4th Aug 2008, 00:47

This whole series of Silverado are crap. The quality is down to using Chinese parts, like the replacement tailgate cables. My tailgate would not open either. I took out the three screws on the inside of the tailgate and removed the large plastic cover. They used a small piece of plastic to keep the rods in place. Of course it didn't last. What junk. My instrument cluster went out at 200 miles and was replaced. It is now beginning to act up again. The intermediate steering shaft has been replaced every 18,000 miles under warranty and is due to fail again in about 10,00 miles. The panel for the electric windows broke loose for no reason and is sliding off. These trucks are junk with no quality control at all.

8th Sep 2008, 03:46

Bought a 98 Silverado Extended Cab 4x4 305 V8 5 speed in February with 142k. The truck runs great.

The ABS light is on and it doesn't work. It hasn't since I bought it. I don't really care too much about it.

Replaced passenger side rear drum at around 150k.

It has 155k about on it now. Overall it's a great truck. Haven't had any major problems on it yet. Starts right up on a colder Minnesota mornings.

Only thing I would change about it is add a rear door, cuz it doesn't have one and maybe automatic.

The only reason I would give up the 5 speed is my girlfriend refuses to learn how to drive stick.

9th Oct 2008, 12:32

I am the original poster. Here's another follow-up.

We are now in Oct, 2008, at about 150,000 miles.

Both front hubs had to be replaced in May, 2005 because the anti-lock sensors went bad, causing lots of false anti-lock activation when just coming to a stop. It cost me $600 then.

Now, the same thing has happened AGAIN, only 3 years later. Now the bill will be $950 because the hub prices have gone way up.

No way am I spending that. I will call GM, and see if they will do this for free since I already paid to have it done once. If they won't, the ABS fuse comes out, and I say to HECK with the ABS. I drove my whole life without anti-lock brakes. As far as I'm concerned, they are an expensive unnecessary crutch for people who don't know how to drive. And how many lives do they REALLY save? For all the millions of dollars spent creating, installing, buying, repairing them?

19th Jan 2009, 21:53

At 183000 miles, still running pretty good.

1 starter, 1 fuel pump, 2 alternators, 1 set of plugs, 2 K&N air filters, replaced front rotors, intake manifold been leaking for 30k miles just barely (never leaked any worse, I did tighten up the manifold bolts once).

The engine does have a little rough idle, but the truck still gets 13.5 on hwy. empty, pulling a 20ft. 10 mpg, engine is a little weak. It's best mpg was around 15.

Engine has had Amsoil since 30k miles, transmission had Amsoil installed same mileage (30k) never had a issue still strong, I did replace the filter once.

All in all, I am pleased. I've had about 6 GM trucks, all have been good trucks. More than likely will get the engine rebuilt soon.

16th Feb 2009, 17:24

For the people who are talking about their doorhandles, mine cracked about five years ago, and it is still cracked, but it is still working. So if it doesn't totally break, don't fix it! It may pull out a little bit but it is still pretty solid in most cases.

19th Feb 2009, 21:01

A mean little kid broke the door handle on one of my vehicles several years ago. I found salvage yards to be a great place to find items like these and save the ridiculous money dealers charge. I gave $5 for one at the junk yard.

20th Feb 2009, 11:19

98 Silverado bought new in 98.. now has 139,000 and intake gasket went out.. 120,000 fuel pump, 125,000 ABS sensors. JUST UNPLUGGED IT, don't like ABS anyways!

Exhaust rusted off 2 times, just welded the muffler back on..

Alternator at 100,000. Oh yeah, gas gauge is not accurate, and when it's in the red you better be looking for a gas station...

Anyways, all in all I love my truck, minus the ugly rust on the bottom. Pretty cheap repairs so far, knock on wood! But it has been well maintained all its life!!

1st Mar 2009, 09:39

For those who are talking about door handles, Autozone has both interior and exterior replacements for about 15 bucks each, and they work just fine and look just as good.

I also have a 98 Chevy. I got it used in 2003 with 73000 miles on it. Since then I have replaced 2 intake gasket, multiple brake,s windshield wiper board, radiator, and several other things.

The one problem that I have that I haven't been able to get an answer for, is when I am going up a long hill at a constant pull, it starts shaking and bogging down, and then the check engine light will come on and stay on for a while. I have replaced the plugs and wires because it always say misfire on plug 5, and I've run Seafoam through it many times. Any ideas of what it could be? I have thought about the torque converter because a neighbor just had to replace his, but I read in a previous post the rpm goes up and down by 500, and mine isn't, so any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

13th Mar 2009, 13:59

I have a 98 Chevy 2500. It has roughly 160,000 miles on it. I just purchased the vehicle recently and am having trouble with the windshield wipers. I've read on here numerous people that have had wiper problems. Anyone have any suggestions?? Sometimes they work and sometimes they don't. When they don't work it makes a whining noise by the motor, I have no idea what this could be from.

27th Mar 2009, 18:52

I have a '98 Silverado Z71 and have had several problems with it.

30,000 miles: drivers side door handle housing cracked.

79,000 miles: replaced water pump, radiator and intake manifold gasket.

85,000 miles: replaced front rotors (warped), power brake vacuum booster and had to have the wiper control board re-soldered because the wipers were erratic.

129,000 miles: rear differential cover plate rusted through causing a oil leak.

The tailgate cables broke around 100,000 miles. There was a recall for 1999 trucks for this problem but not for 1998. The tailgate latches are shot and I have to replace them soon.

And the American car makers can't figure out why no one is buying their products. Short term profits over quality is all the bean counters running the companies care about.