1998 GMC Sierra 1500 Owner Complaints

The dash is busted in several pieces and places.

NHTSA ID

11442137

Incident

Nov 30, 2021

WHILE TRAVERSING A FREEWAY OVERPASS GOING 60 TO 65 MPH THE TRUCK SUDDENLY LURCHED TO THE LEFT. FORTUNATELY NO IMMEDIATE TRAFFIC ON MY LEFT. REALLY FRIGHTENED ME. AFTER MUCH RESEARCH I DISCOVERED THAT A COMPONENT (CIRCUIT BOARD) OF THE NEW "SPEED SENSITIVE" POWER STEERING COULD FAIL, MAKING THE TRUCK THINK IT WAS GOING SLOWER AND INCREASE THE POWER STEERING ASSIST, CAUSING THE LURCH TO THE LEFT. THIS WAS AFTER HAVING THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE CHECKED FOR ALIGNMENT, FAULTY OR DAMAGED PARTS, ANY ADJUSTMENTS OUT OF SPEC. THEY FOUND NO CAUSE. I DON'T ACTUALLY REMEMBER THE DATE AND HAVE ESTIMATED THE DATE BELOW. I EVENTUALLY SOLVED THE PROBLEM (AFTER FURTHER RESEARCH INDICATING THAT REPLACING THE CIRCUIT BOARD SOMETIMES WAS ONLY A TEMPORARY FIX. THE SOLUTION WAS INSTALLING A "KIT" I FOUND ONLINE THAT COMPLETELY REMOVED THE NEW SPEED CONTROLLED POWER ASSISTANCE. I PROBABLY HAD 4 OR 5 INSTANCES OF THIS OCCURRING, AND CONSIDER MYSELF EXTREMELY FORTUNATE NOT TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT OR INJURY. THIS WAS THE RESULT OF EXTREME VIGILANCE ONCE I HAD DETERMINED WHAT WAS HAPPENING. DURING MY RESEARCH I FOUND MANY REPORTS OF THE PROBLEM, MANY TRIED FIXES THAT DIDN'T RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. ONE MAN SPENT $4000 TO HAVE THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF HIS VEHICLE REPLACED, ONLY TO HAVE THE PROBLEM RECUR. WHAT REALLY BOTHERS ME IS BOTH WHY THIS DID NOT RESULT IN A RECALL, AND THE FACT THAT THIS HAPPENED SO FREQUENTLY AND DEALERS WOULD NOT RECOMMEND AN ACTUAL FIX, BUT LET CUSTOMERS WASTE A LOT OF MONEY "TRYING TO FIX" THE PROBLEM, LEAVING THIS SAFETY HAZARD IN PLACE.

NHTSA ID

11311592

Incident

Jan 1, 2015

Mileage

165,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 GMC SIERRA 1500. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS SEATED IN THE VEHICLE, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY. WHEN THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE, THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING OR AN IMPACT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 230,000.

NHTSA ID

11222090

Incident

Jun 21, 2019

Mileage

230,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 GMC SIERRA 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, A DEER RAN IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE DEER. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A FRONT END ALIGNMENT DUE TO THE COLLISION. THE CONTACT RECEIVED INJURIES TO THE HEAD AND KNEE, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

10928367

Incident

Mar 13, 2016

"TAKATA RECALL" ON 02/17/2015 I [XXX] WAS INVOLVED IN A SINGLE PASSENGER (ME) MVA AT "THE MACINAC BRIDGE" ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE MACKINAC BRIDGE ROLLING MY TRUCK INTO THE TOLL BOOTHS LOCATED ON THE NORTH END OF THE MACINAC BRIDGE IN THE CITY OF ST IGNACE, MACKINAC COUNTY, MICHIGAN. THE WEATHER CONDITIONS THAT DAY WERE HORRIBLE. THERE WERE HIGH WINDS, SNOW, SLEET, RAIN, AND I BLACK ICE ! 100% HUMIDITY ! AFTER THE ACCIDENT CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP I OPENED MY EYES AND AN INFLATOR WAS LAUNCHED DIRECTLY AT MY HEAD. IF IT HAD HIT ME THERE I WOULD BE DEAD RIGHT NOW. I REACTED QUICKLY BY TILTING MY HEAD TO THE RIGHT AND THE INFLATOR HIT THE LEFT SIDE OF MY HEAD USING IT AS GLIDE PATH THUS CHANGING THE TRAJECTORY NEXT IS WHAT I CALL THE MOST HORRIFIC THING TO EVER HAPPEN IN MY ENTIRE 51 YEAR LIFE SPAN THUS FAR ON EARTH, THE INFLATOR BLEW UP OFF THE BACK-SIDE OF MY HEAD POINT BLANK, CHANGING MY LIFE AS I KNOW IT FOREVER. THAT DAY ON 02/17/2015 THE [XXX] EVERYONE KNOWS AND LOVES ACTUALLY DIED. WHAT I CAN'T BELIEVE IS THERE IS THIS SURVIVOR OF ONE THE MOST HORRIFIC RECALLS IN MODERN DAY AUTO HISTORY AND THEY LABEL IT A "SILENT RECALL" THAT JUST BLOWS MY MIND, WHO EVER HEARD OF A "SILENT RECALL" AND NOBODY WANTS TO TALK WITH HIM (ME) FOR SOME STRANGE REASON OR ELSE KNOW ONE WHO SHOULD KNOW HAS BEEN PROPERLY INFORMED? NOR HAS ANYONE FROM GMC OR TAKATA CALLED TO AT LEAST APOLOGIZE FOR THE LIFETIME (CLOSED HEAD INJURY) INCONVENIENCE; WHY? :-((( SINCERELY, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10824525

Incident

Feb 17, 2015

MY DASHBOARD BECAME BRITTLE, AND FALLS APART IF YOU TOUCH IT! ALSO MY TRANSMISSION HAS HAD TO BE REBUILT THREE TIMES. BUT IM ONLY WORRIED ABOUT MY DASH. *JS

NHTSA ID

10617386

Incident

Mar 16, 2004

Mileage

188,000 mi

APPLIED BREAK TO START TRUCK. FOOT WENT TO FLOOR, VERY WEAK PEDAL. CHECKED BRAKE FLUID LEVEL, FOUND FRONT RESERVOIR EMPTY. TRACED BRAKE LINES FOR LEAKS. FOUND PORTION OF REAR HARD BRAKE LINE BETWEEN GAS TANK AND REAR AXLE RUSTED THROUGH AT BEND WHERE BRAKE LINE LEAVES FRAME RAIL AND HEADS TO CONNECT TO FLEXIBLE LINE AT REAR DIFFERENTIAL. ENTIRE AREA AROUND LEAK, BOTTOM OF BED, FRAME RAIL, SHOCK, SPRING, ETC. DRIPPING WITH BRAKE FLUID. REPLACED A PREVIOUS SECTION OF REAR BRAKE LINEAROUND 125K MILES PRIOR TO FINDING OUT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH GMC / CHEVY TRUCKS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10482833

Incident

Oct 31, 2012

Mileage

167,525 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD FAIL SPORADICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 107,000.

NHTSA ID

10455478

Incident

Nov 2, 2011

Mileage

103,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD STOP WORKING SPORADICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE 90,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 139,000. UPDATED 10/21/11 *BF THE WIPER WAS REPAIRED AT A COST OF $ 311.00. UPDATE 10/26/11

NHTSA ID

10428759

Incident

Nov 1, 2006

Mileage

90,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 GMC 1500. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THERE WAS LITTLE TO NO POWER. NONE OF THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS WERE OPERABLE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND AS HE REMOVED THE COVERING FROM A PLATE UNDER THE STEERING COLUMN, HE FOUND THAT THERE WERE SEVERAL BURNED WIRES. HE THEN SPLICED THE WIRES TOGETHER AND USED A RUBBER PROTECTOR TO PROTECT THE WIRES FROM RUBBING AGAINST THE METAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 64,000.

