NHTSA vehicle safety data

1998 Chevrolet Silverado Recalls & Complaints

We couldn't confirm the NHTSA recall list for the 1998 Chevrolet Silverado right now, so this page doesn't state a recall count — check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls for current campaigns. 278 owner complaints are on file.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 1998 Chevrolet Silverado.

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1998 Chevrolet Silverado owner complaints

Owners have filed 278 complaints with NHTSA about the 1998 Chevrolet Silverado, describing incidents dated May 1, 1997 to October 12, 2013.

Most-cited components

Service Brakes 86 complaints
Visibility/Wiper 44 complaints
Steering 21 complaints
Electrical System 19 complaints
Tires 16 complaints
Engine 15 complaints

Of the 278 complaints on file, 16 report a crash and 5 a fire; across all 278 complaints, owners report 12 injuries and 2 deaths (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #10608707 · Filed July 7, 2014
VEHICLE LEFT ROADWAY AND WENT INTO A DRAINAGE DITCH. THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY RESULTING IN THE DRIVERS DEATH. *JS
ODI #10577236 · Filed April 3, 2014
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…
ODI #10547777 · Filed October 13, 2013
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…

Read all 278 complaints

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 1998 Chevrolet Silverado in 2 investigations. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

Engineering Analysis EA05-007: TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES
Closed April 11, 2006
- Recall 06V-066
Recall Query RQ04-010: TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLE BREAKAGE
Closed April 14, 2005

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

We couldn't confirm the NHTSA recall list for the 1998 Chevrolet Silverado right now — this is not a confirmed "no recalls". Check the VIN at NHTSA.gov/recalls for the official status.

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 1998 Chevrolet Silverado. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

278 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1998 Chevrolet Silverado.

Air Bags

ODI #10608707

Crash 1 death

Incident: October 12, 2008 · Filed: July 7, 2014

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

Vehicle Speed Control

ODI #10577236

Incident: April 1, 2013 · Filed: April 3, 2014

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

ODI #10547777

Incident: October 12, 2013 · Filed: October 13, 2013

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

ODI #10508165

Incident: April 13, 2013 · Filed: April 14, 2013

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

Structure

ODI #10482309

Incident: October 26, 2012 · Filed: October 26, 2012

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

ODI #10466647

Incident: July 10, 2012 · Filed: July 19, 2012

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

ODI #10465609

Incident: July 11, 2012 · Filed: July 13, 2012

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

ODI #10463268

Incident: May 10, 2012 · Filed: June 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.

Exterior Lighting

ODI #10452426

Incident: March 20, 2009 · Filed: March 20, 2012

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

ODI #10427127

Incident: September 24, 2008 · Filed: September 25, 2011

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

Other Chevrolet Silverado model years

Check your 1998 Chevrolet Silverado VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Chevrolet Silverado at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

Check a Chevrolet VIN