IllustrationTHE WINDSHIELD WIPERS INTERMITTENTLY FAIL. THIS HAS OCCURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. GM WILL NOT ISSUE A RECALL EVEN THOUGH IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM ON 1998 MODELS. THERE IS A RECALL ON THE 1997'S.*AK
1998 Chevrolet C/K Pickups
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1998 Chevrolet C/K Pickups do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 23.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all C/k Pickups years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
20–25K
1225–50K
2650–75K
1175–100K
11100–150K
1150K+
63 reports with mileage · 15 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Visibility. Review the 34 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 23 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
1 crash reports1 fire reports2 injury reports
What owners actually said
78 reportsI HAVE A 1998 CHEVROLET K1500 PICKUP, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR WILL SUDDENLY STOP WHILE IN OPERATION,I KNOW THERE IS A RECALL ON MODELS UP TO 1997,BUT WHY NOT THE 1998 MODELS,THEY USE THE SAME PARTS! IT'S KINDA SCARY WHEN YOU ARE GOING DOWN I-95 IN MAINE IN THE MIDDLE OF A SNOW STORM WITH YOUR KIDS IN THE TRUCK AND THE WINDSHI…
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I HAVE A 1998 CHEVROLET K1500 PICKUP, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR WILL SUDDENLY STOP WHILE IN OPERATION,I KNOW THERE IS A RECALL ON MODELS UP TO 1997,BUT WHY NOT THE 1998 MODELS,THEY USE THE SAME PARTS! IT'S KINDA SCARY WHEN YOU ARE GOING DOWN I-95 IN MAINE IN THE MIDDLE OF A SNOW STORM WITH YOUR KIDS IN THE TRUCK AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS DECIDE THEY ARE GOING TO STOP AND YOU HAVE TO ROLL DOWN THE WINDOW AND STICK YOUR HEAD OUT TO SEE WHERE YOU ARE AT ON THE ROAD AND HOPE TO HELL YOU CAN FIND A SAFE PLACE TO PULL OVER. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN ON GOING WITH THIS TRUCK SINCE I OWNED IT(JANUARY 2001,28000 MILES) AND G.M. SHOULD PAY TO FIX THE PROBLEM. IT IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.*AK
WHILE DRIVING IN RAINY WEATHER, THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE CAUSE WAS NOT DETERMINED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.
THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS SUDDENLY STOP WORKING AND MAKE A LOUD BUZZING SOUND. SOMETIMES IT TAKES MINUTES BEFORE THEY WORK AGAIN. DURING WHICH TIMES IT WAS RAINING OR SNOWING HEAVILY AND AT NIGHT IT IS NEARLY MADE ME RUN OFF THE ROAD. THIS IS A SERIOUS AND LIFE THREATENING DEFECT.*AK
THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED WITH RELATIVELY LOW MILAGE JUST OUT OF WARRANTY. WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WAS RPLECED WITH A GM REPLACEMENT THEY INCLUDED UPDATED APRTS BUT IT WAS NOT COVERED BECAUSE THERE WAS NO RECALL AND IT WAS JUST OUT OF WARRANTY. THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED VERY SLOOPY BUT I WAS TOLD THIS WAS NORMAL, THEN IT EV…
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THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED WITH RELATIVELY LOW MILAGE JUST OUT OF WARRANTY. WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WAS RPLECED WITH A GM REPLACEMENT THEY INCLUDED UPDATED APRTS BUT IT WAS NOT COVERED BECAUSE THERE WAS NO RECALL AND IT WAS JUST OUT OF WARRANTY. THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED VERY SLOOPY BUT I WAS TOLD THIS WAS NORMAL, THEN IT EVENTUALY FAILED.
WIPER MOTOR: MOTOR WILL STOP WORKING INTERMITTENTLY. CURRENTLY HAVE FOUR WIRE TIES HOLDING WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR TIGHT AGAINST MOTOR BODY. THIS IS A TEMPORARY FIX.
