1998 Chevrolet SILVERADO 3500: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10000954 · 2003-01-11 (January 11, 2003)
PAINT IS PEELING OFF THE VEHICLE, 1998 CHEVROLET TRUCK, 45000 MILES ON IT.TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10000954 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10037866 · 2003-08-27 (August 27, 2003)
PROBLEMS WITH ALL SIX FIRESTONE STEELTEX TIRES ON DUAL AXLE PICKUP TRUCK. *MR THE CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE ALL SIX OF THE TIRES, BECAUSE OF A BLOW OUT. SEVERAL DAYS LATER THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT TREAD HAD SEPARATED FROM ON ONE OF TIRES ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER FELT THAT HE DESERVES COMPENSATION FOR THE TIRES. THE FIRST TIRE HAD BLOWN OUT AT 71200K MILES, THEN ON THE SECOND TIRE THE TREAD SEPARATED AT 71427K MILES. *SCC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 71,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10037866 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10039834 · 2003-09-12 (September 12, 2003)
VEHICLE'S WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR HAS FAILED. THERE WAS A RECALL ISSUED; HOWEVER VEHICLE IS OUTSIDE OF THE REMEDY SCOPE. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *PH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10039834 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10040642 · 2003-09-25 (September 25, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STARTED TO VIBRATE VIOLENTLY AND PULLED VERY HARD TO THE RIGHT. UPON INSPECTION THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE TREAD HAD SEPARATED FROM THE SIDEWALL (TIRE SIZE LT 22575R16 DOT NUMBER AD1D7A1697. ) PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 21,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10040642 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 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 10124252 · 2005-06-05 (June 5, 2005)
WINDSHIELD WIPERS QUIT WORKING DURING RAINSTORM. THE PROBLEM ISINTERMITTENT SO YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN IT IS GOING TO HAPPEN. THE WIPERS MAY OR MAY NOT WORK WHEN YOU TURN THEM ON.
Owner-reported narrative. 51,105 miles reported. Look up ODI 10124252 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10135930 · 2005-09-08 (September 8, 2005)
I BELIEVE GENERAL MOTORS HAS GENERATED A DEFECT IN MY 1998 K3500 PICKUP BY EQUIPPING IT WITH DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS. ON THE INCIDENT DATE I WAS TRAVELING EAST ON MD RT 16 NEAR HARMONY, MD. I NOTICED A VEHICLE APPROACHING AND FLASHING HIS HEADLIGHTS. THINKING SOMETHING WAS WRONG I SLOWED DOWN. SHORTLY THEREAFTER I ROUNDED A SHARP CURVE AND FOUND A VERY LARGE TREE HAD FALLEN FULLY ACROSS THE TRAVELED PORTION OF THE HIGHWAY. I WAS ONLY ABLE TO GET AROUND IT BY LEAVING THE ROADWAY. AFTER SUCCESSFULLY NEGOTIATING THIS OBSTACLE I PROCEEDED ON MY…
Owner-reported narrative. 198,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10135930 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.