FaultScore

1998 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 body problems

16 of the 452 complaints about the 1998 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 are about the body and structure — 4% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 60,000 miles.

A

16

Complaints

1

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Frame AND Members 4 25.0%
Door 3 18.8%
Hinge AND Attachments 3 18.8%
Hinge AND Attachments 1 6.3%
Support Device/Strut 1 6.3%
Body 1 6.3%
Bumpers 1 6.3%
Tailgate 1 6.3%
Underbody Shields 1 6.3%

Body & Structure across every Chevrolet Silverado 1500 year

1997 12 1.3%
1998 16 1.8%
1999 53 5.8%
2000 34 3.7%
2001 30 3.3%
2002 30 3.3%
2003 27 3.0%
2004 15 1.6%
2005 16 1.8%
2006 16 1.8%
2007 55 6.0%
2008 60 6.6%
2009 55 6.0%
2010 38 4.2%
2011 72 7.9%
2012 36 4.0%
2013 75 8.2%
2014 90 9.9%
2015 45 4.9%
2016 21 2.3%
2017 20 2.2%
2018 11 1.2%
2019 22 2.4%
2020 23 2.5%
2021 26 2.9%
2022 12 1.3%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 60,000 miles Toney, AL Crash

STRUCTURE:BODY

BRAKE PEDAL GOES SPONGES AND ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. THE TRUCK HAD OVER 120,000 MILES BEFORE REAR BRAKES WERE REPLACED. IN THAT TIME I WENT THROUGH 8 SETS OF BRAKES AND ROTORS. IN 2005 I REAR ENDED A CAR AT ABOUT 30 MPH. THE BRAKES WENT TO THE FLOOR. LOCAL CHEVY DEALERSHIP REPLACED A DEFECTIVE BRAKE BOOSTER ASSEMBLE. THIS WAS THE SECOND BRAKE BOOSTER/ MASTER CYLINDER ASSEMBLY REPLACE ON MY TRUCK SINCE 2005. SINCE THEN. I HAVE LOST BRAKES ON THE TRUCK 4 MORE TIMES. FAILED BRAKE LINES (LEAK AND BREAK) BLOWN BRAKE CALIPER AND RUBBER HOSE. I AM AN ASE CERTIFIED MECHANIC. THE REAR BRAKES OF THE TRUCK DID NOT PROVIDE ANY BRAKING ASSISTANCE WHEN INSPECTED. SUSPECTED FAULT WAS A DEFECTIVE DESIGN ON THE 1500 SERIES TRUCK BRAKES. WHEN 2500 BRAKE PARTS ARE USED ( MASTER CYLINDER ASSY, PROPORTIONING VALVE, AND REAR BRAKES CHANGE TO 11" DRUMS THE BRAKE PEDAL FEELS FIRM AND THE BRAKING POWER OF THE TRUCK IS DRASTICALLY IMPROVED. I'VE OWNED THE TRUCK FOR OVER 11 YEARS AS THE SECOND OWNER I BOUGHT IT WITH VERY LOW MILES. THE BRAKES ON THE VEHICLE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN TERRIBLE. I INITIALL SPENT OVER $2,000 AT THE DEALERSHIP STRING TO BET THE BRAKES CORRECT. IN THE END THE DEALER SAID THAT "THIS IS HOW THEY ALL ARE".

NHTSA complaint #10763035 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 153,121 miles Omaha, NE

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS

WHILE DRIVING, APPLIED BRAKES. PEDAL WENT ALMOST TO FLOOR AND REQUIRED A SIGNIFICANT DISTANCE TO STOP. NOTICED FLUID LEAKING THROUGH THE FRAME ON DRIVERS SIDE OF THE TRUCK. FOUND A PIN HOLE LEAK IN THE STEEL BRAKE LINE AT THE 45 DEGREE BEND AT REAR OF TRUCK WHERE IT OFFSETS UP TO CLEAR THE FRAME AND THEN BACK DOWN TO ITS CONNECTION BY DRIVERS REAR SHOCK. THE LEAK WAS HIDDEN BEHIND THE PLASTIC BRACKET THAT HOLDS THE STEEL LINE TO THE FRAME. THE ENTIRE BRAKE LINE RUNNING ALONG THE INSIDE OF THE FRAME HAS EXCESSIVE CORROSION. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. FORTUNATELY THIS DIDN'T OCCUR IN A PANIC STOP.

NHTSA complaint #10435358 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 50,000 miles Parma, OH

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

DRIVERS SIDE DOOR HANDLE BROKEN-WITHOUT ANY ABUSE ON OWNERS PART PLASTIC TRIM ON HANDLE BROKE CAUSING HANDLE AND LATCH TO BECOME VERY PRECARIOUS TO OPEN

NHTSA complaint #10119570 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Niles, OH

STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:SUPPORT DEVICE/STRUT

THE CABLES ON THE LIFTGATE BROKE, CAUSING IT TO FALL, AND NOT BEING ABLE TO STAND UP. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BY CONSUMER.

NHTSA complaint #10118952 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Luna Pier, MI

STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS

1998 CHEVROLET TAILGATE STRAP BROKE.

NHTSA complaint #10100746 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 42,000 miles Aurora, OH

STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS

THE TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES WERE ABOUT TO BREAK. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB THE CONUSMER STATED THAT GM WILL NOT REPLACE THE CABLES UNTIL A RECALL IS ISSUED.

NHTSA complaint #10099121 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 68,000 miles Fairport, NY

STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS

WHILE STANDING ON THE TAILGATE, THE SUPPORT CABLES BROKE. THE CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE TAILGATE. *AK *SC

NHTSA complaint #10065057 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Tallahassee, FL

STRUCTURE:BODY:BUMPERS

ONCE VEHICLE HAD STOPPED OR WHEN THE DOOR WAS OPENED GUARD FENDER THAT STOPPED ITEMS FROM COMING IN STOPS WORKED UNTIL VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, CAUSING ITEMS TO STILL COME IN.

NHTSA complaint #8008899 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Oceanside, CA

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

PASSENGER DOOR WOULD NOT SHUT TIGHT. YH

NHTSA complaint #608929 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Oceanside, CA

STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE

TAILGATE WOULD NOT SHUT TIGHT. YH

NHTSA complaint #608929 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Molino, FL

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

DEALER CONTACTED ON VIBRATION AROUND 42 MPH. TOLD PROBLEM WAS FRAME BEAMING AND THAT GM WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM BUT DO NOT PLAN TO ENGINEER A FIX. CAUSES TRUCK TO BOUNCE IN THE 42 - 44 MPH RANGE.

NHTSA complaint #712388 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Elmonte, CA

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT AND REQUESTED DEALER TO PUT ON A FLAT BED ON VEHICLE. THE FLAT BED DEALER INSTALLED IT, CAUSING THE WEIGHT OF THE VEHICLE TO HIT THE TOP OF REAR TIRE. CONSUMER NOTIFIED DEALER, AND WAS INFORMED THAT CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO PAY ADDITIONAL MONEY TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #829288 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Washington, DC

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS

THIRD DOOR IS NOT SOLID AND CREAKING/POOPING EVERY DAY. ALSO, DRIVER'S SIDE PLASTIC HOUSING WHERE THE SEAT BELT ADJUSTER IS BOLTED INTO, MAKES EXCESSIVE NOISE WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS IN THE ROAD.

NHTSA complaint #780342 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Monticello, WI

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

3RD DOOR ON ALL 1998 CHEVROLET EXTENDED CABS KLUNKS EVERY NOW AND AGAIN, EVEN EHEN GOING OVER LITTLE BUMPS IN THE ROAD AND AROUND CORNERS AT NORMAL DRIVING SPEEDS. ALSO PLASTIC HOUSING ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE B-PILLAR AROUND REAR-SIDE POP OUT WINDOW CONSTANTLY MAKES NOISE/RATTLES BECAUSE OF PLATIC SHRINKING AND EXPANDING DUE TO HEAT/COLD.

NHTSA complaint #535344 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Monticello, WI

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

PLASTIC DRIVER'S SIDE PILLAR MOVES AND IS NOT STABLE, CAUSING NOISE.

NHTSA complaint #532763 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Monticello, WI

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

3RD DOOR ON THE VEHICLE MAKES NOISE CONTINUOUSLY.

NHTSA complaint #532680 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1998 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 problems

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