FaultScore report
Owners have filed 19 complaints about the 1998 GMC Sierra 2500 with NHTSA between 1998 and 2014. The largest single group is the brakes. Across this model's run it ranks 30 of 30 worst.
FaultScore 11/100
Higher is worse. Measured against the other years of the GMC Sierra 2500.
How this is worked out19
Complaints
0
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
59,283 mi
Median mileage at failure
Half of reported failures happened before this
14%
Failed under 36,000 miles
Inside a typical bumper-to-bumper warranty
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.
Click any bar to open that year's report.
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Median failure at 2,000 miles
Median failure at 169,641 miles
Median failure at 163,500 miles
Median failure at 280,000 miles
Median failure at 40,000 miles
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all complaints include one.
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.
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
POWER TRAIN
THE TRUCK SHUT OFF NO POWER BRAKES, STEERING. THIS HAPPENED WHILE PULLING A TRAILER. THE GMC DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THE SHUT OFF WAS THE RESULT OF A PUMP MOUNTED DRIVER (PMD) FAILURE ON THE 6.5L DIESEL MOTOR. VERY UNSAFE SHOULD HAVE RESULTED IN A ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #10664566 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
THE TRUCK SHUT OFF NO POWER BRAKES, STEERING. THIS HAPPENED WHILE PULLING A TRAILER. THE GMC DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THE SHUT OFF WAS THE RESULT OF A PUMP MOUNTED DRIVER (PMD) FAILURE ON THE 6.5L DIESEL MOTOR. VERY UNSAFE SHOULD HAVE RESULTED IN A ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #10664566 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
THE TRUCK SHUT OFF NO POWER BRAKES, STEERING. THIS HAPPENED WHILE PULLING A TRAILER. THE GMC DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THE SHUT OFF WAS THE RESULT OF A PUMP MOUNTED DRIVER (PMD) FAILURE ON THE 6.5L DIESEL MOTOR. VERY UNSAFE SHOULD HAVE RESULTED IN A ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #10664566 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
THE HORN SUDDENLY QUIT WORKING . I CHECKED ALL ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS AND FOUND THAT THE HORN IT'S SELF HAS FAILED. I HAVE NOT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM TO THIS POINT.
NHTSA complaint #10278319 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY
WINDSHIELD WIPERS BEGAN TO FAIL SUDDENLY ON AND OFF WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN AND EVENTUALLY QUIT WORKING ALL TOGETHER. I CHECKED WITH THE DEALER FOR RECALLS AND FOUND THAT THERE WERE RECALLS FOR THIS PROBLEM ON CHEVY & GMC TRUCKS FROM 1994 TO 1996. MY TRUCK IS A 1998 BUT IT WAS BUILT IN 1997. I WAITED FOR THE RECALL TO BE EXTENDED HOWEVER I FINALLY SPENT $60.00 AND REPLACED THE DEFECTIVE PART. I KNOW 3 OTHER PEOPLE WITH 1998 CHEVY/GMC TRUCKS WHO HAVE ALL HAD THIS PROBLEM. ONE RESULTED IN THE DEATH OF A CHILD AND THE IMPRISONMENT OF THE DRIVER WHO WAS UNABLE TO FILE A COMPLAINT.
NHTSA complaint #10278318 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
THE VEHICLE'S FUEL INJECTIONS SYSTEM IS LEAKING. AS A RESULT, FUEL WAS SPRAYING OVER THE WHOLE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CAUSE HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED.
NHTSA complaint #10074423 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT:SEAL
CONSUMER STATED THAT REAR SEALS WERE LEAKING. CONSUMER PURCHASED VEHICLE USED, AND WAS TOLD THAT SEALS WERE REPLACED AT 30000 MILES BY THE ORIGINAL OWNER. CURRENTLY, THESE SEALS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. CONSUMER INDICATED THAT THE SEALS WERE LEAKING GREASE OR OIL WHICH CAUSED THE BRAKES TO GRAB AND RELEASE, GRAB AND RELEASE WHEN TRYING TO COME TO A STOP. THIS WAS A SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE ONE DAY VEHICLE MIGHT NOT STOP AT ALL. *AK
NHTSA complaint #10057686 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
CONSTANT REAR BRAKE FAILURE WITH HEAVY BRAKING ON ROUGH ROADS. CAN BE DUPLICATED AS DESIRED.
NHTSA complaint #10053039 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
KNOCK IN 5.7 G.M. MOTOR WITH 60,000 MILES. I WAS TOLD THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND IT WOULD GO AWAY AFTER THE TRUCK IS STARTED COLD THIS IS NORMAL. HOW CAN THIS BE NORMAL? HOW CAN GM GET AWAY WITH THIS? I BOUGHT THE TRUCK NEW IN 1998 AND HAVE ALL THE OIL CHANGE RECORDS AT EVERY 3000 MILES. NOW AROUND 70,000 I WILL BE LOOKING TO PUT IN A NEW MOTOR. IS THERE ANY PLACE I CAN GO FOR HELP ON THIS PROBLEM AND DO YOU HAVE OTHER COMPLAINTS?
NHTSA complaint #10010369 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STOP FRONT BRAKES OVERPOWERED REAR BRAKES IN WHICH ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM KICKED IN AND CAUSED COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKING ABILITY. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER HAS REPLACED BRAKE SHOES AND DRUMS. BUT, PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #877290 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
UPON ATTEMPTING TO BRAKE FRONT BRAKES OVER POWERED REAR BRAKES CAUSING ANTI- LOCK BRAKES TO KICK IN, AND RESULTING IN COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKING ABILITY. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER HAS REPLACED PARTS, BUT PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #877293 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM
WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STOP FRONT BRAKES OVERPOWERED REAR BRAKES IN WHICH ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM KICKED IN AND CAUSED COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKING ABILITY. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER HAS REPLACED BRAKE SHOES AND DRUMS. BUT, PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #877290 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE
WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER NOTICE SEVERE DRIVELINE VIBRATION WHICH SHAKES THE STEERING WHEEL AND TRUCK, DEALER ROTATED AND BALANCED THE TIRE DURING 3000 MILE CHECK UP, VEHICLE RAN A LITTLE BETTER, BUT STILL VIBRATED.
NHTSA complaint #784467 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHILE DRIVING STEPPED ON BRAKE PEDAL, AND PEDAL WENT DOWN HALFWAY, THE REST WAS ROCK HARD, AND VEHICLE EXPERIENCED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *AK
NHTSA complaint #862962 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ERRATIC OPERATION OF BRAKE SYSTEM, CAUSING BRAKE FAILURE. REPORTING THIS TO NHTSA.
NHTSA complaint #844902 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE ABS DOES NOT CATCH, AND THE VEHICLE KEEPS GOING. DEALER HAS NOT FIXED THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #828779 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHILE TRAVELING CONSUMER TRIED TO MAKE A SUDDEN STOP. PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FLOORBOARD AND VEHICLE CONTINUED TO TRAVEL. THEN SLOWLY CAME TO A STOP. PLEASE PROVIDEFURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #825959 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
POWER STEERING WILL NOT TURN THE WHEELS WHEN VEHICLE IS ON AN INCLINE/DECLINE.
NHTSA complaint #534817 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK
ANTI-LOCK BRAKE FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #534817 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.