1998 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Problems, Recalls & Reliability
787 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 1998 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, alongside 2 recall campaigns and 2 defect investigations. It scores 28/100 on the trouble index — a middle-of-the-pack year for this model. Brakes & stability leads the reports, typically around 69,000 miles.
Typical
Where 1998 sits among all Silverado 1500 years
What owners report
“The abs brake system activates at low speed when it shouldn't. Similar to recall 05v379. A front hub must be replaced to fix the problem.”— owner report to NHTSA, 1998 Silverado 1500
“Fuel pump failed at 21000 miles. Right rear side window has major wind noise. Dealer has replaced latch, but wind noise still exists at normal highway speeds.”— owner report to NHTSA, 1998 Silverado 1500
“Power steering is very erratic (over steering, stiff, and veers) at times when speeds are 50-60 mph. Mjs”— owner report to NHTSA, 1998 Silverado 1500
“Positive battery terminal leaked acid onto positive cables causing main ecm to short and turn off truck while driving. Also, found acid had eaten through the alternator charging wire and insulation causing a possible fire potential if not found”— owner report to NHTSA, 1998 Silverado 1500
“This vehicl caught fire and burned after transmission problems; hydraulic fluid suspected as source of fire; no one present at time of fire, the owner having gone for help after shutting off the motor and parking the truck.”— owner report to NHTSA, 1998 Silverado 1500
“Engine knocking continually, normal condition of vehicle (service bulletin 77-61-21). Mjs”— owner report to NHTSA, 1998 Silverado 1500
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 249 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 75,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 52,000 and 109,215 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (2)
CERTAIN HONEYWELL FRAM RACING BRAND HP4 AND HP8 OIL FILTERS THAT WERE MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 25, 2006, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 14, 2007, AND SOLD FOR USE AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR VEHICLES LIST ABOVE. THE AFFECTED FILTERS ARE MARKED WITH A DATE CODE A61451…
Fix: HONEYWELL WILL REPLACE THE AFFECTED OIL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN DURING NOVEMBER 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-890-2075.
CERTAIN REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS, FRAM BRAND NAME P/N G3727, WITH DATE CODES X52911 THROUGH X60801 SEQUENTIALLY OR X600141 AND A MEXICO COUNTRY OR ORIGIN MARKING ON THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 18, 2005, THROUGH MARCH 21, 2006, SOLD FOR…
Fix: HONEYWELL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FUEL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 18, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-890-2075 (OPTION 1).
Federal defect investigations
Led to recall campaign 06V066000.
Technical service bulletins
35 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on brakes & stability and transmission & drivetrain — are on file for the 1998 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
See the 1998 Silverado 1500 TSB list →
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 1998 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 reliable?
The 1998 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 drew 787 complaints in federal safety records — a middle-of-the-pack year for this model. Its trouble index is 28/100, scored against the model's worst year (1999).
What are the most common 1998 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 problems?
The top reported problems for the 1998 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 are brakes & stability (257 complaints), visibility & wipers (105), and steering (71).
At what mileage do 1998 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 problems show up?
Owners most often report 1998 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 problems around 75,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 52,000 and 109,215 miles.
Does the 1998 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 have recalls?
2 recall campaigns apply to the 1998 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.