Total Complaints
14 filings
CHEVROLET C/K 3500 · model year
1998 CHEVROLET C/K 3500
14 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1998CHEVROLETC/K 3500 carries 14 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1998 C/K 3500 is visibility:windshield wiper/washer with 3 filings, followed by steering:linkages (1) and engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 57 investigation files overlapping the 1998 C/K 3500, and 2 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
14
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER | 3 |
| STEERING:LINKAGES | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 1 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 1 |
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE) | 1 |
| EQUIPMENT | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING | 1 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 1 |
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:SWITCH/WIRING | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20120821SERVICE BRAKES
BRAKE LINES RESTING ON TOP OF CHASSIS IN DRIVER'S FRONT WHEEL WELL CORRODED AND BREACHED/LEAKED BRAKE FLUID. VEHICLE IS IN MICHIGAN. *TR
Mileage: 125,000
20070907VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK WHEN THEY FEEL LIKE IT. SOMETIMES THEY WON'T TURN ON OTHER TIMES THEY WON'T TURN OFF. I HAVE HAD THEM LOOKED AT SEVERAL TIMES AND TO NO AVAIL. I HAVE READ ON THIS SITE OF THE EXACT SAME ISSUE WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE SAME YEAR AND MODEL. THIS IS DANGEROUS AND SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO. PERHAPS A RECALL IS NOT THE BEST WAY TO RESOLVE THIS BUT SOME GUIDANCE ON HOW TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. HAVING A GARAGE DO THE DIAGNOSIS IS VERY EXPENSIVE. I LOVE MY TRUCK BUT THIS PROBLEM MAKES DRIVING VERY DANGEROUS. *TR *UPDATED 12/12/07 *BF UPDATED 12/12/07 *TR
Mileage: 65,000
20070907VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:SWITCH/WIRING
MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK WHEN THEY FEEL LIKE IT. SOMETIMES THEY WON'T TURN ON OTHER TIMES THEY WON'T TURN OFF. I HAVE HAD THEM LOOKED AT SEVERAL TIMES AND TO NO AVAIL. I HAVE READ ON THIS SITE OF THE EXACT SAME ISSUE WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE SAME YEAR AND MODEL. THIS IS DANGEROUS AND SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO. PERHAPS A RECALL IS NOT THE BEST WAY TO RESOLVE THIS BUT SOME GUIDANCE ON HOW TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. HAVING A GARAGE DO THE DIAGNOSIS IS VERY EXPENSIVE. I LOVE MY TRUCK BUT THIS PROBLEM MAKES DRIVING VERY DANGEROUS. *TR *UPDATED 12/12/07 *BF UPDATED 12/12/07 *TR
Mileage: 65,000
20050905SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ABS LOCKS UP AT LOW SPEEDS. *JB
Mileage: 30,000
20040914STRUCTURE:BODY
TREAD SEPARATED ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASSIONS. *AK *JB
20031110VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK WHEN THEY FEEL LIKE IT. I HAVE HAD THEM LOOKED AT SEVERAL TIMES AND TO NO AVAIL. I HAVE READ ON THIS SITE OF THE EXACT SAME ISSUE WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE SAME YEAR AND MODEL. THIS IS DANGEROUS AND SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO. ALSO IT HAPPENS ON ANOTHER CHEVROLET MODEL TRUCK WE HAVE. SEEMS TO ME IT IS A REPEATATIVE ISSUE.*AK
Mileage: 100,000
20030811ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
CONSUMER STATED WHILE HE WAS ON VACATION, DRIVING 1 TON PICKUP TRUCK,IT RAN HOT AND STOPPED RUNNING. THIS WAS ON JULY 4, 2003 WEEKEND AND NO ONE WAS AVAILABLE TO HELP. AFTER CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO FIND A DEALERSHIP, THEY FOUND THAT THE TRUCK HAD OVERHEATED, CAUSING THE WIRES TO FUSE TOGETHER. DEALER TOLD HIM THIS HAPPENED BECAUSE THE WIRES WERE TOO CLOSE TO THE MANIFOLD WHERE THEY GET EXTRA HOT AND FUSE TOGETHER. DEALERSHIP THOUGHT THAT THE WIRES SHOULD SOME HOW BE REROUTED SO THEY WERE NOT SO CLOSE TO THE MANIFOLD. CONSUMER WOULD LIKE HELP WITH REPAIR OF TRUCK BECAUSE HE IS 70 YEARS OF AGE, AND THE TRUCK WILL COST APPROXIMATELY $2000-3000 TO REPAIR. PLEASE HELP.*AK
20030806POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)
I HAVE A 1998 CHEVY CK3500 4X4 DUALLY, THIS TRUCK HAS 50,000 MILES ON IT AND HAS NEVER BEEN USED FOR TOWING. WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY IN RAINY CONDITIONS NOT ONLY DID THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOP WORKING, THE TRANSFER CASE LOCKED UP, THE REAR TIRES LOCKED UP AND WE HAD TO SWERVE OFF THE ROAD, WE THOUGHT IT WAS A BRAKE PROBLEM AT FIRST BUT IT IS THE TRANSFER CASE, THIS ALMOST CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT ON THE TURNPIKE, THIS TRUCK HAS BEEN BABIED AND SERVICED REGULARLY. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS SOMETIMES WORK NOW, AND WE WILL TAKE APART THE TRANSFER CASE AND SEE WHAT HAPPENED WITH IT.
Mileage: 50,000
20030806VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
I HAVE A 1998 CHEVY CK3500 4X4 DUALLY, THIS TRUCK HAS 50,000 MILES ON IT AND HAS NEVER BEEN USED FOR TOWING. WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY IN RAINY CONDITIONS NOT ONLY DID THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOP WORKING, THE TRANSFER CASE LOCKED UP, THE REAR TIRES LOCKED UP AND WE HAD TO SWERVE OFF THE ROAD, WE THOUGHT IT WAS A BRAKE PROBLEM AT FIRST BUT IT IS THE TRANSFER CASE, THIS ALMOST CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT ON THE TURNPIKE, THIS TRUCK HAS BEEN BABIED AND SERVICED REGULARLY. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS SOMETIMES WORK NOW, AND WE WILL TAKE APART THE TRANSFER CASE AND SEE WHAT HAPPENED WITH IT.
Mileage: 50,000
20030806EQUIPMENT
I HAVE A 1998 CHEVY CK3500 4X4 DUALLY, THIS TRUCK HAS 50,000 MILES ON IT AND HAS NEVER BEEN USED FOR TOWING. WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY IN RAINY CONDITIONS NOT ONLY DID THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOP WORKING, THE TRANSFER CASE LOCKED UP, THE REAR TIRES LOCKED UP AND WE HAD TO SWERVE OFF THE ROAD, WE THOUGHT IT WAS A BRAKE PROBLEM AT FIRST BUT IT IS THE TRANSFER CASE, THIS ALMOST CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT ON THE TURNPIKE, THIS TRUCK HAS BEEN BABIED AND SERVICED REGULARLY. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS SOMETIMES WORK NOW, AND WE WILL TAKE APART THE TRANSFER CASE AND SEE WHAT HAPPENED WITH IT.
Mileage: 50,000
20030603VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
I HAVE A 1998 CHEVROLET 3500 CREW CAB 4X4. MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING WHILE I WAS DOING 65 MPH DOWN THE INTERSTATE PULLING MY BOAT. I PULLED OVER, GOT OUT AND TRIED TO FIX THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND THEY WOULD COME ON AND STOP AGAIN. IT DID THIS 4-5 TIMES AND THEN THEY WOULDN'T COME ON AT ALL. I HAD TO DRIVE ALL THE WAY HOME, ANOTHER 45 MINUTES, IN THE POURING RAIN ON THE INTERSTATE WITH NO WINDSHIELD WIPERS. I HAVE A LETTER HERE FROM THE CHEVROLET MOTORS DIVISION CENTRAL OFFICE SAYING THAT CERTAIN VEHICLES MAY HAVE A WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR THAT FAILS DUE TO CRACKED SOLDER JOINTS ON THE CONTROLLER CIRCUIT BOARD. THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT IS WRONG WITH MY TRUCK BUT MY TRUCK IS NOT LISTED ON THIS LETTER. I CALLED MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. THIS NEEDS TO BE FIXED AND OBVIOUSLY ITS A PROBLEM THAT IS OCCURRING IN A LOT OF GM/CHEVROLET VEHICLES. WHY ISN'T MY TRUCK LISTED ON THIS LETTER? THIS COULD HAVE BEEN RESULTED IN A TRAGEDY YESTERDAY
Mileage: 56,740
20021106STEERING:LINKAGES
INJECTOR PUMP FAILURE CAUSE LOSS OF ENGINE RUNNING, NEAR TOTAL LOSS OF STEERING AND BRAKES. DT
20021106ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
INJECTOR PUMP FAILURE CAUSE LOSS OF ENGINE RUNNING, NEAR TOTAL LOSS OF STEERING AND BRAKES. DT
20021106UNKNOWN OR OTHER
INJECTOR PUMP FAILURE CAUSE LOSS OF ENGINE RUNNING, NEAR TOTAL LOSS OF STEERING AND BRAKES. DT
Compare 1998CHEVROLETC/K 3500 to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 2 Open
EA25007Engineering AnalysisOpen
Loss of motive power due to engine failure
PE23022Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Loss of Motive Power due to the Battery Energy Control Module
PE20016Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Electric Vehicle Battery Fires
EA20002Engineering AnalysisClosed
Outboard Front Seat Belt Anchor Cable Failure
PE20011Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Fuel Line Leak
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1998 CHEVROLET C/K 3500 have?▼
The 1998 CHEVROLET C/K 3500 has 14 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1998 CHEVROLET C/K 3500?▼
The most-complained component for the 1998 CHEVROLET C/K 3500 is VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER with 3 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include STEERING:LINKAGES and ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE.
Is the 1998 CHEVROLET C/K 3500 safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.