STEERING WHEEL POSITION SENSOR: STEERING WILL JERK WHEN DRIVING STRAIGHT. WAS TOLD THAT THE SENSOR HAD A "WORN" SPOT AND THAT THE POWER STEERING BOOST WAS BEING ADDED AT PULL POWER BECAUSE THE SYSTEM DID NOT KNOW WHAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DOING.
INTAKE MANIFOLD LEAKING OIL AND COOLANT AT 54,000 MILES. WILL COST ME OVER $400.00 TO HAVE REPAIRED. I KNOW OF MANY OTHER 1998 K-1500 TRUCKS W/ VORTEC 350 WITH THE SAME ISSUE.
INOPERATIVE WINDSHIELD WIPERS. THE FIRST TIME EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM, I WAS CAUGHT IN A HEAVY RAINSTORM, IN ADDITION TO HEAVY INTER-CITY TRAFFIC CONDITIONS, ON MY WAY TO WORK, UPON TURNING ON MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS THERE WAS NO RESPONSE. THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WHICH HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES AND APPEARS TO BECOMING MO…
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INOPERATIVE WINDSHIELD WIPERS. THE FIRST TIME EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM, I WAS CAUGHT IN A HEAVY RAINSTORM, IN ADDITION TO HEAVY INTER-CITY TRAFFIC CONDITIONS, ON MY WAY TO WORK, UPON TURNING ON MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS THERE WAS NO RESPONSE. THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WHICH HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES AND APPEARS TO BECOMING MORE FREQUENT. THIS PROBLEM ALSO OCCURS IN THE WASHER MODE AND APPEARS TO HAVE A NO MODE ADHERENCE. FROM MENTIONING THIS IN CONVERSATIONS, I HAVE DISCOVERED THIS IS A REOCCURRING PROBLEM IN SEVERAL OTHER YEARS SILVERADO'S. CONSEQUENTLY, GM HAS ANOTHER PROBLEM THEY ARE FAILING TO RECOGNIZE HOW MANY ACCIDENTS/DEATHS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO OCCUR BEFORE THEY ADDRESS THIS ISSUE, IN ADDITION TO INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS REGARDING OTHER EQUIPMENT THAT CREATES A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD! *AK
TAILGATE CABLES BROKE WHILE LOADING FURNITURE ONTO TRUCK. DAMAGED TRUCK BED AND INJURED TWO FAMILY MEMBERS FROM THE CABLES BREAKING UPON LOADING FURNITURE INTO BED OF FAIRLY NEW TRUCK WITH ONLY 30 THOUSAND MILES ON IT. (29,995) . *AK
Official recalls
103V093000 · Visibility:rearview Mirrors/devices:exterior
Mar 7, 2003
CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, MINI VANS, AND PICKUP TRUCKS MAY DEVELOP A SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE ELECTRIC OUTSIDE REARVIEW MIRROR SWITCH.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THIS WERE TO HAPPEN, IT COULD RESULT IN AN INOPERATIVE SWITCH, HEAT DAMAGE TO THE DRIVER'S DOOR, AND/OR IGNITION OF COMPONENTS IN THE DRIVER'S DOOR AND A SUBSEQUENT VEHICLE FIRE WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED JUMPER HARNESS TO THE ELECTRIC OUTSIDE REARVIEW MIRROR SWITCH. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON APRIL 24, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020 OR GMC AT 1-800-462-8782.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
2EA02005 · Driver Door Electrical Fires
Opened May 17, 2002 · Closed May 1, 2003
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System; Visibility:rearview Mirrors/devices; Visibility:rearview Mirrors/devices:exterior
BY LETTER DATED MARCH 19, 2003, THE MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED NHTSA OF THE DECISION TO INITATE A SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN ON SELECTED VEHICLES WITHIN THE SUBJECT POPULATION.THE CAMPAIGN INVOLVES 507,000 C/K AND M/L VEHICLES BUILT DURING MODEL YEARS 1997-1998.THE RECALL INVOLVES VEHICLE MODELS WITH HIGH INCIDENT RATES AND BUILT AT SELECTED ASSEMBLY PLANTS.A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR TO THE DEFECT WASINHERENT VARIATIONS IN ASSEMBLY CONDITIONS, WORKER SKILL LEVELS ANDPROCESSES THAT EXIST FROM ONE ASSEMBLY LOCATION TO ANOTHER.TO REMEDY THE DEFECT, DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED JUMPER HARNESS TO THE ELECTRIC OUTSIDE REARVIEW MIRROR SWITCH.NHTSA HAS ASSIGNED CAMPAIGN NO. 03V-093 TO THE RECALL.
