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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

Steering complaints

5 reports
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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 · Oct 4, 1999
Steering

STEERING IS TWITCHY AT HIWAY SPEEDS. JUMPS AROUND IN THE LANE AND VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL.

NHTSA ODI #712802

Mileage unknown · Oct 26, 1998
Service Brakes, HydraulicSteeringSuspension

VEHICLE IN SHOP 8-10 TIMES FOR POOR BRAKING PERFORMANCE. STEERING NOT WORKING. SUSPENSION FAILS & IT PULLS SEVERLY TO LEFT. DEALER/MECHANIC TEST DROVE VEHICLE W/OWNER. COULD NOT REPAIR PULLING TO LEFT, SUSPENSION OR STEERING PROBLEMS. IS A COMMERCIAL VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #829513

Mileage unknown · Jul 16, 1998
Steering

POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKS AND STEERING WHEEL GETS TIGHT DURING TURNING. *AK

NHTSA ODI #825519

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.