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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 →
263Owner complaints

Model-year median: 246

2Recall campaigns

View recall details →

2Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
246
1995283
1996410
1997263
1998552
1999282
2000512
2001
Compare all Tahoe years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
71Visibility
50Steering
31Engine And Engine Cooling
21Power Train
21
All reported categories
Electrical System
20Fuel System, Gasoline
16Suspension
13Tires
10Air Bags
9Equipment
5Service Brakes
4Structure
4Unknown Or Other
4Wheels
4Seat Belts
3Seats
3Child Seat
1Engine
1Exterior Lighting
1Fuel/propulsion System
1Latches/locks/linkages
1Parking Brake
1Service Brakes, Air
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

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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Mileage unknown · Jan 21, 2000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE AND APPLYING BRAKES, THERE IS A DELAYED TIME IN PANIC SITUATIONS. THE FIRST ATTEMPT BY DEALER IN FIXING PROBLEM, RESULTED IN REPLACEMENT OF MASTER CYLINDER BOOSTER. TWO DAYS AFTER THAT BRAKES DEGRADED TO APOINT WHERE THERE WERE NO BRAKES AT ALL, AND GUSHY FEELING WHEN PRESSING BRAKE PEDAL. IN CASE OF NEED F…

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WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE AND APPLYING BRAKES, THERE IS A DELAYED TIME IN PANIC SITUATIONS. THE FIRST ATTEMPT BY DEALER IN FIXING PROBLEM, RESULTED IN REPLACEMENT OF MASTER CYLINDER BOOSTER. TWO DAYS AFTER THAT BRAKES DEGRADED TO APOINT WHERE THERE WERE NO BRAKES AT ALL, AND GUSHY FEELING WHEN PRESSING BRAKE PEDAL. IN CASE OF NEED FOR IMMEDIATE STOPPING , BRAKES ARE DANGEROUS . *AK

NHTSA ODI #852777

Mileage unknown · Jan 3, 2000
Service Brakes, HydraulicSuspension

FRONT END SHIMMY AT SPEEDS OVER 50MPH. BALANCED AND REBALANCED TIRES, ALIGNED FRONT END 3 TIMES IN 6 MONTHS. FINALLY REPLACED ALL 4 TIRES W/NEW FIRESTONE TIRES. ALIGNED FRONT END W/NEW TIRES. 3 MONTHS LATER, ROTATED AND BALANCED TIRES - FRONT END SHIMMY CONTINUES TO OCCUR. HAVE TRIED ALIGNMENT, BALANCING TIRES, AND NEW TIRES. NO…

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FRONT END SHIMMY AT SPEEDS OVER 50MPH. BALANCED AND REBALANCED TIRES, ALIGNED FRONT END 3 TIMES IN 6 MONTHS. FINALLY REPLACED ALL 4 TIRES W/NEW FIRESTONE TIRES. ALIGNED FRONT END W/NEW TIRES. 3 MONTHS LATER, ROTATED AND BALANCED TIRES - FRONT END SHIMMY CONTINUES TO OCCUR. HAVE TRIED ALIGNMENT, BALANCING TIRES, AND NEW TIRES. NOT ACCEPTABLE TO HAVE SIGNIFICANT FRONT END SHIMMY BEGINNING AT 15000 MILES. ALSO INCREASED VIBRATION WHEN BRAKING - ROTORS HAVE ALREADY BEEN REPLACED TWICE AND VIBRATION THAT SHAKES STEERING WHEEL CONTINUES TO OCCUR WHEN BRAKING. *AK

NHTSA ODI #716778

Mileage unknown · Sep 27, 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, Hydraulic

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND APPLYING THE BRAKES, THEY WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOORBOARD, ALSO, MOTOR WENT OUT WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. DEALER HAD TO REPLACE THE MOTOR. *AK

NHTSA ODI #848729

Mileage unknown · Aug 11, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHILE BRAKING VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE / VIBRATE DUE TO DEFECTIVE BRAKE ROTORS WHICH HEATS UP AND WARP. DEALER REPLACED ROTORS TWICE. PROBLEM IS REOCCURRING. *ML

NHTSA ODI #842202

Mileage unknown · Aug 5, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

BRAKES PULSATE, ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS VEHICLE EXPERIENCING VIBRATION IN FRONT END WHEN BRAKING, RIGHT SIDE LOCKED UP WHEN TURNING. *YC

NHTSA ODI #547765

Mileage unknown · Aug 3, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

BRAKES ARE VERY SPONGY AND EASILY GO ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR CAUSING BRAKES TO SLIP WHICH COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. *YC

NHTSA ODI #547657

Mileage unknown · Jul 29, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

BRAKE BOOSTER MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH. ALSO, DEALER REPLACED BRAKE ROTORS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #843805

Mileage unknown · May 10, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

MASTER CYLINDERS FAILED. YH

NHTSA ODI #782348

Mileage unknown · Mar 1, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHEN BRAKES ARE DAMP, THEY GRAB HARD ENOUGH TO TOSS CONSUMER THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD. WHEN BRAKES HAVE WARMED UP, THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #834252

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

BRAKE ROTORS FAILED. YH

NHTSA ODI #609923

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.