Total Complaints
68 filings
GMC SIERRA 1500 · model year
68 NHTSA complaints, 6 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1998GMCSIERRA 1500 carries 68 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 6 crashes, 2 fires, 5 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 SIERRA 1500 is service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip with 9 filings, followed by visibility:windshield wiper/washer:motor (5) and service brakes, hydraulic (5). 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 SIERRA 1500. 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.
Total Complaints
68 filings
Crashes Reported
6 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 9 |
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR | 5 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | 5 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 4 |
| STEERING | 4 |
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER | 3 |
| AIR BAGS | 3 |
| POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT | 2 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK | 2 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS | 2 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 2 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR | 1 |
| SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 1 |
| STEERING:LINKAGES | 1 |
The dash is busted in several pieces and places.
WHILE TRAVERSING A FREEWAY OVERPASS GOING 60 TO 65 MPH THE TRUCK SUDDENLY LURCHED TO THE LEFT. FORTUNATELY NO IMMEDIATE TRAFFIC ON MY LEFT. REALLY FRIGHTENED ME. AFTER MUCH RESEARCH I DISCOVERED THAT A COMPONENT (CIRCUIT BOARD) OF THE NEW "SPEED SENSITIVE" POWER STEERING COULD FAIL, MAKING THE TRUCK THINK IT WAS GOING SLOWER AND INCREASE THE POWER STEERING ASSIST, CAUSING THE LURCH TO THE LEFT. THIS WAS AFTER HAVING THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE CHECKED FOR ALIGNMENT, FAULTY OR DAMAGED PARTS, ANY ADJUSTMENTS OUT OF SPEC. THEY FOUND NO CAUSE. I DON'T ACTUALLY REMEMBER THE DATE AND HAVE ESTIMATED THE DATE BELOW. I EVENTUALLY SOLVED THE PROBLEM (AFTER FURTHER RESEARCH INDICATING THAT REPLACING THE CIRCUIT BOARD SOMETIMES WAS ONLY A TEMPORARY FIX. THE SOLUTION WAS INSTALLING A "KIT" I FOUND ONLINE THAT COMPLETELY REMOVED THE NEW SPEED CONTROLLED POWER ASSISTANCE. I PROBABLY HAD 4 OR 5 INSTANCES OF THIS OCCURRING, AND CONSIDER MYSELF EXTREMELY FORTUNATE NOT TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT OR IN
Mileage: 165,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 GMC SIERRA 1500. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS SEATED IN THE VEHICLE, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY. WHEN THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE, THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING OR AN IMPACT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 230,000.
Mileage: 230,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 GMC SIERRA 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, A DEER RAN IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE DEER. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A FRONT END ALIGNMENT DUE TO THE COLLISION. THE CONTACT RECEIVED INJURIES TO THE HEAD AND KNEE, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
"TAKATA RECALL" ON 02/17/2015 I [XXX] WAS INVOLVED IN A SINGLE PASSENGER (ME) MVA AT "THE MACINAC BRIDGE" ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE MACKINAC BRIDGE ROLLING MY TRUCK INTO THE TOLL BOOTHS LOCATED ON THE NORTH END OF THE MACINAC BRIDGE IN THE CITY OF ST IGNACE, MACKINAC COUNTY, MICHIGAN. THE WEATHER CONDITIONS THAT DAY WERE HORRIBLE. THERE WERE HIGH WINDS, SNOW, SLEET, RAIN, AND I BLACK ICE ! 100% HUMIDITY ! AFTER THE ACCIDENT CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP I OPENED MY EYES AND AN INFLATOR WAS LAUNCHED DIRECTLY AT MY HEAD. IF IT HAD HIT ME THERE I WOULD BE DEAD RIGHT NOW. I REACTED QUICKLY BY TILTING MY HEAD TO THE RIGHT AND THE INFLATOR HIT THE LEFT SIDE OF MY HEAD USING IT AS GLIDE PATH THUS CHANGING THE TRAJECTORY NEXT IS WHAT I CALL THE MOST HORRIFIC THING TO EVER HAPPEN IN MY ENTIRE 51 YEAR LIFE SPAN THUS FAR ON EARTH, THE INFLATOR BLEW UP OFF THE BACK-SIDE OF MY HEAD POINT BLANK, CHANGING MY LIFE AS I KNOW IT FOREVER. THAT DAY ON 02/17/2015 THE [XXX] EVERYONE KNOWS AND LOVES ACTUALLY DIE
MY DASHBOARD BECAME BRITTLE, AND FALLS APART IF YOU TOUCH IT! ALSO MY TRANSMISSION HAS HAD TO BE REBUILT THREE TIMES. BUT IM ONLY WORRIED ABOUT MY DASH. *JS
Mileage: 188,000
MY DASHBOARD BECAME BRITTLE, AND FALLS APART IF YOU TOUCH IT! ALSO MY TRANSMISSION HAS HAD TO BE REBUILT THREE TIMES. BUT IM ONLY WORRIED ABOUT MY DASH. *JS
Mileage: 188,000
APPLIED BREAK TO START TRUCK. FOOT WENT TO FLOOR, VERY WEAK PEDAL. CHECKED BRAKE FLUID LEVEL, FOUND FRONT RESERVOIR EMPTY. TRACED BRAKE LINES FOR LEAKS. FOUND PORTION OF REAR HARD BRAKE LINE BETWEEN GAS TANK AND REAR AXLE RUSTED THROUGH AT BEND WHERE BRAKE LINE LEAVES FRAME RAIL AND HEADS TO CONNECT TO FLEXIBLE LINE AT REAR DIFFERENTIAL. ENTIRE AREA AROUND LEAK, BOTTOM OF BED, FRAME RAIL, SHOCK, SPRING, ETC. DRIPPING WITH BRAKE FLUID. REPLACED A PREVIOUS SECTION OF REAR BRAKE LINEAROUND 125K MILES PRIOR TO FINDING OUT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH GMC / CHEVY TRUCKS. *TR
Mileage: 167,525
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD FAIL SPORADICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 107,000.
