1998 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Brakes Problems

BRAKE PEDAL SUDDENLY WENT TO FLOOR WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING. I WAS LUCKY TO AVOID A COLLISION.

NHTSA ID

10854157

Incident

Mar 20, 2016

Mileage

100,000 mi

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

WE WERE GOING TO A FRIENDS HOUSE IN OUR 1998 CHEVY TRUCK. THE PEDAL WENT DOWN TO THE GROUND. WE BROUGHT THE TRUCK IN AND THERE WAS A LEAK IN THE BRAKE LINE FOR THE REAR BRAKES. WE REPLACED THE BRAKE LINES. SUBSEQUENTLY, I PUT THE CAR UP TO SEE HOW THE FRONT BRAKE LINES LOOK. THEY ARE ALMOST ROTTED THROUGH. WE NOW NEED TO REPLACE THE FRONT BRAKE LINES. CHEVY SHOULD FIND OUT WHY THE TRUCK LOOKS SO BAD; THE DOORS ARE ALL ROTTING AWAY ALSO. *TR

NHTSA ID

10649083

Incident

Oct 4, 2014

Mileage

180,900 mi

BRAKE LINE SPLIT DUE TO RUST/CORROSION. THIS HAS OCCURRED 2 TIMES SINCE , I HAVE REPLACED MOST OF THE BRAKE LINES. VERY DANGEROUS ! *TR

NHTSA ID

10628437

Incident

Aug 10, 2010

Mileage

52,000 mi

I STARTED MY TRUCK AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR.THE BRAKELINES WERE RUSTED AND ALL THE FLUID LEAKED OUT.I PAID $200.00 TO GET THE LINE REPAIRED AND THE MECHANIC SAID IT,S A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE I WOULD HAVE TO HAVE THE OTHER LINE REPLACED.HE ALSO STATED THAT THE FUEL LINES WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED BEFORE LONG. *TR

NHTSA ID

10609198

Incident

Jul 8, 2014

Mileage

157,000 mi

WHEN TRYING TO LEAVE A PARKING GARAGE, I DEPRESSED THE PEDAL AND THE BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE PEDAL ALMOST WENT TO THE FLOOR. GOT IT HOME WITHOUT INCIDENT. TOOK A LOOK UNDER THE TRUCK AND THE ENTIRE BRAKE LINE WAS RUSTED. THE PLACE WHERE THE BRAKE LINE BROKE WAS IN A PLACE WHERE YOU COULD NOT PHYSICALLY REACH IT. THE OTHER LINES RUNNING ACROSS THE AXLE WERE ALSO HORRIBLY RUSTED. NOW I HAVE TO TAKE ALL OF THEM OFF, MEASURE, BEND, AND REFIT. I REFUSE TO PAY GM TO FIX THEIR SHODDY WORK. I OWNED A 1991 GMC SONOMA WITH OVER 300,000 MILES ON IT AND NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10586537

Incident

Apr 28, 2014

Mileage

187,563 mi

1998 CHEVY SILVERADO K1500 BRAKE ISSUE: WHILE BRAKING AT LOW SPEEDS (20-10 MPH) THE ABS WILL ENGAGE, INCREASING STOPPING DISTANCE. ON SOME OCCASIONS THE PEDAL WILL BECOME VERY FIRM AND WILL REQUIRE PUMPING TO DISENGAGE THE ABS. ON OTHER OCCASIONS THE PEDAL WILL BE SOFT, GOING TO THE FLOOR, WHILE ABS IS ENGAGED. A CLEAR SAFTY ISSUE. A RECALL SHOULD BE CONSIDERED SINCE MANY OF THESE VEHICLES EXIST ON THE ROAD TODAY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10556455

Incident

Dec 10, 2012

Mileage

130,000 mi

PULLING INTO DRIVEWAY TO PARK INTO GARAGE, PRESSED ON THE BRAKE AND IT WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. PUSHED DOWN ON EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE TRUCK BEFORE IT HIT THE GARAGE WALL. *JS AFTER PLACING THE TRUCK IN PARK I OPENED THE HOOD TO SEE ONE OF THE BADLY RUSTED LINES CONNECTING TO THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL LEAKING FLUID. INSPECTED ALL THE REST OF THE BRAKE LINES PERSONALLY ALL OF THE LINES ARE SEVERELY RUSTED LEADING TO ABS & MASTER CYLINDER. ONLY LINE NOT AFFECTED WAS THE REAR BREAK LINE I HAD REPLACED 2 YEARS AGO DUE TO THE SAME ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

10538220

Incident

Aug 31, 2013

Mileage

169,922 mi

MAIN REAR BRAKE LINE RUSTED LEAKING FLUID, LOST BRAKES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10525968

Incident

Jul 18, 2013

Mileage

223,000 mi

MY 1998 CHEVY W/T 4X4 HAS A DANGEROUS AND UNSATISFACTORY BRAKING PROBLEM. BRAKES ARE VERY WEAK AND SPONGY. THEY ARE UNDEPENDABLE AND UNSAFE. THERE IS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM DATING BACK TO 2009. I HAVE REPLACED PADS,SHOES,ROTORS, DRUMS,WHEEL CYLINDERS, ALL BRAKE SPRINGS AND HARDWARE,BRAKE LINES AND HOSES,MASTER CYLINDER AND BRAKE BOOSTER, AND WHEEL SPEED SENSORS. CLEARLY THERE IS A PROBLEM IN THE ANTI LOCK COMPUTER CONTROL SYSTEM. THERE ARE RECALLS FOR 1999 MODELS FOR SAME PROBLEMS.WHY AREN'T 1998 MODELS INCLUDED. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY SAFETY ISSUES WITH MY, AND MANY OTHER TRUCK OWNERS AS WELL. NEXT SAFETY ISSUE, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ONLY WORK ON ONE SPEED, HIGH. OR THEY STOP WORKING WHILE DRIVING. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT HAS CONTINUED TO BE REPORTED MANY TIMES. THIRD IS FUEL GAUGE ONLY WORKS FROM 3/4 TO FULL, DOESN'T MOVE UNTIL YOU RUN OUT (EMPTY). THESE ISSUES SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO THE PROPER MANUFACTURER . ALL THESE COMPLAINTS FROM MYSELF AND HUNDREDS OF OTHER TAX PAYING AMERICANS , WE DESERVE TO BE SAFE AND PROTECT OTHER DRIVERS . *TR

NHTSA ID

10462184

Incident

Mar 15, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES REPEATEDLY FAILED. THE HUBS, CALIPERS, ROTORS, AND THE MASTER CYLINDER WERE REPAIRED THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. WHENEVER THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED, THEY WOULD VIBRATE VIOLENTLY AND SEIZE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TWO DIFFERENT MECHANIC SHOPS FOR THE REPAIRS, BUT THEY COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS OR WARRANTIES AVAILABLE. NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 105,000.

NHTSA ID

10453245

Incident

Mar 27, 2009

Mileage

100,000 mi

ANTILOCK BRAKE SENSOR ACTIVATED THE BRAKES AT LESS THAN 5MPH JUST AS LISTED IN THE RECALL WHICH INCLUDES 1999 AND BEYOND. IT WAS A SERIOUS ISSUE SO I HAD IT IN FOR SERVICE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THEY FINALLY FOUND THE ISSUE WAS THE CORROSION ON THE AB SENSOR AND CLEANED THEM. THIS RESOLVED THE ISSUE. IT HAS NOW STARTED AGAIN AS OF DECEMBER 2011 WITH 84,000 MILES. IT IS EXACTLY THE SAME ISSUE AS BEFORE AND AS LISTED IN THE RECALL FOR 1999 AND NEWER VERSIONS.

NHTSA ID

10444324

Incident

Dec 15, 2004

Mileage

65,000 mi

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET 1500. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 5 MPH AND APPLIED THE BRAKES AS HE APPROACHED A TRAFFIC STOP. THE BRAKES WOULD NOT RESPOND. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND MOVED IT FROM THE ROADWAY. THE CONTACT THEN DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR BRAKE LINE WAS RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,000.

NHTSA ID

10351546

Incident

Aug 22, 2010

Mileage

190,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. WHILE REPLACING THE ENGINE OIL, THE CONTACT NOTICED A LARGE, UNUSUAL OIL LEAK FROM THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE ABS MODULE AS FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE AND THE BRAKE LINES WERE CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 67,000.

NHTSA ID

10340387

Incident

Jun 24, 2004

Mileage

67,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET K1500. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH WHEN THE BRAKES ENGAGED, THE CONTACT STATED THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS RESISTANT AND FAILED TO ENGAGE. HE HAD TO APPLY EXTREME FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL IN ORDER FOR THEM TO ENGAGE, INCREASING STOPPING DISTANCE AND TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 82,000. UPDATED 06/17/10.*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE WERE WORKING AGAINST THE BRAKE PEDAL, NOT ALLOWING THE BRAKES TO BE APPLIED. UPDATED 06/18/10

NHTSA ID

10328107

Incident

Apr 28, 2004

Mileage

70,000 mi

MY 1998 CHEVROLET SILVERADO K1500 HAD A TOTAL FRONT BRAKE ROTOR FAILURE IN WHICH THE HUB OF THE ROTOR DETACHED FROM THE ROTOR ITSELF, RESULTING IN A TOTAL LOSS OF BRAKING ON THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE. THIS WAS THE FACTORY ROTOR. ANY STOPS RESULTED IN PULLING TO THE LEFT, HEAVY BRAKING CAUSED EXTREME MOVING OF THE VEHICLE TO THE LEFT. I REPAIRED BY REPLACING THE ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS ON THE FRONT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10325979

Incident

Apr 14, 2010

Mileage

112,900 mi

BRAKES ON MY 1998 K1500 PULSATE AND THEN GO TO THE FLOOR WHEN COMING TO A STOP. DEALERSHIP SUPPOSEDLY REPLACED ABS MODULE ONCE FOR FREE THEN CHARGED ME TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS TO REPLACE IT AGAIN. REPLACED PADS, SHOES, CALIPERS ETC. BRAKES STILL DO THIS, HAVE CAME CLOSE TO HITTING THINGS IN FRONT OF ME DUE TO THIS. FROM READING OTHER ARTICLES ON THE NET I AM TOLD BY UNHOOKING THE ABS IT WILL STOP DOING THIS BUT THEN I WILL HAVE NO ABS. WHATS THE POINT IN HAVING A NEW TRUCK WHEN THE REAR END WILL LOCK UP JUST LIKE IT DOES IN MY 1982 FORD TRUCK WITH NO ABS.

