Airbags
Filed Jul 26, 2018
PASSENGER AIR BAG EXPLODED AS I PUT MY TRUCK IN REVERSE , SITTING STILL
- NHTSA ID
- 11113865
- Incident
- Jul 10, 2018
- Mileage
- 170,000 mi
1998 Chevrolet Chevy Van
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.
10
Latest Jul 26, 2018
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.
0
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.
4
2 injuries, 0 deaths reported
Overview
Our database contains 10 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1998 Chevrolet Chevy Van, most frequently naming the brakes, body & structure and electrical categories. 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.
Complaint activity over time
When owners filed reports about this model year
View as table
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Mar 2000 | 1 | 1 |
| Jan 2005 | 1 | 2 |
| Apr 2005 | 1 | 3 |
| Jul 2005 | 1 | 4 |
| Sep 2005 | 2 | 6 |
| Jan 2006 | 1 | 7 |
| Oct 2007 | 1 | 8 |
| Aug 2014 | 1 | 9 |
| Jul 2018 | 1 | 10 |
What owners report
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
- Brakes327.3%
- Body & structure19.1%
- Electrical19.1%
- Engine19.1%
- Interior & seats19.1%
- Exterior lighting19.1%
- Seat belts19.1%
- Airbags19.1%
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.
Recent owner complaints
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
Brakes
Filed Aug 27, 2014
Crash reported
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF US SLAMMED ON HIS BRAKES I APPLIED MINE BUT I HAD NO BRAKES. THEY HAD ROTTED OUT. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10628821
- Incident
- Dec 26, 2013
- Mileage
- 76,800 mi
Electrical
Filed Oct 25, 2007
Fire reported
BOUGHT 1998 CHEVY ASTRO VAN ON MARCH 8, 2007. WE TOOK A FAMILY VACATION TO IOWA OCTOBER 1-5, 2007. ON THE WAY BACK TO TENNESSEE, ON I-64, LOCATED NEAR NASHVILLE, ILLINOIS, THE VAN BEGAN TO SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD. THINKING IT WAS JUST OVERHEATING, WE PULLED OVER AND SHUT THE ENGINE OFF. SMOKE BEGAN TO COME THROUGH THE AIR VENTS. AS WE WERE EXITING, WE NOTICED FLAMES COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD, AND WE RAN. A LARGE GUSH OF WIND CAUSED THE ENTIRE VAN TO BE ENGULFED IN FLAMES. WE LOST ALL OUR BELONGINGS AS WELL AS THE VEHICLE ITSELF. WE ARE NOT EXACTLY HIGH ON THE FINANCIAL END AND WOULD APPRECIATE ANY AND ALL HELP YOU CAN GIVE US. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10206921
- Incident
- Oct 5, 2007
- Mileage
- 98,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Jan 31, 2006
I HAVE A 1998 CHEVY ASTRO VAN THAT HAS HAD THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS QUIT RANDOMLY. I ALSO KNOW OF SEVERAL PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM ON OTHER MODEL CHEVY/GMC TRUCKS, VANS, AND CARS. THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM IS APPARENTLY A DEFECTIVE CIRCUIT BOARD IN THE WIPER MOTOR ITSELF. *JB
- NHTSA ID
- 10149159
- Incident
- Oct 23, 2005
Brakes
Filed Sep 9, 2005
Crash reported
DT: 1998 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. FAULTY ABS SYSTEM. WHEN DRIVING THE SPEED DROPPED TO 10 MPH AND THE BRAKES STOPPED WORKING. CURRENTLY, THERE IS A RECALL ON GM CHEVROLET FOR YEAR 1999 TO 2003. THE CONTACT'S CAR IS A 1998 AND IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS LISTED IN RECALL. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED THE CONTACT BUMPED INTO THE CAR IN FRONT. *AK
- NHTSA ID
- 10135942
- Incident
- Jan 1, 2005
- Mileage
- 90,000 mi
Body & structureSeat belts
Filed Sep 6, 2005
DT: THE SEAT BELT IN THE FIRST ROW MIDDLE SEAT WILL NOT STAY LATCHED, AND THE REAR SEAT BELT WILL NOT PULL OUT AT ALL. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE MAY 2004. ALSO, THERE HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH THE HATCHBACK DOOR. THE DOOR ISSUE HAD BEEN INCLUDED IN A RECALL, AND THE WORK HAD BEEN DONE BY THE PREVIOUS OWNERS. THE RECALL WORK FOR THE DOOR WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING DONE. THE SEAT BELT ISSUE WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE IS A 1998, CHEVORLET, ADVENTURE. *AK
- NHTSA ID
- 10135428
- Incident
- May 1, 2004
- Mileage
- 70,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jul 19, 2005
I HAVE CHEVY VENTURE, NOW STARTED KNOCKING ENGINE WHEN IS COLD, THIS ONE OF SYMPTOMS OF COOLING LEAKING TO ENGINE, THE DEXCOOL COOLING IS EATING INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. GM SHOULD BY THE REPAIR AND RECALL. I AM STILL NOT HAS TOTAL ENGINE FAILURE BUT IT MAY HAPPEN SOON OR LATER, I WHICH NEVER HAPPEN. THANK YOU
- NHTSA ID
- 10129351
- Incident
- Jul 1, 2005
- Mileage
- 102,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Apr 11, 2005
HEADLIGHT COVER FALLS OFF HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY. BULB IS EXPOSED TO ELEMENTS, WHICH DESTROYS THE BULB. REPLACEMENT PART, WHICH IS AN HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY, INCLUDES A HEADLIGHT BULB, COST $125-$145. THIS IS A REDICULOUS AMOUNT OF MONEY TO PAY WHEN JUST A PLASTIC COVER FALLS OFF. MAKE THE PLASTIC COVER AVAILABLE WITH A GLUE KIT FOR THE CUSTOMER TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THEN GET YOUR ENGINEERS TO FIX THE PROBLEM.*AK
- NHTSA ID
- 10116745
- Incident
- Apr 11, 2005
Manufacturer communications
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
17-NA-073
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL
This warranty administration bulletin provides information regarding the field action courtesy transportation policy.
Recalls
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL
Vehicle Recalls
130089009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECU/ECM)
Expanded Availability for Remanufacture and Return (R&R) Electronic Control Modules
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
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.