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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 · Feb 1, 1999
Fuel System, GasolineSeat BeltsVisibility

FUEL INJECTION FAILED. MJS

NHTSA ODI #606225

Mileage unknown · Jan 26, 1999
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, HydraulicCrashInjury

1998 CHEVROLET TRUCK SHOULD NOT HAVE THIS MANY PROBLEMS AND CONSIDERED SAFE *AK

NHTSA ODI #702608

Mileage unknown · Dec 15, 1998
Tires

ORIGINAL TIRES GOODRICH P 245/75R 16 ARE INSUFFICIENT FOR TOWING, TOO WEAK TO WITHSTAND PRESSURE.

NHTSA ODI #543050

Mileage unknown · Dec 10, 1998
Fuel System, Gasoline

VEHICLE HAS A POOR GAS TANK ASSEMBLY. WHENEVER THIS VEHICLE IS ON A STEEP INCLINE, THE TILT OF THE VEHICLE CAUSES THE GAS TO LEAK OUT OF THE TANK WHERE THE CAP GOES. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #832130

Mileage unknown · Nov 10, 1998
Service Brakes, HydraulicSteeringSuspension

RIGHT CASTER LOOSE CAUSING VEHICLE TO PULL TO THE LEFT WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES.

NHTSA ODI #542511

Mileage unknown · Nov 9, 1998
Air Bags

DUE OT AIR BAG SENSOR LOCATION, IF CARPET GETS WET THE SENSOR CAN MAKE AIR BAG DEPLOY, DESIGN DEFECT.

NHTSA ODI #542471

Mileage unknown · Nov 7, 1998
Power Train

VEHICLE EXHIBITS A PRONOUNCED CLUNK UPON IMMEDIATE ACCELERATION FROM STOP. LUBRICATING THE FRONT SLIP YOKE INTERNAL SPLINES ELIMINATES THE PROBLEM FOR APPROXIMATELY 200 MILES. CHEVROLET ACKNOWLEDGES THE PROBLEM AN THE ANNOYANCE TO CUSTOMERS BUT DOES NOT HAVE A PERMENANT REPAIR, THIS ACCORDING TO MY DEALER'S SERVICE MANAGER. O…

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VEHICLE EXHIBITS A PRONOUNCED CLUNK UPON IMMEDIATE ACCELERATION FROM STOP. LUBRICATING THE FRONT SLIP YOKE INTERNAL SPLINES ELIMINATES THE PROBLEM FOR APPROXIMATELY 200 MILES. CHEVROLET ACKNOWLEDGES THE PROBLEM AN THE ANNOYANCE TO CUSTOMERS BUT DOES NOT HAVE A PERMENANT REPAIR, THIS ACCORDING TO MY DEALER'S SERVICE MANAGER. OTHER DEALERS REPORTEDLY ATTEMPT REPAIRS WITH VARIOUS TYPES OF GREASE AND COATINGS, BUT PROBLEMS PERSIST.

NHTSA ODI #700382

Mileage unknown · Nov 3, 1998
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

BAD MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER, CAUSING BRAKES TO FAIL. WHEN APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #830030

Mileage unknown · Oct 9, 1998
Suspension

WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL FROM CHANGING LANES OR MAKING TURNS ,STEERING WHEEL WILL BEGIN TO JERK/SHAKE WHICH COULD CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL.DEALER HAS DONE FRONT END ALIGNMENT, DEFECT IS STILL OCCURRING. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #828762

Mileage unknown · Oct 6, 1998
Service Brakes, HydraulicInjury

BRAKES LOCKED UP AND CAUSED A CRASH.

NHTSA ODI #780725

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.