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1998 Chevrolet C/K Series

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

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

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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

What owners reported most

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

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 5 of 8 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

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 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

2 reports
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Mileage unknown · Sep 24, 2005
Service Brakes, HydraulicVisibility

WE HAVE A 1998 CHEVY Z71 PICKUP AND HAVE HAD FOR SEVERAL YEARS. WE HAVE CONTINUAL BRAKE PROBLEMS WITH THIS TRUCK. WE HAVE REPLACED ROTORS, CALIPERS, BRAKE PADS ALL SEVERAL TIMES. SOMETIMES REPLACING BRAKE PADS AS OFTEN AS EVERY SIX MONTHS. STILL HAVE THE SAME SPONGY BRAKE PEDAL WITH TOO MUCH PEDAL TRAVEL. ALSO STILL HAVE LO…

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WE HAVE A 1998 CHEVY Z71 PICKUP AND HAVE HAD FOR SEVERAL YEARS. WE HAVE CONTINUAL BRAKE PROBLEMS WITH THIS TRUCK. WE HAVE REPLACED ROTORS, CALIPERS, BRAKE PADS ALL SEVERAL TIMES. SOMETIMES REPLACING BRAKE PADS AS OFTEN AS EVERY SIX MONTHS. STILL HAVE THE SAME SPONGY BRAKE PEDAL WITH TOO MUCH PEDAL TRAVEL. ALSO STILL HAVE LONGER STOPPING DISTANCES THAN WE SHOULD HAVE. THE TRUCK HAS ALSO HAD THE INTERMITTENT WIPER PROBLEM, THE WIPERS SOMETIMES WORK SOMETIMES NOT, WE PAID FOR A REPLACEMENT WIPER BOARD AND REPAIRED THE PROBLEM. NOW WE ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE WINDSHIELD FOGGING UP ESPECIALLY ON THE DRIVERS SIDE ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD. WE HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IS CAUSING THIS PROBLEM, IT JUST STARTED WITHIN THE LAST 4 MONTHS AND IS GETTING WORSE. IT WILL FOG UP WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER IS ON OR WHEN THE DEFROSTER IS ON. IT IS STARTING TO GET SO BAD THAT YOU CANT SEE THRU THE WINDOW WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, AND COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10137508

63,000 miles · Sep 1, 2005
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

DT: THE CALLER HAS A 1998 VEHICLE FROM A DEALER THAT BOUGHT THE VEHICLE FROM AN AUCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO US FROM CANADA BY THE AUCTION COMPANY AND SOLD TO A DEALER WHERE THE CALLER BOUGHT THE VEHICLE. HE SAID THERE WAS RECALL 05V379000 ON OTHER YEARS OF VEHICLE, AND HE WOULD LIKE THIS VEHICLE TO BE INCLUDED IN REC…

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DT: THE CALLER HAS A 1998 VEHICLE FROM A DEALER THAT BOUGHT THE VEHICLE FROM AN AUCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO US FROM CANADA BY THE AUCTION COMPANY AND SOLD TO A DEALER WHERE THE CALLER BOUGHT THE VEHICLE. HE SAID THERE WAS RECALL 05V379000 ON OTHER YEARS OF VEHICLE, AND HE WOULD LIKE THIS VEHICLE TO BE INCLUDED IN RECALL. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER SAID THEY COULD NOT HELP HIM BECAUSE THIS VEHICLE WAS FROM CANADA. THEY WOULD GIVE HIM $1000.00 IF HE BOUGHT A NEW VEHICLE. CALLER DID NOT KNOW IT WAS BROUGHT FROM CANADA AND BOUGHT BY DEALER. CALLER HAD SOME CLOSE CALLS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10135040

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

2

EA02005 · Driver Door Electrical Fires

Opened May 17, 2002 · Closed May 1, 2003

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System; Visibility:rearview Mirrors/devices; Visibility:rearview Mirrors/devices:exterior

BY LETTER DATED MARCH 19, 2003, THE MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED NHTSA OF THE DECISION TO INITATE A SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN ON SELECTED VEHICLES WITHIN THE SUBJECT POPULATION.THE CAMPAIGN INVOLVES 507,000 C/K AND M/L VEHICLES BUILT DURING MODEL YEARS 1997-1998.THE RECALL INVOLVES VEHICLE MODELS WITH HIGH INCIDENT RATES AND BUILT AT SELECTED ASSEMBLY PLANTS.A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR TO THE DEFECT WASINHERENT VARIATIONS IN ASSEMBLY CONDITIONS, WORKER SKILL LEVELS ANDPROCESSES THAT EXIST FROM ONE ASSEMBLY LOCATION TO ANOTHER.TO REMEDY THE DEFECT, DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED JUMPER HARNESS TO THE ELECTRIC OUTSIDE REARVIEW MIRROR SWITCH.NHTSA HAS ASSIGNED CAMPAIGN NO. 03V-093 TO THE RECALL.

