FaultScore

FaultScore report

1998 Chevrolet Chevy VAN problems

Owners have filed 11 complaints about the 1998 Chevrolet Chevy VAN with NHTSA between 2000 and 2018. The largest single group is the brakes. Across this model's run it ranks 4 of 6 worst.

C

FaultScore 50/100

Higher is worse. Measured against the other years of the Chevrolet Chevy VAN.

How this is worked out

The numbers

11

Complaints

3

Crashes reported

1

Fires reported

1

Injuries reported

83,400 mi

Median mileage at failure

Half of reported failures happened before this

0%

Failed under 36,000 miles

Inside a typical bumper-to-bumper warranty

What kind of bad

The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.

Complaint volume 39 vs 50 Severity 100 vs 50 Early failure 0 vs 50
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 39
Against the median year of the Chevrolet Chevy VAN. 50 means typical for this model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 100
45.5% of these complaints involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of 9.7%.
Early failure — 0
0% of failures with a mileage on record happened under 36,000 miles, against a national rate of 29%.

How 1998 compares with every other Chevrolet Chevy VAN

Click any bar to open that year's report.

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks on a 1998 Chevrolet Chevy VAN

Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.

Brakes 3 27.3%

3 crashes, 0 fires · median 83,400 mi

Doors, Latches & Locks 1 9.1%

Median failure at 75,000 miles

Seat Belts 1 9.1%

Median failure at 70,000 miles

Windows, Mirrors & Wipers 1 9.1%
Lights 1 9.1%
Body & Structure 1 9.1%

Median failure at 70,000 miles

Airbags 1 9.1%

Median failure at 170,000 miles

Electrical System 1 9.1%

0 crashes, 1 fires · median 98,000 mi

Engine & Cooling 1 9.1%

Median failure at 102,000 miles

When it fails

Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all complaints include one.

50,000 – 74,999 miles 2 25.0%
75,000 – 99,999 miles 4 50.0%
100,000 – 149,999 miles 1 12.5%
150,000+ miles 1 12.5%

When owners complained

A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single owner can see from inside their own car.

Mar 2000 peak 3 Jul 2018

Complaints that involved harm

Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.

at 76,800 miles Newington, CT Crash

SERVICE BRAKES

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF US SLAMMED ON HIS BRAKES I APPLIED MINE BUT I HAD NO BRAKES. THEY HAD ROTTED OUT.

NHTSA complaint #10628821 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 98,000 miles Smyrna, TN Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

BOUGHT 1998 CHEVY ASTRO VAN ON MARCH 8, 2007. WE TOOK A FAMILY VACATION TO IOWA OCTOBER 1-5, 2007. ON THE WAY BACK TO TENNESSEE, ON I-64, LOCATED NEAR NASHVILLE, ILLINOIS, THE VAN BEGAN TO SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD. THINKING IT WAS JUST OVERHEATING, WE PULLED OVER AND SHUT THE ENGINE OFF. SMOKE BEGAN TO COME THROUGH THE AIR VENTS. AS WE WERE EXITING, WE NOTICED FLAMES COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD, AND WE RAN. A LARGE GUSH OF WIND CAUSED THE ENTIRE VAN TO BE ENGULFED IN FLAMES. WE LOST ALL OUR BELONGINGS AS WELL AS THE VEHICLE ITSELF. WE ARE NOT EXACTLY HIGH ON THE FINANCIAL END AND WOULD APPRECIATE ANY AND ALL HELP YOU CAN GIVE US.

NHTSA complaint #10206921 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 90,000 miles Corinth, NY Crash

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

DT: 1998 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. FAULTY ABS SYSTEM. WHEN DRIVING THE SPEED DROPPED TO 10 MPH AND THE BRAKES STOPPED WORKING. CURRENTLY, THERE IS A RECALL ON GM CHEVROLET FOR YEAR 1999 TO 2003. THE CONTACT'S CAR IS A 1998 AND IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS LISTED IN RECALL. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED THE CONTACT BUMPED INTO THE CAR IN FRONT.

NHTSA complaint #10135942 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Mokena, IL Crash 2 injured

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

I WAS DRIVING SOUTH IN A FOUR LANE ROAD. A CAR WAS COMING NORTH AND TURNED INTO ME TO MAKE A LEFT TURN. MY DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT WAS HIT, THE WHEEL WENT FLAT. UPON SEEING HIM COME INTO ME, I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND SOMETHING SNAPPED. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT UP INTO THE STEERING COLUMN . I COULD NOT KEEP THE CAR STRAIGHT. I WENT INTO TWO LANES OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC BEFORE HITTING A FENCE WHICH STOPPED THE CAR. I HAD NO BRAKES. MY ANKLE IS BROKE AND I'M IN A CAST BECAUSE OF THE PEDAL SNAPPING UPWARD. UPON INPACT, THE THIRD BENCH IN THE VAN UNBOLTED AND WENT FORWARD. I WAS ALONE IN THE VAN THAT DAY, THANK GOD. I AM LUCKY THERE WAS NO TRAFFIC COMING. I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED OR KILLED SOMEONE BECAUSE I COULD NOT STOP THE CAR. I FEEL THE BRAKES COULD HAVE BEEN MADE SAFER. PLEASE HELP OTHER FAMILIES WHO COULD BE INJURED WORSE IN WHAT I CONSIDERED A "FAMILY VAN". THANK YOU. IF YOU CAN TELL ME WHO I CAN TALK TO OR WRITE TO, PLEASE LSET ME KNOW. *AK( DOT NUMBER: )

NHTSA complaint #719626 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

The most recent complaints

In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.

at 170,000 miles Shreveport, LA

AIR BAGS

PASSENGER AIR BAG EXPLODED AS I PUT MY TRUCK IN REVERSE , SITTING STILL

NHTSA complaint #11113865 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 76,800 miles Newington, CT Crash

SERVICE BRAKES

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF US SLAMMED ON HIS BRAKES I APPLIED MINE BUT I HAD NO BRAKES. THEY HAD ROTTED OUT.

NHTSA complaint #10628821 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 98,000 miles Smyrna, TN Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

BOUGHT 1998 CHEVY ASTRO VAN ON MARCH 8, 2007. WE TOOK A FAMILY VACATION TO IOWA OCTOBER 1-5, 2007. ON THE WAY BACK TO TENNESSEE, ON I-64, LOCATED NEAR NASHVILLE, ILLINOIS, THE VAN BEGAN TO SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD. THINKING IT WAS JUST OVERHEATING, WE PULLED OVER AND SHUT THE ENGINE OFF. SMOKE BEGAN TO COME THROUGH THE AIR VENTS. AS WE WERE EXITING, WE NOTICED FLAMES COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD, AND WE RAN. A LARGE GUSH OF WIND CAUSED THE ENTIRE VAN TO BE ENGULFED IN FLAMES. WE LOST ALL OUR BELONGINGS AS WELL AS THE VEHICLE ITSELF. WE ARE NOT EXACTLY HIGH ON THE FINANCIAL END AND WOULD APPRECIATE ANY AND ALL HELP YOU CAN GIVE US.

NHTSA complaint #10206921 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Rockville, MD

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:SWITCH/WIRING

I HAVE A 1998 CHEVY ASTRO VAN THAT HAS HAD THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS QUIT RANDOMLY. I ALSO KNOW OF SEVERAL PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM ON OTHER MODEL CHEVY/GMC TRUCKS, VANS, AND CARS. THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM IS APPARENTLY A DEFECTIVE CIRCUIT BOARD IN THE WIPER MOTOR ITSELF.

NHTSA complaint #10149159 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 90,000 miles Corinth, NY Crash

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

DT: 1998 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. FAULTY ABS SYSTEM. WHEN DRIVING THE SPEED DROPPED TO 10 MPH AND THE BRAKES STOPPED WORKING. CURRENTLY, THERE IS A RECALL ON GM CHEVROLET FOR YEAR 1999 TO 2003. THE CONTACT'S CAR IS A 1998 AND IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS LISTED IN RECALL. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED THE CONTACT BUMPED INTO THE CAR IN FRONT.

NHTSA complaint #10135942 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 70,000 miles Sault Ste. Marie, MI

SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER

DT: THE SEAT BELT IN THE FIRST ROW MIDDLE SEAT WILL NOT STAY LATCHED, AND THE REAR SEAT BELT WILL NOT PULL OUT AT ALL. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE MAY 2004. ALSO, THERE HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH THE HATCHBACK DOOR. THE DOOR ISSUE HAD BEEN INCLUDED IN A RECALL, AND THE WORK HAD BEEN DONE BY THE PREVIOUS OWNERS. THE RECALL WORK FOR THE DOOR WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING DONE. THE SEAT BELT ISSUE WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE IS A 1998, CHEVORLET, ADVENTURE.

