IllustrationWHILE DRIVING ABOUT ANY SPEED STEERING WHEEL WON'T KEEP VEHICLE STRAIGHT, RESULTING IN VIBRATION AND LOSS OF CONTROL. *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 CALLED ON BEHALF OF THE OWNER WHO WAS KILLED IN THE VEHICLE. OWNER WAS TRAVELING AT ABOUT 50 MPH IN GOOD WEATHER CONDITIONS WHEN VEHICLE WENT OVER THE RUMBLE STRIPS IN THE ROAD. STARTED TO PUMP THE BRAKES, AND REALIZED THERE WERE NONE. VEHICLE WENT THROUGH A STOP SIGN, WAS HIT FROM THE SIDE, AND FLIPPED I…
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CONSUMER CALLED ON BEHALF OF THE OWNER WHO WAS KILLED IN THE VEHICLE. OWNER WAS TRAVELING AT ABOUT 50 MPH IN GOOD WEATHER CONDITIONS WHEN VEHICLE WENT OVER THE RUMBLE STRIPS IN THE ROAD. STARTED TO PUMP THE BRAKES, AND REALIZED THERE WERE NONE. VEHICLE WENT THROUGH A STOP SIGN, WAS HIT FROM THE SIDE, AND FLIPPED INTO A DITCH. OWNER WAS KILLED FROM THE IMPACT. *AK
IT STARTED WITIN 1-2 MONTHS OF PURCHASE, I STARTED HAVING BRAKE PROBLEMS, SINCE THAT TIME I HAVE HAD MY TRUCK TO THE CAR DEALER FOR REPAIRS OR ALL 4 BRAKES AND OTHER PARTS 100% REPLACED, ON THE LAST VISIT THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY 1/2 OF THE $600. BILL AND THE NEXT TIME THEY WOULD PAY NOTHING. I JUST HAD MY TIR…
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IT STARTED WITIN 1-2 MONTHS OF PURCHASE, I STARTED HAVING BRAKE PROBLEMS, SINCE THAT TIME I HAVE HAD MY TRUCK TO THE CAR DEALER FOR REPAIRS OR ALL 4 BRAKES AND OTHER PARTS 100% REPLACED, ON THE LAST VISIT THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY 1/2 OF THE $600. BILL AND THE NEXT TIME THEY WOULD PAY NOTHING. I JUST HAD MY TIRES REPLACE FOR THE FIRST TIME ON 2/14/00 AND LES SCHWAB TOLD ME MY BRAKES WERE TO A 10-15% BALANCE LEFT. WITH THIS INF. IT WILL MAKE IT 5 TIMES MY BRAKES WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED AND THE DEALER WILL DO NOTHING. WHILE SITTING AT A STOP LIGHT AND THEN TRY TO GO SOMETIMES THE BRAKES ARE LOCKED UP AND IT WON'T MOVE, AND OTHER TIMES WHEN I NEED TO STOP EVEN ON DRY PAVEMENT THE ANTI LOCK WILL KICK IN AND START JERKING THE TRUCK AROUND. I WAS TOLD BY THE PEOPLE AT THE ATTORNEY GENERALS OFFICE I SHOULD CONTACT YOU ABOUT THIS MATTER. I HAVE SENT AN EM TO THE CHEV DEALER AND DIRECTLY TO CHEV BUT HAVE BEEN IGNORED. I'M GETTING WORRIED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY AND MYSELF WHILE BEING IN THIS TRUCK. PLEASE HELP ME WHERE YOU CAN WITH THIS MATTER. THANK YOU DALE HARDER. *AK
BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR WILL NOT SEAL SO IT IS CONSTANTELY LOSING BRAKE FLUID. MANUFACTURER HAS NO SOLUTION. HAS ADVISED CONSUMER TO KEEP ADDING FLUID. *AK
ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON,AND THEN AFTER THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF, IT WOULD NOT TURN BACK ON. NOT THINKING THIS WAS A MAJOR PROBLEM, WE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A NEIGHBORS BROTHERS SERVICE STATION. THEY INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND THEN TOLD US THAT THE FUEL INJECTOR(S) PUSHED GAS ALONG THE ELECTRICAL LINE TO THE ECM. WHEN THEY…
