1998 Chevrolet Silverado

Fatalities reported

Owners filed 279 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the service brakes, hydraulic › antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip. No safety recall has been issued.

When it fails
020k40k60k90k120k200k
75,000 milesMedian miles at failure

86 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 60,00075,000 miles.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip54
603
Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer › Motor18
000
Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer14
000
Tires7
102
Steering7
101
Seats7
000
Tires › Tread/Belt6
000
Steering › Hydraulic Power Assist System6
000
Electrical System6
020
Suspension5
000

What owners reported

Newest filings
Air BagsCrash1 killed
Filed Jul 7, 2014OH

VEHICLE LEFT ROADWAY AND WENT INTO A DRAINAGE DITCH. THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY RESULTING IN THE DRIVERS DEATH. *JS

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Apr 3, 2014130,000 milesMS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. ONE YEAR AGO WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD, BEGAN TO ACCELERATE AND RESPOND AS IF IT WERE A STANDARD VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY; HOWEVER, MORE RECENTLY IT BEGAN TO OCCUR EVERY TIME HE DROVE THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD AND WAS WITHIN ONE INCH OF A CRASH FORCING THE CONTACT TO APPLY THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH EXCESSIVE FORCE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION/CCC SOLENOID DOES NOT DISENGAGE WHILE RELEASING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WERE ILLUMINATED. A COMPLAINT WAS FILED WITH THE MANUFACTURER; HOWEVER, THEY DID NOT OFFER OR PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE CONTACT REPLACED EVERY COMPONENT IN THE TRANSMISSION IN ORDER TO CORRECT THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. HE WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE FOR TWO DAYS DUE TO THE SAFETY RISK. THE CONTACT ADDED AN ON/OFF SWITCH THAT CONTROLLED THE TCC SOLENOID. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 140,000. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE 130,000.

Service Brakes
Filed Oct 13, 2013CA

I ALMOST HIT A PERSON CROSSING THE STREET, I WAS COMING TO A SLOW STOP, THE BRAKES STARTED MAKING A BOING BOING NOISE, EVERYTIME IT MADE THE NOISE THE BRAKES STOPPING POWER WENT AWAY THE PERSON CROSSING THE STREET REALISED THE TRUCK WAS HAVING PROBLEMS... I"VE HAD 3 OF THIS MODEL TRUCK MY FIRST WAS A 97 TAHOE BAD BREAKS I ACTUALLY GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT WITH THAT TRUCK REAR ENDED HONDA CIVIC, MY OTHER ONE WAS A 94 SILVERADO I HAD TO BRAKE HARD ONCE THE BREAKS GAVE WAY N THE PEDAL WAS SOFT AFTER THAT. MY NEW ONE, THE ONE I'M ACTUALLY COMPLANING ABOUT IS A 98 SILVERADO 3500 WITH DEFECTIVE BRAKES THIS IS A POOR DESIGN BY GM MOTORS THIS HAS TO BE RECALLED AND REPAIRED. I DO KNOW SOMEONE WHO CRASHED HIS 2 DOOR BLAZER INTO A WATER TANKER HE BRAKE HARD N THE BRAKES GAVE OUT 88-98 GM TRUCKS AND SUV'S HAVE DEEEEEEEFECTIVE BRAKES 3/3 I'VE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THIS IS NOT RIGHT. *TR

Seats
Filed Apr 14, 2013185,000 milesMN

GOT IN LEANED BACK AND ENDED UP LAYING INTO THE BACK SEAT AREA. NOW SEAT-BACK WON'T LATCH IN ANY POSITION. *TR

Structure › Body
Filed Oct 26, 2012158,000 milesNE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE TIRES THE MECHANIC NOTICED CORROSION AND CRACKS ON THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE FRAME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 158,000.

Tires
Filed Jul 19, 2012144,000 milesCA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH COOPER DISCOVERER H/T TIRES, TIRE SIZE 235/75/15. THE DOT NUMBER WAS 3DHLC5U0607. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THERE WAS AN EXCESSIVE VIBRATION AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SWAY ACROSS THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE TREAD WAS COMPLETELY SEPARATED AND THE STEEL WAS VISIBLE. THE TIRE WAS REPLACED WITH A SPARE TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO FOUR DIFFERENT INDEPENDENT MECHANICS. THE DEFECTIVE TIRE HAD NOT BEEN REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THERE WERE NO RESOLUTIONS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 144,000.

Steering
Filed Jul 13, 2012179,420 milesOK

RETURNING FROM DELIVERIES, BACKING INTO DRIVE TO RELOAD, STEERING COMPLETELY FAILED. NO STEERING AT ALL. YOU CAN SPIN THE STEERING WHEEL IN EITHER DIRECTION WITH NO RESPONSE. *TR

Electrical System
Filed Jun 27, 2012127,000 milesFL

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.

Exterior Lighting
Filed Mar 20, 2012150,000 milesTN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RUNNING LIGHTS WERE CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATED AND THERE WAS NO WAY TO DEACTIVATE THE LIGHTS. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED DISPLEASURE WITH THE FEATURE AND FELT THAT IT AFFECTED HIS DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE SITUATION AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed Sep 25, 2011106,000 milesUT

THE BRAKES ON THIS TRUCK ARE SPONGY AND DO NOT STOP THE VEHICLE WELL AT ALL. NO REPAIRS DONE SEEM TO HELP IMPROVE THE STOPPING DISTANCE. WORST BRAKE I HAVE EVER SEEN ON A VEHICLE. DEFINITELY NOT NORMAL. *TR

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer
Filed Aug 26, 200989,000 milesMI

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET SILVERADO, WHILE USING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS THEY HAD SUDDENLY STOPPED AND A BUZZING SOUND WAS COMING FROM THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS. AFTER THE BUZZING SOUND HAD STOPPED THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS HAD BEGAN TO WORK PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PROBE CENTRAL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 225,000 FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89000. BL UPDATED 10/20/09 *CN UPDATED 10/22/09.*JB

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer › Motor
Filed Jan 2, 200861,850 milesMI

THE WIPERS STOPPED WORKING. IT NEEDS A NEW MOTOR.*CN

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer › Motor
Filed Sep 9, 2006KS

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON MY 1998 CHEVROLET SILVERADO PICKUP DON'T WORK ALL THE TIME. THE WIPER MOTOR APPEARS TO BE THE SAME AS THE 1997 CHEVROLET PICKUP FOR WHICH A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED. *NM

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited SlipCrash
Filed Aug 24, 200697,600 milesOH

HAVE 1998 CHEVY SILVERADO 1500 SHORT-BED V-6 PICKUP WITH ABS BRAKE PROBLEMS. HAVE RESEARCHED AND FOUND THERE IS A HISTORY OF THIS PROBLEM. THE MAKER IS FULLY AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT ONLY RECALLED 1999 AND LATER MODELS. I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY DECIDED THAT ONE, BUT I DO KNOW IT HAS TO DO WITH MONEY! IN DECEMBER OF 2005, I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THE TRUCK BRAKES FAILING WITH THE ANTI-LOCK PULSING ON AND I HAD NO BRAKING TIME AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. IT IS A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM WITH MANY GMC TRUCK OWNERS. IT'S THE REASON I WILL NEVER OWN ANOTHER GMC PRODUCT! IF A MANUFACTURER HAS KNOWLEDGE OF A DEFECT AND DOES NOTHING, IT IS WRONG! AT SLOW SPEEDS WHEN COMING TO A STOP, THE ABS SYSTEM KICKS ON AND MAKES IT NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO STOP ON TIME. TOOK IT TO A DEALER WHO RAN THE VIN AND SAID MY TRUCK WAS NOT COVERED. IT IS NOT RIGHT! A MAKER WHO KNOWS OF A DEFECT SHOULD HAVE TO MAKE GOOD ON ITS REPAIR TO CORRECT THE ISSUE. *JB

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Jul 8, 200620,340 milesNY

RE: RECALL # 05V379000 FOR 1999 THROUGH 2002 CHEVROLET SILVERADO PICK UP TRUCKS. PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT I HAVE A 1998 SILVERADO CHEVY TRUCK AND I EXPERIENCED THIS EXACT SAME PROBLEM "(UNWANTED ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) ACTIVATION)" IN JAN. 2005 FIVE (5) MONTHS PRIOR TO THE RECALL. I WAS CHARGED $653.94 TO REPAIR MY VEHICLE . I HAVE TRIED TO RECEIVE SOME SATISFACTION FROM GM WITH NO RESULTS. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAD 20340 MILES ON IT AT THAT TIME. I BELIEVE THE 1998 SILVERADO TRUCKS SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL. *JB

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip › Control Unit/Module
Filed Apr 6, 2006WI

