RoadVitals

1998 Chevrolet Silverado 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.
19
Latest Jun 27, 2012
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.
7%
of 279 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.
3
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 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 19 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

Electrical
Filed Jun 27, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THE FAILURE FOUND WAS RELATED TO THE SECURITY SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY REPLACING THE IGNITION. THE FAILURE RECURRED APPROXIMATELY SIX TIMES. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE EXACT FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 135,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 127,000.

NHTSA ID
10463268
Incident
May 10, 2012
Mileage
127,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Aug 1, 2005
Fire reported

DT: WHILE DRIVING ON THE ROAD AFTER ABOUT 5 MINUTES, AN ODOR OF SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONSUMER STOPPED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD AND EVERYTHING SEEMED FINE. WHEN THE DRIVER RETURNED TO THE CAB OF THE VEHICLE, IT WAS FILLED WITH SMOKE. *NM THE FIRE DEPT WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE TO PUT OUT THE FIRE.

NHTSA ID
10120698
Incident
Oct 25, 2004
Mileage
130,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Jul 15, 2005

DURING NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS (FAIR WEATHER, CITY DRIVING) MY PICK-UP DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC JUST AFTER COMPLETING A LEFT TURN AND SHIFTING INTO SECOND GEAR. I WAS IN THE LEFT LANE AND MANAGED TO LET IT COAST INTO A LITTLE USED LEFT TURN LANE. I HAD IT TOWED TO MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP (FISHER CHEVROLET, BOULDER, COLORADO), WHERE THEY INFORMED ME THAT A WIRING HARNESS WAS ROUTED PAST THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND HAD MELTED AND CAUSED A GROUNDED CRANK SIGNAL. ( MY FATHER ALSO HAS THE SAME YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL AS I DO, AND HIS PICK-UP HAS A SIMILAR WIRING PATTERN.) THE WIRING AND FUSES WERE REPLACED AND RE-ROUTED, AND THE CRANK SIGNAL CIRCUIT WAS REPAIRED.

NHTSA ID
10128842
Incident
Oct 15, 2004
Mileage
57,020 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Apr 4, 2005

THE REAR TURN SIGNAL AND BRAKE INDICATOR FAILED WITHOUT. DEALER STATED THAT ELECTRONIC RELAY MALFUNCTIONED. IT ONLY HAPPENED DURING THE WINTER MONTHS. *AK CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1998 HAS HAD ON GOING ELECTRICAL AND BRAKING SYSTEM ISSUES SINCE IT WAS NEW. *BF *NM

NHTSA ID
10109624
Incident
Jan 25, 2005
Mileage
189,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Jan 27, 2004

THE VEHICLE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE TAILLIGHTS, DASH BOARD LIGHTS AND THE HEADLIGHTS. THE DEALER INDICATED THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *JB THE PROBLEM WENT BACK BECAUSE DEALER ONLY PATCHED THE WIRE INSTEAD OF REPLACING THEM. DEALER NOW REMOVED THE DASHBOARD TO WORK ON THE PROBLEM. *LA

NHTSA ID
10055893
Incident
Jan 27, 2004
Mileage
2,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Oct 21, 2003
Fire reported

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM CAUSED A FIRE ON DRIVER'S DOOR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AT THE TIME OF THIS CALL. *AK *PH

NHTSA ID
10029906
Incident
Jul 22, 2003
Electrical
Filed Jun 13, 2003

WHEN GETTING OUT OF VEHICLE, THE OCCUPANTS RECEIVED AN ELECTRICAL SHOCK. *AK

NHTSA ID
10024004
Electrical
Filed Aug 15, 2002

AC DELCO BATTERY LEAKED ACID FROM POSITIVE SIDE-MOUNT TERMINAL, SLIGHTLY CORRODING THE REPLACEMENT BRAKE HOSES UNDER BATTERY AND COULD HAVE CAUSED FAILURE OF ORIGINAL BRAKE HOSES. *TT

NHTSA ID
786426
Electrical
Filed Jun 28, 2002

POSITIVE BATTERY TERMINAL LEAKED ACID ONTO POSITIVE CABLES CAUSING MAIN ECM TO SHORT AND TURN OFF TRUCK WHILE DRIVING. ALSO, FOUND ACID HAD EATEN THROUGH THE ALTERNATOR CHARGING WIRE AND INSULATION CAUSING A POSSIBLE FIRE POTENTIAL IF NOT FOUND

NHTSA ID
763597
Incident
Jun 23, 2002
Electrical
Filed Feb 15, 2002
Fire reported

THE DASHBOARD IN THE TRUCK CAUGHT ON FIRE. WE WERE ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE BEFORE EXTENSIVE DAMAGE WAS DONE. THE GM DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS THE WIRING HARNESS UNDER THE HOOD. WE REPORTED THIS TO GM, AND THEY SAID THAT THEY HAD NO OTHER REPORTS AND WERE NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT BECAUSE OF THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE. I LOOKED ON THE NHTSA SITE AND FOUND 52 PAGES OF OTHER CHEVROLET TRUCKS WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS FROM 1996 TO 2002. I BELIEVE SOMEONE COULD GET SERIOUSLY HURT OR KILLED IF THIS WERE TO HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING. WE WERE FORTUNATE THAT WE WERE ABLE TO PUT THE FIRE OUT. GM WILL NOT EVEN INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM, OUR EXTENDED WARRANTY ISN'T WORTH THE PAPER IT IS WRITTEN ON AND OUR INSURANCE COMPANY WILL ONLY PAY FOR ENSUING DAMAGE. I THINK SOMEONE WITH SOME AUTHORIY SHOULD CONTACT GM SINCE THIS IS AN OBVIOUS DEFECT IN DESIGN. MICHAEL BUTORI. *AK

NHTSA ID
758275
Incident
Jan 25, 2002
Electrical
Filed Dec 27, 2001

VEHICLE EXPEREINCING PROBLEM WITH BLOWN ECM FUSES WHICH CAUSE VEHICLE TO SHUT DOWN. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO DEALER SHOP ON ONE OCCASION, AND AT AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. BOTH WERE UNABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM.*AK CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER IS HAVING A PROBLEM LOCATING THE SHORT, THE FUSE HAS BLOWN ON 4 OCASSIONS.*SLC

NHTSA ID
8001131
Incident
Feb 15, 2000
ElectricalEngine
Filed Dec 5, 2001

WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH VEHICLE STALLED.ALSO, DEALER REPLACED POSITIVE POST CONNECTOR OF BATTERY. *AK

NHTSA ID
899904
Incident
Nov 30, 2001
Electrical
Filed Jul 24, 2001

EVO OR STEERING WHEEL SENSOR FAILS AND CAUSES LOSS OF PRESSURE ON THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS RESULTS IN UNINTENTIONAL MOVEMENT OF THE STEERIG WHEEL. CONSUMER BELIEVES THIS IS COMMON PROBLEM OF GM VEHICLES AND THAT THERE SHOULD BE AN IMMEDIATE CAMPAIGN TO RECALL FOR THE SAFETY OF THE PUBLIC. *ET

NHTSA ID
562170
Electrical
Filed Mar 20, 2001

MY TRUCK JUST STARTED STARTING BAD, IT USED TO TURN OVER EASY, NOW I HAVE TO TURN THE KEY WITH MORE PRESSURE THAN BEFORE. IT STARTS BUT, WITH THE A/C AND RADIO ON THE TRUCK WIL STALL WHILE DRIVING. NOTHING HAS HAPPENED LEADING UP TO THIS, JUST OUT OF THE BLUE. *AK

NHTSA ID
742770
Incident
Mar 2, 2001
BrakesElectrical
Filed Jan 24, 2001

CONSUMER'S BRAKES LOCK UP & SOMETIMES THERE'S A JERKING MOTION. ALSO, HORN WHEN IT'S COLD COMES ON BY ITSELF. DEALER WILL BE NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEMS. MORE INFORMATION WILL BE ADDED BY CONSUMER.*AK

NHTSA ID
878896
Incident
Oct 1, 2000
BrakesElectrical
Filed Sep 18, 2000

FACTORY INSTALLED BATTERY IS LEAKING ACID ONTO METAL TUBING OF THE BRAKE LINE CAUSING IT TO CORRODE AND EAT LINE AWAY, RESULTING IN LOSS OF BRAKES. *AK

NHTSA ID
870797
Electrical
Filed Sep 18, 2000

BRAKES FAILED DUE TO BATTERY ACID LEAK ON BRAKE TUBING

NHTSA ID
731797
Incident
Sep 17, 2000
Electrical
Filed Jul 16, 2000

LEFT TAILLIGHT CIRCUIT BOARD FAILURE DURING A LONG TRIP MADE FOR HAZARDOUS DRIVING. GM STATES THAT THIS IS A COMMON OCCURENCE. WEAK COMPONENT. WEAK COMPONENTS SHOULD HAVE SAFETY RECALLS DUE TO SAFETY AND POOR DESIGN. GM CUSTOMER SERVICE CONTACTED. SINCE VEHICLE HAD 41,000 MILES, THEY FELT NO RESPONSIBILITY.

NHTSA ID
725526
Incident
May 26, 2000
BrakesDriver assistanceElectrical+2 more
Filed Jun 8, 1999

WINDSHIELD WIPER NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL NOTICE DUE TO VIN. NLM

NHTSA ID
546025

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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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .