Total Complaints
18 filings
CHEVROLET VAN · model year
1998 CHEVROLET VAN
18 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1998CHEVROLETVAN carries 18 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, 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 VAN is equipment:mechanical:accessory scissor/screw/bottle jack/lift with 2 filings, followed by seat belts:front:anchorage (1) and electrical system (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 VAN, 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.
18
Complaints
1
Crashes
1
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 |
|---|---|
| EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:ACCESSORY SCISSOR/SCREW/BOTTLE JACK/LIFT | 2 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 1 |
| WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 1 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 1 |
| LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY | 1 |
| TIRES:TREAD/BELT | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL | 1 |
| EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS | 1 |
| SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20080330SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
I HAVE A RECALL ABOUT BRAKE LINE HOSE ,BUT LAST NOVEMBER MY BRAKE LINE HOSE WAS CUT WITH THE WHEEL I CALL GM MOTOR ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. IF CAN GET REFUND OR CHANGE WHEEL SIZE I TRY TO REPLACE WHEELS TO EXPENSE I THINK GM NEED TO REPLACE FOR FREE TO NEXT SIZE DUE TO CLOSE TO THE WHEEL. *TR
20080330EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER:LPG SYSTEMS:LINES AND FITTINGS
I HAVE A RECALL ABOUT BRAKE LINE HOSE ,BUT LAST NOVEMBER MY BRAKE LINE HOSE WAS CUT WITH THE WHEEL I CALL GM MOTOR ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. IF CAN GET REFUND OR CHANGE WHEEL SIZE I TRY TO REPLACE WHEELS TO EXPENSE I THINK GM NEED TO REPLACE FOR FREE TO NEXT SIZE DUE TO CLOSE TO THE WHEEL. *TR
20050614SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY
DT: ON THE PASSENGER'S SEAT NEXT TO THE SLIDING POWER DOOR TWO PINS THAT GO IN THE FRONT AND THEY IN THE BACK IN THE FLOOR HAVE A STRAP TO REMOVE SEATS, AND PUT THE SEAT BACK IN, BUT THE REAR LATCHES AREN'T HOLDING THE SEAT . *AK
Mileage: 191,500
20030613EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:ACCESSORY SCISSOR/SCREW/BOTTLE JACK/LIFT
TIRE JACK FAILURE. *MR THE CONSUMER HAD ATTEMPTED TO CHANGE THE FLAT TIRE WHEN THE JACK FAILED. REFER TO: 10006178 *SCC
20030505EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
1997 CHEVROLET SW THIS IS ACTUALLY A CONVERSION VAN NOT A STATION WAGON. THE CONVERSION PACKAGE HAS BEEN PLAGUED WITH ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WHICH COULD RESULT IN PERSONAL OR PROPERTY DAMAGE. THE CONVERSION PACKAGE CAME WITH A BRIGHT ORANGE CONSUMER ALERT STICKER. IT ADVISED CONSUMERS TO CONSULT DEALERSHIP FOR DETAILS. *JB
20030505EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
1997 CHEVROLET SW THIS IS ACTUALLY A CONVERSION VAN NOT A STATION WAGON. THE CONVERSION PACKAGE HAS BEEN PLAGUED WITH ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WHICH COULD RESULT IN PERSONAL OR PROPERTY DAMAGE. THE CONVERSION PACKAGE CAME WITH A BRIGHT ORANGE CONSUMER ALERT STICKER. IT ADVISED CONSUMERS TO CONSULT DEALERSHIP FOR DETAILS. *JB
20030212EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:ACCESSORY SCISSOR/SCREW/BOTTLE JACK/LIFT
THE THREADED SCREW FROM THE JACK SNAPPED, WHICH CAUSED THE VAN TO FALL TO THE GROUND. *SCC *JB
Mileage: 49,000
20011120POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
THIS VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT NEW FROM TRABUCCO CHEVROLET. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME, THAT THE LEFT REAR AXLE CAME OFF THE TRUCK. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED I CONTACTED TRABUCCO. THEY STATED TOO MANY MILES WERE ON THE TRUCK, AND THEY COULDN'T DO ANYTHING FOR ME BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING USED AS COMMERCIAL DELIVERY VAN. *AK
20011012ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
A REPETITION OF THIS ENGINE FAILURE OCCURRED ON 9/24/01, AS DEALER COULD NOT CORRECT FAULT. *AK
20010427TIRES:TREAD/BELT
SECOND REAR TIRE TO HAVE TREAD SEPARATIO, -REPLACED ALL TIRES WITH ANOTHER BRAND. *AK (DOT NUMBER: VN11BIA237 TIRESIZE: LT24575R16)
20001018ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
I BOUGHT A 1998 CHEVROLET ASTRO VAN FROM MARK CHRISTOPHER CHEVROLET ON 07/08/99, AND THE BATTERY LEAKED OUT SPILLING ACID ON THE LEFT APRON, THE DEALER SAID THEY WOULD TRY AND NUETRALIZE THE ACID AND SPRAY UNDERCOAT ON THE AFFECTED AREAS. THIS IS NOT HOW THE VEHICLE IS. THE LEFT APRON IS PAINTED THE SAME COLOR AS THE VAN AND I REFUSED TO LET THEM SPRAY BLACK UNDERCOATING ON THE DAMAGED PART. IM A COLLISION REPAIR SPECIALIST AND THIS IS NOT HOW TO REPAIR A BATTERY ACID SPILL. THE AFFECTED AREA IS NOW EATING AWAY THE WELDS AND THE SHEET METAL. GM SAID THEY WILL NO LONGER TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM AND THAT HIDDING IT WITH UNDER COATING IS GOOD ENOUGH. THIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE NUTRALIZED,STRIPPED, ETCH PRIMED, SEALED, THEN REFINISH IN ALL AFFECTED AREAS. THIS VAN IS ALREADY CORRODING AWAY. I JUST DONT FEEL SAFE LETTING MY WIFE (PREGNANT OF 7 MTHS.) AND 16 MTH OLD CHILD RIDDING IN THIS VEHICLE. VEHICLE IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. PLEASE HELP . *AK
19990908LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
MOTOR ON REMOTE SLIDER DOOR--OPENS ON ITS OWN.
19990830POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSIN FAILED. YH
19990810CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL
CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION IN WHICH THE DRIVER'S / PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
19990208SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
THIS WAS THE FIFTH REPLACEMENT OF ABS BRAKES IN 6 MONTHS. THE FIRST OCCURED ON 6/3/98 @ 6013 MILES, SECOND WAS 8/3/98 @ 11,000 MILES, THIRD WAS 9/14/98 @ 17,189 MILES, FOURTH WAS ON 11/16/98 @ 23,399 MILES, AND THE LAST ONE 12/28/98 @ 26,000. *AK
19981020WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS
WHEEL LUGS/BOLTS BROKE OFF CAUSING WHEEL TO FALL OFF.
19981014FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE CONVERSION VEHICLE HAS PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WHICH CAUSES THE FRONT POWER SEAT AND DOOR LOCK TO BE INOPERABLE. ALSO, THE REAR POWER SEAT STARTED SMOKING WHICH ALMOST CAUSED A FIRE. BEEN TO DEALER 5 TIMES. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. *AK *ML
19980521SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
THE LAP AND SHOULDER BELTS ON THE SECOND BENCH SEAT ON THE PASSENGER' SIDE BELT DO NOT WORK PROPERLY WHEN SECURING A CHILD RESTRAINT, THE SEAT BELT WAS REPLACED ONCE BY THE DEALER ON MARCH 16, 1998 AND IS STILL NOT WORKING PROPERLY. THERE IS TOO MUCH SLACK IN THE BELT TO SECURE THE CAR SEAT. *AK
Compare 1998CHEVROLETVAN 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 VAN have?▼
The 1998 CHEVROLET VAN has 18 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 1 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1998 CHEVROLET VAN?▼
The most-complained component for the 1998 CHEVROLET VAN is EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:ACCESSORY SCISSOR/SCREW/BOTTLE JACK/LIFT with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE and ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.
Is the 1998 CHEVROLET VAN 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.