Mileage: 103,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD STOP WORKING SPORADICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE 90,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 139,000. UPDATED 10/21/11 *BF THE WIPER WAS REPAIRED AT A COST OF $ 311.00. UPDATE 10/26/11
Mileage: 90,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 GMC 1500. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THERE WAS LITTLE TO NO POWER. NONE OF THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS WERE OPERABLE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND AS HE REMOVED THE COVERING FROM A PLATE UNDER THE STEERING COLUMN, HE FOUND THAT THERE WERE SEVERAL BURNED WIRES. HE THEN SPLICED THE WIRES TOGETHER AND USED A RUBBER PROTECTOR TO PROTECT THE WIRES FROM RUBBING AGAINST THE METAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 64,000.
Mileage: 64,000
I WAS APPROACHING A BUSY INTERSECTION AT A NORMAL SPEED. WHEN I USED THE BRAKE IT INSTANTLY WENT TO THE FLOOR. NO BRAKES! I WENT THROUGH THE INTERSECTION INTO AN EMPTY LOT. THANK GOD NO ACCIDENT. THE BRAKE LINE ROTTED BECAUSE GM ROUTED CHEAP STEEL LINES IN AREAS WHERE SAND, SALT AND WATER COLLECT. GMC REFUSED TO COVER THE REPAIR AND IT COST ME 500.00. *TR
Mileage: 76,000
COMPONENT: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC DETAILS: THE ABS PULSATES AT LOW SPEEDS, USUALLY AT 10 MPH OR SLOWER. I'VE ALMOST HIT SEVERAL VEHICLES BECAUSE MY '98 GMC SIERRA WOULDN'T STOP. I SEE WHERE THEY HAD A RECALL ON 99 AND NEWER TRUCKS, BUT THEY NEED TO GO BACK FURTHER. THIS HAPPENS EVERYTIME I GO TO SLOW DOWN. GMC REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE PROBLEM PRIOR TO 1999. *TR
Mileage: 60,000
THE ABS PULSATES AT LOW SPEEDS, USUALLY AT 10 MPH OR SLOWER. I'VE ALMOST HIT SEVERAL VEHICLES BECAUSE MY '98 GMC SIERRA WOULDN'T STOP. I SEE WHERE THEY HAD A RECALL ON 99 AND NEWER TRUCKS, BUT THEY NEED TO GO BACK FURTHER. THIS HAPPENS EVERYTIME I GO TO SLOW DOWN. *TR
WHILE DRIVING THROUGH A STOP LIGHT I HEARD AND FELT A METALLIC BANG. THE TRANSMISSION DROPPED INTO 1ST GEAR AND WOULDN'T SHIFT UP. I LOST REVERSE TOO. *TR
Mileage: 104,000
WHILE DRIVING THROUGH A STOP LIGHT I HEARD AND FELT A METALLIC BANG. THE TRANSMISSION DROPPED INTO 1ST GEAR AND WOULDN'T SHIFT UP. I LOST REVERSE TOO. *TR
Mileage: 104,000
I OWN A 1998 GMC SIERRA AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK ONLY PART OF THE TIME. UPON SEARCHING THE INTERNET IT SEEMS TO BE A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM AMONG THESE VEHICLES, BUT THE RECALL DOESN'T INCLUDE THIS YEAR EVEN THOUGH THE CIRCUIT BOARD IS THE SAME . *TR
Mileage: 150,000
WHEN I BOUGHT TRUCK (120,000 MILES) THE PREVIOUS OWNER INFORMED ME THAT THE GAS TANK WAS FULL. AFTER 200 MILES I WONDERED WHY THE GAS GAUGE WAS STILL ON FULL. TALKED TO SEVERAL PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, SAME VEHICLE WHO HAD TO REPLACE THE SENDING UNIT ON THE FUEL PUMP. THIS CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. GM NEEDS TO START TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR VEHICLE DEFECTS. *TR
Mileage: 120,000
HAD A ANTIFREEZE LEAK FOR MONTHS. STARTED LOOKING AROUND AND NOTICED THE FITTING FROM THE HEATER CORE RETURN LINE INTO THE ENGINE BLOCK WAS CORRODED AND READY TO FALL OF. I BARELY TOUCHED THE RETURN LINE AND IT THE FITTING SNAPPED OFF. I'M THE 3RD PERSON I KNOW WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM, SAME VEHICLE. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A PROBLEM HERE GM NEEDS TO ADDRESS. *TR
Mileage: 163,000
TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLE RUSTED THROUGH AND BROKE. *TR
Mileage: 110,213
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.