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1998 Chevrolet Silverado

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Silverado years

Owner complaints for the 1998 Chevrolet Silverado are substantially higher than the model-year median of 76.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

87 reports with mileage · 192 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 84 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Visibility. Review the 45 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

16 crash reports5 fire reports10 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

15 reports
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76,850 miles · Feb 9, 2006
Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, Hydraulic

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE APPLYING BRAKE PRESSURE AT LOW SPEEDS THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES ACTIVATE, WHICH MADE THE VEHICLE DIFFICULT TO STOP. THIS OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY ON DRY ROADS DURING NORMAL BRAKING WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE FRONT BRAKE PADS, WHICH D…

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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE APPLYING BRAKE PRESSURE AT LOW SPEEDS THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES ACTIVATE, WHICH MADE THE VEHICLE DIFFICULT TO STOP. THIS OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY ON DRY ROADS DURING NORMAL BRAKING WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE FRONT BRAKE PADS, WHICH DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT ALERTED. THE MECHANIC INSTALLED A SERPENTINE BELT. UPDATED 03/09/06. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10149894

80,000 miles · Nov 7, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

1998 CHEVROLET SILVERADO PICK-UP HAD WHAT APPEARED TO BE RADIATOR LEAK. AFTER FURTHER DIAGNOSIS, WHAT WAS ACTUALLY THE PROBLEM WAS THAT THE FITTING IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD USED TO CONNECT THE COOLANT HOSE WAS MADE OF A DIFFERENT METAL THAN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD; THE PART CRUMBLED WHILE TRYING TO FIT THE COOLANT HOSE OVER THE FITTI…

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1998 CHEVROLET SILVERADO PICK-UP HAD WHAT APPEARED TO BE RADIATOR LEAK. AFTER FURTHER DIAGNOSIS, WHAT WAS ACTUALLY THE PROBLEM WAS THAT THE FITTING IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD USED TO CONNECT THE COOLANT HOSE WAS MADE OF A DIFFERENT METAL THAN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD; THE PART CRUMBLED WHILE TRYING TO FIT THE COOLANT HOSE OVER THE FITTING BY HAND (NO TOOLS INVOLVED!). I NOW HAVE A TRUCK IN THE GARAGE THAT I CANNOT DRIVE UNTIL IT IS FIXED BECAUSE THE PART DOES NOT "FIT" DUE TO THE CORROSION WHERE THE DISSIMILAR METALS CAME INTO CONTACT AND CORRODED. THE "NECK" OF THE PART IS STILL CORRODED ON THE MANIFOLD AND A NEW PART CANNOT BE INSTALLED UNTIL THE CORRODED METAL/FITTING IS CLEANED OUT. CORRODED PART IS AVAILABLE. DIGITAL PHOTO OF CORROSION AVAILABLE. CORROSION NOT YET REPAIRED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10098422

88,000 miles · Feb 18, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET WAS CRACKED AND LEAKED OUT ALL WATER AND SEVERELY OVERHEATED ENGINE. THE MECHANIC HERE AT WORK SAYS THAT HE HAS CHANGED A FEW HUNDRED OF THESE HERE AT WORK WERE WE HAVE THOUSANDS OF CHEVY TRUCKS THAT ARE THIS SAME ENGINE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10058386

52,000 miles · Jan 15, 2004
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainUnknown Or Other

TRUCK HAS 2 BAD RODS, AND NEEDS A CRANK ONLY HAVE 52K ON IT AND IT LOOKS NEW WE JUST PUT A TRANS IN IT JAN 03 AND NOW IT NEEDS A MOTOR WOW!!!! WE HAVE 8 AUTOS ALL CHEVY THIS TRUCK IS A JUNK!!!!!T THANKS ..

NHTSA ODI #10069118

60,000 miles · Sep 23, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

INTAKE MANIFOLD LEAKED COOLANT ONTO THE ENGINE. THIS CAN RESULT IN THE ENGINE OVERHEATING AND RESULT IN A FIRE.*AK THE FITTING IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD USED TO CONNECT THE COOLANT HOSE WAS MADE OF A DIFFERENT METAL THAN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD ITSELF. THIS CAUSED DISSIMILAR METAL CORROSION IN THE FITTING ITSELF WHICH LEAD TO UNNOTICE…

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INTAKE MANIFOLD LEAKED COOLANT ONTO THE ENGINE. THIS CAN RESULT IN THE ENGINE OVERHEATING AND RESULT IN A FIRE.*AK THE FITTING IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD USED TO CONNECT THE COOLANT HOSE WAS MADE OF A DIFFERENT METAL THAN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD ITSELF. THIS CAUSED DISSIMILAR METAL CORROSION IN THE FITTING ITSELF WHICH LEAD TO UNNOTICED PIN HOLE LEAKS IN THE COOLING SYSTEM. CONSUMER FELT GM SHOULD HAVE PROVIDED A BARRIER BETWEEN THE TWO METALS TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. *PH *JB

