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1998 Chevrolet Tahoe

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1998 Chevrolet Tahoe do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 246.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

89 reports with mileage · 174 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 71 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Visibility. Review the 50 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 31 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

18 crash reports7 fire reports9 injury reports

Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

71 reports
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16,000 miles · Jun 27, 2003
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

MY BRAKES ON MY 1998 TAHOE, WHICH I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER, HAVE HAD TO BE REPLACED 3 TIMES. THE ANTI-LOCK SYSTEM ENGAGES ON DRY PAVEMENT CAUSING THE VEHICLE NOT TO STOP. THIS VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS 37,000 MILES ON IT. GM WILL NOT FIX BECAUSE THEY SAY THE WARRANTY IS UP. I FEEL THIS IS A DEFECT AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. I HA…

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MY BRAKES ON MY 1998 TAHOE, WHICH I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER, HAVE HAD TO BE REPLACED 3 TIMES. THE ANTI-LOCK SYSTEM ENGAGES ON DRY PAVEMENT CAUSING THE VEHICLE NOT TO STOP. THIS VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS 37,000 MILES ON IT. GM WILL NOT FIX BECAUSE THEY SAY THE WARRANTY IS UP. I FEEL THIS IS A DEFECT AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. I HAVE READ THAT THE SYSTEMS ON THE NEWER VEHICLES HAVE BEEN IMPROVED BECAUSE THE ONE I HAVE IS SUBSTANDARD FOR THE VEHICLES. THE COST TO REPAIR THIS SYSTEM IS CONSIDERABLE, WHEN I QUESTIONED THE DEALER THEY COULD NOT GIVE ME AN ACCURATE SUM BECAUSE AS THEY GOT FURTHER INTO FIXING IT THERE IS NO WAY OF KNOWING HOW MUCH IT WILL COST UNTIL IT WAS DONE. WHO IS TO SAY IT WOULD WORK PROPERLY WHEN THEY FINISHED AND I WOULD HAVE SPENT WELL OVER A THOUSAND DOLLARS. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10023885

Mileage unknown · Feb 27, 2003
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHEN THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED, THE VEHICLE STOPPED ABRUPTLY. THE NEXT DAY, THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL STARTED TO SHAKE, THE DEALER STATED THE FRONT ROTOR HAD SHEARED OFF FROM THE MOUNTING BOLT. THERE WAS A RECALL REGARDING THE ISSUE, RECALL # 98V033000, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10009551

81,625 miles · Feb 16, 2003
Air BagsService Brakes, HydraulicCrash

BRAKES ON 1998 CHEVY TAHOE FAILED CAUSING REAR END COLLISION. ABS BRAKES NEVER CAME ON ABS LIGHT ON OFTER COLLISION. EXTENSSIVE FRONT END DAMAGE TO VEHICILE SRS SYSTEM NEVER DEPLOYED WITH MAJOR FRONT END DAMMAGE.

NHTSA ODI #10007607

Mileage unknown · Aug 22, 2002
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

CONSUMER STATED THE ABS ENGAGE ON DRY PAVEMENT AT A SLOW GRADUAL STOP.*SCC

NHTSA ODI #786442

Mileage unknown · Aug 4, 2002
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

THE ABS SYSTEM ACTIVATES ON DRY PAVEMENT AT A SLOW GRADUAL SPEED STOP 75 PERCENT OF THE TIME. THIS IS AN OBVIOUS DEFECT CAUSED BY FAULTY ENGINEERING AND MANUFACTURING.*AK

NHTSA ODI #765171

Mileage unknown · Aug 2, 2002
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES TO COME TO A STOP BRAKE PEDAL WOULD GO TO THE FLOOR. WHEN THIS OCCURRED, CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO PRESS HARDER TO GET VEHICLE TO STOP. VEHICLE BEEN TO DEALER, AND PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8015396

Mileage unknown · Mar 28, 2002
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

CONSUMER STATES THERE WAS A PULSATION IN THE BRAKES. TOOK TO DEALER AND DEALER REPLACED BRAKE SHOES, DRUMS, ROTORS, PADS, PROPORTIONING BELT. CONSUMER STATES IS PULSATING AGAIN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. NLM

NHTSA ODI #8006591

Mileage unknown · Feb 20, 2002
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES THERE IS A PULSATING NOISE DUE TO WARPED ROTORS. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8004273

Mileage unknown · Sep 26, 2001
Power TrainService Brakes, HydraulicSteering

STEERING PROBLEM- I SUDDENLY LOST STEERING WHILE DRIVING. ACCORDING TO THE DEARORSHIP THIS WAS CAUSED BY A MALFUNCTION OF THE POWER STEERING SENSOR. I ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH, AND LUCKILY THERE WERE NO VEHICLES AROUND AND I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. I ASKED THE DEALER IF THERE WAS A RECALL ON…

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STEERING PROBLEM- I SUDDENLY LOST STEERING WHILE DRIVING. ACCORDING TO THE DEARORSHIP THIS WAS CAUSED BY A MALFUNCTION OF THE POWER STEERING SENSOR. I ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH, AND LUCKILY THERE WERE NO VEHICLES AROUND AND I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. I ASKED THE DEALER IF THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS, AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NOT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY EITHER. BRAKES- WHILE MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING, HE LOST BRAKES ON THE CAR. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER SERVICE DEPT, THE REAL AXEL SEALS WERE LEAKING, AND THE FRONT CALIPERS WERE STUCK. SEALS AND GASKETS WERE REPLACED ALONG WITH THE MASTER CYLINDER. THIS ITEM WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. WE'VE HAD ON-GOING PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE BRAKING VERY ROUGHLY AND "SKIPPING". THE ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE DUE TO THEM WARPING DUE TO OVERHEATING. THE BRAKES ARE STILL GIVING US PROBLEMS. THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY WENT UP WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH. THERE WERE ABSOLUTLY NO SIGNS OF THIS HAPPENING BEFORE THIS TIME. THE FLUID WAS CLEAN WHEN I PULLED THE CAR OVER, AND THERE WAS NO SLIPPING EITHER. I WAS DRIVING ALONG AND A VERY LOUD NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE CAR- IT SOUNDED LIKE THE REAR-END, AND THE CAR BECAME SUDDENLY UNDRIVEABLE. LUCKILY I WAS ON A DESERTED ROAD AND WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER. I FEEL THAT IF I WAS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC DRIVING AT 55-65 MPH IN ANY OF THE ABOVE INSTANCES A SERIOUS ACCIDENT COULD HAVE OCCURRED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #752616

Mileage unknown · Sep 2, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, HydraulicVisibility

THE BRAKE FAILURES ARE WELL KNOWN BY ALL TAHOE OWNERS. THE FAILURES FOR THE WINDSHIELD WIPER CONTROL ASSEMBLY, BRAKE LIGHT ASSEMBLY ARE ALL RELATED TO POOR QUALITY ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS NOT INTENDED FOR ANY REASONABLE SERVICE LIFE. JUNK BY ANY QUALITY STANDARDS. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT NELDA STEVENSON CHEVROLET ACKNOLWDGED…

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THE BRAKE FAILURES ARE WELL KNOWN BY ALL TAHOE OWNERS. THE FAILURES FOR THE WINDSHIELD WIPER CONTROL ASSEMBLY, BRAKE LIGHT ASSEMBLY ARE ALL RELATED TO POOR QUALITY ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS NOT INTENDED FOR ANY REASONABLE SERVICE LIFE. JUNK BY ANY QUALITY STANDARDS. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT NELDA STEVENSON CHEVROLET ACKNOLWDGED THESE COMPONENTS HAVE HIGH FAILURE RATES, BUT THEY GET PAID TO CORRECT THEM. THE COOLANTCONNECTOR IS AN EXTEMEMLY POOR DESIGN. DESPITE THREADING INTO THE INTAKE, IT IS MADE OF A POOR QUALITY MATERIAL THAT BREAKS OFF AT THE ENTRY TO THE MANIFOLD REQUIRING REMOVAL OF THE MANIFOLD TO REMOVE THE BROKEN THREADS RESULTING IN A $400 BILL TO REPLACE A $12.95 PART. AGAIN PATHETIC DESIGN AND CHOICE OF MATERIALS TO SAVE A COUPLE OF DOLLARS IN MANUFACTURING. AS A DESIGN ENGINEER, I FIND THESE CHOICES BY GM DESIGNERS DEPLORABLE AND WILL BUY USED BMWS FROM NOW ON. A BMW WITH 200,000 MILES HAS MORE SERVICE LIFE LEFT IN IT THAN A BRAND NEW GM PRODUCT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #751549

