FaultScore

1998 GMC Sierra engine problems

12 of the 230 complaints about the 1998 GMC Sierra are about the engine — 5% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 79,788 miles.

A

12

Complaints

0

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Gasoline 5 41.7%
Engine AND Engine Cooling 2 16.7%
Engine 1 8.3%
Exhaust System 1 8.3%
Emission Control 1 8.3%
Cooling System 1 8.3%
Hoses/Lines/Piping/Fittings 1 8.3%

Engine & Cooling across every GMC Sierra year

1996 12 7.4%
1997 19 11.7%
1998 12 7.4%
1999 19 11.7%
2000 22 13.5%
2001 24 14.7%
2002 25 15.3%
2003 13 8.0%
2005 17 10.4%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 79,788 miles Quesnel, UN

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

THE ENGINE STARTED TO LOSE POWER ON A HILL AND BY THE TIME WE GOT TO THE TOP THE ENGINE WAS MAKING A TRERRIBLE SOUND. ALL THE GUAGES WERE READING NORMAL. THE GMC DEALER OR EVEN HEAD OFFICE ARE NOT WILLING TO REPLACE THE MOTOR. I FEEL THAT THEY SHOULD REPLACE THE MOTOR FOR IT IS NOT OUR FAULT THAT THIS HAPPEN. WE MAIMTAINED THE TRUCK TO THE HIGHEST STANDARDS.

NHTSA complaint #10071284 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

NEW Rochelle, NY

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

THE ENGINE DIED 3 TIMES WITHIN 10 MILES WITH A LOSS OF STEERING AND BRAKES. *PH ON TWO OCCASIONS THE VEHICLE COULD BE RESTARTED AFTER THE VEHICLE SAT FOR A MINUTE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP DRIVER BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO STALL.

NHTSA complaint #10059419 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Brockton, MA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED AN EXHAUST LEAK.

NHTSA complaint #10008753 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

NEW York, NY

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON, AND THEN VEHICLE STALLS. AT TIMES VEHICLE WILL NOT RESTART. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #899585 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Stanford, VT

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

WHEN ACCELERATING SOUNDS LIKE A VIBRATING NOISE , BUT VEHICLE IS NOT VIBRATING. THIS IS A VERY UNCOMFORTABLE SOUND. *AKTHE NOISE HAS GOTTEN LOUDER AND THE VEHICLE FAILED EMMISIONS INSPECTION. NLM

NHTSA complaint #896280 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SAN Diego, CA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:HOSES/LINES/PIPING/FITTINGS

A HEATING CONNECTOR ON COOLANT LINE HAS DETERIORATED / MELTED WITHIN TWO YEARS, CAUSING COOLANT LEAKAGE. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT COVER UNDER A RECALL.

NHTSA complaint #887534 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Petersburg, IN

