1998 GMC Pickup Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1998 GMC Pickup, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Brakes423.5%
- Visibility317.6%
- Body & structure211.8%
- Engine211.8%
- Driver assistance15.9%
- Exterior lighting15.9%
- Other / unspecified15.9%
- Steering15.9%
- Transmission15.9%
- Electrical15.9%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
RIGHT FRONT RUBBER GASKET/GROMMETS IN WHEEL CYLINDERS FAILED. *SLC
WHEEL CYLINDER CAP CRACKED, BRAKES OVERHEATED, THE DEALER REPLACED BOTH REAR WITH CYLINDER AND BLED THE BRAKES, LATER THE DEALER FOUND ON THE ABS SYSTEM THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL CYLINDER WAS LEAKING, DEALER REPLACED REAR BRAKE SHOES AND REAR WHEEL CYLINDER. *SLC
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY. WHILE DRIVING AND IF HITTING A BUMP OR SOMETHING THEY MAY COMPLETELY FAIL, OR COME ON WHILE IN A RAIN STORM. CONTACTED THE DEALER. THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK *TC
I HAVE A 1998 GMC SIERRA P/U MY WISHIELD WIPERS HAVE THE FOLLOWING SYMPTOMS: WIPERS WILL NOT WORK OR WORK INTERMITTENTLY; WIPERS STOP WORKING FOR NO APPARENT REASON, MAYBE EVEN IN MID-STROKE; WIPER FUNCTION IS ERRATIC, WITH NO DELAY FEATURE, DELAY IS THE SAME REGARDLESS OF SETTING, OR NO LOW- OR HIGH-SPEED SETTING. I'VE NOTICED THAT GENERAL MOTORS HAS ISSUED A RECAL FOR 1996 MODELS AND FEEL THIS IS SIMILAR.*AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
1998 GM PICKUP TRUCK WITH SEVERE CORROSION ON FRONT FRAME. CUSTOMER STATES THAT 7 OTHER VEHICLES ARE UNSAFE TO USE DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. *ACCORDING TO THE CONSUMERS OBSERVATION. THE DESIGN OF THE CROSSMEMBER PROVIDED NO EXIT POINT FOR ACCUMULATED WATER, WHICH ALLOWED THE BUILD-UP OF SEDIMENT AND THE SUBSEQUENT CORROSION FROM WITHIN THE FRAME STRUCTURE. *JB
WHEEL CYLINDER CAP CRACKED, BRAKES OVERHEATED, THE DEALER REPLACED BOTH REAR WITH CYLINDER AND BLED THE BRAKES, LATER THE DEALER FOUND ON THE ABS SYSTEM THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL CYLINDER WAS LEAKING, DEALER REPLACED REAR BRAKE SHOES AND REAR WHEEL CYLINDER. *SLC
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
1998 GMC PICKUP HAD THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET REPLACED AND STILL CONTINUES TO LEAK. I'M TOLD BY DEALERS ITS A NATIONWIDE PROBLEM AND IS VERY COSTLY TO REPAIR $600 AND MY HAVE CAUSED ENGINE DAMAGE. *NLM
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHEEL CYLINDER CAP CRACKED, BRAKES OVERHEATED, THE DEALER REPLACED BOTH REAR WITH CYLINDER AND BLED THE BRAKES, LATER THE DEALER FOUND ON THE ABS SYSTEM THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL CYLINDER WAS LEAKING, DEALER REPLACED REAR BRAKE SHOES AND REAR WHEEL CYLINDER. *SLC
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
1998 GMC PICKUP HAS FROSTED HEADLIGHT LENSES. CUSTOMER STATES THEY LOOKED SCRATCHED. MECHANIC TOLD THE CONTACT THAT THIS MODEL IS SUBJECT TO SAND BLASTING BY ROAD DEBRIS. *KB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
ALL 5 WHEELS CAME FROM THE FACTORY BENT.MAUNFACTURER REFUSES TO PROVIDE CONSUMER WITH STRAIGHT WHEELS. NO DEALER WILL REPLACE TIRES WITH WHEELS BENT.*AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
STEERING DESIGN IS INADEQUATE,WHEN VEHICLE IS PARKED ON A DECLINE, VEHICLE MUST BE PUT IN PARKED GEAR WITH RELEASING THE BRAKE PEDAL IN ORDER TO TURN WHEELS.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
MANUFACTURER'S LATEST "FIX IT" KIT FAILED. DEFINITELY DEFECTIVE. NO SAFETY DEFEC TLISTED. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .