RoadVitals

1998 GMC C/K Pickup

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
11
Latest Dec 24, 2007
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
1
Latest Mar 7, 2003
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
1
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
2

Overview

Our database contains 11 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1998 GMC C/K Pickup, most frequently naming the brakes, visibility and body & structure categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 1 manufacturer communication is on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Brakes541.7%
  • Visibility541.7%
  • Body & structure18.3%
  • Fuel system18.3%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
03V093000

VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR

Mar 7, 2003
507,171 units potentially affected
The defect: CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, MINI VANS, AND PICKUP TRUCKS MAY DEVELOP A SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE ELECTRIC OUTSIDE REARVIEW MIRROR SWITCH.
The risk: IF THIS WERE TO HAPPEN, IT COULD RESULT IN AN INOPERATIVE SWITCH, HEAT DAMAGE TO THE DRIVER'S DOOR, AND/OR IGNITION OF COMPONENTS IN THE DRIVER'S DOOR AND A SUBSEQUENT VEHICLE FIRE WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED JUMPER HARNESS TO THE ELECTRIC OUTSIDE REARVIEW MIRROR SWITCH. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON APRIL 24, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020 OR GMC AT 1-800-462-8782.
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.Manufacturer number 03006View on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

EA02005ClosedEngineering Analysis

DRIVER DOOR ELECTRICAL FIRES

Opened May 17, 2002
Closed May 1, 2003

BY LETTER DATED MARCH 19, 2003, THE MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED NHTSA OF THE DECISION TO INITATE A SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN ON SELECTED VEHICLES WITHIN THE SUBJECT POPULATION.THE CAMPAIGN INVOLVES 507,000 C/K AND M/L VEHICLES BUILT DURING MODEL YEARS 1997-1998.THE RECALL INVOLVES VEHICLE MODELS WITH HIGH INCIDENT RATES AND BUILT AT SELECTED ASSEMBLY PLANTS.A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR TO THE DEFECT WASINHERENT VARIATIONS IN ASSEMBLY CONDITIONS, WORKER SKILL LEVELS ANDPROCESSES THAT EXIST FROM ONE ASSEMBLY LOCATION TO ANOTHER.TO REMEDY THE DEFECT, DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED JUMPER HARNESS TO THE ELECTRIC OUTSIDE REARVIEW MIRROR SWITCH.NHTSA HAS ASSIGNED CAMPAIGN NO. 03V-093 TO THE RECALL.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEMLed to recall 03V093000

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 11
Body & structureBrakes
Filed Dec 24, 2007

1998 GMC SIERRA. A CAR CUT IN FRONT OF MY TRUCK AND I HAD TO APPLY THE BRAKES VERY HARD. WHEN I DID THIS ,THE BRAKE LINE THAT RUNS ALONG THE FRAME RAIL FAILED AT THE BEND WHERE IT JOINS WITH THE REAR BRAKE HOSE. THE FAILURE APPEARED TO BE FROM RUST. *TR THIS,I FEEL ,WAS DUE TO POOR LOCATION. I HAVE A 1955 CHEVY PICKUP , THAT UNTIL 1 YEAR AGO STILL HAD ITS ORIGINAL LINES STILL WORKING.

NHTSA ID
10212644
Incident
Dec 22, 2007
Mileage
80,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Aug 3, 2007

WIPER WORK INTERMITTENTLY. THERE IS A RECALL FOR GM K1500 1992-97, BUT THIS VEHICLE IS A 1998. I HAVE FOUND OTHER COMPLAINTS FOR 1998 WITH THIS SAME ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10198401
Incident
Aug 3, 2007
Brakes
Filed Oct 18, 2006
Crash reported

