IllustrationSPONGY BRAKES VERY WEAK, AND THE FEELS THAT IT WON'T STOP. DEALER STATES THAT THOSE CARS HAVE THAT FEEL, AND IT IS NORMAL.*AK
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Tahoe years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
30–25K
525–50K
2450–75K
3275–100K
14100–150K
11150K+
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 reportsROTORS WENT BAD, THEY KEPT WEARING OUT. HAD ROTORS CHANGED TWICE. CONTACTED DEALER NOTED THAT THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. *AK
ANTI LOCK BRAKES ENGAGE WHEN UNDER 10 MPH, LIKE MOVING AROUND THE PARKING LOT. *AK
THERE IS A DELAY IN THE BRAKING SYSTEM WHEN ABS IS APPLIED. BRAKE PEDAL IS VERY SPONGY. FEELS LIKE AIR IN THE BRAKES. HAVE TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP, AND NOTHING COULD BE RESOLVED BY MECHANIC.*AK
ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON/ FUEL SPILLED OUT OF FUEL INJECTOR. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, WHO FOUND FUEL HAD SPILLED ONTO DISTRIBUTOR CAP AND WIRES, SHORTING OUT DISTRIBUTOR AND CAUSING CORROSION. ALSO, IN SEPTEMBER 2000, BRAKE PEDAL GOT HARD PROGRESSIVLY. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER WHO FOUND BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER WAS DEFECTIVE.*AK
BRAKE PEDAL GOES COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR. PADS & MASTER CYLINDER WERE REPLACED, BUT PROBLEM PERSISTS. TECHINCAL TEAM FROM MANUFACTURER HAS INSPECTED IT, AND COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING. THEY SAID IT WAS THE BEST THE SYSTEM WOULD BE. *AK
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 5MPH, BACKING UP AND HE HIT A TREE. HE APPLIED BRAKES, AND PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO FLOOR . ABS BRAKING SYSTEM DIDN'T KICK IN AT ALL. ALSO, THERE WAS FLUID LEAKING FROM THE BRAKES. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK
SOMETIMES IT FEELS LIKE AIR IS IN THE BRAKE LINE. WHEN PUTTING ON BRAKES CONSUMER CAN FEEL THE PAD. BUT IT WON'T STOP. ALSO, WHEN GOING OVER A SERIES OF BUMPS, VEHICLE WON'T STOP.*AK
ROTORS CAUSING SURGING AND PREMATURE BRAKE WEAR, AND SQUEALING. *AK
BRAKE POWER BOOSTER FAILURE. CAUSED EXTENDED AND UNSAFE STOPPING DISTANCE. *AK
Official recalls
298V033000 · 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
2PE01023 · 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.