1998 GMC Sierra problems
NHTSA has received 230 complaints about the 1998 GMC Sierra, and 30% of them involve brakes. Next are wipers, windshield & visibility (15%) and steering (7%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 230 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Brakes 30% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 19 and 8
- Injuries and deaths
- 9 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 75,000 miles 54 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 2 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 2 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 9 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 17 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 11 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 2 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 6 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 4 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 0 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 1 |
What the data shows
Of the 54 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 74,000 miles. For brakes specifically, the median reported mileage is about 70,000 miles (20 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 19 complaints mention a crash; 8 complaints mention a fire; 9 injuries reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 1998 ranks 10th most-complained-about out of 26 model years of the GMC Sierra with enough data (132 complaints in that window).
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
Consumer states while driving there was a burning smell, then she felt something hot on her leg, when looking she saw vehicle had caught on fire and her leg was also on fire, fire was caused by a faulty wiring harness. *slc
Consumer was driving aproximately 40 MPH when a vehicle pulled out in front. Upon impact, the air bags did not deploy, consumer's head hit the metal upright of driver's door. Dealer and GMC said there was no defect. Insurance inspector stated vehicle was hit at the center of radiator, and the air bag sensors were damaged, but no deploment.
Going 30MPH & another vehicle crossed in front & was hit broadside. The air bags deployed. Seat belt failed to restrain passenger, and passenger was injured.
Problems with transmission shifting incorrectly. While driving, the transmission became hot, and disengaged from overdrive to lock up mode, and blew 2 quarts of automatic transmission fluid out the vents
The consumer stated that while driving there's was a sizzling noise coming from the engine compartment. The plastic or cellophane sealant strip for the carburetor gasket located between the carburetor and throttle came unsealed and fell off. This caused gasoline to pour out onto the engine block. This could have resulted in a fire of explosion in the engine block. Please provide more detail information. *nlm