NHTSA ODI #10022593

114,828 miles · May 15, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

I HAVE A 1998 CHEVY SILVERADO 4X4 1 TON PICKUP. I WAS HAVING TERRIBLE OVER HEATING PROBLEMS, SUDDENLY WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY ONE DAY AND I STOPPED AND OPENED THE RADIATOR IT LOOKED LIKE BLACK SLUDGE. AFTER TAKING IT TO BE FIXED I FIND IT IS THE COOLANT THAT CHEVY INSTALLS CALLED DEXCOOL AND IT IS CAUSING ALL KINDS OF PROBLEMS FOR…

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I HAVE A 1998 CHEVY SILVERADO 4X4 1 TON PICKUP. I WAS HAVING TERRIBLE OVER HEATING PROBLEMS, SUDDENLY WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY ONE DAY AND I STOPPED AND OPENED THE RADIATOR IT LOOKED LIKE BLACK SLUDGE. AFTER TAKING IT TO BE FIXED I FIND IT IS THE COOLANT THAT CHEVY INSTALLS CALLED DEXCOOL AND IT IS CAUSING ALL KINDS OF PROBLEMS FOR MOST CHEVY CONSUMERS. WHAT CAN WE DO? I HAVE TO HAVE A NEW ENGINE AFTER THEY EMPTIED OUT 1/2 GALLON OF THE SLUDGE FROM MY VEHICLE. THANK YOU, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU, [XXX]. *JB INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10018763

42,000 miles · Mar 25, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

THE ENGINE COOLANT LEAKED OUT, AND THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED. THIS WAS CAUSED BY THE HEATER NIPPLE BEING CORRODED AND BREAKING OFF.

NHTSA ODI #10012375

Mileage unknown · Aug 5, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE MAKING A TURN VEHICLE WILL STALL ,AND WILL BE HARD FOR VEHICLE TO START BACK UP. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8015538

Mileage unknown · Feb 21, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

STEERING WHEEL VIBRATED, PROBLEM EXISTED FOR A TIME. EVO SENSOR NEEDED REPLACEMENT AGAIN AS PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8004339

Mileage unknown · Dec 5, 2001
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH VEHICLE STALLED.ALSO, DEALER REPLACED POSITIVE POST CONNECTOR OF BATTERY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #899904

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

EA05007 · Tailgate Support Cables

Opened Apr 14, 2005 · Closed Apr 11, 2006

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Latches/locks/linkages:tailgate:latch; Structure:body:tailgate ; Structure:body:tailgate:hinge And Attachments

GENERAL MOTORS IS CONDUCTING A SAFETY RECALL TO REMOVE AND REPLACE THE TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES INSTALLED IN 805,368 MODEL YEAR 1999 AND 2000 GMT 800 MODEL VEHICLES.THE MODEL YEAR 1999 AND 2000 GMT-800 SERIES VEHICLES THAT WILL BE CAMPAIGNED HAD CONTRIBUTED A SIGNIFICANT MAJORITY OF THE TOTAL COMPLAINTS (87%) AND INJURIES (79%) ASSOCIATED WITH THE TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLE BREAKAGE IN THE MODEL YEAR 1998 - 2000 C/K SERIES VEHICLES ADDRESSED BY THIS INVESTIGATION.

Additional source detail variants (3)

Latches/locks/linkages:tailgate:latch

GENERAL MOTORS IS CONDUCTING A SAFETY RECALL TO REMOVE AND REPLACE THE TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES INSTALLED IN 805,368 MODEL YEAR 1999 AND 2000 GMT 800 MODEL VEHICLES.THE MODEL YEAR 1999 AND 2000 GMT-800 SERIES VEHICLES THAT WILL BE CAMPAIGNED HAD CONTRIBUTED A SIGNIFICANT MAJORITY OF THE TOTAL COMPLAINTS (87%) AND INJURIES (79%) ASSOCIATED WITH THE TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLE BREAKAGE IN THE MODEL YEAR 1998 - 2000 C/K SERIES VEHICLES ADDRESSED BY THIS INVESTIGATION.

Structure:body:tailgate

GENERAL MOTORS IS CONDUCTING A SAFETY RECALL TO REMOVE AND REPLACE THE TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES INSTALLED IN 805,368 MODEL YEAR 1999 AND 2000 GMT 800 MODEL VEHICLES.THE MODEL YEAR 1999 AND 2000 GMT-800 SERIES VEHICLES THAT WILL BE CAMPAIGNED HAD CONTRIBUTED A SIGNIFICANT MAJORITY OF THE TOTAL COMPLAINTS (87%) AND INJURIES (79%) ASSOCIATED WITH THE TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLE BREAKAGE IN THE MODEL YEAR 1998 - 2000 C/K SERIES VEHICLES ADDRESSED BY THIS INVESTIGATION.