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ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON,AND THEN AFTER THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF, IT WOULD NOT TURN BACK ON. NOT THINKING THIS WAS A MAJOR PROBLEM, WE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A NEIGHBORS BROTHERS SERVICE STATION. THEY INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND THEN TOLD US THAT THE FUEL INJECTOR(S) PUSHED GAS ALONG THE ELECTRICAL LINE TO THE ECM. WHEN THEY REMOVED SOME CABLES TO THE ECM GASOLINE POURED OUT. THEY THEN TOOK THE PLASTIC CASE OFF ONLY TO FIND THE CASE WAS FILLED WITH GASOLINE. THEY TOLD US THEY WERE SURPRISED THAT THE TRUCK HAD NOT BLOWN UP. WE CONTACTED THE CHEVROLET DEALER CLOSEST TO US. WHEN MY HUSBAND TALKED TO THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN AT THE DEALER HE SAID LET ME GUESS YOU HAVE A CHEVY TAHOE. CHRIS SAID NO, A SILVERADO. THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN SAID HE HAS SEEN THIS HAPPEN IN THE TAHOE, BUT NOT YET A SILVERADO. THE ONLY THING WE WERE TOLD IS THAT POSSIBLY THEY WILL PAY HALF OF THE SERVICE. THIS IS THEIR PROBLEM NOT OURS. WE WERE ALSO TOLD THAT A REGIONAL MANAGER WOULD CONTACT US THURSDAY. TIME IS JUST TICKING AWAY! WE DID NOT ASK FOR THIS TO HAPPEN! PLEASE HELP US. MY HUSBAND USES HIS TRUCK FOR WORK (TO HAUL HIS TOOLS TO AND FROM THE JOB SITE) HE HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO WORK! PLEASE CONTACT US TO LET US KNOW WHAT WE CAN DO. THANK YOU! *AK
VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AT NORMAL ROAD CONDITION AT 15-20 MPH. APPLIED BRAKES FOR APPROACHING STOP LIGHT WHEN BRAKE PEDAL WENT DOWN TO THE FLOOR AND VEHICLE CONTINUED INTO THE INTERSECTION. DEALER NOTIFIED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. *AK
THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM FAILS ON DRY PAVEMENT WHEN A BUMP OR SEPARATION IS CONTACTED IN THE PAVEMENT DURING THE BRAKING OPERATION, RESULTING IN LOST OF BRAKING CAPACITY. THIS OCCURS USUALLY BETWEEN SPEEDS OF 25-35 MPH DURING BRAKING WHILE THE VEHICLE IS SLOWING DOWN. IF DURING THAT TIME, A BUMP OR RISE OCCURS IN THE PAVEMEN…
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THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM FAILS ON DRY PAVEMENT WHEN A BUMP OR SEPARATION IS CONTACTED IN THE PAVEMENT DURING THE BRAKING OPERATION, RESULTING IN LOST OF BRAKING CAPACITY. THIS OCCURS USUALLY BETWEEN SPEEDS OF 25-35 MPH DURING BRAKING WHILE THE VEHICLE IS SLOWING DOWN. IF DURING THAT TIME, A BUMP OR RISE OCCURS IN THE PAVEMENT, IT SEEMS LIKE TRACTION IS LOST AND BRAKING CAPACITY IS DIMINISHED, RESULTING IN INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE. OFTEN THIS OCCURS AT STOP SIGNS AND INTERSECTIONS, OCCASIONALLY WHEN ATTEMPTING TO TURN, RESULTING IN HAZARDOUS HANDLING. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED SEVERAL TIMES, AND ATTEMPTS TO REPAIR BY REPLACEMENT OF GASKET ON FLUID RESERVIOR LID OF MASTER CYLINDER DIMISHED THE SYMPTOMS BUT DID NOT RECTIFY THE PROBLEM. HAZARDOUS BRAKING SITUATIONS CONTINUES WHEN BRAKE FAILURE AND/OR INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE ON DRY PAYMENT OCCURS. *AK
VEHICLE HAS A LOUD NOISE ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE OF THE PASSENGER SIDE. CONSUMER SAID THAT HE HAS TAKEN VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP SEVENTEEN TIMES. *AK
ONGOING PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE HESITATING / STALLING AT A STOP POSITION. WHEN APPLYING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL CARBURETOR FLOODED. VEHICLE BEEN INSPECTED/REPAIRS ON TWO OCCASIONS, AND BEEN TO TWO DIFFERENT DEALERS, AND PROBLEM STILL REOCCURRING. *AK
BRAKES WERE SQUEAKING AND NOT STOPPING WELL AFTER BEING APPLIED. HAD TO PULL TO RIGHT TO AVOID HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE DUE TO LACK OF BRAKING ABILITY. BEEN TO DEALER & MECHANIC REFUSES TO ADJUST BRAKES. ITS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. *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.