GMC SIERRA 3500 · model year

1998 GMC SIERRA 3500

12 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1998GMCSIERRA 3500 carries 12 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 2 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 3500 is tires:tread/belt with 2 filings, followed by service brakes, hydraulic (2) and fuel system, gasoline:delivery (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 3500. 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.

12
Complaints
0
Crashes
2
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

12 filings

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

ComponentCount
TIRES:TREAD/BELT2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC2
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM1
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR1
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS1
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL1
SERVICE BRAKES1

Recent Complaints

20121113SERVICE BRAKES

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 GMC SIERRA 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN HE APPLIED HIS BRAKES TO RELEASE THE GEAR SHIFTER, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR. THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED IMMEDIATELY AFTER. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE LINES HAD BURST AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 136,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

Mileage: 136,000

20110817VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 GMC SIERRA 3500. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED WITH THE BRAKE PRESSED, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE CONTACT HAD NOT INFORMED THE DEALER, AND THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 120,000.

Mileage: 120,000

20090108SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

ABOUT 4 YEARS AGO I HAD PROBLEMS WITH MY BRAKE BOOSTER SYSTEM ON MY TRUCK WHEN THE BRAKES FAILED AND IT WAS HARD TO STOP THE TRUCK. I HAD THE BRAKE BOOSTER REPLACED TWO TIMES THEN HAD TO HAVE THE POWER STEERING PUMP REPLACED AS THIS IS CONNECTED TO MY BRAKE SYSTEM. ABOUT A YEAR AFTER I HAD THIS WORK DONE GMC RECALLED THE POWER STEERING PUMP ON MY TRUCK. NOW I AM HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THIS SYSTEM AGAIN. IF I TURN MY TRUCK RIGHT OR LEFT THE BRAKE ACTIVATE JUST LIKE YOU ARE PUSHING ON THE BRAKE TO STOP. THIS HAS ALMOST CAUSED ME TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT MORE THEM ONCE. I UNDERSTAND FROM OTHER OWNERS THAT THIS SYSTEM HAS A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH IT AND THE ONLY WAY TO FIX IT IS TO REMOVE THIS SYSTEM AND REPLACE WITH A DIFFERENT TYPE OF SYSTEM. I HOPE YOU CAN HELP ME AND OTHER OWNERS TO GET GMC TO REPAIR OUR BRAKES. *TR

Mileage: 175,000

20070302STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

SEVERE VEHICLE FRAME CORROSION/RUSTING OF FRONT FRAME EXTENSIONS, PARTICULARLY IN AREA OF STEERING BOX MOUNTING OF SEVERAL AGENCY OWNED 98-2000 YEAR MODEL CHEVROLET & GMC PICKUP TRUCKS. DISPOSITION IS SCRAPPING VEHICLES AS BEYOND ECONOMICAL REPAIR AND UNSAFE TO OPERATE. *JB

Mileage: 95,173

20031016VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

WINDSHIELD WIPERS CAME ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER. THIS CAUSED POOR VISIBILITY. DEALERSHIP WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER RECALL.*AK

20021120SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHEN TRYING TO APPLY THE BRAKES THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD GO TO THE FLOOR CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO HAVE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER NOTIFIED TS

20020703SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM

I HAVE THE MISFORTUNE OF OWNING A 1998 GMC 1 TON DUALLY, THE REAR BRAKE DRUMS HAVE SEALS LOACATED ON THE INBOARD SIDE THAT SEAL AGAINST A SURFACE OF THE AXLE. AS IT IS A FULL FLOAT AXLE, MEANING THERE ARE TAPERED BEARINGS IN THE BRAKE DRUMS THE BEARINGS ARE LUBRICATED WITH AXLE FLUID AND THE SEALS ARE THERE TO PREVENT LEAKAGE OF THE FLUID. THE FAILURE OF A SEAL PROVIDES A FLUID LEAKAGE PATH THAT IS DOWN THE INSIDE SURFACE OF THE DRUM, ACROSS THE SURFACE OF THE DRUM WHICH THE BRAKE LININGS CONTACT AND OUT BETWEEN THE BACKING PLATE AND DRUM. I HAVE HAD 3 SEAL FAILURES ON ONE SIDE AND 2 ON THE OTHER. A FAILURE OF THE SEAL ALLOWS 80W90 AXLE FLUID TO SOAK THE BREAK LININGS, AS THIS IS NOT OBVIOUS, THE FAILURE IS NOTICED BY INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE AS THE REAR BRAKES ARE RENDERED USELESS BY THE CONTAMINATION WITH AXLE FLUID. SINCE 1-TON TRUCKS ARE UASUALLY SOLD TO PULL OR HAUL THIS IS AN ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS CONDITION, WITH A FULL RATED LOAD THE REAR BRAKES ARE MUCH MORE CRITICAL THAN THA

20010613TIRES:TREAD/BELT

AT 65MPH VEHICLE STARTED MAKING A THUMPING SOUND. WHEN CONSUMER PULLED OVER AND STARTED FEELING AROUND TIRE TREAD WAS SEPARATING. RIGHT REAR TIRE HAD AT LEAST 1,000 MORE MILES TO GO. CONSUMER USED THE SPARE TIRE TO GO FIND A FIRESTONE DEALER WHICH THEY REPLACED AND BALANCED TIRE FOR FREE. CONSUMER OWNS A 1999 MOTOR HOME WITH A 98 CHEVROLET 3500 CHASSIS WITH ORIGINAL TIRES SIZE LT245/75R16 HAVING 34,000 MILES ON THEM.*AK *SLC

20001002TIRES:TREAD/BELT

PE-00020 ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON A 1998, GMC, VAN 3500, TIRE SIZE LT24575R16. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY TREAD ON THE RIGHT REAR TIRE SEPARATED. *AK

20000214FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM

FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM IS CONTINUALLY FAILING. CONSUMER STATES THAT IT IS AN ELECTRICAL FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM, AND THE SENSOR HAS BEEN CHANGED. HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER 3 TIMES. *AK

20000211FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES

MAIN BATTERY CABLE FAILED CAUSING VEHICLE TO CATCH FIRE WHILE IDLING. NLM

19991022FireFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY

SMELL OF FUEL WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE, WHEN VEHICLE LEFT RUNNING PARKED, VEHICLE ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUGHT ON FIRE AND DESTROYED THE VEHICLE.

Compare 1998GMCSIERRA 3500 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1998 GMC SIERRA 3500 have?
The 1998 GMC SIERRA 3500 has 12 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 2 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1998 GMC SIERRA 3500?
The most-complained component for the 1998 GMC SIERRA 3500 is TIRES:TREAD/BELT with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC and FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY.
Is the 1998 GMC SIERRA 3500 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.