Owner-reported complaints naming the powertrain system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials. 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.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 GMC SIERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A TRANSMISSION LEAK. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR WAS THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WERE UNAVAILABLE.
1998 GMC SIERRA 1500 EXT. CAB TRUCK. PURCHASED USED ON 6/03/08. ODOMETER READ 96,921MILES. LESS THAN 24 HOURS AFTER PURCHASE I NOTICED WHAT FELT LIKE A SLIPPING IN THE TRANSMISSION GOING FROM 1ST TO 2ND, AND 2ND TO 3RD, UNDER 15 MPH WHEN THE ENGINE WAS WARM. I MENTIONED THIS TO THE DEALER, WHO HAD AGREED TO REIMBURSE ME FOR PARTIAL COSTS TO HAVE ALL THE FLUIDS FLUSHED AND FILLED WITH CLEAN FLUID AT THE RECOMMENDATION OF MY REGULAR SHOP, WHERE I HAD TAKEN THE TRUCK FOR INSPECTION 12 HOURS AFTER PURCHASE. AT THIS TIME I NOTICED THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR HANDLE WAS CRACKED INTO THE LOCK AREA. I ASKED THE SERVICE SHOP (DIXIELAND TIRE) FOR A QUOTE ON REPAIR, THE MANAGER TOLD ME, "THAT IS A COMMON GMC PROBLEM, THE PARTS DEPT STOCKS ABOUT A DOZEN OF THOSE AND I'VE REPLACED AT LEAST 18 IN THE PAST YEARS.". THE PART COST $61.50 PLUS TAX AT 6.5%, AND LABOR OF $97.50. THE TRANSMISSION FLUSH COST $109.95 FOR THE SUPREME SERVICE. LESS THAN TWO DAYS LATER, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, AND THE CODE FOR IT CAME UP AS P1870, TRANSMISSION. THE TECH NOTICED THE SLIP. I WAS REFERRED TO A TRANS SHOP SINCE MY SERVICE SHOP DOESN'T HAVE CAPABILITY TO REPAIR TRANS. AT THIS TIME I NOTIFIED USED CAR DEALER WASHINGTON AUTO SALES THAT I WAS GOING TO HAVE THE TRANS CHECKED AND REMINDED HIM THAT I HAD NOTICED THE SLIP LESS THAN 24 HRS. AFTER PURCHASE. I ASKED IF HE COULD HELP ME WITH POTENTIAL COSTS HE SAID IT DEPENDED ON WHAT THE RESULTS WERE OF THE INSPECTION SCHEDULED FOR 6-24-08. I WOULD LIKE TO FILE FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF THE DOOR HANDLE, WHICH IS A WELL-KNOWN DEFECT. *TR
DON'T HAVE MY VIN HANDY AT THE MOMENT B/C MY TRUCK IS IN THE SHOP HAVING $1400 OF TRANSMISSION WORK DONE ON IT. IT'S A 1998 GMC SIERRA 2WD, AND THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT 8/21/03. THE TRANNY HAD 84,000 MILES BEFORE COMLETE FAILURE. THE TRUCK WAS DRIVEN BY AN EXCEPTIONALLY GENTLE DRIVER, NEVER USED FOR TOWING (EVEN THOUGH IT CAME WITH A TOWING "PACKAGE") AND NEVER ABUSED IN ANY WAY. YESTERDAY, IT WOULDN'T REVERSE OR GO INTO 1ST GEAR. TWO WEEKS PRIOR IT BEGAN SHIFTING HARD, EMITTING A LOUD "CLANK" SOUND...WE KNEW THE END WAS NEAR!
FRONT END SHOOK WHILE BRAKING. BRAKING DISTANCE SEEMED NORMAL. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES, AND DEALER REPLACED AND TURNED FRONT ROTORS FOUR TIMES. IN MAY 2003, MECHANIC NOTICED REAR AXLE SEAL WAS LEAKING GREASE ONTO REAR BRAKE DRUMS, CAUSING REAR BRAKES TO FAIL, SEAL WAS REPLACED. CURRENTLY, SEAL IS LEAKING AGAIN, REAR BRAKE DRUMS NEED TO BE REPLACED.*AK
THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE DRIVING. *JB
INITIAL PROBLEM 09/02/98 WAS BOTH REAR AXLE SEALS LEAKING CAUSING BRAKES TO FADE. AGAIN ON 11/04/98 REAR AXLE SEALS LEAKING, ADJUSTED BRAKES. 11/06/98 BRAKES LOCKING-UP. 11/13/98 BRAKES GRABBING, REPLACED BOTH REAR BRAKE SHOES, ABS LIGHT ON-MODULE NOT ACTIVATING BRAKE RELEASE-REPLACED ANTI-LOCK BRAKE MODULE-MASTER CYL BYPASSING-REPLACED MASTER CYL. 01/20/99 ABS LIGHT COMES ON-BRAKE PEDDLE HARD TO PUSH-REPLACED ABS BRAKE VALVE. 03/23/99 BRAKES FAILED TO SLOW VEHICLE-INVOLVED IN ACCIDENT-REPLACED ABS PRESSURE MODULATING VALVE.
WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE IT DRIVES VERY ROUGH, MEANING THE VEHILCE VIBRATES AND SHAKES CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY REPLACED THE ROTORS/PADS AND SHOES, REAR AXLE, AND HUBS. BUT VEHICLE STILL SHAKES. *AK
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE TRANSMISSION STOPPED SHIFTING, ALSO ODOMETER/SPEEDOMETER STOPPED WORKING. IN ADDITION, THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING.CAUSE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED. *AK
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
Data on this page last refreshed .