1998 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 Problems
- Complaints
- 73filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 82,274miles, 22 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 0campaigns on record
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
Sources: NHTSA records for the 1998 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 (complaints, recalls, investigations). Report an error
What owners report
Owners of this model year most often describe brake problems, especially ABS behavior that feels wrong — the pedal dropping, the system releasing pressure over bumps, or longer stopping distances. The other recurring themes are fuel system failures that cause stalling, windshield wipers that quit in rain, and body or frame rust on higher-mileage trucks.
- Brakes
ABS releases or pedal drops when braking over bumps
Mentioned in 16 of 55 sampled complaints
Complaints describe the brake pedal dropping toward the floor or the ABS cutting out when braking over rough pavement, railroad tracks, or small bumps, with the truck taking longer to stop. Several owners say the ABS engages at low speed or on dry pavement when it should not, and some note the pedal needs very heavy pressure or the vehicle pulls to one side. Owners report dealers often tested on smooth pavement, said the behavior was normal, or could not duplicate it; a few mention replacing hubs, rotors, or the master cylinder without a lasting fix. Reported across a wide mileage range, from a few thousand miles to over 150,000, and often tied to rough or wet road surfaces.
What to check: Drive the truck over rough pavement and railroad crossings while braking and see whether the pedal sinks or the ABS kicks in unexpectedly. Ask whether the Hydro-Boost unit has ever been replaced, and have a shop inspect front hub ABS sensors.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“In january of 2003 the service brake began resisting foot pressure and making a loud vibrating noise when approaching a full stop on dry pavement on my 1998 chevy pickup with aprox. 24,000 miles. By july the problem occurred at almost every stop. The dealer from whom the truck was purchased repaired the rear brakes ($303) and advised me that the problem with brake pedal was related to the ABS system and would require replacement of the front rotors at a cost of $1000+. …”
NHTSA complaint #10080754, filed 2004-07, 24,000 miles“Driving on dry pavement, applying brakes and the anti-lock kicked in. The truck (k-2500 ext cab 4x4) wouldn't stop. I quickly used the emergency brake to stop the vehicle. While under warranty, no one could find anything wrong with the brakes! I had multiple problems with this same issue over and over again. Taking to the dealer and still they found nothing.. It amazes me that after my warranty had expired, they told me the anti-lock sensors in the front hubs were bad and it would cost over $1,200 per side to fix!! …”
NHTSA complaint #10132651, filed 2005-08, 2,000 miles - Brakes
Brake pedal fades, soft or failed stops
Mentioned in 11 of 55 sampled complaints
Owners describe the brake pedal going to the floor, a soft or fading pedal, sudden loss of power assist with a hissing sound, or brakes that grab and release on their own. Some mention a complete loss of braking and rusted-through brake lines found on inspection, and others report heavy rotor or pad wear with premature corrosion. Dealers and shops are described as replacing master cylinders, rotors, pads, or rear brake parts, sometimes repeatedly. Reported from very low mileage up to roughly 130,000 miles, with several complaints noting rust or corrosion on brake parts.
What to check: Inspect brake lines and rear brake hardware for rust, and press the pedal firmly with the engine running to check for a hiss or sinking. Ask for service records on the master cylinder and Hydro-Boost.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“Bought a 1998 chevy SILVERADO 2500 in december 2005 with approximately 132,300 miles private sale. About 1 month ago I had a complete brake job done $1,000 (new everything) not by a chevy dealer. I was shown the old brake components, the rears were severely rusted and there was no wear on the pads. I was told this was because they hadn't been engaging. There was corrosion in the front and extreme wear. …”
NHTSA complaint #10151321, filed 2006-02, 133,000 miles“The problem seems to be a vacuum leak in the power brake assist unit . There is a clearly audible hissing sound when the brake pedal is depressed while the engine is running, stopping power has diminished by approximately75% with the ability to stop quickly { in less than 100 feet} virtually nil. This problem developed without any warning or signs of gradual failure. At the onset of the failure I was pulling a trailer equipped with electric brakes,for the remainder of my trip I relyed heavily on the trailer brakes to safely come to a stop. …”
NHTSA complaint #728364, filed 2000-08 - Fuel system
Engine stalls while driving or idling
Mentioned in 7 of 55 sampled complaints
Complaints describe the engine cutting out at speed or at a light, sometimes losing power steering and power brakes, with restart taking minutes afterward. Owners say mechanics found failed fuel injector pumps, a failed fuel solenoid driver, or wiring inside the fuel tank that had overheated; some report the fuel tank itself cracking, collapsing, or splitting at the seam and leaking. Dealers are described as unable to duplicate the stall or waiting on unavailable parts. Mostly reported between roughly 60,000 and 190,000 miles, with tank cracks noted on trucks of varying age.
What to check: Ask about fuel pump and injector pump service history, and check the tank and lines for cracks, leaks, or a fuel smell. Note whether the engine idles smoothly and restarts readily after warm.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“Gas lever indicator was intermittently working. The electrical power that fed to fuel pump had melted, and fused itself to gas lever indicator wire , causing improper reading of gas gauge. This wire was inside gas tank. These wires should not get that hot because it could cause an explosion. Consumer has contacted dealer. Consumer still has the old fuel pump module assembly.”
