RoadVitals

1998 Chevrolet C/K 3500

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
9
Latest Aug 21, 2012
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
0
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
1
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0

Overview

Our database contains 9 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1998 Chevrolet C/K 3500, most frequently naming the visibility, brakes and engine categories. 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 1 manufacturer communication is on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Visibility433.3%
  • Brakes216.7%
  • Engine18.3%
  • Body & structure18.3%
  • Steering18.3%
  • Tires & wheels18.3%
  • Other / unspecified18.3%
  • Electrical18.3%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

No recalls in our database for this model year

That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

EA02005ClosedEngineering Analysis

DRIVER DOOR ELECTRICAL FIRES

Opened May 17, 2002
Closed May 1, 2003

BY LETTER DATED MARCH 19, 2003, THE MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED NHTSA OF THE DECISION TO INITATE A SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN ON SELECTED VEHICLES WITHIN THE SUBJECT POPULATION.THE CAMPAIGN INVOLVES 507,000 C/K AND M/L VEHICLES BUILT DURING MODEL YEARS 1997-1998.THE RECALL INVOLVES VEHICLE MODELS WITH HIGH INCIDENT RATES AND BUILT AT SELECTED ASSEMBLY PLANTS.A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR TO THE DEFECT WASINHERENT VARIATIONS IN ASSEMBLY CONDITIONS, WORKER SKILL LEVELS ANDPROCESSES THAT EXIST FROM ONE ASSEMBLY LOCATION TO ANOTHER.TO REMEDY THE DEFECT, DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED JUMPER HARNESS TO THE ELECTRIC OUTSIDE REARVIEW MIRROR SWITCH.NHTSA HAS ASSIGNED CAMPAIGN NO. 03V-093 TO THE RECALL.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEMLed to recall 03V093000

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 9
Brakes
Filed Aug 21, 2012

BRAKE LINES RESTING ON TOP OF CHASSIS IN DRIVER'S FRONT WHEEL WELL CORRODED AND BREACHED/LEAKED BRAKE FLUID. VEHICLE IS IN MICHIGAN. *TR

NHTSA ID
10471670
Incident
Jan 19, 2009
Mileage
125,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Sep 7, 2007

MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK WHEN THEY FEEL LIKE IT. SOMETIMES THEY WON'T TURN ON OTHER TIMES THEY WON'T TURN OFF. I HAVE HAD THEM LOOKED AT SEVERAL TIMES AND TO NO AVAIL. I HAVE READ ON THIS SITE OF THE EXACT SAME ISSUE WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE SAME YEAR AND MODEL. THIS IS DANGEROUS AND SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO. PERHAPS A RECALL IS NOT THE BEST WAY TO RESOLVE THIS BUT SOME GUIDANCE ON HOW TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. HAVING A GARAGE DO THE DIAGNOSIS IS VERY EXPENSIVE. I LOVE MY TRUCK BUT THIS PROBLEM MAKES DRIVING VERY DANGEROUS. *TR *UPDATED 12/12/07 *BF UPDATED 12/12/07 *TR

NHTSA ID
10202177
Incident
Feb 10, 2006
Mileage
65,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Sep 5, 2005

ABS LOCKS UP AT LOW SPEEDS. *JB

NHTSA ID
10135328
Incident
May 13, 2004
Mileage
30,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Oct 25, 2004

TREAD SEPARATED ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASSIONS. *AK *JB

NHTSA ID
10092070
Incident
Sep 14, 2004
Visibility
Filed Nov 10, 2003

MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK WHEN THEY FEEL LIKE IT. I HAVE HAD THEM LOOKED AT SEVERAL TIMES AND TO NO AVAIL. I HAVE READ ON THIS SITE OF THE EXACT SAME ISSUE WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE SAME YEAR AND MODEL. THIS IS DANGEROUS AND SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO. ALSO IT HAPPENS ON ANOTHER CHEVROLET MODEL TRUCK WE HAVE. SEEMS TO ME IT IS A REPEATATIVE ISSUE.*AK

NHTSA ID
10045880
Incident
Jul 1, 2002
Mileage
100,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Aug 11, 2003

CONSUMER STATED WHILE HE WAS ON VACATION, DRIVING 1 TON PICKUP TRUCK,IT RAN HOT AND STOPPED RUNNING. THIS WAS ON JULY 4, 2003 WEEKEND AND NO ONE WAS AVAILABLE TO HELP. AFTER CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO FIND A DEALERSHIP, THEY FOUND THAT THE TRUCK HAD OVERHEATED, CAUSING THE WIRES TO FUSE TOGETHER. DEALER TOLD HIM THIS HAPPENED BECAUSE THE WIRES WERE TOO CLOSE TO THE MANIFOLD WHERE THEY GET EXTRA HOT AND FUSE TOGETHER. DEALERSHIP THOUGHT THAT THE WIRES SHOULD SOME HOW BE REROUTED SO THEY WERE NOT SO CLOSE TO THE MANIFOLD. CONSUMER WOULD LIKE HELP WITH REPAIR OF TRUCK BECAUSE HE IS 70 YEARS OF AGE, AND THE TRUCK WILL COST APPROXIMATELY $2000-3000 TO REPAIR. PLEASE HELP.*AK

NHTSA ID
10033643
Incident
Aug 11, 2003
Other / unspecifiedTires & wheelsVisibility
Filed Aug 6, 2003

I HAVE A 1998 CHEVY CK3500 4X4 DUALLY, THIS TRUCK HAS 50,000 MILES ON IT AND HAS NEVER BEEN USED FOR TOWING. WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY IN RAINY CONDITIONS NOT ONLY DID THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOP WORKING, THE TRANSFER CASE LOCKED UP, THE REAR TIRES LOCKED UP AND WE HAD TO SWERVE OFF THE ROAD, WE THOUGHT IT WAS A BRAKE PROBLEM AT FIRST BUT IT IS THE TRANSFER CASE, THIS ALMOST CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT ON THE TURNPIKE, THIS TRUCK HAS BEEN BABIED AND SERVICED REGULARLY. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS SOMETIMES WORK NOW, AND WE WILL TAKE APART THE TRANSFER CASE AND SEE WHAT HAPPENED WITH IT.

NHTSA ID
10030959
Incident
Aug 5, 2003
Mileage
50,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Jun 3, 2003

I HAVE A 1998 CHEVROLET 3500 CREW CAB 4X4. MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING WHILE I WAS DOING 65 MPH DOWN THE INTERSTATE PULLING MY BOAT. I PULLED OVER, GOT OUT AND TRIED TO FIX THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND THEY WOULD COME ON AND STOP AGAIN. IT DID THIS 4-5 TIMES AND THEN THEY WOULDN'T COME ON AT ALL. I HAD TO DRIVE ALL THE WAY HOME, ANOTHER 45 MINUTES, IN THE POURING RAIN ON THE INTERSTATE WITH NO WINDSHIELD WIPERS. I HAVE A LETTER HERE FROM THE CHEVROLET MOTORS DIVISION CENTRAL OFFICE SAYING THAT CERTAIN VEHICLES MAY HAVE A WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR THAT FAILS DUE TO CRACKED SOLDER JOINTS ON THE CONTROLLER CIRCUIT BOARD. THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT IS WRONG WITH MY TRUCK BUT MY TRUCK IS NOT LISTED ON THIS LETTER. I CALLED MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. THIS NEEDS TO BE FIXED AND OBVIOUSLY ITS A PROBLEM THAT IS OCCURRING IN A LOT OF GM/CHEVROLET VEHICLES. WHY ISN'T MY TRUCK LISTED ON THIS LETTER? THIS COULD HAVE BEEN RESULTED IN A TRAGEDY YESTERDAY AND SINCE I KNOW THIS IS AN OUTSTANDING PROBLEM, I BELIEVE MY TRUCK AND PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED ALSO. *NLM

NHTSA ID
10020969
Incident
Jun 2, 2003
Mileage
56,740 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

010604037

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN REGARDING FUEL TRANSFER PUMP INOPERATIVE. *TT

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Chevrolet C/K 3500 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
1999400—
1998Viewing901—
1996400—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.