TOTAL LOSS OF BRAKES AT LOW SPEED DUE TO A.B.S. COMPUTER FAILURE RESULTING IN A CRASH. (1)VEHICLE PASSED GOVERNMENT SAFETY INSPECTION. WITHIN ONE MONTH REAR AXLE SEALS LEAKED NEW BRAKES WERE REPLACED AT LOCAL INDEPENDENT SHOP WITH NEW BRAKE PADS DUE TO OIL CONTAMINATION COMMENTED DID NOT LIKE MY BRAKES AFTER TEST DRIVE. VEHICLE TAKEN TO LOCAL DEALER FOR EVALUTION. SEVRICE MANAGER DETERMINED THE REED SWITCHES IN FRONT BOTH REQUIRED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $750 I ASKED IF THERE WAS ANY KIND OF RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM AS I HAD EXPERIENCED IT BEFORE IN A WORK TRUCK . I WAS TOLD THIS WAS AN OLD TRUCK WITH NEARLY 200,000 KILOMETERS ON IT. I WAS ALSO TOLD NO, THERE ARE NO SERVICE ISSUES OR RECALLS AND I WAS RESPONSABLE. I WANTED A SECOND OPINION ON THE DIAGNOSISUPON RETURNING HOME THE NEXT DAY I STRUCK A TELEPHONE POLE AT LESS THAN 5 M.P.H. .THIS OCCURED WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES BECAUSE NOTHING HAPPENED. NO BREAKING ACTION!I RETURNED TO THE INDEPENDANT WHO CHECKED THE $750. REED SWITCHES AND FOUND THE MILLIAMP OUTPUT TO BE NORMAL. HE SHOWED ME A G.M.BULLETIN THAT SAID THE REED SWITHES MAY NOT FUNCTION DUE TO REDUCED EFFECT OF THE MAGNETS ON THE REED SWITCHES BECAUSE OF CORROSION OR ROAD GRIME.THE DEALER DIAGNOSTIC WAS FAULSE AND THE SAME RESULT WOULD OF OCCURED.THE INDEPENDANT SAID THE $1000. PLUS COMPUTER WAS DEFECTIVE.IT WAS QUICLY UNPLUGGED AND 30,000 TROUBLE FREE KILOMETERS WERE SINCE RACKED UP WITHOUT A BRAKEING CONCERN. I USE MY TRUCK. I HAUL FIREWOOD AND A FISHING BOAT.THIS IS MY POINT.I AM TIRED OF BIG COMPANIES RISKING LIVES OF CONSUMERS.WE HAVE BEEN STOPPING MASS IN MOTION FOR MANY YEARS .IF AN IMPROVEMENT IS MADE TO AN EXISTING PROVEN SYSTEM,THAT SYSTEM CANNOT CAUSE THE EXISTING SYSTEM TO FAILE. IF A.B.S. ON A BRAKE SYSTEM FAILS THE BRAKES MUST STILL FUNCTION.THIS WAS NOT THE CASE.THERE WAS NO WARNING, NO LIGHT, JUST TOTAL FAILURE. *NM

NHTSA ID
10171255
Incident
Mar 8, 2004
Mileage
195,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jul 1, 2006

ABS ACTIVATION AT LOW SPEEDS. *NM

NHTSA ID
10161186
Incident
Jun 17, 2006
Visibility
Filed Apr 26, 2006

WIPERS STOPPED WORKING DURING RAIN. *JB

NHTSA ID
10156146
Incident
Apr 25, 2006
Mileage
121,980 mi
Brakes
Filed Aug 31, 2005

THE ANTILOCK BRAKES ON MY 98 GMC 4X4 PICKUP FIRE @ SPEEDS BELOW 5 MPH CAUSING THE TRUCK TO STOP AT A MUCH GREATER DISTANCE THAN NORMAL THIS IS DUE TO BAD WHEEL SPEED SENSORS I HAD THE TRUCK PUT ON A SCANNER AND IT TURNS OUT THAT BOTH SENSORS ARE BAD AND @ AROUND 200 BUCKS FOR NEW A BEARING + LABOR THIS IS NOT AN EASY CHEAP FIX I ENDED UP PULLING THE FUSE UNDER THE HOOD I WILL NOT REPLACE THE SENSORS AT THAT COST. *NM

NHTSA ID
10135002
Incident
Apr 15, 2004
Mileage
30,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Aug 14, 2005

FUEL GAUGE NOT FUNCTIONING...HAS HAD AN ERRATIC READING FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS..READING AT 3/4 FULL WHEN THE TANK HAS LESS THAN FIVE GAL. LEFT. *NM

NHTSA ID
10132760
Incident
Jan 15, 2002
Mileage
75,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Sep 23, 2003

WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. *AK

NHTSA ID
10040409
Incident
Sep 23, 2003

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

SB-06-02-32-013B

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP

SAAB/HUMMER/GM: DIAGNOSTIC TIPS/RECOMMENDATIONS WHEN POWER STEERING PUMP REPLACEMENT IS NECESSARY. ANALYSIS OF RETURNED POWER STEERING (PS) PUMPS THAT HAD BEEN REPLACED FOR NOISE, NO POWER ASSIST, NO OR LOW PRESSURE AND LEAKING CONDITIONS HAS INDICATED A HIGH NUMBER OF NO TROUBLE FOUND RESULTS. ALL 1997-2010 VEHICLES AND LIGHT TRUCKS; 2010 AND PRIOR HUMMERS H2/H3 AND SAAB 9-7X VEHICLES. *PE

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

GMC C/K Pickup by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2002502—
2001402—
2000602—
1999802—
1998Viewing111149.4
1997250238.2
1987001—
1986101—
1985201—
1984001—
1983001—
1982001—
1981001—
1980001—
1979002—
1978102—
1977002—
1976002—
1975002—
1974002—
1973002—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.