Additional source detail variants (3)
Electrical System
BY LETTER DATED MARCH 19, 2003, THE MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED NHTSA OF THE DECISION TO INITATE A SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN ON SELECTED VEHICLES WITHIN THE SUBJECT POPULATION.THE CAMPAIGN INVOLVES 507,000 C/K AND M/L VEHICLES BUILT DURING MODEL YEARS 1997-1998.THE RECALL INVOLVES VEHICLE MODELS WITH HIGH INCIDENT RATES AND BUILT AT SELECTED ASSEMBLY PLANTS.A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR TO THE DEFECT WASINHERENT VARIATIONS IN ASSEMBLY CONDITIONS, WORKER SKILL LEVELS ANDPROCESSES THAT EXIST FROM ONE ASSEMBLY LOCATION TO ANOTHER.TO REMEDY THE DEFECT, DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED JUMPER HARNESS TO THE ELECTRIC OUTSIDE REARVIEW MIRROR SWITCH.NHTSA HAS ASSIGNED CAMPAIGN NO. 03V-093 TO THE RECALL.
Visibility:rearview Mirrors/devices:exterior
BY LETTER DATED MARCH 19, 2003, THE MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED NHTSA OF THE DECISION TO INITATE A SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN ON SELECTED VEHICLES WITHIN THE SUBJECT POPULATION.THE CAMPAIGN INVOLVES 507,000 C/K AND M/L VEHICLES BUILT DURING MODEL YEARS 1997-1998.THE RECALL INVOLVES VEHICLE MODELS WITH HIGH INCIDENT RATES AND BUILT AT SELECTED ASSEMBLY PLANTS.A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR TO THE DEFECT WASINHERENT VARIATIONS IN ASSEMBLY CONDITIONS, WORKER SKILL LEVELS ANDPROCESSES THAT EXIST FROM ONE ASSEMBLY LOCATION TO ANOTHER.TO REMEDY THE DEFECT, DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED JUMPER HARNESS TO THE ELECTRIC OUTSIDE REARVIEW MIRROR SWITCH.NHTSA HAS ASSIGNED CAMPAIGN NO. 03V-093 TO THE RECALL.
Visibility:rearview Mirrors/devices
BY LETTER DATED MARCH 19, 2003, THE MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED NHTSA OF THE DECISION TO INITATE A SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN ON SELECTED VEHICLES WITHIN THE SUBJECT POPULATION.THE CAMPAIGN INVOLVES 507,000 C/K AND M/L VEHICLES BUILT DURING MODEL YEARS 1997-1998.THE RECALL INVOLVES VEHICLE MODELS WITH HIGH INCIDENT RATES AND BUILT AT SELECTED ASSEMBLY PLANTS.A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR TO THE DEFECT WASINHERENT VARIATIONS IN ASSEMBLY CONDITIONS, WORKER SKILL LEVELS ANDPROCESSES THAT EXIST FROM ONE ASSEMBLY LOCATION TO ANOTHER.TO REMEDY THE DEFECT, DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED JUMPER HARNESS TO THE ELECTRIC OUTSIDE REARVIEW MIRROR SWITCH.NHTSA HAS ASSIGNED CAMPAIGN NO. 03V-093 TO THE RECALL.
PE01001 · Vacuum Brake Booster
Opened Jan 8, 2001 · Closed May 22, 2001
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
ALLEGED THAT THE VACUUM BRAKE BOOSTER CAN FAIL RESULTING IN LOSS OF BRAKE EFFECTIVENESS AND EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCES.