Total Complaints
19 filings
GMC SIERRA 2500 · model year
1998 GMC SIERRA 2500
19 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1998GMCSIERRA 2500 carries 19 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 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 SIERRA 2500 is service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip with 7 filings, followed by service brakes, air:antilock (1) and steering: steering wheel/handle bar (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 SIERRA 2500. 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.
19
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 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 |
|---|---|
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 7 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK | 1 |
| STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT:SEAL | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM | 1 |
| VISIBILITY | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN | 1 |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN | 1 |
| STEERING | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20141216FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
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
Mileage: 280,000
20141216POWER TRAIN
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
Mileage: 280,000
20141216STEERING
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
Mileage: 280,000
20090726VISIBILITY
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
20090726ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
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
20040528FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
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
Mileage: 47,000
20040206POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT:SEAL
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
Mileage: 59,283
20040113SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
CONSTANT REAR BRAKE FAILURE WITH HEAVY BRAKING ON ROUGH ROADS. CAN BE DUPLICATED AS DESIRED.
Mileage: 2,000
20030312ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
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
Mileage: 40,000
20010103SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
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
20010103SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM
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
20010103SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
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
20001101POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE
WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER NOTICE SEVERE DRIVELINE VIBRATION WHICH SHAKES THE STEERING WHEEL AND TRUCK, DEALER ROTATED AND BALANCED THE TIRE DURING 3000 MILE CHECK UP, VEHICLE RAN A LITTLE BETTER, BUT STILL VIBRATED.*ET
20000602SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHILE DRIVING STEPPED ON BRAKE PEDAL, AND PEDAL WENT DOWN HALFWAY, THE REST WAS ROCK HARD, AND VEHICLE EXPERIENCED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *AK *ML
19990811SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ERRATIC OPERATION OF BRAKE SYSTEM, CAUSING BRAKE FAILURE. REPORTING THIS TO NHTSA. *AK
19981009SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE ABS DOES NOT CATCH, AND THE VEHICLE KEEPS GOING. DEALER HAS NOT FIXED THE VEHICLE. *AK
19980728SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHILE TRAVELING CONSUMER TRIED TO MAKE A SUDDEN STOP. PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FLOORBOARD AND VEHICLE CONTINUED TO TRAVEL. THEN SLOWLY CAME TO A STOP. PLEASE PROVIDEFURTHER DETAILS. *AK
19980522SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK
ANTI-LOCK BRAKE FAILURE.
19980522STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
POWER STEERING WILL NOT TURN THE WHEELS WHEN VEHICLE IS ON AN INCLINE/DECLINE.
Compare 1998GMCSIERRA 2500 to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1998 GMC SIERRA 2500 have?▼
The 1998 GMC SIERRA 2500 has 19 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1998 GMC SIERRA 2500?▼
The most-complained component for the 1998 GMC SIERRA 2500 is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP with 7 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK and STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR.
Is the 1998 GMC SIERRA 2500 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.