IllustrationFAILURE IN THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS. ELECTRICAL PROBLEM CAUSING SHORT WITH WINDSHIELD WASHER. FRIEND HAS 96 CHEVY WITH SAME PROBLEM. THEY FAIL TO WORK IN THE RAIN. WORK FINE DURING SUNSHINE. WORK ONLY OCASSIONALLY.
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 reportsI HAVE HAD A ANTI-LOCKING BRAKE PROBLEM FOR THE LAST 12 MONTHS. I HAVE TO HAVE ONE SIDE REPAIRED ALREADY. I AM GOING TO HAVE THE OTHER SIDE FIXED SHORTLY. I READ A ARICLE IN THE LOCAL PAPER THAT THIS WAS A GM PROBLEM. I CONTACTED THE SERVICE CENTER AT THE DEALERSHIP THAT I BOUGHT THE TRUCK. THEY TOLD ME TO CALL GM CUSTOMER SUPPO…
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I HAVE HAD A ANTI-LOCKING BRAKE PROBLEM FOR THE LAST 12 MONTHS. I HAVE TO HAVE ONE SIDE REPAIRED ALREADY. I AM GOING TO HAVE THE OTHER SIDE FIXED SHORTLY. I READ A ARICLE IN THE LOCAL PAPER THAT THIS WAS A GM PROBLEM. I CONTACTED THE SERVICE CENTER AT THE DEALERSHIP THAT I BOUGHT THE TRUCK. THEY TOLD ME TO CALL GM CUSTOMER SUPPORT THAT THEY COULD NOT FIX THIS PROBLEM WITHOUT GM APPROVAL. I CALLED GM AND WAS TOLD AFTER REVIEWING MY SITUATION THAT THE TRUCK WAS TO OLD AND HAD TO MANY MILES. THIS IS A 1998 GMC SIERRA PICKUP WITH 93,000 MILES. IT HAD 78,000 MILES AT THE TIME THIS WAS DISCOVERED. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THIS PAID FOR BY GM AND REIMBURSED FOR THE REPAIR I PAID FOR ALREADY.
DT: WHEN CONSUMER USED BRAKES AND WAS GOING AT LEAST 30-40 MPH AND RAN OVER A SEEM/POTHOLE, OR MANHOLE THE ABS BRAKES COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A GMC DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG.*AK
1998 GMC SIERRA EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE FRONT ABS SENSORS. *MR RED GREASE WAS INSIDE OF THE SENSOR AREA. THE BRAKES WOULD PULSATE JUST BELOW 15 MPH. THE VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE AND PULL TO THE LEFT EACH TIME THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED BELOW 15 MPH. THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD BOUNCE UP AND DOWN CREATING AN UNEASY FEELING TO EVE…
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1998 GMC SIERRA EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE FRONT ABS SENSORS. *MR RED GREASE WAS INSIDE OF THE SENSOR AREA. THE BRAKES WOULD PULSATE JUST BELOW 15 MPH. THE VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE AND PULL TO THE LEFT EACH TIME THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED BELOW 15 MPH. THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD BOUNCE UP AND DOWN CREATING AN UNEASY FEELING TO EVERYONE IN THE VEHICLE. THE ABS WOULD ACTIVATE PREMATURELY. THE CONSUMER FELT THAT HE SHOULD NOT BE CHARGED FOR A FAULTY BRAKE SYSTEM. *SC *JB
DT: CONSUMER STATES: HAVE PROBLEM WITH ABS SYSTEM. HAD FRONT BRAKES REPLACED TWICE BY GM. WHEN GOT VEHICLE BACK DROVE IT HOME, AND TOOK IT RIGHT BACK. THE BRAKE PEDAL FELT LOW, AND DEALER SAID IT WAS NORMAL. WHEN YCOMING TO A STOP ABS SYSTEM KICKED IN, GOT WORSE AND WORSE. COMING TO A NORMAL INTERSECTION ABS WOULD KICK IN, TOO…
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DT: CONSUMER STATES: HAVE PROBLEM WITH ABS SYSTEM. HAD FRONT BRAKES REPLACED TWICE BY GM. WHEN GOT VEHICLE BACK DROVE IT HOME, AND TOOK IT RIGHT BACK. THE BRAKE PEDAL FELT LOW, AND DEALER SAID IT WAS NORMAL. WHEN YCOMING TO A STOP ABS SYSTEM KICKED IN, GOT WORSE AND WORSE. COMING TO A NORMAL INTERSECTION ABS WOULD KICK IN, TOOK VEHICLE BACK DEALER, KEPT VEHICLE AND DEALER SAID IT WAS KNOWN FOR HAVING LOW BRAKE PRESSURE. TOOK BACK AGAIN, REPLACED LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE ABS SENSOR. STILL HAING SAME PROBLEM.*AK
DT: ABS WILL NOT ENGAGE AT LOW SPEEDS ON SLIPPERY SURFACES. *AK
WIPERS STOPPED WORKING IN THE MIDDLE OF HEAVY RAIN. HAD PROBLEMS WITH THEM FOR AROUND A YEAR BEFORE THEY FINALLY QUIT. CHECKED RECALLS , BUT THIS YEAR MODEL WAS NOT INCLUDED.
WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE ABS KICKS ON. THIS OCCURS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS TRAVELING LESS THAN 8 MPH. NO CODES ARE SET AND THE ABS LIGHT IS NOT ILLUMINATED. THIS MATCHES YOUR NHTSA ACTION NUMBER PE05020. THE DEALERSHIP STATES IT IS THE EXACT PROBLEM GM IS MONITORING WITH THE 1999 - 2002. HOWEVER, THEY ARE NOT INCLUDING THE…
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WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE ABS KICKS ON. THIS OCCURS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS TRAVELING LESS THAN 8 MPH. NO CODES ARE SET AND THE ABS LIGHT IS NOT ILLUMINATED. THIS MATCHES YOUR NHTSA ACTION NUMBER PE05020. THE DEALERSHIP STATES IT IS THE EXACT PROBLEM GM IS MONITORING WITH THE 1999 - 2002. HOWEVER, THEY ARE NOT INCLUDING THE 1998 MODELS.
ANTI-LOCK BRAKES PRE-MATURE ACTIVATION--1998 GMC SIERRA FAILED AT 45000 MILES REMOVED FUSE FROM PANEL TO DE-ACTIVATE ANTI-LOCK SYSTEM AS THE SYSTEM IS AN UNSAFE CONDITION ON THE TRUCK WITH AN INABILITY TO STOP PROPERLY
THE TAILGATE ON OUR VEHICLE FELL OFF, WHILE DRIVING, AFTER THE SUPPORT CABLES HAD BROKEN. LUCKILY THIS OCCURRED ON A LIGHTLY TRAVELED ROAD SO THAT NO VEHICLES BEHIND THE TRUCK HIT THE TAILGATE. THE TAILGATE IS GONE. ALL THAT REMAINS ARE HALF OF THE BROKEN SUPPORT CABLES. *JB
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.