NHTSA complaint #10135428 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 70,000 miles Sault Ste. Marie, MI

STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE

DT: THE SEAT BELT IN THE FIRST ROW MIDDLE SEAT WILL NOT STAY LATCHED, AND THE REAR SEAT BELT WILL NOT PULL OUT AT ALL. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE MAY 2004. ALSO, THERE HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH THE HATCHBACK DOOR. THE DOOR ISSUE HAD BEEN INCLUDED IN A RECALL, AND THE WORK HAD BEEN DONE BY THE PREVIOUS OWNERS. THE RECALL WORK FOR THE DOOR WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING DONE. THE SEAT BELT ISSUE WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE IS A 1998, CHEVORLET, ADVENTURE.

NHTSA complaint #10135428 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 102,000 miles ANN Arbor, MI

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

I HAVE CHEVY VENTURE, NOW STARTED KNOCKING ENGINE WHEN IS COLD, THIS ONE OF SYMPTOMS OF COOLING LEAKING TO ENGINE, THE DEXCOOL COOLING IS EATING INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. GM SHOULD BY THE REPAIR AND RECALL. I AM STILL NOT HAS TOTAL ENGINE FAILURE BUT IT MAY HAPPEN SOON OR LATER, I WHICH NEVER HAPPEN. THANK YOU

NHTSA complaint #10129351 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Muskego, WI

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

HEADLIGHT COVER FALLS OFF HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY. BULB IS EXPOSED TO ELEMENTS, WHICH DESTROYS THE BULB. REPLACEMENT PART, WHICH IS AN HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY, INCLUDES A HEADLIGHT BULB, COST $125-$145. THIS IS A REDICULOUS AMOUNT OF MONEY TO PAY WHEN JUST A PLASTIC COVER FALLS OFF. MAKE THE PLASTIC COVER AVAILABLE WITH A GLUE KIT FOR THE CUSTOMER TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THEN GET YOUR ENGINEERS TO FIX THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10116745 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 75,000 miles Shelby Township, MI

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH

THE PASSENGER SLIDING DOOR (AUTOMATIC) DOES NOT OPERATE PROPERLY IN WEATHER CONDITIONS UNDER 50/60 DEGREES. THE DOOR DOES NOT LATCH (WHICH I'VE PAID TO HAVE FIXED IN 2002), AND NOW BECAUSE IT DOES NOT LATCH, IT IS POPPING BACK OPEN. THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES. I'VE ALSO FOUND OUT, BY MY OWN RESEARCH, THAT THERE IS A RECALL ON THE SLIDING DOOR ACTUATORS, AND ANOTHER COMING ON THE INSIDE DOOR HANDLE. I HAVE NEVER BEEN NOTIFIED OF ANY RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE. THIS HAS BEEN UNACCEPTABLE, AND IS DETERRING ME FROM PURCHASING ANOTHER GM VEHICLE. I'VE ALSO HAD TO REPLACE MY WATER PUMP, WHICH IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE VENTURE. THE VAN ONLY HAS 89,000 MILES ON IT, AND SHOULD NOT HAVE AS MANY DEFECTS AS IT DOES.

NHTSA complaint #10105928 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Mokena, IL Crash 2 injured

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

I WAS DRIVING SOUTH IN A FOUR LANE ROAD. A CAR WAS COMING NORTH AND TURNED INTO ME TO MAKE A LEFT TURN. MY DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT WAS HIT, THE WHEEL WENT FLAT. UPON SEEING HIM COME INTO ME, I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND SOMETHING SNAPPED. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT UP INTO THE STEERING COLUMN . I COULD NOT KEEP THE CAR STRAIGHT. I WENT INTO TWO LANES OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC BEFORE HITTING A FENCE WHICH STOPPED THE CAR. I HAD NO BRAKES. MY ANKLE IS BROKE AND I'M IN A CAST BECAUSE OF THE PEDAL SNAPPING UPWARD. UPON INPACT, THE THIRD BENCH IN THE VAN UNBOLTED AND WENT FORWARD. I WAS ALONE IN THE VAN THAT DAY, THANK GOD. I AM LUCKY THERE WAS NO TRAFFIC COMING. I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED OR KILLED SOMEONE BECAUSE I COULD NOT STOP THE CAR. I FEEL THE BRAKES COULD HAVE BEEN MADE SAFER. PLEASE HELP OTHER FAMILIES WHO COULD BE INJURED WORSE IN WHAT I CONSIDERED A "FAMILY VAN". THANK YOU. IF YOU CAN TELL ME WHO I CAN TALK TO OR WRITE TO, PLEASE LSET ME KNOW. *AK( DOT NUMBER: )

NHTSA complaint #719626 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.