IllustrationTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD FAIL SPORADICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 107,000.
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
Visibility complaints
11 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD STOP WORKING SPORADICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE 90,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD STOP WORKING SPORADICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE 90,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 139,000. UPDATED 10/21/11 *BF THE WIPER WAS REPAIRED AT A COST OF $ 311.00. UPDATE 10/26/11
I OWN A 1998 GMC SIERRA AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK ONLY PART OF THE TIME. UPON SEARCHING THE INTERNET IT SEEMS TO BE A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM AMONG THESE VEHICLES, BUT THE RECALL DOESN'T INCLUDE THIS YEAR EVEN THOUGH THE CIRCUIT BOARD IS THE SAME . *TR
WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL NOT ALWAYS WORK. WHEN RAINING THEY GO OFF OR STALL. PULLING ON WIPPERS MANUALLY WILL RETART THEM OCCATIONALY. *AK
THE WIPERS DO NOT ALWAYS WORK. THERE SEEMS TO BE A SHORT OF SOME KIND IN THE SYSTEM. I CAN GET THEM TO WORK BY MANUALLY MOVING THEM SOMETIMES. ALSO I'M HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKE LIGHTS WORKING. I HAVE REPLACED THE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY TWICE. AGAIN IT SEEMS TO BE A SHORT IN THE SYSTEM, THEY WORK ON AND OFF, ITS VERY DANGERO…
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THE WIPERS DO NOT ALWAYS WORK. THERE SEEMS TO BE A SHORT OF SOME KIND IN THE SYSTEM. I CAN GET THEM TO WORK BY MANUALLY MOVING THEM SOMETIMES. ALSO I'M HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKE LIGHTS WORKING. I HAVE REPLACED THE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY TWICE. AGAIN IT SEEMS TO BE A SHORT IN THE SYSTEM, THEY WORK ON AND OFF, ITS VERY DANGEROUS. *NM
ON A 1998 GMC SIERRA 1/2 TON PICKUP. FAULTY WINDSHIELD WIPER CONTROL BOARD. SOLDER JOINTS PN CONTROL BOARD WILL CRACK CAUSING WIPERS TO FAIL AT RANDOM TIMES, CREATING AN UNSAFE SITUATION WHEN IN TRAFFIC. TAPPING OR JERKING ON THE WIPERS WILL TEMPORARILY REACTIVATE THEM. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE BY GM FOR OVER 15 YEARS AND RECALL…
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ON A 1998 GMC SIERRA 1/2 TON PICKUP. FAULTY WINDSHIELD WIPER CONTROL BOARD. SOLDER JOINTS PN CONTROL BOARD WILL CRACK CAUSING WIPERS TO FAIL AT RANDOM TIMES, CREATING AN UNSAFE SITUATION WHEN IN TRAFFIC. TAPPING OR JERKING ON THE WIPERS WILL TEMPORARILY REACTIVATE THEM. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE BY GM FOR OVER 15 YEARS AND RECALLS HAVE BEEN MADE ON PREVIOUS VEHICLES, BUT ARE NOT OFFERED ON VEHICLES AFTER 1997. *JB
THE SWITCH FOR THE REMOTE CONTROL OUTSIDE MIRRORS CAUGHT FIRE. RUINING THE SWITCH, ASSOCIATED HARNESS AND THE DOOR PANEL. I HAVE DISCUSSED THIS WITH MY DEALER QUOTING NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 03V093000. HE REFUSES TO HONOR THE RECALL SAYING MY VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. I HOPE THIS COMPLAINT WILL HELP GETTING MY VEHICL…
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THE SWITCH FOR THE REMOTE CONTROL OUTSIDE MIRRORS CAUGHT FIRE. RUINING THE SWITCH, ASSOCIATED HARNESS AND THE DOOR PANEL. I HAVE DISCUSSED THIS WITH MY DEALER QUOTING NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 03V093000. HE REFUSES TO HONOR THE RECALL SAYING MY VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. I HOPE THIS COMPLAINT WILL HELP GETTING MY VEHICLE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.
WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD QUIT WHILE USING THEM WHILE RAINING OR NOT. IT'S LUCKY I HAVE RAINX IN MY WIPER FLUID AND ON THE WIPERS WHICH GAVE ME ENOUGH VISIBILITY TO SEE, BUT THIS COULD BE A VERY HAZARDOUS SITUATION.
WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAIL TO WORK INTERMITTENTLY, OBVIOUSLY I ONLY ATTEMPT TO USE MY WIPERS WHEN IT IS RAINING. THE LAST TIME I WAS DRIVING IN HEAVY RAIN ON THE INTERSTATE. I MANAGED TO GET TO THE SHOULDER WITHOUT INCEDENT. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION.
WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL STOP WORKING DURING INTERMITTENT SETTING WITH OUT WARNING. SOMETIMES THE WIPERS WILL NOT TURN OFF. SOMETIMES THE WIPERS WILL STOP AND THE BLADES WILL BE IN THE LINE OF SIGHT CAUSING A MAJOR DISTRACTION.*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.