Owners have filed 13 complaints
about the 1998 GMC GMC Truck with NHTSA between 1999 and 2007.
The largest single group is the lights.
Across this model's run it ranks 4 of 7 worst.
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew
an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous
ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 45
Against the median year of the GMC GMC Truck. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 40
7.7% of these complaints
involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of
9.7%.
Early failure — not reported
Too few complaints recorded a mileage to measure this.
Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 1998 GMC GMC Truck
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Lights
323.1%
Median failure at 50,000 miles
Brakes
215.4%
0 crashes, 1 fires
Transmission & Drivetrain
215.4%
Median failure at 70,184 miles
Windows, Mirrors & Wipers
17.7%
Fuel & Propulsion
17.7%
Suspension
17.7%
Body & Structure
17.7%
Median failure at 76,769 miles
Electrical System
17.7%
Engine & Cooling
17.7%
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
May 1999peak 4May 2007
Complaints that involved harm
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
Alachua, FLFire
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
BRACKET THAT HOLD BRAKE HOSE ON UPPER CONTROL ARM CORAODES INSIDE AND PINCHES OFF HOSE. THIS ALLOWES FUILD TO APPLY BRAKE BUT NOT RELEASE. AS A REPAIRER OF TRUCKS I HAVE SEEN 11 OF THESE. THIS IS ON ALL GMC & CHEVY ONE TON TRUCKS AND MOTOR HOME CHASSIES WITH HYD. BRAKES. TWO DID CAUSE A FIRE, THE OTHERS STOPPED WITH VERY HOT BRAKES ON THE AFFECTED WHEEL. THE YEARS COVERED ARE 1980 TO PRESENT.
NHTSA complaint #742212 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 50,000 milesLong Beach, CA
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
THIRD TIME I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE BRAKE LIGHT STOP SWITCH REPLACED ON MY 1998 GMC TRUCK.
NHTSA complaint #10192078 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Topeka, KS
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
THE WIND SHIELD WIPERS ARE DOING THE EXACT SAME THING AS THE 1995 AND 96 GMC SIERRA TRUCKS. I DRIVE A 1998 GMC SO YOU THINK THEY WOULD HAVE FIGURED THIS OUT BY NOW. MY WIPERS WILL WORK OCCASIONALLY BUT NOT WHEN YOU REALLY NEED THEM. I KNOW ITS NOT THE MOTOR BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN CHECKED OUT. I WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF GMC WOULD FIX THIS PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10132140 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Horseheads, NY
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
FOUR WHEEL DRIVE WENT INTO 4 LOW, BY ITSELF, GOING AT 60MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, WIPERS HAVE MALFUNCTIONED FOR THE THIRD TIME IN ONE YEARS TIME, NO TURN SIGNALS/BACKUP LIGHT- CAN'T BE FIXED BY DEALER-FOUND NOTHING WRONG, CALLED GMC WHICH OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE DUE TO IT BEING A USED VEHICLE. THEY FELT IT WAS RELATED TO PREVIOUS DRIVER. THE BRAKES WILL GRAB AND LOCK UP WHEN YOU FIRST DRIVE IT. YOU BETTER HAVE YOUR SEAT BELT ON BECAUSE YOU WILL BE PUT INTO THE DASH WHEN THIS HAPPENS. I DO NOT FEEL THE PREVIOUS DRIVER IS THE CAUSE IN THIS SITUATION. VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE FOR BOTH MY FAMILY AND OTHER DRIVERS. I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND THIS TRUCK TO OTHERS. YOUR HELP WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED IN THIS MATTER. THANK YOU. THE DATE I AM REQUIRED TO SELECT IS NOT APPROPRIATE IN THIS SITUATION BECAUSE IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME.
NHTSA complaint #10054277 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Horseheads, NY
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
FOUR WHEEL DRIVE WENT INTO 4 LOW, BY ITSELF, GOING AT 60MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, WIPERS HAVE MALFUNCTIONED FOR THE THIRD TIME IN ONE YEARS TIME, NO TURN SIGNALS/BACKUP LIGHT- CAN'T BE FIXED BY DEALER-FOUND NOTHING WRONG, CALLED GMC WHICH OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE DUE TO IT BEING A USED VEHICLE. THEY FELT IT WAS RELATED TO PREVIOUS DRIVER. THE BRAKES WILL GRAB AND LOCK UP WHEN YOU FIRST DRIVE IT. YOU BETTER HAVE YOUR SEAT BELT ON BECAUSE YOU WILL BE PUT INTO THE DASH WHEN THIS HAPPENS. I DO NOT FEEL THE PREVIOUS DRIVER IS THE CAUSE IN THIS SITUATION. VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE FOR BOTH MY FAMILY AND OTHER DRIVERS. I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND THIS TRUCK TO OTHERS. YOUR HELP WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED IN THIS MATTER. THANK YOU. THE DATE I AM REQUIRED TO SELECT IS NOT APPROPRIATE IN THIS SITUATION BECAUSE IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME.