NHTSA ID

10356172

Incident

Sep 15, 2010

Mileage

64,000 mi

I WAS APPROACHING A BUSY INTERSECTION AT A NORMAL SPEED. WHEN I USED THE BRAKE IT INSTANTLY WENT TO THE FLOOR. NO BRAKES! I WENT THROUGH THE INTERSECTION INTO AN EMPTY LOT. THANK GOD NO ACCIDENT. THE BRAKE LINE ROTTED BECAUSE GM ROUTED CHEAP STEEL LINES IN AREAS WHERE SAND, SALT AND WATER COLLECT. GMC REFUSED TO COVER THE REPAIR AND IT COST ME 500.00. *TR

NHTSA ID

10332698

Incident

Mar 15, 2007

Mileage

76,000 mi

COMPONENT: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC DETAILS: THE ABS PULSATES AT LOW SPEEDS, USUALLY AT 10 MPH OR SLOWER. I'VE ALMOST HIT SEVERAL VEHICLES BECAUSE MY '98 GMC SIERRA WOULDN'T STOP. I SEE WHERE THEY HAD A RECALL ON 99 AND NEWER TRUCKS, BUT THEY NEED TO GO BACK FURTHER. THIS HAPPENS EVERYTIME I GO TO SLOW DOWN. GMC REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE PROBLEM PRIOR TO 1999. *TR

NHTSA ID

10280558

Incident

Aug 14, 2009

Mileage

60,000 mi

THE ABS PULSATES AT LOW SPEEDS, USUALLY AT 10 MPH OR SLOWER. I'VE ALMOST HIT SEVERAL VEHICLES BECAUSE MY '98 GMC SIERRA WOULDN'T STOP. I SEE WHERE THEY HAD A RECALL ON 99 AND NEWER TRUCKS, BUT THEY NEED TO GO BACK FURTHER. THIS HAPPENS EVERYTIME I GO TO SLOW DOWN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10264009

Incident

Mar 10, 2009

WHILE DRIVING THROUGH A STOP LIGHT I HEARD AND FELT A METALLIC BANG. THE TRANSMISSION DROPPED INTO 1ST GEAR AND WOULDN'T SHIFT UP. I LOST REVERSE TOO. *TR

NHTSA ID

10251788

Incident

Dec 12, 2008

Mileage

104,000 mi

I OWN A 1998 GMC SIERRA AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK ONLY PART OF THE TIME. UPON SEARCHING THE INTERNET IT SEEMS TO BE A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM AMONG THESE VEHICLES, BUT THE RECALL DOESN'T INCLUDE THIS YEAR EVEN THOUGH THE CIRCUIT BOARD IS THE SAME . *TR

NHTSA ID

10243162

Incident

Aug 17, 2007

Mileage

150,000 mi

WHEN I BOUGHT TRUCK (120,000 MILES) THE PREVIOUS OWNER INFORMED ME THAT THE GAS TANK WAS FULL. AFTER 200 MILES I WONDERED WHY THE GAS GAUGE WAS STILL ON FULL. TALKED TO SEVERAL PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, SAME VEHICLE WHO HAD TO REPLACE THE SENDING UNIT ON THE FUEL PUMP. THIS CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. GM NEEDS TO START TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR VEHICLE DEFECTS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10241821

Incident

Jun 20, 2007

Mileage

120,000 mi

HAD A ANTIFREEZE LEAK FOR MONTHS. STARTED LOOKING AROUND AND NOTICED THE FITTING FROM THE HEATER CORE RETURN LINE INTO THE ENGINE BLOCK WAS CORRODED AND READY TO FALL OF. I BARELY TOUCHED THE RETURN LINE AND IT THE FITTING SNAPPED OFF. I'M THE 3RD PERSON I KNOW WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM, SAME VEHICLE. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A PROBLEM HERE GM NEEDS TO ADDRESS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10241820

Incident

Aug 18, 2008

Mileage

163,000 mi

TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLE RUSTED THROUGH AND BROKE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10239443

Incident

Jul 13, 2008

Mileage

110,213 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 GMC SIERRA 1500. WHILE APPROACHING A STOP BETWEEN 1-5 MPH, THE BRAKES VIBRATED, MADE A HISSING SOUND, AND LUNGED FORWARD. THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED A FAILURE WITH THE SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC: ANTILOCK. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE YEAR WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 05V379000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE CONTACT FILED A COMPLAINT WITH GMC ON MARCH 10, 2008 AND WAS ISSUED CONFIRMATION NUMBER 71-1609860847. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 111,500 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,000.

NHTSA ID

10220880

Incident

Dec 15, 2005

Mileage

111,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 GMC SIERRA 1500. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE REAR BRAKES SHAKE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE STATION AND THE TIRES WERE REPLACED AND BALANCED, THE BRAKES WERE ADJUSTED, AND THE BRAKE SHOES AND REAR BRAKE PADS WERE REPLACED. HOWEVER, THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO SHAKE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE BRAKE SHOES MOVE ABOUT AND THERE WAS NO WAY THEY COULD BE REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE ABS LIGHT AND THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT WERE ILLUMINATED AND HAVE BEEN SINCE APRIL OF 2006. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 161,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 147,625. UPDATED 3/5/08 *CN UPDATED 03/05/08 *TR

NHTSA ID

10211364

Incident

Apr 14, 2006

Mileage

147,625 mi

ABS SLOW SPEED ACTIVATION . HAVE REPLACED SENSORS TWICE . *JB

NHTSA ID

10202274

Incident

Sep 8, 2007

Mileage

55,000 mi

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL NOT ALWAYS WORK. WHEN RAINING THEY GO OFF OR STALL. PULLING ON WIPPERS MANUALLY WILL RETART THEM OCCATIONALY. *AK

NHTSA ID

10190875

Incident

May 1, 2007

Mileage

1,000 mi

GAS PEDAL STICKS ALL THE TIME WHEN YOU FIRST STEP ON PEDAL. YOU THEN ACCELERATE IN A JERKY MANNER AS YOU HAVE TO PRESS IT HARD TO GET IT TO UNSTICK!!! ALSO DOS IT ON OUR 2001 GRAND PRIX AND MY FATHERS 1999 CHEVROLET PICKUP.*AK

NHTSA ID

10186162

Incident

Mar 25, 2007

Mileage

40,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING AT ALMOST ANY SPEED THE STEERING SEEMS TO "SLIP" ESPECIALLY WHEN TURNING LEFT, HOWEVER THIS ALSO OCCURS WHEN TURNING TO THE RIGHT. THIS ON A COUPLE OF OCCASIONS HAS ALMOST GOT ME IN AN ACCIDENT. DEALER DOES NOT SEEM TO EITHER FIND OR RECOGNIZE THAT THE PROBLEM EXISTS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10176757

Incident

Dec 20, 2006

Mileage

11,500 mi

SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, MY AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND DIDN'T EXTINGUISH. I TOOK MY 1998 GMC EXTD. CAB PICKUP TO THE DEALER AND THEY COMPLETED REPAIRS ($755.14, EVEN AT A DISCOUNTED RATE). THE PROBLEM WAS THE SIR COIL INTERMITTENTLY WAS GROUNDING, CAUSING A SHORT IN THE SDM MODULE. MY AIRBAG HAS NEVER DEPLOYED AND THE TRUCK HAS NEVER BEEN INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. SINCE AIRBAGS WERE MANDATED BACK IN 1998, I WOULD HAVE HOPED THAT I WOULD NEVER HAVE HAD A PROBLEM WITH THAT SYSTEM! SEEMS TO ME THIS SHOULD BE WARRANTED FOR THE LIFE OF THE CAR, BARRING DEPLOYMENT FROM AN ACCIDENT. *JB

NHTSA ID

10176287

Incident

Dec 12, 2006

Mileage

96,990 mi