1998 Chevrolet GMT 400: common problems
Owners of the 1998 Chevrolet GMT 400 filed 4 complaints with NHTSA, most often about air bags and electrical system. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 4
What fails most often
- 1 Air bags 25% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 25% of all complaints
- 3 Exterior lighting 25% of all complaints
- 4 Visibility 25% of all complaints
- Air bags: 1 complaints (25% of all).
- Electrical system: 1 complaints (25% of all).
- Exterior lighting: 1 complaints (25% of all).
- Visibility: 1 complaints (25% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 4 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was unknown. The VIN was not available.
The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the dealer refused to diagnose the failure without a diagnostic test fee being paid. The vehicle was taken to two dealers and the contact was informed that the diagnostic test fee needed to be paid. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer.
The wiper motor stops working only works when it wasn't to when it rains i cant drive anywhere to hard to see when it rains which becomes a hazard for other drivers on the road i wrote about this 10 years ago and heard nothing back then so i try again except now it rarely works so i dont drive it in the rain at all
The concern involves yellowing plastic headlights lenses on all vehicle manufacturers. Visibility is compromised while driving at night. Yes autobody repair shop replaced headlight assembly. No, certain plastic headlight cover lenses yellow/darken/frost with time or driving conditions
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 15,521 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 42% most complained about).
On average one model year of the GMT 400 has 4 complaints (2 years in the data). This year has 4, about average.
What to check before buying
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Exterior lighting. Headlamps, leveling, sensors and mounts after a frontal hit.
- Visibility. Wipers, mirrors, defrosters, cracked glass.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1998 Chevrolet GMT 400?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: air bags, electrical system, exterior lighting. Total complaints: 4. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: headlights and tail lights (25%), warning lights, check engine (25%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1998 Chevrolet GMT 400?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 1998 Chevrolet GMT 400 from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 1998 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.