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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

Visibility complaints

45 reports
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89,000 miles · Aug 26, 2009
Visibility

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET SILVERADO, WHILE USING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS THEY HAD SUDDENLY STOPPED AND A BUZZING SOUND WAS COMING FROM THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS. AFTER THE BUZZING SOUND HAD STOPPED THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS HAD BEGAN TO WORK PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED TH…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET SILVERADO, WHILE USING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS THEY HAD SUDDENLY STOPPED AND A BUZZING SOUND WAS COMING FROM THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS. AFTER THE BUZZING SOUND HAD STOPPED THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS HAD BEGAN TO WORK PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PROBE CENTRAL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 225,000 FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89000. BL UPDATED 10/20/09 *CN UPDATED 10/22/09.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10281801

61,850 miles · Jan 2, 2008
Visibility

THE WIPERS STOPPED WORKING. IT NEEDS A NEW MOTOR.*CN

NHTSA ODI #10213397

Mileage unknown · Sep 9, 2006
Visibility

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON MY 1998 CHEVROLET SILVERADO PICKUP DON'T WORK ALL THE TIME. THE WIPER MOTOR APPEARS TO BE THE SAME AS THE 1997 CHEVROLET PICKUP FOR WHICH A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10167751

70,000 miles · Mar 20, 2006
Visibility

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR INTERMITTENTLY DOES NOT WORK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION OR REPAIR.

NHTSA ODI #10153204

70,000 miles · Mar 20, 2006
Visibility

1998 CHEVY. SILVERADO P/U TRUCK. WIPERS BEGAN STOPPING IN JULY 2005. HAVE TO STOP IN DRIVING RAIN TO MOVE WIRES AT CONTROL/MOTOR OUTSIDE. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, NO PLACE TO STOP. SAFETY OF SELF AND FAMILY IN EXTREME DANGER. WEB IS FULL OF COMPLAINTS YET NO RECALL, OR IS THERE? PLEASE ADVISE ASAP. I AM TIRED…

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1998 CHEVY. SILVERADO P/U TRUCK. WIPERS BEGAN STOPPING IN JULY 2005. HAVE TO STOP IN DRIVING RAIN TO MOVE WIRES AT CONTROL/MOTOR OUTSIDE. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, NO PLACE TO STOP. SAFETY OF SELF AND FAMILY IN EXTREME DANGER. WEB IS FULL OF COMPLAINTS YET NO RECALL, OR IS THERE? PLEASE ADVISE ASAP. I AM TIRED OF JEOPARDIZING MY LIFE AND THAT OF MY FAMILY DUE TO GM FAILURE TO NOTIFY ME AND THOUSANDS OF OTHERS OF THIS PROBLEM AND PROPER WAY TO REPAIR. DOES NOT OCCUR JUST ONCE, BUT ALMOST EVERY TIME WIPERS ARE REQUIRED. NEXT QUESTION ABOUT INCIDENT DATE IS MISLEADING-DOES NOT OCCUR JUST ONCE, BUT MANY TIMES. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10153196

45,000 miles · Oct 26, 2005
Visibility

FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD INTERMITTENTLY OPERATE WHILE THE SWITCH WAS IN THE OFF POSITION OR NOT OPERATE AT ALL. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL.*AK *JB

NHTSA ODI #10117545

Mileage unknown · Oct 13, 2005
Visibility

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON NOVEMBER 29, 2003 THEY WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD WORK INTERMITTENTLY. RECALL CAMPAIGN# 00000165325 WAS ISSUED FOR THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR, HOWEVER THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. THE CONSUMER HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND THEY SUGGESTED THAT THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO PAY O…

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DT: THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON NOVEMBER 29, 2003 THEY WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD WORK INTERMITTENTLY. RECALL CAMPAIGN# 00000165325 WAS ISSUED FOR THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR, HOWEVER THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. THE CONSUMER HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND THEY SUGGESTED THAT THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET TO HAVE THE VEHICLE FIXED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS WAS THE SAME CIRCUIT BOARD FAILURE THAT WAS MENTIONED IN THE RECALL. THE CONSUMER COULD HEAR A NOISE COMING FROM WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR LIKE IT WAS ATTEMPTING TO WORK. *AK (11/15/05) *SC

NHTSA ODI #10139581

116,000 miles · Jun 24, 2005
Visibility

DT: THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO DEALER. *JB *TT *NM

NHTSA ODI #10121385

112,000 miles · Jun 3, 2005
Visibility

DT: CONSUMER STATES: THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR HAS A SHORT IN IT, THE WINDSHEILD WIPERS WILL JUST QUIT. IF YOU PULL OVER AND WIGGLE A PLUG THEN THEY'LL WORK, BUT WILL QUIT AGAIN GOING DOWN THE ROAD.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10124141

Mileage unknown · Jun 1, 2005
Visibility

DT: CONTACT STATES WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL STOP WORKING FOR APPROXIMATELY 5 MINUTES, THEN START BACK WORKING. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER. THIS HAS HAPPENED ABOUT 5 OR 6 TIMES. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10123768

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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