IllustrationDURING LOW SPEED BREAKING MY ANTILOCK BRAKES KICK IN CAUSING THE MY TRUCK NOT TO STOP WHEN INTENDED. *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
What owners actually said
190 reportsANTI- LOCK BRAKES ACTIVATE AT LOW SPEEDS WHEN NOT NEEDED MAKING STOPPING DIFFICULT. THIS OCCURS DUE TO PROBLEMS WITH THE WHEEL HUB SPEED SENSORS. THE 1999 AND UP MODELS HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT THE 1998 HAVE NOT. I HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM REPAIRED TWICE. *JB
DT: THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE ABS SENSORS. THE ABS KICKS IN WHEN SLOWING DOWN FOR STOPPING. THE PROBLEM OCCURRED SINCE OCTOBER OF 2003. HE HAS TO PUSH HARD ON THE BRAKE TO GET IT TO STOP THE VEHICLE. WHEN HE APPLIES PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE IT PUSHES BACK AGAINST HIS FOOT. THE CONTACT IS CONCERNED THAT SOMEONE COULD BE HU…
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DT: THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE ABS SENSORS. THE ABS KICKS IN WHEN SLOWING DOWN FOR STOPPING. THE PROBLEM OCCURRED SINCE OCTOBER OF 2003. HE HAS TO PUSH HARD ON THE BRAKE TO GET IT TO STOP THE VEHICLE. WHEN HE APPLIES PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE IT PUSHES BACK AGAINST HIS FOOT. THE CONTACT IS CONCERNED THAT SOMEONE COULD BE HURT DUE TO THE DELAYED STOPPING. THE CONTACT HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO A DEALER, AND THEY SAID THAT THE SENSORS WERE DIRTY, AND HAD MAJOR CORROSION WHICH CAUSED THEM TO WORK IMPROPERLY, AND BOTH SENSORS TO FAIL. THE CONTACT HAD THEM CLEANED. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT OCCURRED SINCE HE HAD THEM CLEANED. THE CONTACT FEARED THAT THE PROBLEM WILL COME BACK. *AK
DT: 1999 GMC SIERRA. CALLED GMC, AND THEY TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT THE TRUCK WAS MADE IN CANADA, AND THE CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO GO TO CANADA TO HAVE THE TRUCK FIXED BECAUSE THE RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR CANADA. WAS NOT AWARE THAT THE VEHICLE WAS MADE FOR CANADA. THE CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE VEHICLE FIXED IN THE UNITED S…
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DT: 1999 GMC SIERRA. CALLED GMC, AND THEY TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT THE TRUCK WAS MADE IN CANADA, AND THE CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO GO TO CANADA TO HAVE THE TRUCK FIXED BECAUSE THE RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR CANADA. WAS NOT AWARE THAT THE VEHICLE WAS MADE FOR CANADA. THE CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE VEHICLE FIXED IN THE UNITED STATES. FOUND OUT ABOUT THE RECALL FROM THE NEWSPAPER. THE CONSUMER FELT THAT IF THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL ON VEHICLE HE SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED A LETTER. ITHE CONSUMER BOUGHT THE VEHICLE THROUGH A GMC DEALER IN THE UNITED STATES. SHOULD HAVE BEEN TOLD FROM THE GMC DEALER THAT VEHICLE WAS IMPORTED FROM CANADA. THE CONSUMER JUST WANTED BRAKES FIXED AND THE RECALL COMPLETED. *SC *AK
DT: THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM WILL ACTIVATE PREMATURELY ON DRY PAVEMENT WHEN SLOWING DOWN FROM 10 MPH-ZERO. IT WILL DO THIS NINETY-NINE OUT OF HUNDREDS TIMES. HAD TO INCREASE THE STOPPING DISTANCE TREMENDOUSLY IN ORDER TO KEEP IT FROM HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE. NOTICED THIS ON APRIL 15, 2003. THE ABS LIGHT DOES CAME ON THE DA…
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DT: THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM WILL ACTIVATE PREMATURELY ON DRY PAVEMENT WHEN SLOWING DOWN FROM 10 MPH-ZERO. IT WILL DO THIS NINETY-NINE OUT OF HUNDREDS TIMES. HAD TO INCREASE THE STOPPING DISTANCE TREMENDOUSLY IN ORDER TO KEEP IT FROM HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE. NOTICED THIS ON APRIL 15, 2003. THE ABS LIGHT DOES CAME ON THE DASHBOARD. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN DETERMINED THAT IT WAS THE FRONT WHEEL SPEED SENSOR. THIS PROBLEM AROSE SEVERAL TIMES WITH THE DEALERS. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS SOFT AND IT HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH ABS SYSTEM.*AK
DT: THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE NO LONGER WORKING PROPERLY. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL WORK SOMETIMES. THE PROBLEM FIRST STARTED IN 2-2004. THE CONSUMER STATESDTHAT ONCE HE SMELLED A BURNING SMELL COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO A DEALERSHIP THEY TOLD HIM THAT THERE WAS RECALL 02054 ON THE 1997 MO…
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DT: THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE NO LONGER WORKING PROPERLY. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL WORK SOMETIMES. THE PROBLEM FIRST STARTED IN 2-2004. THE CONSUMER STATESDTHAT ONCE HE SMELLED A BURNING SMELL COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO A DEALERSHIP THEY TOLD HIM THAT THERE WAS RECALL 02054 ON THE 1997 MODELS FOR THE SAME ISSUE. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AS OF YET. THERE HAVE BEEN NO ACCIDENTS AT THIS TIME. *AK
DT: NOTICED WHILE UNDERNEATH THE TRUCK THAT FRAME WAS WET. COULD SEE THE BRAKE LINES CORRODED. NOTICED THIS ON AUGUST 29, 2005. HAD NOT CONTACTED GMC. WHEN PUSHING THE BRAKES THEY WORK, BUT DOESN'T FEEL LIKE IT SHOULD, IT'S LIKE STEPPING ON A GRAPE.*AK
DURING A HEAVY RAIN STORM THE WINDSHIELD MOTOR/WIPERS QUIT WORKING WHICH IMPAIRED MY VISION. *NM
DT: CONTACT STATED THE JACK FAILED DURING USE ON 7-22-2005. CONTACT HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH JACK PRIOR TO TODAY. DEALER SAID THEY APPRECIATED HIM CALLED THEM. AS HE BEGAN TO APPLY PRESSURE THE THREADS STRIPPED. HE HAS NOT TALKED TO THE MANUFACTURER. *AK *JB
CONTACT STATES: THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SENSOR ACTIVATES WHEN DRIVING ON DRY ROAD AT LOW TO NORMAL SPEED, 20-40 MPH. THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SENSOR ACTIVATES WHEN IT IS NOT SUPPOSED TO OR WHEN IT IS NOT AN EMERGENCY. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. HOWEVER, THEY DID NOT SEE THAT AS THE PROBLEM, AND THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES WERE NOT REPAI…
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CONTACT STATES: THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SENSOR ACTIVATES WHEN DRIVING ON DRY ROAD AT LOW TO NORMAL SPEED, 20-40 MPH. THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SENSOR ACTIVATES WHEN IT IS NOT SUPPOSED TO OR WHEN IT IS NOT AN EMERGENCY. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. HOWEVER, THEY DID NOT SEE THAT AS THE PROBLEM, AND THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES WERE NOT REPAIRED. THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SENSOR ACTIVATES OFTEN. COMPLAINT TO DEALER HAVE BEEN IGNORED. THIS HAPPENED SINCE SHE BOUGHT THE CAR. THE NUMBER FAILURES IT IS OVER 500. THE DATE OF INCIDENT DATE WAS WHEN THE PROBLEM STARTED TO OCCUR.*AK THE BRAKES WERE REPLACED, FOR THE FIFTH TIME, THE BUT THE ABS SENSOR WAS NOT CHECKED. *NM
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.