Owners have filed 17 complaints
about the 1998 GMC Passenger Vehicle with NHTSA between 2002 and 2005.
The largest single group is the windows, mirrors & wipers.
Across this model's run it ranks 1 of 4 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 — 59
Against the median year of the GMC Passenger Vehicle. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 100
23.5% of these complaints
involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of
9.7%.
Early failure — 28
17% of failures with a mileage on record happened under
36,000 miles, against a national rate of
29%.
How 1998 compares with every other GMC Passenger Vehicle
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 Passenger Vehicle
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Windows, Mirrors & Wipers
529.4%
Median failure at 63,000 miles
Electrical System
317.6%
0 crashes, 1 fires · median 60,000 mi
Brakes
211.8%
Median failure at 24,000 miles
Steering
211.8%
Median failure at 90,000 miles
Engine & Cooling
211.8%
Median failure at 102,500 miles
Tires
15.9%
Fuel & Propulsion
15.9%
0 crashes, 1 fires
Lights
15.9%
Median failure at 126,000 miles
When it fails
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all
complaints include one.
10,000 – 24,999 miles
216.7%
25,000 – 49,999 miles
18.3%
50,000 – 74,999 miles
433.3%
75,000 – 99,999 miles
216.7%
100,000 – 149,999 miles
325.0%
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.
Dec 2002peak 2Apr 2005
Complaints that involved harm
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
Easley, SCFire1 injured
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
FIRES AT THE GAS PUMPS CAUSED BY STATIC ELECTRICITY. VEHICLES ARE CATCHING FIRE WHILE ATTEMPTING TO FUEL VEHICLE. FEWER VEHICLES DOES NOT PROPERLY GROUND WHEN FUEL NOZZLE INSERTED INTO FILL SPOUT OF VEHICLE. I HAVE PERFORMED A STUDY TO SHOW DIFFERENCE BETWEEN OLDER FUEL SPOUTS WITH A GROUNDING CABLE AND NEWER SPOUTS THAT DO NOT HAVE CABLE. ALSO, THE MATERIAL OF THE SPOUTS HAVE CHANGED FROM ALL METAL TO A METAL WITH A PLASTIC INSERT. THIS WOULD PREVENT VEHICLE FROM BEING GROUNDED. IN MY STUDY, I FOUND MANY DIFFERENT MAKES AND MODELS OF VEHICLES CONTAINING THESE TYPE FILL SPOUTS. I ALSO HAD MY FINDINGS CONFIRMED BY A PROFESSOR OF ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING FROM A LOCAL UNIVERSITY.
NHTSA complaint #10041512 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FIRES AT THE GAS PUMPS CAUSED BY STATIC ELECTRICITY. VEHICLES ARE CATCHING FIRE WHILE ATTEMPTING TO FUEL VEHICLE. FEWER VEHICLES DOES NOT PROPERLY GROUND WHEN FUEL NOZZLE INSERTED INTO FILL SPOUT OF VEHICLE. I HAVE PERFORMED A STUDY TO SHOW DIFFERENCE BETWEEN OLDER FUEL SPOUTS WITH A GROUNDING CABLE AND NEWER SPOUTS THAT DO NOT HAVE CABLE. ALSO, THE MATERIAL OF THE SPOUTS HAVE CHANGED FROM ALL METAL TO A METAL WITH A PLASTIC INSERT. THIS WOULD PREVENT VEHICLE FROM BEING GROUNDED. IN MY STUDY, I FOUND MANY DIFFERENT MAKES AND MODELS OF VEHICLES CONTAINING THESE TYPE FILL SPOUTS. I ALSO HAD MY FINDINGS CONFIRMED BY A PROFESSOR OF ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING FROM A LOCAL UNIVERSITY.
NHTSA complaint #10041512 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
Hampstead, MD
STEERING:RACK AND PINION:RACK
MY DAUGHTERS PONTIAC SUNFIRE RECEIVED A RECALL ABOUT THE STEERING. I TOOK IT IN TO BE FIXED. THEY FIXED IT WITH NO PROBLEM. THE DEALER EXPLAINED WHAT WOULD BE HAPPENING IF IT WERE TO GO OUT. THE STEERING TO THE LEFT WOULD BE HARD TO TURN. I TOLD HIM THAT I WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY PONTIAC TRANS SPORT MINI VAN. HE SUGGESTED THAT I CALL GM. I DID AND THEY SAID IT WAS DOING ALL THE THINGS THAT THE RECALL WAS CALLED IN FOR, BUT BY MY VIN # MY CAR WAS NOT IN WITH THE RECALL. THEY TOLD ME TO CHECK IT OUT WITH THE DEALER AND CALL BACK. I TOLD THEM THAT I DID AND HAD IT IN WRITING, BUT THEY SAID THEY WOULD NOT FIX IT. I SAID THAT THEY FIXED MY DAUGHTERS CAR AND NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH IT, BUT MY CAR WAS DOING THE HARD TURN TO THE LEFT AND THEY WOULD NOT FIX IT. THEY SAID NO THEY COULD NOT HELP ME. I CALLED BACK MONTHS LATER AND THE PERSON I SPOKE WITH TOLD ME THE SAME THING. I ASK TO SPEAK TO THE MANAGER, AND HE SAID THAT HE WAS THE MANAGER AND HE COULD NOT DO ANYTHING AT THAT TIME, THAT MAYBE THEY WOULD RECALL IT LATER. HE SUGGEST THAT I CONTACT YOU AND MAYBE YOUSWILL DO SOMETHING.*AK NOW IT SEEMS TO ME THAT IF THERE IS A RECALL AND YOU HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM, BUT YOUR CAR WAS NOT MADE IN THE SAME FACTORY AS THE OTHERS, THAT THE OTHER FACTORIES CAN NOT GET BAD PARTS. I FEEL THAT THEY SHOULD FIX MY CAR AND NOT EXPECT ME TO FIX IT AND THEN HOPE THAT THEY WILL RECALL IT AND THEN I CAN GET MY MONEY BACK. THIS SHOULD BE DONE JUST AS A COURIOUS, SO I WILL CONTINUE TO BY THEIR PRODUCT. MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE ALWAYS PURCHASED GM PRODUCTS, WHETHER IT BE CHEVY OR PONTIAC. WE JUST PURCHASED A NEW CHEVY PICKUP TURCK. CAN YOU HELP ME TO GET THIS RESOLVED ON THERE BEHALF.
NHTSA complaint #10118705 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 115,000 milesBradford, RI
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
COOLANT IN OIL, OIL IN COOLANT. INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAK. 8AK
NHTSA complaint #10105883 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 112,200 milesRiverside, CA
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILURE
NHTSA complaint #10090996 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS DO NOT WORK IN THE RAIN AND MY TURN SIGNAL ON SIGNAL CLICKS WHEN THE TURN SIGNAL ISN'T ON. BOTH ARE PROBLEMS WITH THE 1997 MODEL, AND SEEM TO BE AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THE 1998 MODELS.
NHTSA complaint #10082208 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 90,000 milesGilbert, MN
STEERING:LINKAGES:ARM:IDLER AND ATTACHMENT
STEERING LINKAGE IDLER ARM FELL APART, CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING ON VEHICLE. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON BOTH SIDES OF LINKAGE. HAD JUST COME FROM A LONG TRIP ON THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. WAS TRAVELING AT LOW SPEED WHEN TIS HAPPENED, BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY. HAPPENED ONCE IN MISSISSIPPI AND ONCE AT HOME. REPLACED WITH IMPROVED PARTS FROM AUTO PARTS STORE. COULD HAVE CAUSED SERIOUS ACCIDENT IF TRAVELING AT HIGH SPEED.
NHTSA complaint #10078645 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Cumming, GA
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
FIRESTONE TREAD SEPARATION. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #10075366 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 49,000 milesViroqua, WI
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:WINDSHIELD:ELECTRICAL HEATING ELEMENT
WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK ONLY INTERMITTENTLY. FAIL TO START, OR QUIT WHILE TURNED ON. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD WHEN DRIVING IN THE RAIN. SEEMS TO HAPPEN MORE IN WARM WEATHER THAN WINTER. HAS BEENHAPPENING SINCE I BOUGHT THIS USED VEHICLE A COUPEL OF YEARS AGO, BUT IS NOT BECOMING MORE FREQUENT.
NHTSA complaint #10067640 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 24,000 milesCairo, GA
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:BRAKE FLUID LOW WARNING: LAMP
AUTOMATIC PARK FAILURE WITH P-30 1998 MOTORHOME RESULTING IN COMPLETE BREAKDOWN ON INTERSTATE NECCESSITATING EXPENSIVE TOWING.
NHTSA complaint #10045400 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 24,000 milesCairo, GA
PARKING BRAKE
AUTOMATIC PARK FAILURE WITH P-30 1998 MOTORHOME RESULTING IN COMPLETE BREAKDOWN ON INTERSTATE NECCESSITATING EXPENSIVE TOWING.
