Chevrolet Silverado Complaints (1998)
800 consumer complaints on file.
- #11433075September 15, 2021EQUIPMENT:EMERGENCY:FIRE SUPRESSION:SMOKE/CO WARNING/ALARM
The contact owns a 1998 Chevrolet Silverado 2500. The contact stated the vehicle would fail to restart after being parked. The security warning light illuminated. The contact was able to restart the vehicle after several attempts. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to an independent alarm system specialist who diagnosed that the pass lock system of the vehicle had failed, causing the vehicle to lock for about 10 to 20 minutes. The dealer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to NHTSA. The contact stated that the failure had been reoccurring. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 140,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11386327January 3, 2021SEATS
WHILE ADJUSTING MY POSITION IN THE DRIVER SEAT AFTER ENTERING THE TRUCK I FELT THE BACK OF THE SEAT ON THE RIGHT SIDE GIVE WAY. IT IS NOT BENT, THE SEAT FRAME IS BROKEN OR HAS COME LOOSE INSIDE. THE SEAT LEANS TO THE RIGHT PUTTING ME IN AN AWARD AND UNSAFE POSITION. I ONLY DRIVE IT WHEN I HAVE NO OTHER CHOICE. I AM 6'1" 214 LBS. SEAT IS OTHERWISE IN GOOD CONDITION.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11162596December 19, 2018FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
TANK WAS REMOVE DUE GAS COMING ONTO GROUND WHEN ATTEMP TO PUMP GAS, COME TO FIND THERE WAS A CRACK AROUND THE NECK OFTANK, POOR WELDING JOB TO ATTACH NECK TO TANK. CRACKS ALONG SIDE OF WELDING JOB AND COST ME $1,000.00.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10936165December 19, 2016STRUCTURE:BODY
I BOUGHT THIS TRUCK WITH 70K MILES ON IT .HAS BEEN A GOOD TRUCK BUT THE DASH IS COMING APART AND IN THE NEAR FUTURE I DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS GOING TO HOLD THE GAUGES IN PLACE. I CAN NOT EVEN BUY A REPLACEMENT PART FOR THE VEHICLE FROM GM AND EVERY PART OUT OF A SALVAGE YARD IS IN THE SAME CONDITION.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10854157April 7, 2016SERVICE BRAKES
BRAKE PEDAL SUDDENLY WENT TO FLOOR WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING. I WAS LUCKY TO AVOID A COLLISION.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10763606September 14, 2015EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. WHEN TURNING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. IN ADDITION, THE FUEL PUMP WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FUNCTIONED INTERMITTENTLY AND THE VENT CONTROLS FAILED. THE BOLTS ON THE TAIL LIGHTS WERE REPLACED TWICE, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED WHERE A WIRE FAILED CAUSING THE LIGHTING FOR THE REAR TAIL LIGHTS TO FAIL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10763035September 11, 2015SERVICE BRAKES, STRUCTURE:BODY
BRAKE PEDAL GOES SPONGES AND ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. THE TRUCK HAD OVER 120,000 MILES BEFORE REAR BRAKES WERE REPLACED. IN THAT TIME I WENT THROUGH 8 SETS OF BRAKES AND ROTORS. IN 2005 I REAR ENDED A CAR AT ABOUT 30 MPH. THE BRAKES WENT TO THE FLOOR. LOCAL CHEVY DEALERSHIP REPLACED A DEFECTIVE BRAKE BOOSTER ASSEMBLE. THIS WAS THE SECOND BRAKE BOOSTER/ MASTER CYLINDER ASSEMBLY REPLACE ON MY TRUCK SINCE 2005. SINCE THEN. I HAVE LOST BRAKES ON THE TRUCK 4 MORE TIMES. FAILED BRAKE LINES (LEAK AND BREAK) BLOWN BRAKE CALIPER AND RUBBER HOSE. I AM AN ASE CERTIFIED MECHANIC. THE REAR BRAKES OF THE TRUCK DID NOT PROVIDE ANY BRAKING ASSISTANCE WHEN INSPECTED. SUSPECTED FAULT WAS A DEFECTIVE DESIGN ON THE 1500 SERIES TRUCK BRAKES. WHEN 2500 BRAKE PARTS ARE USED ( MASTER CYLINDER ASSY, PROPORTIONING VALVE, AND REAR BRAKES CHANGE TO 11" DRUMS THE BRAKE PEDAL FEELS FIRM AND THE BRAKING POWER OF THE TRUCK IS DRASTICALLY IMPROVED. I'VE OWNED THE TRUCK FOR OVER 11 YEARS AS THE SECOND OWNER I BOUGHT IT WITH VERY LOW MILES. THE BRAKES ON THE VEHICLE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN TERRIBLE. I INITIALL SPENT OVER $2,000 AT THE DEALERSHIP STRING TO BET THE BRAKES CORRECT. IN THE END THE DEALER SAID THAT "THIS IS HOW THEY ALL ARE".