NHTSA ID

10323314

Incident

Jan 1, 2005

Mileage

85,000 mi

I HAD READ NUMEROUS PEOPLES COMPLAINT ON THIS ISSUE. THERE APPARENTLY SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE A 98 CHEVY SILVERADO EXT. CAB 4X4 AND I'M HAVING A PROBLEM WITH LOW SPEED(5-10MPH) WHERE THE ABS COMES ON AND SLOWLY AND DANGEROUSLY STOPS THE VEHICLE. I REALIZE THAT THE WHEEL SPEED SENSORS ARE THE PROBLEM, BUT IF THERE IS RECALL FOR 99-UP WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, WHY DOESN'T ANYONE FIX THIS? THIS IS A CONSTANT PROBLEM AND GETS WORSE WHEN COLD OR RAINY OUT, WINTER IS COMING AND DO NOT WANT TO HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM, PLEASE ADVISE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10245046

Incident

Oct 10, 2008

Mileage

129,548 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET K1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE ANTI-LOCK SYSTEM AUTOMATICALLY ENGAGED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE HAD LITTLE TO NO BRAKING ABILITY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A VEHICLE WITH NO BRAKES IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS ADVISED TO CLEAN OUT THE WHEEL SPEED SENSORS FOR THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE. THIS IMPROVED THE BRAKING SYSTEM, BUT IT STILL DID NOT WORK PROPERLY. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER AFTER FINDING NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 05V379000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTI-LOCK) FOR THE SAME FAILURE HE WAS EXPERIENCING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE RECALL DID NOT INCLUDE HIS VEHICLE AND THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 64,000. UPDATED 10/03/08 *BF UPDATED 10/07/08. *JB

NHTSA ID

10241302

Incident

Sep 1, 2008

Mileage

55,000 mi

WHEN COMING TO A STOP IN MY 1998 CHEVY TRUCK, MY BRAKES SOMETIMES GO TO THE FLOOR WITH A PULSATING FEELING WHEN EPISODE IS HAPPENING. THE TRUCK WILL NOT STOP, AND I'VE BUMPED MY GARAGE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. IM AFRAID THERE WILL BE A ACCIDENT SOMEDAY WHEN IM IN TRAFFIC. *TR

NHTSA ID

10233301

Incident

Apr 17, 2007

Mileage

127,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET C1500. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 5-50 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOOR WHEN IT WAS DEPRESSED. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE THE PEDAL POPPED BACK UP. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS WERE REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ELECTRONIC BRAKE MODULE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 98,000. UPDATED 7/3/08 *CN THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS REPLACED. UPDATED

NHTSA ID

10220174

Incident

Jan 1, 2006

Mileage

70,000 mi

LOW SPEED ACTIVATION OF ABS. VEHICLE WILL NOT STOP AT SLOW SPEED AND THE CONTROLLER IS RUNNING LIKE MAD. *TR

NHTSA ID

10216332

Incident

Jan 6, 2005

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 1500 CHEVY SILVERADO. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THE BRAKES FAILED. THE BRAKE LINES ARE RUSTED AND THE BRAKE WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER HAS NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 59,000. UPDATED 01-11-08. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKE LINE WAS MANUFACTURED FROM VERY LOW QUALITY STEEL. UPDATED 12/31/07.

NHTSA ID

10201119

Incident

Aug 29, 2007

Mileage

59,000 mi

TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE 1999 MODEL HAD A SAFETY RECALL ON THE ABS SYSTEM. THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE SAFETY RECALL DID NOT APPLY TO THIS VEHICLE DUE TO THE VIN. . THE CONTACT STATED THAT AT A LOW SPEED THE ABS SYSTEM WOULD JUST TURN ON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON THE WAY TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE ABS SYSTEM CHECKED THE ABS SYSTEM TURNED ON UNEXPECTANTLY. DIDN'TNOTICE THIS UNTIL TRYING TO STOP. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON THE 3 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS SHE HAD BEEN UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE EASILY. THE WEATHER WAS COLD, BUT CLEAR, AND EACH TIME SHE WAS COMING TO A STOP. THE CURRENT MILEAGE AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WERE BOTH 35680. *AK

NHTSA ID

10184836

Incident

Mar 1, 2007

Mileage

35,680 mi