Complaints
452
Crashes
17
Fires
12
Injuries
6
Fatalities
—
Recalls
0
Worst 1998 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#167 complaints
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Avg mileage:69,347 mi
Crash-related:7
Fires:1
#224 complaints
Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer
Avg mileage:86,169 mi
#321 complaints
Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor
Avg mileage:72,300 mi
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1998 Chevrolet Silverado 1500.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 67 | 7 | 1 | 69,347 mi | |
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer | 24 | — | — | 86,169 mi | |
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor | 21 | — | — | 72,300 mi | |
| Steering Defects | 18 | — | — | 114,167 mi | |
| Automatic Transmission | 17 | — | 1 | 92,097 mi | |
| Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System | 15 | — | — | 59,800 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components | 13 | 1 | — | 20,000 mi | |
| Brake Master Cylinder | 11 | — | — | 40,000 mi | |
| Brakes | 10 | 1 | — | 140,043 mi | |
| Hydraulic Brakes | 10 | — | — | 96,619 mi | |
| Electrical Faults | 9 | — | 1 | 145,667 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor | 9 | — | 1 | 63,000 mi | |
| Suspension Failures | 9 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Wiring | 8 | — | 6 | 40,000 mi | |
| Tire Defects | 8 | 1 | — | 129,000 mi | |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 6 | 4 | — | 121,200 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 6 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys | 6 | — | — | — | |
| Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner | 6 | 1 | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Pads | 5 | — | — | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 5 | — | — | 169,922 mi | |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal | 5 | — | — | 24,000 mi | |
| Fuel Pump | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Steering:Gear Box (Other Than Rack And Pinion) | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Structure:Frame And Members | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belts:Front | 3 | — | — | — |
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
67
complaints
Crashes
7
Fires
1
Avg Miles
69,347
Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer
24
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
86,169
Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor
21
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
72,300
Steering Defects
18
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
114,167
Automatic Transmission
17
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
92,097
Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System
15
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
59,800
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components
13
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
20,000
Brake Master Cylinder
11
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
40,000
Brakes
10
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
140,043
Hydraulic Brakes
10
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
96,619
Electrical Faults
9
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
145,667
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor
9
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
63,000
Suspension Failures
9
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Wiring
8
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
6
Avg Miles
40,000
Tire Defects
8
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
129,000
Air Bags:Frontal
6
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
—
Avg Miles
121,200
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner
6
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Pads
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Unintended Acceleration
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
169,922
Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
24,000
Fuel Pump
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering:Gear Box (Other Than Rack And Pinion)
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Structure:Frame And Members
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belts:Front
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 1998 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Other Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Years
1998 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 1998 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 reliable?
Verdict: Below Average Complaints. The 1998 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 has 452 NHTSA complaints, 17 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip with 67 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 1998 Chevrolet Silverado 1500?
Top reported problems: Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip (67 complaints, avg 69,347 mi); Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer (24 complaints, avg 86,169 mi); Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor (21 complaints, avg 72,300 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 1998 Chevrolet Silverado 1500?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 81,030 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 1998 Chevrolet Silverado 1500?
NHTSA complaints for the 1998 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 include 17 crash-related reports, 12 fire reports, 6 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 1998 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 1998 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 as of the latest data sync. Verify by VIN for the most current status — new recalls can be issued years after a model year ships.
Should I buy a 1998 Chevrolet Silverado 1500?
Fewer complaints than typical for this model. That's a good sign, but every individual car is different — the VIN still tells you what happened to this specific one.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Chevrolet Silverado 1500 reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 1998 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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