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1998 GMC Sierra

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Sierra years

Owner complaints for the 1998 GMC Sierra are substantially higher than the model-year median of 53.

Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.

About this comparison →
190Owner complaints

Model-year median: 53

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

2Investigations

View investigation details →

Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Inspection summary

1998 GMC Sierra

NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 190 owner complaints · 0 recall campaigns · 2 investigations.

Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.

Top reported categories (up to 5)

  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 56 reports
  • Visibility: 32 reports
  • Power Train: 15 reports
  • Steering: 15 reports
  • Engine And Engine Cooling: 11 reports

Full reported-category list and vehicle report

Recall links

    No recall campaigns in this snapshot.

    Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

    Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.

    How this year compares

    Owner complaints by model year

    Other model years Selected year
    261
    1995    246
    1996    238
    1997    190
    1998    600
    1999    443
    2000    264
    2001
    Compare all Sierra years →

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

    What owners reported most

    Service Brakes, Hydraulic
    56    Visibility
    32    Power Train
    15    Steering
    15    Engine And Engine Cooling
    11
    All reported categories
    Suspension
    11    Seat Belts
    10    Electrical System
    9    Fuel System, Gasoline
    9    Unknown Or Other
    8    Air Bags
    6    Vehicle Speed Control
    6    Service Brakes
    4    Structure
    4    Tires
    4    Equipment
    3    Fuel System, Other
    3    Latches/locks/linkages
    3    Exterior Lighting
    2    Service Brakes, Air
    2    Child Seat
    1    Fuel/propulsion System
    1

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

    When problems were reported

    Mileage at the reported incident

    50 reports with mileage · 140 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 56 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
    • Visibility. Review the 32 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
    • Power Train. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

    NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

    16 crash reports8 fire reports8 injury reports

    Service Brakes, Air complaints

    2 reports
    Clear category filter
    Mileage unknown · May 16, 2005
    Service Brakes, Air

    WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE ABS KICKS ON. THIS OCCURS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS TRAVELING LESS THAN 8 MPH. NO CODES ARE SET AND THE ABS LIGHT IS NOT ILLUMINATED. THIS MATCHES YOUR NHTSA ACTION NUMBER PE05020. THE DEALERSHIP STATES IT IS THE EXACT PROBLEM GM IS MONITORING WITH THE 1999 - 2002. HOWEVER, THEY ARE NOT INCLUDING THE…

    Read full complaint

    WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE ABS KICKS ON. THIS OCCURS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS TRAVELING LESS THAN 8 MPH. NO CODES ARE SET AND THE ABS LIGHT IS NOT ILLUMINATED. THIS MATCHES YOUR NHTSA ACTION NUMBER PE05020. THE DEALERSHIP STATES IT IS THE EXACT PROBLEM GM IS MONITORING WITH THE 1999 - 2002. HOWEVER, THEY ARE NOT INCLUDING THE 1998 MODELS.

    NHTSA ODI #10121115

    Mileage unknown · Apr 15, 1999
    Service Brakes, Air

    VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO SHOP SEVERAL TIMES. FIRST TIME: FRONT CALIPERS REBUILT. NO CHANGE. SECOND TIME: FRONT CALIPERS REPLACED. REAR BRAKE SHOES REPLACED WITH A TYPE NOT ORIGINALLY MEANT FOR MY TRUCK. ENTIRE FRONT SUSPENSION REMOVED AND JACKS INSTALLED SO THAT ALIGNMENT COULD BE PERFORMED TO SPECS FROM SOME GM ENGINEERS THAT…

    Read full complaint

    VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO SHOP SEVERAL TIMES. FIRST TIME: FRONT CALIPERS REBUILT. NO CHANGE. SECOND TIME: FRONT CALIPERS REPLACED. REAR BRAKE SHOES REPLACED WITH A TYPE NOT ORIGINALLY MEANT FOR MY TRUCK. ENTIRE FRONT SUSPENSION REMOVED AND JACKS INSTALLED SO THAT ALIGNMENT COULD BE PERFORMED TO SPECS FROM SOME GM ENGINEERS THAT WERE CONTACTED. STILL PULLS, BUT MUCH BETTER. AFTER SOME TIME, NOTICED DS FRONT TIRE WEARING ON THE OUTSIDE EDGE. THIRD TIME: INFORMED THEM OF ABNORMAL WEAR AND THAT TRUCK STILL PULLS UNDER BRAKING. THEY REALIGNED IT AND THE "GMC AREA SERVICE MANAGER" ROAD TESTED IT OK. IT STILL PULLS UNDER BRAKING AND NOW IT PULLS TO THE RIGHT CONSTANTLY. I CALLED THE OWNER OF THE DEALERSHIP, HE HAS ME CONTACT THE SERVICE MANAGER FOR A MEETING WITH THE GMC AREA SERVICE MANAGER. WE TAKE IT FOR A ROAD TEST. HE CLAIMS HE CANNOT FEEL A BRAKE PULL, BUT AGREES THAT IT NEEDS ALIGNED. I ASKED HIM TO REPLACE OR REPURCHASE THE TRUCK. HE WOULD NOT BUT OFFERED A 5 YEAR/75K MILE WARRANTY. I ACCEPTED. FOURTH TIME: FRONT END ALIGNED AGAIN. TRUCK DRIVES NORMALLY AGAIN, BUT NOW IT PULLS TO THE RIGHT, WHILE BRAKING, WORSE THAN EVER. I WAS LOOKING FOR THE LEMON LAW WHEN I FOUND THIS SITE. I CANNOT FIND ANY TSB'S OR RECALLS ON MY TRUCK, BUT I UNDERSTAND THAT MY TRUCK IS NOT THE ONLY TRUCK THEY HAVE FOUND WITH THIS PROBLEM. SO THERE MUST BE MANY MORE OUT THERE, WHY ISN'T GMC ADDRESSING THE PROBLEM? I HOPE YOU CAN HELP ME WITH THIS. THANKS. MELDENTON@YAHOO.COM

    NHTSA ODI #705672

    Recall campaigns

    0

    No recalls in this snapshot.

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

    Defect investigations

    2

    EA05007 · Tailgate Support Cables

    Opened Apr 14, 2005 · Closed Apr 11, 2006

    Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Latches/locks/linkages:tailgate:latch; Structure:body:tailgate ; Structure:body:tailgate:hinge And Attachments

    GENERAL MOTORS IS CONDUCTING A SAFETY RECALL TO REMOVE AND REPLACE THE TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES INSTALLED IN 805,368 MODEL YEAR 1999 AND 2000 GMT 800 MODEL VEHICLES.THE MODEL YEAR 1999 AND 2000 GMT-800 SERIES VEHICLES THAT WILL BE CAMPAIGNED HAD CONTRIBUTED A SIGNIFICANT MAJORITY OF THE TOTAL COMPLAINTS (87%) AND INJURIES (79%) ASSOCIATED WITH THE TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLE BREAKAGE IN THE MODEL YEAR 1998 - 2000 C/K SERIES VEHICLES ADDRESSED BY THIS INVESTIGATION.

    Additional source detail variants (3)

    Latches/locks/linkages:tailgate:latch

    GENERAL MOTORS IS CONDUCTING A SAFETY RECALL TO REMOVE AND REPLACE THE TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES INSTALLED IN 805,368 MODEL YEAR 1999 AND 2000 GMT 800 MODEL VEHICLES.THE MODEL YEAR 1999 AND 2000 GMT-800 SERIES VEHICLES THAT WILL BE CAMPAIGNED HAD CONTRIBUTED A SIGNIFICANT MAJORITY OF THE TOTAL COMPLAINTS (87%) AND INJURIES (79%) ASSOCIATED WITH THE TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLE BREAKAGE IN THE MODEL YEAR 1998 - 2000 C/K SERIES VEHICLES ADDRESSED BY THIS INVESTIGATION.

    Structure:body:tailgate

    GENERAL MOTORS IS CONDUCTING A SAFETY RECALL TO REMOVE AND REPLACE THE TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES INSTALLED IN 805,368 MODEL YEAR 1999 AND 2000 GMT 800 MODEL VEHICLES.THE MODEL YEAR 1999 AND 2000 GMT-800 SERIES VEHICLES THAT WILL BE CAMPAIGNED HAD CONTRIBUTED A SIGNIFICANT MAJORITY OF THE TOTAL COMPLAINTS (87%) AND INJURIES (79%) ASSOCIATED WITH THE TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLE BREAKAGE IN THE MODEL YEAR 1998 - 2000 C/K SERIES VEHICLES ADDRESSED BY THIS INVESTIGATION.

    Structure:body:tailgate:hinge And Attachments

    GENERAL MOTORS IS CONDUCTING A SAFETY RECALL TO REMOVE AND REPLACE THE TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES INSTALLED IN 805,368 MODEL YEAR 1999 AND 2000 GMT 800 MODEL VEHICLES.THE MODEL YEAR 1999 AND 2000 GMT-800 SERIES VEHICLES THAT WILL BE CAMPAIGNED HAD CONTRIBUTED A SIGNIFICANT MAJORITY OF THE TOTAL COMPLAINTS (87%) AND INJURIES (79%) ASSOCIATED WITH THE TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLE BREAKAGE IN THE MODEL YEAR 1998 - 2000 C/K SERIES VEHICLES ADDRESSED BY THIS INVESTIGATION.

    RQ04010 · Tailgate Support Cable Breakage

    Opened Sep 28, 2004 · Closed Apr 14, 2005

    Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Latches/locks/linkages:tailgate:latch; Structure:body:tailgate ; Structure:body:tailgate:hinge And Attachments

    ODI IS UPGRADING RQ04-010 AND OPENING AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS TO FURTHER INVESTIGATE THE TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES INSTALLED IN 1998, 1999, AND PARTIAL YEAR 2000 SILVERADOS AND SIERRAS (C/K MODELS).GENERAL MOTORS IS CONDUCTING RECALL CAMPAIGN 04V-129 TO REPLACE THE TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES ORIGINALLY INSTALLED IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2000 - 2004 SIERRAS AND SILVERADOS.GENERAL MOTORS HAS ADVISED ODI THAT THE MATERIALS USED FOR THE TAILGATE CABLE SHEATHING INSTALLED IN C/K MODELS HAD INADVERTENTLY CHANGED IN OCTOBER 1999, INCREASING THE PROPENSITY FOR VOIDS IN AND AROUND THE GALVANIZED STEEL CABLE STRANDS WHICH CAN ALLOW MOISTURE TO WICK AMONG THE STRANDS, LEADING TO OXIDATION AND WEAKENING OF THE STRANDS.SINCE ODI INITIATED RQ04-010 IN SEPTEMBER 2004, ODI HAS RECEIVED 10 ADDITONAL NON-INJURY COMPLAINTS ON MY 1998-99 C/K VEHICLES, BUT NO ADDITIONAL INJURY COMPLAINTS.DURING THIS SAME PERIOD, GM HAS RECEIVED 564 NON-INJURY AND 35 INJURY COMPLAINTS. ODI HAS RECEIVED 6 INJURY COMPLAINTS AND 38 NON-INJURY COMPLAINTS FROM OWNERS OF MODEL YEAR 2000 C/K VEHICLES AND REQUIRES FURTHER INVESTIGATION TO DETERMINE WHETHER THESE INCIDENTS OCCURRED IN VEHICLES WITHIN THE SCOPE OF CAMPAIGN 04V-129 OR SHOULD BE ADDED TO THE INJURY SUMMARY FOR RQ04-010.

    Additional source detail variants (3)

    Latches/locks/linkages:tailgate:latch

    ODI IS UPGRADING RQ04-010 AND OPENING AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS TO FURTHER INVESTIGATE THE TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES INSTALLED IN 1998, 1999, AND PARTIAL YEAR 2000 SILVERADOS AND SIERRAS (C/K MODELS).GENERAL MOTORS IS CONDUCTING RECALL CAMPAIGN 04V-129 TO REPLACE THE TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES ORIGINALLY INSTALLED IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2000 - 2004 SIERRAS AND SILVERADOS.GENERAL MOTORS HAS ADVISED ODI THAT THE MATERIALS USED FOR THE TAILGATE CABLE SHEATHING INSTALLED IN C/K MODELS HAD INADVERTENTLY CHANGED IN OCTOBER 1999, INCREASING THE PROPENSITY FOR VOIDS IN AND AROUND THE GALVANIZED STEEL CABLE STRANDS WHICH CAN ALLOW MOISTURE TO WICK AMONG THE STRANDS, LEADING TO OXIDATION AND WEAKENING OF THE STRANDS.SINCE ODI INITIATED RQ04-010 IN SEPTEMBER 2004, ODI HAS RECEIVED 10 ADDITONAL NON-INJURY COMPLAINTS ON MY 1998-99 C/K VEHICLES, BUT NO ADDITIONAL INJURY COMPLAINTS.DURING THIS SAME PERIOD, GM HAS RECEIVED 564 NON-INJURY AND 35 INJURY COMPLAINTS. ODI HAS RECEIVED 6 INJURY COMPLAINTS AND 38 NON-INJURY COMPLAINTS FROM OWNERS OF MODEL YEAR 2000 C/K VEHICLES AND REQUIRES FURTHER INVESTIGATION TO DETERMINE WHETHER THESE INCIDENTS OCCURRED IN VEHICLES WITHIN THE SCOPE OF CAMPAIGN 04V-129 OR SHOULD BE ADDED TO THE INJURY SUMMARY FOR RQ04-010.

    Structure:body:tailgate

    ODI IS UPGRADING RQ04-010 AND OPENING AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS TO FURTHER INVESTIGATE THE TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES INSTALLED IN 1998, 1999, AND PARTIAL YEAR 2000 SILVERADOS AND SIERRAS (C/K MODELS).GENERAL MOTORS IS CONDUCTING RECALL CAMPAIGN 04V-129 TO REPLACE THE TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES ORIGINALLY INSTALLED IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2000 - 2004 SIERRAS AND SILVERADOS.GENERAL MOTORS HAS ADVISED ODI THAT THE MATERIALS USED FOR THE TAILGATE CABLE SHEATHING INSTALLED IN C/K MODELS HAD INADVERTENTLY CHANGED IN OCTOBER 1999, INCREASING THE PROPENSITY FOR VOIDS IN AND AROUND THE GALVANIZED STEEL CABLE STRANDS WHICH CAN ALLOW MOISTURE TO WICK AMONG THE STRANDS, LEADING TO OXIDATION AND WEAKENING OF THE STRANDS.SINCE ODI INITIATED RQ04-010 IN SEPTEMBER 2004, ODI HAS RECEIVED 10 ADDITONAL NON-INJURY COMPLAINTS ON MY 1998-99 C/K VEHICLES, BUT NO ADDITIONAL INJURY COMPLAINTS.DURING THIS SAME PERIOD, GM HAS RECEIVED 564 NON-INJURY AND 35 INJURY COMPLAINTS. ODI HAS RECEIVED 6 INJURY COMPLAINTS AND 38 NON-INJURY COMPLAINTS FROM OWNERS OF MODEL YEAR 2000 C/K VEHICLES AND REQUIRES FURTHER INVESTIGATION TO DETERMINE WHETHER THESE INCIDENTS OCCURRED IN VEHICLES WITHIN THE SCOPE OF CAMPAIGN 04V-129 OR SHOULD BE ADDED TO THE INJURY SUMMARY FOR RQ04-010.

    Structure:body:tailgate:hinge And Attachments

    ODI IS UPGRADING RQ04-010 AND OPENING AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS TO FURTHER INVESTIGATE THE TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES INSTALLED IN 1998, 1999, AND PARTIAL YEAR 2000 SILVERADOS AND SIERRAS (C/K MODELS).GENERAL MOTORS IS CONDUCTING RECALL CAMPAIGN 04V-129 TO REPLACE THE TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES ORIGINALLY INSTALLED IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2000 - 2004 SIERRAS AND SILVERADOS.GENERAL MOTORS HAS ADVISED ODI THAT THE MATERIALS USED FOR THE TAILGATE CABLE SHEATHING INSTALLED IN C/K MODELS HAD INADVERTENTLY CHANGED IN OCTOBER 1999, INCREASING THE PROPENSITY FOR VOIDS IN AND AROUND THE GALVANIZED STEEL CABLE STRANDS WHICH CAN ALLOW MOISTURE TO WICK AMONG THE STRANDS, LEADING TO OXIDATION AND WEAKENING OF THE STRANDS.SINCE ODI INITIATED RQ04-010 IN SEPTEMBER 2004, ODI HAS RECEIVED 10 ADDITONAL NON-INJURY COMPLAINTS ON MY 1998-99 C/K VEHICLES, BUT NO ADDITIONAL INJURY COMPLAINTS.DURING THIS SAME PERIOD, GM HAS RECEIVED 564 NON-INJURY AND 35 INJURY COMPLAINTS. ODI HAS RECEIVED 6 INJURY COMPLAINTS AND 38 NON-INJURY COMPLAINTS FROM OWNERS OF MODEL YEAR 2000 C/K VEHICLES AND REQUIRES FURTHER INVESTIGATION TO DETERMINE WHETHER THESE INCIDENTS OCCURRED IN VEHICLES WITHIN THE SCOPE OF CAMPAIGN 04V-129 OR SHOULD BE ADDED TO THE INJURY SUMMARY FOR RQ04-010.

    An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.