This service bulletin provides information on the proper Reflective High Temperature Heat and/or Insulating Tape to use for certain repairs, such as Wiring Harness Repairs.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2017 GMC Yukon electrical problems
moderate Owners of the 2017 GMC Yukon have filed 17 NHTSA complaints about the electrical at roughly $850 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See electrical across all vehicles →
Complaints
17
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$850
| Model year | electrical complaints |
|---|---|
| 2013 Yukon | 6 |
| 2014 Yukon | 3 |
| 2015 Yukon | 66 |
| 2016 Yukon | 46 |
| 2017 Yukon (this page) | 17 |
| 2019 Yukon | 8 |
| 2021 Yukon | 17 |
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering electrical on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
The intent of this service bulletin is to identify aftermarket ALDL or DLC interface devices as potential sources for causing multiple customer concerns that do not have other diagnostic methods to identify them.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This service bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on Service Programming System (SPS) Error Codes E4398, E4399, E4401, E4403, M4404, M4413, M6954, M6955, E4414, E4423, E4491, E4492, or E6961 and resolution information.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This service bulletin provides information to diagnose batteries that have set for a long period of time and/or cold weather climates and testing those batteries.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin advises the dealers to maintain the vehicle stock on hand by doing a full inspection on the vehicles before being sold (prepping) to the customer.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
LED brake and tail lights are the most common complaint in this cluster. Multiple owners report lights that stop working entirely or cycle on and off randomly, without any warning to the driver. One owner paid $1,300 per light for replacement; others cite $500–plus bills. Changing bulbs doesn't fix it—this is an electrical assembly problem. The dealership itself told at least one owner this is a widespread issue with the vehicle. One owner notes a recall exists for 2015–2016 models but questions whether it covers 2017s.
Instrument cluster display failures are equally serious. The screen goes blank or flickers, cutting off the fuel gauge, temperature, gear position (Park/Reverse/Drive), tire pressure, turn signals, and collision warnings. Owners call this a common GM problem. The gear position loss is dangerous—a driver can't confirm whether the truck is actually in Park. Some temporary fixes come from restarting, but eventually the display stays dark for days.
One owner reports a transmission wiring harness needing replacement along with gasket and filter work, citing diagnostic code P0711. They note GM issued a service bulletin for 2016 models, but the safety field investigation excluded 2017 model year vehicles, even though those manufactured in 2016 have identical symptoms.
A safety assist system sensor failed at 900 miles and was denied warranty coverage. One retractable side step retracts unexpectedly while users are entering the vehicle, creating a foot-trap hazard.
Same GMC Yukon electrical reports on nearby years: 2015 · 2016
Failure modes owners describe
Tail/Brake Light Failure
LED tail and brake lights stop working or work intermittently. Owners report complete failures, inconsistent operation, and high replacement costs ($500–$1,300 per light assembly). Changing bulbs does not fix the issue, pointing to an electrical/assembly defect. Multiple owners note the dealership advised this is a common problem; at least one knows of a recall on 2015–2016 models for the same issue.
When: Occurs before 5 years of ownership; one owner reports failure around 55,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Tail lights stop working entirely; Brake lights work intermittently, cycling on and off while parked and driving; No warning lamp alerting driver to failure
Repairs/costs cited: Replacement of tail light assembly required; costs cited range from $500 to $1,300 per light
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 18V586 (GM recall 18289) mentioned; recall may cover 2015–2016 models but owner questions if 2017 models are included
Information Cluster Display Failure
The instrument cluster information screen randomly goes in and out or stops working completely. Owners cannot see critical data such as gear position (Park, Reverse, Drive, Neutral), fuel level, temperature, tire pressure, turn signals, and forward collision warnings. Described as a common problem on GM vehicles. Loss of gear position display is specifically called out as a major safety issue—vehicle may be in Reverse when operator believes it is in Park.
When: Issues reported from early ownership (one owner first noticed September 2020; another reports 2nd failure within a year); persists or worsens over time; restarting the vehicle temporarily fixes it initially but eventually stops working
Symptoms owners cite: Screen randomly goes blank or flickers in and out; Complete loss of display function lasting days or longer; Inability to confirm gear selection (Park, Reverse, Drive, Neutral); Loss of fuel gauge, temperature, tire pressure, turn signal, and collision warning indicators; Occasional abnormal engine cooling fan noise while driving and after shutdown
Transmission Wiring Harness Failure
Transmission wiring harness develops a fault requiring harness replacement, gasket replacement, and filter service. Owner reports having diagnostic code P0711 (Transmission Fluid Temperature Sensor Malfunction) and notes that a 2017 model manufactured in 2016 meets the same repair criteria as GM Service Bulletin N192291660 for 2016 models. However, the Global Safety Field Investigation (DCS5461) issued July 29, 2020 only covered 2016 models, excluding 2017 model year vehicles manufactured in 2016.
When: Not specified by owner
Symptoms owners cite: Transmission fluid temperature sensor malfunction (diagnostic code P0711)
Codes mentioned: P0711
Repairs/costs cited: Replacement of transmission wiring harness, gasket, and filter required
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: GM Service Bulletin N192291660 exists for 2016 models; Global Safety Field Investigation DCS5461 (issued July 29, 2020) limited to 2016 model year, not covering 2017 model year vehicles with same defect
Safety Assist System Sensor Failure
Forward collision avoidance or safety assist sensor fails, triggering a 'Safety Assist System Service' warning light. Dealer diagnosed sensor failure but indicated it was not covered under warranty. Manufacturer offered no assistance despite awareness of the failure.
When: Occurred at approximately 900 miles
Symptoms owners cite: 'Safety Assist System Service' warning indicator illuminates
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer made aware but declined warranty coverage and offered no assistance
Retractable Side Step Hazard
Passenger-side retractable side step retracts unexpectedly while occupant is entering or exiting the vehicle, creating a foot-entrapment hazard. Owner reports it has happened multiple times despite vehicle having fewer than 55,000 miles.
When: Multiple occurrences within warranty period; vehicle under 55,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Side step retracts while user is still entering/exiting vehicle; Risk of foot being caught or trapped
Repairs/costs cited: Described as an out-of-pocket expense
Synthesized from 17 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had electrical trouble with your 2017 GMC Yukon?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the electrical problem on the 2017 GMC Yukon?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 17 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $850 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the electrical typically fail?
Based on the 17 complaints filed, electrical issues most often appear around 68,500 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $850 for electrical repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to electrical?
No active recalls currently cover electrical issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2017/GMC/Yukon.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.