IllustrationWHILE DRIVING, SUDDENLY MY VEHICLE FELT LIKE I WAS TRYING TO STEER A VEHICLE ON ICE. WHEN I ASKED SOMEONE IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT, I WAS TOLD THIS PROBLEM WAS NOT UNCOMMON, ALTHOUGH DANGEROUS.*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
Steering complaints
31 reportsSTEERING 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
STEERING WHEEL AT FIRST WOULD MOVE ON ITS OWN TO RIGHT AT HIGH SPEEDS, RESULTING IN MOMENTARY LOSS OF CONTROL. THIS PROBLEM HAS ADVANCED, AND STEERING WHEEL WILL MOVE TO RIGHT AND LEFT AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS. *AK
WHEN TURNING SLIGHTLY TO THE RIGHT AT SPEED (AT 30+MPH - NEVER FROM A STOP), VEHICLE SUDDENLY OVERSTEERS LIKE IT SUDDENLY HAS INCREASED POWER ASSIST. THIS OCCURS AT THE SAME STEERING POSITION EACH TIME - APROX 30 DEGREES OFF CENTER, AND IS SOMEWHAT ERRATIC IN FREQUENCY, BUT OCCURS ABOUT TWICE PER DAY. *AK
4-WHEEL STEERING: FRONT SENSOR ACTIVATES WHILE DRIVING, MAKING IT FEEL LIKE RIDING ON ICE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK DEALER REPLACED STEERING WHEEL POSITION SENSOR. *SLC
CONSUMER NOTICED FLUID UNDER VEHICLE. DEALER STATED STEERING PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED . DEALER HAD REPLACED THIS PART LAST YEAR. CURRENTLY, NOTICED THAT PART WAS WRONG FOR VEHICLE . PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
WHEN CONSUMER TRAVELS AT 20MPH ON HIGHWAY, AND MAKES A RIGHT TURN VEHICLE IS HARD TO STEER. IT'S LIKE SHE WAS ON ICE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES.*AK
RECENTLY I SENT MY CHEVROLET TAHOE (1998) TO THE DEALER IN ROCHESTER, NEW YORK. WE HAD CONCERNS DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE TRUCK STEERING WAS EXTRAORDINARILY NARROW IN TURNING RADIUS SINCE WE BOUGHT IT. WITHIN THE LAST FEW MONTHS WE NOTICED THAT WHILE THE TRUCK WAS STATIONARY, OR IN PARK, IF WE TRIED TO TURN THE WHEEL IT WOULD STI…
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RECENTLY I SENT MY CHEVROLET TAHOE (1998) TO THE DEALER IN ROCHESTER, NEW YORK. WE HAD CONCERNS DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE TRUCK STEERING WAS EXTRAORDINARILY NARROW IN TURNING RADIUS SINCE WE BOUGHT IT. WITHIN THE LAST FEW MONTHS WE NOTICED THAT WHILE THE TRUCK WAS STATIONARY, OR IN PARK, IF WE TRIED TO TURN THE WHEEL IT WOULD STICK UNTIL WE MOVED A LITTLE AND THEN IT WOULD FREE ITSELF.
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
INCONSISTANT STEERING RESISTANTANCE AT ALL SPEEDS CAUSING THE WHEEL TO JERK AND OVER STEER. THIS PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT.
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.