1998 Gmc SIERRA 1500: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
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 10020706 · 2003-05-29 (May 29, 2003)
WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAIL TO WORK INTERMITTENTLY, OBVIOUSLY I ONLY ATTEMPT TO USE MY WIPERS WHEN IT IS RAINING. THE LAST TIME I WAS DRIVING IN HEAVY RAIN ON THE INTERSTATE. I MANAGED TO GET TO THE SHOULDER WITHOUT INCEDENT. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION.
Owner-reported narrative. 119,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10020706 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10056514 · 2004-02-04 (February 4, 2004)
GM HAS ADMITTED IT HAS FAULTY SEALS ON THE COOLENT SYSTEM AND HAS CLAIMED DEX COOL IS FINE BUT THE RADIATOR CAPS ARE FAULTY AS THEY CORODE. IF THE DEX COOL CORODES THE CAPS WILL IT NOT FOLLOW IT MAY CORODE OTHER PARTS OF THE SYSTEM? AND IF GM HAS ADMITTED INSTALLING FAULTY SEALS WHY WON'T THEY AT LEAST RECALL THIS PART AND FIX IT INSTEAD OF MAKING THE CONSUMER FIX IT FOR THEM. I HAVE BEEN EXPERIANCING COOLING SYSTEM PROBLEMS AND WISH THE COMPANY WOULD AT LEAST FIX THE PROBLEMS THEY ADMIT TO. I DO NOT WANT TO GO TO THE GARAGE ONE DAY AND FIN…
Owner-reported narrative. 125,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10056514 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 10065682 · 2004-04-07 (April 7, 2004)
TAILGATE STRAPS SNAPPED IN HALF WHILE UNLOADING 4WHEELER WHILE USING A RAMP. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 76,795 miles reported. Look up ODI 10065682 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 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 10082684 · 2004-07-26 (July 26, 2004)
WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD QUIT WHILE USING THEM WHILE RAINING OR NOT. IT'S LUCKY I HAVE RAINX IN MY WIPER FLUID AND ON THE WIPERS WHICH GAVE ME ENOUGH VISIBILITY TO SEE, BUT THIS COULD BE A VERY HAZARDOUS SITUATION.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10082684 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
98V033000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor
Reported: 1998-02-17 (February 17, 1998)
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.
Consequence: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗98V187000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly
Reported: 1998-08-10 (August 10, 1998)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CREW CAB PICKUP TRUCKS. THE FRONT, INNER CORNER OF THE FUEL TANK CAN CONTACT THE BODY SILL EITHER INTERMITTENTLY OR CONSTANTLY. THIS MOVEMENT CAN CAUSE A DISCERNIBLE NOISE AND, OVER TIME, CAN WEAR A HOLE IN OR CRACK THE FUEL TANK AT POINT OF CONTACT.
Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN FUEL LEAKAGE AND A DISTINCT FUEL ODOR IF THE TANK WERE FILLED ABOVE THE LEVEL OF THE HOLE OR CRACK. IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD RESULT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FUEL TANK FOR WEAR AND, EITHER INSTALL A SPACER BETWEEN THE FUEL TANK AND THE FRONT CROSSMEMBER, OR IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE FUEL TANK.
NHTSA campaign record ↗