1998 Chevrolet Express Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1998 Chevrolet Express, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Tires & wheels624.0%
- Brakes416.0%
- Body & structure312.0%
- Seat belts312.0%
- Interior & seats28.0%
- Engine28.0%
- Fuel system28.0%
- Suspension28.0%
- Visibility14.0%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
I NOTICED A CONTINUOUS TIRE THUMP" AND STOPPED THE VEHICAL AND CHECKED THE TIRES. THE LEFT FRONT TIRE HAD A FLAT SPOT IN THE CENTER OF THE TREAD, ABOUT 2IN X 1.5 IN. THERE WERE NO OTHER ABNORMATITIES. AFTER TRAVELING ABOUT 30 MORE MILES THE "THUMP" GOT ALOT MORE APPARENT AND I HEARD A LOUD "CLINKING" NOISE. I STOPPED AND INSPECTED THE TIRE AND FOUND THE TREAD WAS SEPARATING FROM THE TIRE OVER ABOUT A 12 IN. OF LENGTH WHERE THE STEEL BELT STOPS AT THE SIDE WALL. THE TREAD WAS STILL INTACT. I BELEIVE THAT IF I HAD NOT STOPPED WHEN I DID THAT TOTAL SEPERATION OF THE TREAD WOULD HAVE OCCURED WITHIN THE NEXT MILE OR SO. I HAVE THE TIRE IF YOU NEED TO INSPECT IT AND/OR I CAN SEND YOU PHOTOS .*AK (DOT NUMBER: VN1181A098 TIRESIZE: LT 245/ 75)
AIR TEMPERATURE 100 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT, AIR PRESSURE IN TIRE CHECKED AT 80 PSI COLD, SPEED 60MPH. THIS IS THE THIRD TIRE OF THIS SIZE AND MAKE, MADE IN CANADA. THIS ONE AND OTHER TWO HAD ABOUT 9 TO 10 THOUSAND MILES ON THE ROAD. EACH SUFFERED A TREAD SEPARATION. OTHERS HAD ODI#735190. *AK (DOT NUMBER: TPC 2012MS TIRESIZE: 24575R16 E)
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN TRYING TO APPLY THE BRAKES THE BRAKE PEDAL WILL GO TO THE FLOOR CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO HAVE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER NOTIFIED TS
ONGOING PROBLEM WITH EXCESSIVE WEAR WITHIN THE INSIDE OF BRAKE PADS. TOTAL OF 7 SETS OF PADS HAVE BEEN REPLACED WITHIN A YEAR. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND WAS UNABLE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEMS. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR HINGE BROKE COMPLETELY OFF WITHOUT EXCESSIVE FORCE BEING APPLIED. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THIS OCCURRED BECAUSE THE DOOR WAS NOT FREQUENTLY USED. IN AN ATTEMPT TO REPAIR THE HINGE, THE DEALERSHIP MADE THE PROBLEM WORSE. *AK THE DEALERSHIP STATED THE PIN SEIZED UP DUE TO NO LUBRICATION. *JB
THE DOOR HINGES FROZE UP AFTER A PERIOD OF TIME. THE CONSUMER HAD TO USE EXCESSIVE FORCE TO CLOSE THE DOOR WHICH CAUSED THE DOOR TO BE MISALIGNED. *JB PH *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE PROBLEM IS IN BUCKLE FAILURES AND RETRACTOR FAILURES. RIVERSIDE VANS (CONVERSION CO.) SAID THEY HAVE HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH THESE BELTS. I HAVE HAD 4 FAILURES. MFR. IS ATWOOD MOBILE PRODUCTS. *AK
VARIOUS SEAT BELTS (RETRACTORS AND BUCKLES) HAVE FAILED. CONVERSION BY RIVERSIDE VANS, COLON, MI. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
ENGINE SHAKES AND RATTLES, ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATES, VEHICLE STALLED WHILE TRAVELING 60 MPH, VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN REPAIR SHOP DUE TO FUEL INJECTOR FAILURE, HOWEVER PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS. SIDE CARGO DOOR WILL NOT LATCH AT BOTTOM, DEALER STATED RIGHT SIDE REAR DOOR LATCH LINK WAS MISALIGNED. *SLC
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ABOUT 25 MPH, THERE WAS A FIRE UNDER THE DASHBOARD. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO PUT OUT FIRE. VAN WAS CHECKED BY DEALERSHIP. FIRE WAS CAUSED BY A DISPLACEMENT OF THE BOX IN THE WIRING FOR THE AUTOMATIC LOCKING SYSTEM. DEALER REFUSES TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY SINCE THEY DID NOT INSTALL THE PART THAT CAUSED THE FIRE. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
FAILURE OF INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET CAUSING LOSS OF COOLANT AT 42000 MILES AND AGAIN AT 90008 MILES. *NM
ENGINE SHAKES AND RATTLES, ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATES, VEHICLE STALLED WHILE TRAVELING 60 MPH, VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN REPAIR SHOP DUE TO FUEL INJECTOR FAILURE, HOWEVER PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS. SIDE CARGO DOOR WILL NOT LATCH AT BOTTOM, DEALER STATED RIGHT SIDE REAR DOOR LATCH LINK WAS MISALIGNED. *SLC
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
SMELLED GASOLINE AND SAW FUEL DRIPPING FROM SIDE AND BOTTOM OF VAN...VAN SPUTTERED TO STOP, LOST POWER STEERING BUT WAS ABLE TO COAST TO CLOSED GARAGE PARKING LOT...DETERMINED PLASTIC FUEL LINE WAS PUNCTURED--THEY TOLD ME PART(FUEL LINE) WAS DISCONTINUED!??
ENGINE SHAKES AND RATTLES, ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATES, VEHICLE STALLED WHILE TRAVELING 60 MPH, VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN REPAIR SHOP DUE TO FUEL INJECTOR FAILURE, HOWEVER PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS. SIDE CARGO DOOR WILL NOT LATCH AT BOTTOM, DEALER STATED RIGHT SIDE REAR DOOR LATCH LINK WAS MISALIGNED. *SLC
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING THE REAR AXLE FAILED CAUSING OIL TO LINK FROM THE VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED TS
WHEN DRIVING ON A BUMPY ROAD OR MAKING A RIGHT TURN THE CAR MAKES A 'HONKING' NOICE IN FRONT. *AK( DOT NUMBER: M3DD TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
EXTERIOR REARVIEW MIRRORS SHAKE SO VIOLENTLY THAT DRIVER CANNOT JUDGE THE DISTANCE OF OTHER VEHICLES. THE PROBLEM WAS REPORTED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND MANUFACTURER. DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .