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1998 GMC Sierra 2500

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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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

Limited mileage data: 5 of 15 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

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 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

What owners actually said

15 reports
280,000 miles · Dec 16, 2014
Fuel/propulsion SystemPower TrainSteering

THE TRUCK SHUT OFF NO POWER BRAKES, STEERING. THIS HAPPENED WHILE PULLING A TRAILER. THE GMC DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THE SHUT OFF WAS THE RESULT OF A PUMP MOUNTED DRIVER (PMD) FAILURE ON THE 6.5L DIESEL MOTOR. VERY UNSAFE SHOULD HAVE RESULTED IN A ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10664566

Mileage unknown · Jul 26, 2009
Electrical System

THE HORN SUDDENLY QUIT WORKING . I CHECKED ALL ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS AND FOUND THAT THE HORN IT'S SELF HAS FAILED. I HAVE NOT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM TO THIS POINT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10278319

Mileage unknown · Jul 26, 2009
Visibility

WINDSHIELD WIPERS BEGAN TO FAIL SUDDENLY ON AND OFF WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN AND EVENTUALLY QUIT WORKING ALL TOGETHER. I CHECKED WITH THE DEALER FOR RECALLS AND FOUND THAT THERE WERE RECALLS FOR THIS PROBLEM ON CHEVY & GMC TRUCKS FROM 1994 TO 1996. MY TRUCK IS A 1998 BUT IT WAS BUILT IN 1997. I WAITED FOR THE RECALL TO BE EXTEN…

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WINDSHIELD WIPERS BEGAN TO FAIL SUDDENLY ON AND OFF WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN AND EVENTUALLY QUIT WORKING ALL TOGETHER. I CHECKED WITH THE DEALER FOR RECALLS AND FOUND THAT THERE WERE RECALLS FOR THIS PROBLEM ON CHEVY & GMC TRUCKS FROM 1994 TO 1996. MY TRUCK IS A 1998 BUT IT WAS BUILT IN 1997. I WAITED FOR THE RECALL TO BE EXTENDED HOWEVER I FINALLY SPENT $60.00 AND REPLACED THE DEFECTIVE PART. I KNOW 3 OTHER PEOPLE WITH 1998 CHEVY/GMC TRUCKS WHO HAVE ALL HAD THIS PROBLEM. ONE RESULTED IN THE DEATH OF A CHILD AND THE IMPRISONMENT OF THE DRIVER WHO WAS UNABLE TO FILE A COMPLAINT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10278318

47,000 miles · May 28, 2004
Fuel System, Gasoline

THE VEHICLE'S FUEL INJECTIONS SYSTEM IS LEAKING. AS A RESULT, FUEL WAS SPRAYING OVER THE WHOLE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CAUSE HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED. *LA

NHTSA ODI #10074423

59,283 miles · Mar 17, 2004
Power Train

CONSUMER STATED THAT REAR SEALS WERE LEAKING. CONSUMER PURCHASED VEHICLE USED, AND WAS TOLD THAT SEALS WERE REPLACED AT 30000 MILES BY THE ORIGINAL OWNER. CURRENTLY, THESE SEALS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. CONSUMER INDICATED THAT THE SEALS WERE LEAKING GREASE OR OIL WHICH CAUSED THE BRAKES TO GRAB AND RELEASE, GRAB AND R…

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CONSUMER STATED THAT REAR SEALS WERE LEAKING. CONSUMER PURCHASED VEHICLE USED, AND WAS TOLD THAT SEALS WERE REPLACED AT 30000 MILES BY THE ORIGINAL OWNER. CURRENTLY, THESE SEALS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. CONSUMER INDICATED THAT THE SEALS WERE LEAKING GREASE OR OIL WHICH CAUSED THE BRAKES TO GRAB AND RELEASE, GRAB AND RELEASE WHEN TRYING TO COME TO A STOP. THIS WAS A SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE ONE DAY VEHICLE MIGHT NOT STOP AT ALL. *AK *MR

NHTSA ODI #10057686

2,000 miles · Jan 13, 2004
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

CONSTANT REAR BRAKE FAILURE WITH HEAVY BRAKING ON ROUGH ROADS. CAN BE DUPLICATED AS DESIRED.

NHTSA ODI #10053039

40,000 miles · Mar 12, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

KNOCK IN 5.7 G.M. MOTOR WITH 60,000 MILES. I WAS TOLD THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND IT WOULD GO AWAY AFTER THE TRUCK IS STARTED COLD THIS IS NORMAL. HOW CAN THIS BE NORMAL? HOW CAN GM GET AWAY WITH THIS? I BOUGHT THE TRUCK NEW IN 1998 AND HAVE ALL THE OIL CHANGE RECORDS AT EVERY 3000 MILES. NOW AROUND 70,000 I WILL BE LOOK…

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KNOCK IN 5.7 G.M. MOTOR WITH 60,000 MILES. I WAS TOLD THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND IT WOULD GO AWAY AFTER THE TRUCK IS STARTED COLD THIS IS NORMAL. HOW CAN THIS BE NORMAL? HOW CAN GM GET AWAY WITH THIS? I BOUGHT THE TRUCK NEW IN 1998 AND HAVE ALL THE OIL CHANGE RECORDS AT EVERY 3000 MILES. NOW AROUND 70,000 I WILL BE LOOKING TO PUT IN A NEW MOTOR. IS THERE ANY PLACE I CAN GO FOR HELP ON THIS PROBLEM AND DO YOU HAVE OTHER COMPLAINTS? *JB

NHTSA ODI #10010369

Mileage unknown · Jan 3, 2001
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

UPON ATTEMPTING TO BRAKE FRONT BRAKES OVER POWERED REAR BRAKES CAUSING ANTI- LOCK BRAKES TO KICK IN, AND RESULTING IN COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKING ABILITY. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER HAS REPLACED PARTS, BUT PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #877293

Mileage unknown · Jan 3, 2001
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STOP FRONT BRAKES OVERPOWERED REAR BRAKES IN WHICH ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM KICKED IN AND CAUSED COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKING ABILITY. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER HAS REPLACED BRAKE SHOES AND DRUMS. BUT, PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #877290

Mileage unknown · Jun 2, 2000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHILE DRIVING STEPPED ON BRAKE PEDAL, AND PEDAL WENT DOWN HALFWAY, THE REST WAS ROCK HARD, AND VEHICLE EXPERIENCED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *AK *ML

NHTSA ODI #862962

Official recalls

1

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.