Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (service brakes, ABS, rotors and pads, parking brake).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1998 Chevrolet C/K Pickups owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
My 1998 Chevy silverado pickup truck had a brake line failure due to the brake line rusting out because the design has the brake line laying on top of a steel guard under the front of the truck where snow gathers rather easily and it is almost impossible to inspect the line there. I rear ended another vehicle on a highway due to the line rupturing without any prior notice of leaking when I applied the brakes. I had my truck towed to a repair shop and they replaced the line. They discovered where the rupture was and said it is a poor design of GM to place a line where it can rust out so easily without being detected.
I have just read the following on cnn: detroit (reuters) - general motors corp. Is recalling 804,000 full-size pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles because of potential brake problems, federal safety regulators said Tuesday. The national highway traffic safety administration said unwanted application of the antilock brake system in some vehicles can cause increased stopping distances during low-speed braking and May result in a crash. Vehicles affected by the recall include the Chevrolet avalanche and silverado Pickups and the Chevrolet suburban and tahoe suvs. The GMC sierra pickup and yukon and yukon xl suvs are also affected. All 804,000 vehicles trucks are from the 1999-2002 model years, NHTSA said. This exact problem exists on my 1998 Chevrolet silverado 4x4 pickup. …
I have a 1998 Chevy pickup truck with anti-lock brakes. For the last 2 years, the anti-lock brakes would activate whenever the vehicle is moving at speeds less than 10 MPH; this makes it difficult when trying to stop at slow speeds. I recently found out that 1999 & 2000 Chevy pickup trucks have a recall for the same ABS problem that I am experiencing with my 1998 truck. I went to the dealer to discuss this recall with them and they said that it was caused by the speed sensor and that it was the same problem that the recall was addressing, but because my truck was a 1998, they could not do anything unless Chevrolet gave them the OK. I went to Chevrolet's customer service and they said they would not cover it under the recall. I talked to another owner of a 1998 Chevy pickup and his truck had the same ABS problem. His solution to the problem was removing the ABS fuse. …
Normal usage of truck, hot or cold, happens about 20% of the time. When coming to a stop, at about 5mph, the ABS turns on and incresses the stoping distance. No damage yet but this weekend I came much too close to hitting a family crossing the street. I have not driven the truck since but after doing some research I have found there is a TSB #634839, for 99-02 silverados with this problem. It states dirty wheel speed sensors or sensors out of range. I will be folowing the directions there to attempt to repair my 98 silverado. I am not positive but I believe GM of Canada has already recalled affected models to repair this problem. There is no ABS light or codes stored. I did not realize how large this problem is but Chevy truck world has a 3 page forum filled with people complaining about this very issue (http://chevytruckworld.tenmagazines.com/forums/topic.ten?pos=2&id=94989). …
I have a 1998 Chevy c1500 extended cab p/u. If you hold normal pressure on the brake pedal at a stop sign or light, the pedal holds just fine. But if you push just a little harder, it goes down. I have taken it almost to the floor. There is no brake fluid leaking. It never gets low. I have put a new, not used, master cylinder from autozone on it. It does the same thing. I used to be an auto mechanic at a.k. Durnin Chrysler Plymouth in baton rouge louisiana. I now sell auto parts and I'm telling you, this is not normal. Also, if I hit the brakes kind of hard, and then let off just a little, it makes a noise and an uneven breaking pattern. It's the anti-lock brakes, braking and letting off, repetitively. About like the rhythm of a jack hammer. Oh, I spent 3 1/2 years at the Dodge dealer as a mechanic. I did brakes every week. …
I began to have trouble with my brakes in September of 2004. At very low speeds (under 5mph) my anti lock brakes would start firing for no apparent reason. I took the vehicle into the shop and they cleaned the speed sensors on the ABS. A few weeks later, the ABS started to do the same thing again. I took the vehicle back in and they did some kind of test on the speed sensors. They reported back to me that one of the speed sensors had gone bad. They replaced the speed sensor at that time, oct 11, 2004. I have not had any problems since but have seen a report with certain vehicles being recalled for this problem. My vehicle is not one that has been recalled but has the same problem described in the recall I read. How can you say wisconsin is not part of the salt belt?? That seems ridiculous.
Vehicle goes into anti-skid mode on dry pavement, vehicle does not stop. I wound up on sidewalk on May 7, 2003. Visited Chevrolet dealership on May 8; claims faulty regulator ring in front hubs causing ABS to activate at incorrect intervals. Could not tell me which one was bad! Wanted to try to replace one, if that didn't work would replace other. All at cost to me! $1000 for repairs. I'm amazed they can not even diagnose their own faulty parts and want to charge me for their trial and error repairs, including possible unnecessary repairs because of their incompetent diagnosis. I know of two other people who have had this problem, they have the same model and make, different years: 2000, and 2001.
I have a 1998 Chevrolet pickup truck that periodically has the anti-lock brakes engage for no known reason when you are traveling at a slow speed and apply the brakes. This engagement of the ABS makes stopping the vehicle in a reasonable distance difficult. I have read about several people with this problem in these vehicles. It is my understanding that there either is a recall or May be a recall some be a recall on 1999 and later models of this vehicle in certain states. It appears to me that 1998 models of this truck May have the same problem that is causing the possible recall I mentioned above.
Front rotor on Chevrolet cheyenne 4 wheel drive pick-up separated into two parts. The inner section being the part where the lugs are.the outer section being the portion the brake pads ride on.inspection of the rotors shows an insufficent thickness in the metal of the rotor.this is not an isolated incident. A friend of mine had the same thing happen to him.I replaced the rotors with new ones, but I was fortunate that I heard a noise at a toll booth as I pulled onto a high speed highway.I have the defective part.
Brake failure on 2 separate occasions due to brake line ruptures...once 6' below the master cylinder and 8 months later on a line to a rear brake. Both times lost the pedal. My truck is a 1998 ck 1500 with virtually no body rot. I was surprised that #1 there was a complete loss of pedal and #2 a second perforation occurred so soon. I will fill out the form for incident #1 ( July 2009) the other rupture was 23 mar 2010.
NHTSA investigations
Vacuum brake booster
Alleged that the vacuum brake booster can fail resulting in loss of brake effectiveness and extended stopping distances.
Brake complaints in other C/K Pickups years
Frequently asked questions
How common are brake problems on the 1998 Chevrolet C/K Pickups?
NHTSA has 24 complaints about the brakes of the 1998 Chevrolet C/K Pickups, 31% of the model year's 78 complaints. The component named most often is antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (13 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1998 Chevrolet C/K Pickups brake problems?
No. NHTSA lists no brakes recall for the 1998 Chevrolet C/K Pickups, though it has 1 recall for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 1998 Chevrolet C/K Pickups brake problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 70,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 0 fires and 0 injuries to brakes problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.