY I FOUND A WATER PUMP LEAK AND WAS TOLD THAT WOULD COST ME AROUND $200.00 TO REPAIR. OH YES, THE TRANSMISSION COST ME $1,400.00 TO REPAIR. AS YOU CAN SEE, I AM HAVING A TON OF PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. GM HAS THUMBED THEIR NOSE AT ME AND MORE OR LESS SAID "TOUGH LUCK"! WELL, I DON'T THINK THAT IS FAIR. THE TRANSMISSION IS WHAT REALLY UPSET ME. I PAID EXTRA TO HAVE TOWING PACKAGE ON THIS TRUCK AND WE PULLED A BOAT 1 TIME AND THIS HAPPENS. I CAN'T BELEIVE THAT THIS TRUCK CAN'T GET AT LEAST 100,000 MILES ON THE ORIGINAL TRANSMISSION. I ALSO HAVE A BOSS THAT OWNS A 1999 SUBURBAN THAT HAD THE TRANMISSION FAIL ON HIM THIS LAST FRIDAY. HIS TRUCK HAS ONLY 54,000 MILES. WELL, AS YOU CAN SEE, I THINK GM HAS A PROBLEM!!! PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT I CAN DO!
THE STEERING WOULD JERK THE WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT WHILE IN A TURN CAUSING A MOMENTARY LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. STEERING BOX WAS REPLACED BEFORE FINALLY THE EVO SENSOR WAS REPLACED. ABS BRAKES ALSO HAVE NEVER FELT GOOD. THE PEDAL GOES TO LOW BEFORE THE BRAKES SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN. THIS HAS BEEN A COMPLAINT SENCE THE TRUC…
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THE STEERING WOULD JERK THE WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT WHILE IN A TURN CAUSING A MOMENTARY LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. STEERING BOX WAS REPLACED BEFORE FINALLY THE EVO SENSOR WAS REPLACED. ABS BRAKES ALSO HAVE NEVER FELT GOOD. THE PEDAL GOES TO LOW BEFORE THE BRAKES SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN. THIS HAS BEEN A COMPLAINT SENCE THE TRUCK WAS NEW. THE RETAILER SEEMS NOT VERY CONCERNED WITH MY COMPLAINTS. ESPECIALLY KNOWING THAT I AM AN AUTOMOBILE TECHNICIAN THEY FEEL I WILL LET THE PROBLEM GO THEIR REPAIRS HAVED BEEN UNSATISFACTORY FROM THE BEGINING. I HAVE HAD TO COMPLAIN ABOUT PROBLEMS MANY TIMES BEFORE FINALLY THE PREBLEMS ARE FIXED. WITH THE STEERING PROBLEM I HAAD TO CONTACT ANOTHER DEALER TECH I KNEW AND ASK HIM THE PROBLEM WHICH HE KNEW WHAT WAS WRONG IMEDIATELY. PLEASE DO SOMETHING BEFORE ALL THESE TRUCKS WITH THIS STEERING AND BRAKE PRO
THE STEERING WOULD JERK THE WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT WHILE IN A TURN CAUSING A MOMENTARY LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. STEERING BOX WAS REPLACED BEFORE. FINALLY THE EVO SENSOR WAS REPLACED. ABS ALSO HAVE NEVER WORKED FELT GOOD, THE PEDAL GOES TO LOW BEFORE THE BRAKES SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN. THIS HAS BEEN A COMPLAINT SINCE THE TR…
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THE STEERING WOULD JERK THE WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT WHILE IN A TURN CAUSING A MOMENTARY LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. STEERING BOX WAS REPLACED BEFORE. FINALLY THE EVO SENSOR WAS REPLACED. ABS ALSO HAVE NEVER WORKED FELT GOOD, THE PEDAL GOES TO LOW BEFORE THE BRAKES SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN. THIS HAS BEEN A COMPLAINT SINCE THE TRUCK WAS NEW. THE RETAILER SEEMS NOT VERY CONCERNED WITH MY COMPLAINTS. ESPECIALLY KNOWING THAT I AM AN AUTOMOBILE TECHNICIAN THEY FEEL I WILL LET THE PROBLEM GO. THEIR REPAIRS HAVE BEEN UNSATISFACTORY FROM THE BEGINNING. I HAVE HAD TO COMPLAIN ABOUT PROBLEMS MANY TIMES BEFORE, FINALLY THE PROBLEMS ARE FIXED. WITH THE STEERING PROBLEM I HAD TO CONTACT ANOTHER DEALER TECH I KNEW AND ASK HIM THE PROBLEM WHICH HE KNEW WHAT WAS WRONG IMMEDIATELY. PLEASE DO SOMETHING BEFORE ALL THESE TRUCKS WITH THIS STEERING AND BRAKE PROBLEM. *JB ***DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS****734335
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.