1998 Chevrolet Pickup

Routine

Owners filed 74 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the service brakes, hydraulic › antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip. It has been recalled 1 time.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip12
200
Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer › Motor7
000
Tires5
210
Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer4
000
Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Fuel Pump4
000
Power Train › Automatic Transmission3
000
Visibility › Rear Window Wiper/Washer › Motor2
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components2
201
Power Train › Axle Assembly2
000
Fuel System, Gasoline › Fuel Injection System2
000

1 safety recall

Part 573 reports
Exterior Lighting › Headlights08E050000
Filed Aug 11, 20081,921 vehiclesK2 Motor Corporation

Defect. K2 MOTOR IS RECALLING 1,921 AFTERMARKET HEADLAMPS OF VARIOUS MODELS SOLD FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS ARE MISSING THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTOR WHICH FAILS TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."

Risk. WITHOUT THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTORS, THE LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY BE AFFECTED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy. K2 MOTOR WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMEBER 17, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT K2 MOTOR AT 1-909-839-2992.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Dec 2, 2010166,000 milesKY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET PICK-UP. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED CAUSING THE CONTACT TO SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF WHILE STILL IN DRIVE. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE ABNORMALLY. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION AND THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY THEY COULD PROVIDE NO ASSISTANCE. THE CONTACT DID NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS CRASH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 166,000.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed Jan 5, 2009113,000 milesPA

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET PICK UP. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 5-10 MPH AND COMING TO A SLOW STOP, THE ANTILOCK BRAKING SYSTEM WOULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MOSTLY OCCURS WHEN COMING TO A STOP. THE CONTACT PREVIOUSLY CHANGED THE ENTIRE BRAKES AND LINES, BUT THE FAILURE STILL PERSISTS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,000.

Wheels
Filed Apr 2, 2008AZ

I BOUGHT 4 AFTER MARKET CUSTOM WHEELS FOR MY 1998 CHEVROLET 4WHEEL DRIVE P/U TRUCK FROM AMERICAN RACING PRODUCTS, IN 2003, 2 HAVE CRACKED, AND NOW THEY ARE WILLING TO PUT A CHEAPER SET OF WHEELS ON MY TRUCK, NOT TO MY LIKING, I'VE ASKED FOR BETTER DESIGNED WHEEL, ALMOST THE SAME PRICE AND THE WANT ME TO PAY OVER $300.00 DIFFERENCE THAT IS NOT I FEEL FAIR TO ME. I AM GLAD THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT,YET. *TR

Electrical System › 12v/24v/48v Battery
Filed Mar 16, 200730,000 milesFL

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REPLACEMENT AC DELCO BATTERY MODEL # 78-6YR FOR THE 1998 CHEVROLET PICKUP WITH 30,000 FAILURE MILEAGE LEAKS ACID. CERTAIN AC DELCO BATTERIES MANUFACTURED IN 2000 AND 2001 WITH SIDE POSTS TERMINAL HAD THE POTENTIAL TO LEAK ACID THROUGH THE TERMINALS. THIS FAILURE HAS THE POTENTIAL TO CORRODE FRAMES, SHEET METAL, BRAKE LINES, BATTERY LEADS AND FUEL LINES. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 40,000.*AK UPDATE *4/23/07TR

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings
Filed Dec 9, 2004PA

WHEN THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO PARK THE VEHICLE, THE BRAKES FAILED CAUSING THE VEHICLE NOT TO STOP. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THE BRAKE LINE HAD RUSTED. *JB...*AK

Structure › Body › Hatchback/Liftgate › Hinge and Attachments
Filed Dec 1, 2004OH

LIFTGATE CABLES BROKE TWICE. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS BOTH TIMES , BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED.*AK

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer
Filed Oct 12, 2004141,000 milesOK

WHILE DRIVING IN A RAIN STORM. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS COMPLETELY STOPPED WORKING. THE CONSUMER HAD TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE TO LIFT THE HOOD AND HIT THE WIPER MOTOR OR MOVE THE WIPER TO MAKE THEM WORK. . PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *JB

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer › Motor
Filed Oct 12, 2004OK