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10763036September 11, 2015ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE HEATER BLOWER ON THE HIGH SETTING THAT DEFROSTS THE WINDSHIELD FOR VISIBILITY STOPPED WORKING. THE CAB OF THE TRUCK FILLED WITH SMOKE AND SMELLED LIKE PLASTIC BURNING. THE ELECTRICAL HARNESS FOR THE BLOWER MOTOR WAS BURNING. THE DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS A DESIGN DEFECT BUT THE YEAR OF MY TRUCK DIDN'T QUALIFY FOR THE RECALL. IF I DIDN'T CAN'T THE BURNING WIRES WHEN I DID MY TRUCK WOULD HAVE BURNED TO THE GROUND. THIS IS A LIFE THREATENING DEFECT. I HAD IT VERIFIED THAT THE LOAD FOR THE WIRE AND THE TYPE OF CONNECTOR USED FOR THE WIRING HARNESS IS NOT ADEQUATE FOR THE ELECTRICAL LOAD OF BLOWER MOTOR AND BLOWER SPEED RELAY. I OWNED THIS TRUCK FOR YEARS WITHOUT BEING IN A HOT OR EXTREME COLD ENVIRONMENT. WHEN I USED THE HIGH SPEED BLOWER TO DEFROST THE WINDSHIELD IT COULD HAVE KILLED ME. THE TRUCK STILL HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED, THE MFR REFUSES TO ACCEPT THAT THIS TRUCK FALLS UNDER THE SAME DEFECT AS OTHER YEARS.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10747653August 10, 2015AIR BAGS
IN LAST WEEK IN JULY 2015 I RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL LETTER FROM GM. RECALL # 15438 IN THE LETTER TEXT IT WAS STATED VEHICLE WAS RECALLED /PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. NO DATE WHEN REPAIR CAN BE ENACTED WAS GIVEN! THE FOLLOWING TEXT APPEARED SIMILAR IN MY LETTER ////AND ON GM WEBSITE WHEN I ENTERED MY VIN# RECALL TITLE: FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG INFLATOR RECALL DESCRIPTION: INFLATORS SUBJECT TO TAKATA EQUIPMENT RECALL 15E-041 WERE INSTALLED IN CERTAIN 2007-2008 MODEL YEAR CHEVROLET SILVERADO AND GMC SIERRA 2500/3500 HEAVY DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS AS ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT. IN ACCORDANCE WITH TAKATAS DEFECT DETERMINATION FOR THESE TAKATA INFLATORS, GM IS RECALLING THESE VEHICLES TO REPLACE THESE TAKATA INFLATORS. THE PROPELLANT WAFERS IN SOME OF THE SUBJECT INFLATORS MAY EXPERIENCE AN ALTERATION OVER TIME, WHICH COULD POTENTIALLY LEAD TO OVER-AGGRESSIVE COMBUSTION IN THE EVENT OF AN AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. DEPENDING ON THE CIRCUMSTANCES, THIS POTENTIAL CONDITION COULD CREATE EXCESSIVE INTERNAL PRESSURE WHEN THE AIR BAG IS DEPLOYED, WHICH COULD RESULT IN THE BODY OF THE INFLATOR RUPTURING UPON DEPLOYMENT. SAFETY RISK DESCRIPTION: IN THE EVENT OF AN INFLATOR RUPTURE, METAL FRAGMENTS COULD PASS THROUGH THE AIR BAG CUSHION MATERIAL, WHICH MAY RESULT IN INJURY OR DEATH TO VEHICLE OCCUPANTS. REPAIR DESCRIPTION: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG INFLATOR, FREE OF CHARGE. RECALL STATUS: INCOMPLETE. REMEDY NOT YET AVAILABLE WHEN I CALLED GM AT CUSTOMER SERVICE 866 790-5700 0R 1 800 222 1020 THEY SAID VEHICLE IS SAFE TO DRIVE UNTIL PARTS ARRIVE. ON ANOTHER CALL ANOTHER CUSTOMER SERVICE AGENT STATED THE VEHICLE IS SAFE TO DRIVE, WITHOUT A FRONT SEAT PASSENGER.I ASKED FOR A E MAIL WRITTEN TO STATE THAT GM POLICY SO THAT I HAD PROOF OF THE CONVERSATIONS. GM REPS REFUSE. IS IT SAFE OR NOT? WHY IS INJURY AND DEATH STATED IF IT IS SAFE???
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10683086February 12, 2015WHEELS
RIMS ARE VERY VERY RUSTY. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10649083October 21, 2014SERVICE BRAKES
WE WERE GOING TO A FRIENDS HOUSE IN OUR 1998 CHEVY TRUCK. THE PEDAL WENT DOWN TO THE GROUND. WE BROUGHT THE TRUCK IN AND THERE WAS A LEAK IN THE BRAKE LINE FOR THE REAR BRAKES. WE REPLACED THE BRAKE LINES. SUBSEQUENTLY, I PUT THE CAR UP TO SEE HOW THE FRONT BRAKE LINES LOOK. THEY ARE ALMOST ROTTED THROUGH. WE NOW NEED TO REPLACE THE FRONT BRAKE LINES. CHEVY SHOULD FIND OUT WHY THE TRUCK LOOKS SO BAD; THE DOORS ARE ALL ROTTING AWAY ALSO. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10628437August 26, 2014SERVICE BRAKES
BRAKE LINE SPLIT DUE TO RUST/CORROSION. THIS HAS OCCURRED 2 TIMES SINCE , I HAVE REPLACED MOST OF THE BRAKE LINES. VERY DANGEROUS ! *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10616386July 25, 2014ENGINE, STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM FOR SEVERAL YEARS. MY BATTERY HAS SIDE MOUNTED TERMINALS. EACH TIME THE TEMPERATURE GOES UP OR DOWN THE POSITIVE POST BECOMES LOOSE. MOST TIMES IT IS A PROBLEM AS I START THE VEHICLE. WHEN I TURN THE KEY THE ENGINE BEGINS TO START, THEN IT SHUTS DOWN DUE TO LACK OF ELECTRICAL POWER. TWICE IN THE PAST WEEK IT HAS SHUT DOWN WHILE TRAVELING DOWN THE ROAD, ONCE IN THE MIDDLE OF I-83, DURING RUSH HOUR IN DOWNTOWN HARRISBURG, PA. OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS IT HAS, ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, "HICCUPPED" SEVERAL TIMES WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I HAVE TIGHTENED THE SCREW-IN POST DOWN (TWICE) TO THE POINT WHERE I HAVE ROUNDED THE HEX HEAD OFF AND THE WRENCH JUMPED OFF THE HEAD BUT, IT CONTINUES TO COME LOOSE. I SPOKE WITH AN AUTO PARTS STORE AND THEY RECOMMENDED AN ADHESIVE, WHICH I TRIED. IT STILL CAME LOOSE. I HAVE EVEN CHANGED OUT THE BATTERY BUT, STILL THE PROBLEM EXISTS. THIS WAS A VERY POPULAR YEAR FOR CHEVY W/T PICK UP TRUCKS. I CANNOT IMAGINE THESE PROBLEMS HAVE NOT BEEN INVOLVED IN RECALLS BEFORE NOW. THE OBVIOUS FIX IS TO REPLACE THE BATTERY WITH ONE THAT HAS TOP MOUNT POSTS. I WOULD ALSO HAVE TO REPLACE THE CABLES. WHY SHOULD I HAVE TO PAY THAT WHEN THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A DESIGN FLAW? *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10609198July 9, 2014SERVICE BRAKES
I STARTED MY TRUCK AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR.THE BRAKELINES WERE RUSTED AND ALL THE FLUID LEAKED OUT.I PAID $200.00 TO GET THE LINE REPAIRED AND THE MECHANIC SAID IT,S A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE I WOULD HAVE TO HAVE THE OTHER LINE REPLACED.HE ALSO STATED THAT THE FUEL LINES WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED BEFORE LONG. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10608707July 7, 2014AIR BAGS
VEHICLE LEFT ROADWAY AND WENT INTO A DRAINAGE DITCH. THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY RESULTING IN THE DRIVERS DEATH. *JS
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 1
- #10586537May 5, 2014SERVICE BRAKES
WHEN TRYING TO LEAVE A PARKING GARAGE, I DEPRESSED THE PEDAL AND THE BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE PEDAL ALMOST WENT TO THE FLOOR. GOT IT HOME WITHOUT INCIDENT. TOOK A LOOK UNDER THE TRUCK AND THE ENTIRE BRAKE LINE WAS RUSTED. THE PLACE WHERE THE BRAKE LINE BROKE WAS IN A PLACE WHERE YOU COULD NOT PHYSICALLY REACH IT. THE OTHER LINES RUNNING ACROSS THE AXLE WERE ALSO HORRIBLY RUSTED. NOW I HAVE TO TAKE ALL OF THEM OFF, MEASURE, BEND, AND REFIT. I REFUSE TO PAY GM TO FIX THEIR SHODDY WORK. I OWNED A 1991 GMC SONOMA WITH OVER 300,000 MILES ON IT AND NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10577457April 4, 2014ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STEERING, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 184,000. UPDATED 06/17/14*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS INTERMITTENT SMOKE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN FOR A WEEK. THERE WAS ALSO AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH THE HEADLIGHTS. UPDATED 06/24/14
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10577236April 3, 2014VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
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.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10556455December 18, 2013SERVICE BRAKES
1998 CHEVY SILVERADO K1500 BRAKE ISSUE: WHILE BRAKING AT LOW SPEEDS (20-10 MPH) THE ABS WILL ENGAGE, INCREASING STOPPING DISTANCE. ON SOME OCCASIONS THE PEDAL WILL BECOME VERY FIRM AND WILL REQUIRE PUMPING TO DISENGAGE THE ABS. ON OTHER OCCASIONS THE PEDAL WILL BE SOFT, GOING TO THE FLOOR, WHILE ABS IS ENGAGED. A CLEAR SAFTY ISSUE. A RECALL SHOULD BE CONSIDERED SINCE MANY OF THESE VEHICLES EXIST ON THE ROAD TODAY. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10547846October 14, 2013SERVICE BRAKES
BRAKES WENT OUT COMPLETELY AFTER DEPRESSING BRAKE PEDAL. HAD TO LEAVE THE ROADWAY INTO THE BUSHES TO AVOID HITTING STOPPED CAR IN FRONT OF ME. UPON INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE AFTER BRINGING IT HOME, NOTICED THAT THE BRAKELINE TO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH. SIMILAR LINES DID NOT SHOW SIGN OF CORROSION BUT THIS ONE WAS COMPLETELY DETERIORATED TO THE POINT OF NO REPAIR. *TR
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0