1998 Gmc W3500: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
0 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
Not available median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1998 model year. Data updated: . 0 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
No owner complaints are recorded for this selection. A complaint can name multiple components.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
No usable records for this chart.
| Category | Count |
|---|
No records.
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
No usable failure mileage is recorded. 0 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
No usable records for this chart.
| Category | Count |
|---|
No records.
Pattern summary
There is not enough complaint evidence to summarize patterns.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
98V151002 · Steering:Gear Box (Other Than Rack And Pinion)
Reported: 1998-07-06 (July 6, 1998)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: TRUCK CHASSIS. THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT-TO-STEERING BOLT WAS NOT TIGHTENED PROPERLY DURING ASSEMBLY. THIS CAN CAUSE STEERING NOISE, LOOSE STEERING, AND AN UNCENTERED STEERING WHEEL.
Consequence: LOSS OF STEERING COULD RESULT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE STEERING SHAFT AND RETIGHTEN TO THE SPECIFIED TORQUE.
NHTSA campaign record ↗Vehicle analysis explorer
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
Data completeness
0 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-09-30.
Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.
Problems by model year
Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.
| Component | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2003 | 2004 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unknown Or Other | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 1100.0%ODI 11536143To whom it may concern, Last month in California I purchased an automotive hardware/software tool from an Indiana based company through Amazon which connects to the OBD port. After using the tool, the airbags were disabled on two of my vehicles requiring replacement. At first, I didn't realize that the tool caused the error, but when I moved my cellular telephone holder, I noticed the error light. Then I drove the other auto and realized that it was no coincidence that both airbags were disabled. After leaving bad reviews, the company fina… | 1100.0%ODI 10154442RECEIVED RECALL ON WEIGHT LOAD LIMITS WHICH MAKES MY VEHICLE NOT MEET EXPECTED STANDARDS WHEN PURCHASED. *JB | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. |
| Fuel System, Other:Storage:Fuel Gauge System | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 1100.0%ODI 10103775 · 55,000 miFUEL GAUGE DID NOT WORK. CONSUMER EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM WITH OTHER GM VEHICLES HE OWNED. THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM HAD NOT YET BEEN DETERMINED.*AK | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 1100.0%ODI 10367323 · 41,891 miWE RENTED A 16 FOOT BOX TRUCK IN ILLINOIS TO TRAVEL TO MA FROM BUDGET RENTAL TRUCKS AKA AVIS. WE CALCULATED THE TIME OF THE TRIP TO BE APPROXIMATELY 18 HOURS. WE HAD LEFT CHICAGO AT 3:00PM AND DECIDED TO DRIVE TILL AROUND MIDNIGHT. WE HAD DRIVEN 9 HOURS. WE SPENT THE NIGHT AT A HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS IN OHIO. WE HAD 9 MORE HOURS THE FOLLOWING DAY TO DRIVE. WE HAD BEEN DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 7 HOURS WHEN OUR TRUCK WENT INTO A TERRIBLE CONDITION, AND THE BRAKES FAILED VIOLENTLY AND WE WERE LOSING CONTROL GOING DOWN A 4% GRADE OF 5 MILES OF A MOUNTAI… | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. |
| Steering | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 1100.0%ODI 11129606 · 115,000 miAT HIGHWAY SPEED, ANY SLIGHT BUMP IN ROAD MAY CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO START VIOLENTLY SHAKING. I HAVE HEARD IT REFERENCED AS A "DEATH WOBBLE" AND THAT IS SO ACCURATE. I HAVE REPLACED ALMOST EVERYTHING - TIRES, SHOCKS, TIE ROD ASSEMBLY, TOE-IN SET, ETC. PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. PROBLEM DOESN'T HAPPEN DAILY - BUT IT HAPPENS SUDDENLY AND IS FRIGHTENING. THIS IS A BOX TRUCK CARRYING A LOAD AND WHEN THE VIOLENT SHAKING OCCURS , YOU HAVE TO HOLD TIGHTLY TO THE WHEEL AND TRY TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE FROM HIGHWAY SPEED 55 - 70MPH DOWN TO ABOUT 30MPH BEFORE… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. |
| Suspension | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 1100.0%ODI 11129606 · 115,000 miAT HIGHWAY SPEED, ANY SLIGHT BUMP IN ROAD MAY CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO START VIOLENTLY SHAKING. I HAVE HEARD IT REFERENCED AS A "DEATH WOBBLE" AND THAT IS SO ACCURATE. I HAVE REPLACED ALMOST EVERYTHING - TIRES, SHOCKS, TIE ROD ASSEMBLY, TOE-IN SET, ETC. PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. PROBLEM DOESN'T HAPPEN DAILY - BUT IT HAPPENS SUDDENLY AND IS FRIGHTENING. THIS IS A BOX TRUCK CARRYING A LOAD AND WHEN THE VIOLENT SHAKING OCCURS , YOU HAVE TO HOLD TIGHTLY TO THE WHEEL AND TRY TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE FROM HIGHWAY SPEED 55 - 70MPH DOWN TO ABOUT 30MPH BEFORE… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 1100.0%ODI 8845422 YOKOHAMA TIRES LT (P215/85R16) HAVE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION. FIRST TIRE WAS DRIVER'S INTERIOR TIRE, AND SECOND TIRE WAS PASSENGER'S EXTERIOR TIRE. WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH THIS OCCURRED.*AK DOT# B088B02R. *SLC | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. |
| Wheels | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 1100.0%ODI 11129606 · 115,000 miAT HIGHWAY SPEED, ANY SLIGHT BUMP IN ROAD MAY CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO START VIOLENTLY SHAKING. I HAVE HEARD IT REFERENCED AS A "DEATH WOBBLE" AND THAT IS SO ACCURATE. I HAVE REPLACED ALMOST EVERYTHING - TIRES, SHOCKS, TIE ROD ASSEMBLY, TOE-IN SET, ETC. PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. PROBLEM DOESN'T HAPPEN DAILY - BUT IT HAPPENS SUDDENLY AND IS FRIGHTENING. THIS IS A BOX TRUCK CARRYING A LOAD AND WHEN THE VIOLENT SHAKING OCCURS , YOU HAVE TO HOLD TIGHTLY TO THE WHEEL AND TRY TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE FROM HIGHWAY SPEED 55 - 70MPH DOWN TO ABOUT 30MPH BEFORE… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. |
Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.
Failure mileage by component
Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.
| Component | Mileage range (25th–75th percentile) | Median | Usable records | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No usable records for this analysis. | ||||
Complaint and recall timeline
Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.
Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.
Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples
| Month | Complaints | Campaigns announced | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-10 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2024-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2024-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-10 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-09 (partial) | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
Emerging complaint spikes
Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.
This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.
No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.
Equal-age model-year comparison
Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.
2008: 1 complaints · 2009: 0 complaints
| Model year | Through age 0 | Through age 1 | Through age 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2009 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Date coverage across each selected cohort
| Year | Incident dates used | Filing date fallbacks | Excluded dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2009 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.
Components reported together
Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.
| Component |
|---|
| No usable records for this analysis. |
Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.
Recurring narrative patterns
Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.
0 patterns with matching reports.
No narratives match the published patterns.