NHTSA complaint #10045400 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Easley, SCFire1 injured
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
FIRES AT THE GAS PUMPS CAUSED BY STATIC ELECTRICITY. VEHICLES ARE CATCHING FIRE WHILE ATTEMPTING TO FUEL VEHICLE. FEWER VEHICLES DOES NOT PROPERLY GROUND WHEN FUEL NOZZLE INSERTED INTO FILL SPOUT OF VEHICLE. I HAVE PERFORMED A STUDY TO SHOW DIFFERENCE BETWEEN OLDER FUEL SPOUTS WITH A GROUNDING CABLE AND NEWER SPOUTS THAT DO NOT HAVE CABLE. ALSO, THE MATERIAL OF THE SPOUTS HAVE CHANGED FROM ALL METAL TO A METAL WITH A PLASTIC INSERT. THIS WOULD PREVENT VEHICLE FROM BEING GROUNDED. IN MY STUDY, I FOUND MANY DIFFERENT MAKES AND MODELS OF VEHICLES CONTAINING THESE TYPE FILL SPOUTS. I ALSO HAD MY FINDINGS CONFIRMED BY A PROFESSOR OF ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING FROM A LOCAL UNIVERSITY.
NHTSA complaint #10041512 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FIRES AT THE GAS PUMPS CAUSED BY STATIC ELECTRICITY. VEHICLES ARE CATCHING FIRE WHILE ATTEMPTING TO FUEL VEHICLE. FEWER VEHICLES DOES NOT PROPERLY GROUND WHEN FUEL NOZZLE INSERTED INTO FILL SPOUT OF VEHICLE. I HAVE PERFORMED A STUDY TO SHOW DIFFERENCE BETWEEN OLDER FUEL SPOUTS WITH A GROUNDING CABLE AND NEWER SPOUTS THAT DO NOT HAVE CABLE. ALSO, THE MATERIAL OF THE SPOUTS HAVE CHANGED FROM ALL METAL TO A METAL WITH A PLASTIC INSERT. THIS WOULD PREVENT VEHICLE FROM BEING GROUNDED. IN MY STUDY, I FOUND MANY DIFFERENT MAKES AND MODELS OF VEHICLES CONTAINING THESE TYPE FILL SPOUTS. I ALSO HAD MY FINDINGS CONFIRMED BY A PROFESSOR OF ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING FROM A LOCAL UNIVERSITY.
NHTSA complaint #10041512 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 60,000 milesSalt Lake City, UT
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:SWITCH/WIRING
WINDSHIELD WIPERS WON'T TURN ON. WHEN YOU MANUALLY START THEM BY MOVING WIPER, THEN THEY START.
NHTSA complaint #10039486 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 90,000 milesWest Covina, CA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
DEX COOL DETERIATION OF COOLANT SYSTEM.
NHTSA complaint #10030492 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 66,000 milesSouth Lake Tahoe, CA
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
INTERNMITTMENT OPERATION OF WINDSHIELD WIPERS.
NHTSA complaint #10028850 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Pineville, KY
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL SUDDENLY STOP WORKING WHEN IT IS RAINING. THEY WILL COME BACK ON AFTER A FEW MINUTES OR MAYBE NOT AT ALL. YESTERDAY THEY DID NOT COME ON AT ALL, TODAY THEY WORKED FOR ABOUT AN HOUR AND THEN THEY JUST STOP. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR THE LAST MONTH. THE REAR WIPERS DO FINE. *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10023303 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 60,000 milesRochester, MN
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
ON 4 DIFFERENT OCCASSIONS THE "CLUSTER" (DASHBOARD DISPLAY) HAS GONE OUT ON US. NO SPEEDOMETER, NO GAS GUAGE, NO BLINKERS, NOTHING. WE'VE RETURNED IT TO THE DEALER EACH TIME. THIS LAST TIME, 12/26/02, THEY REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING FOR US.
NHTSA complaint #10000382 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 60,000 milesRochester, MN
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ON 4 DIFFERENT OCCASSIONS THE "CLUSTER" (DASHBOARD DISPLAY) HAS GONE OUT ON US. NO SPEEDOMETER, NO GAS GUAGE, NO BLINKERS, NOTHING. WE'VE RETURNED IT TO THE DEALER EACH TIME. THIS LAST TIME, 12/26/02, THEY REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING FOR US.
NHTSA complaint #10000382 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.