1998 Chevrolet Van Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1998 Chevrolet Van, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Other / unspecified527.8%
- Electrical316.7%
- Brakes211.1%
- Interior & seats211.1%
- Tires & wheels15.6%
- Airbags15.6%
- Transmission15.6%
- Engine15.6%
- Powertrain (other)15.6%
- Seat belts15.6%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
I HAVE A RECALL ABOUT BRAKE LINE HOSE ,BUT LAST NOVEMBER MY BRAKE LINE HOSE WAS CUT WITH THE WHEEL I CALL GM MOTOR ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. IF CAN GET REFUND OR CHANGE WHEEL SIZE I TRY TO REPLACE WHEELS TO EXPENSE I THINK GM NEED TO REPLACE FOR FREE TO NEXT SIZE DUE TO CLOSE TO THE WHEEL. *TR
TIRE JACK FAILURE. *MR THE CONSUMER HAD ATTEMPTED TO CHANGE THE FLAT TIRE WHEN THE JACK FAILED. REFER TO: 10006178 *SCC
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
1997 CHEVROLET SW THIS IS ACTUALLY A CONVERSION VAN NOT A STATION WAGON. THE CONVERSION PACKAGE HAS BEEN PLAGUED WITH ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WHICH COULD RESULT IN PERSONAL OR PROPERTY DAMAGE. THE CONVERSION PACKAGE CAME WITH A BRIGHT ORANGE CONSUMER ALERT STICKER. IT ADVISED CONSUMERS TO CONSULT DEALERSHIP FOR DETAILS. *JB
I BOUGHT A 1998 CHEVROLET ASTRO VAN FROM MARK CHRISTOPHER CHEVROLET ON 07/08/99, AND THE BATTERY LEAKED OUT SPILLING ACID ON THE LEFT APRON, THE DEALER SAID THEY WOULD TRY AND NUETRALIZE THE ACID AND SPRAY UNDERCOAT ON THE AFFECTED AREAS. THIS IS NOT HOW THE VEHICLE IS. THE LEFT APRON IS PAINTED THE SAME COLOR AS THE VAN AND I REFUSED TO LET THEM SPRAY BLACK UNDERCOATING ON THE DAMAGED PART. IM A COLLISION REPAIR SPECIALIST AND THIS IS NOT HOW TO REPAIR A BATTERY ACID SPILL. THE AFFECTED AREA IS NOW EATING AWAY THE WELDS AND THE SHEET METAL. GM SAID THEY WILL NO LONGER TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM AND THAT HIDDING IT WITH UNDER COATING IS GOOD ENOUGH. THIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE NUTRALIZED,STRIPPED, ETCH PRIMED, SEALED, THEN REFINISH IN ALL AFFECTED AREAS. THIS VAN IS ALREADY CORRODING AWAY. I JUST DONT FEEL SAFE LETTING MY WIFE (PREGNANT OF 7 MTHS.) AND 16 MTH OLD CHILD RIDDING IN THIS VEHICLE. VEHICLE IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. PLEASE HELP . *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
I HAVE A RECALL ABOUT BRAKE LINE HOSE ,BUT LAST NOVEMBER MY BRAKE LINE HOSE WAS CUT WITH THE WHEEL I CALL GM MOTOR ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. IF CAN GET REFUND OR CHANGE WHEEL SIZE I TRY TO REPLACE WHEELS TO EXPENSE I THINK GM NEED TO REPLACE FOR FREE TO NEXT SIZE DUE TO CLOSE TO THE WHEEL. *TR
THIS WAS THE FIFTH REPLACEMENT OF ABS BRAKES IN 6 MONTHS. THE FIRST OCCURED ON 6/3/98 @ 6013 MILES, SECOND WAS 8/3/98 @ 11,000 MILES, THIRD WAS 9/14/98 @ 17,189 MILES, FOURTH WAS ON 11/16/98 @ 23,399 MILES, AND THE LAST ONE 12/28/98 @ 26,000. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
DT: ON THE PASSENGER'S SEAT NEXT TO THE SLIDING POWER DOOR TWO PINS THAT GO IN THE FRONT AND THEY IN THE BACK IN THE FLOOR HAVE A STRAP TO REMOVE SEATS, AND PUT THE SEAT BACK IN, BUT THE REAR LATCHES AREN'T HOLDING THE SEAT . *AK
MOTOR ON REMOTE SLIDER DOOR--OPENS ON ITS OWN.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
SECOND REAR TIRE TO HAVE TREAD SEPARATIO, -REPLACED ALL TIRES WITH ANOTHER BRAND. *AK (DOT NUMBER: VN11BIA237 TIRESIZE: LT24575R16)
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION IN WHICH THE DRIVER'S / PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
TRANSMISSIN FAILED. YH
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
A REPETITION OF THIS ENGINE FAILURE OCCURRED ON 9/24/01, AS DEALER COULD NOT CORRECT FAULT. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
THIS VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT NEW FROM TRABUCCO CHEVROLET. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME, THAT THE LEFT REAR AXLE CAME OFF THE TRUCK. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED I CONTACTED TRABUCCO. THEY STATED TOO MANY MILES WERE ON THE TRUCK, AND THEY COULDN'T DO ANYTHING FOR ME BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING USED AS COMMERCIAL DELIVERY VAN. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE LAP AND SHOULDER BELTS ON THE SECOND BENCH SEAT ON THE PASSENGER' SIDE BELT DO NOT WORK PROPERLY WHEN SECURING A CHILD RESTRAINT, THE SEAT BELT WAS REPLACED ONCE BY THE DEALER ON MARCH 16, 1998 AND IS STILL NOT WORKING PROPERLY. THERE IS TOO MUCH SLACK IN THE BELT TO SECURE THE CAR SEAT. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .