My 6 year old son and I were coming down the road and came up on 2 deer and I was coming up on a sharp curve and when I hit my brakes my steering wheel LOCKED up completely and the steering wheel is so bent where I tried my best to control it but I failed and we hit a tree head on. Broke my nose and my sons leg broke in between the back seat air bag and door air bag
GMC Yukon steering lock-up problems
19 of the 5,036 owner complaints about the GMC Yukon describe steering wheel locks up, most of them for the 2015 model year.
- owner complaints
- 19
- worst model year
- 2015
- typical mileage
- 76,000
Is there a fix? There are 6 recalls for this area of the car. See below
By model year
- 20231
- 20211
- 20163
- 20155
- 20091
- 20081
- 20051
- 20032
- 20021
- 20011
- 20001
- 19971
Often reported together
Power steering loss 3Stalling 2Loss of power 2Engine failure 2Won't start 1Jerking 1Check engine light 1Brake failure 1
Trouble codes mentioned
U3000 1U0420 1
What owners say
When making a slow turn in drive or reverse the park assist screen shows it’s not working. Then all screens in the car turn black and the steering locks while driving. Making it impossible to turn or move. This is happening while driving, while parking. Putting my safety and others at risk due to not being able to control the steering. Park assist failure screen pops up then all screens turn black. Car is still on just unable to move. I have not had it checked by a mechanic yet.
1.    First incident While driving, the brakes failed and the entire infotainment/tablet system locked up. This presented a severe safety risk to my family and others on the road. The vehicle had to be towed to DEALER where I was told that âno problems were found.â I documented the incident with photos and videos showing the warning messages and system status.     2.    Second incident Approximately one week ago, after shutting off the vehicle, a âsteering wheel lockâ warning appeared and the truck became completely disabled. Even with jumper cables, it would not start. The vehicle had to be flatbed towed to DEALER. I again documented the incident with photos and videos showing the warnings.
My vehicle randomly locks up and shuts off while I am taking a sharp turn or parking. A 'Service StabiliTrak' warning flahses on the dashboard. The steering wheel locks and the only way to get this warning to go away is to turn the vehicle off. This is a dangerous hazard as the vehicle can come to an abrupt stop in traffic.
After pulling out from parking lot into roadway, steering wheel locked up (right) and vehicle proceeded uncontrolled into a telephone pole - injuring driver. Driver stage 1 & 2 together with seatbelt pretensioner deployed upon impact. No warning lamps or defect symptoms prior to time of failure. Inspection revealed DTC codes for power steering of U0420:00 (invalid data received from power steering module) and U3000:49 (control module internal malfunction). Scanner evidences power steering position sensor data not being reported. Vehicle VIN indicates that it was included in the federal safety agency recall 21V455000. Power Steering Component Part Nos: 85103817, 848935231 and 85116776.
Since I've owned the hybrid yukon, I've had nothing but issues. GMC only made a limited amount of the hybrid models but due to the issues discontinued manufacturing them. why weren't the vehicles taken off the market? started with the jolting from a stop, to not wanting to go into reverse, check engine light, to hybrid battery not shifting into gear, last power steering locked while driving then not starting at all. had sat at the dealership for 4 weeks now sitting at another hybrid shop awaiting for the inverter converter control to be delivered and put in. have spent thousands in the last 2 months repairing trying to figure out issues.
The contact owned a 2005 GMC Yukon. The contact stated that while her husband was driving at 80 MPH in an interstate with her in the passenger seat and her two children in the rear seats, the steering wheel seized inadvertently and the brake pedal was depressed but failed to respond. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle veered off to the left side of the road. The contact stated as her husband was trying to regain control of the vehicle, the tires hit the pavement and the vehicle rolled over 7 times in a ditch, within 180 yards and landed on its passenger side. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact and her husband noticed that the children were no longer in the vehicle and they immediately exited the vehicle through the front driver's side window to search for them. The contact stated that her 12 year old daughter who was sitting in the rear passenger side seat of the second row with a seat belt, was ejected through an unknown window and landed in a bush, 80 yards away from where the vehicle had landed. The contact referenced the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 05V163000 (Seat Belts). The contact's 20 year old son who was sitting in the rear driver seat of the second row with no seat belt, was ejected through an unknown window and landed 50 yards away from where the vehicle had landed. The contact and her family were transported to the hospital with the assistance of emergency units. The contact's son sustained a concussion, swollen knee injury, laceration on the head with 18 staples in the back of his head, 3-4 stiches on his thump and lacerations all over his body. The contact's daughter, who had been airlifted from the first hospital to a second hospital, sustained fractured skull, epidural hematoma, 2 internal brain hemorrhages, an unknown fractured part of the body, 2 dislocated primary teeth , deep laceration on her left hand that required 10 stiches and could lead to permanent nerve damage, deep laceration on her torso that required 8-10 staples. The contact's husband sustained a dislocate
Steering locks up at lower speeds or when turning into a parking lot all the ligths shut off at the same time the steering does it has happened more at night lights flicker both interior lights and exterior lights a/c shuts off radio shuts off i have went to different dealers and have not been able to fix this problem even doh i show them videos of what it does both my wife and i have almost had a few accidents because of this
The power steering locks up and the display on dash reads power steering losethis has happened 6 times and each time I've had to go rescue my wife this is her car. I found out that I could remove the battery cable from battery to reset the problem but it only last for a short while
Vehicle will jump forward when going into auto stop as if you are sitting at a light behind someone you would hit them, sometimes going down the road when going into hybrid mode it will stall and start jerking forward and steering locked up wouldn't turn witch would cause to run into someone
Related recalls
Steering: steering control module
- What is wrong
- General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Chevrolet Tahoe, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. A software issue may cause a loss of power steering assist at startup or while driving.
