RoadVitals

1998 Chevrolet C/K Pickups

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.
78
Latest Aug 31, 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.
1
Latest Mar 7, 2003
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.
2
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.
2
3 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 78 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1998 Chevrolet C/K Pickups, most frequently naming the visibility, brakes and engine categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; 2 NHTSA investigations name it; and 3 manufacturer communications are 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

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

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
03V093000

VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR

Mar 7, 2003
507,171 units potentially affected
The defect: CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, MINI VANS, AND PICKUP TRUCKS MAY DEVELOP A SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE ELECTRIC OUTSIDE REARVIEW MIRROR SWITCH.
The risk: IF THIS WERE TO HAPPEN, IT COULD RESULT IN AN INOPERATIVE SWITCH, HEAT DAMAGE TO THE DRIVER'S DOOR, AND/OR IGNITION OF COMPONENTS IN THE DRIVER'S DOOR AND A SUBSEQUENT VEHICLE FIRE WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED JUMPER HARNESS TO THE ELECTRIC OUTSIDE REARVIEW MIRROR SWITCH. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON APRIL 24, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020 OR GMC AT 1-800-462-8782.
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.Manufacturer number 03006View 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
PE01001ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

VACUUM BRAKE BOOSTER

Opened Jan 8, 2001
Closed May 22, 2001

ALLEGED THAT THE VACUUM BRAKE BOOSTER CAN FAIL RESULTING IN LOSS OF BRAKE EFFECTIVENESS AND EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCES.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

Recent owner complaints

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

View all 78
Steering
Filed Aug 31, 2012

WHILE DRIVING THE POWER STEERING GAVE A QUICK LOCK UP AND LOST POWER STEERING TOOK PUMP OFF AND PULLEY AND SHAFT FELL OUT OF PUMP. *TR

NHTSA ID
10473232
Incident
Aug 31, 2012
Mileage
72,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Apr 17, 2010

BRAKE FAILURE ON 2 SEPARATE OCCASIONS DUE TO BRAKE LINE RUPTURES...ONCE 6' BELOW THE MASTER CYLINDER AND 8 MONTHS LATER ON A LINE TO A REAR BRAKE. BOTH TIMES LOST THE PEDAL. MY TRUCK IS A 1998 CK 1500 WITH VIRTUALLY NO BODY ROT. I WAS SURPRISED THAT #1 THERE WAS A COMPLETE LOSS OF PEDAL AND #2 A SECOND PERFORATION OCCURRED SO SOON. I WILL FILL OUT THE FORM FOR INCIDENT #1 ( JULY 2009) THE OTHER RUPTURE WAS 23 MAR 2010. *TR

NHTSA ID
10326142
Incident
Jul 30, 2009
Mileage
136,403 mi
Brakes
Filed Apr 14, 2010
Crash reported

MY 1998 CHEVY SILVERADO PICKUP TRUCK HAD A BRAKE LINE FAILURE DUE TO THE BRAKE LINE RUSTING OUT BECAUSE THE DESIGN HAS THE BRAKE LINE LAYING ON TOP OF A STEEL GUARD UNDER THE FRONT OF THE TRUCK WHERE SNOW GATHERS RATHER EASILY AND IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO INSPECT THE LINE THERE. I REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE ON A HIGHWAY DUE TO THE LINE RUPTURING WITHOUT ANY PRIOR NOTICE OF LEAKING WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES. I HAD MY TRUCK TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP AND THEY REPLACED THE LINE. THEY DISCOVERED WHERE THE RUPTURE WAS AND SAID IT IS A POOR DESIGN OF GM TO PLACE A LINE WHERE IT CAN RUST OUT SO EASILY WITHOUT BEING DETECTED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10325648
Incident
May 1, 2009
Mileage
97,000 mi
Visibility
Filed May 7, 2009

I HATE TO SOUND REPETITIVE ,BUT I ALSO HAVE A 1998 CHEVY SILVERADO 4X4 THAT HAS A WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR PROBLEM. I ALSO THINK THAT GM SHOULD STEP-UP AND FIX THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE WHEN IT HAPPENS TO SO MANY OF THE SAME VEHICLES I FEEL AS THOUGH IT'S A FACTORY DEFECT. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR A LONG TIME. THE TRUCK DOESN'T HAVE BUT 61,000 MILES ON IT. I CONFRONTED THEM ABOUT IT AND THEY WOULDN'T HELP ME OUT. THAT'S WHY I HAVE A TOYOTA ,THAT'S MADE IN THE USA, SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY. GOD BLESS THE USA !!! *TR

