There are 32 owner-reported steering complaints for the 2003 GMC Yukonin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
WHILE TRAVELING TO WORK MY VEHICLES CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE REDUCED POWER WARNING CAME ON AT WHICH TIME I HAD COMPLETE LOSS OF ACCELERATION, COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKING, AND COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING POWER. I THEN HAD TO COAST TO A STOP AND ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE 6 TIMES BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO GET THE REDUCED POWER WARNING TO GO OFF AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE ALTHOUGH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON. THIS IS THE 2ND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME IN 2 DAYS WITH THE LOSS OF POWER. I HAVE HAD THE REDUCED POWER WARNING ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS YEARS PAST BUT NEVER HAVE I LOST TOTAL / ABSOLUTE POWER TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE, THIS IS A TOTAL DEATH TRAP FOR ANYONE WHO HAS HAD THIS EXPERIENCE, ESPECIALLY ON THE FREEWAY OR HIGHWAYS AT HIGH SPEEDS. I HAVE READ NUMEROUS ACCOUNTS OF THIS SAME ISSUE AFFECTING OTHER GMC OWNERS AND HAVE SEEN NO RESOLUTIONS OR ANY RECALLS FROM GMC. I HAVE ALREADY REPLACED THE THROTTLE HOUSING AND HARNESS COMPONENTS, ACCELERATION PEDAL SENSOR AND YET THE ISSUE CONTINUES, SOMEONE IS GOING TO ( DIE ) BECAUSE OF GMC'S LACK OF CONCERN AND RESPONSIBILITY TO OWNERS OF THEIR PRODUCTS. I WILL NEVER EVER OWN ANOTHER GMC ASSOCIATED PRODUCT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC YUKON DENALI XL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 1 MPH AND MAKING A LEFT INTO A PARKING LOT, THE VEHICLE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND WAS ABLE TO RESUME TO NORMAL. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE 91,000. UPDATED 9/18/14*CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE FAILURE ONLY OCCURRED WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN. UPDATED 2/11/2015 *JS
WHILE DRIVING POSTED SPEED ON EXPRESSWAY VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. LEAVING NO POWER STEERING NO POWER BRAKES. I SEE MANY COMPLAINTS ON YOUR WEBSITE AS WELL AS ONLINE. ARE YOU DOING ANYTHING ABOUT THIS ISSUE? IT IS THE SAME ISSUE THAT YOU ARE CURRENTLY REQUIRING GM TO RECALL OVER 1 MILLION VEHICLES FOR. YOUR CURRENT RECALL ONLY GOES BACK TO THE 2009 MODELS. WHY ARE YOU NOT REQUIRING ALL GM VEHICLES RECALLED SINCE 1996? THEY ALL HAVE THE SAME KEY LOCK SYSTEM AND SAME ABS SYSTEMS BOTH OF WHICH SEEM TO CONTRIBUTE TO OR CAUSE THE PROBLEM. IF A VEHICLE IS BUILT WITH A SAFETY HAZARD DOES THE FACT THAT IT IS OLDER MEAN THAT IT IS NO LONGER A MANUFACTURER'S RESPONSIBILITY TO REPAIR IT? SINCE THE GOVERNMENT OWNS GM HOW ARE YOU AFFECTED IN INITIATING A RECALL? THE GOVERNMENT DOES NOT ALLOW OTHER COMPANIES TO POLICE THEMSELVES, YET IS THAT NOT WHAT YOU ARE DOING WITH GM? *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 YUKON DENALI XL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, HE NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO SHAKE EXCESSIVELY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE SHOCKS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC YUKON DENALI XL. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 20-25 MPH WHEN THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 90,000.
