Total Complaints
13 filings
GMC C/K PICKUP · model year
1998 GMC C/K PICKUP
13 NHTSA complaints, 3 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1998GMCC/K PICKUP carries 13 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 3 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1998 C/K PICKUP is visibility:windshield wiper/washer:motor with 3 filings, followed by service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (3) and service brakes, air:antilock:control unit/module (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 2 investigation files overlapping the 1998 C/K PICKUP. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
13
Complaints
3
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
3 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR | 3 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 3 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:WHEEL SPEED SENSOR | 1 |
| VISIBILITY:REAR WINDOW WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | 1 |
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS | 1 |
| STRUCTURE | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20071224SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
1998 GMC SIERRA. A CAR CUT IN FRONT OF MY TRUCK AND I HAD TO APPLY THE BRAKES VERY HARD. WHEN I DID THIS ,THE BRAKE LINE THAT RUNS ALONG THE FRAME RAIL FAILED AT THE BEND WHERE IT JOINS WITH THE REAR BRAKE HOSE. THE FAILURE APPEARED TO BE FROM RUST. *TR THIS,I FEEL ,WAS DUE TO POOR LOCATION. I HAVE A 1955 CHEVY PICKUP , THAT UNTIL 1 YEAR AGO STILL HAD ITS ORIGINAL LINES STILL WORKING.
Mileage: 80,000
20071224STRUCTURE
1998 GMC SIERRA. A CAR CUT IN FRONT OF MY TRUCK AND I HAD TO APPLY THE BRAKES VERY HARD. WHEN I DID THIS ,THE BRAKE LINE THAT RUNS ALONG THE FRAME RAIL FAILED AT THE BEND WHERE IT JOINS WITH THE REAR BRAKE HOSE. THE FAILURE APPEARED TO BE FROM RUST. *TR THIS,I FEEL ,WAS DUE TO POOR LOCATION. I HAVE A 1955 CHEVY PICKUP , THAT UNTIL 1 YEAR AGO STILL HAD ITS ORIGINAL LINES STILL WORKING.
Mileage: 80,000
20070803VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
WIPER WORK INTERMITTENTLY. THERE IS A RECALL FOR GM K1500 1992-97, BUT THIS VEHICLE IS A 1998. I HAVE FOUND OTHER COMPLAINTS FOR 1998 WITH THIS SAME ISSUE. *TR
20061018CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
TOTAL LOSS OF BRAKES AT LOW SPEED DUE TO A.B.S. COMPUTER FAILURE RESULTING IN A CRASH. (1)VEHICLE PASSED GOVERNMENT SAFETY INSPECTION. WITHIN ONE MONTH REAR AXLE SEALS LEAKED NEW BRAKES WERE REPLACED AT LOCAL INDEPENDENT SHOP WITH NEW BRAKE PADS DUE TO OIL CONTAMINATION COMMENTED DID NOT LIKE MY BRAKES AFTER TEST DRIVE. VEHICLE TAKEN TO LOCAL DEALER FOR EVALUTION. SEVRICE MANAGER DETERMINED THE REED SWITCHES IN FRONT BOTH REQUIRED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $750 I ASKED IF THERE WAS ANY KIND OF RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM AS I HAD EXPERIENCED IT BEFORE IN A WORK TRUCK . I WAS TOLD THIS WAS AN OLD TRUCK WITH NEARLY 200,000 KILOMETERS ON IT. I WAS ALSO TOLD NO, THERE ARE NO SERVICE ISSUES OR RECALLS AND I WAS RESPONSABLE. I WANTED A SECOND OPINION ON THE DIAGNOSISUPON RETURNING HOME THE NEXT DAY I STRUCK A TELEPHONE POLE AT LESS THAN 5 M.P.H. .THIS OCCURED WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES BECAUSE NOTHING HAPPENED. NO BREAKING ACTION!I RETURNED TO THE INDEPENDANT WHO CHECKED THE $750. REED
Mileage: 195,000
20060701SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ABS ACTIVATION AT LOW SPEEDS. *NM
20060426VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
WIPERS STOPPED WORKING DURING RAIN. *JB
Mileage: 121,980
20050831SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