Structure:body:tailgate:hinge And Attachments

GENERAL MOTORS IS CONDUCTING A SAFETY RECALL TO REMOVE AND REPLACE THE TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES INSTALLED IN 805,368 MODEL YEAR 1999 AND 2000 GMT 800 MODEL VEHICLES.THE MODEL YEAR 1999 AND 2000 GMT-800 SERIES VEHICLES THAT WILL BE CAMPAIGNED HAD CONTRIBUTED A SIGNIFICANT MAJORITY OF THE TOTAL COMPLAINTS (87%) AND INJURIES (79%) ASSOCIATED WITH THE TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLE BREAKAGE IN THE MODEL YEAR 1998 - 2000 C/K SERIES VEHICLES ADDRESSED BY THIS INVESTIGATION.

RQ04010 · Tailgate Support Cable Breakage

Opened Sep 28, 2004 · Closed Apr 14, 2005

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Latches/locks/linkages:tailgate:latch; Structure:body:tailgate ; Structure:body:tailgate:hinge And Attachments

ODI IS UPGRADING RQ04-010 AND OPENING AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS TO FURTHER INVESTIGATE THE TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES INSTALLED IN 1998, 1999, AND PARTIAL YEAR 2000 SILVERADOS AND SIERRAS (C/K MODELS).GENERAL MOTORS IS CONDUCTING RECALL CAMPAIGN 04V-129 TO REPLACE THE TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES ORIGINALLY INSTALLED IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2000 - 2004 SIERRAS AND SILVERADOS.GENERAL MOTORS HAS ADVISED ODI THAT THE MATERIALS USED FOR THE TAILGATE CABLE SHEATHING INSTALLED IN C/K MODELS HAD INADVERTENTLY CHANGED IN OCTOBER 1999, INCREASING THE PROPENSITY FOR VOIDS IN AND AROUND THE GALVANIZED STEEL CABLE STRANDS WHICH CAN ALLOW MOISTURE TO WICK AMONG THE STRANDS, LEADING TO OXIDATION AND WEAKENING OF THE STRANDS.SINCE ODI INITIATED RQ04-010 IN SEPTEMBER 2004, ODI HAS RECEIVED 10 ADDITONAL NON-INJURY COMPLAINTS ON MY 1998-99 C/K VEHICLES, BUT NO ADDITIONAL INJURY COMPLAINTS.DURING THIS SAME PERIOD, GM HAS RECEIVED 564 NON-INJURY AND 35 INJURY COMPLAINTS. ODI HAS RECEIVED 6 INJURY COMPLAINTS AND 38 NON-INJURY COMPLAINTS FROM OWNERS OF MODEL YEAR 2000 C/K VEHICLES AND REQUIRES FURTHER INVESTIGATION TO DETERMINE WHETHER THESE INCIDENTS OCCURRED IN VEHICLES WITHIN THE SCOPE OF CAMPAIGN 04V-129 OR SHOULD BE ADDED TO THE INJURY SUMMARY FOR RQ04-010.

Additional source detail variants (3)

Latches/locks/linkages:tailgate:latch

ODI IS UPGRADING RQ04-010 AND OPENING AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS TO FURTHER INVESTIGATE THE TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES INSTALLED IN 1998, 1999, AND PARTIAL YEAR 2000 SILVERADOS AND SIERRAS (C/K MODELS).GENERAL MOTORS IS CONDUCTING RECALL CAMPAIGN 04V-129 TO REPLACE THE TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES ORIGINALLY INSTALLED IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2000 - 2004 SIERRAS AND SILVERADOS.GENERAL MOTORS HAS ADVISED ODI THAT THE MATERIALS USED FOR THE TAILGATE CABLE SHEATHING INSTALLED IN C/K MODELS HAD INADVERTENTLY CHANGED IN OCTOBER 1999, INCREASING THE PROPENSITY FOR VOIDS IN AND AROUND THE GALVANIZED STEEL CABLE STRANDS WHICH CAN ALLOW MOISTURE TO WICK AMONG THE STRANDS, LEADING TO OXIDATION AND WEAKENING OF THE STRANDS.SINCE ODI INITIATED RQ04-010 IN SEPTEMBER 2004, ODI HAS RECEIVED 10 ADDITONAL NON-INJURY COMPLAINTS ON MY 1998-99 C/K VEHICLES, BUT NO ADDITIONAL INJURY COMPLAINTS.DURING THIS SAME PERIOD, GM HAS RECEIVED 564 NON-INJURY AND 35 INJURY COMPLAINTS. ODI HAS RECEIVED 6 INJURY COMPLAINTS AND 38 NON-INJURY COMPLAINTS FROM OWNERS OF MODEL YEAR 2000 C/K VEHICLES AND REQUIRES FURTHER INVESTIGATION TO DETERMINE WHETHER THESE INCIDENTS OCCURRED IN VEHICLES WITHIN THE SCOPE OF CAMPAIGN 04V-129 OR SHOULD BE ADDED TO THE INJURY SUMMARY FOR RQ04-010.

