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1998 Chevrolet Silverado 1500

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1998 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 525.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

132 reports with mileage · 229 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.

  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 109 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Visibility. Review the 59 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 47 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

14 crash reports11 fire reports3 injury reports

Service Brakes complaints

10 reports
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100,000 miles · Apr 7, 2016
Service Brakes

BRAKE PEDAL SUDDENLY WENT TO FLOOR WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING. I WAS LUCKY TO AVOID A COLLISION.

NHTSA ODI #10854157

60,000 miles · Sep 11, 2015
Service BrakesStructureCrash

BRAKE PEDAL GOES SPONGES AND ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. THE TRUCK HAD OVER 120,000 MILES BEFORE REAR BRAKES WERE REPLACED. IN THAT TIME I WENT THROUGH 8 SETS OF BRAKES AND ROTORS. IN 2005 I REAR ENDED A CAR AT ABOUT 30 MPH. THE BRAKES WENT TO THE FLOOR. LOCAL CHEVY DEALERSHIP REPLACED A DEFECTIVE BRAKE BOOSTER ASSEMBLE. THIS WAS …

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BRAKE PEDAL GOES SPONGES AND ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. THE TRUCK HAD OVER 120,000 MILES BEFORE REAR BRAKES WERE REPLACED. IN THAT TIME I WENT THROUGH 8 SETS OF BRAKES AND ROTORS. IN 2005 I REAR ENDED A CAR AT ABOUT 30 MPH. THE BRAKES WENT TO THE FLOOR. LOCAL CHEVY DEALERSHIP REPLACED A DEFECTIVE BRAKE BOOSTER ASSEMBLE. THIS WAS THE SECOND BRAKE BOOSTER/ MASTER CYLINDER ASSEMBLY REPLACE ON MY TRUCK SINCE 2005. SINCE THEN. I HAVE LOST BRAKES ON THE TRUCK 4 MORE TIMES. FAILED BRAKE LINES (LEAK AND BREAK) BLOWN BRAKE CALIPER AND RUBBER HOSE. I AM AN ASE CERTIFIED MECHANIC. THE REAR BRAKES OF THE TRUCK DID NOT PROVIDE ANY BRAKING ASSISTANCE WHEN INSPECTED. SUSPECTED FAULT WAS A DEFECTIVE DESIGN ON THE 1500 SERIES TRUCK BRAKES. WHEN 2500 BRAKE PARTS ARE USED ( MASTER CYLINDER ASSY, PROPORTIONING VALVE, AND REAR BRAKES CHANGE TO 11" DRUMS THE BRAKE PEDAL FEELS FIRM AND THE BRAKING POWER OF THE TRUCK IS DRASTICALLY IMPROVED. I'VE OWNED THE TRUCK FOR OVER 11 YEARS AS THE SECOND OWNER I BOUGHT IT WITH VERY LOW MILES. THE BRAKES ON THE VEHICLE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN TERRIBLE. I INITIALL SPENT OVER $2,000 AT THE DEALERSHIP STRING TO BET THE BRAKES CORRECT. IN THE END THE DEALER SAID THAT "THIS IS HOW THEY ALL ARE".

NHTSA ODI #10763035

180,900 miles · Oct 21, 2014
Service Brakes

WE WERE GOING TO A FRIENDS HOUSE IN OUR 1998 CHEVY TRUCK. THE PEDAL WENT DOWN TO THE GROUND. WE BROUGHT THE TRUCK IN AND THERE WAS A LEAK IN THE BRAKE LINE FOR THE REAR BRAKES. WE REPLACED THE BRAKE LINES. SUBSEQUENTLY, I PUT THE CAR UP TO SEE HOW THE FRONT BRAKE LINES LOOK. THEY ARE ALMOST ROTTED THROUGH. WE NOW NEED TO R…

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WE WERE GOING TO A FRIENDS HOUSE IN OUR 1998 CHEVY TRUCK. THE PEDAL WENT DOWN TO THE GROUND. WE BROUGHT THE TRUCK IN AND THERE WAS A LEAK IN THE BRAKE LINE FOR THE REAR BRAKES. WE REPLACED THE BRAKE LINES. SUBSEQUENTLY, I PUT THE CAR UP TO SEE HOW THE FRONT BRAKE LINES LOOK. THEY ARE ALMOST ROTTED THROUGH. WE NOW NEED TO REPLACE THE FRONT BRAKE LINES. CHEVY SHOULD FIND OUT WHY THE TRUCK LOOKS SO BAD; THE DOORS ARE ALL ROTTING AWAY ALSO. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10649083

52,000 miles · Aug 26, 2014
Service Brakes

BRAKE LINE SPLIT DUE TO RUST/CORROSION. THIS HAS OCCURRED 2 TIMES SINCE , I HAVE REPLACED MOST OF THE BRAKE LINES. VERY DANGEROUS ! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10628437

157,000 miles · Jul 9, 2014
Service Brakes

I STARTED MY TRUCK AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR.THE BRAKELINES WERE RUSTED AND ALL THE FLUID LEAKED OUT.I PAID $200.00 TO GET THE LINE REPAIRED AND THE MECHANIC SAID IT,S A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE I WOULD HAVE TO HAVE THE OTHER LINE REPLACED.HE ALSO STATED THAT THE FUEL LINES WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED BEFORE LONG. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10609198

187,563 miles · May 5, 2014
Service Brakes

WHEN TRYING TO LEAVE A PARKING GARAGE, I DEPRESSED THE PEDAL AND THE BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE PEDAL ALMOST WENT TO THE FLOOR. GOT IT HOME WITHOUT INCIDENT. TOOK A LOOK UNDER THE TRUCK AND THE ENTIRE BRAKE LINE WAS RUSTED. THE PLACE WHERE THE BRAKE LINE BROKE WAS IN A PLACE WHERE YOU COULD NOT PHYSICALLY REACH IT. THE OTHER LI…

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WHEN TRYING TO LEAVE A PARKING GARAGE, I DEPRESSED THE PEDAL AND THE BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE PEDAL ALMOST WENT TO THE FLOOR. GOT IT HOME WITHOUT INCIDENT. TOOK A LOOK UNDER THE TRUCK AND THE ENTIRE BRAKE LINE WAS RUSTED. THE PLACE WHERE THE BRAKE LINE BROKE WAS IN A PLACE WHERE YOU COULD NOT PHYSICALLY REACH IT. THE OTHER LINES RUNNING ACROSS THE AXLE WERE ALSO HORRIBLY RUSTED. NOW I HAVE TO TAKE ALL OF THEM OFF, MEASURE, BEND, AND REFIT. I REFUSE TO PAY GM TO FIX THEIR SHODDY WORK. I OWNED A 1991 GMC SONOMA WITH OVER 300,000 MILES ON IT AND NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10586537

130,000 miles · Dec 18, 2013
Service Brakes

1998 CHEVY SILVERADO K1500 BRAKE ISSUE: WHILE BRAKING AT LOW SPEEDS (20-10 MPH) THE ABS WILL ENGAGE, INCREASING STOPPING DISTANCE. ON SOME OCCASIONS THE PEDAL WILL BECOME VERY FIRM AND WILL REQUIRE PUMPING TO DISENGAGE THE ABS. ON OTHER OCCASIONS THE PEDAL WILL BE SOFT, GOING TO THE FLOOR, WHILE ABS IS ENGAGED. A CLEAR SAF…

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1998 CHEVY SILVERADO K1500 BRAKE ISSUE: WHILE BRAKING AT LOW SPEEDS (20-10 MPH) THE ABS WILL ENGAGE, INCREASING STOPPING DISTANCE. ON SOME OCCASIONS THE PEDAL WILL BECOME VERY FIRM AND WILL REQUIRE PUMPING TO DISENGAGE THE ABS. ON OTHER OCCASIONS THE PEDAL WILL BE SOFT, GOING TO THE FLOOR, WHILE ABS IS ENGAGED. A CLEAR SAFTY ISSUE. A RECALL SHOULD BE CONSIDERED SINCE MANY OF THESE VEHICLES EXIST ON THE ROAD TODAY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10556455