- Risk
- Increased steering effort, particularly at lower speeds, increases the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- The power steering module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 13, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1‑800‑222‑1020; Cadillac customer service at 1‑800‑458‑8006; or GMC customer service at 1‑800‑462‑8782. GM's number for this recall is N212333900.
Recall number 21V455000 · Recall details
Steering: electric power assist system
- What is wrong
- General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Tahoe and Suburban, GMC Sierra 1500 and Yukon, and Cadillac Escalade vehicles. Electric power steering (EPS) assist may be lost momentarily, followed by a sudden return of EPS assist.
- Risk
- If EPS assist is lost and then suddenly returns, the driver may have difficulty steering the vehicle, especially at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the EPS module software, free of charge. The recall began October 12, 2018. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1‑800‑458‑8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1‑800‑222‑1020 and GMC customer service at 1‑800‑462‑8782. GM's number for this recall is 18289.
Recall number 18V586000 · Recall details
Steering: electric power assist system
- What is wrong
- General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015 Chevrolet Silverado, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra, and Yukon XL vehicles, equipped with electric power steering (EPS). Due to a problem with the EPS module, the affected vehicles may experience a sudden loss of power steering assist during vehicle operation.
- Risk
- An unexpected loss of power steering increases the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the power steering assist motor kit, free of charge. The recall began on November 17, 2014. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1‑800‑222‑1020 (Chevrolet), or 1‑800‑462‑8782 (GMC). GM's number for this recall is 14743.
Recall number 14V719000 · Recall details
Steering: linkages
- What is wrong
- Gm is recalling certain model year 2011cadillac escalade, escalade esv; chevrolet silverado hd, silverado ld, suburban, tahoe; and gmc sierra hd, sierra ld, yukon, and yukon xl vehicles. The intermediate steering shaft attaching bolts may not have been tightened to the proper specification.
- Risk
- This could allow the joints to separate, and the driver could experience loss of steering increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Gm dealers will inspect and ensure that the intermediate steering shaft bolts are tightened to the proper specification. The safety recall is expected to begin on or about july 13, 2011. Owners may contact cadillac at 1‑800‑458‑8006, chevrolet at 1‑800‑630‑2438 and gmc at 1‑866‑996‑9463.
Recall number 11V339000 · Recall details
Steering: hydraulic power assist: hose, piping, and connections
- What is wrong
- Certain passenger vehicles may have been built with a power steering hose that is not to specification. Under extreme steering maneuvers, such as turning the steering wheel fully to the left or right while braking, the hose may fracture and leak fluid.
- Risk
- If this were to occur, power steering assist would be lost and increased steering effort would be required. On vehicles equipped with hydro-boost power brakes, it could also result in loss of power brake assist and increased braking effort would be required. If the power steering fluid spray were to spray onto hot engine parts, an engine compartment fire could occur.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect the power steering hose(s) for two suspect date codes and replace them if required. The recall will begin on october 14, 2005. Owners may contact chevrolet at 1‑800‑630‑2438, gmc at 1‑866‑996‑9463, buick at 1‑866‑608‑8080, cadillac at 1‑866‑982‑2339, isuzu at 1‑800‑255‑6727, or hummer at 1‑800‑732‑5493.
Recall number 05V455000 · Recall details
Steering: gear box (other than rack and pinion)
- What is wrong
- 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.
Recall number 97V142000 · Recall details
Questions about the GMC Yukon steering lock-up
Which GMC Yukon years have steering wheel locks up problems?
The model years with the most reports are 2015 (5 complaints), 2016 (3 complaints) and 2003 (2 complaints).
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