Structure:body:tailgate

ODI IS UPGRADING RQ04-010 AND OPENING AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS TO FURTHER INVESTIGATE THE TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES INSTALLED IN 1998, 1999, AND PARTIAL YEAR 2000 SILVERADOS AND SIERRAS (C/K MODELS).GENERAL MOTORS IS CONDUCTING RECALL CAMPAIGN 04V-129 TO REPLACE THE TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES ORIGINALLY INSTALLED IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2000 - 2004 SIERRAS AND SILVERADOS.GENERAL MOTORS HAS ADVISED ODI THAT THE MATERIALS USED FOR THE TAILGATE CABLE SHEATHING INSTALLED IN C/K MODELS HAD INADVERTENTLY CHANGED IN OCTOBER 1999, INCREASING THE PROPENSITY FOR VOIDS IN AND AROUND THE GALVANIZED STEEL CABLE STRANDS WHICH CAN ALLOW MOISTURE TO WICK AMONG THE STRANDS, LEADING TO OXIDATION AND WEAKENING OF THE STRANDS.SINCE ODI INITIATED RQ04-010 IN SEPTEMBER 2004, ODI HAS RECEIVED 10 ADDITONAL NON-INJURY COMPLAINTS ON MY 1998-99 C/K VEHICLES, BUT NO ADDITIONAL INJURY COMPLAINTS.DURING THIS SAME PERIOD, GM HAS RECEIVED 564 NON-INJURY AND 35 INJURY COMPLAINTS. ODI HAS RECEIVED 6 INJURY COMPLAINTS AND 38 NON-INJURY COMPLAINTS FROM OWNERS OF MODEL YEAR 2000 C/K VEHICLES AND REQUIRES FURTHER INVESTIGATION TO DETERMINE WHETHER THESE INCIDENTS OCCURRED IN VEHICLES WITHIN THE SCOPE OF CAMPAIGN 04V-129 OR SHOULD BE ADDED TO THE INJURY SUMMARY FOR RQ04-010.

Structure:body:tailgate:hinge And Attachments

ODI IS UPGRADING RQ04-010 AND OPENING AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS TO FURTHER INVESTIGATE THE TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES INSTALLED IN 1998, 1999, AND PARTIAL YEAR 2000 SILVERADOS AND SIERRAS (C/K MODELS).GENERAL MOTORS IS CONDUCTING RECALL CAMPAIGN 04V-129 TO REPLACE THE TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES ORIGINALLY INSTALLED IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2000 - 2004 SIERRAS AND SILVERADOS.GENERAL MOTORS HAS ADVISED ODI THAT THE MATERIALS USED FOR THE TAILGATE CABLE SHEATHING INSTALLED IN C/K MODELS HAD INADVERTENTLY CHANGED IN OCTOBER 1999, INCREASING THE PROPENSITY FOR VOIDS IN AND AROUND THE GALVANIZED STEEL CABLE STRANDS WHICH CAN ALLOW MOISTURE TO WICK AMONG THE STRANDS, LEADING TO OXIDATION AND WEAKENING OF THE STRANDS.SINCE ODI INITIATED RQ04-010 IN SEPTEMBER 2004, ODI HAS RECEIVED 10 ADDITONAL NON-INJURY COMPLAINTS ON MY 1998-99 C/K VEHICLES, BUT NO ADDITIONAL INJURY COMPLAINTS.DURING THIS SAME PERIOD, GM HAS RECEIVED 564 NON-INJURY AND 35 INJURY COMPLAINTS. ODI HAS RECEIVED 6 INJURY COMPLAINTS AND 38 NON-INJURY COMPLAINTS FROM OWNERS OF MODEL YEAR 2000 C/K VEHICLES AND REQUIRES FURTHER INVESTIGATION TO DETERMINE WHETHER THESE INCIDENTS OCCURRED IN VEHICLES WITHIN THE SCOPE OF CAMPAIGN 04V-129 OR SHOULD BE ADDED TO THE INJURY SUMMARY FOR RQ04-010.

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