RoadVitals

1998 GMC Sierra Electrical Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Electrical reportsComplaints 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.
8
Latest Jul 24, 2002
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
4%
of 190 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
5
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1

What this page shows

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1998 GMC Sierra submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 8 reports on file name it.

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

Owner reports naming electrical

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Electrical
Filed Jul 24, 2002
Fire reported1 injury reported

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING THERE WAS A BURNING SMELL, THEN SHE FELT SOMETHING HOT ON HER LEG, WHEN LOOKING SHE SAW VEHICLE HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE AND HER LEG WAS ALSO ON FIRE, FIRE WAS CAUSED BY A FAULTY WIRING HARNESS. *SLC

NHTSA ID
566750
Incident
Dec 21, 1999
Electrical
Filed Sep 28, 2001
Fire reported

VEHICLE FIRE CAUSED BY A SHORT IN THE WIRING OF THE DOOR, CLAIM 42-1295-954. *SLC

NHTSA ID
6901247
Incident
Sep 24, 2000
Electrical
Filed Sep 28, 2001
Fire reported

CONSUMER PARKED VEHICLE AND WENT TO WORK, CAME OUT AND VEHICLE HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE, THE FIRE PUT ITSELF OUT, THE FIRE STARTED IN THE AREA OF THE POWER MIRROR SWITCH, CLAIM 22-V226-581. *SLC

NHTSA ID
6901246
Incident
Dec 6, 1999
Electrical
Filed Sep 28, 2001
Fire reported

VEHICLE FIRE CAUSED BY A SHORT IN THE WIRING OF THE DOOR, CLAIM 42-1295-954. *SLC

NHTSA ID
6900444
Incident
Sep 24, 2000
Electrical
Filed Sep 28, 2001
Fire reported

CONSUMER PARKED VEHICLE AND WENT TO WORK, CAME OUT AND VEHICLE HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE, THE FIRE PUT ITSELF OUT, THE FIRE STARTED IN THE AREA OF THE POWER MIRROR SWITCH, CLAIM 22-V226-581. *SLC

NHTSA ID
6900443
Incident
Dec 6, 1999
ElectricalSuspensionTires & wheels
Filed Mar 27, 2001

WHILE DRIVING THE TREAD OF THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE SEPARATED, INSPECTION OF THE SECOND REAR TIRE REVEALED SEPARATION OF THE TREAD AND AIR LEAKAGE (THE TIRE MAKE/MODEL WAS NOT GIVEN). NLM

NHTSA ID
560558
Incident
Aug 16, 2000
Electrical
Filed Sep 22, 2000

POSITIVE POST FOT DELCO BATTERY HAD PULLED OUT AND WAS LEAKING ACID AND RELEASING HYDROGEN ACID. CONSUMER REPLACED BATTERY, AND NOTICED THAT THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH SLACK FROM THE CLAMP TO THE BATTERY CABLE TO ALLOW BAD MOVES FROM THE CHASSITY.*AK

NHTSA ID
871292
Incident
Sep 21, 2000
Electrical
Filed Apr 28, 2000

POSITIVE TERMINAL OF BATTERY LEAKED BATTERY ACID. *AK

NHTSA ID
722064
Incident
Feb 12, 2000

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Brakes62Visibility32Steering15Fuel system12Engine11Suspension11Seat belts10Transmission8Powertrain (other)8

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .