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1998 Chevrolet Truck M/L Van

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →
42Owner complaints

Model-year median: 42

0Recall campaigns

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0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
42
1998
Compare all M/l Van years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Visibility
19Service Brakes, Hydraulic
6Electrical System
4Engine And Engine Cooling
3Parking Brake
2
All reported categories
Steering
2Suspension
2Fuel System, Diesel
1Latches/locks/linkages
1Power Train
1Seats
1Service Brakes, Air
1Trailer Hitches
1Unknown Or Other
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

30 reports with mileage · 12 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Visibility. Review the 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports

Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

6 reports
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120,000 miles · Sep 28, 2004
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHILE DRIVING OVER A BRIDGE WITH ANTI-LOCK BRAKES APPLIED WHEN I RAN OVER AN EXPANSION JOINT IN THE BRIDGE THE BRAKE PRESSURE WENT COMPLETELY AWAY AND I HAD NO BRAKING POWER. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES ALSO WHEN HITTING BUMPS IN THE ROADWAY WITH THE BRAKES APPLIED. CALLED A CHEVROLET DEALER AND WAS TOLD THIS IS COMMON. HAD …

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WHILE DRIVING OVER A BRIDGE WITH ANTI-LOCK BRAKES APPLIED WHEN I RAN OVER AN EXPANSION JOINT IN THE BRIDGE THE BRAKE PRESSURE WENT COMPLETELY AWAY AND I HAD NO BRAKING POWER. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES ALSO WHEN HITTING BUMPS IN THE ROADWAY WITH THE BRAKES APPLIED. CALLED A CHEVROLET DEALER AND WAS TOLD THIS IS COMMON. HAD AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC CHECK BRAKING SYSTEM AND WAS TOLD THE ANTI-LOCK SYSTEM WAS NOT GOING TO WORK EVEN IF WE SPENT THE $2700.00 GM WANTED FOR ALL NEW COMPONENTS TO THE SYSTEM. I CANNOT COME TO A FAST STOP WITH THIS BRAKING SYSTEM, YET MY OLD TRUCK ( A 1978 CHEVY K-10 SILVERADO ) NEVER ONCE HAD A BRAKING PROBLEM. THIS NEWER TRUCK ( A 1998 K-2500 SILVERADO ) HAS HAD NOTHING BUT BRAKE PROBLEMS. I HAVE ALSO BEEN TOLD THAT MANY, MANY MECHANICS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY ARE DISCONNECTING THE ABS SYSTEMS AND THEIR CUSTOMERS ARE REALLY MUCH HAPPIER AND SAFER. IF YOU CANNOT STOP AND YOU HIT SOMEONE BECAUSE THE BRAKES ARE NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY THEN I WOULD SAY WE HAVE A PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10093234

Mileage unknown · Sep 2, 2004
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

1998 CHEVROLET PICKUP 1500 SERIES, REAR BRAKE LINE RUPTURED DUE TO RUST, EXTREMELY UNUSUAL FOR AN AUTOMOBILE OF THIS AGE WITHOUT EXPOSURE TO CORROSIVE ROAD CONDITIONS. NO CONSEQUENSES OTHER THAN UNEXPECTED AND UNWARRENTED REPAIR COSTS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10089010

58,000 miles · Jun 17, 2004
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

ON MY WAY BACK FROM A TRIP TOWING MY HORSE TRAILER THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS BEGINNING TO GET A LITTLE SOFT. WHEN I GOT INTO MY DRIVEWAY THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. SINCE I WAS TRAVELING VERY SLOWLY I WAS ABLE TO STOP WITHOUT HITTING ANYTHING. MY HUSBAND AND I INSPECTED THE TRUCK AND FOUND BRAKE FLUID LEAKING FROM THE FRAME RAI…

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ON MY WAY BACK FROM A TRIP TOWING MY HORSE TRAILER THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS BEGINNING TO GET A LITTLE SOFT. WHEN I GOT INTO MY DRIVEWAY THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. SINCE I WAS TRAVELING VERY SLOWLY I WAS ABLE TO STOP WITHOUT HITTING ANYTHING. MY HUSBAND AND I INSPECTED THE TRUCK AND FOUND BRAKE FLUID LEAKING FROM THE FRAME RAIL IN FRONT OF THE LEFT REAR WHEEL. WE ARE HAVING THE LEAKING CORRODED METAL BRAKE LINE REPLACED AT THIS TIME. WE ASKED THE MECHANIC TO SAVE THE PART. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10078369

134,000 miles · Jun 17, 2004
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

DRIVING ON THE ROAD, APPLIED BRAKES, BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR, VEHICLE STOPPING DISTANCE WAS LONG. STOPPED VEHICLE, CHECKED BRAKE RESERVOIR. FLUID WAS DOWN. WENT AROUND VEHICLE AND FOUND BRAKE FLUID LEAKING FROM FRAME RAIL FORWARD OF LEFT REAR WHEEL. PROBLEM WAS BROKEN CORRODED METAL BRAKE LINE. I HAD IT REPLACED. I DID NOT R…

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DRIVING ON THE ROAD, APPLIED BRAKES, BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR, VEHICLE STOPPING DISTANCE WAS LONG. STOPPED VEHICLE, CHECKED BRAKE RESERVOIR. FLUID WAS DOWN. WENT AROUND VEHICLE AND FOUND BRAKE FLUID LEAKING FROM FRAME RAIL FORWARD OF LEFT REAR WHEEL. PROBLEM WAS BROKEN CORRODED METAL BRAKE LINE. I HAD IT REPLACED. I DID NOT RETAIN THE OLD PART. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10078367

82,000 miles · Feb 27, 2004
Power TrainService Brakes, HydraulicSuspension

TOTAL LOSS OF FRONT END/ABS/HUB ASSEMBLY UNITS BOTH SIDES, BEARINGS/ REAR ROTORS/PADS AND CALIPERS. ALSO, SLIPPING OF 4-WHEEL DRIVE SWITCH INTO ANOTHER GEAR, THESE HAVE BEEN REPLACED JUST 3 YEARS AGO AND HAVE LET GO AGAIN!!!!!!! *AK

NHTSA ODI #10059955

23,000 miles · Dec 31, 2003
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrash

I BOUGHT THIS 1998 CHEVY SUBURBAN 2500 NEW. I HAVE HAD TROUBLE WITH THE BRAKES SINCE DAY 1. THE DEALERSHIP SENT IT TO A LOCAL SPECIALIST AND PAID TO HAVE IT FIXED (GRAPE ENGEERING IN GR MI) IT STILL DOES NOT WORK RIGHT. THE ABS DEPLOYES IN CORRECTLY AT MANY STOPS. IT IS A DANGER.

NHTSA ODI #10051448

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.