Official recalls

2

98V033000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:disc:rotor

Feb 17, 1998

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS AND MULTI-PURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLES. ONE OR BOTH FRONT BRAKE ROTOR/HUBS WERE BUILT WITH AN OUT-OF-SPECIFICATION GRAY IRON THAT CAN FAIL DURING THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF A DRIVER CONTINUES TO DRIVE WITH A CRACKED ROTOR, THE CRACKS COULD CONTINUE AROUND THE WHEEL MOUNTING BOLT CIRCLE AND ULTIMATELY RESULT IN A WHEEL SEPARATION.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE ROTORS FOR A CORE DATE OF "287" AND, IF FOUND, REPLACE THE ROTOR.

97V142000 · Steering:gear Box (other Than Rack And Pinion)

Aug 29, 1997

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY EXTENDED-CAB PICKUP TRUCKS AND 4-DOOR UTILITY TRUCKS. THE LOWER STEERING SHAFT TO STEERING GEAR PINCH BOLT IS "FINGER LOOSE" OR MISSING ALLOWING THE BOLT TO LOOSEN AND FALL OUT. THE STEERING SHAFT YOKE CAN WEAR CAUSING AN OFF CENTER STEERING WHEEL.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN THE CHASSIS AND CAB CAN CAUSE THE STEERING SHAFT TO SEPARATE FROM THE STEERING GEAR. THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS ARE ARRANGING TO HAVE THE VEHICLES INVOLVED TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND ALTERNATE TRANSPORTATION IS BEING ARRANGED FOR OWNERS. DEALERS WILL THEN INSPECT THE VEHICLE FOR THE PRESENCE OF A PINCH BOLT AND TORQUE THIS BOLT TO PROPER SPECIFICATIONS.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

2

PE01023 · Seat Belt Anchorage Separation

Opened Jul 17, 2001 · Closed Dec 20, 2001

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts:front:anchorage

ODI HAS RECEIVED ONE (1) COMPLAINT ALLEGING THAT THE 2ND ROW PASSENGER-SIDE SEAT BELT RELEASE BUCKLE ANCHOR DETACHED FROM SEAT FRAME DURING A SIDE IMPACT CRASH.DURING THE CRASH, THE OCCUPANT WAS THROWN FROM HIS SEAT, PARTIALLY EJECTED THROUGH THE REAR QUARTER WINDOW OF THE VEHICLE.OCCUPANT SUSTAINED INJURY.GM HAS SUBSEQUENTLY CHANGED SEAT BELT ANCHORING DESIGN IN MY 2000. ODI HAS COMPLETED A PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION AND HAS DETERMINED THAT FURTHER INFORMATION IS NEEDED TO DETERMINE WHETHER A SAFETY DEFECT EXISTS.

EA99011 · Erratic Power Steering Assist While Driv

Opened May 12, 1999 · Closed Feb 27, 2001

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering

THE OFFICE OF DEFECT INVESTIGATION (ODI) HAS INVESTIGATED ALLEGATIONS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST FLUCTUATIONS IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.FOR DETAILS AND A BASIS FOR THE INVESTIGATION CONCLUSIONS, PLEASE SEE THE CLOSING REPORT IN THE EA99-011 PUBLIC FILE.ODI HAS NOT IDENTIFIED A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLE POPULATION.FUTHER EXPENDITURE OF AGENCY RESOURCES ON THIS SUBJECT DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED AT THIS TIME.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.THE ENGINEERING IS CLOSED.