IllustrationTHE WINDSHIELD WIPER MODULE MALFUNCTIONED AND WAS REPLACED IN AUGUST 2002. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS.
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.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Silverado years →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
60–25K
1225–50K
2550–75K
1975–100K
18100–150K
7150K+
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 reportsCONSUMER STATES THAT DRIVERS SIDE MIRROR CAUGHT ON FIRE.*AK
THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED TO WORK WHEN NEEDED. *JB PH *JB
THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE WINDSHIELD WIPER AS STATED IN RECALL 98 V 150 001, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER. *NLM PH *JB
ON 5-27-03 I WAS TRAVELING IN THE LEFT HAND LANE OF INTERSTAE 83 CROSSING THE SOUTH BRIDGE, OVER THE SUSQUEHANNA RIVER. IT WAS RAINING HARD AT THE TIME AND MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING. I COULD HEAR THE MOTOR RUNNING BUT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE NOT MOVING. I WAS ABLE TO MAKE MY WAY TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD, WITH…
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ON 5-27-03 I WAS TRAVELING IN THE LEFT HAND LANE OF INTERSTAE 83 CROSSING THE SOUTH BRIDGE, OVER THE SUSQUEHANNA RIVER. IT WAS RAINING HARD AT THE TIME AND MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING. I COULD HEAR THE MOTOR RUNNING BUT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE NOT MOVING. I WAS ABLE TO MAKE MY WAY TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD, WITH VERY LIMITED VISIBILITY, AND PULL OFF THE ROAD WITHOUT ACCIDENT. WHEN I TOOK THE VEHICLE FOR SERVICE THE FOLLOWING DAY I WAS TOLD THAT CHEVROLET WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT NO RECALL HAD BEEN DONE TO ADDRESS IT. THE CIRCUIT BOARD FOR THE WIPERS NEEDED REPLACED. THE WIPER FAILURE HAD OCCURED TWO OTHER TIMES IN THE PAST, BUT I WAS PARKED AT THOSE TIMES AND IN NO DANGER OF AN ACCIDENT.*AK
TRANSMISSION WENT OUT IT STARTED THAT WHEN YOU PUT IT REVERSE IT DIDN'T WANT TO GO THEN PUT INTO DRIVE THEN REVERSE IT WORKED. THEN WHILE DRIVING WE PULLED INTO PARKING SPOT AND TRIED TO REVERSE IT WAS TOTALLY GONE. WINDSHIED WIPERS STOP WORKING ON AND OFF. YOU CAN HEAR THE MOTOR THEY WON'T MOVE AND AT MOST TIMES IT EFF…
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TRANSMISSION WENT OUT IT STARTED THAT WHEN YOU PUT IT REVERSE IT DIDN'T WANT TO GO THEN PUT INTO DRIVE THEN REVERSE IT WORKED. THEN WHILE DRIVING WE PULLED INTO PARKING SPOT AND TRIED TO REVERSE IT WAS TOTALLY GONE. WINDSHIED WIPERS STOP WORKING ON AND OFF. YOU CAN HEAR THE MOTOR THEY WON'T MOVE AND AT MOST TIMES IT EFFECTS THE WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID SO IT DOESN'T WORK.
WHILE DRIVING, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED TO OPERATE. *JB
WHILE DRIVING THE WINDSHIELD WIPER CAME ON AND THEN WENT OFF. THIS WAS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. *NLM
THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS BECAME INOPERABLE. A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED ON SIMILAR MAKES AND MODELS. HOWEVER THIS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDE DUE TO THE VIN#. *NLM
I OWN A 1998 CHEVROLET SILVERADO, 4X4, EXTENDED CAB, 1/2 TON AND IT HAS A MALFUNCTION OF SOME SORT IN THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR OR COMPUTER MODULE OF THE WIPERS. THE WIPERS WILL NOT ACTIVATE WHEN THEY ARE TURNED TO THE ON POSITION IMMEDIATELY AS THEY SHOULD AND ONCE THEY FINALLY DO ACTIVATE, THEY RANDOMLY AND SPORADICALLY MOVE …
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I OWN A 1998 CHEVROLET SILVERADO, 4X4, EXTENDED CAB, 1/2 TON AND IT HAS A MALFUNCTION OF SOME SORT IN THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR OR COMPUTER MODULE OF THE WIPERS. THE WIPERS WILL NOT ACTIVATE WHEN THEY ARE TURNED TO THE ON POSITION IMMEDIATELY AS THEY SHOULD AND ONCE THEY FINALLY DO ACTIVATE, THEY RANDOMLY AND SPORADICALLY MOVE AND WILL NOT RESPOND WHEN I TURN THEM OFF ON THE WIPER CONTROLS SWITCH. THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH RELAY, VARIABLE SPEED AND IT DOES THIS NO MATTER WHAT SPEED SETTING IT IS ON. ONCE THEY HAVE BEEN SHUT OFF ON THE CONTROL SWITCH, THEY CONTINUE TO KEEP GOING UNTIL I LITERALLY SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF. THEN THEY STOP IN THE UPRIGHT, VERTICAL POTION. LIVING IN ARIZONA, I DON'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH A LOT OF RAIN, BUT WHEN IT DOES RAIN, IT IS A VERY FRUSTRATING AND FRIGHTENING TIME. I HAVE A RELATIVE WITH A 1997 SILVERADO, 4X4, EXTENDED CAB 1/2 TON THAT HAS THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM AND HE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM GENERAL MOTORS ABOUT THIS AND HAS HAD HIS SITUATION FIXED. I WANT TO KNOW IF MY VEHICLE IS COVERED UNDER THAT RECALL. IT WAS MANUFACTURED IN 04/98. PLEASE HELP FIND SOME INFORMATION ON THIS RECALL AND WHAT VEHICLES ARE AFFECTED. THANKS NEIL. *NLM
Official recalls
0No 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
2EA05007 · 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.