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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

What owners actually said

263 reports
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 · Dec 20, 1999
Steering

AT 31,000 MILES THE SPEED SENSITIVE STEERING WOULD SUDDENLY CHANGE THE STEERING EFFORT AND WOULD LEAD TO LOSS OF CONTROL..HAD IT REPAIRED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY, THEN AT 68,000 MILES IT HAS FAILED AGAIN. *AK

NHTSA ODI #716263

Mileage unknown · Nov 24, 1999
Tires

PASSENGER'S SIDE FRONT TIRE RUBS AGAINST THE FRAME OF THE TRUCK WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL TO THE RIGHT. THIS CAUSES A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE, CANNOT REMEDY PROBLEM *AK

NHTSA ODI #853328

Mileage unknown · Nov 23, 1999
Engine And Engine Cooling

SERPENTINE BELT TENSIONER PULLEY ASSEMBLY FAILED, BROKE OFF WHILE VEHICLE WAS COMING TO A STOP, CAUSING LOSS OF BRAKES AND POWER STEERING, WHICH ALMOST RESULTED IN A CRASH.

NHTSA ODI #853287

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 · Sep 19, 1999
Equipment

APROX. 4 MONTHS AFTER BUYING THIS VEH. THE CD PLAYER STARTED MALFUNCTIONING. IT WOULD NOT PLAY A CD AND WOULD GIVE THE ERR SIGN AND THE OWNERS MANUAL ADDRESSED THIS SITUATION AND SAID TO LET THE PLAYER COOL FOR A WHILE IT MUST BE OVER HEATED. THIS SEEMED STRANGE SINCE MOST OF THE TIME THIS OCCURED WAS WHEN THE CD PLAYER HAD NOT…

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APROX. 4 MONTHS AFTER BUYING THIS VEH. THE CD PLAYER STARTED MALFUNCTIONING. IT WOULD NOT PLAY A CD AND WOULD GIVE THE ERR SIGN AND THE OWNERS MANUAL ADDRESSED THIS SITUATION AND SAID TO LET THE PLAYER COOL FOR A WHILE IT MUST BE OVER HEATED. THIS SEEMED STRANGE SINCE MOST OF THE TIME THIS OCCURED WAS WHEN THE CD PLAYER HAD NOT BEEN IN USE. AFTER CONTACTING THE DEALER CHUCK HUTTON WHO HAS SERVICED THIS VEH. SINCE I BOUGHT IT WOULD SAY THEY COULD NOT FIX THE PROBLEM UNLESS IT WAS HAVING THAT PROBLEM WHEN I BROUGHT THE TRUCK INTO THEIR DEALERSHIP. WHENEVER THIS PROBLEM WOULD OCCURE THE DASH AREA AROUND THE A/C CONTROLS AND RADIO/CASSETTE AND CD PLAYER WOULD GET SO HOT YOU COULD NOT KEEP YOUR HAND ON THE DASH . THIS PROBLEM CONTINUED TO OCCUR AND IT NEVER WAS DUPLICATED AT THE DEALERSHIP. A SERVICE RECORD DATED 12/14/1998 SHOWS THAT THE A/C DRAIN WAS FOUND TO BE PINCHED AND HAD TO BE REPOSITIONED TO PERMIT IT TO DRAIN BUT SINCE THAT TIME THE TRUCK AIR SYSTEM HAS DEVELOPED SOME TYPE OF FUNGUS IN IT AND THE SMELL IS TERRIBLE. ON THIS SAME SERVICE REPORT THERE IS A NOTE CONCERNING CHECKING THE CD PLAYER FOR ERROR MESSAGES BUT NOTHING WAS FOUND. CURRENTLY I AM DRIVING A $35000 VEH. WITH A BURNED UP CD PLAYER AND CASSETTE PLAYER THAT THE DEALER SAYS IS OUT OF WARRENTY. I REPORTED THE PROBLEMS WITH THESE UNITS FAR BEFORE THE WARRANTY EXPRIED AND WOULD LIKE SOME HELP TRYING TO SEE IF GM HAS HAD MUCH PROBLEM WITH THEIR DELCO AM/FM CASSETTE RADIO W/AUO TONE CONTROL, SPEED CONTROL VOLUME

NHTSA ODI #711589

Mileage unknown · Sep 8, 1999
Visibility

NO AIR OUT OF VENTS: O-RING CRUSHED, DUE TO FACTORY INSTALLMENT.

NHTSA ODI #609456

Mileage unknown · Sep 8, 1999
Steering

STEERING PULLS TO THE RIGHT.

NHTSA ODI #609147

Mileage unknown · Sep 8, 1999
Engine And Engine Cooling

MUFFLER.

NHTSA ODI #609108

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.