NHTSA complaint #895987, filed 2001-09“When filling tank with fuel, noticed that the fuel was coming back out. The fuel tank had raptured in the middle. The seam in the tank had came apart. Had tank replaced, problem reacured. Since then, tank has been replaced 3 more times. Ts”
NHTSA complaint #8021658, filed 2002-10 - Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
Windshield wipers stop working
- 5 complaints (7%)
- median 92,000 mi at 6.1 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
- filed 2003–2009
Owners report wipers that quit mid-drive in heavy rain or work intermittently when wet, sometimes taking minutes to come back on and leaving no forward visibility. Some say the wiper module or motor was replaced; others say they were told no recall applied to this model year even though earlier years had one. A related complaint describes weak airflow from the passenger-side defroster vents. Reported from low mileage up to about 170,000 miles, typically in rain or wet conditions.
What to check: Run the wipers at every speed and with washers, ideally when wet, and listen for slow or stalling movement. Ask whether the wiper motor or module has been replaced.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“Consumer complained about windshield wiper motor problem. The windshield wipers will work, and then inadvertently stop working. Consumer contacted the manufacturer, and was told there was nothing else they could do. ... Consumer contact Chevrolet and provided VIN, but was told there was no recall applicable to make/model, and year.”
NHTSA complaint #10107023, filed 2005-01, 97,000 miles“1998 Chevrolet k2500. For some time now the truck has had an intermittent windshield wiper issue (does not work when wet.) 03/25/2009 the wipers stopped working while I was driving in the rain causing a very dangerous situation. Did some research and found out Chevrolet has an ongoing reputation for this issue and have recalls on earlier year models but their position is that these problems ended 1997.”
NHTSA complaint #10263052, filed 2009-03, 168,000 miles - Body and structure
Frame and body rust; tailgate and latch problems
Mentioned in 5 of 55 sampled complaints
Complaints describe severe rust on the front frame extensions near the steering box mounting, in some cases severe enough that trucks were retired from service. Owners also report door catches and tailgate latches that will not hold closed, a dashboard that separates from its mounts, and hardware issues on rear bumpers and tailgates. A service bulletin covers tailgate cable slack on these trucks. Mostly reported on higher-mileage trucks, generally above 90,000 miles, and in some cases on vehicles used in corrosive road-salt conditions.
What to check: Look closely at the frame rails and front frame extensions around the steering box for scale or thinning, and test every door and the tailgate for latching. Ask whether the vehicle spent its life in a road-salt area.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“I bought this truck with 70k miles on it .has been a good truck but the dash is coming apart and in the near future I do not know what is going to hold the gauges in place. I can not even buy a replacement part for the vehicle from GM and every part out of a salvage yard is in the same condition.”
NHTSA complaint #10936165, filed 2016-12, 192,000 miles“Door catch and lock failure. The driver's door will not completely latch, thereby preventing the door from closing completely and securely/tightly and staying tightly closed. This vehicle has had and currently has other locking and latching problems with the passenger door and the tail gate. Attempts to get the general motors corporation to acknowledge that there are systemic safety problems with this vehicle's locking and latching mechanisms have been unsuccessful. …”
NHTSA complaint #10060317, filed 2004-03, 93,200 miles
Buying note. Brake behavior is the dominant theme for this model year, so budget for a thorough brake and frame inspection before purchase. Service records for brake, fuel, and wiper repairs help show whether the known trouble spots have already been addressed.
Summary written with AI from a sample of 55 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.
NHTSA recorded 73 consumer complaints for the 1998 Chevrolet Silverado 2500. 22 of the complaints include a mileage, and 32% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 82,274 miles. Of all complaints, 7 involved a crash, 3 a fire, 3 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 7 technical service bulletins for this model year.
Not compared (before 2008). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.
Which parts are reported most
Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.
- Brakes32 44%
- Fuel system8 11%
- Body and structure6 8.2%
- Electrical system5 6.9%
- Suspension4 5.5%
- Tires3 4.1%
- Engine cooling2 2.7%
Also reported: Air bags (1), Equipment (1), Exterior lighting (1), Steering (1), Vehicle speed control (1).
Example complaints
Brakes: “Brakes went out completely after depressing brake pedal. Had to leave the roadway into the bushes to avoid hitting stopped car in front of me. Upon inspection of the vehicle after bringing it home, noticed that the brakeline to the rear of the vehicle was completely rusted through. Similar lines did not show sign of corrosion but this one was completely deteriorated to the point of no repair.”
NHTSA complaint #10547846, filed 2013-10, 73,560 milesFuel system: “The contact stated while driving 45 MPH under normal road conditions, the engine stalled. The vehicle was taken to the service dealer, who determined that the fuel solenoid driver had failed.”
NHTSA complaint #10175282, filed 2006-12, 66,500 milesBody and structure: “The rear bumper has three bolts missing from it. No license plate bulb or wiring going to the plates. Six holes under the bed liner in the tailgate, hardware was in. Unsatisfactory condition when dealer attempted to remedy the problem.”
