IllustrationVEHICLE LEFT ROADWAY AND WENT INTO A DRAINAGE DITCH. THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY RESULTING IN THE DRIVERS DEATH. *JS
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
What owners actually said
279 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. ONE YEAR AGO WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD, BEGAN TO ACCELERATE AND RESPOND AS IF IT WERE A STANDARD VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY; HOWEVER, MORE RECENTLY IT BEGAN TO OCCUR EVERY TIME HE DROVE THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED TH…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. ONE YEAR AGO WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD, BEGAN TO ACCELERATE AND RESPOND AS IF IT WERE A STANDARD VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY; HOWEVER, MORE RECENTLY IT BEGAN TO OCCUR EVERY TIME HE DROVE THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD AND WAS WITHIN ONE INCH OF A CRASH FORCING THE CONTACT TO APPLY THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH EXCESSIVE FORCE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION/CCC SOLENOID DOES NOT DISENGAGE WHILE RELEASING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WERE ILLUMINATED. A COMPLAINT WAS FILED WITH THE MANUFACTURER; HOWEVER, THEY DID NOT OFFER OR PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE CONTACT REPLACED EVERY COMPONENT IN THE TRANSMISSION IN ORDER TO CORRECT THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. HE WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE FOR TWO DAYS DUE TO THE SAFETY RISK. THE CONTACT ADDED AN ON/OFF SWITCH THAT CONTROLLED THE TCC SOLENOID. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 140,000. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE 130,000.
I ALMOST HIT A PERSON CROSSING THE STREET, I WAS COMING TO A SLOW STOP, THE BRAKES STARTED MAKING A BOING BOING NOISE, EVERYTIME IT MADE THE NOISE THE BRAKES STOPPING POWER WENT AWAY THE PERSON CROSSING THE STREET REALISED THE TRUCK WAS HAVING PROBLEMS... I"VE HAD 3 OF THIS MODEL TRUCK MY FIRST WAS A 97 TAHOE BAD BREAKS I ACTU…
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I ALMOST HIT A PERSON CROSSING THE STREET, I WAS COMING TO A SLOW STOP, THE BRAKES STARTED MAKING A BOING BOING NOISE, EVERYTIME IT MADE THE NOISE THE BRAKES STOPPING POWER WENT AWAY THE PERSON CROSSING THE STREET REALISED THE TRUCK WAS HAVING PROBLEMS... I"VE HAD 3 OF THIS MODEL TRUCK MY FIRST WAS A 97 TAHOE BAD BREAKS I ACTUALLY GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT WITH THAT TRUCK REAR ENDED HONDA CIVIC, MY OTHER ONE WAS A 94 SILVERADO I HAD TO BRAKE HARD ONCE THE BREAKS GAVE WAY N THE PEDAL WAS SOFT AFTER THAT. MY NEW ONE, THE ONE I'M ACTUALLY COMPLANING ABOUT IS A 98 SILVERADO 3500 WITH DEFECTIVE BRAKES THIS IS A POOR DESIGN BY GM MOTORS THIS HAS TO BE RECALLED AND REPAIRED. I DO KNOW SOMEONE WHO CRASHED HIS 2 DOOR BLAZER INTO A WATER TANKER HE BRAKE HARD N THE BRAKES GAVE OUT 88-98 GM TRUCKS AND SUV'S HAVE DEEEEEEEFECTIVE BRAKES 3/3 I'VE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THIS IS NOT RIGHT. *TR
GOT IN LEANED BACK AND ENDED UP LAYING INTO THE BACK SEAT AREA. NOW SEAT-BACK WON'T LATCH IN ANY POSITION. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE TIRES THE MECHANIC NOTICED CORROSION AND CRACKS ON THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE FRAME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 158,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH COOPER DISCOVERER H/T TIRES, TIRE SIZE 235/75/15. THE DOT NUMBER WAS 3DHLC5U0607. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THERE WAS AN EXCESSIVE VIBRATION AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SWAY ACROSS THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN T…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH COOPER DISCOVERER H/T TIRES, TIRE SIZE 235/75/15. THE DOT NUMBER WAS 3DHLC5U0607. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THERE WAS AN EXCESSIVE VIBRATION AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SWAY ACROSS THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE TREAD WAS COMPLETELY SEPARATED AND THE STEEL WAS VISIBLE. THE TIRE WAS REPLACED WITH A SPARE TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO FOUR DIFFERENT INDEPENDENT MECHANICS. THE DEFECTIVE TIRE HAD NOT BEEN REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THERE WERE NO RESOLUTIONS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 144,000.
RETURNING FROM DELIVERIES, BACKING INTO DRIVE TO RELOAD, STEERING COMPLETELY FAILED. NO STEERING AT ALL. YOU CAN SPIN THE STEERING WHEEL IN EITHER DIRECTION WITH NO RESPONSE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THE FAILURE FOUND WAS RELATED TO THE SECURITY SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY REPLACING THE IGNITION. THE FAILURE RECURRED APPROXIMATELY SIX TIMES. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THE FAILURE FOUND WAS RELATED TO THE SECURITY SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY REPLACING THE IGNITION. THE FAILURE RECURRED APPROXIMATELY SIX TIMES. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE EXACT FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 135,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 127,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RUNNING LIGHTS WERE CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATED AND THERE WAS NO WAY TO DEACTIVATE THE LIGHTS. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED DISPLEASURE WITH THE FEATURE AND FELT THAT IT AFFECTED HIS DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED.…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RUNNING LIGHTS WERE CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATED AND THERE WAS NO WAY TO DEACTIVATE THE LIGHTS. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED DISPLEASURE WITH THE FEATURE AND FELT THAT IT AFFECTED HIS DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE SITUATION AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
THE BRAKES ON THIS TRUCK ARE SPONGY AND DO NOT STOP THE VEHICLE WELL AT ALL. NO REPAIRS DONE SEEM TO HELP IMPROVE THE STOPPING DISTANCE. WORST BRAKE I HAVE EVER SEEN ON A VEHICLE. DEFINITELY NOT NORMAL. *TR
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.