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1998 GMC Sierra 1500

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Fewer warning signs than most model years

Owner complaints for the 1998 GMC Sierra 1500 are lower than the model-year median of 181.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

38 reports with mileage · 21 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Visibility. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

6 crash reports2 fire reports4 injury reports

Service Brakes, Air complaints

2 reports
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Mileage unknown · Feb 9, 2000
Service Brakes, Air

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #718500

Mileage unknown · Sep 23, 1999
Service Brakes, AirCrash

I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE INCIDENTS WHERE THE BRAKES HAVE TO BE APPLIED QUICK AND HARD IN TRAFFIC OR ON TURNS WHERE THE ROAD IS SOMEWHAT SLIGHTLY BUMPY OR ROUGH AND THE BRAKES WILL CHATTER AND BUZZ, THE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR AND THE TRUCK WILL NOT STOP. ON THE APRIL 1999 INCIDENT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME STOPPED IN A TURN LANE TO ENTE…

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I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE INCIDENTS WHERE THE BRAKES HAVE TO BE APPLIED QUICK AND HARD IN TRAFFIC OR ON TURNS WHERE THE ROAD IS SOMEWHAT SLIGHTLY BUMPY OR ROUGH AND THE BRAKES WILL CHATTER AND BUZZ, THE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR AND THE TRUCK WILL NOT STOP. ON THE APRIL 1999 INCIDENT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME STOPPED IN A TURN LANE TO ENTER A FREEWAY AND I HAD TO HIT THE BRAKES QUICK AND HARD. WELL THEY AGAIN RATTLED AND BUZZED, THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THE TRUCK DID NOT STOP. I IN TURN BUMPED THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. THERE WAS LITTLE DAMAGE TO THE CAR. MY TRUCK INSTEAD SUFFERED TO AN OVERINFLATED BODY SHOP BILL TO THE TUNE OF #3,000.00. THE SELLING DEALER DID THE BODY REPAIRS AND CHECKED THE BRAKES. MR. RON BYARS SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THE BRAKES, AFTER WE BOTH TEST DROVE THE TRUCK AND DUPLICATED THE NO STOP CONDITION ON HARD BRAKE APPLICATION AT SLOW SPEEDS, THAT THIS IS A NORMAL CONDITION WITH ABS BRAKES ON THESE PICK UPS. MR. BYARS ALSO SAID HIS DEMO WAS WORSE THAN MY TRUCK. HE ALSO STATED THERE WAS A CHECK OUT DONE WHERE HE FOUND NO CODES OR PROBLEMS. I HAD ALSO EXPLAINED TO MR. BYARS THAT ON MOST OCCASIONS WHERE I HAD TO HIT THE BRAKES HARD AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR THE FRONT BRAKES WOULD DRAG. TO RELEASE THEM I HAD TO STOP, BACK UP HITTING THE BRAKES AND THEY WOULD RELEASE. THIS CONDITION HAS DAMAGED MY BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS. HE IS TELLING ME GM CAN DO NOTHING TO FIX MY TRUCK. WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN, SOMEONE KILLED OR BADLY INJURED BEFORE GM OPENS THEIR EYES. I NEED HELP.

NHTSA ODI #711889

Official recalls

2

98V187000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly

Aug 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 & remedy

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.

98V033000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:disc:rotor

Feb 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 & remedy

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.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.