1998 GMC Sierra Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Sierra years
- Far more complaints than other years 9th of 23 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- None on file
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 190 complaints with NHTSA about the 1998 GMC Sierra. That ranks 9th out of 23 Sierra model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is service brakes, hydraulic (56 complaints, 29%), typically at around 70,000 miles. Complaints mention 16 crashes, 8 fires, 9 injuries. There are no safety recalls on file for this model year. NHTSA has opened 2 defect investigations involving it.
- 190owner complaints
- 0safety recalls
- 2NHTSA investigations
- 16complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1998 GMC Sierra 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 problems | 56 | 29% | 70,000 | “anti lock” (20%) | — |
| Visibility | 32 | 17% | 80,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 15 | 8% | 79,000 | — | — |
| Steering | 15 | 8% | 89,500 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 11 | 6% | 79,788 | — | — |
| Suspension | 11 | 6% | — | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 10 | 5% | 65,500 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 9 | 5% | — | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 9 | 5% | 80,000 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 8 | 4% | 84,000 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 6 | 3% | 72,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 6 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 4 | 2% | 86,000 | — | — |
| Structure | 4 | 2% | 49,000 | — | — |
| Tires | 4 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Equipment | 3 | 2% | 96,971 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Other | 3 | 2% | 33,000 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 3 | 2% | 129,000 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 2 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Air | 2 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Child Seat | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1998 GMC Sierra recalls (0)
No safety recalls are on file for the 1998 GMC Sierra.
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.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Tailgate support cables (EA05007) — opened Apr 14, 2005, closed Apr 11, 2006, led to recall 06V066000.
- Tailgate support cable breakage (RQ04010) — opened Sep 28, 2004, closed Apr 14, 2005.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
The dashboard cracked midways and spread to the passenger side.
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 gmc sierra. The contact stated that the driver side door latch fractured. The vehicle was repaired by the contact but the repair specifics were unknown. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 129,000. ....updated 01/23/15 *bf…
Brakes failed while backing up and hit a tree. Found brake line was severely rusted and replaced brake line. *tr
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 gmc sierra. The contact stated that the abs warning light illuminated after depressing the brake pedal. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the technician was unable to rectify the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure…
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 gmc sierra. The contact stated there was a transmission leak. The failure was not diagnosed nor was the vehicle repaired. The manufacturer was contacted about the failure. The failure mileage and vin were unavailable.
Other GMC Sierra years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 Sierra | 61 | 0 |
| 2016 Sierra | 6 | 2 |
| 2015 Sierra | 53 | 6 |
| 2014 Sierra | 101 | 11 |
| 2013 Sierra | 39 | 3 |
| 2012 Sierra | 29 | 2 |
| 2011 Sierra | 43 | 2 |
| 2010 Sierra | 34 | 0 |
| 2009 Sierra | 37 | 1 |
| 2008 Sierra | 68 | 2 |
| 2007 Sierra | 59 | 2 |
| 2006 Sierra | 53 | 4 |
| 2005 Sierra | 117 | 9 |
| 2004 Sierra | 188 | 7 |
| 2003 Sierra | 206 | 6 |
| 2002 Sierra | 249 | 4 |
| 2001 Sierra | 264 | 4 |
| 2000 Sierra | 443 | 8 |
| 1999 Sierra | 600 | 5 |
| 1998 | 190 | 0 |
| 1997 Sierra | 238 | 0 |
| 1996 Sierra | 246 | 2 |
| 1995 Sierra | 261 | 6 |
See all GMC Sierra 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?
Owners most often report service brakes, hydraulic, visibility, power train problems. The top one, service brakes, hydraulic, accounts for 56 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1998 GMC Sierra?
No safety recalls are on file for this model year.
Was the 1998 GMC Sierra a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Sierra model years, the 1998 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.