1998 SILVERADO HAD ANTI LOCK BRAKE SENSOR REPLACED. *TS THE FRONT WHEEL BRAKE SENSOR WAS REPLACED ON 10/4/2005. ON 12/25/2005 THE CONSUMER READ AN ARTICLE WHICH STATED THAT GENERAL MOTORS HAD EXPANDED IT'S RECALL ON THE ANTILOCK BRAKES TO INCLUDE WISCONSIN AND THAT CONSUMER'S WOULD RECEIVE NOTICE BY 2/1/2006. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER WHO INDICATED THAT GM HAD NOT ISSUED A RECALL. THE CONSUMER THEN CALLED GM WHO ALSO STATED THAT THERE WASN'T A RECALL. *NM

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer › Switch/Wiring
Filed Mar 20, 200670,000 milesNC

1998 CHEVY. SILVERADO P/U TRUCK. WIPERS BEGAN STOPPING IN JULY 2005. HAVE TO STOP IN DRIVING RAIN TO MOVE WIRES AT CONTROL/MOTOR OUTSIDE. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, NO PLACE TO STOP. SAFETY OF SELF AND FAMILY IN EXTREME DANGER. WEB IS FULL OF COMPLAINTS YET NO RECALL, OR IS THERE? PLEASE ADVISE ASAP. I AM TIRED OF JEOPARDIZING MY LIFE AND THAT OF MY FAMILY DUE TO GM FAILURE TO NOTIFY ME AND THOUSANDS OF OTHERS OF THIS PROBLEM AND PROPER WAY TO REPAIR. DOES NOT OCCUR JUST ONCE, BUT ALMOST EVERY TIME WIPERS ARE REQUIRED. NEXT QUESTION ABOUT INCIDENT DATE IS MISLEADING-DOES NOT OCCUR JUST ONCE, BUT MANY TIMES. *JB

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer › Motor
Filed Mar 20, 200670,000 milesNC

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR INTERMITTENTLY DOES NOT WORK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION OR REPAIR.

Structure › Body › Hatchback/Liftgate › Hinge and Attachments
Filed Mar 17, 200670,000 milesOH

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE LOWERING THE TAILGATE, IT WAS NOTICED THE DRIVER SIDE TAILGATE CABLE WAS BROKEN. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, #06V066000, REGARDING THE TAILGATE CABLES. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER, IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.

Structure › Body › Tailgate › Hinge and Attachments
Filed Mar 11, 2006MI

MY DAUGHTER USED MY VEHICLE LAST YEAR. SHE OPENED THE TAILGATE TO PUT A BAG OF CLOTHES IN THE BED OF MY 1998 CHEVROLET SILVERADO AND WHEN SHE TRIED TO CLOSE THE TAILGATE THE LATCHES WOULD NOT ENGAGE TO KEEP THE TAILGATE CLOSED. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS AT CLOSING THE TAILGATE IT FINALLY ENGAGED AND STAYED CLOSED. AS SHE BEGAN DRIVING THE LATCHES AGAIN RELEASED AND THE TAILGATE FELL OPEN. BOTH SUPPORT CABLES BROKE AS DESCRIBED IN THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 06V066000 FOR 1999 AND 2000 CHEVROLET SILVERADOS AND THE TAILGATE FELL OFF OF THE VEHICLE. I HAD TO REPLACE THE SUPPORT CABLES BUT THE LATCHES STILL DO NOT HOLD AND THE TAILGATE CONTINUES TO FALL OPEN ON A REGULAR BASIS. JUST TODAY 3/11/05 THE TAILGATE FELL OPEN 5 TIMES WHILE I WAS DRIVING. *JB

20 of 279 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1999
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
2017125030Routine
20165200Routine
201576720Routine
20141241400Do not drive
201364320Routine
201268240Routine
201175220Routine
201062120Routine
200976031Fatalities reported
2008162251Fatalities reported
20071834101Fatalities reported
20061821075Fatalities reported
20053161470Above average
200462215103Fatalities reported
200369513112Fatalities reported
20027101551Fatalities reported
20018771553Fatalities reported
20001,30520112Fatalities reported
19991,6601760High concern
1998 — this page279052Fatalities reported
1997272060Above average
1996186030Routine
1995263000Above average
1994210041Fatalities reported
199369000Routine
199240030Routine
199117000Routine
199025000Routine

Compare every Silverado year →

Reading this record

2 deaths reported in complaints filed with NHTSA.

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.

Most recent recall on file: none. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.