Open safety recalls, the components owners report failing most often, crash-test results and running costs for the 1998 GMC Yukon, assembled from NHTSA and EPA records.
Everything on this page applies to the model as a whole. Run its VIN to decode that exact car, its engine, trim, assembly plant and factory equipment, alongside these records.
Open a VIN recordRecalls and complaints are filed against a specific model year, so figures differ from one year to the next even within a single generation. See every GMC Yukon year.
The parts named most often across 81 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this make, model and year.
2 crashes · 2 injured
3 deaths
1 fire
Complaints are self-reported and skew toward problems people find alarming, so read this as where to look rather than as a defect rate.
3 complaint-reported fatalities on this model.
I GOT INTO A ACCIDENT. AT THE INTERSECTION OF WASHINGTON ST AND 2ND ST IN RENO NV. I IMPACTED ANOTHER CAR AS THEY WENT ACROSS THE INTERSECTION. I HAD THE RIGHT OF WAY, I IMPACTED THE PASSENGER REAR END OF THE OTHER PERSONS VEHICLE. THE MAIN POINT OF IMPACT ON MY YUKON WAS THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT CORNER. THE ACCIDENT WAS NOT VERY BAD, NO ONE REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION AT THE SCENE. WHEN I IMPACTED I WAS TRAVELING LESS THAN 35 M P H. AND ACCORDING TO THE DRIVEWISE DEVICE. THE VEHICLE IMPACTED AFTER APPLYING THE BREAK AT APPROX 16 MPH- AT WHICH POINT THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. WHEN FURTHER LOOKING AT THE VEHICLE AND REPLACING THE AIRBAGS WE FOUND THAT THE SENSOR DID NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THE WIRES BETWEEN THE AIRBAGS AND THE SENSORS WERE CRIMPED IN THE LITTLE BIT ON BODY DAMAGE THAT HAPPENED IN THE ACCIDENT, DEFLATING THE AIRBAGS UNNECESSARILY AND HINCE A SMALL ACCIDENT THAT HARDLY DAMAGED ANY OF THE VEHICLE RENDERED IT AS SALVAGE- BECAUSE THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED DURING A LOW IMPACT ACCIDENT.
BUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC DURING RUSH HOUR, BRAKES WENT TO THE FLOOR CAUSING ABOUT A 10 MPH IMPACT INTO PICKUP IN FRONT OF US. GLAD WE WEREN'T UP TO SPEED WHEN THE BRAKES WENT. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, I HAVE RUSTED BRAKE LINES, AND THE FRONT CROSSOVER LINE LEAKING PROFUSELY DUE TO CORROSION OF METAL.
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND THE TRUCK JUST LOST ALL POWER AND CUT OFF. SHE MANAGED TO MAKE IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND PUT IT IN PARK. IT DIDN'T START RIGHT AWAY BUT I A COUPLE OF MINUTES IT STARTED BACK UP AND WE MADE IT HOME. IT HAS SUBSEQUENTLY DONE THIS SEVERAL TIMES NOW. *TR
POWER STEERING PUMP LOST "POWER", LUCKILY, AT LOW SPEED AND CLOSE TO HOME. THE PULLEY SHAFT BROKE OFF AT THE IMPELLER. I REPLACED THE PUMP, WITH A REMAN FROM AUTOZONE. THE "NEW" PUMP LASTED ABOUT 25 MILES BEFORE IT'S SHAFT BROKE. I'M INSTALLING A REPLACEMENT REMAN THIS EVENING. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 GMC YUKON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE AT LOW SPEEDS, THE ABS BRAKE MODULE ACTIVATED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. THE CONTACT DISCONNECTED THE FUSE FOR THE ABS BRAKING SYSTEM TO TEMPORARILY REMEDY THE FAILURE. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE NO LONGER HAD ABS BRAKING ABILITY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ADDRESSING THE FAILURE, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 156,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 GMC YUKON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING BRAKE FLUID ABNORMALLY. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE SEVERELY RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE ENTIRE BRAKE LINE SYSTEM FROM FRONT TO REAR WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 88,000. THE ABS SENSORS FAILED THREE TIMES. UPDATED 03/03/11
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 GMC YUKON. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY AND IGNITED INTO HEAVY FLAMES WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE PARKED NEXT TO THE BURNING VEHICLE SUSTAINED DAMAGES TO THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 06E043000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE CAUSE OF FAILURE HAD NOT BEEN DETERMINED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 200,000.
THE POWER STEERING GOES INTO "FULL MODE" AT SPEEDS ABOVE ABOUT 25 MPH, MAKING A ONE INCH MOVEMENT OF THE STEERING WHEEL INTO THE EQUIVALENT OF A ONE QUARTER TURN OF THE WHEEL. IT IS ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS ON THE FREEWAY, ALTHOUGH ON CITY STREETS IT MAKES THE VEHICLE JERK AROUND IN THE LANE. THIS HAS ALREADY BEEN REPORTED AND HAS RESULTED IN ONE DEATH AND ABOUT 8-10 ACCIDENTS. MY WIFE AND CHILDREN WILL NOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE DUE TO THIS CONDITION, AND I HAVE HAD SEVERAL "CLOSE CALLS" DUE TO THIS FAULTY GMC PART, WHICH HAS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ALREADY PUBLISHED ABOUT IT. *TR
BROKEN TIRE VALVE STEM LEADING TO FLAT TIRE. NEW TIRE AND VALVE STEM WAS INSTALLED 1500 MILES. *TR
THE VEHICLE WOULD BE RUNNING FINE, THEN YOU WOULD NOT KNOW AFTER YOU MADE A STOP AND TURNED IT OFF IF IT WOULD START AGAIN. SOMETIMES YOU COULD DISCONNECT THE BATTERY CABLES FOR A WHILE AND THEN IT WOULD START. TOOK IT TO THE SHOP, THEY COULD NOT FIND A DEFINITIVE PROBLEM. THEN THE FUEL PUMP WENT OUT, REPLACED IT AND TWO WEEKS LATER IT WENT OUT AGAIN. REPLACED THE PUMP AND WIRING HARNESS, TWO WEEKS LATER OUT AGAIN, REPLACED PUMP AND RELAYS. THEN ABOUT A MONTH AND A HALF THE FUEL PUMP WENT OUT AGAIN! REPLACED THE PUMP AND THEY INSTALLED A DIFFERENT WIRING HARNESS THIS TIME, I HAVE ONLY DRIVEN IT FOR A DAY THIS TIME, WONDER HOW LONG THIS PUMP WILL LAST. THE MECHANIC I USE WENT TO THE GM DEALER TO GET THE FUEL PUMPS. ALSO, I BOUGHT THE YUKON USED, AND WHEN I FILLED IT UP I NOTICED A GAS SMELL, AND DISCOVERED IT WAS LEAKING. TOOK IT BACK TO THE CAR LOT, THEY SAID THEY FIXED IT, BUT THE NEXT TIME I FILLED UP IT WAS LEAKING AGAIN. SHORTLY THEREAFTER THE FUEL PUMP SAGA STARTED! WHAT IS THE PROBLEM HERE?? I HAVE A GREAT MECHANIC AND HE HAS CHECKED THAT TRUCK ALL OVER, AND CANNOT COME UP WITH A GOOD REASON WHY THE FUEL PUMPS KEEP GOING OUT. I HAVE NOT CONTACTED GM YET. *TR
INTERMITTENTLY WINDSHIELD WIPERS DO NOT FUNCTION. *AK
THIS VEHICLE HAS HISTORICALLY BEEN BAD FOR WEAR ON DISCS AND PADS. I HAD JUST REPLACED THE DISCS AND PADS ONCE AGAIN, AND WAS IN AN ACCIDENT. I REALLY THINK THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE ABS SYSTEM AND NOT THE DISC OR PADS.*AK
Showing 12 of 81 complaints.
NHTSA lists 3 recalls for this make, model and year. Recalls apply to the model, so some may already be fixed on this specific car. A dealer can confirm from the VIN.
Issue: CERTAIN REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS, FRAM BRAND NAME P/N G3727, WITH DATE CODES X52911 THROUGH X60801 SEQUENTIALLY OR X600141 AND A MEXICO COUNTRY OR ORIGIN MARKING ON THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 18, 2005, THROUGH MARCH 21, 2006, SOLD FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE AND ON CERTAIN SCHOOL BUSES. (TO SEE THE SCHOOL BUS ENGINE SIZES, CLICK ON "DOCUMENT SEARCH" AND THEN "BUS APPLICATIONS"). THE CONNECTOR ON THE FUEL FILTER WAS NOT MANUFACTURED TO HONEYWELL'S SPECIFICATION. AS A RESULT, THE O-RING MAY NOT SEAT CORRECTLY ON THE FUEL LINE.
Risk: THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE AN INADEQUATE SEAL AT THE CONNECTION, POTENTIALLY LEADING TO A FUEL LEAK. IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.
Remedy: HONEYWELL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FUEL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 18, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-890-2075 (OPTION 1).
Campaign 06E043000
Issue: 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.
Risk: 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.
Campaign 97V142000
Issue: 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.
Risk: 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.
Campaign 98V033000
No EPA fuel-economy match for this model. Naming may differ, or it predates EPA records.
NHTSA has no NCAP crash-test rating for this model year, which is common for older, low-volume and heavy-duty vehicles.