Total Complaints
19 filings
CHEVROLET C SERIES · model year
1998 CHEVROLET C SERIES
19 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1998CHEVROLETC SERIES carries 19 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 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 SERIES is service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip with 5 filings, followed by suspension:front (2) and steering:hydraulic power assist:pump (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 SERIES, 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.
19
Complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
1 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 |
|---|---|
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 5 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT | 2 |
| STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 1 |
| PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL | 1 |
| STRUCTURE | 1 |
| STEERING | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM | 1 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT:SEAL | 1 |
| STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM | 1 |
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR | 1 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20080610SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM, HEAVY VIBRATION WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES. FATHER INLAW HAD SAME PROBLEM ON HIS 1998 CHEVY TRUCK. WAS THERE A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Mileage: 53,800
20060127CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
DT*: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET SHEYENNE. WHILE DRIVING AROUND 7 MPH DURING NORMAL BRAKING, THE ANTILOCK BRAKES ENGAGED WITHOUT WARNING CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. THIS OCCURS ON ALL ROAD CONDITIONS. THE OCCUPANTS WERE WEARING SEATBELTS AND NO ONE WAS INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP; THEY WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED. *AK
Mileage: 50,000
20041207STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
THE LEFT TAILGATE SUPPORT STRAP SNAPPED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.*AK
Mileage: 7,000
20040718VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
WIPER MOTOR WORKS SPORATICALLY- WAS A CRACKED SOLDER JOINT- WAS TOLD NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL BECAUSE OF YEAR-1998, BUT SEEMS TO BE AN ONGOING PROBLEM FOR CHEVY......
Mileage: 50,000
20040206STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
WHEN TURNING LEFT THE POWER STEERING SLIPPED WITHOUT WARNING. *AK THE PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED REPEATEDLY BUT OCCURS LESS OFTEN WHEN TURNING TO THE RIGHT. *NM
Mileage: 90,000
20030131POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT:SEAL
4 AXLE SEALS REPLACED SINCE LIFE OF VEHICLE. REPLACED BOTH SEALS ON 06/07/00 AT 34,424 MILES. REPLACED RIGHT REAR SEAL ON 01/09/01 AT 38,598 MILES. PRESENTLY THE RIGHT REAR SEAL FAILED AGAIN SATURATED BRAKES WITH DIFFERENTIAL FLUID RENDERING THEM INOPERABLE. TS
Mileage: 60,178
20020916SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
BALL JOINT FRONT PASSENGER SIDE IS WEARING OUT, AND IS ABOUT TO BREAK. DEALERSHIP IS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
20010816SUSPENSION:FRONT
I WAS CRUSING ALONG ON THE HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY BEGAN FEELING ROUGH. IT QUICKLY SLOWED DOWN BUT WAS HARD TO CONTROL.*AK (TIRESIZE: P265-75R16)
20010815SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM
VBEHICLE EXPERIENCED BRAKE LOSS WHILE APPLYING BRAKES AT 30 MPH. VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER, AND INFORMED OF A BRAKE BOOSTER FAILURE, WHICH REPAIRS WERE MADE AT CONSUMER'S COST.*AK *JB
20010815SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
VBEHICLE EXPERIENCED BRAKE LOSS WHILE APPLYING BRAKES AT 30 MPH. VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER, AND INFORMED OF A BRAKE BOOSTER FAILURE, WHICH REPAIRS WERE MADE AT CONSUMER'S COST.*AK *JB
20010129SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
A FEW DAYS AFTER PURCHASE CONSUMER NOTICED LEFT AND RIGHT REAR SEAT BELTS DO NOT RETRACT, VEHICLE AT CHEVROLET DEALER AT THIS TIME TO INSTALL NEW BELTS.*AK
20001018SUSPENSION:FRONT
MY SILVERADO HAS BEEN INTO THE DEALERSHIP A TOTAL OF 6 TIMES . I FEEL THE TRUCH IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AS IT "WANDERS" TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT AT SPEEDS FROM 30 MPH AND OVER. LAST TIME TRUCK WAS IN LUBY CHEVROLET IN DENVER SAID "THIS IS AS GOOD AS IT'S GOING TO GET" *AK
20000330STEERING
AT 35-50MPH OR FASTER STEERING HAS SLIPS AT ABOUT 1/4 TURN LEFT AND RIGHT, MORE OFTEN TO LEFT, MAKING TRUCK MOVE SHARPLY TO DIRECTION OF TURN.
20000322SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ABS BRAKES FADING WHILE GOING OVER BUMPS AND ROUGH SURFACES. *MJS
20000201STRUCTURE
WHILE DRIVING OFF THE ROAD VEHICLE WAS HAD DAMAGE NEAR THE FUEL TANK, AND CONSUMER HAD A CONCERN IN CASE OF A FIRE. *AK
20000124SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
CONSUMER HAS HAD BRAKES REPLACED FOUR TIMES, AND VEHICLE CURRENTLY AT DEALER, AND THEY STILL CANNOT FIND OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. *AK
19981214PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL
THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE MOTOR LOCKED UP. IN ADDITION, THE PARKING BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATES INTERMITTENTLY. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
19981029STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE LOSES STEERING AND BRAKES WITHOUT ANY WARNING. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
19981029SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE LOSES STEERING AND BRAKES WITHOUT ANY WARNING. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
Compare 1998CHEVROLETC SERIES 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 SERIES have?▼
The 1998 CHEVROLET C SERIES has 19 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1998 CHEVROLET C SERIES?▼
The most-complained component for the 1998 CHEVROLET C SERIES is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP with 5 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SUSPENSION:FRONT and STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP.
Is the 1998 CHEVROLET C SERIES 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.