169,922 miles · Aug 31, 2013
Service BrakesVehicle Speed Control

PULLING INTO DRIVEWAY TO PARK INTO GARAGE, PRESSED ON THE BRAKE AND IT WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. PUSHED DOWN ON EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE TRUCK BEFORE IT HIT THE GARAGE WALL. *JS AFTER PLACING THE TRUCK IN PARK I OPENED THE HOOD TO SEE ONE OF THE BADLY RUSTED LINES CONNECTING TO THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL LEAKING FLU…

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PULLING INTO DRIVEWAY TO PARK INTO GARAGE, PRESSED ON THE BRAKE AND IT WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. PUSHED DOWN ON EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE TRUCK BEFORE IT HIT THE GARAGE WALL. *JS AFTER PLACING THE TRUCK IN PARK I OPENED THE HOOD TO SEE ONE OF THE BADLY RUSTED LINES CONNECTING TO THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL LEAKING FLUID. INSPECTED ALL THE REST OF THE BRAKE LINES PERSONALLY ALL OF THE LINES ARE SEVERELY RUSTED LEADING TO ABS & MASTER CYLINDER. ONLY LINE NOT AFFECTED WAS THE REAR BREAK LINE I HAD REPLACED 2 YEARS AGO DUE TO THE SAME ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI #10538220

223,000 miles · Jul 21, 2013
Service Brakes

MAIN REAR BRAKE LINE RUSTED LEAKING FLUID, LOST BRAKES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10525968

Mileage unknown · Jun 18, 2012
Fuel/propulsion SystemService BrakesVisibility/wiper

MY 1998 CHEVY W/T 4X4 HAS A DANGEROUS AND UNSATISFACTORY BRAKING PROBLEM. BRAKES ARE VERY WEAK AND SPONGY. THEY ARE UNDEPENDABLE AND UNSAFE. THERE IS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM DATING BACK TO 2009. I HAVE REPLACED PADS,SHOES,ROTORS, DRUMS,WHEEL CYLINDERS, ALL BRAKE SPRINGS AND HARDWARE,BRAKE LINES AND HOSES,MASTER CYLINDER AN…

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MY 1998 CHEVY W/T 4X4 HAS A DANGEROUS AND UNSATISFACTORY BRAKING PROBLEM. BRAKES ARE VERY WEAK AND SPONGY. THEY ARE UNDEPENDABLE AND UNSAFE. THERE IS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM DATING BACK TO 2009. I HAVE REPLACED PADS,SHOES,ROTORS, DRUMS,WHEEL CYLINDERS, ALL BRAKE SPRINGS AND HARDWARE,BRAKE LINES AND HOSES,MASTER CYLINDER AND BRAKE BOOSTER, AND WHEEL SPEED SENSORS. CLEARLY THERE IS A PROBLEM IN THE ANTI LOCK COMPUTER CONTROL SYSTEM. THERE ARE RECALLS FOR 1999 MODELS FOR SAME PROBLEMS.WHY AREN'T 1998 MODELS INCLUDED. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY SAFETY ISSUES WITH MY, AND MANY OTHER TRUCK OWNERS AS WELL. NEXT SAFETY ISSUE, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ONLY WORK ON ONE SPEED, HIGH. OR THEY STOP WORKING WHILE DRIVING. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT HAS CONTINUED TO BE REPORTED MANY TIMES. THIRD IS FUEL GAUGE ONLY WORKS FROM 3/4 TO FULL, DOESN'T MOVE UNTIL YOU RUN OUT (EMPTY). THESE ISSUES SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO THE PROPER MANUFACTURER . ALL THESE COMPLAINTS FROM MYSELF AND HUNDREDS OF OTHER TAX PAYING AMERICANS , WE DESERVE TO BE SAFE AND PROTECT OTHER DRIVERS . *TR

NHTSA ODI #10462184

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.