1998 GMC Sierra 3500 Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Sierra 3500 years
- Fewer complaints than other years 22nd of 31 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 12 complaints with NHTSA about the 1998 GMC Sierra 3500. That ranks 22nd out of 31 Sierra 3500 model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is service brakes, hydraulic (3 complaints, 25%), typically at around 175,000 miles. Complaints mention 2 fires. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year.
- 12owner complaints
- 2safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 0complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1998 GMC Sierra 3500 problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 3 | 25% | 175,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 2 | 17% | — | — | — |
| Tires | 2 | 17% | — | — | — |
| Electrical System | 1 | 8% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 1 | 8% | 136,000 | — | — |
| Structure | 1 | 8% | 95,173 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 | 8% | 120,000 | — | — |
| Visibility | 1 | 8% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1998 GMC Sierra 3500 recalls (2)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Equipment adaptive/mobility
Problem: On certain vans equipped with sure-lok wheelchair securement systems, the sprocket teeth of the retractor assembly is out of alignment.
Risk: In the event of a vehicle crash, the wheelchair may not be adequately secured possibly resulting in injuries to a wheelchair occupant.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the wheelchair securement retractors as necessary. Sure-lok will handle the repairs for this campaign. Owners should contact sure-lock at 1-908-231-1804 or mobilityworks at 1-800-769-8267.
Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:disc:rotor
Problem: Vehicle description: light duty pickup trucks and multi-purpose passenger vehicles. One or both front brake rotor/hubs were built with an out-of-specification gray iron that can fail during the life of the vehicle.
Risk: If a driver continues to drive with a cracked rotor, the cracks could continue around the wheel mounting bolt circle and ultimately result in a wheel separation.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the rotors for a core date of "287" and, if found, replace the rotor.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
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…
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…
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…
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
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
Other GMC Sierra 3500 years
← 1997 Sierra 3500 · 1999 Sierra 3500 →
See all GMC Sierra 3500 problems by year, every GMC model, or the GMC VIN decoder.
Similar GMC models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1998 GMC Sierra 3500?
Owners most often report service brakes, hydraulic, fuel system, gasoline, tires problems. The top one, service brakes, hydraulic, accounts for 3 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1998 GMC Sierra 3500?
Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1998 GMC Sierra 3500 a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Sierra 3500 model years, the 1998 has fewer complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.