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1998 Chevrolet Silverado 3500

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1998 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 35.

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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

All reported categories

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: 17 of 67 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.

  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 23 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Tires. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Suspension. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

4 crash reports2 fire reports2 injury reports

Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

23 reports
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Mileage unknown · Nov 27, 2011
Fuel System, GasolineService Brakes, HydraulicSuspension

MY TRUCK IS A 98 CHEVY K3500. I BOUGHT IT USED FROM SOMEONE THAT SAID IT WAS USED AT THE SMITHSONIAN. WHEN I FIRST GOT IT NEEDED EVERYTHING REPLACED ON THE FUEL SYSTEM. THEN LAST YEAR ONE OF MY BRAKE LINES SNAPPED AND HAD TO REPLACE IT AND NOW TODAY THE OTHER ONE SNAPPED. SOMEONE NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM BEFORE …

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MY TRUCK IS A 98 CHEVY K3500. I BOUGHT IT USED FROM SOMEONE THAT SAID IT WAS USED AT THE SMITHSONIAN. WHEN I FIRST GOT IT NEEDED EVERYTHING REPLACED ON THE FUEL SYSTEM. THEN LAST YEAR ONE OF MY BRAKE LINES SNAPPED AND HAD TO REPLACE IT AND NOW TODAY THE OTHER ONE SNAPPED. SOMEONE NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED. THIS IS A HD TRUCK AND GOD FORBID I WAS ON A MAIN ROAD AND NOT IN MY DRIVEWAY. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.[XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) *TR

NHTSA ODI #10437425

60,000 miles · Jun 29, 2009
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

SLOW SPEED ACTIVATION OF ANTI LOCK BRAKES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10275211

59,000 miles · Apr 14, 2009
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

ANTI-LOCK BRAKES TRIGGER AT LOW SPEEDS. AS PER SOME RESEARCH 1999 SILVERADO'S WERE RECALLED FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM...WHY NOT THE 1998'S. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10265281

1,000 miles · Jan 12, 2004
Service Brakes, HydraulicSteering

HAVE HAD 2 1998 K3500 TRUCKS. BOTH HAVE HAD WHAT I CONSIDER SEVERE ANTI-LOCK FAILURES WHICH OCCUR ANYTIME, ESPECIALLY AT SLOW SPEEDS. BOTH WERE TAKEN TO MULTIPLE DEALERSHIPS WITH NO PERMANENT FIX. CONSENSUS OF PROBLEMS ON BOTH TRUCKS WAS THAT THE WHEEL SPEED SENSOR WAS FAILING, WHICH WOULD CAUSE THE ANTI-LOCK TO ACTIVATE WHE…

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HAVE HAD 2 1998 K3500 TRUCKS. BOTH HAVE HAD WHAT I CONSIDER SEVERE ANTI-LOCK FAILURES WHICH OCCUR ANYTIME, ESPECIALLY AT SLOW SPEEDS. BOTH WERE TAKEN TO MULTIPLE DEALERSHIPS WITH NO PERMANENT FIX. CONSENSUS OF PROBLEMS ON BOTH TRUCKS WAS THAT THE WHEEL SPEED SENSOR WAS FAILING, WHICH WOULD CAUSE THE ANTI-LOCK TO ACTIVATE WHEN NOT NEEDED. THIS RESULTS IN INCONSISTENT STOPPING DISTANCES. BOTH TRUCKS ALSO HAVE A COLD WEATHER REAL END DRAG PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES. WHEN THE WEATHER IS COLD, THE BACK WHEELS WILL LOCK UP AND SKID WHILE STOPPING NO MATTER HOW LIGHT YOU TOUCH THE BRAKES. THIS LOCK UP LASTS FOR ABOUT THE FIRST 1/2 MILE, UNTIL THE AXLE HEATS UP, THEN THE BRAKES WORK FINE - EXCEPT FOR THE ABS. SECOND OF K3500 TRUCKS (1998) HAS AN INTERMITTENT POWER STEERING FAILURE. SOMETIMES THE POWER STEERING DROPS OFF, AND THEN SUDDENLY COMES BACK. THIS TYPICALLY HAPPENS AT SLOW SPEEDS. OH HAVE TO EITHER MUSCLE THE WHEEL TO MAKE YOUR TURN IN A LARGER RADIUS, OR FEATHER THE CASE TO PUMP UP THE HYDRAULICS ON THE POWER STEERING. THE LATER RESULTS IN A LURGE AND THE FORMER RESULTS IN A WIDE SWING. *LA

NHTSA ODI #10053003

Mileage unknown · Jul 2, 2001
Electrical SystemPower TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic

THE FRONT HUB SEALS WERE LEAKING ONTO THE REAR BRAKE SHOES CAUSING THE FRONT PADS TO WEAR PREMATURELY WHICH RESULTED IN NOISE WHILE BRAKING. NLM

NHTSA ODI #561850

Mileage unknown · Sep 27, 2000
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrash

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 15MPH AND WAS SLOWING DOWN FOR A STOP SIGN, APPLIED THE BRAKES, AND IN THE PROCESS HE HIT A BUMP AND VEHICLE ROLLED FORWARD. WHEN VEHICLE STOPPED, IT WAS IN THE STREET PASSING THE CROSSWALK. ABS BRAKING SYSTEM DIDN'T KICK IN. CONSUMER STATED THAT HE HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #871658

Mileage unknown · Jun 13, 2000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

BRAKE PEDAL ALWAYS LOW, SOFT, SOMETIMES STAND ON IT WITH BOTH FEET TO STOP TRUCK, WORSE WITH LOAD IN IT. REPLACED PADS AND SHOES AT 15,000 MILES. BETTER, BUT STILL REQUIRES YOUR UNDIVIDED ATTENTION WHEN BRAKING.THE PROBLEM CAN BE BEST SUMMARIZED AS FOLLOWS: I WOULD USE MY LANDSCAPE TRAILER BRAKES TO HELP STOP THIS TRUCK. ON MY N…

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BRAKE PEDAL ALWAYS LOW, SOFT, SOMETIMES STAND ON IT WITH BOTH FEET TO STOP TRUCK, WORSE WITH LOAD IN IT. REPLACED PADS AND SHOES AT 15,000 MILES. BETTER, BUT STILL REQUIRES YOUR UNDIVIDED ATTENTION WHEN BRAKING.THE PROBLEM CAN BE BEST SUMMARIZED AS FOLLOWS: I WOULD USE MY LANDSCAPE TRAILER BRAKES TO HELP STOP THIS TRUCK. ON MY NEW FORD F350, I HAVE YET TO HOOK UP THE TRAILER BRAKE CONTROLLER AND THE TRUCK STOPS ON A DIME-REPEATEDLY-PULLING THE SAME TRAILER.VERY UNSAFE BRAKES ON THE CHEVY-I OWNED THREE 1998 CHEVY TRUCKS-ALL HAD TERRIBLE BRAKE PERFORMANCE.

NHTSA ODI #723989

Mileage unknown · Jan 27, 2000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHILE DRIVING INTO TOWN WITH A SNOW PLOW ON THE TRUCK APPROACHED AN INTERSECTION AND SHIFTED TO THIRD GEAR TO SLOW DOWN, STEPPED ON BRAKES AND THERE WAS NOTHING. PUMPED THE BRAKES, AND STILL NOTHING. PUT THE EMERGENCY BRAKES ON AND FINALLY STOPPED. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER REPLACED THE MASTER CYLINDER. DEALER REFUSED TO …

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WHILE DRIVING INTO TOWN WITH A SNOW PLOW ON THE TRUCK APPROACHED AN INTERSECTION AND SHIFTED TO THIRD GEAR TO SLOW DOWN, STEPPED ON BRAKES AND THERE WAS NOTHING. PUMPED THE BRAKES, AND STILL NOTHING. PUT THE EMERGENCY BRAKES ON AND FINALLY STOPPED. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER REPLACED THE MASTER CYLINDER. DEALER REFUSED TO GIVE OLD PARTS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #855587

Mileage unknown · Nov 1, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHILE DRIVING HIT THE BRAKES AND TRUCK SPUN AROUND BECAUSE THERE WAS ONLY ONE BRAKE ON THE BACK. CONSUMER ALMOST HIT A PERSON ON A BIKE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #852280

Mileage unknown · Aug 19, 1999
Exterior LightingSeat BeltsService Brakes, Hydraulic

ANTI LOCK BRAKES SYSTEM FAILURE RESUTLED IN WORN PADS AND WARPED ROTORS. NLM

NHTSA ODI #548042

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.