1998 GMC Sierra 2500 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 Sierra 2500, 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
- Brakes844.4%
- Powertrain (other)316.7%
- Fuel system211.1%
- Steering211.1%
- Electrical15.6%
- Visibility15.6%
- Engine15.6%
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
CONSTANT REAR BRAKE FAILURE WITH HEAVY BRAKING ON ROUGH ROADS. CAN BE DUPLICATED AS DESIRED.
UPON ATTEMPTING TO BRAKE FRONT BRAKES OVER POWERED REAR BRAKES CAUSING ANTI- LOCK BRAKES TO KICK IN, AND RESULTING IN COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKING ABILITY. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER HAS REPLACED PARTS, BUT PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE TRUCK SHUT OFF NO POWER BRAKES, STEERING. THIS HAPPENED WHILE PULLING A TRAILER. THE GMC DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THE SHUT OFF WAS THE RESULT OF A PUMP MOUNTED DRIVER (PMD) FAILURE ON THE 6.5L DIESEL MOTOR. VERY UNSAFE SHOULD HAVE RESULTED IN A ACCIDENT. *TR
CONSUMER STATED THAT REAR SEALS WERE LEAKING. CONSUMER PURCHASED VEHICLE USED, AND WAS TOLD THAT SEALS WERE REPLACED AT 30000 MILES BY THE ORIGINAL OWNER. CURRENTLY, THESE SEALS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. CONSUMER INDICATED THAT THE SEALS WERE LEAKING GREASE OR OIL WHICH CAUSED THE BRAKES TO GRAB AND RELEASE, GRAB AND RELEASE WHEN TRYING TO COME TO A STOP. THIS WAS A SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE ONE DAY VEHICLE MIGHT NOT STOP AT ALL. *AK *MR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE TRUCK SHUT OFF NO POWER BRAKES, STEERING. THIS HAPPENED WHILE PULLING A TRAILER. THE GMC DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THE SHUT OFF WAS THE RESULT OF A PUMP MOUNTED DRIVER (PMD) FAILURE ON THE 6.5L DIESEL MOTOR. VERY UNSAFE SHOULD HAVE RESULTED IN A ACCIDENT. *TR
THE VEHICLE'S FUEL INJECTIONS SYSTEM IS LEAKING. AS A RESULT, FUEL WAS SPRAYING OVER THE WHOLE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CAUSE HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED. *LA
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
THE TRUCK SHUT OFF NO POWER BRAKES, STEERING. THIS HAPPENED WHILE PULLING A TRAILER. THE GMC DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THE SHUT OFF WAS THE RESULT OF A PUMP MOUNTED DRIVER (PMD) FAILURE ON THE 6.5L DIESEL MOTOR. VERY UNSAFE SHOULD HAVE RESULTED IN A ACCIDENT. *TR
ANTI-LOCK BRAKE FAILURE.
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
THE HORN SUDDENLY QUIT WORKING . I CHECKED ALL ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS AND FOUND THAT THE HORN IT'S SELF HAS FAILED. I HAVE NOT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM TO THIS POINT. *TR
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 BEGAN TO FAIL SUDDENLY ON AND OFF WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN AND EVENTUALLY QUIT WORKING ALL TOGETHER. I CHECKED WITH THE DEALER FOR RECALLS AND FOUND THAT THERE WERE RECALLS FOR THIS PROBLEM ON CHEVY & GMC TRUCKS FROM 1994 TO 1996. MY TRUCK IS A 1998 BUT IT WAS BUILT IN 1997. I WAITED FOR THE RECALL TO BE EXTENDED HOWEVER I FINALLY SPENT $60.00 AND REPLACED THE DEFECTIVE PART. I KNOW 3 OTHER PEOPLE WITH 1998 CHEVY/GMC TRUCKS WHO HAVE ALL HAD THIS PROBLEM. ONE RESULTED IN THE DEATH OF A CHILD AND THE IMPRISONMENT OF THE DRIVER WHO WAS UNABLE TO FILE A COMPLAINT. *TR
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
KNOCK IN 5.7 G.M. MOTOR WITH 60,000 MILES. I WAS TOLD THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND IT WOULD GO AWAY AFTER THE TRUCK IS STARTED COLD THIS IS NORMAL. HOW CAN THIS BE NORMAL? HOW CAN GM GET AWAY WITH THIS? I BOUGHT THE TRUCK NEW IN 1998 AND HAVE ALL THE OIL CHANGE RECORDS AT EVERY 3000 MILES. NOW AROUND 70,000 I WILL BE LOOKING TO PUT IN A NEW MOTOR. IS THERE ANY PLACE I CAN GO FOR HELP ON THIS PROBLEM AND DO YOU HAVE OTHER COMPLAINTS? *JB
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 .