1998 Gmc SIERRA 1500 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
54 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
80,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1998 model year. Data snapshot: . 38 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip is the most frequently named component, appearing in 7 of 54 complaints (13.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 14 | 25.9% |
| Steering behavior | 7 | 13.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 6 | 11.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 4 | 7.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 5.6% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 3.7% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 7 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 5 |
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor | 5 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 4 |
| Steering | 4 |
| Air Bags | 3 |
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer | 3 |
| Electrical System | 2 |
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 7; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 5; Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor: 5; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 4; Steering: 4; Air Bags: 3; Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer: 3; Electrical System: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 3 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 3 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 8 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 9 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 9 |
| 150,000 and above | 6 |
Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 8; 75,000 to 99,999: 9; 100,000 to 149,999: 9; 150,000 and above: 6
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (9). 16 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 | 4 |
| 2001 | 4 |
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2003 | 2 |
| 2004 | 7 |
| 2005 | 6 |
| 2006 | 6 |
| 2007 | 4 |
| 2008 | 6 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
2000: 4; 2001: 4; 2002: 2; 2003: 2; 2004: 7; 2005: 6; 2006: 6; 2007: 4; 2008: 6; 2009: 2; 2010: 2; 2011: 1; 2012: 2; 2014: 1; 2016: 2; 2019: 1; 2020: 1; 2021: 1
Pattern summary
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 14 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 7 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 10119634 · 2005-06-03 (June 3, 2005)
WHEN THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES HE FELT A PULSATION. *JB THE PROBLEM OCCURRED NOT MATTER THE WEATHER CONDITIONS. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10119634 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10121089 · 2005-05-16 (May 16, 2005)
WHEN DRIVING BELOW 10 MILES PER HOUR MY VEHICLE ABS BREAKS ARE VIBRATING . SO YOU HAVE TO PUMP THE BRAKES AND THEN YOU GET A SOFT BREAK PEDAL AND YOU NEED TO KEEP PUMPING THE BREAK PEDAL TO STOP THE VIBRATION.
Owner-reported narrative. 75,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10121089 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10065684 · 2004-04-07 (April 7, 2004)
STEERING BECOMES LOOSE WHEN DRIVING INTO CURVES. THIS COULD CAUSE YOU TO LOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE. CAME CLOSE TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT!!! HAD WENT TO THE NEAREST GMC DEALERSHIP, THEIR RESPONSE WAS,THERE'S NO RECALL AND NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10065684 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10125490 · 2005-07-08 (July 8, 2005)
DT: STEERING POSITION SENSOR FAILED FOR THE THIRD TIME WHEN MAKING A TURN. THE RESISTANCE WENT AWAY, IT TURNED FREE. THE CONSUMER TOLD THE DEALER IT HAPPENED FREQUENTLY. THE SENSOR WAS REPLACED TWICE AND THIS WAS THIRD TIME. *AK THIS CAUSED THE OPERATOR TO MAKE AN UNCONTROLLED OVER-STEER TURN. *SC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 55,210 miles reported. Look up ODI 10125490 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10005831 · 2003-02-14 (February 14, 2003)
MY TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED 3 TIMES, EACH TIME LOSING REVERSE, 2ND AND 4TH. THE FIRST TIME BETWEEN 40K -50K THE SECOND TIME ABOUT 65K AND THE THIRD AT ABOUT 95K MILES. I RARELY PULL HEAVY LOADS IN THIS TRUCK.
Owner-reported narrative. 45,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005831 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10068359 · 2004-05-05 (May 5, 2004)
EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE ARE UNKNNOW, AT NO TIME WAS ADVERSE STRESS OR STRAIN PLACED ON THIS VEHICLE. THE PROBLEMS BEGAN IN NOVEMBER 2003 WHEN I LOST FIRST GEAR IN MY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. I DROPPED THE PAN TO REPLACE THE FILTER AND FLUID, THERE WERE METAL ROLLER BEARINGS AND METAL DEBREE IN THE PAN. I HAD TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED. 80,000 MILES IS WAY TOO YOUNG FOR A TRANSMISSION TO FAIL. MARCH, MY WATER PUMP BEGAN LEAKING, I REPLACED IT. APRIL, MY HEATER CORE BEGAN LEAKING, I BY PASSED IT. MAY, MY RADIATOR BEGAN LEAKI…
Owner-reported narrative. 81,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10068359 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10060525 · 2004-03-05 (March 5, 2004)
MY 1998 GMC 1500 PICKUP HAS 121,000 MILES VIN#[XXX]. WITHIN THE LAST 50,00 MILES AND/OR 2 YEARS I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP AND SENDER THREE TIMES AND AT A COST OF $1000.00 EACH TIME. I SPOKE WITH FIRESTONE SERVICE MANAGER AND HE INFORMS ME HE HAS A SIMILAR MODEL AND HAS HAD THE SAME DIFFICULTY AND HAS ALSO HAD OTHER REPAIRS TO SAME YEAR MODELS THAT HE HAS SERVICED. I CANNOT FIND ANY RECALLS OR SERVICE ISSUES, NOR COMPLAINTS ON YOUR WEB SITE. I FEEL THEREFORE IT IS IMPORTANT TO LOG ON THIS SERIOUS PROBLEM ON THIS GMC YEAR MODEL. *JB …
Owner-reported narrative. 90,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10060525 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10241821 · 2008-09-11 (September 11, 2008)
WHEN I BOUGHT TRUCK (120,000 MILES) THE PREVIOUS OWNER INFORMED ME THAT THE GAS TANK WAS FULL. AFTER 200 MILES I WONDERED WHY THE GAS GAUGE WAS STILL ON FULL. TALKED TO SEVERAL PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, SAME VEHICLE WHO HAD TO REPLACE THE SENDING UNIT ON THE FUEL PUMP. THIS CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. GM NEEDS TO START TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR VEHICLE DEFECTS. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 120,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10241821 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10356172 · 2010-09-17 (September 17, 2010)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 GMC 1500. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THERE WAS LITTLE TO NO POWER. NONE OF THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS WERE OPERABLE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND AS HE REMOVED THE COVERING FROM A PLATE UNDER THE STEERING COLUMN, HE FOUND THAT THERE WERE SEVERAL BURNED WIRES. HE THEN SPLICED THE WIRES TOGETHER AND USED A RUBBER PROTECTOR TO PROTECT THE WIRES FROM RUBBING AGAINST THE METAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT …
Owner-reported narrative. 64,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10356172 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 855800 · 2000-01-31 (January 31, 2000)
GAS GAUGE ACTED ERRATICALLY. WARMING UP VEHICLE WHILE SITTING IN IDLING POSITION FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES AND ALL OF SUDDEN HEARD A LOUD NOISE. VEHICLE STOPPED RUNNING, SMOKE WAS COMING OUT FROM AROUND THE FUEL TANK. CONTACTED DEALER. STILL UNDER WARRANTY, WAS TOLD THAT THE WIRING HARNESS THAT IS ATTACHED TO THE FUEL TANK HAD A SHORT, IT WAS MELTED. *AK *ML
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 855800 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10190875 · 2007-05-16 (May 16, 2007)
WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL NOT ALWAYS WORK. WHEN RAINING THEY GO OFF OR STALL. PULLING ON WIPPERS MANUALLY WILL RETART THEM OCCATIONALY. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10190875 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 741363 · 2001-02-23 (February 23, 2001)
FUEL INJECTORS HAVE FAILED 10 TIMES SO FAR , REPLACED TWICE , CLEANED, RESULTING UNABLE TO MANTIAN SPEED AND STALLING IN INTERSECTIONS. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 741363 at NHTSA ↗