FaultScore

1998 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 transmission problems

27 of the 452 complaints about the 1998 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 are about the transmission — 6% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 67,312 miles.

A

27

Complaints

0

Crashes

1

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Automatic Transmission 17 63.0%
Power Train 2 7.4%
Torque Converter 1 3.7%
Park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch 1 3.7%
Pedal/Hand Lever(Motorcycle) 1 3.7%
Axle Assembly 1 3.7%
Driveshaft 1 3.7%
Cooling Unit AND Lines 1 3.7%
Seal 1 3.7%
Banjo Housing 1 3.7%

Transmission & Drivetrain across every Chevrolet Silverado 1500 year

1997 64 2.6%
1998 27 1.1%
1999 29 1.2%
2000 18 0.7%
2001 20 0.8%
2002 27 1.1%
2003 27 1.1%
2004 27 1.1%
2005 37 1.5%
2006 29 1.2%
2007 36 1.5%
2008 25 1.0%
2009 12 0.5%
2010 24 1.0%
2011 17 0.7%
2012 10 0.4%
2013 13 0.5%
2014 154 6.3%
2015 134 5.5%
2016 190 7.8%
2017 192 7.9%
2018 169 6.9%
2019 322 13.2%
2020 217 8.9%
2021 229 9.4%
2022 171 7.0%
2023 99 4.1%
2024 88 3.6%
2025 19 0.8%
2026 11 0.5%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 55,000 miles Pueblo West, CO

POWER TRAIN

THE REVISER GEAR IS NOT WORKING THIS IS THE THIRD TIME I WILL PAY TO FIX THE TRUCK I DON'T THINK I WILL BUY A CHEVY TRUCK . IT IS 1500 HUNDRED DOLLARS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM.I ASK THE SHOP MAN AND HE SAID IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALL A LONG TIME AGO. SO WHAT IS UP WITH THAT. I WILL TELL ALL MY FRIENDS NOT TO BUY YOUR CARS AND TRUCKS I GUESS A FORD WILL DO.AT LESS THEY WILL FIX THEIR OWEN MESS UP PARTS.GOOD BUY CHEVE HELLO FORD.

NHTSA complaint #10425940 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 130,860 miles Cincinnati, OH

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

I DROVE ON THE HIGHWAY APROX. 20 MILES. WHEN I CAME TO MY EXIT AND STOPPED AND TRIED TO GO MY TRANSMISSION SLIPPED CAUSING MY TO ROLL OUT INTO TRAFFIC AND PAUSE BRIEFLY TILL IT SLAMMED INTO GEAR. WHEN I GOT TO A SPOT I COULD PULL OVER AND CHECK IT OUT I REALIZED NO REVERSE. IT WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF FIRST ALSO. I CALLED GM TO REPORT SINCE THE TRANSMISSION HAD ALREADY BEEN REPLACED ONCE UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY. I WAS TOLD TO TAKE IT TO GM DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. I WAS TOLD IT NEEDED REPLACED OR REBUILT. I GOT A SECOND OPINION FROM R AND R TRANSMISSION. THEY EXPLAINED THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED AN UPDATE TO WORK PROPERLY AND THIS IS PROBABLY WHY THE FIRST ONE FAILED. THEY REBUILT TRANSMISSION. THIS NEAR MISS COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUS.

NHTSA complaint #10149842 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 5 miles Milwaukie, OR

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES

MY BOYFRIEND(MARIO DIEGO) AND I (CARMENIA) PURCHASED A 1998 CHEVY TAHOE. FROM BROOKS MOTOR COMPANY ON APRIL 1,2005. FROM APRIL 1 TO JUNE 29,2005. THE TAHOE HAD TO BE RETURNED TO BROOKS MOTOR SERVICE CENTER 8 TO 9 DIFFERENT TIMES FOR REPAIRS. NOW MY CAR REAR END HAS BROKE AND NOT DRIVABLE.

NHTSA complaint #10131642 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 121,000 miles Baltimore, MD

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

I HAVE A CHEVROLET 1500 CONVERSION VAN.TRANSMITION UNABLE TO GO INTO ANY GEAR. I WAS IN LYNCHBURY, VA. HAD TO BE TOWED. THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED 11/23/01. HAD TO HAVE TRANSMITION REBUILT. I WAS TOLD THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD DONE SOME UPDATE TO THE MODEL TRANSMITION IN MY VAN. 06/01/04 TRANSMITION SLIPPING. HAD TO HAVE TRANSMITION REBUILT AGAIN. IN 21/2 YEARS I HAVE SPENT $4,500. ON REPAIRS TO TRANSMITION IN MY VAN. IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THAT TRANSMITION IN MY VAN IS NOT COMPATABLE WITH THE WIEGH OF THE VEHICLE, AND THE MANUFACTURER KNEW THIS. I DIDNOT GET 40000 MILES BEFORE HAVING TRANSMITION REBUILT AGAIN.

NHTSA complaint #10078648 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 80,000 miles Cleveland, OH

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION FAILURE IN A 1998 CHEVROLET C1500 PICKUP TRUCK .SES LIGHT COMES ON AND HARSH SHIFT 1TO 2 AND NO OVERDRIVE ALL THE SHOPS I TALKED TO SAY IT IS A ENGINEERING DESGN FLAW IN THE TRANSMISSION AND GM KNOWS ABOUT IT. BUT AFTER TALKING TO GM CUSTOMER SERVICE THEY HAVE NO IDEA OF THAT THE TRANSMISSIONS ARE FAILING . COTTMAN TRANSMISSION HAS CONTACTED THEM ABOUT THE LARGE NUMBER OF FAILURES.

NHTSA complaint #10078531 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 67,312 miles Hatfield, PA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

I OWN A 1998 CEVROLET K-1500 4WD SILVERADO PICKUP TRUCK. I'VE BEEN HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE SLIP YOKE ON THE TRANSMISSION AND DRIVESHAFT NOT PERFORMING PROPERLY FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS. IT MAKES A "SQUAKING"SOUND AND FEELS LIKE IT IS TAKING OUT THE SLACK IN THE DRIVESHAFT WHEN YOU PUSH ON THE GAS PEDAL. IT DOES THE SAME WHEN YOU ARE COMING TO A STOP. I WROTE TO CHEVROLET 2 YEARS AGO AND THEY TOLD ME I SHOULD GET A HOLD OF MY DEALER TO HAVE THE PROBLEM INVESTIGATED. I DID THAT AT BERGEY'S CHEVROLET IN HATFIELD, PA 19440 ON 02/20/2002-02/21/2002 AT A COST OF $103.67. THEY THOUGHT THERE WAS A REPLACEMENT SLIP YOKE FOR MY TRUCK, BUT WHEN I SHOWED UP THEY SAID THE NEW PART WAS ACTUALLY FOR A 1999 OR NEWER TRUCK SO IT WOULDN'T FIT MY TRUCK. THEY SAID THEY COULD PROBABLY REPLACE IT WITH THE SAME PART EXACTLY AS I ALREADY HAD, BUT WOULD EXPERIENCE THE SAME PROBLEMS DOWN THE ROAD. THEY INSTED TOOK MY TRUCK INTO THE SHOP TO GIVE IT A "FIX" BY DISASSEMBLING THE SLIP YOKE, FILING THE SPLINES ON IT, GREASE IT WITH "MAGIC GREASE" AND THEN REASSEMBLED IT. THE PROBLEM REAPPEARED TWO DAYS LATER. I CALLED THEM BACK. THEY SAID THEY'D CALL ME WHEN A NEW PART WAS DESIGNED TO FIT MY TRUCK BECAUSE UNTIL THEN THEY COULD DO NOTHING TO HELP ME. I FOLLOWED UP WITH THEM OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS, BUT NOTHING EVER CAME OUT OF IT. IT'S NOW TWO YEARS LATER AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. I HOPE YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO HELP ME BECAUSE NOONE ELSE SEEMS TO BE ABLE TO. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND HELP. [XXX],\.*AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA complaint #10056999 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 61,315 miles NEW Kensington, PA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

I HAVE A 1998 CHEVY K1500 PICK-UP THIS WILL BE THE SECOND TIME IT HAS GONE TO THE GARAGE FOR A ROUGH SHIFT, SLIPPAGE DURING SHIFT I HAVE LOOKED ONLINE AND THEIR ARE THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME TYPE OF VEHICLE, SECOND THE DOOR HANDLES BREAK VERY EASY ON THIS YEAR OF TRUCK INSIDE AND OUTSIDE. THE BAD PART ABOUT THAT IS FOR ANY REASON YOU GET OUT AND THE KIDS ARE IN THE TRUCK AND THE DOOR CLOSES YOU AREN'T ABLE TO GET BACK INTO THE VEHICLE, CHEVY DOESN'T WANT TO HERE ANYTHING ABOUT THIS BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY IT WOULD PROBABLY COST THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO FIX.

NHTSA complaint #10054716 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hutchinson, MN

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

REACTION SUNSHELL OR SUN GEAR SHELL HAD A CLEAN BREAK WHILE BEING DRIVEN IN TRAFFIC WHICH INTERACTED THE REVERSE MODE OF THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THE TRUCK HAD TO BE TOWED IN AND THE FAILURE TOOK SEVERAL DAYS BEFORE REPAIRED. GM HAS SENT INFORMATION TO THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT THIS WHICH THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO OBTAIN A COPY FROM THE SERVICE MANUAL. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TS

NHTSA complaint #8023508 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Upton, MA

POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:BANJO HOUSING

DUE TO THE AXLE SHAFT FAILING, THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL BECAME SEPARATED FROM THE HUB AND ALMOST CAME OFF THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #753905 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Jonesboro, GA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

STEERING DEFECT WILL END UP CAUSING ACCIDENTS AND DEATH IF CAUGHT BY SURPRISE, IT MAKES YOU JERK THE STEERING WHEEL AT SPEED WHILE MAKING A A TURN. TRANSMISSION PROBLEM IS WIDE SPRED, EVERY SHOP I CONTACTED COULD TELL ME THE ERROR CODE(1870) AND THE SOLUTION, AND THAT THIS PART ALWAYS FAILS JUST OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY. GM KOWS THIS, AND YET DOES NOT HELP. THIS DEFECT IS CAUSING CONSUMERS FROM 400-2800 IN REPAIRS FOR A PART WITH A KNOWN FAILURE RATE.

NHTSA complaint #748813 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Gainesville, GA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION CODE 1870 SLIPPAGE FAILURE, SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR. TRANSMISSION BANGS INTO 2ND GEAR. AFTER READING WEB SITES, IT APPEARS THAT THIS IS A PROLIFIC PROBLEM WITH ANY GM TRANSMISSION IN A LIGHT DUTY TRUCK. I'VE TALKED TO OTHER PEOPLE IN THE AREA, THEY ALSO EXPERIENCE SAME PROBLEM. INDICATIONS FROM WEB RESPONSES INDICATE COULD BE ELECTRICAL ORIENTED BY NOT CONFIRMED. REBUILDING MAY NOT PROVIDE CURE. GM NEEDS TO OWN UP AND RECALL.

NHTSA complaint #747037 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Stoughton, WI

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WHILE SHIFTING GEAR TO REVERSE CONSUMER NOTICE GEAR ENGAGING .

NHTSA complaint #882562 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Franklinton, NC

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

AUTO TRANSMISSION FAIL TO GO INTO REVERSE OR 2ND OR 4TH GEAR MAKING VEHICLE UNMOVABLE.

NHTSA complaint #736702 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hunt, TX

POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY

NO SUMMARY

NHTSA complaint #713913 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Oakland, IA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

PUMP BUSHING PULLED OUT OF TRANSMISSION CAUSING FRONT SEAL TO BRAKE AND COVER BOTTOM OF TRUCK WITH ATF. LIMITED DRIVE FOR SHORT DURATION.

NHTSA complaint #712976 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Moville, IA

POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY:PEDAL/HAND LEVER(MOTORCYCLE)

WHEN TAKING OFF FROM A DEAD STOP/STOP LIGHT/STOP SIGN, ETC., & PUSHED THE CLUTCH IN AT 1500. THE IDLE WOULD STAY AT RMPS. WOULD TAKE A FEW SECONDS OR SO BEFORE CLUTCH KICKS IN TO NORMAL.

NHTSA complaint #849881 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Phoenix, AZ

POWER TRAIN

REAR END DRIVELINE TRANSMISSION IS BINDING UP AND RELEASING CONTINUALLY. MJS

NHTSA complaint #548536 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Houghton, MI

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY WILL NOT GO INTO THE PASSING GEAR. DEALER CAN NOT IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #847667 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EL Paso, TX

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION FAILED DUE TO A VALVE MODULATOR WHICH REGULATES TRANSMISSION FLUID TO THE TORQUE CONVERTOR AND PUMP. THE TRANSMISSION FAILED FIRST STARTING WITH THE VALVE,PUMP,TORQUE CONVERTOR,AND BURNED THE FLUID. THE REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION SENT IS NOT THE SAME ONE THAT CAME OUT THE VEHICLE IT BEEN MODIFIED WITH A LARGER OIL PAN AND DIFFERNT VALVE MODULATOR.THAT IN TURN HELPS KEEP THE TRANSMISSION COOLER AND MORE FLUID.

NHTSA complaint #710743 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Yucaipa, CA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION FAILED. YH

NHTSA complaint #606367 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Clovis, CA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

DEFECTIVE PUMP INSIDE VALVE BODY OF TRANSMISSION FAILED, CAUSING ENGINE AND TORQUE CONVERTER TO FAIL. THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN LOSS OF CONTROL. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #838076 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Clovis, CA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER

DEFECTIVE PUMP INSIDE VALVE BODY OF TRANSMISSION FAILED, CAUSING ENGINE AND TORQUE CONVERTER TO FAIL. THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN LOSS OF CONTROL. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #838076 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Ventura, CA

POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT:SEAL

REAR AXLE SEALS FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #608179 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Myersville, MD

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT

UNKNOWN DRIVETRAIN VIBRARTION BETWEEN 40 AND 45 MPH. UNDER CERTIN BRAKING CONDITIONS IT CAN CAUSE A SEVERE HOPPING MOTION AND THE REAR TIRES TO LEAVE THE GROUND. *MJS

NHTSA complaint #705420 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Arlington, TN Fire

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

THIS VEHICL CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNED AFTER TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS; HYDRAULIC FLUID SUSPECTED AS SOURCE OF FIRE; NO ONE PRESENT AT TIME OF FIRE, THE OWNER HAVING GONE FOR HELP AFTER SHUTTING OFF THE MOTOR AND PARKING THE TRUCK.

NHTSA complaint #702826 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Grand Haven, MI

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

DISPLEASED WITH AUTO TRANSMISSION, PROBLEM #1, WHEN THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS FROM 2ND INTO 3RD GEAR IT WILL SHIFT WITH A VERY UNEASY NOISE ( LIKE THE TRANSMISSION HAS A PROBLEM SHIFTING INTO 3RD, THIS WILL NOT HAPPEN ALL THE TIME AND THE TRUCK CAN BE COLD OR AT NORMAL RUNNING TEMPERTURE FOR THE TRANSMISSION TO SHIFT UNEASY. THE DEALER THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN ON GOING FOR YEARS AND THEIR ARE TRYING TO COME UP WITH A QUICK FIX TO FIX THIS ISSUE WITHOUT HAVING TO REPLACE MY TRANSMISSION, THEY DID TELL ME THAT GM HAS ALREADY REPLACE AND REBUILT ALOT OF TRANSMISSION IN THE UNITED STATES FOR THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY THE SALES REP. THAT SOLD ME THE TRUCK THAT HE HAS A FLYER FROM GM WITH A STATMENT JUST TO THE DEALER'S ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. PROBLEM #2 WHILE DRIVING THE TRUCK BETWEEN 41 TO 45 MPH THE TRUCK WILL SHAKE CAUSE FROM THE TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE NOT WORKING TOGETHER, I WENT TO MY LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALER AND HAD THERE SERVICE GARAGE DRIVE THE TRUCK AND HE SAID THIS WAS CAUSE FROM THE ENGINE RUNNING A 1000 RPM WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 41 TO 45 MPH AND IF I DIDN'T LIKE THE SHAKING OF THE TRUCK, TO DRIVE IT IN 3RD GEAR AND NOT OVERDRIVE SO TO ALLOW THE ENGINE TO RUN AT A HIGHER RPM. I PAID ALMOST $30,000.00 FOR THIS TRUCK, I FEEL AS IF I BEEN BURNT GM AND THE TERM "LET A ROCK" MEANS LET A ROCK LIKE "NOGO"

NHTSA complaint #702207 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Clearwater, KS

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH

WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND THE ENGINE RUNNING, FOUR YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS ABLE TO SWITCH THE GEAR WITHOUT APPLYING THE BRAKES. VEHICLE ROLLED OUT OF DRIVEWAY.

NHTSA complaint #540274 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1998 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 problems

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