RoadVitals

1998 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Body & structure Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the body or structure system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Body & structure reportsComplaints 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.
15
Latest Sep 11, 2015
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
4%
of 361 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1998 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 15 reports on file name it.

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

Owner reports naming body or structure

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Body & structureBrakes
Filed Sep 11, 2015
Crash reported

BRAKE PEDAL GOES SPONGES AND ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. THE TRUCK HAD OVER 120,000 MILES BEFORE REAR BRAKES WERE REPLACED. IN THAT TIME I WENT THROUGH 8 SETS OF BRAKES AND ROTORS. IN 2005 I REAR ENDED A CAR AT ABOUT 30 MPH. THE BRAKES WENT TO THE FLOOR. LOCAL CHEVY DEALERSHIP REPLACED A DEFECTIVE BRAKE BOOSTER ASSEMBLE. THIS WAS THE SECOND BRAKE BOOSTER/ MASTER CYLINDER ASSEMBLY REPLACE ON MY TRUCK SINCE 2005. SINCE THEN. I HAVE LOST BRAKES ON THE TRUCK 4 MORE TIMES. FAILED BRAKE LINES (LEAK AND BREAK) BLOWN BRAKE CALIPER AND RUBBER HOSE. I AM AN ASE CERTIFIED MECHANIC. THE REAR BRAKES OF THE TRUCK DID NOT PROVIDE ANY BRAKING ASSISTANCE WHEN INSPECTED. SUSPECTED FAULT WAS A DEFECTIVE DESIGN ON THE 1500 SERIES TRUCK BRAKES. WHEN 2500 BRAKE PARTS ARE USED ( MASTER CYLINDER ASSY, PROPORTIONING VALVE, AND REAR BRAKES CHANGE TO 11" DRUMS THE BRAKE PEDAL FEELS FIRM AND THE BRAKING POWER OF THE TRUCK IS DRASTICALLY IMPROVED. I'VE OWNED THE TRUCK FOR OVER 11 YEARS AS THE SECOND OWNER I BOUGHT IT WITH VERY LOW MILES. THE BRAKES ON THE VEHICLE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN TERRIBLE. I INITIALL SPENT OVER $2,000 AT THE DEALERSHIP STRING TO BET THE BRAKES CORRECT. IN THE END THE DEALER SAID THAT "THIS IS HOW THEY ALL ARE".

NHTSA ID
10763035
Incident
Jun 1, 2005
Mileage
60,000 mi
Body & structureBrakes
Filed Nov 12, 2011

WHILE DRIVING, APPLIED BRAKES. PEDAL WENT ALMOST TO FLOOR AND REQUIRED A SIGNIFICANT DISTANCE TO STOP. NOTICED FLUID LEAKING THROUGH THE FRAME ON DRIVERS SIDE OF THE TRUCK. FOUND A PIN HOLE LEAK IN THE STEEL BRAKE LINE AT THE 45 DEGREE BEND AT REAR OF TRUCK WHERE IT OFFSETS UP TO CLEAR THE FRAME AND THEN BACK DOWN TO ITS CONNECTION BY DRIVERS REAR SHOCK. THE LEAK WAS HIDDEN BEHIND THE PLASTIC BRACKET THAT HOLDS THE STEEL LINE TO THE FRAME. THE ENTIRE BRAKE LINE RUNNING ALONG THE INSIDE OF THE FRAME HAS EXCESSIVE CORROSION. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. FORTUNATELY THIS DIDN'T OCCUR IN A PANIC STOP. *TR

NHTSA ID
10435358
Incident
Nov 11, 2011
Mileage
153,121 mi
Body & structure
Filed May 3, 2005

DRIVERS SIDE DOOR HANDLE BROKEN-WITHOUT ANY ABUSE ON OWNERS PART PLASTIC TRIM ON HANDLE BROKE CAUSING HANDLE AND LATCH TO BECOME VERY PRECARIOUS TO OPEN

