IllustrationCONSUMER STATESTHAT THE VEHICLE WAS CURVING TO THE LEFT, THE STEERING WOULD BECOME LOSE AND ERRATIC. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER ON TWO OCCASIONS BUT THE PROBLEM REOCCURS. NLM
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 reportsAROUND 45 MPH THERE IS INTERMITTENT BRAKE FAILURE. WHEN APPLYING BRAKES VEHICLE STARTS TO SLOW DOWN. THEN, BRAKING ACTION STOPS, PEDAL FEELS SPONGY. VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER 3-4 TIMES, MASTER CYLINDER WAS REPLACED, DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM.*AK
SEVERE TREAD SEPARATION OVER TEN INCHES OF INSIDE RIGHT FRONT TIRE NEARLY CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL IN I70 CANYON. DEALER WILL DO ABSOLUTELY NOTHING . REPLACED AT MY FULL COST WITH A GOODYEAR TIRE (WHICH OWNS KELLY?). ANY HELP HERE?*AK (DOT NUMBER: 91532697 TIRESIZE: LT21585R16)
STEERING WHEEL VIBRATED, PROBLEM EXISTED FOR A TIME. EVO SENSOR NEEDED REPLACEMENT AGAIN AS PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED.*AK
THE DASHBOARD IN THE TRUCK CAUGHT ON FIRE. WE WERE ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE BEFORE EXTENSIVE DAMAGE WAS DONE. THE GM DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS THE WIRING HARNESS UNDER THE HOOD. WE REPORTED THIS TO GM, AND THEY SAID THAT THEY HAD NO OTHER REPORTS AND WERE NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT BECAUSE…
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THE DASHBOARD IN THE TRUCK CAUGHT ON FIRE. WE WERE ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE BEFORE EXTENSIVE DAMAGE WAS DONE. THE GM DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS THE WIRING HARNESS UNDER THE HOOD. WE REPORTED THIS TO GM, AND THEY SAID THAT THEY HAD NO OTHER REPORTS AND WERE NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT BECAUSE OF THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE. I LOOKED ON THE NHTSA SITE AND FOUND 52 PAGES OF OTHER CHEVROLET TRUCKS WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS FROM 1996 TO 2002. I BELIEVE SOMEONE COULD GET SERIOUSLY HURT OR KILLED IF THIS WERE TO HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING. WE WERE FORTUNATE THAT WE WERE ABLE TO PUT THE FIRE OUT. GM WILL NOT EVEN INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM, OUR EXTENDED WARRANTY ISN'T WORTH THE PAPER IT IS WRITTEN ON AND OUR INSURANCE COMPANY WILL ONLY PAY FOR ENSUING DAMAGE. I THINK SOMEONE WITH SOME AUTHORIY SHOULD CONTACT GM SINCE THIS IS AN OBVIOUS DEFECT IN DESIGN. MICHAEL BUTORI. *AK
A BRAKE LINE FAILURE, BRAKE LINE AVAILABLE FOR ANALYSIS. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
WHEN SHIFTING VEHICLE INTO REVERSE VEHICLE WOULD NOT TRAVEL BACKWARD OR WHEN SHIFTING INTO DRIVE VEHICLE WOULD NOT TRAVEL FORWARD. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED, TECHNICIAN REPLACED TRANSMISSION. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS STEERING WHEEL BECAME LOOSE, CAUSING POOR VEHICLE CONTROL. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED, STATED POWER STEERING ASSIST ACCELERATED TO FULL POWER, CAUSING DRIVER TO OVERSTEER. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
VEHICLE EXPEREINCING PROBLEM WITH BLOWN ECM FUSES WHICH CAUSE VEHICLE TO SHUT DOWN. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO DEALER SHOP ON ONE OCCASION, AND AT AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. BOTH WERE UNABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM.*AK CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER IS HAVING A PROBLEM LOCATING THE SHORT, THE FUSE HAS BLOWN ON 4 OCASSIONS.*SLC
I PUSHED THE LEVER ON THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE SEAT TO ALLOW PASSENGER ENTRY. THE SEAT CAME FORWARD AS IT IS DESIGNED TO DO. THE SEAT IS NOW IN THE FORWARD POSITION AND WILL NOT LOCK IN THE DRIVING POSITION. YOUR FORM IS SHOWING FIRE AND NOT SEATS PROBLEMS, WHICH IS THE NATURE OF MY COMPLAINT, AND I DO NOT KNOW HOW TO CORRECT THIS…
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I PUSHED THE LEVER ON THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE SEAT TO ALLOW PASSENGER ENTRY. THE SEAT CAME FORWARD AS IT IS DESIGNED TO DO. THE SEAT IS NOW IN THE FORWARD POSITION AND WILL NOT LOCK IN THE DRIVING POSITION. YOUR FORM IS SHOWING FIRE AND NOT SEATS PROBLEMS, WHICH IS THE NATURE OF MY COMPLAINT, AND I DO NOT KNOW HOW TO CORRECT THIS!! *AK
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.