1997 Gmc YUKON problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
81 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
100,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 model year. Data snapshot: . 21 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 12 of 81 complaints (14.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 30 | 37.0% |
| Braking behavior | 17 | 21.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 6 | 7.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 5 | 6.2% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 3.7% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 2.5% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Steering | 12 |
| Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System | 12 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 11 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 7 |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery | 5 |
| Suspension | 4 |
| Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar | 3 |
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer | 3 |
Steering: 12; Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System: 12; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 11; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 7; Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery: 5; Suspension: 4; Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar: 3; Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 6 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 11 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 6; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 11; 150,000 and above: 1
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (11). 60 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 31 |
| 2001 | 13 |
| 2002 | 8 |
| 2003 | 13 |
| 2004 | 7 |
| 2005 | 4 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
2000: 31; 2001: 13; 2002: 8; 2003: 13; 2004: 7; 2005: 4; 2006: 1; 2007: 2; 2008: 1; 2018: 1
Pattern summary
Steering leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 30 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 17 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 6 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10009849 · 2000-10-14 (October 14, 2000)
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 BEGINNI…
Owner-reported narrative. 34,132 miles reported. Look up ODI 10009849 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10014075 · 2003-04-07 (April 7, 2003)
STEERING GOES "SOFT" AND MAKES CONTROL OF VEHICLE DIFFICULT FOR A BRIEF TIME. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 92,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10014075 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10025717 · 2003-07-09 (July 9, 2003)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10025717 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10010776 · 2003-03-20 (March 20, 2003)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 140,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10010776 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10021508 · 2003-06-12 (June 12, 2003)
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 …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10021508 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 731788 · 2000-09-18 (September 18, 2000)
BATTERY LEAK AT SIDEMOUNT POSITIVE TERMINAL CORRODING CABLE CONNECTION AND BRAKE LINE METAL TO RUBBER LINE CONNECTION. DEALER SAYS THIS IS NOT UNUSUAL BUT NO WARRANTY APPLIES EXCEPT ON BATTERY. BATTERY STORE SAYS THIS IS COMMON WITH DELCO SIDEMOUNT TERMINAL BATTERIES. CORROSSION THROUGH BRAKE LINE CONNECTION COULD CAUSE LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID AND BRAKING. CORROSION IN CABLE COULD DISABLE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. BATTERY WAS REPLACED WITH DIFFERENT MODEL HAVING REINFORCED CASE AT THE TERMINAL. CORROSION ON OTHER COMPONENTS NEUTRALIZED WITH ANTI C…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 731788 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 764568 · 2002-07-22 (July 22, 2002)
WINDSHIELD WIPERS DON'T WORK SOMETIMES. SWITCH IS OPERATIVE AS IS MOTOR. ELECTRICAL SHOP WANTS TO "SEARCH DOWN A POTENTIAL SHORT" THEY HAVE SEEN SEVERAL YUKONS WITH THIS PROBLEM AND 1996 YUKONS WERE RECALLED FOR THIS PROBLEM. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 764568 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10142626 · 2005-11-14 (November 14, 2005)
DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THREE YEARS AGO SHE HAD TO REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP. THE FUEL PUMP HAS BEEN REPLACED FIVE TIMES IN THE LAST THREE YEARS. THE SECOND TIME THE PUMP WAS REPLACED THE WIRES WERE BURNED. THE WIRES WERE REPLACED. GM TOLD HER TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A GM DEALERSHIP AND THEY WOULD PAY FOR THE FUEL PUMP, BUT NOT THE LABOR.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10142626 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 860602 · 2000-04-19 (April 19, 2000)
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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 860602 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10053236 · 2004-01-14 (January 14, 2004)
I HAVE EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT LOSS OF POWER STEERINGI IN MY 1997 GMC YUKON WHEN MAKING LEFT TURNS. I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE ON 10/24/2003 (TROUBLE NOT FOUND). I TOOK IT IN AGAIN ON 10/31/2003 AND THEY REPLACED THE POWER STEERING EVO SENSOR ($213.60). STILL HAVE TROUBLE. AGAIN I TOOK THE VEHICLE FOR SERVICE ON 11/19/2003 WHEN THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED ($648.50). THE VEHICLE STILL NG. TOOK IT IN ON 12/1/2003,CAN'T ISOLATE TROUBLE. AGAIN ON 12/10/2003, THIS TIME THEY CHANGED THE POWER STEERING BOX? SO FAR THE TROUBLE SEEMS TO…
Owner-reported narrative. 64,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10053236 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 865450 · 2000-07-14 (July 14, 2000)
WIFE WAS DRIVING VEHICLE WHEN STARTED TO SMELL SOMETHING BURNING. PARKED & LEFT THE VEHICLE & IT CAUGHT FIRE NEAR THE FUEL TANK AREA. PRIOR TO IT CATCHING ON FIRE, IT WAS STALLING OUT SEVERAL TIMES A DAY. TOWED TO MECHANIC & CAUSE OF FIRE OR STALLING WAS NOT LOCATED. GM DIDN'T ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PROBLEM. *AK *ML
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 865450 at NHTSA ↗