Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1998 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
I drove on the highway aprox. 20 miles. When I came to my exit and stopped and tried to go my transmission slipped causing my to roll out into traffic and pause briefly till it slammed into gear. When I got to a spot I could pull over and check it out I realized no reverse. It would not shift out of first also. I called GM to report since the transmission had already been replaced once under extended warranty. I was told to take it to GM dealer for diagnosis. I was told it needed replaced or rebuilt. I got a second opinion from r and r transmission. They explained the transmission needed an update to work properly and this is probably why the first one failed. They rebuilt transmission. This near miss could have been serious.
I have a Chevrolet 1500 conversion van.transmition unable to go into any gear. I was in lynchbury, va. Had to be towed. This incident occurred 11/23/01. Had to have transmition rebuilt. I was told that the manufacturer had done some update to the model transmition in my van. 06/01/04 transmition slipping. Had to have transmition rebuilt again. In 21/2 years I have spent $4,500. On repairs to transmition in my van. It is obvious that that transmition in my van is not compatable with the wiegh of the vehicle, and the manufacturer knew this. I didnot get 40000 miles before having transmition rebuilt again.
I have a 1998 Chevy k1500 pick-up this will be the second time it has gone to the garage for a rough shift, slippage during shift I have looked online and their are thousands of complaints for the same type of vehicle, second the door handles break very easy on this year of truck inside and outside. The bad part about that is for any reason you get out and the kids are in the truck and the door closes you aren't able to get back into the vehicle, Chevy doesn't want to here anything about this because obviously it would probably cost thousands of dollars to fix.
The reviser gear is not working this is the third time I will pay to fix the truck I don't think I will buy a Chevy truck . It is 1500 hundred dollars to fix this problem.I ask the shop man and he said it should have been recall a long time ago. So what is up with that. I will tell all my friends not to buy your cars and trucks I guess a Ford will do.at less they will fix their owen mess up parts.good buy cheve hello Ford.
Transmission failure in a 1998 Chevrolet c1500 pickup truck .ses light comes on and harsh shift 1to 2 and no overdrive all the shops I talked to say it is a engineering desgn flaw in the transmission and GM knows about it. But after talking to GM customer service they have no idea of that the transmissions are failing . Cottman transmission has contacted them about the large number of failures.
My boyfriend(mario diego) and I (carmenia) purchased a 1998 Chevy tahoe. From brooks motor company on April 1,2005. From April 1 to June 29,2005. The tahoe had to be returned to brooks motor service center 8 to 9 different times for repairs. Now my car rear end has broke and not drivable.
This vehicl caught fire and burned after transmission problems; hydraulic fluid suspected as source of fire; no one present at time of fire, the owner having gone for help after shutting off the motor and parking the truck.
Displeased with auto transmission, problem #1, when the transmission shifts from 2nd into 3rd gear it will shift with a very uneasy noise ( like the transmission has a problem shifting into 3rd, this will not happen all the time and the truck can be cold or at normal running temperture for the transmission to shift uneasy. The dealer this problem has been on going for years and their are trying to come up with a quick fix to fix this issue without having to replace my transmission, they did tell me that GM has already replace and rebuilt alot of transmission in the united states for this problem. I have been told by the sales rep. That sold me the truck that he has a flyer from GM with a statment just to the dealer's about this problem. …
I own a 1998 cevrolet k-1500 4wd Silverado pickup truck. I've been having a problem with the slip yoke on the transmission and driveshaft not performing properly for the last two years. It makes a "squaking"sound and feels like it is taking out the slack in the driveshaft when you push on the gas pedal. It does the same when you are coming to a stop. I wrote to Chevrolet 2 years ago and they told me I should get a hold of my dealer to have the problem investigated. I did that at bergey's Chevrolet in hatfield, pa 19440 on 02/20/2002-02/21/2002 at a cost of $103.67. They thought there was a replacement slip yoke for my truck, but when I showed up they said the new part was actually for a 1999 or newer truck so it wouldn't fit my truck. They said they could probably replace it with the same part exactly as I already had, but would experience the same problems down the road. …
Steering defect will end up causing accidents and death if caught by surprise, it makes you jerk the steering wheel at speed while making a a turn. Transmission problem is wide spred, every shop I contacted could tell me the error code(1870) and the solution, and that this part always fails just outside of warranty. GM kows this, and yet does not help. This defect is causing consumers from 400-2800 in repairs for a part with a known failure rate.
Transmission complaints in other Silverado 1500 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 1998 Chevrolet Silverado 1500?
NHTSA has 26 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 1998 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, 7% of the model year's 361 complaints. The component named most often is automatic transmission (17 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1998 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 transmission problems?
No. NHTSA lists no transmission & drivetrain recall for the 1998 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. 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 Silverado 1500 transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 67,000 miles, and 14% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 1 fire and 0 injuries to transmission & drivetrain 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.