1998 Chevrolet Silverado 2500

Routine

Owners filed 73 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the service brakes, hydraulic › antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip. It has been recalled 2 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip19
201
Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Tank Assembly4
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic3
100
Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer › Motor2
000
Tires › Tread/Belt2
000
Suspension › Rear2
000
Suspension2
000
Structure › Frame and Members2
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip › Control Unit/Module2
000
Latches/Locks/Linkages › Doors › Latch2
000

2 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Equipment07E088000
Filed Oct 24, 2007121,680 vehiclesHoneywell International, Inc.

Defect. CERTAIN HONEYWELL FRAM RACING BRAND HP4 AND HP8 OIL FILTERS THAT WERE MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 25, 2006, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 14, 2007, AND SOLD FOR USE AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR VEHICLES LIST ABOVE. THE AFFECTED FILTERS ARE MARKED WITH A DATE CODE A61451 THROUGH A72571 SEQUENTIALLY. THE DATE CODE AND PART NUMBER APPEAR ON THE FILTER HOUSING. FRAM RACING HP4 AND HP8 OIL FILTERS NOT BEARING A DATE CODE IN THIS RANGE ARE NOT AFFECTED BY THIS RECALL. THE GASKET OF THE OIL FILTER BECOMES MORE PLIABLE UNDER HIGH TEMPERATURES AND PRESSURES.

Risk. THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE INADEQUATE SEALING AND LOSS OF ENGINE OIL, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.

Remedy. HONEYWELL WILL REPLACE THE AFFECTED OIL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN DURING NOVEMBER 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-890-2075.

Fuel System, Gasoline06E043000
Filed May 19, 200688,303 vehiclesHoneywell International, Inc.

Defect. CERTAIN REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS, FRAM BRAND NAME P/N G3727, WITH DATE CODES X52911 THROUGH X60801 SEQUENTIALLY OR X600141 AND A MEXICO COUNTRY OR ORIGIN MARKING ON THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 18, 2005, THROUGH MARCH 21, 2006, SOLD FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE AND ON CERTAIN SCHOOL BUSES. (TO SEE THE SCHOOL BUS ENGINE SIZES, CLICK ON "DOCUMENT SEARCH" AND THEN "BUS APPLICATIONS"). THE CONNECTOR ON THE FUEL FILTER WAS NOT MANUFACTURED TO HONEYWELL'S SPECIFICATION. AS A RESULT, THE O-RING MAY NOT SEAT CORRECTLY ON THE FUEL LINE.

Risk. THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE AN INADEQUATE SEAL AT THE CONNECTION, POTENTIALLY LEADING TO A FUEL LEAK. IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.

Remedy. HONEYWELL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FUEL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 18, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-890-2075 (OPTION 1).

What owners reported

Newest filings
Structure › Body
Filed Dec 19, 2016192,000 milesLA

I BOUGHT THIS TRUCK WITH 70K MILES ON IT .HAS BEEN A GOOD TRUCK BUT THE DASH IS COMING APART AND IN THE NEAR FUTURE I DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS GOING TO HOLD THE GAUGES IN PLACE. I CAN NOT EVEN BUY A REPLACEMENT PART FOR THE VEHICLE FROM GM AND EVERY PART OUT OF A SALVAGE YARD IS IN THE SAME CONDITION.

Service BrakesCrash
Filed Oct 14, 201373,560 milesKY

BRAKES WENT OUT COMPLETELY AFTER DEPRESSING BRAKE PEDAL. HAD TO LEAVE THE ROADWAY INTO THE BUSHES TO AVOID HITTING STOPPED CAR IN FRONT OF ME. UPON INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE AFTER BRINGING IT HOME, NOTICED THAT THE BRAKELINE TO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH. SIMILAR LINES DID NOT SHOW SIGN OF CORROSION BUT THIS ONE WAS COMPLETELY DETERIORATED TO THE POINT OF NO REPAIR. *TR

Visibility
Filed Mar 25, 2009168,000 milesMO

1998 CHEVROLET K2500. FOR SOME TIME NOW THE TRUCK HAS HAD AN INTERMITTENT WINDSHIELD WIPER ISSUE (DOES NOT WORK WHEN WET.) 03/25/2009 THE WIPERS STOPPED WORKING WHILE I WAS DRIVING IN THE RAIN CAUSING A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND OUT CHEVROLET HAS AN ONGOING REPUTATION FOR THIS ISSUE AND HAVE RECALLS ON EARLIER YEAR MODELS BUT THEIR POSITION IS THAT THESE PROBLEMS ENDED 1997. *TR

Service Brakes, HydraulicCrash
Filed Oct 21, 200836,000 milesOH

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET K2500. WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE BRAKE PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOOR. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A BUILDING. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED MINOR DAMAGE. THE PASSENGER WAS NOT INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO DEFECTIVE HUBS. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 36,000.

Fuel System, Other › Fuel Injection System
Filed Mar 18, 200863,700 milesMI

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500. WHILE IDLING AT A LIGHT OR DRIVING 60 MPH, THE ENGINE INTERMITTENTLY FAILS. THE VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES. IN THE BEGINNING, THE VEHICLE WOULD IMMEDIATELY RESTART, BUT NOW IT TAKES APPROXIMATELY FIVE MINUTES AFTER THE VEHICLE SHUTS DOWN TO RESTART. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 64,260 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,700. UPDATED 04/22/08. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM WAS FINALLY RESOLVED BY REPLACING THE FUEL INJECTION DRIVER MODULE.

Structure › Frame and Members
Filed Feb 26, 2007134,847 milesFL

SEVERE VEHICLE FRAME CORROSION/RUSTING OF FRONT FRAME EXTENSIONS, PARTICULARLY IN AREA OF STEERING BOX MOUNTING ON SEVERAL AGENCY OWNED 1998 -2000 MODEL CHEVROLET PICKUP TRUCKS. DISPOSITION IS SCRAPPING VEHICLES AS BEYOND ECONOMICAL REPAIR AND UNSAFE TO OPERATE. *NM

Fuel System, Diesel
Filed Dec 6, 200666,500 milesNY

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH UNDER NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE FUEL SOLENOID DRIVER HAD FAILED.

Fuel System, Gasoline › Fuel Injection System › Injectors
Filed Jul 31, 2006192,000 milesTN

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE STALLED SUDDENLY WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DETERMINED THE INJECTOR PUMP FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Feb 27, 2006133,000 milesMA

BOUGHT A 1998 CHEVY SILVERADO 2500 IN DECEMBER 2005 WITH APPROXIMATELY 132,300 MILES PRIVATE SALE. ABOUT 1 MONTH AGO I HAD A COMPLETE BRAKE JOB DONE $1,000 (NEW EVERYTHING) NOT BY A CHEVY DEALER. I WAS SHOWN THE OLD BRAKE COMPONENTS, THE REARS WERE SEVERELY RUSTED AND THERE WAS NO WEAR ON THE PADS. I WAS TOLD THIS WAS BECAUSE THEY HADN'T BEEN ENGAGING. THERE WAS CORROSION IN THE FRONT AND EXTREME WEAR. I BROUGHT THE TRUCK BACK TO THE SHOP THREE TIMES BECAUSE IT WOULD PULL TO THE RIGHT UPON BRAKING, AND STOPPING WAS EITHER REALLY TOUCHY (LOCKING UP) OR A BIT DELAYED. EACH TIME THEY REPLACED PARTS AND LOOKED AT IT FOR FREE. THE THIRD TIME THE REPAIR SHOP SAID "IT WAS SOMETHING RELATED TO THE ABS SYSTEM, BUT WE WOULD HAVE TO GO TO A CHEVY DEALER TO HAVE IT DIAGNOSED". I WENT ONLINE AND FOUND INFORMATION ABOUT THE 1999-2002 GENERAL MOTORS SAFETY RECALL FOR A DEFECT THAT WILL CAUSE CORROSION ON THE SPEED SENSORS AND "MAY CAUSE UNWANTED ABS ACTIVATION AT LOW SPEEDS". THIS IS THE PROBLEM AND WAS CONFIRMED BY REMOVING THE 60 AMP ABS FUSE AND THE PROBLEM DIDN'T OCCUR. I CALLED THE 800# LISTED ON CHEVROLET.COM AND WAS TOLD THAT IF THE PROBLEM WAS FOUND TO BE A DEFECT THAT I SHOULD CALL CHEVY AGAIN. I HAD AN APPOINTMENT WITH A CHEVY DEALER THIS MORNING AND EXPLAINED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHAT I HAD FOUND. THE DEALERSHIP FOUND THE LEFT FRONT SENSOR CORRODED AND BROKEN SO IT HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE RIGHT FRONT SENSORS WERE CORRODED BUT NOT BROKEN. ALL SENSORS WERE CLEANED AND AN ANTI-CORROSIO

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed Oct 20, 200546,081 milesNH

