1998 Chevrolet Truck M/L VAN: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
42 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
63,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1998 model year. Data snapshot: . 30 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor is the most frequently named component, appearing in 10 of 42 complaints (23.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 11 | 26.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 9.5% |
| Steering behavior | 4 | 9.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 7.1% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 4.8% |
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 | 10 |
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer | 4 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings | 3 |
| Visibility:Rear Window Wiper/Washer:Motor | 3 |
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Switch/Wiring | 3 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 2 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery | 1 |
Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor: 10; Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer: 4; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings: 3; Visibility:Rear Window Wiper/Washer:Motor: 3; Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Switch/Wiring: 3; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 2; Electrical System: 1; Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 7 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 5 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 9 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 6 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 3 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 7; 25,000 to 49,999: 5; 50,000 to 74,999: 9; 75,000 to 99,999: 6; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 0
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (9). 12 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 |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 16 |
| 2004 | 26 |
2003: 16; 2004: 26
Pattern summary
Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 11 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 4 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 4 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10033369 · 2003-08-23 (August 23, 2003)
INTERIOR LIGHTS COME ON AT WILL. THIS CAN OCCUR ANY TIME YOU ARE DRIVING THE VEHICLE OR EVEN IF THE VEHICLE IS PARKED. RUINED ONE BATTERY AND I'VE HAD TO JUMP START THE VEHICLE TWICE SINCE BATTERY WAS REPLACED. CONCERNED THAT THIS MAY BE A FIRE HAZARD. NO ONE CAN SEEM TO IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 38,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10033369 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10033517 · 2003-08-26 (August 26, 2003)
I HAVE A 1998 CHEVY S10 PICKUP. THE MANUFACTURE DATE IS 1/98. I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE EARLIER MODELS 1994/1997 DID WITH THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS. THEY OPERATE INTERMITTENTLY. THEY WORK REAL WELL EXCEPT WHEN IT RAINS, ALSO WHEN THE WASHER IS USED IT TAKES A LONG TIME FOR THEM TO TURN OFF. I AM TOLD BY MY GARAGE THAT THE CIRCUIT BOARD IN THE WIPER MOTOR IS DEFECTIVE. SAME PROBLEM AS EARLIER MODELS. WHAT SHOULD I DO NEXT?? *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 72,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10033517 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10036986 · 2003-09-01 (September 1, 2003)
HTTP://WWW.CONSUMERAFFAIRS.COM/NEWS03/GM_WIPERS.HTML PLEASE SEE THE ARTICLE ABOVE REGARDING GM'S RECALL OF 1994-1997 PICKUP TRUCKS WITH A DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELD WIPER MODULE THAT CAUSES THE WIPERS TO STOP WORKING.GM HAS LIMITED THE RECALL OF THIS DEFECTIVE PART FOR VEHICLE UP TO 1997 EVEN THOUGH THE PART IS USED IN 1998 VEHICLES. THIS WEEKEND I ALMOST CRASHED MY 1998 CHEVY 1500 PICKUP WHEN THE WIPERS STOPPED WORKING WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON AN INTERSTATE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND RAIN. I THEN STOPPED AT A CHEVY DEALERS WHERE I WAS TOLD THAT THE DEFEC…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10036986 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10038905 · 2003-09-15 (September 15, 2003)
WINDSHIELD WIPER 1998 CHEVY TRUCK INTERMITENTLY WILL NOT WORK CALLED GM 09/15/03 RECALLS FOR PREVIOUS YEARS NOT INCLUDING 1998
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10038905 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10039283 · 2003-09-22 (September 22, 2003)
WINDSHIELD WIPER 1998 CHEVY TRUCK INTERMITTENTLY WILL NOT WORK GM RECALLED FOR BAD PART FOR PREVIOUS YEARS UP TO 1997, NOT INCLUDING 1998. HOWEVER, GM USED SAME PART FOR 1998 BLAZER. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 86,955 miles reported. Look up ODI 10039283 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10040974 · 2003-09-30 (September 30, 2003)
FRONT STEERING COMPONENTS; PREMATURE WEAR
Owner-reported narrative. 76,532 miles reported. Look up ODI 10040974 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10041295 · 2003-10-06 (October 6, 2003)
WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOP WORKING, OR SOMETIMES DON'T WORK AT ALL. *LA
Owner-reported narrative. 80,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10041295 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10041796 · 2003-10-14 (October 14, 2003)
I HAVE A 1998 CHEVY CK 1500 4+4 TRUCK AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK OCCASIONALLY AND SOMETIMES THEY WORK AND WON'T SHUT OFF WHILE THE ENGINE IS RUNNING. I HAVE HEARD ABOUT THIS PROBLEM WITH OTHER TRUCKS, BUT CHEVROLET SAYS THIS IS NOT A RECALL MATTER. *LA
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10041796 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.