IllustrationWHEN BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED IT WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER REPLACED THE MASTER CYLINDER, BUT THAT DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
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.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Sierra 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
20–25K
725–50K
1850–75K
1175–100K
10100–150K
2150K+
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, Hydraulic complaints
56 reportsHEATER CONNECTOR LEAKING CAUSING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. NLM
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED STEPPED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, AND PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. SOMETIMES IT LOOKED LIKE VEHICLE WOULD NEVER STOP.*AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
WHILE APPLYING BRAKES PEDAL FELT SOFT AND TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHICH COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A CRASH. DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. DEALER SAID IT WAS CHARACTERISTIC OF VEHICLE. *AK *ML
VEHICLE JUMPS LANES WHEN USING BRAKES. BRAKES APPEAR TO BE UNDERSIZED FOR VEHICLE. ALSO, CONSUMER HAS HAD 3 FRONT PADS REPLACEMENTS WITHIN 20,000 MILES. IF CONSUMER WAS TAKING A TRIP HE WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE BRAKES. *AK
BRAKE DESIGN IS INADEQUATE FOR SIZE OF VEHICLE, ONE TON 4WD TRUCK ALSO MOST 3/4 SUBURBANS AND TRUCKS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. IN THE PAST THE TRUCK HAS PULL HARD LEFT ACROSS THE ROAD WITH NO PRIOR WARNING, BRAKE PADS ARE REQUIRED TO BE REPLACED DEPENDING ON PADS EVERY 5000-10000 MILES. THIS TRUCK HAS BEEN IN UNDER WARRANTY THREE…
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BRAKE DESIGN IS INADEQUATE FOR SIZE OF VEHICLE, ONE TON 4WD TRUCK ALSO MOST 3/4 SUBURBANS AND TRUCKS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. IN THE PAST THE TRUCK HAS PULL HARD LEFT ACROSS THE ROAD WITH NO PRIOR WARNING, BRAKE PADS ARE REQUIRED TO BE REPLACED DEPENDING ON PADS EVERY 5000-10000 MILES. THIS TRUCK HAS BEEN IN UNDER WARRANTY THREE TIMES TO REPLACE PADS, ONCE TO REPLACE ROTORS, ONCE TO REBUILD CALIPERS, AND ONCE TO REPLACE REAR DRUMS WITH 21000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. IT APPEARS THAT NORMAL PASSENGER DESIGN SIZE BRAKES WERE USED ON A LIGHT TRUCK AND THAT THE PROPORTIONING BETWEEN FRONT AND REAR UTILIZE THE REAR BRAKES VERY LITTLE. THIS BRAKE LIFE IS WITH OUT ANY TOWING OR HEAVY HAULING. GIVEN THE LIFE WHICH IS ABNORMALLY LOW, DURING STEEP MOUNTIAN DRIVING ON A LONG TRIP THE FRONT PADS COULD FAIL WITHOUT WARNING AND THE FRONT APPEARS TO BE DOING ALL THE BRAKING ON UNDER DESIGNED SIZE PADS. WHY ELSE WILL THE 2000 MODELS CREW CAB 4WD HAVE HUGH 4 WHEEL DISC BRAKE SETUPS?? GM HAS DONE NOTHING TO RETROFIT OR RESOLVE ISSUES EXCEPT REPLACE PARTS OVER AND OVER, REFERENCE GM FILE # 99063603...THANKS IN ADVANCE FOR ANY ASSISTANCE YOU CAN PROVIDE. *AK
INITIAL PROBLEM 09/02/98 WAS BOTH REAR AXLE SEALS LEAKING CAUSING BRAKES TO FADE. AGAIN ON 11/04/98 REAR AXLE SEALS LEAKING, ADJUSTED BRAKES. 11/06/98 BRAKES LOCKING-UP. 11/13/98 BRAKES GRABBING, REPLACED BOTH REAR BRAKE SHOES, ABS LIGHT ON-MODULE NOT ACTIVATING BRAKE RELEASE-REPLACED ANTI-LOCK BRAKE MODULE-MASTER CYL BYPASSI…
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INITIAL PROBLEM 09/02/98 WAS BOTH REAR AXLE SEALS LEAKING CAUSING BRAKES TO FADE. AGAIN ON 11/04/98 REAR AXLE SEALS LEAKING, ADJUSTED BRAKES. 11/06/98 BRAKES LOCKING-UP. 11/13/98 BRAKES GRABBING, REPLACED BOTH REAR BRAKE SHOES, ABS LIGHT ON-MODULE NOT ACTIVATING BRAKE RELEASE-REPLACED ANTI-LOCK BRAKE MODULE-MASTER CYL BYPASSING-REPLACED MASTER CYL. 01/20/99 ABS LIGHT COMES ON-BRAKE PEDDLE HARD TO PUSH-REPLACED ABS BRAKE VALVE. 03/23/99 BRAKES FAILED TO SLOW VEHICLE-INVOLVED IN ACCIDENT-REPLACED ABS PRESSURE MODULATING VALVE.
I WAS DRIVING ON A DIRT ROAD ( LUCKILY) THE GROUND WAS WET AND IT HAD BEEN RAINING, ANOTHER VEHICLE APPEARED AND I APPLIED THE BRAKES. THERE WERE NO BRAKES. I KEPT TRYING BUT NOTHING HAPPENED UNTIL A FEW MOMENTS LATER. TO AVOID THE OTHER PERSON I TURNED THE TRUCK AND THE REAR END HIT A TREE. I PAID FOR THE REPAIRS MYSELF. THERE …
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I WAS DRIVING ON A DIRT ROAD ( LUCKILY) THE GROUND WAS WET AND IT HAD BEEN RAINING, ANOTHER VEHICLE APPEARED AND I APPLIED THE BRAKES. THERE WERE NO BRAKES. I KEPT TRYING BUT NOTHING HAPPENED UNTIL A FEW MOMENTS LATER. TO AVOID THE OTHER PERSON I TURNED THE TRUCK AND THE REAR END HIT A TREE. I PAID FOR THE REPAIRS MYSELF. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE BRAKING SYSTEMS OF MY TRUCK IN THAT TIME PERIOD, BUT GMC SAID MY TRUCK WAS NOT INCLUDED. ( THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM WAS OCCURRING IN THE RECALLED VEHICLES.) THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME A RECALL HAS EXCLUDED US. BOTH OF OUR VEHICLES HAVE HAD PROBLEMS IDENTICAL TO DEFECTS ON RECALLED AUTOS, BUT FOR SOME REASON THEY WILL NOT CHECK OUR VEHICLES. I BELIEVE THE PROBLEMS ARE THE SAME, BUT DUE TO FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS THE MANUFACTURER IS TRYING TO LIMIT THE KNOWN AUTOS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. *AK
IN WET CONDITIONS BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHICH MAY RESULT IN A CRASH. HAS NOT TAKEN VEHICLE TO A DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
Official recalls
0No 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 ↗
NHTSA investigations
2EA05007 · 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.