DT: WHEN APPLYING BRAKE PRESSURE AT LOW SPEEDS THE VEHICLE SKIDS. IT DOES STOP BUT THE BRAKES SQUEAL. THIS CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO FISHTAIL IN SANDY OR SNOWY CONDITIONS. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL SERVICE SHOP, WHO NOTED THERE WAS RUST ON THE ENTIRE BRAKE SYSTEM, INCLUDING THE ADJUSTING PAD, WHICH LITERALLY FELL APART UPON INSPECTION. THERE IS A RECALL, BUT THIS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO MODEL YEAR. THE DEALER SAID THE DAMAGE WAS CAUSED BY ROAD SALT. THE CONSUMER HAS NOT HAD ANY REPAIRS OR CORRECTIONS DONE. THE CONSUMER HAS NOT CONTACTED GM/CHEVROLET AT THIS TIME REGARDING THE BRAKE PROBLEM. *AK *NM

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip › Control Unit/Module
Filed Aug 12, 20052,000 milesMD

DRIVING ON DRY PAVEMENT, APPLYING BRAKES AND THE ANTI-LOCK KICKED IN. THE TRUCK (K-2500 EXT CAB 4X4) WOULDN'T STOP. I QUICKLY USED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. WHILE UNDER WARRANTY, NO ONE COULD FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKES! I HAD MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH THIS SAME ISSUE OVER AND OVER AGAIN. TAKING TO THE DEALER AND STILL THEY FOUND NOTHING.. IT AMAZES ME THAT AFTER MY WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED, THEY TOLD ME THE ANTI-LOCK SENSORS IN THE FRONT HUBS WERE BAD AND IT WOULD COST OVER $1,200 PER SIDE TO FIX!! I JUST DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF MONEY. THIS ISSUE SHOULD HAVE BEEN FIXED WHEN I BOUGHT THE TRUCK... THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS SO THE CONSUMER DOESN'T HAVE TO PAY FOR FAULTY PARTS INSTALLED AND THE LACK OF THE ASE CERTIFIED MECHANICS TO FIND THIS PROBLEM UNTIL MY WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED!! HOW CONVENIENT FOR THEM!! I WANT MY VEHICLE FIXED AT NO COST TO ME. I HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS SINCE I BOUGHT THE TRUCK, AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE! *JB

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Jul 25, 200543,000 milesNY

REPEATED ABS BRAKE FAILURE...HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. TAILGATE HANDLE FAILURE. DRIVER SIDE DOOR HANDLE, LOCK MECHANISM & WINDOW TRACK DEFECTIVE

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Jun 8, 2005MI

ANTI LOCK BRAKES ACTIVATING AT LOW SPEEDS, SOMETIMES MAKING THE VEHICLE DIFFICULT TO STOP. THE CONDITION IS INTERMITTENT & WILL SURPRISE THE DRIVER.

Structure › Body › Tailgate › Hinge and Attachments
Filed Apr 23, 200597,000 milesIN

TAILGATE CABLE ON LEFT SIDE BROKE . *JB

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited SlipCrash1 injured
Filed Jan 26, 200520,000 milesMO

THE ABS BRAKES ON MY TRUCK HAVE NEVER WORKED CORRECTLY AND, IF YOU BRAKE HARD AND HIT A LITTLE BUMP IN THE ROAD AT THE SAME TIME, THE BRAKES CUT LOOSE AND DON'T STOP. AN ACCIDENT OCCURRED IN 2000 DUE TO THE BRAKES NOT WORKING. WHEN YOU HIT THEM HARD, THEY CUT OUT. COMPLAINED NUMEROUS TIMES TO 3 DIFFERENT CHEVROLET DEALERS, AND WAS TOLD THAT THAT WAS A NORMAL BRAKE FUNCTIONING. HAVE CHANGED BRAKE PADS SEVERAL TIMES AND BRAKE ROTORS AND HASN'T HELPED A BIT. TRUCK IS SCARY TO DRIVE. ONLY HAVE 56000 MILES ON IT DUE TO TREPIDATION IN USING IT. HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH IT SINCE THE DAY I BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW.*AK

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer › Motor
Filed Jan 7, 200597,000 milesCA

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR PROBLEM. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL WORK, AND THEN INADVERTENTLY STOP WORKING. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING ELSE THEY COULD DO. *AK ... CONSUMER CONTACT CHEVROLET AND PROVIDED VIN, BUT WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO RECALL APPLICABLE TO MAKE/MODEL, AND YEAR. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip › Control Unit/Module
Filed Jul 10, 200424,000 milesVT

