IllustrationTHE ENGINE DIED 3 TIMES WITHIN 10 MILES WITH A LOSS OF STEERING AND BRAKES. *PH ON TWO OCCASIONS THE VEHICLE COULD BE RESTARTED AFTER THE VEHICLE SAT FOR A MINUTE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP DRIVER BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO STALL. *NM
1998 GMC Sierra
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Sierra years
Owner complaints for the 1998 GMC Sierra are substantially higher than the model-year median of 53.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Sierra 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
20–25K
725–50K
1850–75K
1175–100K
10100–150K
2150K+
50 reports with mileage · 140 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 56 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Visibility. Review the 32 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
16 crash reports8 fire reports8 injury reports
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
11 reportsTHE ENGINE STARTED TO LOSE POWER ON A HILL AND BY THE TIME WE GOT TO THE TOP THE ENGINE WAS MAKING A TRERRIBLE SOUND. ALL THE GUAGES WERE READING NORMAL. THE GMC DEALER OR EVEN HEAD OFFICE ARE NOT WILLING TO REPLACE THE MOTOR. I FEEL THAT THEY SHOULD REPLACE THE MOTOR FOR IT IS NOT OUR FAULT THAT THIS HAPPEN. WE MAIMTAINED THE T…
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THE ENGINE STARTED TO LOSE POWER ON A HILL AND BY THE TIME WE GOT TO THE TOP THE ENGINE WAS MAKING A TRERRIBLE SOUND. ALL THE GUAGES WERE READING NORMAL. THE GMC DEALER OR EVEN HEAD OFFICE ARE NOT WILLING TO REPLACE THE MOTOR. I FEEL THAT THEY SHOULD REPLACE THE MOTOR FOR IT IS NOT OUR FAULT THAT THIS HAPPEN. WE MAIMTAINED THE TRUCK TO THE HIGHEST STANDARDS.
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED AN EXHAUST LEAK.*JB
WHILE DRIVING ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON, AND THEN VEHICLE STALLS. AT TIMES VEHICLE WILL NOT RESTART. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
WHEN ACCELERATING SOUNDS LIKE A VIBRATING NOISE , BUT VEHICLE IS NOT VIBRATING. THIS IS A VERY UNCOMFORTABLE SOUND. *AKTHE NOISE HAS GOTTEN LOUDER AND THE VEHICLE FAILED EMMISIONS INSPECTION. NLM
A HEATING CONNECTOR ON COOLANT LINE HAS DETERIORATED / MELTED WITHIN TWO YEARS, CAUSING COOLANT LEAKAGE. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT COVER UNDER A RECALL. *AK
PROBLEM WITH FUEL SYSTEM EVAC CANISTER. THE CANISTER, LOCATED IN LEFT FRONT OF ENGINE COMPARTMENT HAS A FRESH AIR VENT OPENING FOR PARTIAL VENTING OF VACUM DIRECTED TOWARDS FUEL VAPOR CONTROL. IT IS COVERED BY A LOOSE FITTING CAP. THIS UN-PROTECTED OPENING ALLOWS DIRT TO ENTER THE TOP OF THE CANISTER AND EVENTUALLY CLOG THE OPEN…
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PROBLEM WITH FUEL SYSTEM EVAC CANISTER. THE CANISTER, LOCATED IN LEFT FRONT OF ENGINE COMPARTMENT HAS A FRESH AIR VENT OPENING FOR PARTIAL VENTING OF VACUM DIRECTED TOWARDS FUEL VAPOR CONTROL. IT IS COVERED BY A LOOSE FITTING CAP. THIS UN-PROTECTED OPENING ALLOWS DIRT TO ENTER THE TOP OF THE CANISTER AND EVENTUALLY CLOG THE OPENING. WHEN THIS OCCURS THE ENTIRE VACUM FORCE IS APPARENTLY DIRECTED TO THE FUEL TANK CAUSING FUEL TANK TO COLLAPSE. AN OLDER MODEL TRUCK (I BELIEVE IT WAS A 1997) WAS EXAMINED AND A SIMILAR CANISTER FRESH AIR VENT WAS STAMPED WITH THE WORDS "AIR CLEANER" THOUGH IT TOO WAS NOT CONNECTED TO THE AIR CLEANER BUT WAS ONLY COVERED BY A LOOSE FITTING CAP. THIS PROBLEM IS PROBABLY NOT EVIDENT IN VEHICLES OPERATED ON HIGHWAY ONLY. A LOCAL SERVICE STATION, JOHN MELHISER'S AMOCO, PETERSBURG INDIANA, RELATED TO ME THAT HE KNEW OF 3 OTHER AREA PICKUPS (FARM USE) THAT EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM. SYMPTOMS OF EMMINENT FUEL TANK COLLAPSE BASED ON MY OWN EXPERIENCE ARE: 1-INCREASED VACUM IN FUEL TANK AS NOTICED WHEN REMOVING THE FUEL CAP; 2 FUEL GAGE BEGINS TO MALFUNCTION (CAUSED BY BOTTOM OF TANK BEING PUSHED UPWARD ON THE SENDING UNIT). I SUSPECT THAT THE EFFECT IS MORE PRONOUNCED AT LOWER FUEL LEVELS. I CONTACTED GM'S CUSTOMER SERVICE # JAN 26 THIS YEAR. I CONTACTED THEM AGAIN MARCH 16. THEY INDICATED THAT THE PROBLEM HAD BEEN NOTED BUT THAT NO FIRTHER ACTION WAS PLANNED. GM INDICATED THAT A "PRODUCT ALLEGATION REPORT" COULD BE FILED IF THE PROBLEM CAUSED SIGNIFICANT PROPERTY DAMAGE OR BODILY HARM. I SUGGESTED THAT THEY SHOULD AT LEAST PRODUCE A MAINTENANCE INSERT FOR THE OWNERS MANUAL AND SERVICE BULLETINS SINCE DEALERS I CHECKED WITH WERE NOT AWARE OF THE POTENTIAL FOR PLUGGING OF THE VENT AND COLLAPSE OF THE FUEL TANK. A MORE SECURE FIX WOULD BE TO VENT THE SUCTION TO THE AIR CLEANER (AS WAS APPARENTLY INTENDED ON THE EARLIER MODEL) TO ENSURE THAT FOREIGN MATTER DOES NOT CLOG THE VENT.
HEATER CONNECTOR LEAKING CAUSING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. NLM
THIS PROBLEM OCCURED FIRST IN OCTOBER 1998 AND COURTESY PONTIAC, WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED DID NOT FIND THE PROBLEM! LAST WEEK UPON RETURNING FROM NEW MEXICO THE ENGINE LOST POWER IN MISSOURI AND I STOPPED AT A GASSTATION AND FOUND THAT THERE WAS NO COOLANT IN THE TANK. THIS WAS REFILLED AND ONE EXIT FURTHER THE OIL WAS CH…
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THIS PROBLEM OCCURED FIRST IN OCTOBER 1998 AND COURTESY PONTIAC, WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED DID NOT FIND THE PROBLEM! LAST WEEK UPON RETURNING FROM NEW MEXICO THE ENGINE LOST POWER IN MISSOURI AND I STOPPED AT A GASSTATION AND FOUND THAT THERE WAS NO COOLANT IN THE TANK. THIS WAS REFILLED AND ONE EXIT FURTHER THE OIL WAS CHECKED AFTER THE PROBLEM DID NOT APPEAR TO BE CORRECTED. THIS TIME NO OIL WAS IN THE ENGINE. BEFORE THE TRAVEL A GMC DEALER IN SHELBYVILLE KY DID THE MAINTENANCE ON IT, FILLING 5 QUARTS OF OIL IN!
THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR. WHEN TURNING THE WINDSHEILD WIPERS ON, THE MOTOR MAKES A LOT OF NOISE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS YET TO BE CONTACTED. VEHICLE ALSO HAS THE FOLLOWING PROBLEMS: ENGINE COOLANT TANK AND BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER ARE LEAKING, BRAKES AND FUEL PUMP ARE NOISY, AND PAS…
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THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR. WHEN TURNING THE WINDSHEILD WIPERS ON, THE MOTOR MAKES A LOT OF NOISE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS YET TO BE CONTACTED. VEHICLE ALSO HAS THE FOLLOWING PROBLEMS: ENGINE COOLANT TANK AND BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER ARE LEAKING, BRAKES AND FUEL PUMP ARE NOISY, AND PASSENGER SIDE DEFROSTER DOES NOT FLOW ENOUGH AIR. *AK *ML
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
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
2EA05007 · Tailgate Support Cables
Opened Apr 14, 2005 · Closed Apr 11, 2006
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Latches/locks/linkages:tailgate:latch; Structure:body:tailgate ; Structure:body:tailgate:hinge And Attachments
GENERAL MOTORS IS CONDUCTING A SAFETY RECALL TO REMOVE AND REPLACE THE TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES INSTALLED IN 805,368 MODEL YEAR 1999 AND 2000 GMT 800 MODEL VEHICLES.THE MODEL YEAR 1999 AND 2000 GMT-800 SERIES VEHICLES THAT WILL BE CAMPAIGNED HAD CONTRIBUTED A SIGNIFICANT MAJORITY OF THE TOTAL COMPLAINTS (87%) AND INJURIES (79%) ASSOCIATED WITH THE TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLE BREAKAGE IN THE MODEL YEAR 1998 - 2000 C/K SERIES VEHICLES ADDRESSED BY THIS INVESTIGATION.
Additional source detail variants (3)
Latches/locks/linkages:tailgate:latch
GENERAL MOTORS IS CONDUCTING A SAFETY RECALL TO REMOVE AND REPLACE THE TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES INSTALLED IN 805,368 MODEL YEAR 1999 AND 2000 GMT 800 MODEL VEHICLES.THE MODEL YEAR 1999 AND 2000 GMT-800 SERIES VEHICLES THAT WILL BE CAMPAIGNED HAD CONTRIBUTED A SIGNIFICANT MAJORITY OF THE TOTAL COMPLAINTS (87%) AND INJURIES (79%) ASSOCIATED WITH THE TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLE BREAKAGE IN THE MODEL YEAR 1998 - 2000 C/K SERIES VEHICLES ADDRESSED BY THIS INVESTIGATION.
Structure:body:tailgate
GENERAL MOTORS IS CONDUCTING A SAFETY RECALL TO REMOVE AND REPLACE THE TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES INSTALLED IN 805,368 MODEL YEAR 1999 AND 2000 GMT 800 MODEL VEHICLES.THE MODEL YEAR 1999 AND 2000 GMT-800 SERIES VEHICLES THAT WILL BE CAMPAIGNED HAD CONTRIBUTED A SIGNIFICANT MAJORITY OF THE TOTAL COMPLAINTS (87%) AND INJURIES (79%) ASSOCIATED WITH THE TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLE BREAKAGE IN THE MODEL YEAR 1998 - 2000 C/K SERIES VEHICLES ADDRESSED BY THIS INVESTIGATION.
Structure:body:tailgate:hinge And Attachments
GENERAL MOTORS IS CONDUCTING A SAFETY RECALL TO REMOVE AND REPLACE THE TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES INSTALLED IN 805,368 MODEL YEAR 1999 AND 2000 GMT 800 MODEL VEHICLES.THE MODEL YEAR 1999 AND 2000 GMT-800 SERIES VEHICLES THAT WILL BE CAMPAIGNED HAD CONTRIBUTED A SIGNIFICANT MAJORITY OF THE TOTAL COMPLAINTS (87%) AND INJURIES (79%) ASSOCIATED WITH THE TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLE BREAKAGE IN THE MODEL YEAR 1998 - 2000 C/K SERIES VEHICLES ADDRESSED BY THIS INVESTIGATION.
RQ04010 · Tailgate Support Cable Breakage
Opened Sep 28, 2004 · Closed Apr 14, 2005
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Latches/locks/linkages:tailgate:latch; Structure:body:tailgate ; Structure:body:tailgate:hinge And Attachments
ODI IS UPGRADING RQ04-010 AND OPENING AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS TO FURTHER INVESTIGATE THE TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES INSTALLED IN 1998, 1999, AND PARTIAL YEAR 2000 SILVERADOS AND SIERRAS (C/K MODELS).GENERAL MOTORS IS CONDUCTING RECALL CAMPAIGN 04V-129 TO REPLACE THE TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES ORIGINALLY INSTALLED IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2000 - 2004 SIERRAS AND SILVERADOS.GENERAL MOTORS HAS ADVISED ODI THAT THE MATERIALS USED FOR THE TAILGATE CABLE SHEATHING INSTALLED IN C/K MODELS HAD INADVERTENTLY CHANGED IN OCTOBER 1999, INCREASING THE PROPENSITY FOR VOIDS IN AND AROUND THE GALVANIZED STEEL CABLE STRANDS WHICH CAN ALLOW MOISTURE TO WICK AMONG THE STRANDS, LEADING TO OXIDATION AND WEAKENING OF THE STRANDS.SINCE ODI INITIATED RQ04-010 IN SEPTEMBER 2004, ODI HAS RECEIVED 10 ADDITONAL NON-INJURY COMPLAINTS ON MY 1998-99 C/K VEHICLES, BUT NO ADDITIONAL INJURY COMPLAINTS.DURING THIS SAME PERIOD, GM HAS RECEIVED 564 NON-INJURY AND 35 INJURY COMPLAINTS. ODI HAS RECEIVED 6 INJURY COMPLAINTS AND 38 NON-INJURY COMPLAINTS FROM OWNERS OF MODEL YEAR 2000 C/K VEHICLES AND REQUIRES FURTHER INVESTIGATION TO DETERMINE WHETHER THESE INCIDENTS OCCURRED IN VEHICLES WITHIN THE SCOPE OF CAMPAIGN 04V-129 OR SHOULD BE ADDED TO THE INJURY SUMMARY FOR RQ04-010.
Additional source detail variants (3)
Latches/locks/linkages:tailgate:latch
ODI IS UPGRADING RQ04-010 AND OPENING AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS TO FURTHER INVESTIGATE THE TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES INSTALLED IN 1998, 1999, AND PARTIAL YEAR 2000 SILVERADOS AND SIERRAS (C/K MODELS).GENERAL MOTORS IS CONDUCTING RECALL CAMPAIGN 04V-129 TO REPLACE THE TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES ORIGINALLY INSTALLED IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2000 - 2004 SIERRAS AND SILVERADOS.GENERAL MOTORS HAS ADVISED ODI THAT THE MATERIALS USED FOR THE TAILGATE CABLE SHEATHING INSTALLED IN C/K MODELS HAD INADVERTENTLY CHANGED IN OCTOBER 1999, INCREASING THE PROPENSITY FOR VOIDS IN AND AROUND THE GALVANIZED STEEL CABLE STRANDS WHICH CAN ALLOW MOISTURE TO WICK AMONG THE STRANDS, LEADING TO OXIDATION AND WEAKENING OF THE STRANDS.SINCE ODI INITIATED RQ04-010 IN SEPTEMBER 2004, ODI HAS RECEIVED 10 ADDITONAL NON-INJURY COMPLAINTS ON MY 1998-99 C/K VEHICLES, BUT NO ADDITIONAL INJURY COMPLAINTS.DURING THIS SAME PERIOD, GM HAS RECEIVED 564 NON-INJURY AND 35 INJURY COMPLAINTS. ODI HAS RECEIVED 6 INJURY COMPLAINTS AND 38 NON-INJURY COMPLAINTS FROM OWNERS OF MODEL YEAR 2000 C/K VEHICLES AND REQUIRES FURTHER INVESTIGATION TO DETERMINE WHETHER THESE INCIDENTS OCCURRED IN VEHICLES WITHIN THE SCOPE OF CAMPAIGN 04V-129 OR SHOULD BE ADDED TO THE INJURY SUMMARY FOR RQ04-010.
Structure:body:tailgate
ODI IS UPGRADING RQ04-010 AND OPENING AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS TO FURTHER INVESTIGATE THE TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES INSTALLED IN 1998, 1999, AND PARTIAL YEAR 2000 SILVERADOS AND SIERRAS (C/K MODELS).GENERAL MOTORS IS CONDUCTING RECALL CAMPAIGN 04V-129 TO REPLACE THE TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES ORIGINALLY INSTALLED IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2000 - 2004 SIERRAS AND SILVERADOS.GENERAL MOTORS HAS ADVISED ODI THAT THE MATERIALS USED FOR THE TAILGATE CABLE SHEATHING INSTALLED IN C/K MODELS HAD INADVERTENTLY CHANGED IN OCTOBER 1999, INCREASING THE PROPENSITY FOR VOIDS IN AND AROUND THE GALVANIZED STEEL CABLE STRANDS WHICH CAN ALLOW MOISTURE TO WICK AMONG THE STRANDS, LEADING TO OXIDATION AND WEAKENING OF THE STRANDS.SINCE ODI INITIATED RQ04-010 IN SEPTEMBER 2004, ODI HAS RECEIVED 10 ADDITONAL NON-INJURY COMPLAINTS ON MY 1998-99 C/K VEHICLES, BUT NO ADDITIONAL INJURY COMPLAINTS.DURING THIS SAME PERIOD, GM HAS RECEIVED 564 NON-INJURY AND 35 INJURY COMPLAINTS. ODI HAS RECEIVED 6 INJURY COMPLAINTS AND 38 NON-INJURY COMPLAINTS FROM OWNERS OF MODEL YEAR 2000 C/K VEHICLES AND REQUIRES FURTHER INVESTIGATION TO DETERMINE WHETHER THESE INCIDENTS OCCURRED IN VEHICLES WITHIN THE SCOPE OF CAMPAIGN 04V-129 OR SHOULD BE ADDED TO THE INJURY SUMMARY FOR RQ04-010.
Structure:body:tailgate:hinge And Attachments
ODI IS UPGRADING RQ04-010 AND OPENING AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS TO FURTHER INVESTIGATE THE TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES INSTALLED IN 1998, 1999, AND PARTIAL YEAR 2000 SILVERADOS AND SIERRAS (C/K MODELS).GENERAL MOTORS IS CONDUCTING RECALL CAMPAIGN 04V-129 TO REPLACE THE TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES ORIGINALLY INSTALLED IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2000 - 2004 SIERRAS AND SILVERADOS.GENERAL MOTORS HAS ADVISED ODI THAT THE MATERIALS USED FOR THE TAILGATE CABLE SHEATHING INSTALLED IN C/K MODELS HAD INADVERTENTLY CHANGED IN OCTOBER 1999, INCREASING THE PROPENSITY FOR VOIDS IN AND AROUND THE GALVANIZED STEEL CABLE STRANDS WHICH CAN ALLOW MOISTURE TO WICK AMONG THE STRANDS, LEADING TO OXIDATION AND WEAKENING OF THE STRANDS.SINCE ODI INITIATED RQ04-010 IN SEPTEMBER 2004, ODI HAS RECEIVED 10 ADDITONAL NON-INJURY COMPLAINTS ON MY 1998-99 C/K VEHICLES, BUT NO ADDITIONAL INJURY COMPLAINTS.DURING THIS SAME PERIOD, GM HAS RECEIVED 564 NON-INJURY AND 35 INJURY COMPLAINTS. ODI HAS RECEIVED 6 INJURY COMPLAINTS AND 38 NON-INJURY COMPLAINTS FROM OWNERS OF MODEL YEAR 2000 C/K VEHICLES AND REQUIRES FURTHER INVESTIGATION TO DETERMINE WHETHER THESE INCIDENTS OCCURRED IN VEHICLES WITHIN THE SCOPE OF CAMPAIGN 04V-129 OR SHOULD BE ADDED TO THE INJURY SUMMARY FOR RQ04-010.