NHTSA ID
10267909
Incident
May 7, 2009
Mileage
21,000 mi
Steering
Filed May 19, 2008

STEERING: I AM HAVING PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING WHEN TURNING RIGHT DURING A LONG TURN, IT FEELS LIKE I HIT A PATCH OF ICE OR LIKE SOMEONE GRAB HE STEERING WHEEL & JERK IT TO THE RIGHT. THIS PROBLEM DOES NOT SEEM TO BE GETTING WORST BUT I DO NOT LIKE THE FEEL. SOMEONE WHO DOES NOT KNOW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM WHEN DRIVING THE TRUCK COULD OVER STEER. *TR

NHTSA ID
10228246
Incident
Sep 27, 2007
Mileage
39,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Jan 29, 2008

1 WINDSHIELD WIPERS INTERMENTENT. 2 VERY DANGEROUS WHEN DRIVING IN RAIN. 3 REMOVED AND REPLACED WIPPER MOTOR CIRCUIT BOARD AND COVER. *CN

NHTSA ID
10216373
Incident
Jul 22, 2007
Mileage
69,755 mi
Brakes
Filed Dec 13, 2007

MY VEHICLE HAS THE PROBLEM DESCRIBED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN #05V379000. MY ANTILOCK BRAKES ACTIVATE AT LOW SPEED MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO STOP MY TRUCK. *TR

NHTSA ID
10211869
Incident
Oct 10, 2006
Mileage
90,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Oct 25, 2006

I HAVE A 1998 CHEVY PICKUP TRUCK WITH ANTI-LOCK BRAKES. FOR THE LAST 2 YEARS, THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES WOULD ACTIVATE WHENEVER THE VEHICLE IS MOVING AT SPEEDS LESS THAN 10 MPH; THIS MAKES IT DIFFICULT WHEN TRYING TO STOP AT SLOW SPEEDS. I RECENTLY FOUND OUT THAT 1999 & 2000 CHEVY PICKUP TRUCKS HAVE A RECALL FOR THE SAME ABS PROBLEM THAT I AM EXPERIENCING WITH MY 1998 TRUCK. I WENT TO THE DEALER TO DISCUSS THIS RECALL WITH THEM AND THEY SAID THAT IT WAS CAUSED BY THE SPEED SENSOR AND THAT IT WAS THE SAME PROBLEM THAT THE RECALL WAS ADDRESSING, BUT BECAUSE MY TRUCK WAS A 1998, THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING UNLESS CHEVROLET GAVE THEM THE OK. I WENT TO CHEVROLET'S CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD NOT COVER IT UNDER THE RECALL. I TALKED TO ANOTHER OWNER OF A 1998 CHEVY PICKUP AND HIS TRUCK HAD THE SAME ABS PROBLEM. HIS SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM WAS REMOVING THE ABS FUSE. MY CONCERN IS THAT CHEVROLET HAS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE 1998 ABS SYSTEM AS WELL, BUT IN THE INTEREST OF SAVING MONEY, THEY ARE NOT INCLUDING IT IN THEIR RECALL. I FEEL THAT SINCE 1998 VEHICLES HAVE THE SAME ANTI-LOCK BRAKE ISSUES AS THE 1999 AND 2000 VEHICLES, 1998 VEHICLES SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AS WELL. *NM

NHTSA ID
10171837
Incident
Oct 25, 2006
Mileage
80,000 mi

Manufacturer communications

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

03006

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

ELECTRIC OUTSIDE REARVIEW MIRROR SWITCH SHORT CIRCUIT. *TT

031403

VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR

INSTALLING A FUSE JUMPER HARNESS TO CORRECT A SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE ELECTRIC OUTSIDE REARVIEW MIRROR SWITCH. *TT *JB

010856004

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE SECURITY LAMP ILLUMINATES WHILE DRIVING; THE ENGINE CRANKS BUT WILL NOT START; AND / OR THE ENGINE STARTS THEN STALLS AND THE SECURITY LAMP IS FLASHING. *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 Pickups by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2002140448.9
2001240548.8
2000341653.7
1999371253.3
1998Viewing781246.2
1997721244.1
1996221243.6
1995231249.7
1994521143.1
1993120029.4
1992700—
1991600—
1990100—

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.