IN JANUARY OF 2003 THE SERVICE BRAKE BEGAN RESISTING FOOT PRESSURE AND MAKING A LOUD VIBRATING NOISE WHEN APPROACHING A FULL STOP ON DRY PAVEMENT ON MY 1998 CHEVY PICKUP WITH APROX. 24,000 MILES. BY JULY THE PROBLEM OCCURRED AT ALMOST EVERY STOP. THE DEALER FROM WHOM THE TRUCK WAS PURCHASED REPAIRED THE REAR BRAKES ($303) AND ADVISED ME THAT THE PROBLEM WITH BRAKE PEDAL WAS RELATED TO THE ABS SYSTEM AND WOULD REQUIRE REPLACEMENT OF THE FRONT ROTORS AT A COST OF $1000+. A DEALER MECHANIC TOLD ME THE PROBLEM COULD ELIMINATED BY REMOVE THE BRAKE FUSE (DISABLING THE ABS SYSTEM). I CONFIRMED THIS WITH A LOCAL GARAGE WHO ALSO INFORMED ME THAT THE $1000 REPAIR WOULD ONLY TEMPORARILY CURE THE PROBLEM. I HAVE THEREFORE BEEN DRIVING WITH ABS SYSTEM DISABLED, REPLACING THE FUSE ONLY FOR INSPECTIONS AND REMOVING IT IMMEDIATELY THEREAFTER. I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO LOCATE A RECALL PROGRAM WHICH WOULD RESTORE THE USE OF THE ABS SYSTEM. MY TRUCK SERIAL NUMBER IS [XXX]. [XXX]. *AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Tank Assembly
Filed May 17, 2004IA

AFTER DRIVING FOR ONLY A FEW MINUTES CONSUMER HEARD A SOUND COMING FROM THE FUEL TANK ONCE THE ENGINE WAS SHUT OFF. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED, AND THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO CRACKS ON THE FUEL TANK. *AK

Latches/Locks/Linkages › Doors › Latch
Filed Mar 3, 200493,200 milesIN

DOOR CATCH AND LOCK FAILURE. THE DRIVER'S DOOR WILL NOT COMPLETELY LATCH, THEREBY PREVENTING THE DOOR FROM CLOSING COMPLETELY AND SECURELY/TIGHTLY AND STAYING TIGHTLY CLOSED. THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD AND CURRENTLY HAS OTHER LOCKING AND LATCHING PROBLEMS WITH THE PASSENGER DOOR AND THE TAIL GATE. ATTEMPTS TO GET THE GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE ARE SYSTEMIC SAFETY PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE'S LOCKING AND LATCHING MECHANISMS HAVE BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL. EVEN THOUGH GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE/REPAIR THESE LOCKING AND LATCHING PROBLEMS, THEY INSISTED ON CREATING A FILE FOR THIS PRODUCT SAFETY ISSUE. THAT FILE NUMBER CREATED BY GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION IS 1-194571737. THE LOCKS/LATCHES SHOULD NOT BE A PROBLEM ON A VEHICLE OF THIS AGE AND WITH ONLY 93466 MILES ON IT. *AK

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer › Switch/Wiring
Filed Jan 9, 200485,848 milesWI

WIPER MOTOR - CIRCUIT BOARD DEFECTIVE. EARILER RECALL, BUT ENDED IN 1996 FOR THE SAME THING. 98 NOT WITHIN DATES, SO OWNERS FOOT THE BILL ($130.00). VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION CAUSED BY THIS PROBLEM, AS THE WINDSHIELD WIPER WILL STOP WHILE DRIVING. MAY TAKE MINUTES TO HOURS FOR THEM TO COME BACK ON. LOST VISIBILITY DURING STORM WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE. A GODSEND WHERE THE REFLECTORS ON THE LANES, SO YOU COULD GET SAFELY OFF THE ROAD.*AK

20 of 73 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2003
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20266200Routine
202528100Routine
2024139410Routine
202347120Routine
202294320Routine
202184610Routine
20201051030Routine
201974760Routine
201852520Routine
201754550Routine
2016123520Routine
2015176660Routine
201440220Routine
201351310Routine
201253300Routine
2011104420Routine
201021510Routine
200961530Routine
2008191440Routine
2007204390Above average
2006177180Routine
20052691150Above average
20043682102Fatalities reported
2003449280Above average
2002351361Fatalities reported
2001300130Above average
2000132340Routine
199981221Fatalities reported
1998 — this page73230Routine
199764213Fatalities reported
19962000Routine
19953000Routine
19943000Routine

Compare every Silverado 2500 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: Oct 24, 2007. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.