IllustrationDT: THE CONTACT STATED THE ABS ACTIVATED AT LOW SPEEDS. HE BELIEVED IT IS DUE TO CORROSION ON THE ABS SENSORS. THE PROBLEM RECURRED MORE OFTEN. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. *AK
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.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Sierra 1500 years →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
30–25K
325–50K
850–75K
975–100K
9100–150K
6150K+
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
What owners actually said
59 reportsDT: 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
THE SWITCH FOR THE REMOTE CONTROL OUTSIDE MIRRORS CAUGHT FIRE. RUINING THE SWITCH, ASSOCIATED HARNESS AND THE DOOR PANEL. I HAVE DISCUSSED THIS WITH MY DEALER QUOTING NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 03V093000. HE REFUSES TO HONOR THE RECALL SAYING MY VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. I HOPE THIS COMPLAINT WILL HELP GETTING MY VEHICL…
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THE SWITCH FOR THE REMOTE CONTROL OUTSIDE MIRRORS CAUGHT FIRE. RUINING THE SWITCH, ASSOCIATED HARNESS AND THE DOOR PANEL. I HAVE DISCUSSED THIS WITH MY DEALER QUOTING NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 03V093000. HE REFUSES TO HONOR THE RECALL SAYING MY VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. I HOPE THIS COMPLAINT WILL HELP GETTING MY VEHICLE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.
WHEN THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES HE FELT A PULSATION. *JB THE PROBLEM OCCURRED NOT MATTER THE WEATHER CONDITIONS. *NM
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.
I WAS STANDING ON THE TAILGATE UNLOADING OIL AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE CABLE ON THE TAILGATE BROKE. I WAS NOT INJURED BUT WAS UPSET BECAUSE I THOUGHT MAYBE THERE WOULD BE DAMAGE TO MY TAILGATE, THAT IT MAY MAY DENTED OR SPRUNG. I PURCHASED A NEW CABLE AND INSTALLED. I QUESTIONED THE CABLE AS TO HOW IT LOOKED WHEN BROKEN. IT ALMO…
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I WAS STANDING ON THE TAILGATE UNLOADING OIL AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE CABLE ON THE TAILGATE BROKE. I WAS NOT INJURED BUT WAS UPSET BECAUSE I THOUGHT MAYBE THERE WOULD BE DAMAGE TO MY TAILGATE, THAT IT MAY MAY DENTED OR SPRUNG. I PURCHASED A NEW CABLE AND INSTALLED. I QUESTIONED THE CABLE AS TO HOW IT LOOKED WHEN BROKEN. IT ALMOST LOOKS AS THOUGH IT WAS CUT. THE CABLE BEING COVERED DID NOT SHOW ANY SIGNS OF WEAR. I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THE CABLE SHOULD HAVE BROKEN IN STRANDS. IT JUST SEEMS TO BE AN UNUSUAL BREAK. *AK
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.
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 T…
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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 LEAKING, I HAD TO HAVE IT REPLACED. THE RADIATOR AND HEATER CORE ARE BEING STORED FOR A SHORT TIME FOR ME UNTIL I CAN DECIDE IF I AM GOING TO BEGIN LEGAL CLASS ACTIONS ON THE FAULTY COOLING SYSTEM ON THIS GMC SERRIA 1500 PICKUP. GMC OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE.*AK
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
TAILGATE STRAPS SNAPPED IN HALF WHILE UNLOADING 4WHEELER WHILE USING A RAMP. *AK
Official recalls
298V187000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.