NHTSA complaint #10054277 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Horseheads, NY
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BACK UP LIGHTS
FOUR WHEEL DRIVE WENT INTO 4 LOW, BY ITSELF, GOING AT 60MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, WIPERS HAVE MALFUNCTIONED FOR THE THIRD TIME IN ONE YEARS TIME, NO TURN SIGNALS/BACKUP LIGHT- CAN'T BE FIXED BY DEALER-FOUND NOTHING WRONG, CALLED GMC WHICH OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE DUE TO IT BEING A USED VEHICLE. THEY FELT IT WAS RELATED TO PREVIOUS DRIVER. THE BRAKES WILL GRAB AND LOCK UP WHEN YOU FIRST DRIVE IT. YOU BETTER HAVE YOUR SEAT BELT ON BECAUSE YOU WILL BE PUT INTO THE DASH WHEN THIS HAPPENS. I DO NOT FEEL THE PREVIOUS DRIVER IS THE CAUSE IN THIS SITUATION. VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE FOR BOTH MY FAMILY AND OTHER DRIVERS. I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND THIS TRUCK TO OTHERS. YOUR HELP WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED IN THIS MATTER. THANK YOU. THE DATE I AM REQUIRED TO SELECT IS NOT APPROPRIATE IN THIS SITUATION BECAUSE IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME.
NHTSA complaint #10054277 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Horseheads, NY
POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)
FOUR WHEEL DRIVE WENT INTO 4 LOW, BY ITSELF, GOING AT 60MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, WIPERS HAVE MALFUNCTIONED FOR THE THIRD TIME IN ONE YEARS TIME, NO TURN SIGNALS/BACKUP LIGHT- CAN'T BE FIXED BY DEALER-FOUND NOTHING WRONG, CALLED GMC WHICH OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE DUE TO IT BEING A USED VEHICLE. THEY FELT IT WAS RELATED TO PREVIOUS DRIVER. THE BRAKES WILL GRAB AND LOCK UP WHEN YOU FIRST DRIVE IT. YOU BETTER HAVE YOUR SEAT BELT ON BECAUSE YOU WILL BE PUT INTO THE DASH WHEN THIS HAPPENS. I DO NOT FEEL THE PREVIOUS DRIVER IS THE CAUSE IN THIS SITUATION. VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE FOR BOTH MY FAMILY AND OTHER DRIVERS. I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND THIS TRUCK TO OTHERS. YOUR HELP WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED IN THIS MATTER. THANK YOU. THE DATE I AM REQUIRED TO SELECT IS NOT APPROPRIATE IN THIS SITUATION BECAUSE IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME.
NHTSA complaint #10054277 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 70,184 milesCovington, TN
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I PURCHASED A USED 1998 GMC EXTEND-CAB 4X4 PICK-UP HERE IN TN.. I HAVE HAD VERY GOOD SERVICE FROM IT UNTIL I MADE A TRIP 2 1/2 HRS. FROM MY HOME. WHEN I ARRIVED AT MY DESTINATION I PARKED THE TRUCK, VISITED FOR AWHILE. WHEN I WAS PREPARING TO MAKE THE TRIP BACK I STARTED MY TRUCK AND AS I PUT IT IN REVERSE I HEARD WHAT SOUNDED LIKE TO CLANKS COMING FROM THE REAR, THE PERSON I WAS VISITING ALSO HEARD IT FROM OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. WHEN THIS HAPPENED I COULDN'T GET THE TRUCK TO MOVE, SO WE HAD TO PHYSICALLY MOVE IT OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE DRIVE. AFTER SOME TIME I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO GET IT OUT ONTO THE HIGHWAY WHERE I WAS ABLE TO GET THE TRUCK TO MOVE ONLY BY GIVING IT JUST A LITTLE GAS AND THEN LETTING UP JUST ENOUGH SO THAT THE GEARS WOULD CHANGE, THIS I HAD TO DO ALL THE WAY HOME AND THEN TO GET IT TO A GARAGE. I WAS TOLD THAT I WOULD NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION, WELL I FIGURED THAT THE TRUCK WAS NOT OLD ENOUGH TO NEED A TRANSMISSION SINCE IT ONLY HAD SOMEWHERE AROUND 65,000 MILES ON IT AND HAD BEEN VERY WELL TAKEN CARE OF BY THE PREVIOUS OWNER AND MYSELF. THE GARAGE LOOKED INTO RECALLS FOR THAT SPECIFIC MAKE AND MODEL OF TRUCK AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE HAD BEEN RECALLS FOR IT BUT NOT ON MINE BECAUSE IT WAS BUILT IN ANOTHER PLACE, NOW THIS SOUNDS RIDICULOUS TO ME, BUT DON'T KNOW HOW OR WHERE TO BEGIN TO FIND OUT ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I HAVE SINCE HAD TO PUT A NEW TRANSMISSION IN THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE I NEEDED MY TRANSPORTATION. I AM HOPING YOU CAN ADVISE ON THIS SITUATION OR AT LEAST POINT ME IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. THANK YOU, [XXX]. *NLM INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #10049201 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 76,769 milesGraham, TX
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
WHILE DRIVING THE STEERING BECAME VERY DIFFICULT BECAUSE THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL "BOWED" OUTWARD. THE DEALER INSPECTED AND DIAGNOSED THAT VEHICLE'S FRAME HAD BROKEN AT THE CROSSMEMBER. THE FRAME HAD PREVIOUSLY CRACKED ON 03/15/02, BUT WAS REPAIRED BY WELDING. VEHICLE IS A 1998 GMC 3/4 TON HEAVY PICK-UP TRUCK. *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10017779 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Metamora, IL
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM
THIS IS THE FOURTH TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. I WAS TRAVELING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD & MANIFOLD GASKET CRACKED LEAKING HIGHPRESSURED ANTIFREEZE INTO THE CYLINDERS CREATING A VAPOR LOCK, AND THE ENGINE DIED. BECAUSE OF THE VAPOR LOCK THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START IN NEUTRAL, GIVING ME NO POWER STEERING AND NO POWER BRAKES!!!!! THIS JUST ABOUT CAUSED A 20 -25 CAR PILE UP WITH 3-5 SEMI TRUCKS. THIS IS THE 4TH TIME AND I AM HAVING TO PAY FOR THESE LEMON LAW VIOLATIONS, LET ALONE THE SAFETY OF DRIVERS WORLDWIDE!! GM SHOULD BE FORCED TO FIX THIS MAJOR DEFECTIVE PART AND RE-IMBURSE ALL THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN TO THEM. THERE IS A CONCERTED EFFORT ON THE INTERNET WITH ALMOST 1,100 SIGNATURES OF THIS INTAKE MANIFOLD PROBLEM. THIS SAFETY HAZARD NEEDS TO BE EXAMINED AND ALL WARRANTY COMPANY'S AND CLAIMS NEED TO BE REVIEWED TO SEE HOW BAD THE SAFETY HAZARD IS. I HOPE THIS "OFFICIAL NOTIFICATION OF THE PLASTIC MANIFOLD & MANIFOLD GASKET DEFECT" IS TAKEN AS A SERIOUS THREAT TO HUMAN LIVES THROUGHOUT THE WORLD, AND THE NHTSA WILL INTERVENE SO THERE ARE NO LIVES LOST, BECAUSE "YOU, NHTSA, HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED " OF THE SAFETY CONCERNS!!!!!!!!!!!! THIS IS "SERIOUS SAFETY" WE ARE TALKING ABOUT AND CONCERNS ANYONE WHO HAS BOUGHT A 3.1, 3.4 OR 3.8 L ENGINE FROM GM (WHICH INCLUDES ALL BUICK, CHEVY, OLDS, PONTIAC, ETC..) THANK YOU, [XXX] DT INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #770646 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Coos BAY, OR
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM WAS FAULTY. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75% OF THE TIME, THE BRAKES WILL NOT STOP VEHICLE PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS CHECKED BY DEALER WHO COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER HAS UNHOOKED THE ABS SYSTEM, AND STATED THAT THE NORMAL BRAKES WORK FINE. *AK *SCC
NHTSA complaint #8015558 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Atlanta, GA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
I WAS TOLD BY GMC SERVICE TECHNICIAN THAT A CORRODED COOLING NIPPLE WAS A COMMON FAILURE, THAT HE HAD "SEEN IT TOO MANY TIMES". ALSO VERIFIED WITH INDEPENDENT GARAGE THAT THIS WAS A COMMON MALFUNCTION, SUPRISED NO TSB HAD BEEN ISSUED.
NHTSA complaint #763920 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Alachua, FLFire
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
BRACKET THAT HOLD BRAKE HOSE ON UPPER CONTROL ARM CORAODES INSIDE AND PINCHES OFF HOSE. THIS ALLOWES FUILD TO APPLY BRAKE BUT NOT RELEASE. AS A REPAIRER OF TRUCKS I HAVE SEEN 11 OF THESE. THIS IS ON ALL GMC & CHEVY ONE TON TRUCKS AND MOTOR HOME CHASSIES WITH HYD. BRAKES. TWO DID CAUSE A FIRE, THE OTHERS STOPPED WITH VERY HOT BRAKES ON THE AFFECTED WHEEL. THE YEARS COVERED ARE 1980 TO PRESENT.
NHTSA complaint #742212 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SAN Jose, CA
SUSPENSION:REAR
THE PROBLEM IS THAT WHEN YOU START PULLING A LOAD YOU HAVE A VABRATION COMMING FROM THE REAR END, AND PUZZELL BY THE NOISE. WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF YOU EAR FROM COMSUMERS ABOUT THAT KIND OF PROBLEM. PICK UP EXT CAB SL2500
NHTSA complaint #706266 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.