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL

PROBLEM WITH FUEL SYSTEM EVAC CANISTER. THE CANISTER, LOCATED IN LEFT FRONT OF ENGINE COMPARTMENT HAS A FRESH AIR VENT OPENING FOR PARTIAL VENTING OF VACUM DIRECTED TOWARDS FUEL VAPOR CONTROL. IT IS COVERED BY A LOOSE FITTING CAP. THIS UN-PROTECTED OPENING ALLOWS DIRT TO ENTER THE TOP OF THE CANISTER AND EVENTUALLY CLOG THE OPENING. WHEN THIS OCCURS THE ENTIRE VACUM FORCE IS APPARENTLY DIRECTED TO THE FUEL TANK CAUSING FUEL TANK TO COLLAPSE. AN OLDER MODEL TRUCK (I BELIEVE IT WAS A 1997) WAS EXAMINED AND A SIMILAR CANISTER FRESH AIR VENT WAS STAMPED WITH THE WORDS "AIR CLEANER" THOUGH IT TOO WAS NOT CONNECTED TO THE AIR CLEANER BUT WAS ONLY COVERED BY A LOOSE FITTING CAP. THIS PROBLEM IS PROBABLY NOT EVIDENT IN VEHICLES OPERATED ON HIGHWAY ONLY. A LOCAL SERVICE STATION, JOHN MELHISER'S AMOCO, PETERSBURG INDIANA, RELATED TO ME THAT HE KNEW OF 3 OTHER AREA PICKUPS (FARM USE) THAT EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM. SYMPTOMS OF EMMINENT FUEL TANK COLLAPSE BASED ON MY OWN EXPERIENCE ARE: 1-INCREASED VACUM IN FUEL TANK AS NOTICED WHEN REMOVING THE FUEL CAP; 2 FUEL GAGE BEGINS TO MALFUNCTION (CAUSED BY BOTTOM OF TANK BEING PUSHED UPWARD ON THE SENDING UNIT). I SUSPECT THAT THE EFFECT IS MORE PRONOUNCED AT LOWER FUEL LEVELS. I CONTACTED GM'S CUSTOMER SERVICE # JAN 26 THIS YEAR. I CONTACTED THEM AGAIN MARCH 16. THEY INDICATED THAT THE PROBLEM HAD BEEN NOTED BUT THAT NO FIRTHER ACTION WAS PLANNED. GM INDICATED THAT A "PRODUCT ALLEGATION REPORT" COULD BE FILED IF THE PROBLEM CAUSED SIGNIFICANT PROPERTY DAMAGE OR BODILY HARM. I SUGGESTED THAT THEY SHOULD AT LEAST PRODUCE A MAINTENANCE INSERT FOR THE OWNERS MANUAL AND SERVICE BULLETINS SINCE DEALERS I CHECKED WITH WERE NOT AWARE OF THE POTENTIAL FOR PLUGGING OF THE VENT AND COLLAPSE OF THE FUEL TANK. A MORE SECURE FIX WOULD BE TO VENT THE SUCTION TO THE AIR CLEANER (AS WAS APPARENTLY INTENDED ON THE EARLIER MODEL) TO ENSURE THAT FOREIGN MATTER DOES NOT CLOG THE VENT.

NHTSA complaint #742578 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EL Monte, CA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

HEATER CONNECTOR LEAKING CAUSING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. NLM

NHTSA complaint #552967 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EL Monte, CA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

OIL IS LEAKING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. NLM

NHTSA complaint #552967 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Shelbyville, KY

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

THIS PROBLEM OCCURED FIRST IN OCTOBER 1998 AND COURTESY PONTIAC, WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED DID NOT FIND THE PROBLEM! LAST WEEK UPON RETURNING FROM NEW MEXICO THE ENGINE LOST POWER IN MISSOURI AND I STOPPED AT A GASSTATION AND FOUND THAT THERE WAS NO COOLANT IN THE TANK. THIS WAS REFILLED AND ONE EXIT FURTHER THE OIL WAS CHECKED AFTER THE PROBLEM DID NOT APPEAR TO BE CORRECTED. THIS TIME NO OIL WAS IN THE ENGINE. BEFORE THE TRAVEL A GMC DEALER IN SHELBYVILLE KY DID THE MAINTENANCE ON IT, FILLING 5 QUARTS OF OIL IN!

NHTSA complaint #714374 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Middlesex, NJ

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR. WHEN TURNING THE WINDSHEILD WIPERS ON, THE MOTOR MAKES A LOT OF NOISE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS YET TO BE CONTACTED. VEHICLE ALSO HAS THE FOLLOWING PROBLEMS: ENGINE COOLANT TANK AND BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER ARE LEAKING, BRAKES AND FUEL PUMP ARE NOISY, AND PASSENGER SIDE DEFROSTER DOES NOT FLOW ENOUGH AIR. *AK

NHTSA complaint #830683 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Mastic, NY

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

VEHICLE STALLING.

NHTSA complaint #536464 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1998 GMC Sierra problems

← Full 1998 GMC Sierra report