NHTSA complaint #830086, filed 1998-11Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors): “While driving in a down pour of rain, the wipers stopped working. The consumer almost had an accident. Dealer had been contacted. Please provide any further information. The windshield wiper module was replaced.”
NHTSA complaint #10031681, filed 2003-09, 92,000 milesMileage when problems were reported
32% of the 22 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 46,081 and 97,000 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
Recalls and investigations
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 1998 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 in the data used here. A recall can apply to some vehicles of a model year and not others, so check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Technical service bulletins
TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 7 on record; the latest 7 are shown.
- 10232287Feb 21, 2023Equipment. This warranty administration bulletin provides information regarding the field action courtesy transportation policy.
- 10226382Oct 18, 2022Brakes. This Preliminary Information communication advises the technician that the Hydro-Boost is not serviceable and will need to be replaced if the brake pedal moves or applies on its own at a full turn.
- 10162149Jun 24, 2019Brakes. This Preliminary Information communication advises the technician that the Hydro-Boost is not serviceable and will need to be replaced if the brake pedal moves or applies on its own at a full turn.
- 10082506Aug 26, 2016Equipment. This technical bulletin provides a procedure to reprogram the media disc player with the latest calibrations to correct a condition of the rear entertainment system not operating as intended in…
- 10248444Jun 30, 2014Equipment. Vehicle Recalls
- 10246631Sep 1, 2013Engine cooling. Expanded Availability for Remanufacture and Return (R&R) Electronic Control Modules
- 10011755Oct 4, 2006Body and structure. Tailgate cable slack. This includes 1998-2006 chevrolet and gmc full and mid size trucks. *eh updated.
Other model years of the Chevrolet Silverado 2500
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 12 | 5,100 | 2 | — | — | — | Too new |
| 2025 | 30 | 15,250 | 1 | — | — | Too new to compare | Too new |
| 2024 | 143 | 18,400 | 4 | — | — | Too new to compare | Too new |
| 2023 | 47 | 47,000 | 1 | — | — | 25 · Fewer | Too new |
| 2022 | 97 | 37,500 | 3 | — | — | 62 · Typical | Rising |
| 2021 | 88 | 39,500 | 6 | — | — | 70 · More | Rising |
| 2020 | 109 | 25,000 | 10 | — | — | 93 · More | Rising |
| 2019 | 74 | 12,025 | 7 | 4 | — | 77 · More | Stable |
| 2018 | 53 | 24,138 | 5 | 4 | — | 48 · Typical | Stable |
| 2017 | 54 | 21,000 | 5 | 4 | — | 50 · Typical | Stable |
| 2016 | 123 | 35,000 | 6 | 4 | — | 77 · More | Falling |
| 2015 | 179 | 44,000 | 6 | 3–4 | — | 91 · More | Stable |
| 2014 | 40 | 70,900 | 2 | 2–4 | — | 0 · Fewer | Rising |
| 2013 | 51 | 74,742 | 3 | 2–4 | — | 0 · Fewer | Falling |
| 2012 | 53 | 72,000 | 3 | 3–4 | — | 0 · Fewer | Stable |
| 2011 | 104 | 72,000 | 4 | — | — | 42 · Typical | Falling |
| 2010 | 21 | 98,000 | 5 | — | — | — | Falling |
| 2009 | 61 | 59,000 | 5 | — | — | 50 · Typical | Falling |
| 2008 | 191 | 56,000 | 4 | — | — | 60 · Typical | Falling |
| 2007 | 204 | 57,230 | 3 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2006 | 178 | 52,000 | 0 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2005 | 269 | 63,000 | 0 | — | 11 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2004 | 368 | 73,800 | 0 | — | 10 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2003 | 449 | 83,020 | 0 | — | 10 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2002 | 351 | 84,118 | 1 | — | 11 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2001 | 388 | 75,500 | 1 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2000 | 132 | 85,500 | 1 | — | 15 | Not compared (before 2008) | Rising |
| 1999 | 81 | 94,000 | 0 | — | 15 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1998 | 73 | 82,274 | 0 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1997 | 64 | 88,500 | 0 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
All Chevrolet Silverado 2500 model years · Best and worst years by complaints
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1998 Chevrolet Silverado 2500?
Owners of this model year most often describe brake problems, especially ABS behavior that feels wrong — the pedal dropping, the system releasing pressure over bumps, or longer stopping distances. The issues reported most often: ABS releases or pedal drops when braking over bumps; Brake pedal fades, soft or failed stops; Engine stalls while driving or idling.
How many NHTSA complaints does the 1998 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 have?
NHTSA recorded 73 consumer complaints for the 1998 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 1998 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 is reported most often?
Brakes is named most often, in 32 complaints (44% of the total), followed by fuel system with 8.
Has the 1998 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 been recalled?
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year in the data used here. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
At what mileage are problems with the 1998 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 reported?
Among the 22 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 82,274 miles and the middle half falls between 46,081 and 97,000 miles; 32% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.