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.
The worst 1998 GMC Sierra 2500 problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Brakes8
- Transmission3
- Fuel system2
- Steering2
- Electrical1
- Engine1
- Visibility1
Specific symptoms reported on the 1998 GMC Sierra 2500
Recalls 1
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: rotor
- What is wrong
- Vehicle description: light duty pickup trucks and multi-purpose passenger vehicles. One or both front brake rotor/hubs were built with an out-of-specification gray iron that can fail during the life of the vehicle.
- Risk
- If a driver continues to drive with a cracked rotor, the cracks could continue around the wheel mounting bolt circle and ultimately result in a wheel separation.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect the rotors for a core date of "287" and, if found, replace the rotor.
Recall number 98V033000 · Recall details
Technical service bulletins for the 1998 GMC Sierra 2500 10
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- This warranty administration bulletin provides information regarding the field action courtesy...
- Service brakes
- This service bulletin provides information for maintenance cleaning of the fuel injectors and gasoline...
- Vehicle Recalls
- Expanded Availability for Remanufacture and Return (R&R) Electronic Control Modules
- Gmc/chevrolet: see docuemtn search button for owner letter
- Information regarding collapsed fuel tank including gmt 400 sierra and chevrolet pick-up
- Malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) is on; the transmission is stuck in third gear; and / or the instrument...
- This technical service bulletin states that technicians may experience difficulty in removing the...
What 1998 GMC Sierra 2500 owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
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.
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.
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.
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
Constant rear brake failure with heavy braking on rough roads. Can be duplicated as desired.
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?
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.
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.
While driving stepped on brake pedal, and pedal went down halfway, the rest was rock hard, and vehicle experienced extended stopping distance. *ak
Compare the 1998 GMC Sierra 2500
Sierra 2500 vs Ford F-250 SDSierra 2500 vs Ram 2500Sierra 2500 vs Chevrolet Silverado 2500
Other model years
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Questions about the 1998 GMC Sierra 2500
Is the 1998 GMC Sierra 2500 reliable?
Owners have filed 15 complaints about the 1998 GMC Sierra 2500, fewer than a typical Sierra 2500 model year.
What is the most common problem with the 1998 GMC Sierra 2500?
Brakes, with 8 complaints. Next is transmission (3).
How many recalls does the 1998 GMC Sierra 2500 have?
1 recall, covering service brakes, hydraulic.
Was there a recall on the 1998 GMC Sierra 2500 brakes?
Yes, 1 recall: 98V033000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.
What year does the GMC Sierra 2500 have bad brakes?
The GMC Sierra 2500 model years with the most brakes complaints are 2002 (78 complaints), 2003 (73 complaints) and 2001 (62 complaints).
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