1998 Gmc SIERRA 3500: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
11 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
128,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1998 model year. Data snapshot: . 4 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes, Hydraulic is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 11 complaints (18.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 5 | 45.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 18.2% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 18.2% |
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 | 2 |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 2 |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery:Cables | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System | 1 |
| Service Brakes | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Drum | 1 |
| Structure:Frame And Members | 1 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 |
Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 2; Tires:Tread/Belt: 2; Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery:Cables: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System: 1; Service Brakes: 1; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Drum: 1; Structure:Frame And Members: 1; Vehicle Speed Control: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 1
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2). 7 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 | 3 |
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
2000: 3; 2001: 1; 2002: 2; 2003: 1; 2007: 1; 2009: 1; 2011: 1; 2012: 1
Pattern summary
Service Brakes, Hydraulic leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 2 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 10044133 · 2003-10-16 (October 16, 2003)
WINDSHIELD WIPERS CAME ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER. THIS CAUSED POOR VISIBILITY. DEALERSHIP WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER RECALL.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10044133 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10184019 · 2007-03-02 (March 2, 2007)
SEVERE VEHICLE FRAME CORROSION/RUSTING OF FRONT FRAME EXTENSIONS, PARTICULARLY IN AREA OF STEERING BOX MOUNTING OF SEVERAL AGENCY OWNED 98-2000 YEAR MODEL CHEVROLET & GMC PICKUP TRUCKS. DISPOSITION IS SCRAPPING VEHICLES AS BEYOND ECONOMICAL REPAIR AND UNSAFE TO OPERATE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 95,173 miles reported. Look up ODI 10184019 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10254211 · 2009-01-08 (January 8, 2009)
ABOUT 4 YEARS AGO I HAD PROBLEMS WITH MY BRAKE BOOSTER SYSTEM ON MY TRUCK WHEN THE BRAKES FAILED AND IT WAS HARD TO STOP THE TRUCK. I HAD THE BRAKE BOOSTER REPLACED TWO TIMES THEN HAD TO HAVE THE POWER STEERING PUMP REPLACED AS THIS IS CONNECTED TO MY BRAKE SYSTEM. ABOUT A YEAR AFTER I HAD THIS WORK DONE GMC RECALLED THE POWER STEERING PUMP ON MY TRUCK. NOW I AM HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THIS SYSTEM AGAIN. IF I TURN MY TRUCK RIGHT OR LEFT THE BRAKE ACTIVATE JUST LIKE YOU ARE PUSHING ON THE BRAKE TO STOP. THIS HAS ALMOST CAUSED ME TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT M…
Owner-reported narrative. 175,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10254211 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10419883 · 2011-08-17 (August 17, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 GMC SIERRA 3500. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED WITH THE BRAKE PRESSED, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE CONTACT HAD NOT INFORMED THE DEALER, AND THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 120,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 120,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10419883 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10484467 · 2012-11-13 (November 13, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 GMC SIERRA 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN HE APPLIED HIS BRAKES TO RELEASE THE GEAR SHIFTER, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR. THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED IMMEDIATELY AFTER. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE LINES HAD BURST AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 136,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Owner-reported narrative. 136,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10484467 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 550809 · 2000-02-08 (February 8, 2000)
MAIN BATTERY CABLE FAILED CAUSING VEHICLE TO CATCH FIRE WHILE IDLING. NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 550809 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 763739 · 2002-07-02 (July 2, 2002)
I HAVE THE MISFORTUNE OF OWNING A 1998 GMC 1 TON DUALLY, THE REAR BRAKE DRUMS HAVE SEALS LOACATED ON THE INBOARD SIDE THAT SEAL AGAINST A SURFACE OF THE AXLE. AS IT IS A FULL FLOAT AXLE, MEANING THERE ARE TAPERED BEARINGS IN THE BRAKE DRUMS THE BEARINGS ARE LUBRICATED WITH AXLE FLUID AND THE SEALS ARE THERE TO PREVENT LEAKAGE OF THE FLUID. THE FAILURE OF A SEAL PROVIDES A FLUID LEAKAGE PATH THAT IS DOWN THE INSIDE SURFACE OF THE DRUM, ACROSS THE SURFACE OF THE DRUM WHICH THE BRAKE LININGS CONTACT AND OUT BETWEEN THE BACKING PLATE AND DRUM. I HA…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 763739 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 8023036 · 2002-11-20 (November 20, 2002)
CONSUMER STATED THAT WHEN TRYING TO APPLY THE BRAKES THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD GO TO THE FLOOR CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO HAVE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER NOTIFIED TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8023036 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.
04V562000 · Equipment Adaptive/Mobility
Reported: 2004-11-26 (November 26, 2004)
ON CERTAIN VANS EQUIPPED WITH SURE-LOK WHEELCHAIR SECUREMENT SYSTEMS, THE SPROCKET TEETH OF THE RETRACTOR ASSEMBLY IS OUT OF ALIGNMENT.
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE WHEELCHAIR MAY NOT BE ADEQUATELY SECURED POSSIBLY RESULTING IN INJURIES TO A WHEELCHAIR OCCUPANT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE WHEELCHAIR SECUREMENT RETRACTORS AS NECESSARY. SURE-LOK WILL HANDLE THE REPAIRS FOR THIS CAMPAIGN. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT SURE-LOCK AT 1-908-231-1804 OR MOBILITYWORKS AT 1-800-769-8267.
NHTSA campaign record ↗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 ↗