1998 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 Problems

What owners report

Owners of this 1998 Silverado 3500 most often describe brake concerns, especially anti-lock braking that engages when it should not, a low or soft pedal, and longer stopping distances, sometimes with the truck pulling to one side. The sampled complaints also include repeated tread separation on the original equipment tires, stalling or surging with the diesel engine, and front-end shake. Many complaints were filed on trucks that were already several years old, and mileage in the sample ranges widely, from very low readings to over 190,000 miles.

1. 1
   Brakes

   ABS engages when it should not / long stopping distance

   • 11 complaints (16%)
   • median 59,000 mi at 11.4 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1997–2009

   Complaints describe the anti-lock brakes activating at low speeds when no skid is expected, the pedal traveling close to the floor, and the truck taking longer to stop than the driver expects. Several owners say the wheel speed sensor or the ABS unit was suspected, and some report that multiple dealer visits did not produce a lasting repair. A few describe the rear wheels locking and skidding, particularly in cold weather or on wet roads. Reported across a wide mileage range, from very low readings up to about 114,500 miles; several owners mention cold weather or wet roads making it worse.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Test the brakes at low speed on a quiet road and note whether the pedal feels firm and the ABS stays quiet; ask for records of any ABS sensor, module or Hydro-Boost work.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Have had 2 1998 k3500 trucks. Both have had what I consider severe anti-lock failures which occur anytime, especially at slow speeds. Both were taken to multiple dealerships with no permanent fix. Consensus of problems on both trucks was that the wheel speed sensor was failing, which would cause the anti-lock to activate when not needed. This results in inconsistent stopping distances. Both trucks also have a cold weather real end drag problem with the brakes. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10053003, filed 2004-01, 1,000 miles

   “Consumer was traveling about 15mph and was slowing down for a stop sign, applied the brakes, and in the process he hit a bump and vehicle rolled forward. When vehicle stopped, it was in the street passing the crosswalk. Abs braking system didn't kick in. Consumer stated that he has contacted the dealer.”

   NHTSA complaint #871658, filed 2000-09
2. 2
   Brakes

   Soft or low brake pedal, pulling, uneven wear

   • 11 complaints (16%)
   • typically at 1.5 yrs old
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1998–2011

   Owners describe a pedal that sits low or feels soft, sometimes requiring both feet to stop a loaded truck, and brakes that pull to one side when applied. Complaints mention warped drums or rotors, prematurely worn pads and shoes, a collapsed brake hose keeping a caliper engaged, and snapped brake lines. Some say the dealer overhauled the system or replaced the master cylinder, while others report the problem returning. Mileage in the sample is mostly not stated; a few owners mention pad and shoe replacement around 15,000 miles.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check brake fluid level and hose condition, look for uneven pad wear, and ask when the lines, hoses and master cylinder were last inspected.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Brake pedal always low, soft, sometimes stand on it with both feet to stop truck, worse with load in it. Replaced pads and shoes at 15,000 miles. Better, but still requires your undivided attention when braking.the problem can be best summarized as follows: I would use my landscape trailer brakes to help stop this truck. …”

   NHTSA complaint #723989, filed 2000-06

   “While driving into town with a snow plow on the truck approached an intersection and shifted to third gear to slow down, stepped on brakes and there was nothing. Pumped the brakes, and still nothing. Put the emergency brakes on and finally stopped. Contacted dealer, and dealer replaced the master cylinder. Dealer refused to give old parts.”

   NHTSA complaint #855587, filed 2000-01
3. 3
   Tires

   Tire tread separation and blowouts

   • 10 complaints (15%)
   • median 46,100 mi at 5.9 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • filed 1999–2003

   Complaints describe the tread peeling away from the casing on original equipment tires, often at highway speed, with a noise or vibration beforehand and damage to fenders and sheet metal afterward. Owners list a range of brands and sizes, mostly LT225/75R16 and LT245/75R16, and several mention that the tires were at the pressure recommended on the placard. Some report that the tire maker declined warranty coverage. Mostly reported at highway speeds; stated mileages range from about 21,000 to roughly 71,000 miles on the tires.

   What to check: Check tire date codes and sidewall condition on any truck still running its original tires, and look for bulges or separation where the tread meets the shoulder.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving at 60 MPH the vehicle suddenly started to vibrate violently and pulled very hard to the right. Upon inspection the consumer noticed that the front right tire tread had separated from the sidewall (tire size lt 22575r16 DOT number ad1d7a1697. ) please provide any further details.”

   NHTSA complaint #10040642, filed 2003-09, 21,000 miles

   “Problems with all six firestone steeltex tires on dual axle pickup truck. The consumer had to replace all six of the tires, because of a blow out. Several days later the consumer noticed that tread had separated from on one of tires on the vehicle. The consumer felt that he deserves compensation for the tires. The first tire had blown out at 71200k miles, then on the second tire the tread separated at 71427k miles.”

   NHTSA complaint #10037866, filed 2003-08, 71,200 miles
4. 4
   Fuel system

   Diesel stalling, surging and unintended acceleration

   • 7 complaints (10%)
   • median 92,500 mi at 11.0 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • filed 1999–2012

   Owners of the diesel trucks describe the engine hesitating, stalling at highway speed with loss of power steering and power brakes, and sometimes accelerating on its own after the throttle is released. Complaints mention the injection pump or injector being replaced, sometimes more than once, and rpm surging or over-revving on restart. Some owners say the dealer could not duplicate the problem or offered no lasting repair. Reported from roughly 46,000 to 128,000 miles; one owner links stalling to hot weather.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask for injection pump and injector service records, and drive the truck long enough to include highway speed and a restart to watch for hesitation or idle flare.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was driving my ~ chevy dually diesel truck ~ on a freeway pulling a trailer with my antique car in it when the truck kind of hesitated / sputtered and died ! I lost power brakes - but was able to get pulled over to side and after a period of time the truck restarted ... Numerous times after this I had the truck die and hesitate - I took to a Chevrolet dealer once - they questioned the passlock security system and bad ignition switch - wanted a ridiculous price to fix .... …”

   NHTSA complaint #10484122, filed 2012-11, 78,500 miles

   “98 chev k3500 with 6.5 turbo diesel would stall at highway speeds causing loss of power steering and power brakes. Engine sometimes would restart when vehicle put in neutral other times it may take sveral minutes. On several occasions the engine would hickup then begin to accelerate on it's own despite removing my foot from the pedal. I would have to turn the ignition off to slow the vehicle and regain control. Sometimes when attempting to restart engine it would either over rev or the RPM's would surge up and down severely. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10457557, filed 2012-05, 92,500 miles
5. 5
   Suspension

   Front-end shake and wander

   • 7 complaints (10%)
   • typically at 1.7 yrs old
   • filed 1998–2001

   Complaints describe the front end shaking and rattling with the steering wheel jerking at road speed, and steering that wanders so the truck is hard to hold in its lane on grooved pavement or in wind. One owner reports an upper control arm missing a rear bolt, and another mentions the dealer could not fix a pull to the left after repeated visits. Mileage is mostly not stated in the sample; complaints span highway and in-town driving.

   What to check: Have a shop inspect the front suspension and steering linkage, including control arm bolts, and take a highway test drive to feel for shake or wander.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving on freeway steering wheel was shaking. Pulled over. Had the vehicle towed to a local mechanic, and was told that the upper control arm on the driver side was missing a rear bolt. * county had another identical vehicle, when inspected, found the bolt was ready to come out.”

   NHTSA complaint #852025, filed 1999-11

   “Vehicle in shop 8-10 times for poor braking performance. Steering not working. Suspension fails & it pulls severly to left. Dealer/mechanic test drove vehicle w/owner. Could not repair pulling to left, suspension or steering problems. Is a commercial vehicle.”

   NHTSA complaint #829513, filed 1998-10

Buying note. These trucks are old enough that maintenance history matters more than the complaint list, so ask for brake, tire and injection system records and budget for a thorough brake and front-end inspection before purchase. Confirm the tire age if the truck still has its original set.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 52 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.