HTTP://TOWNHALL.EDMUNDS.COM/DIRECT/VIEW/.F0E807E/115 HTTP://WWW.GMINSIDENEWS.COM/FORUMS/F31/2003-YUKON-XL-REDUCED-POWER-ISSUE-HELP-90910/ HTTP://WWW.JUSTANSWER.COM/GM/5BFXF-GMC-2003-GMC-YUKON-5-3-MOTOR-CODE-P1518.HTML HTTP://WWW.CHEVYAVALANCHEFANCLUB.COM/CAFCNA/INDEX.PHP?TOPIC=43119.0;WAP2 PLEASE CHECK OUT THESE LINKS AS I HAVE BEEN SEARCHING FOR A FIX FOR MY "REDUCED ENGINE POWER" ISSUE WITH MY YUKON. I'VE COME ACROSS SEVERAL OTHERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE. MOST OF WHICH HAVE TAKEN THE ISSUE BACK TO GM DEALERS, WHO GET NO SUPPORT FOR THE PROBLEM FROM THE HOME OFFICE. I BELIEVE THIS COULD BE A VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE. THE ISSUE ITSELF IS THE TRUCK KICKS INTO "REDUCED ENGINE POWER" MODE AND THEN IT DOES NOT GO ANY FASTER THAN IDLE WHICH MEANS IT ALL OF THE SUDDEN REDUCES THE SPEED TO 5 MPH MAXIMUM AS WELL AS THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT AND THE ABS BRAKES. THAT IS VERY DANGEROUS IF YOU ARE ON THE HIGHWAY. PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TROUBLESHOOTING THE ISSUE WITH NO SOLID FIXES FROM WHAT I CAN FIND. I BELIEVE GM SHOULD COME UP WITH A FIX SO THAT ISN'T A DANGEROUS HAZARD TO CONSUMERS AND OWNERS OF WHAT LOOKS LIKE THERE 2003 MODEL YEARS, IT SEEMS TO BE MOSTLY THERE 2003 MODEL YEARS. GM DOESN'T SEEM TO WANT TO RECOGNIZE THIS AS AN ISSUE. PLEASE HELP US CONSUMERS OUT, WE WOULD JUST LIKE THIS PROBLEM SOLVED. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. *TR
KNOCKING NOISE IN STEERING COLUMN; STEERING VERY LOOSE; SOMETIMES FEELS LIKE I LOOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR WHEN TURNING WHILE GOING OVER BUMPS IN ROAD. *TR
WE PURCHASED OUR YUKON OUT OF THE SHOWROOM. IT HAS QUAD STEERING, A FEATURE WE PAID EXTRA WITH THIS VEHICLE. ABOUT A WEEK AFTER WE HAD THE VEHICLE, THE QUAD STEERING WOULD DROP OUT OF QUAD MODE AS INDICATED BY THE LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD, AS WELL AS THE FEEL OF THE DRIVE, AND ON OCCASION NOT LOCK INTO POSITION EITHER. THE WHEELS WOULD THEN TURN SIDEWAYS AND WE TEMPORARY LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE UNTIL WE PULL OVER TO STRAIGHTEN OUT THE WHEELS IN ORDER TO LOCK THEM IN POSITION. WE'VE SINCE HAD THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT 5 OR 6 TIMES WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT. THE DEALERSHIP HAS ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR ON MANY OCCASION, HOWEVER IT CONTINUES TO BE UNRELIABLE. WE ARE VERY CONCERNED THAT THIS VEHICLE IS GOING TO CRASH SOMEDAY BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM... OF WHICH IS UNEXPECTED AND DANGEROUS. AFTER GREAT CARE OF THIS VEHICLE, FAILURE OF THE QUAD FEATURE CONTINUES TO BE A SERIOUS UNRESOLVED DEFECT. THE IMPACT ON OUR SCHEDULE TO DROP THE VEHICLE OFF FOR SEVERAL DAYS, RENT A CAR, AND STILL HAVE NO SOLID REPAIR IS VERY UPSETTING AND BECOMING A HARDSHIP. *TR
I PURCHASED THE 2003 YUKON USED IN DECEMBER 2006. IMMEDIATELY AFTER PURCHASING THIS SUV I NOTICED THE CLUNKING SOUND AND COULD FEEL IT IN THE STEERING WHEEL. WITHIN A FEW MONTHS I BEGAN TO NOTICE THE LACK OF STEERING ASSIST. THEN LAST WEEK WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN ONTO A SIDE STREET, THE STEERING COMPLETELY LOCKED UP CAUSING ME TO ALMOST SIDE SWIPE A CAR IN THE OPPOSING LANE. I HAD TO JAM ON MY BRAKES TO AVOID SLAMMING INTO THE OTHER CAR. MY MECHANIC SAID THAT HE THOUGHT THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL ISSUED, BUT COULD NOT LOCATE ANY DOCUMENTATION. I RESEARCHED YOUR WEB SITE AND FOUND DOZENS OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS VERY SAME STEERING FAILURE, BUT NO RECALL INFORMATION WAS FOUND. PLEASE ADVISE. *TR
FRONT RIGHT BEARING FAILED AT 50K MILES ON A 2003 YUKON XL. HAVING READ THE BLOGS THIS APPEARS COMMON. *TR
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE STEERING SHAFT WAS REPLACED UNDER RECALL JANUARY 2005. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED THERE IS A POPPING AND GRINDING NOSE. THERE IS ALSO AN EXTREME AMOUNT OF PLAY IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE SHAFT WAS GREASED. THIS DID NOT REPAIR THE PROBLEM. THE SHAFT WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE NHTSA RECALL INFORMATION IS NOT AVAILABLE.
I HAVE A 2003 GMC YUKON XL WHICH BOTH FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS FAILED AT THE SAME TIME AT ~51,280 MILES. THESE ARE SEALED BEARINGS THAT WERE SUPPOSED TO LAST THE LIFETIME OF THE VEHICLE. I WAS ABLE TO AVOID A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE BY REPLACING BOTH FRONT WHEEL BEARING ASSEMBLIES, $692.49, WHEN I HEARD THE BEARING GRINDING NOISE. THE MECHANIC AT THE GM DEALER TOLD ME HE REPLACES THE BEARING ASSEMBLIES ON TWO TO THREE VEHICLES A WEEK. *JB
AT 45729 MILES WE HAD TO HAVE THE GEAR BOX REPLACED AT THE COST OF $1044. HAVE BEEN TOLD BY OTHER MECHANICS A GEAR BOX IS A PART THAT IS SELDOM REPLACED ON ANY VEHICLE. I FIND IT RIDICULOUS TO HAVE TO SPEND SO MUCH MONEY ON REPAIRS FOR A NEWER VEHICLE ESPECIALLY WHEN THE VEHICLE COST WAS OVER $31000. *JB
WE HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH STEERING KNUCKLE/COLUMN FROM THE VERY BEGINNING. DEALER WOULD DIAGNOSE AS "JUST THE WAY THOSE CARS ARE, NOTHING IS WRONG". STEERING DOES NOT FEEL SAFE FOR A LARGE CAR LIKE THE YUKON. I PURCHASED AN SUV TO FEEL SAFER WITH FAMILY. BUT STEERING ALWAYS FEELS LOOSE ESPECIALLY WHEN TURNING OR GOING OVER BUMPS. NOISES ALSO WHEN TURNING. OVER TIME IT JUST GETS WORSE. IT OCCURS EVERY TIME YOU DRIVE. I WOULD LIKE TO PURCHASE A NEWER MODEL YUKON BUT REFUSE TO WASTE MONEY IF THIS IS HOW THEY DRIVE. I DON'T THINK IT'S SAFE. THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE CORRECTED BY MANUFACTURER. *TR
I TOOK DELIVERY OF MY 2003 GMC YUKON SLT ON 22 DECEMBER 2003. IT HAS CHASSIS PROBLEMS SINCE IT HAD 500 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT FOR THE FOLLOWING CHASSIS RELATED COMPLAINTS MULTIPLE TIMES: FRONT END VIBRATION AND HIGHWAY SPEEDS (50+ MPH), STEERING WHEEL PULL AT ALL SPEEDS, AND SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING. IN THE PAST, GM SERVICE HAS ALIGNED THE FRONT END, BALANCED WHEELS, REPLACED TIRES, REPLACED THE POWER STEERING PUMP, AND REPLACED THE STEERING GEAR. VEHICLE SERVICE HISTORY IS AVAILABLE. THE MOST RECENT LOSS OF POWER STEERING OCCURRED ON 29 JULY 2005 AT APPROXIMATELY 10:00 P.M. I WAS PULLING OUT OF A TUBBY'S RESTAURANT PARKING LOT IN CLINTON TOWNSHIP, MI IN AN ATTEMPT TO TURN RIGHT ONTO GARFIELD ST. MY ATTEMPTED RIGHT TURN FAILED AS MY VEHICLE STEERING LOCKED MID WAY INTO MY TURN, CAUSING MY VEHICLE TO GO INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES, PUT THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE TO REMOVE MY VEHICLE FROM TRAFFIC, AND WRESTLED WITH THE STEERING WHEEL TO TURN RIGHT TO GET ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD. I HAD A NEAR MISS AS THERE WAS TRAFFIC COMING FROM BOTH DIRECTIONS ON A ROAD WITH A POSTED SPEED LIMIT OF 45 MPH. AFTER THE NEAR MISS, I REALIZED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD LOST POWER STEERING, ONLY TO THE RIGHT. I CAREFULLY DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO RINKE PONTIAC GMC SERVICE ON 1 AUGUST 2005 FOR SERVICE. THE SERVE DEPARTMENT SAID THAT I WOULD HAVE THE PAY FOR IT SINCE THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. *JB
I TOOK DELIVERY OF MY 2003 GMC YUKON SLT ON 22 DECEMBER 2003. IT HAS CHASSIS PROBLEMS SINCE IT HAD 500 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT FOR THE FOLLOWING CHASSIS RELATED COMPLAINTS MULTIPLE TIMES: FRONT END VIBRATION AND HIGHWAY SPEEDS (50+ MPH), STEERING WHEEL PULL AT ALL SPEEDS, AND SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING. IN THE PAST, GM SERVICE HAS ALIGNED THE FRONT END, BALANCED WHEELS, REPLACED TIRES, REPLACED THE POWER STEERING PUMP, AND REPLACED THE STEERING GEAR. VEHICLE SERVICE HISTORY IS AVAILABLE. THE MOST RECENT LOSS OF POWER STEERING OCCURRED ON 29 JULY 2005 AT APPROXIMATELY 10:00 P.M. I WAS PULLING OUT OF A TUBBY'S RESTAURANT PARKING LOT IN CLINTON TOWNSHIP, MI IN AN ATTEMPT TO TURN RIGHT ONTO GARFIELD ST. MY ATTEMPTED RIGHT TURN FAILED AS MY VEHICLE STEERING LOCKED MID WAY INTO MY TURN, CAUSING MY VEHICLE TO GO INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES, PUT THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE TO REMOVE MY VEHICLE FROM TRAFFIC, AND WRESTLED WITH THE STEERING WHEEL TO TURN RIGHT TO GET ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD. I HAD A NEAR MISS AS THERE WAS TRAFFIC COMING FROM BOTH DIRECTIONS ON A ROAD WITH A POSTED SPEED LIMIT OF 45 MPH. AFTER THE NEAR MISS, I REALIZED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD LOST POWER STEERING, ONLY TO THE RIGHT. I CAREFULLY DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO RINKE PONTIAC GMC SERVICE ON 1 AUGUST 2005 FOR SERVICE. THE SERVE DEPARTMENT SAID THAT I WOULD HAVE THE PAY FOR IT SINCE THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. *JB
THE STEERING COLUMN OF MY 2003 YUKON DENALI WITH 50,910 MILES GOT LOOSE. I TOOK VEHICULE TO A GMC DEALER TO GET IT CHECK AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE UPPER STEERING BEARING WAS FAILING AND RECOMMENDED IMMEDIATE REPAIRS THAT WOULD COST ME $698.12. I CONTACTED GMC AND THEY DECIDE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM AT NO CHARGE TO ME. WHEN I TOOK THE VEHICULE TO GET THE STEERING COLUMN FIX I MENTIONED TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEE THAT MY STEERING WHEEL STARTED TO GET TIGHT DURING TURNS AND IF THIS PROBLEM WAS RELATED TO THE OTHER ONE. THEY INSPECTED VEHICULE AND FOUND OUT THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP IS FAILING TOO. I CALLED GMC AGAIN TO LET THEM KNOW ABOUT THIS AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY WOULD NOT FIX THIS PROBLEM AT NO CHARGE BECAUSE THEY JUST FIX THE OTHER ONE AT NO CHARGE AND THAT I HAVE NOT SPEND A LOT OF MONEY OUT OF MY POCKET YET FOR REPAIRS ON THIS VEHICULE.
AT 32,652 THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT HAD TO BE REPLACED. WE HAVE HAD LOTS OF PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE AND HAVE NOT OWNED IT FOR A YEAR! BETWEEN THE MONTHLY TRUCK PAYMENTS AND REPAIRS WE COULD HAVE PUT A NICE DOWN PAYMENT ON A SECOND HOUSE AND KEPT THE RELIABLE TRUCK WE TRADED THIS ONE FOR!!*JB
GMC YUKON 2003 LOOSENESS IN FRONT SUSPENSION. *BF THERE WAS A RATTLE AND OR LOOSENESS IN THE FRONT END. THE PROBLEM HAD GROWN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE WITH TIME. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND SUGGESTED THAT THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING COLUMN SHOULD BE REPLACED. THE PROBLEM RETURNED AND HAD NOT BEEN REMEDIED. RECENTLY THE PROBLEM TURNED TO CREAKS AND GROANS WHEN STOPPING, WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP THERE WAS A METAL ON METAL SOUND. *SC *JB
POOR BRAKING. 2)POOR STEERING/RIDE CONTROL. 3)VEHICLE SHIFTS-JUMPS INTERMITTENTLY/MOMENTARY LOSS OF CONTROL TWICE. 4)VEHICLE SPUN OUT OF CONTROL ON RAMP TO RT 25 BOURNE MA, OUTCOME DETAILS : *AK
Showing 1–20 of 32 complaints
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026