Total Complaints
88 filings
CHEVROLET C/K PICKUPS · model year
88 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1998CHEVROLETC/K PICKUPS carries 88 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 1 fire, 5 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 PICKUPS is visibility:windshield wiper/washer:motor with 16 filings, followed by service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (13) and visibility:windshield wiper/washer (11). 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 PICKUPS, 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.
Total Complaints
88 filings
Crashes Reported
1 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR | 16 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 13 |
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER | 11 |
| STEERING | 6 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM | 4 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS | 3 |
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:SWITCH/WIRING | 3 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE | 3 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE | 2 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 2 |
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:LINKAGES | 2 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 1 |
| WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS | 1 |
WHILE DRIVING THE POWER STEERING GAVE A QUICK LOCK UP AND LOST POWER STEERING TOOK PUMP OFF AND PULLEY AND SHAFT FELL OUT OF PUMP. *TR
Mileage: 72,000
BRAKE FAILURE ON 2 SEPARATE OCCASIONS DUE TO BRAKE LINE RUPTURES...ONCE 6' BELOW THE MASTER CYLINDER AND 8 MONTHS LATER ON A LINE TO A REAR BRAKE. BOTH TIMES LOST THE PEDAL. MY TRUCK IS A 1998 CK 1500 WITH VIRTUALLY NO BODY ROT. I WAS SURPRISED THAT #1 THERE WAS A COMPLETE LOSS OF PEDAL AND #2 A SECOND PERFORATION OCCURRED SO SOON. I WILL FILL OUT THE FORM FOR INCIDENT #1 ( JULY 2009) THE OTHER RUPTURE WAS 23 MAR 2010. *TR
Mileage: 136,403
MY 1998 CHEVY SILVERADO PICKUP TRUCK HAD A BRAKE LINE FAILURE DUE TO THE BRAKE LINE RUSTING OUT BECAUSE THE DESIGN HAS THE BRAKE LINE LAYING ON TOP OF A STEEL GUARD UNDER THE FRONT OF THE TRUCK WHERE SNOW GATHERS RATHER EASILY AND IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO INSPECT THE LINE THERE. I REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE ON A HIGHWAY DUE TO THE LINE RUPTURING WITHOUT ANY PRIOR NOTICE OF LEAKING WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES. I HAD MY TRUCK TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP AND THEY REPLACED THE LINE. THEY DISCOVERED WHERE THE RUPTURE WAS AND SAID IT IS A POOR DESIGN OF GM TO PLACE A LINE WHERE IT CAN RUST OUT SO EASILY WITHOUT BEING DETECTED. *TR
Mileage: 97,000
I HATE TO SOUND REPETITIVE ,BUT I ALSO HAVE A 1998 CHEVY SILVERADO 4X4 THAT HAS A WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR PROBLEM. I ALSO THINK THAT GM SHOULD STEP-UP AND FIX THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE WHEN IT HAPPENS TO SO MANY OF THE SAME VEHICLES I FEEL AS THOUGH IT'S A FACTORY DEFECT. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR A LONG TIME. THE TRUCK DOESN'T HAVE BUT 61,000 MILES ON IT. I CONFRONTED THEM ABOUT IT AND THEY WOULDN'T HELP ME OUT. THAT'S WHY I HAVE A TOYOTA ,THAT'S MADE IN THE USA, SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY. GOD BLESS THE USA !!! *TR
Mileage: 21,000
STEERING: I AM HAVING PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING WHEN TURNING RIGHT DURING A LONG TURN, IT FEELS LIKE I HIT A PATCH OF ICE OR LIKE SOMEONE GRAB HE STEERING WHEEL & JERK IT TO THE RIGHT. THIS PROBLEM DOES NOT SEEM TO BE GETTING WORST BUT I DO NOT LIKE THE FEEL. SOMEONE WHO DOES NOT KNOW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM WHEN DRIVING THE TRUCK COULD OVER STEER. *TR
Mileage: 39,000
1 WINDSHIELD WIPERS INTERMENTENT. 2 VERY DANGEROUS WHEN DRIVING IN RAIN. 3 REMOVED AND REPLACED WIPPER MOTOR CIRCUIT BOARD AND COVER. *CN
Mileage: 69,755
MY VEHICLE HAS THE PROBLEM DESCRIBED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN #05V379000. MY ANTILOCK BRAKES ACTIVATE AT LOW SPEED MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO STOP MY TRUCK. *TR
Mileage: 90,000
I HAVE A 1998 CHEVY PICKUP TRUCK WITH ANTI-LOCK BRAKES. FOR THE LAST 2 YEARS, THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES WOULD ACTIVATE WHENEVER THE VEHICLE IS MOVING AT SPEEDS LESS THAN 10 MPH; THIS MAKES IT DIFFICULT WHEN TRYING TO STOP AT SLOW SPEEDS. I RECENTLY FOUND OUT THAT 1999 & 2000 CHEVY PICKUP TRUCKS HAVE A RECALL FOR THE SAME ABS PROBLEM THAT I AM EXPERIENCING WITH MY 1998 TRUCK. I WENT TO THE DEALER TO DISCUSS THIS RECALL WITH THEM AND THEY SAID THAT IT WAS CAUSED BY THE SPEED SENSOR AND THAT IT WAS THE SAME PROBLEM THAT THE RECALL WAS ADDRESSING, BUT BECAUSE MY TRUCK WAS A 1998, THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING UNLESS CHEVROLET GAVE THEM THE OK. I WENT TO CHEVROLET'S CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD NOT COVER IT UNDER THE RECALL. I TALKED TO ANOTHER OWNER OF A 1998 CHEVY PICKUP AND HIS TRUCK HAD THE SAME ABS PROBLEM. HIS SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM WAS REMOVING THE ABS FUSE. MY CONCERN IS THAT CHEVROLET HAS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE 1998 ABS SYSTEM AS WELL, BUT IN THE INTEREST OF SA
Mileage: 80,000
I HAVE 4 BRIDGESTONE TIRES, DUELER AT 693, LT 285/75/16, ON MY VEHICLE. LAST WEEK ONE OF THEM BECAME SEVERELY DEFECTIVE AND HAD SOME SORT OF SEPARATION INSIDE IT. I SEE THAT THESE TIRES WERE SUBJECT TO A VOLUNTARY SAFETY CAMPAIGN, # 04T018000 THAT HAS APPARENTLY EXPIRED. I WAS CERTAINLY NEVER AWARE OF THIS CAMPAIGN OR I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN RISKING MY FAMILIES SAFETY WITH THESE TIRES WITHOUT HAVING THEM CHECKED. I HAVE HAD THE TIRES APPROXIMATELY 2 1/2 YEARS AND APPARENTLY PURCHASED THEM NEAR OR AROUND THE CAMPAIGN DATES. MY QUESTION IS, DO I HAVE ANY RECOURSE IN THIS MATTER. I NOW HAVE ONE VERY DEFECTIVE TIRE, AND THREE MORE WITH AMPLE TREAD BUT ARE NOT APPARENTLY SAFE TO DRIVE MY FAMILY AROUND ON. I DON'T BELIEVE BRIDGESTONE DID A VERY GOOD JOB NOTIFYING THE CONSUMERS OF THIS CAMPAIGN. *JB
TRUCK STALLS WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED WITHOUT WARNING FOR NO REASON. STEERING HAS SUDDEN FAST JERK TO RIGHT THEN WE HAVE TO OVER CORRECT TO LEFT, HAZARD LIGHTS WOULDN'T TURN OFF NOW THEY ARE NOT FUNCTIONAL, DRIVER SIDE WINDOW HAS A MIND OF ITS OWN. WIPER FLUID MOTOR DOESN'T WORK, GAS GAUGE DOESN'T WORK IT JUST VIBRATES REALLY FAST. THERE ARE WIRES IN DASH THAT HAVE BURN MARKS AND OTHER COMPONENTS ARE MELTED. ITS AMAZING THAT THIS TRUCK EVEN RUNS! WE HAVE SPENT 1200 ON THIS PILE AND STILL HAVEN'T EVEN FIXED ANY OF THESE PROBLEMS. *JB
TRUCK STALLS WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED WITHOUT WARNING FOR NO REASON. STEERING HAS SUDDEN FAST JERK TO RIGHT THEN WE HAVE TO OVER CORRECT TO LEFT, HAZARD LIGHTS WOULDN'T TURN OFF NOW THEY ARE NOT FUNCTIONAL, DRIVER SIDE WINDOW HAS A MIND OF ITS OWN. WIPER FLUID MOTOR DOESN'T WORK, GAS GAUGE DOESN'T WORK IT JUST VIBRATES REALLY FAST. THERE ARE WIRES IN DASH THAT HAVE BURN MARKS AND OTHER COMPONENTS ARE MELTED. ITS AMAZING THAT THIS TRUCK EVEN RUNS! WE HAVE SPENT 1200 ON THIS PILE AND STILL HAVEN'T EVEN FIXED ANY OF THESE PROBLEMS. *JB
TRUCK STALLS WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED WITHOUT WARNING FOR NO REASON. STEERING HAS SUDDEN FAST JERK TO RIGHT THEN WE HAVE TO OVER CORRECT TO LEFT, HAZARD LIGHTS WOULDN'T TURN OFF NOW THEY ARE NOT FUNCTIONAL, DRIVER SIDE WINDOW HAS A MIND OF ITS OWN. WIPER FLUID MOTOR DOESN'T WORK, GAS GAUGE DOESN'T WORK IT JUST VIBRATES REALLY FAST. THERE ARE WIRES IN DASH THAT HAVE BURN MARKS AND OTHER COMPONENTS ARE MELTED. ITS AMAZING THAT THIS TRUCK EVEN RUNS! WE HAVE SPENT 1200 ON THIS PILE AND STILL HAVEN'T EVEN FIXED ANY OF THESE PROBLEMS. *JB
TRUCK STALLS WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED WITHOUT WARNING FOR NO REASON. STEERING HAS SUDDEN FAST JERK TO RIGHT THEN WE HAVE TO OVER CORRECT TO LEFT, HAZARD LIGHTS WOULDN'T TURN OFF NOW THEY ARE NOT FUNCTIONAL, DRIVER SIDE WINDOW HAS A MIND OF ITS OWN. WIPER FLUID MOTOR DOESN'T WORK, GAS GAUGE DOESN'T WORK IT JUST VIBRATES REALLY FAST. THERE ARE WIRES IN DASH THAT HAVE BURN MARKS AND OTHER COMPONENTS ARE MELTED. ITS AMAZING THAT THIS TRUCK EVEN RUNS! WE HAVE SPENT 1200 ON THIS PILE AND STILL HAVEN'T EVEN FIXED ANY OF THESE PROBLEMS. *JB
TRUCK STALLS WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED WITHOUT WARNING FOR NO REASON. STEERING HAS SUDDEN FAST JERK TO RIGHT THEN WE HAVE TO OVER CORRECT TO LEFT, HAZARD LIGHTS WOULDN'T TURN OFF NOW THEY ARE NOT FUNCTIONAL, DRIVER SIDE WINDOW HAS A MIND OF ITS OWN. WIPER FLUID MOTOR DOESN'T WORK, GAS GAUGE DOESN'T WORK IT JUST VIBRATES REALLY FAST. THERE ARE WIRES IN DASH THAT HAVE BURN MARKS AND OTHER COMPONENTS ARE MELTED. ITS AMAZING THAT THIS TRUCK EVEN RUNS! WE HAVE SPENT 1200 ON THIS PILE AND STILL HAVEN'T EVEN FIXED ANY OF THESE PROBLEMS. *JB
TRUCK STALLS WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED WITHOUT WARNING FOR NO REASON. STEERING HAS SUDDEN FAST JERK TO RIGHT THEN WE HAVE TO OVER CORRECT TO LEFT, HAZARD LIGHTS WOULDN'T TURN OFF NOW THEY ARE NOT FUNCTIONAL, DRIVER SIDE WINDOW HAS A MIND OF ITS OWN. WIPER FLUID MOTOR DOESN'T WORK, GAS GAUGE DOESN'T WORK IT JUST VIBRATES REALLY FAST. THERE ARE WIRES IN DASH THAT HAVE BURN MARKS AND OTHER COMPONENTS ARE MELTED. ITS AMAZING THAT THIS TRUCK EVEN RUNS! WE HAVE SPENT 1200 ON THIS PILE AND STILL HAVEN'T EVEN FIXED ANY OF THESE PROBLEMS. *JB
TRUCK STALLS WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED WITHOUT WARNING FOR NO REASON. STEERING HAS SUDDEN FAST JERK TO RIGHT THEN WE HAVE TO OVER CORRECT TO LEFT, HAZARD LIGHTS WOULDN'T TURN OFF NOW THEY ARE NOT FUNCTIONAL, DRIVER SIDE WINDOW HAS A MIND OF ITS OWN. WIPER FLUID MOTOR DOESN'T WORK, GAS GAUGE DOESN'T WORK IT JUST VIBRATES REALLY FAST. THERE ARE WIRES IN DASH THAT HAVE BURN MARKS AND OTHER COMPONENTS ARE MELTED. ITS AMAZING THAT THIS TRUCK EVEN RUNS! WE HAVE SPENT 1200 ON THIS PILE AND STILL HAVEN'T EVEN FIXED ANY OF THESE PROBLEMS. *JB
TRUCK STALLS WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED WITHOUT WARNING FOR NO REASON. STEERING HAS SUDDEN FAST JERK TO RIGHT THEN WE HAVE TO OVER CORRECT TO LEFT, HAZARD LIGHTS WOULDN'T TURN OFF NOW THEY ARE NOT FUNCTIONAL, DRIVER SIDE WINDOW HAS A MIND OF ITS OWN. WIPER FLUID MOTOR DOESN'T WORK, GAS GAUGE DOESN'T WORK IT JUST VIBRATES REALLY FAST. THERE ARE WIRES IN DASH THAT HAVE BURN MARKS AND OTHER COMPONENTS ARE MELTED. ITS AMAZING THAT THIS TRUCK EVEN RUNS! WE HAVE SPENT 1200 ON THIS PILE AND STILL HAVEN'T EVEN FIXED ANY OF THESE PROBLEMS. *JB
WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL STOP WORKING CREATING A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION.
Mileage: 70,000
ABS WHEEL SENSOR PROBLEMS. TSB RELEASED BUT NO RECALL. COULD CAUSE SERIOUS ACCIDENT. BRAKES SHUTTER WHEN SLOWING DOWN. BROUGHT TO DEALERSHIP TO HAVE SERVICED BUT MY WARRANTY WOULDN'T COVER DUE TO TSB. MANY COMPLAINTS BY OTHER PEOPLE ONLINE DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. A $500.00 REPAIR. SHOULD BE RACALLED. *NM
THE ABS BRAKING SYSTEM ACTIVATES AT LOW SPEEDS WHILE APPLYING BRAKES. THERE IS A RECALL BY GM FOR 1999 FOR THE SAME ISSUE. UNFORTUNATELY, THEY TELL ME THAT A 1998 IS NOT INVOLVED AS OF YET. *NM
Mileage: 65,500
Loss of motive power due to engine failure
Loss of Motive Power due to the Battery Energy Control Module
Electric Vehicle Battery Fires
Outboard Front Seat Belt Anchor Cable Failure
Fuel Line Leak
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.