IllustrationTRANSMISSION HAS LOST REVERSE SECOND AND FOURTH GEARS WITH NO PRIOR PROBLEMS OF NOISE OR MOTION. FAIL TO UNDERSTAND HOW ALL THIS CAN BREAK DOWN SO FAST AND EASY. *AK
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 reportsCONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 45MPH ON HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR NOISE VEHICLE WOULD LOCK UP. ALSO, THERE WAS A GRINDING NOISE. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
VEHICLE WAS LOSING FUEL MILEAGE AND FUEL GAUGE WENT TO EMPTY/ BACK FULL, THEN TO NORMAL, AND READING 3/4 FULL. AFTER CONSUMER PULLED OVER, AND TURNED VEHICLE OFF, VEHICLE WOULDN'T RESTART. INDEPENDENT GARAGE GAVE BACK OLD FUEL PUMP SO CONSUMER COULD SEE THE PROBLEM. WIRING ON PUMP AND FUEL GAUGE HAD MELTED AND FUSED …
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VEHICLE WAS LOSING FUEL MILEAGE AND FUEL GAUGE WENT TO EMPTY/ BACK FULL, THEN TO NORMAL, AND READING 3/4 FULL. AFTER CONSUMER PULLED OVER, AND TURNED VEHICLE OFF, VEHICLE WOULDN'T RESTART. INDEPENDENT GARAGE GAVE BACK OLD FUEL PUMP SO CONSUMER COULD SEE THE PROBLEM. WIRING ON PUMP AND FUEL GAUGE HAD MELTED AND FUSED TOGETHER ,SHORTING OUT FUEL PUMP AND GAUGE. CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THAT IT COULD REPEAT AND CAUSE AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. ALSO, COULD OCCUR WITH NEW PUMP.*AK *SLC
CONSUMER WAS TRYING TO LAY BACK OF SEAT BACKWARD BY USING HANDLE, AND HANDLE CAME OFF INTO CONSUMER'S HAND. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
FROM EARLY AFTER WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, WE HAVE HAD TROUBLE. WHEN YOU TAKE YOUR FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR, IT WILL OFTENTIMES NOT SLOW DOWN AND SOMETIMES EVEN SPEED UP. WE HAVE TAKEN IT TO BALE CHEVROLET ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND TOLD THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. WE WROTE TO CHEVROLET WHO CONTACTED PAUL WILKERSON AT BALE C…
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FROM EARLY AFTER WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, WE HAVE HAD TROUBLE. WHEN YOU TAKE YOUR FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR, IT WILL OFTENTIMES NOT SLOW DOWN AND SOMETIMES EVEN SPEED UP. WE HAVE TAKEN IT TO BALE CHEVROLET ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND TOLD THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. WE WROTE TO CHEVROLET WHO CONTACTED PAUL WILKERSON AT BALE CHEVROLET WHO TOLD THEM THE VEHICLE IS "OPERATING AS DESIGNED" EVEN THOUGH HE WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND HIS MECHANICS HAD DRIVEN THE VEHICLE AROUND THEIR PARKING LOT AT 40 MPH WITHOUT USING THE ACCELERATOR. WE RECENTLY TOOK IT TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP AND THEY INFORMED US THAT GM/CHEVROLET WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT NO FIX HAD BEEN FOUND FOR IT. THIS PROBLEM IS, IN MY OPINION, A SAFETY HAZARD NOT ONLY TO US AS THE OWNERS, BUT TO OTHERS ON THE ROAD AS WELL. IT SEEMS THAT IF GM/CHEVROLET WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, THEY WOULD HAVE AT LEAST NOTIFIED ALL THE DEALERSHIPS AND OWNERS AND GIVEN US SOME OPTIONS FOR REMEDY.*AK
AT CERTAIN POSITIONS STEERING WHEELS HAS CATCHES FROM HARD TO SOFT, CAUSING OVERSTEERING. MANUFACTURER FILED A COMPLAINT FOR CONSUMER.*AK
THERE ARE IRREGULARITIES IN SPEEDOMETER. *AK SPEEDOMETER READS FASTER THAN ACTUAL TIMED SPEED, THIS CAUSES FUEL MILEAGE TO BE FALSE AND CONSUMER STATES IT GETS THE MANUFACTURER OUT OF WARRANTY FASTER. WHEN ABS ARE APPLIED, IF THE REAR WHEELS ENCOUNTER A BUMP, THE REAR BRAKES STAY OUT OF ACTION PUTTING ALL BRAKING ON FRONT WH…
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THERE ARE IRREGULARITIES IN SPEEDOMETER. *AK SPEEDOMETER READS FASTER THAN ACTUAL TIMED SPEED, THIS CAUSES FUEL MILEAGE TO BE FALSE AND CONSUMER STATES IT GETS THE MANUFACTURER OUT OF WARRANTY FASTER. WHEN ABS ARE APPLIED, IF THE REAR WHEELS ENCOUNTER A BUMP, THE REAR BRAKES STAY OUT OF ACTION PUTTING ALL BRAKING ON FRONT WHEELS. *SLC
PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT BELT FAILS TO RETRACT OUTWARD FOR USAGE OR RETRACT BACK AFTER BEING USED.*AK
MY TRUCK JUST STARTED STARTING BAD, IT USED TO TURN OVER EASY, NOW I HAVE TO TURN THE KEY WITH MORE PRESSURE THAN BEFORE. IT STARTS BUT, WITH THE A/C AND RADIO ON THE TRUCK WIL STALL WHILE DRIVING. NOTHING HAS HAPPENED LEADING UP TO THIS, JUST OUT OF THE BLUE. *AK
TRUCK VIBRATION PROBLEM-TIRE BARN AGREED TO REPLACE ONE OUT OF 4 BAD TIRES - THEY SAID DRY ROTTEN. *AK (DOT NUMBER: 32009 UU TIRESIZE: 265/75R16L)
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.