Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 2 of 3 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
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.
Air Bags. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Structure. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports
What owners actually said
3 reports
163,000 miles · May 11, 2012
Air Bags
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET EXPRESS 3500. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 65 MPH WHEN THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED ERRONEOUSLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEPLOYMENT CAUSED THE CONTACT TO MOMENTARILY LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A STOP SAFELY AND WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NO…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET EXPRESS 3500. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 65 MPH WHEN THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED ERRONEOUSLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEPLOYMENT CAUSED THE CONTACT TO MOMENTARILY LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A STOP SAFELY AND WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED OR INSPECTED FOR THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 163,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA ODI #10458107
140,000 miles · Feb 17, 2011
Air BagsInjury
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET EXPRESS 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SUDDENLY DEPLOYED ALTHOUGH THERE WAS NO CRASH. THE PASSENGER WAS INJURED AS A RESULT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEE…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET EXPRESS 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SUDDENLY DEPLOYED ALTHOUGH THERE WAS NO CRASH. THE PASSENGER WAS INJURED AS A RESULT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
NHTSA ODI #10383124
Mileage unknown · May 27, 2008
Structure
WE CURRENTLY OWN A 1998 AND A 2000 EXPRESS VAN AND WE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM ON BOTH OF THEM, THE PASSENGER SIDE DOORS (THE 'DOUBLE DOORS') ARE SEIZING UP. WE TRIED TO LUBRICATE THEM BUT IT HASN'T HELPED ANY. THE ONE DOOR ON THE 1998 HAS GOTTEN SO BAD THAT WE CAN'T EVEN OPEN THE LEFT HAND SIDE DOOR BECAUSE IT IS SO HARD TO SHUT A…
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WE CURRENTLY OWN A 1998 AND A 2000 EXPRESS VAN AND WE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM ON BOTH OF THEM, THE PASSENGER SIDE DOORS (THE 'DOUBLE DOORS') ARE SEIZING UP. WE TRIED TO LUBRICATE THEM BUT IT HASN'T HELPED ANY. THE ONE DOOR ON THE 1998 HAS GOTTEN SO BAD THAT WE CAN'T EVEN OPEN THE LEFT HAND SIDE DOOR BECAUSE IT IS SO HARD TO SHUT AND IT HAS ALREADY STARTED TO BECOME OUT OF ALIGNMENT. I BELIEVE THIS COULD BE A SAFETY HAZARD AS WE HAVE 6 CHILDREN, 3 OF WHICH HAVE TO SIT IN THE BACK SEAT AND IF THERE IS AN EMERGENCY WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO GET THE DOOR OPEN TO GET THEM OUT FASTER. WE HAVE HAD A DEALER DRILL HOLES IN THE HINGES TO LUBRICATE THEM, BUT THIS SEEMS TO BE A TEMPORARY AND EVENTUALLY INEFFECTIVE FIX TO A MAJOR PROBLEM. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10228932
Official recalls
0
No recalls in this snapshot.
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
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
1998 Chevrolet Express 3500 Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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