Most common 1998 GMC Sierra 3500 problems
Share of the 12 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
GMC Sierra 3500 complaints by model year
Best Sierra 3500 years: 2012, 2014, 2013. Years to avoid: 2024, 2020, 2023, 2025, 2022. Compare all years →
1998 GMC Sierra 3500 recalls (2)
Equipment adaptive/mobility
On certain vans equipped with sure-lok wheelchair securement systems, the sprocket teeth of the retractor assembly is out of alignment.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the wheelchair securement retractors as necessary. Sure-lok will handle the repairs for this campaign.
Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Disc › Rotor
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.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the rotors for a core date of "287" and, if found, replace the rotor.
What 1998 GMC Sierra 3500 owners say
Brakes
About 4 years ago I had problems with my brake booster system on my truck when the brakes failed and it was hard to stop the truck. I had the brake booster replaced two times then had to have the power steering pump replaced as this is connected to my brake system. About a year after I had this work done GMC recalled the power steering pump on my truck. Now I am have problems with this system again. If I turn my truck right or left the brake activate just like you are pushing on the brake to stop. This has almost caused me to have an accident more them once. I understand from other owners that this system has a lot of problems with it and the only way to fix it is to remove this system and replace with a different type of system. I hope you can help me and other owners to get GMC to repair our brakes.
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 GMC Sierra 3500. The contact stated that when he applied his brakes to release the gear shifter, the brake pedal went straight to the floor. The brake warning light illuminated immediately after. The contact inspected the vehicle and noticed that the brake lines had burst and needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure and current mileage was approximately 136,000. The VIN was unavailable.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1998 GMC Sierra 3500 a good car?
Based on 12 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1998 Sierra 3500 rates average: 29% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Sierra 3500 at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 1998 GMC Sierra 3500?
The brakes — 4 complaints, 33% of all complaints for this model year, most often about foundation components › drum. Next are the fuel & propulsion system (2) and wheels & tires (2).
How many recalls does the 1998 GMC Sierra 3500 have?
There are 2 recalls for the 1998 GMC Sierra 3500, the most recent from November 26, 2004 (equipment adaptive/mobility). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the GMC Sierra 3500?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2012, 2014 and 2013. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2024, 2020, 2023, 2025 and 2022. See the full GMC Sierra 3500 years comparison.
At what mileage do 1998 GMC Sierra 3500 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 136,000 miles; 0% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.