WHILE DRIVING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED. THIS CAUSED POOR VISIBILITY TO THE DRIVER. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND DROVE IT HOME. THE DRIVER CONTACTED THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR NEEDED PROBABLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Tank Assembly
Filed Apr 29, 200470,000 milesTX

SOMETHING THAT IS CONNECTED TO THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE IS COMING IN CONTACTING WITH THE FUEL TANK CREATING A HOLE. THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED TWICE. THERE IS A RECALL BY THE CHEVROLET MFR. HOWEVER, THIS MAKE AND MODEL IS NOT INCLUDED. *MR THE SECOND FAILURE OCCURRED 10 MONTHS AFTER THE FIRST. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOT RECALL ON THE VEHICLE. *NM

Tires › Tread/Belt
Filed Mar 26, 200450,000 milesTX

CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING FELT A JERK, CONSUMER PULLED TO THE SIDE, GOT OUT, AND DISCOVERED THAT TIRE TREAD SHREDDED. THESE TIRES REPLACED THE ORIGINAL ONES WHICH WERE ON RECALL. TIRES HAD ABOUT 50,000 MILES ON THEM. *AK

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer › Motor
Filed Feb 24, 2004IL

THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR RELAY MALFUNCTIONED,CAUSING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS TO STOP FUNCTIONING. ALSO, MANIFOLD INTAKE GASKET LEAKED ANTIFREEZE, AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK THE PREVIOUS YEAR MAKE/MODEL WITH THE SAME PROBLEM HAVE BEEN RECALLED. *SC

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer
Filed Dec 9, 200335,000 milesMN

WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOP WORKING. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Rotor
Filed Nov 13, 2003150,000 milesNH

WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD BANG NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF VEHICLE. WHEN THE CONSUMER TRIED TO DEPRESS THE BRAKES PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOORBOARD. CONSUMER TRAVELED THE REST OF THE WAY HOME DOING LESS THAN 10 MPH. THE BRAKE ROTORS HAD SPLIT IN HALF AND WERE BARELY FUNCTIONAL. MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM, BUT WOULD NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM.*AK THE CONSUMER STATED A RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR THIS PROBLEM BACK IN 1993/1994. THE CONSUMER FEELS THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT TOTALLY FIX THE PROBLEM. *NLM

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer › Motor
Filed Nov 12, 2003WA

WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED AT VARIOUS TIMES. WHEN THIS HAPPENED THE DRIVER HAD TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND JIGGLE A WIRE LOCATED UNDER THE HOOD ON THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR. *AK THE PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT. *SCC *JB

Visibility › Rear Window Wiper/Washer › Motor
Filed Sep 24, 2003WV

WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR FAILS INTERMITTENTLY. *AK

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer › Motor
Filed Sep 23, 2003SD

1998 CHEVROLET PICK UP- PROBLEMS WITH WINDSHIELD WIPERS SYSTEM. *MR THE WIPERS WERE INTERMITTENT, EVEN WHEN THE SWITCH WAS ON THE LOW OR HIGH POSITION. THERE WAS A RECALL, BUT THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. *SCC *JB

Electrical System › Wiring
Filed Aug 11, 2003VT

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING. DEALER STATED WIRES FUSED TOGETHER. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Jul 30, 2003NY

WHEN COMING TO A STOP FRONT WHEEL SENSOR FAILED, CAUSING ABS SYSTEM TO COME ON, AND VEHICLE LOST ALL BRAKING ABILITY. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer › Motor
Filed Jul 24, 200375,000 milesMT

WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK THE WINDSHIELD WIPER CONTROL CIRCUIT BOARD FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED UNDER THE SPECIAL POLICY #02054. *SCC *JB

Visibility › Rear Window Wiper/Washer › Motor
Filed Jun 30, 200366,000 milesIN

WHILE DRIVING DURINGA DOWN POUR VEHICLES WIPERS FAILED. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

20 of 74 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1995
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
200310000Routine
200217000Routine
200117000Routine
200032000Routine
199939000Routine
1998 — this page74120Routine
199775100Routine
199660110Routine
199579110Routine
199458110Routine
199213010Routine
199116010Routine
199011000Routine

Compare every Pickup year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Aug 11, 2008. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.