RoadVitals

1998 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Electrical Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Electrical 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.
23
Latest Sep 14, 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.
6%
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.
7
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 electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. 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. 23 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 electrical

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

ElectricalFuel systemExterior lighting
Filed Sep 14, 2015

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.

NHTSA ID
10763606
Incident
Nov 14, 2014
Mileage
200,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Sep 11, 2015

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.

NHTSA ID
10763036
Incident
Oct 1, 2012
Mileage
80,000 mi
ElectricalEngineSteering
Filed Jul 25, 2014

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

NHTSA ID
10616386
Incident
Jul 24, 2014
Mileage
230,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lightingSteering
Filed Apr 4, 2014

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

NHTSA ID
10577457
Incident
Oct 23, 2013
Mileage
184,000 mi
Electrical
Filed May 10, 2007

1998 CHEVORLET SILVERADO C1500 PICKUP FAILED TO START INTERMITTENTLY. PROBLEM IS RELATED TO THE GM PASS LOCK II SYSTEM. PROBLEM STARTED 1.5 YEARS AGO AND HAS BECOME MORE FREQUENT. I TALKED WITH THE LOCAL GM REPAIR FACILITY , AND THEY SAID IT WOULD COST BETWEEN $200 - $6OO TO TROUBLESHOOT. REPLACEMENT PARTS WOULD BE AN ADDITIONAL COST. ALSO, THEY STATED THAT GM WAS AWARE OF AN OCCASIONAL MALFUNCTION WITH THE PASS LOCK II SYSTEM, BUT GM DIDN'T THINK THERE WAS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM HAS LEFT ME STRANDED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THIS MALFUNCTION HAPPENED WITHOUT NOTICE, AND SOMETIMES IT TOOK ANYWHERE FROM A FEW MINUTES TO SEVERAL HOURS FOR THE MALFUNCTION TO CORRECT ITSELF TO THE POINT WHERE I COULD START THE TRUCK. I HAVE REPLACED SEVERAL PARTS RELATED TO THE PASS LOCK II SYSTEM, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTED. GM OFFERED NO HELP. *AK

NHTSA ID
10190356
Incident
May 9, 2007
Mileage
106,000 mi
BrakesElectricalEngine+2 more
Filed Nov 9, 2006

1998 CHEVROLET, K1500,4X4, 5.7 VORTEC AT ABOUT 40,000 MILES HAD TO HAVE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET REPLACED, WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR WORKS AND THEN DOESN'T,MASTER CYLINDER HAS FAILED TWICE,D/S ELECTRIC WINDOW WORKS AND THEN DOESN'T AND REAR TURN SIGNAL HOUSING AND CONNECTION ON RIGHT SIDE KEEPS FAILING, NOT BULB! ALSO LEAK RESULTING IN LOSS OF COOLANT FROM RESERVOIR, IN THE MIDDLE OF UNDERNEATH VEHICLE. BOUGHT NEW! *JB

NHTSA ID
10173003
Incident
Feb 15, 1999
Mileage
10,000 mi
Electrical
Filed May 3, 2005

FAN CONTROL FOR AIR CONDITIONER FAILED CAUSING BLOWER MOTOR TO STAY CONTINUOUSLY EVEN AFTER TRUCK TURNED OFF AND KEY REMOVED- CAUSING MULTIPLE DRAINED AND REPLACED BATERRIES BEFORE DEFECT FOUND

NHTSA ID
10119578
Incident
Jul 1, 2002
Mileage
40,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Mar 2, 2005

ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED OF 50 MPH OR MORE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER ON THE SECOND INCIDENT WHICH OCCURRED ON FEBRUARY 9, 2005. THE DEALER BELIEVED THAT THE PROBLEM MAYBE A FAULTY SAFETY CUT OFF SWITCH. *AK CONSUMER HAD BUDDY-BOOSTER REMOVED AND PROBLEM HAS NOT REOCCURRED. *TT

NHTSA ID
10111302
Incident
Feb 2, 2005
Mileage
170,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Dec 27, 2001

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 65MPH ON HIGHWAY TO MAKE A EXIT ONTO ANOTHER RAMP AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE SHUT OFF. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO SHOULDER. A FEW MINUTES LATER, VEHICLE TURNED BACK ON. HE WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT HOME. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM. MECHANIC TOLD CONSUMER THAT CONNECTORS TO POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE WERE DEFECTIVE. MECHANIC REPLACED CABLE.*AK

NHTSA ID
8001157
Incident
Nov 30, 2001
Electrical
Filed Sep 28, 2001
Fire reported

ESTIMATOR STATED FIRE ORIGIN IS THE DRIVER DOOR, POSSIBLE CAUSE IS WINDOW MOTOR, CLAIM 49-3174-064. *SLC

NHTSA ID
6901255
Incident
Sep 2, 1999
Electrical
Filed Sep 28, 2001
Fire reported

REMOTE MIRROR SWITCH FAILED IN DRIVERS DOOR CATCHING ON FIRE AND CAUSING OTHER DAMAGE, CLAIM 05-4615-211. *SLC

NHTSA ID
6901254
Incident
Apr 6, 2001
Electrical
Filed Sep 28, 2001
Fire reported

A FIRE STARTED FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR, CLAIM 43-R679-836. *SLC

NHTSA ID
6901253
Incident
Apr 6, 2001
Electrical
Filed Sep 28, 2001
Fire reported

ESTIMATOR STATED FIRE ORIGIN IS THE DRIVER DOOR, POSSIBLE CAUSE IS WINDOW MOTOR, CLAIM 49-3174-064. *SLC

NHTSA ID
6900450
Incident
Sep 2, 1999
Electrical
Filed Sep 28, 2001
Fire reported

REMOTE MIRROR SWITCH FAILED IN DRIVERS DOOR CATCHING ON FIRE AND CAUSING OTHER DAMAGE, CLAIM 05-4615-211. *SLC

NHTSA ID
6900449
Incident
Apr 6, 2001
Electrical
Filed Sep 28, 2001
Fire reported

A FIRE STARTED FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR, CLAIM 43-R679-836. *SLC

NHTSA ID
6900448
Incident
Apr 6, 2001
Electrical
Filed Aug 22, 2000

BATTERY WAS LEAKING BATTERY ACID. POST THAT WAS HOOKED UP TO CABLE FELL OFF, AND THAT WAS WHY VEHICLE WOULDN'T START. ELECTRICAL SOCKET AND BRAKE LINE HAD SOME PAINT DAMAGE. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC TOLD HIM THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT WARRANTY. *AK

NHTSA ID
868342
Incident
Aug 5, 2000
Electrical
Filed Jan 24, 2000

BATTERY IS LEAKING ONTO RIGHT SIDE STEERING MECHANISM. CAUSE IS UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID
855446
Electrical
Filed Jul 30, 1999
Fire reported

MY WIFE AND I WERE DRIVING DOWN A CITY STREET AT ABOUT 30MPH WHEN WE SMELLED SMOKE, I PULLED OVER AND SAW FLAMES SHOOTING FROM THE INTERIOR OF THE DRIVER DOOR PANEL. I TORE OPEN THE DOOR PANEL AND SAW THAT THE ELECTRIC OUTSIDE MIRROR CONTROL WAS ON FIRE. I BEAT THE FIRE OUT WITH A TOWEL, AFTER THE SMOKED CLEARED I STARTED THE ENGINE AGAIN AND THE CONTROL BURST INTO FLAMES AGAIN, AT THIS POINT I SEVERED THE WIRING HARNESS.

NHTSA ID
709407
Incident
Jul 10, 1999
Electrical
Filed Mar 17, 1999

VEHICLE WENT IN FOR REPAIR, NOT REPAIRED, STILL DOESN'T WORK. COULD NOT PASS TEXAS SAFETY INSPECTION. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE, HORN ALLOWS OTHER DRIVERS TO KNOW WHERE YOU ARE, DOES NO GOOD WHEN THE HORN DOESN'T WORK.

NHTSA ID
704572
Incident
Jan 15, 1999
Electrical
Filed Feb 1, 1999

RADIO OUT OF ORDER. YH

NHTSA ID
608766
Electrical
Filed Feb 1, 1999

BATTERY FAILED. YH

NHTSA ID
607341
Incident
Sep 1, 1998
Electrical
Filed Jun 22, 1998

CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING STATIC ELECTRIC SHOCK. TOOK OWNERSHIP OF VEHICLE FROM THE DEALER;. DEALER NOTIFIED AND HE REFUSED TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. CONDITION STILL OCCURS. ALSO MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. *AK *SLC

NHTSA ID
824541
Incident
May 30, 1998
BrakesElectricalFuel system+1 more
Filed Dec 22, 1997

FUEL PUMP FAILED.

NHTSA ID
527002
Incident
Oct 6, 1997

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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Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .