1998 Chevrolet C/K PICKUPS problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
77 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
69,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1998 model year. Data snapshot: . 63 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor is the most frequently named component, appearing in 16 of 77 complaints (20.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 23 | 29.9% |
| Steering behavior | 8 | 10.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 2.6% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 2.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 2.6% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor | 16 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 13 |
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer | 11 |
| Steering | 6 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 4 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/Module | 3 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings | 3 |
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Switch/Wiring | 3 |
Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor: 16; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 13; Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer: 11; Steering: 6; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 4; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/Module: 3; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings: 3; Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Switch/Wiring: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 2 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 12 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 26 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 11 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 11 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 12; 50,000 to 74,999: 26; 75,000 to 99,999: 11; 100,000 to 149,999: 11; 150,000 and above: 1
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (26). 14 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2003 | 20 |
| 2004 | 17 |
| 2005 | 20 |
| 2006 | 12 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2012 | 1 |
2001: 1; 2003: 20; 2004: 17; 2005: 20; 2006: 12; 2007: 1; 2008: 2; 2009: 1; 2010: 2; 2012: 1
Pattern summary
Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 23 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 8 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10018715 · 2003-05-14 (May 14, 2003)
VEHICLE GOES INTO ANTI-SKID MODE ON DRY PAVEMENT, VEHICLE DOES NOT STOP. I WOUND UP ON SIDEWALK ON MAY 7, 2003. VISITED CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP ON MAY 8; CLAIMS FAULTY REGULATOR RING IN FRONT HUBS CAUSING ABS TO ACTIVATE AT INCORRECT INTERVALS. COULD NOT TELL ME WHICH ONE WAS BAD! WANTED TO TRY TO REPLACE ONE, IF THAT DIDN'T WORK WOULD REPLACE OTHER. ALL AT COST TO ME! $1000 FOR REPAIRS. I'M AMAZED THEY CAN NOT EVEN DIAGNOSE THEIR OWN FAULTY PARTS AND WANT TO CHARGE ME FOR THEIR TRIAL AND ERROR REPAIRS, INCLUDING POSSIBLE UNNECESSARY REPAIRS BECA…
Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10018715 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10037939 · 2003-10-01 (October 1, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE REAR LEFT STEEL BRAKE LINE BROKE DUE TO RUST. *AK. THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HE APPLIED THE BRAKE, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP AND THE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. THE CONSUMER REPLACED THE PART HIMSELF. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 53,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10037939 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10016407 · 2003-04-23 (April 23, 2003)
I EXPERIENCED AN INTERMITTENT LOSS OF POWER STEERING WHEN TURNING, THEN SURGES WHICH CAUSES ME TO OVER STEER. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM AND KNOW THAT GM HAS ISSUED A RECALL ON OTHER MODELS BUT NOT MINE. PLEASE SEE BELOW: GM, THE WORLD'S LARGEST AUTO MAKER, SAID IT HAD 15 REPORTS OF CRASHES AS A RESULT OF PROBLEMS WITH THE POWER STEERING, INCLUDING THREE INJURIES BUT NO FATALITIES. THE LOWER PINION BEARING IN THE POWER STEERING GEAR COULD SEPARATE, GM SAID. MOST REPORTS INDICATED THAT DRIVERS EXPERIENCED AN INTERMITTENT LOSS OF POWER STE…
Owner-reported narrative. 116,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10016407 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10054821 · 2004-01-24 (January 24, 2004)
WHEN I BOUGHT MY 1998 CHEVY PICKUP IT HAD A PLACE IN THE STEERING WHEN I TURNED IT TO THE RIGHT IT FELT LIKE I HIT A PATCH OF ICE. IT FELT LIKE THERE WAS A DEAD SPOT. NOW IT IS GETTING WORSE. NOW WHEN I TURN TO THE LEFT IT IS STARTING TO DO THE SAME THING. IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT SPEED YOUR GOING IT STILL DOES IT. *LA
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10054821 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10003278 · 2003-01-23 (January 23, 2003)
THE SLAVE CYLINDER IN MY TRANSMISSION HAS GONE OUT EVERY 1.5 YEARS. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME IT WENT OUT AND MY CLUTCH GOT SATURATED AND THUS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED TOO. THIS IS DEFINITELY A DEFECTIVE PART AND GM SHOULD ADMIT TO IT.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10003278 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10066121 · 2004-04-14 (April 14, 2004)
THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED WITH RELATIVELY LOW MILAGE JUST OUT OF WARRANTY. WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WAS RPLECED WITH A GM REPLACEMENT THEY INCLUDED UPDATED APRTS BUT IT WAS NOT COVERED BECAUSE THERE WAS NO RECALL AND IT WAS JUST OUT OF WARRANTY. THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED VERY SLOOPY BUT I WAS TOLD THIS WAS NORMAL, THEN IT EVENTUALY FAILED.
Owner-reported narrative. 365,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10066121 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10163491 · 2006-07-26 (July 26, 2006)
TRUCK STALLS WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED WITHOUT WARNING FOR NO REASON. STEERING HAS SUDDEN FAST JERK TO RIGHT THEN WE HAVE TO OVER CORRECT TO LEFT, HAZARD LIGHTS WOULDN'T TURN OFF NOW THEY ARE NOT FUNCTIONAL, DRIVER SIDE WINDOW HAS A MIND OF ITS OWN. WIPER FLUID MOTOR DOESN'T WORK, GAS GAUGE DOESN'T WORK IT JUST VIBRATES REALLY FAST. THERE ARE WIRES IN DASH THAT HAVE BURN MARKS AND OTHER COMPONENTS ARE MELTED. ITS AMAZING THAT THIS TRUCK EVEN RUNS! WE HAVE SPENT 1200 ON THIS PILE AND STILL HAVEN'T EVEN FIXED ANY OF THESE PROBLEMS. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10163491 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10066110 · 2004-04-13 (April 13, 2004)
WIPER MOTOR: MOTOR WILL STOP WORKING INTERMITTENTLY. CURRENTLY HAVE FOUR WIRE TIES HOLDING WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR TIGHT AGAINST MOTOR BODY. THIS IS A TEMPORARY FIX.
Owner-reported narrative. 42,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10066110 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10147279 · 2006-01-09 (January 9, 2006)
WINDSHIELD WIPER WASHER WORKS INTERMEDIATELY ON MY CHEVROLET CK 1500 PICK-UP. SAME AS ON THE 1996 MODEL WHICH WAS RECALLED DUE TO BAD CONNECTION ON WIRING. I HAVE HAD WIPERS STOP WORKING IN BAD WEATHER THEN START WORKING AGAIN. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 82,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10147279 at NHTSA ↗