Additional source detail variants (3)

Electrical System

BY LETTER DATED MARCH 19, 2003, THE MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED NHTSA OF THE DECISION TO INITATE A SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN ON SELECTED VEHICLES WITHIN THE SUBJECT POPULATION.THE CAMPAIGN INVOLVES 507,000 C/K AND M/L VEHICLES BUILT DURING MODEL YEARS 1997-1998.THE RECALL INVOLVES VEHICLE MODELS WITH HIGH INCIDENT RATES AND BUILT AT SELECTED ASSEMBLY PLANTS.A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR TO THE DEFECT WASINHERENT VARIATIONS IN ASSEMBLY CONDITIONS, WORKER SKILL LEVELS ANDPROCESSES THAT EXIST FROM ONE ASSEMBLY LOCATION TO ANOTHER.TO REMEDY THE DEFECT, DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED JUMPER HARNESS TO THE ELECTRIC OUTSIDE REARVIEW MIRROR SWITCH.NHTSA HAS ASSIGNED CAMPAIGN NO. 03V-093 TO THE RECALL.

Visibility:rearview Mirrors/devices:exterior

BY LETTER DATED MARCH 19, 2003, THE MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED NHTSA OF THE DECISION TO INITATE A SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN ON SELECTED VEHICLES WITHIN THE SUBJECT POPULATION.THE CAMPAIGN INVOLVES 507,000 C/K AND M/L VEHICLES BUILT DURING MODEL YEARS 1997-1998.THE RECALL INVOLVES VEHICLE MODELS WITH HIGH INCIDENT RATES AND BUILT AT SELECTED ASSEMBLY PLANTS.A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR TO THE DEFECT WASINHERENT VARIATIONS IN ASSEMBLY CONDITIONS, WORKER SKILL LEVELS ANDPROCESSES THAT EXIST FROM ONE ASSEMBLY LOCATION TO ANOTHER.TO REMEDY THE DEFECT, DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED JUMPER HARNESS TO THE ELECTRIC OUTSIDE REARVIEW MIRROR SWITCH.NHTSA HAS ASSIGNED CAMPAIGN NO. 03V-093 TO THE RECALL.

Visibility:rearview Mirrors/devices

BY LETTER DATED MARCH 19, 2003, THE MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED NHTSA OF THE DECISION TO INITATE A SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN ON SELECTED VEHICLES WITHIN THE SUBJECT POPULATION.THE CAMPAIGN INVOLVES 507,000 C/K AND M/L VEHICLES BUILT DURING MODEL YEARS 1997-1998.THE RECALL INVOLVES VEHICLE MODELS WITH HIGH INCIDENT RATES AND BUILT AT SELECTED ASSEMBLY PLANTS.A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR TO THE DEFECT WASINHERENT VARIATIONS IN ASSEMBLY CONDITIONS, WORKER SKILL LEVELS ANDPROCESSES THAT EXIST FROM ONE ASSEMBLY LOCATION TO ANOTHER.TO REMEDY THE DEFECT, DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED JUMPER HARNESS TO THE ELECTRIC OUTSIDE REARVIEW MIRROR SWITCH.NHTSA HAS ASSIGNED CAMPAIGN NO. 03V-093 TO THE RECALL.

EA01013 · Vacuum Brake Booster Failure

Opened May 22, 2001 · Closed Dec 15, 2002

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic

ODI UPGRADED THE PRELIMINARY EVALUATION TO CONDUCT A FULL TECHNICAL ANALYSIS, INCLUDING TESTING.THE TESTING AND ANALYSIS SHOWS THAT A TORN DIAPHRAGM IS A SLOW PROGRESSIVE TYPE OF FAILURE.THE TEAR PROPAGATES IN A SLOW METHODICAL MANNER AND BRAKING PERFORMANCE IS SIMILAR TO AN UNTORN UNIT UNTIL THE TEAR EXCEEDS 1/2 INCH.ODI'S TESTING INDICATES THAT TEARS GREATER THAN 1/2 INCH REQUIRED INCREASED PEDAL EFFORT.HOWEVER, AS THE LENGTH OF THE TEAR INCREASED BEYOND 1/2 INCH, A HISSING SOUND COULD BE HEARD EMITTING INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT WHERE THE MASTER CYLINDER PLUNGER PASSED THROUGH THE FIREWALL. ODI HAS DETERMINED THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IN THE FUTURE IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.ODI'S COMPLETE TECHNICAL ANALYSIS WITH TEST DATA IS ATTACHED.