Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full
Data refreshed
Our database holds 361 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1998 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Showing 1–25 of 361 · page 1 of 15
WHILE ADJUSTING MY POSITION IN THE DRIVER SEAT AFTER ENTERING THE TRUCK I FELT THE BACK OF THE SEAT ON THE RIGHT SIDE GIVE WAY. IT IS NOT BENT, THE SEAT FRAME IS BROKEN OR HAS COME LOOSE INSIDE. THE SEAT LEANS TO THE RIGHT PUTTING ME IN AN AWARD AND UNSAFE POSITION. I ONLY DRIVE IT WHEN I HAVE NO OTHER CHOICE. I AM 6'1" 214 LBS. SEAT IS OTHERWISE IN GOOD CONDITION.
TANK WAS REMOVE DUE GAS COMING ONTO GROUND WHEN ATTEMP TO PUMP GAS, COME TO FIND THERE WAS A CRACK AROUND THE NECK OFTANK, POOR WELDING JOB TO ATTACH NECK TO TANK. CRACKS ALONG SIDE OF WELDING JOB AND COST ME $1,000.00.
BRAKE PEDAL SUDDENLY WENT TO FLOOR WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING. I WAS LUCKY TO AVOID A COLLISION.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. WHEN TURNING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. IN ADDITION, THE FUEL PUMP WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FUNCTIONED INTERMITTENTLY AND THE VENT CONTROLS FAILED. THE BOLTS ON THE TAIL LIGHTS WERE REPLACED TWICE, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED WHERE A WIRE FAILED CAUSING THE LIGHTING FOR THE REAR TAIL LIGHTS TO FAIL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.
THE HEATER BLOWER ON THE HIGH SETTING THAT DEFROSTS THE WINDSHIELD FOR VISIBILITY STOPPED WORKING. THE CAB OF THE TRUCK FILLED WITH SMOKE AND SMELLED LIKE PLASTIC BURNING. THE ELECTRICAL HARNESS FOR THE BLOWER MOTOR WAS BURNING. THE DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS A DESIGN DEFECT BUT THE YEAR OF MY TRUCK DIDN'T QUALIFY FOR THE RECALL. IF I DIDN'T CAN'T THE BURNING WIRES WHEN I DID MY TRUCK WOULD HAVE BURNED TO THE GROUND. THIS IS A LIFE THREATENING DEFECT. I HAD IT VERIFIED THAT THE LOAD FOR THE WIRE AND THE TYPE OF CONNECTOR USED FOR THE WIRING HARNESS IS NOT ADEQUATE FOR THE ELECTRICAL LOAD OF BLOWER MOTOR AND BLOWER SPEED RELAY. I OWNED THIS TRUCK FOR YEARS WITHOUT BEING IN A HOT OR EXTREME COLD ENVIRONMENT. WHEN I USED THE HIGH SPEED BLOWER TO DEFROST THE WINDSHIELD IT COULD HAVE KILLED ME. THE TRUCK STILL HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED, THE MFR REFUSES TO ACCEPT THAT THIS TRUCK FALLS UNDER THE SAME DEFECT AS OTHER YEARS.
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".
RIMS ARE VERY VERY RUSTY. *TR
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
BRAKE LINE SPLIT DUE TO RUST/CORROSION. THIS HAS OCCURRED 2 TIMES SINCE , I HAVE REPLACED MOST OF THE BRAKE LINES. VERY DANGEROUS ! *TR
THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM FOR SEVERAL YEARS. MY BATTERY HAS SIDE MOUNTED TERMINALS. EACH TIME THE TEMPERATURE GOES UP OR DOWN THE POSITIVE POST BECOMES LOOSE. MOST TIMES IT IS A PROBLEM AS I START THE VEHICLE. WHEN I TURN THE KEY THE ENGINE BEGINS TO START, THEN IT SHUTS DOWN DUE TO LACK OF ELECTRICAL POWER. TWICE IN THE PAST WEEK IT HAS SHUT DOWN WHILE TRAVELING DOWN THE ROAD, ONCE IN THE MIDDLE OF I-83, DURING RUSH HOUR IN DOWNTOWN HARRISBURG, PA. OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS IT HAS, ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, "HICCUPPED" SEVERAL TIMES WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I HAVE TIGHTENED THE SCREW-IN POST DOWN (TWICE) TO THE POINT WHERE I HAVE ROUNDED THE HEX HEAD OFF AND THE WRENCH JUMPED OFF THE HEAD BUT, IT CONTINUES TO COME LOOSE. I SPOKE WITH AN AUTO PARTS STORE AND THEY RECOMMENDED AN ADHESIVE, WHICH I TRIED. IT STILL CAME LOOSE. I HAVE EVEN CHANGED OUT THE BATTERY BUT, STILL THE PROBLEM EXISTS. THIS WAS A VERY POPULAR YEAR FOR CHEVY W/T PICK UP TRUCKS. I CANNOT IMAGINE THESE PROBLEMS HAVE NOT BEEN INVOLVED IN RECALLS BEFORE NOW. THE OBVIOUS FIX IS TO REPLACE THE BATTERY WITH ONE THAT HAS TOP MOUNT POSTS. I WOULD ALSO HAVE TO REPLACE THE CABLES. WHY SHOULD I HAVE TO PAY THAT WHEN THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A DESIGN FLAW? *TR
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
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
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 184,000. UPDATED 06/17/14*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS INTERMITTENT SMOKE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN FOR A WEEK. THERE WAS ALSO AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH THE HEADLIGHTS. UPDATED 06/24/14
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
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.
MAIN REAR BRAKE LINE RUSTED LEAKING FLUID, LOST BRAKES. *TR
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
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.
EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS BREAKING LEAVING STUDS IN THE HEADS, HEATING UP ENGINE COMPARTMENTS, RELEASES CARBON MONOXIDE, AFFECTS O2 SENSOR AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER. WILL NOT PASS EMISSIONS IN SOME STATES. GM NOT STANDING BEHIND THIS 1999-2008 ISSUE. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND IS EXPENSIVE TO FIX. GM MECHANICS DENYING ANY SUCH ISSUES. PLEASE CHECK- IN TO THIS. OUR WHOLE FLEET AND OUR PERSONAL TRUCKS AFFECTED BY THIS. *TR
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.
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
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET C1500. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 55 MPH IN RAINY WEATHER WHEN THE WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000.
THE REVISER GEAR IS NOT WORKING THIS IS THE THIRD TIME I WILL PAY TO FIX THE TRUCK I DON'T THINK I WILL BUY A CHEVY TRUCK . IT IS 1500 HUNDRED DOLLARS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM.I ASK THE SHOP MAN AND HE SAID IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALL A LONG TIME AGO. SO WHAT IS UP WITH THAT. I WILL TELL ALL MY FRIENDS NOT TO BUY YOUR CARS AND TRUCKS I GUESS A FORD WILL DO.AT LESS THEY WILL FIX THEIR OWEN MESS UP PARTS.GOOD BUY CHEVE HELLO FORD. *TT
STEERING BUMPS TO LEFT OR THE RIGHT DUE TO A SENSOR GOING BAD IN THE STEERING COLUMN. *TR
WE OWN A 1998 CHEVY SILVERADO 4X4 THAT HAS WIPER PROBLEMS. THE RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR 1994 THRU 1997 MODEL CHEVY VEHICLES. OUR SON HAD A '93 THAT ALSO HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS. THE NEW "BOARD" THAT WAS INSTALLED BY DEALERS ALSO WOULD END UP HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. THE SOLDER SPOTS WERE NOT LARGE ENOUGH TO COVER THE CONTACT AREAS FOR THE WIRING AND NEED REPAIR IN THAT FORM. WE ARE STILL FIGHTING THE PROBLEM IN OUR '98 AND FEEL THAT DUE TO SAFETY ISSUES DURING RAIN OR SNOW THAT THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED UNTIL FIXED PROPERLY. *TR
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.
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