IllustrationMY DASHBOARD BECAME BRITTLE, AND FALLS APART IF YOU TOUCH IT! ALSO MY TRANSMISSION HAS HAD TO BE REBUILT THREE TIMES. BUT IM ONLY WORRIED ABOUT MY DASH. *JS
1998 GMC Sierra 1500
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Fewer warning signs than most model years
Owner complaints for the 1998 GMC Sierra 1500 are lower than the model-year median of 181.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Sierra 1500 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
30–25K
325–50K
850–75K
975–100K
9100–150K
6150K+
38 reports with mileage · 21 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Visibility. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
6 crash reports2 fire reports4 injury reports
Power Train complaints
7 reportsWHILE DRIVING THROUGH A STOP LIGHT I HEARD AND FELT A METALLIC BANG. THE TRANSMISSION DROPPED INTO 1ST GEAR AND WOULDN'T SHIFT UP. I LOST REVERSE TOO. *TR
1998 EXTENDED CAB GMC SIERRA 1/2 TON. REAR DIFFERENTIAL EXPLODED AT 60,000 MILES. TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT AND NOW IT IS ACTING UP AGAIN AT 80,000 MILES. THIS TRUCK HAS NEVER BEEN DRIVEN BY ANYONE OTHER THAN MYSELF. THIS TRUCK HAS NEVER BEEN ABUSED AND I FOLLOWED THE MAINTENANCE SUGGESTIONS IN THE BOOK. IS THERE SOME PROBLE…
Read full complaint
1998 EXTENDED CAB GMC SIERRA 1/2 TON. REAR DIFFERENTIAL EXPLODED AT 60,000 MILES. TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT AND NOW IT IS ACTING UP AGAIN AT 80,000 MILES. THIS TRUCK HAS NEVER BEEN DRIVEN BY ANYONE OTHER THAN MYSELF. THIS TRUCK HAS NEVER BEEN ABUSED AND I FOLLOWED THE MAINTENANCE SUGGESTIONS IN THE BOOK. IS THERE SOME PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE/MODEL. I HAVE ALWAYS OWNED GMC PRODUCTS AND NEVER HAD ANY TROUBLE LIKE THIS. *JB
EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE ARE UNKNNOW, AT NO TIME WAS ADVERSE STRESS OR STRAIN PLACED ON THIS VEHICLE. THE PROBLEMS BEGAN IN NOVEMBER 2003 WHEN I LOST FIRST GEAR IN MY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. I DROPPED THE PAN TO REPLACE THE FILTER AND FLUID, THERE WERE METAL ROLLER BEARINGS AND METAL DEBREE IN THE PAN. I HAD TO HAVE T…
Read full complaint
EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE ARE UNKNNOW, AT NO TIME WAS ADVERSE STRESS OR STRAIN PLACED ON THIS VEHICLE. THE PROBLEMS BEGAN IN NOVEMBER 2003 WHEN I LOST FIRST GEAR IN MY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. I DROPPED THE PAN TO REPLACE THE FILTER AND FLUID, THERE WERE METAL ROLLER BEARINGS AND METAL DEBREE IN THE PAN. I HAD TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED. 80,000 MILES IS WAY TOO YOUNG FOR A TRANSMISSION TO FAIL. MARCH, MY WATER PUMP BEGAN LEAKING, I REPLACED IT. APRIL, MY HEATER CORE BEGAN LEAKING, I BY PASSED IT. MAY, MY RADIATOR BEGAN LEAKING, I HAD TO HAVE IT REPLACED. THE RADIATOR AND HEATER CORE ARE BEING STORED FOR A SHORT TIME FOR ME UNTIL I CAN DECIDE IF I AM GOING TO BEGIN LEGAL CLASS ACTIONS ON THE FAULTY COOLING SYSTEM ON THIS GMC SERRIA 1500 PICKUP. GMC OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE.*AK
MY TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED 3 TIMES, EACH TIME LOSING REVERSE, 2ND AND 4TH. THE FIRST TIME BETWEEN 40K -50K THE SECOND TIME ABOUT 65K AND THE THIRD AT ABOUT 95K MILES. I RARELY PULL HEAVY LOADS IN THIS TRUCK.
TRANSMISSION SHOP STATED HE HAS SEEN MANY FAILURES WITH THIS MODEL. KEEPS NEW PARTS IN STOCK AND READY FOR MORE TO COME.*AK
WITNESSED CARL BLACK DEALERSHIP COVER-UP SAFETY PROBLEMS TOO MYSELF AND MANY CUSTOMERS IN MY MANY HOURS IN THIER DEALERSHIP (THEY ROUTINELY CALL SAFETY PROBLEMS AS "NORMAL "TO THEIR CUSTOMERS THIS INCLUDES PROBLEMS WITH BRAKES AND STEERING. THEIR CUSTOMERS SHOULD BE NOTIFIED THAT THEIR PROBLEMS WHERE NOT "NORMAL" *AK
Official recalls
298V187000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly
Aug 10, 1998
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CREW CAB PICKUP TRUCKS. THE FRONT, INNER CORNER OF THE FUEL TANK CAN CONTACT THE BODY SILL EITHER INTERMITTENTLY OR CONSTANTLY. THIS MOVEMENT CAN CAUSE A DISCERNIBLE NOISE AND, OVER TIME, CAN WEAR A HOLE IN OR CRACK THE FUEL TANK AT POINT OF CONTACT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN FUEL LEAKAGE AND A DISTINCT FUEL ODOR IF THE TANK WERE FILLED ABOVE THE LEVEL OF THE HOLE OR CRACK. IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD RESULT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FUEL TANK FOR WEAR AND, EITHER INSTALL A SPACER BETWEEN THE FUEL TANK AND THE FRONT CROSSMEMBER, OR IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE FUEL TANK.
98V033000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:disc:rotor
Feb 17, 1998
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE ROTORS FOR A CORE DATE OF "287" AND, IF FOUND, REPLACE THE ROTOR.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.