"How reliable is the 1998 Chevrolet Silverado 3500?"

"Based on 100 NHTSA complaints, the 1998 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 has a median complaint mileage of 69100 miles. The most common issue is Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip."

"What are common problems with the 1998 Chevrolet Silverado 3500?"

"The most frequently reported component in NHTSA complaints for the 1998 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 is Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip, accounting for a significant portion of the 100 total complaints filed."

1998 Chevrolet Silverado 3500: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 100 complaints

100

Total Complaints

69,100mi

Median Mileage

Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip

Top Issue

Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

59,000 25th Percentile

69,100 Median Mileage

98,596 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip

Tread/Belt

Tires

Foundation Components

Fuel System, Diesel

Vehicle Speed Control

Front

Axle Assembly

Pads

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

Severity Assessment

Crashes

Fires

Injuries

Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"WHEN APPLYING THE ABS BRAKES ON DRY PAVEMENT AT 20 MPH THE BRAKES DID NOT GRAB, BUT THE PEDAL NEARLY TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *AK CONSUMER STATES DURING A PANIC STOP, WHEEL LOCKED UP AND THEN THERE WAS A TOTAL RELEASE, SEVERAL TIMES AT 2 SECOND INTERVALS. *S..."

"CONSUMER STATES THAT THERE IS AN EXPOSED WIRE COUPLER IN THE REAR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE THAT CAUSED A SMALL FIRE. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK"

"THE DESIGN OF THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS DO NOT ENGAGE TAIL LIGHTS AT THE SAME TIME, CREATING A DANGEROUS SITUATIONS FOR CONSUMER ON OCCASIONS."

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

When Were Complaints Filed?

Number of complaints by the year the issue occurred.

When Does Each Component Fail?

Median mileage at complaint for top components.

Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip 17 complaints

Median: 59,000 mi

Fuel System, Diesel 4 complaints

25th: 61,000 mi Median: 72,250 mi 75th: 90,875 mi

Where Are Complaints Coming From?

Top states by complaint count.

MN: 13 AZ: 11 NY: 9 OK: 9 CA: 6 FL: 5 VA: 5 PA: 4 NV: 3 GA: 3

Who Files Complaints?

43%

Original Owners

57%

Second+ Owners

Chevrolet Silverado 3500 — Other Years

See how this model compares across different model years.

Year	Complaints	Median Mileage	Top Issue	Crashes
1997	78	50,000	Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip	6
1999	73	30,495	Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip	1
2000	114	56,000	Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip	8
2001	97	73,000	Service Brakes	9
2002	64	40,213	Service Brakes	9
2003	60	83,000	Service Brakes, Hydraulic	0
2004	46	52,000	Service Brakes, Hydraulic	6
2005	60	46,500	Service Brakes	0
2006	60	52,621	Service Brakes	7
2007	41	30,000	Air Bags	1
2008	35	66,558	Air Bags	2
2011	42	73,587	Air Bags	1
2012	31	51,350	Tires	1
2013	36	56,000	Steering	1
2015	76	33,922	Electrical System	4
2016	72	27,000	Steering	5
2018	26	25,700	Engine	0
2019	33	500	Power Train	1
2020	48	34,000	Power Train	1
2021	52	24,760	Electrical System	1
2022	29	55,000	Service Brakes	2
2024	61	7,400	Electrical System	1

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28