IllustrationWHILE DRIVING 65-70 MPH LEFT FRONT WHEEL COLLAPSED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LOSE CONTROL AND CRASH INTO A BRIDGE RAILING. NO INJURIES REPORTED. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A WRECKAGE YARD.*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 reportsTHE SUPPORT CABLES THAT RETAINED THE TAILGATE BROKE WHILE LOADING A SNOW TRAILER, WHICH CAUSED THE TAILGATE TO COLLAPSE. NO INJURIES TO REPORT. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL. *JB THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO WEIGHT RESTRICTIONS POSTED …
Read full complaint
THE SUPPORT CABLES THAT RETAINED THE TAILGATE BROKE WHILE LOADING A SNOW TRAILER, WHICH CAUSED THE TAILGATE TO COLLAPSE. NO INJURIES TO REPORT. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL. *JB THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO WEIGHT RESTRICTIONS POSTED FOR THE CAPACITY OF THE ENDGATE. THE CONSUMER WAS LOADING A CRAFTSMAN 5 HP COMPACT SNOW THROWER 165 LBS ON THE TRUCK. THE SELLING DEALER OFFERED TO COVER THE COST OF REPLACING THE BROKEN CABLES AT THEIR EXPENSE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE SELLING DEALERSHIP BUT EVERYTHING TO DO WITH GENERAL MOTORS THE PRODUCER OF THE MATERIALS USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF THIS VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT HE REMOVED THE TRANSMISSION OIL PAN FOR FLUID DRAINAGE. A TRANSMISSION FILTER THAT WOULD FIT THIS VEHICLE AS ORDERED FROM THE SELLING DEALER WOULD NOT WORK WITH THE TRANSMISSION OIL PAN ORIGINALLY INSTALLED ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER HAD TO PURCHASE THE CORRECT TRANSMISSION FLUID PAN THAT SHOULD HAVE COME ON THE VEHICLE. *TC
THE DRIVER'S SEAT OVERHEATED WHILE DRIVING. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO BOTH LEGS. THE DRIVER WENT TO THE HOSPITAL THE NEXT DAY. DRIVER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE LEFT SEAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE TAILGATE CABLES FAILED TWICE. *TC
WINDSHIELD WIPERS JUST QUIT DURING OPERATION. SWITCHING BETWEEN PULSE AND CONTINUOUS OPERATION SOMETIMES RESTORES OPERATION, BUT THEY QUIT AGAIN. PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE GETTING WORSE.*AK
WHILE DRIVING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER WINDSHIELD WIPERS CAME ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE VIN NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED. *AK
1998 CHEVROLET SILVERADO PICK-UP HAD WHAT APPEARED TO BE RADIATOR LEAK. AFTER FURTHER DIAGNOSIS, WHAT WAS ACTUALLY THE PROBLEM WAS THAT THE FITTING IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD USED TO CONNECT THE COOLANT HOSE WAS MADE OF A DIFFERENT METAL THAN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD; THE PART CRUMBLED WHILE TRYING TO FIT THE COOLANT HOSE OVER THE FITTI…
Read full complaint
1998 CHEVROLET SILVERADO PICK-UP HAD WHAT APPEARED TO BE RADIATOR LEAK. AFTER FURTHER DIAGNOSIS, WHAT WAS ACTUALLY THE PROBLEM WAS THAT THE FITTING IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD USED TO CONNECT THE COOLANT HOSE WAS MADE OF A DIFFERENT METAL THAN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD; THE PART CRUMBLED WHILE TRYING TO FIT THE COOLANT HOSE OVER THE FITTING BY HAND (NO TOOLS INVOLVED!). I NOW HAVE A TRUCK IN THE GARAGE THAT I CANNOT DRIVE UNTIL IT IS FIXED BECAUSE THE PART DOES NOT "FIT" DUE TO THE CORROSION WHERE THE DISSIMILAR METALS CAME INTO CONTACT AND CORRODED. THE "NECK" OF THE PART IS STILL CORRODED ON THE MANIFOLD AND A NEW PART CANNOT BE INSTALLED UNTIL THE CORRODED METAL/FITTING IS CLEANED OUT. CORRODED PART IS AVAILABLE. DIGITAL PHOTO OF CORROSION AVAILABLE. CORROSION NOT YET REPAIRED. *JB
WHILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE PASSENGER'S SIDE FRONT SEAT COLLAPSED BACKWARD. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT HOME. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER FOR A APPOINTMENT AND INSPECTION. *AK THE DRIVER'S SEAT WOULD NOT LOCK BACK IN THE …
Read full complaint
WHILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE PASSENGER'S SIDE FRONT SEAT COLLAPSED BACKWARD. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT HOME. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER FOR A APPOINTMENT AND INSPECTION. *AK THE DRIVER'S SEAT WOULD NOT LOCK BACK IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION. *SC
WHILE STANDING ON THE TAILGATE THE STRAPS BROKE THROWING THE CONSUMER ONTO THE BACK OF THE CAB. THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE NHTSA RECALL. *NM
WHILE STANDING ON THE TAILGATE THE STRAPS BROKE THROWING THE CONSUMER ONTO THE BACK OF THE CAB. THE CONSUMER IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE NHTSA RECALL 04V129000. *NM
WHILE APPROACHING A TRAFFIC LIGHT VEHICLE STALLED. WHEN THIS OCCURRED VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. CVONSUMER WAS ABLE TO STEER VEHICLE INTO A CURB. DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THE FUEL INJECTORS AND PUMP WERE BAD AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME THESE PARTS WERE REPLACED.*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.