RoadVitals

1998 GMC Sierra Suspension Problems

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

Data refreshed

Suspension 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.
11
Latest Aug 21, 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.
6%
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.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware. 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. 11 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 suspension

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

Suspension
Filed Aug 21, 2002

WHILE DRIVING, IF MOVING STEERING WHEEL JUST A LITTLE TO RIGHT TO MAINTAIN PROPER LANE, VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY JERK TO THE RIGHT AND CAUSE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND WAS UNABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID
8016908
Incident
Jan 21, 2002
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
Suspension
Filed Oct 17, 2000

THE FRAME RESONANT VIBRATION FREQUENCY ON THIS TRUCK PRECISELY MATCHES THE TIRE ROTATION FREAUENCY AT ABOUT 45 MPH. THIS CAUSES VERY ANOYING BOUNCING OF THE REAR END AT 45 MPH. WHEN BRAKIN AT 45 MPH, THE REAR END JUMPS ABOUT UNCONTROLABLY AND COULD EASILY LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT. I BELIEVE IT IS A DESIGN FLAW. ONLY THE EXTENDED CAB MODELS HAVE THIS PROBLEM. IF ONE USES THE EXACT SAME FRAME THAT IS ON THE REGULAR CAB MODEL FOR THE EXTENDED CAB MODEL AND SIMPLY MAKES IT LONGER, THE STIFFNESS WILL BE LESS AND COULD LEAD TO THIS PROBLEM. I BELIEVE IT IS THE RESULT OF INADEQUATE FRAME STIFFNESS, AND I BELIEVE GMC KNOWS (AND HAS KNOWN) THIS AND HAS MADE A BUSINESS DECISION TO PUT UP WITH THE COMPLAINTS RATHER THAN FIX THE PROBLEM. ALL OWNERS OF SIMILAR MODELS OF GMC AND CHEVY THAT I HAVE TALKED TO HAVE TOLD ME THEY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. GM SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO IGNORE A POTENTIAL SAFETY PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID
734512
Incident
Nov 1, 1997
Suspension
Filed Sep 20, 2000

WHEN MAKING A CURVE TO RIGHT WHEEL JERKS TO THE RIGHT. DEALER HAS INSPECTED THE VEHICLE . *AK

NHTSA ID
871026
BrakesPowertrain (other)Suspension
Filed Sep 29, 1999

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

NHTSA ID
849347
Incident
Aug 12, 1999
Suspension
Filed Jul 14, 1999

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED TRUCK WANDERS ALL OVER THE ROAD. IT FEELS LIKE THE TRUCK WILL ROLLOVER WITH THE SLIGHTEST TURN. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID
842340
Incident
Apr 4, 1998
Suspension
Filed May 24, 1999

WITHIN 10,000 MILES THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID
838342
Suspension
Filed May 21, 1999

DEALER HAS HAD TO WORK ON FRONT SUSPENSION SEVERAL TIMES. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID
838289
Incident
May 21, 1999
Suspension
Filed May 12, 1999

WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH VEHICLE IS VIBRATING, AND WHEN CONSUMER IS BACKING UP VEHICLE IS STILL VIBRATING. *AK

NHTSA ID
837836
Incident
Apr 12, 1999
Body & structureSuspension
Filed Dec 23, 1998

WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY THE VEHICLE WILL START TO VIRBRATE AND BOUNCE. ALSO, THERE IS A PROBLEM WITHIN THE FRAME AND WITHIN THE WHEEL BASE WHICH IS AT A DISTANCE FROM THE WHEELS IN THE EXTENDED CAB. *AK *ML

NHTSA ID
832618
Incident
Apr 1, 1998
EngineSuspensionTransmission
Filed Jun 8, 1998

VEHICLE STALLING.

NHTSA ID
536464

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

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .