1998 Chevrolet SILVERADO 3500 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
39 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
71,200 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1998 model year. Data snapshot: . 17 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip is the most frequently named component, appearing in 6 of 39 complaints (15.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 11 | 28.2% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 10.3% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 7.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 7.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 2.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 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 |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 6 |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 6 |
| Fuel System, Diesel | 4 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 4 |
| Power Train:Axle Assembly | 3 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 3 |
| Tires | 3 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 2 |
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 6; Tires:Tread/Belt: 6; Fuel System, Diesel: 4; Vehicle Speed Control: 4; Power Train:Axle Assembly: 3; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 3; Tires: 3; Fuel System, Gasoline: 2
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 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 6 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 3 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 6; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 2
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (6). 22 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 |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 11 |
| 2001 | 5 |
| 2002 | 3 |
| 2003 | 5 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 3 |
2000: 11; 2001: 5; 2002: 3; 2003: 5; 2004: 1; 2005: 2; 2006: 2; 2007: 1; 2009: 2; 2010: 3; 2011: 1; 2012: 3
Pattern summary
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 11 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 4 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 3 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 10053003 · 2004-01-12 (January 12, 2004)
HAVE HAD 2 1998 K3500 TRUCKS. BOTH HAVE HAD WHAT I CONSIDER SEVERE ANTI-LOCK FAILURES WHICH OCCUR ANYTIME, ESPECIALLY AT SLOW SPEEDS. BOTH WERE TAKEN TO MULTIPLE DEALERSHIPS WITH NO PERMANENT FIX. CONSENSUS OF PROBLEMS ON BOTH TRUCKS WAS THAT THE WHEEL SPEED SENSOR WAS FAILING, WHICH WOULD CAUSE THE ANTI-LOCK TO ACTIVATE WHEN NOT NEEDED. THIS RESULTS IN INCONSISTENT STOPPING DISTANCES. BOTH TRUCKS ALSO HAVE A COLD WEATHER REAL END DRAG PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES. WHEN THE WEATHER IS COLD, THE BACK WHEELS WILL LOCK UP AND SKID WHILE STOPPI…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10053003 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10265281 · 2009-04-14 (April 14, 2009)
ANTI-LOCK BRAKES TRIGGER AT LOW SPEEDS. AS PER SOME RESEARCH 1999 SILVERADO'S WERE RECALLED FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM...WHY NOT THE 1998'S. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 59,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10265281 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10346147 · 2010-07-29 (July 29, 2010)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD CONTINUE TO STALL WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES WHERE THE FUEL INJECTOR WAS REPLACED EACH TIME. THE DEALER STATED THE WAY THE PART WAS DESIGNED WOULD CAUSE FOR IT TO FAIL WHEN THERE WERE HOT WEATHER TEMPERATURES. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 46,000. UPDATED 09/28/10 *BF THE CONSUEMR STATED IT WAS THE BOX CONNECTED TO THE FUEL INJECTOR, BUT THE DEALER STATED IT …
Owner-reported narrative. 46,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10346147 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10457506 · 2012-05-04 (May 4, 2012)
FUEL INJECTION PUMP FAILED.....LOSS OF POWER, SUDDEN ACCELERATION WITH NO WARNING, REPLACED UNIT 3X....DEALER STATED THAT WAS THE WAY THEY WERE, SOMETIME HAVING TO INSTALL 2 TO GET IT OUT OF SHOP. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 128,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10457506 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10457557 · 2012-05-05 (May 5, 2012)
98 CHEV K3500 WITH 6.5 TURBO DIESEL WOULD STALL AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES. ENGINE SOMETIMES WOULD RESTART WHEN VEHICLE PUT IN NEUTRAL OTHER TIMES IT MAY TAKE SVERAL MINUTES. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE ENGINE WOULD HICKUP THEN BEGIN TO ACCELERATE ON IT'S OWN DESPITE REMOVING MY FOOT FROM THE PEDAL. I WOULD HAVE TO TURN THE IGNITION OFF TO SLOW THE VEHICLE AND REGAIN CONTROL. SOMETIMES WHEN ATTEMPTING TO RESTART ENGINE IT WOULD EITHER OVER REV OR THE RPM'S WOULD SURGE UP AND DOWN SEVERELY. ON ONE OCCASION, AS…
Owner-reported narrative. 92,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10457557 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10042292 · 2003-10-03 (October 3, 2003)
THE DRIVER SMELLED GASOLINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THAT THE FUEL TANK COLLAPSED WHICH CAUSED IT TO LEAK. THE DEALER HAS NOT FIXED IT. PLEASE DESCRIBE FURTHER. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 67,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10042292 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 723988 · 2000-06-13 (June 13, 2000)
THE PROBLEM I AM CONTACTING YOU ABOUT IS UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AFTER SELECTING REVERSE. I BROUGHT THIS VEHICLE IN TO MY SELLING DEALER 13 TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM. GM WAS APPARENTLY AWARE OF THIS ISSUE AND CALLED IT AN "IDLE FLARE-UP". WHEN THIS VEHICLE HAD IT'S "IDLE FLARE-UP" IT WOULD SUDDENLY SURGE BACKWARDS 6 INCHES TO 6 FEET, DEPENDING ON THE SEVERITY OF THE "FLARE-UP" AND HOW QUICKLY I COULD GET THE VEHICLE STOPPED.SOMETIMES IT WOULDN'T DO IT FOR SEVERAL WEEKS, THEN IT WOULD DO IT 5 OR 6 TIMES IN ONE DAY.GM ENGINEERING HAD THE DEALER PER…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 723988 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 561850 · 2001-07-02 (July 2, 2001)
THE BATTERY WAS INOPERATIVE CAUSING THE VEHICLE NOT TO START. NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 561850 at NHTSA ↗