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 reports
90,000 miles · Mar 5, 2004
Fuel System, Gasoline
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 R…
Read full complaint
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 UPDATED 07/26/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA ODI #10060525
125,000 miles · Feb 4, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling
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…
Read full complaint
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 FIND ALL THE COOLANT ON THE FLOOR.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10056514
119,000 miles · May 29, 2003
Visibility
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.
NHTSA ODI #10020706
45,000 miles · Feb 14, 2003
Power Train
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.
NHTSA ODI #10005831
Mileage unknown · Aug 10, 2002
Visibility
WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL STOP WORKING DURING INTERMITTENT SETTING WITH OUT WARNING. SOMETIMES THE WIPERS WILL NOT TURN OFF. SOMETIMES THE WIPERS WILL STOP AND THE BLADES WILL BE IN THE LINE OF SIGHT CAUSING A MAJOR DISTRACTION.*AK
NHTSA ODI #765466
Mileage unknown · Aug 4, 2002
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
SINCE I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE, THE ANTILOCK BRAKES SEEM TO ENGAGE FOR NO REASON ON DRY PAVEMENT. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, YOU HAVE THE FEELING THAT YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO STOP. THIS STARTED AFTER IS WAS OUT OF WARRANTY SO THE DEALER HAS NOT LOOKED AT THIS PROBLEM. MY SON IS A GMC CERTIFIED MECHANIC, AND WE HAVE INVESTIGATED THIS …
Read full complaint
SINCE I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE, THE ANTILOCK BRAKES SEEM TO ENGAGE FOR NO REASON ON DRY PAVEMENT. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, YOU HAVE THE FEELING THAT YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO STOP. THIS STARTED AFTER IS WAS OUT OF WARRANTY SO THE DEALER HAS NOT LOOKED AT THIS PROBLEM. MY SON IS A GMC CERTIFIED MECHANIC, AND WE HAVE INVESTIGATED THIS PROBLEM AND BEEN UNABLE TO DETERMINE IT'S CAUSE. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL OF TRUCK, HOWEVER I CAN FIND NO DETAILED REPORTS ON THIS. PLEASE ADVISE AS TO WHETHER YOU ARE AWARE OF ANY PROBLEMS CONCERNING THE BRAKING SYSTEMS ON THE GMC AND IT'S SISTER VEHICLE THE CHEVY. THANKS, STEVE VARLEY. *AK
NHTSA ODI #765191
Mileage unknown · Jul 27, 2001
Power Train
TRANSMISSION SHOP STATED HE HAS SEEN MANY FAILURES WITH THIS MODEL. KEEPS NEW PARTS IN STOCK AND READY FOR MORE TO COME.*AK
NHTSA ODI #749292
Mileage unknown · Apr 10, 2001
SuspensionCrash
WHILE DRIVING STEERING WOULD BE FREE WHEELING(OVERSTEERING) WHEN MAKING TURNS. HAD LOST CONTROL OF VEHCLE AND HIT A POST. MANAGED TO TAKE VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP, AND WAS INFORMED BY THE MECHANIC THAT THERE WAS A DEFECTIVE SENSOR IN STEERING. *AK
NHTSA ODI #885620
Mileage unknown · Feb 23, 2001
Fuel System, Gasoline
FUEL INJECTORS HAVE FAILED 10 TIMES SO FAR , REPLACED TWICE , CLEANED, RESULTING UNABLE TO MANTIAN SPEED AND STALLING IN INTERSECTIONS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #741363
Mileage unknown · Jan 30, 2001
Visibility
WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD COME ON OR GO OFF ON THEIR OWN WHETHER IT WOULD BE RAINING OR NOT. WOULD LIFT HOOD AND TOUCH WIRING HARNESS, AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD WORK FINE FOR A WHILE. THIS WOULD CAUSE A GREAT DEAL OF HAVOC ON DRIVER'S VISIBILITY. *AK
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.
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.
1998 GMC Sierra 1500 Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
Illustration