THE ANTILOCK BRAKES ON MY 98 GMC 4X4 PICKUP FIRE @ SPEEDS BELOW 5 MPH CAUSING THE TRUCK TO STOP AT A MUCH GREATER DISTANCE THAN NORMAL THIS IS DUE TO BAD WHEEL SPEED SENSORS I HAD THE TRUCK PUT ON A SCANNER AND IT TURNS OUT THAT BOTH SENSORS ARE BAD AND @ AROUND 200 BUCKS FOR NEW A BEARING + LABOR THIS IS NOT AN EASY CHEAP FIX I ENDED UP PULLING THE FUSE UNDER THE HOOD I WILL NOT REPLACE THE SENSORS AT THAT COST. *NM
Mileage: 30,000
20050814FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
FUEL GAUGE NOT FUNCTIONING...HAS HAD AN ERRATIC READING FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS..READING AT 3/4 FULL WHEN THE TANK HAS LESS THAN FIVE GAL. LEFT. *NM
Mileage: 75,000
20030923VISIBILITY:REAR WINDOW WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. *AK
20030909CrashSERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
I AM WRITING ABOUT ISSUES WITH THE BRAKE SYSTEMS IN 1998 GMC SIERA EXT. CAB P/U. THE ISSUE AT HAND IS THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE ABS SYSTEM WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING, IT HAS CAUSED NUMEROUS CLOSE CALLS. I SPOKE TO MY MECHANIC TODAY SAID IT WOULD COST WELL OVER $600.00 TO CORRECT ISSUE, AND HE HAS RAN ACROSS THIS ISSUE WITH NUMEROUS GMC PICK UPS. I HAVE ALREADY REPLACED BRAKES AND ROTORS TWICE ON THE FRONT BRAKES, I HAVE MAINTAINED THIS VEHICLE THE WAY I AM SUPPOSED TO MAINTIAN IT. I HAVE ALSO BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT IN MY OWN DRIVEWAY BECAUSE IF THIS ABS PROBLEM.AS I WAS BACKING UP I APLIED BRAKES, AND THE ABS DEPLOYED. I'M JUST GLAD IT WASN'T A CHILD THAT WAS BEHIND ME. IT SEEMS THAT GMC HAS NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THEIR BRAKING SYSTEMS. *AK
Mileage: 77,203
20030909CrashSERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:WHEEL SPEED SENSOR
I AM WRITING ABOUT ISSUES WITH THE BRAKE SYSTEMS IN 1998 GMC SIERA EXT. CAB P/U. THE ISSUE AT HAND IS THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE ABS SYSTEM WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING, IT HAS CAUSED NUMEROUS CLOSE CALLS. I SPOKE TO MY MECHANIC TODAY SAID IT WOULD COST WELL OVER $600.00 TO CORRECT ISSUE, AND HE HAS RAN ACROSS THIS ISSUE WITH NUMEROUS GMC PICK UPS. I HAVE ALREADY REPLACED BRAKES AND ROTORS TWICE ON THE FRONT BRAKES, I HAVE MAINTAINED THIS VEHICLE THE WAY I AM SUPPOSED TO MAINTIAN IT. I HAVE ALSO BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT IN MY OWN DRIVEWAY BECAUSE IF THIS ABS PROBLEM.AS I WAS BACKING UP I APLIED BRAKES, AND THE ABS DEPLOYED. I'M JUST GLAD IT WASN'T A CHILD THAT WAS BEHIND ME. IT SEEMS THAT GMC HAS NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THEIR BRAKING SYSTEMS. *AK
Mileage: 77,203
20030806VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING UNDER RAINY CONDITIONS SOMETIMES WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL QUIT WITHOUT WARNING. WINDSHIELD WIPERS MAY OR MAY NOT COME BACK ON. *AK
Mileage: 100,000
20030524VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON MY 1998 GMC PICKUP WORK INTERMITTENTLY, SOMETIMES THEY WON'T TURN ON, OTHER TIMES THEY STOP WHILE IN USE. *NLM
Compare 1998GMCC/K PICKUP to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1998 GMC C/K PICKUP have?▼
The 1998 GMC C/K PICKUP has 13 NHTSA complaints, 3 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1998 GMC C/K PICKUP?▼
The most-complained component for the 1998 GMC C/K PICKUP is VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR with 3 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP and SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE.
Is the 1998 GMC C/K PICKUP safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.