NHTSA ID
10119570
Incident
May 3, 2005
Mileage
50,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Apr 19, 2005

THE CABLES ON THE LIFTGATE BROKE, CAUSING IT TO FALL, AND NOT BEING ABLE TO STAND UP. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BY CONSUMER.*AK

NHTSA ID
10118952
Incident
Nov 15, 2004
Body & structure
Filed Dec 1, 2004

THE TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES WERE ABOUT TO BREAK. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB THE CONUSMER STATED THAT GM WILL NOT REPLACE THE CABLES UNTIL A RECALL IS ISSUED. *TC

NHTSA ID
10099121
Incident
May 30, 2004
Mileage
42,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Nov 30, 2004

1998 CHEVROLET TAILGATE STRAP BROKE. *AK

NHTSA ID
10100746
Incident
Nov 15, 2004
Body & structure
Filed Apr 20, 2004

WHILE STANDING ON THE TAILGATE, THE SUPPORT CABLES BROKE. THE CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE TAILGATE. *AK *SC *JB

NHTSA ID
10065057
Incident
Mar 26, 2004
Mileage
68,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Apr 30, 2002

ONCE VEHICLE HAD STOPPED OR WHEN THE DOOR WAS OPENED GUARD FENDER THAT STOPPED ITEMS FROM COMING IN STOPS WORKED UNTIL VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, CAUSING ITEMS TO STILL COME IN.*AK

NHTSA ID
8008899
Incident
Feb 5, 2002
Body & structureSteering
Filed Sep 28, 1999

DEALER CONTACTED ON VIBRATION AROUND 42 MPH. TOLD PROBLEM WAS FRAME BEAMING AND THAT GM WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM BUT DO NOT PLAN TO ENGINEER A FIX. CAUSES TRUCK TO BOUNCE IN THE 42 - 44 MPH RANGE.

NHTSA ID
712388
Incident
Jun 5, 1999
Body & structure
Filed Feb 1, 1999

PASSENGER DOOR WOULD NOT SHUT TIGHT. YH

NHTSA ID
608929
Body & structure
Filed Oct 21, 1998

VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT AND REQUESTED DEALER TO PUT ON A FLAT BED ON VEHICLE. THE FLAT BED DEALER INSTALLED IT, CAUSING THE WEIGHT OF THE VEHICLE TO HIT THE TOP OF REAR TIRE. CONSUMER NOTIFIED DEALER, AND WAS INFORMED THAT CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO PAY ADDITIONAL MONEY TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
829288
Incident
Oct 16, 1998
Body & structureSeat belts
Filed Aug 7, 1998

THIRD DOOR IS NOT SOLID AND CREAKING/POOPING EVERY DAY. ALSO, DRIVER'S SIDE PLASTIC HOUSING WHERE THE SEAT BELT ADJUSTER IS BOLTED INTO, MAKES EXCESSIVE NOISE WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS IN THE ROAD.

NHTSA ID
780342
Body & structure
Filed May 8, 1998

3RD DOOR ON ALL 1998 CHEVROLET EXTENDED CABS KLUNKS EVERY NOW AND AGAIN, EVEN EHEN GOING OVER LITTLE BUMPS IN THE ROAD AND AROUND CORNERS AT NORMAL DRIVING SPEEDS. ALSO PLASTIC HOUSING ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE B-PILLAR AROUND REAR-SIDE POP OUT WINDOW CONSTANTLY MAKES NOISE/RATTLES BECAUSE OF PLATIC SHRINKING AND EXPANDING DUE TO HEAT/COLD.

NHTSA ID
535344
Body & structure
Filed Mar 17, 1998

PLASTIC DRIVER'S SIDE PILLAR MOVES AND IS NOT STABLE, CAUSING NOISE.

NHTSA ID
532763
Incident
Nov 11, 1997
Body & structure
Filed Mar 17, 1998

3RD DOOR ON THE VEHICLE MAKES NOISE CONTINUOUSLY.

NHTSA ID
532680

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .