IllustrationPOWER ASSIST CAUSES STEERING WHEEL TO BE EXTREMELY LOOSE. COULD EASILY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *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 reportsPOWER ASSIST CAUSES VERY LOOSE STEERING. COULD EASILY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.*AK
WHILE DRIVING THROUGH A CARWASH BATTERY DIED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO BE IN NEED OF A JUMP. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON THREE DIFFERENT SITUATIONS. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
EA00013/BATTERY LEAKS ACID: BATTERY IS LEAKING FROM BOTH NEGATIVE/POSITIVE POST. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
WHEN APPLYING BRAKE PEDAL IT FEELS SPONGY, AND CAUSES VEHICLE NOT TO STOP AS QUICKLY AS IT SHOULD. DEALER/MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED AT THIS TIME. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
ELECTRONIC FUEL PUMP IS GETTING HOT AND OVERHEATING, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STOP RUNNING. DEALER'S SOLUTION IS TO KEEP VEHICLE FULL OF GAS, OR REPLACE FUEL PUMP WITH THE SAME DESIGN PUMP. DEFECT CAN RESULT IN FIRE OR ACCIDENT. *AK *ML
WHEN DRIVING ON FREEWAY AT 65MH CONSUMER HIT BRAKES BECAUSE VEHICLE IN FRONT STOPPED VERY FAST. UPON APPLYING THE BRAKES, VEHICLE SWERVED FROM SIDE TO SIDE AND LOST CONTROL. STEERING WHEEL WAS SHAKING VERY BADLY. FINALLY CAME TO A STOP. CONTACTED DEALER. THIS HAS HAPPENED BEFORE, BUT THE STEERING WHEEL HAD MOVED UNEX…
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WHEN DRIVING ON FREEWAY AT 65MH CONSUMER HIT BRAKES BECAUSE VEHICLE IN FRONT STOPPED VERY FAST. UPON APPLYING THE BRAKES, VEHICLE SWERVED FROM SIDE TO SIDE AND LOST CONTROL. STEERING WHEEL WAS SHAKING VERY BADLY. FINALLY CAME TO A STOP. CONTACTED DEALER. THIS HAS HAPPENED BEFORE, BUT THE STEERING WHEEL HAD MOVED UNEXPECTEDLY AT HIGH SPEEDS. *AK
ACCORDING TO DEALERSHIP IN MCDONOUGH, GA THAT FIXED THIS TRUCK THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM IS NOT UNCOMMON AT ALL THERE SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM ON THE INTERNAL COMPONENTS OF THE TRANSMISSION - EST COST $2000.00 TO FIX. *AK
THE STEERING WHEEL, WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING, WILL SUDDENLY JERK TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT AS IF YOU ARE NOT THE ONE DRIVING. IT WILL JUST ABOUT SEND YOU INTO THE DITCH OR INOT ONCOMING TRAFFIC! I CONTACTED MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP, AND THE STATED SINCE MY VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY, AND THERE IS NO RECALL, IT WOULD COST ME $300. NOW, I H…
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THE STEERING WHEEL, WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING, WILL SUDDENLY JERK TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT AS IF YOU ARE NOT THE ONE DRIVING. IT WILL JUST ABOUT SEND YOU INTO THE DITCH OR INOT ONCOMING TRAFFIC! I CONTACTED MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP, AND THE STATED SINCE MY VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY, AND THERE IS NO RECALL, IT WOULD COST ME $300. NOW, I HAVE 2 SMALL CHILDREN AND I NEED A LARGE VEHICLE FOR ROOM, BUT THIS STEERING PROBLEM IS BAD! SOME ONE'S GOING TO GET KILLED!!ITS THAT BAD11 MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING THE YUKON ONE DAY AND HAD TO FIGHT THE WHEEL TO KEEP IT INTHE ROAD. PLEASE HELP, WE NEED A FORMAL RECALL. *AK
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
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.