IllustrationWHILE DRIVING AND MAKING TURNS STEERING WHEEL BECAME LOOSE. DEALERSHIP SERVICED VEHICLE AND REPLACED EVO SENSOR. *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
What owners actually said
263 reportsSOMETIMES WHEN I AM DRIVING THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES,I CAN DRIVE ON THE SAME ROAD AND IT MAY NOT. I HAVE HAD THE FRONT END ALIGNED BY THE CHEVY DEALER IN WHICH I BOUGHT THE TAHOE AND ALSO HAD NEW TIRES PUT ON AT THE SAME TIME.IT SEEMS LIKE IT WILL GO AWAY FOR AWHILE AND THEN IT COMES RIGHT BACK AND THEN I HAVE TO HAVE THE TIRES…
Read full complaint
SOMETIMES WHEN I AM DRIVING THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES,I CAN DRIVE ON THE SAME ROAD AND IT MAY NOT. I HAVE HAD THE FRONT END ALIGNED BY THE CHEVY DEALER IN WHICH I BOUGHT THE TAHOE AND ALSO HAD NEW TIRES PUT ON AT THE SAME TIME.IT SEEMS LIKE IT WILL GO AWAY FOR AWHILE AND THEN IT COMES RIGHT BACK AND THEN I HAVE TO HAVE THE TIRES ROTATED BECAUSE OF BUMPS FORMING ON THE TIRES AND THIS HAPPENS IN A VERY SHORT TIME.I HAVE HAD IT ALIGNED BY 3 DIFFERENT DEALERS AND THEY SAY IT IS IN SPEC AND THAT IS ALL THEY DO. I HAVE JUST PUT ANOTHER SET OF TIRES ON IT AND IT IS STARTING TO DO IT AGAIN. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THERE WERE SOME BAD RIMS MANUFACTURED THAT YEAR, COULD THAT BE PART OF MY PROBLEM.*AK
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL WORK INTERMITTENTLY. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS VEHICLE, BUT THE YEARS INCLUDE 1995-1997 MODELS. *AK
THE SECOND TIRE IN FOUR WEEKS HAD A TREAD SEPERATION. THE FIRST WAS FOUND AT SEARS AUTOMOTIVE WHEN I TOOK VEHICLE BACK DUE TO TIRE VIBRATION. THEY PRO-RATED THE TIRE AND REPLACED IT. FOUR WEEKS LATER, ANOTHER TIRE SEPERATED AT 70 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE CAUSING SOME BODY DAMAGE TO THE LEFT REAR OF THE VEHICLE. I NOW HAVE A THI…
Read full complaint
THE SECOND TIRE IN FOUR WEEKS HAD A TREAD SEPERATION. THE FIRST WAS FOUND AT SEARS AUTOMOTIVE WHEN I TOOK VEHICLE BACK DUE TO TIRE VIBRATION. THEY PRO-RATED THE TIRE AND REPLACED IT. FOUR WEEKS LATER, ANOTHER TIRE SEPERATED AT 70 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE CAUSING SOME BODY DAMAGE TO THE LEFT REAR OF THE VEHICLE. I NOW HAVE A THIRD TIRE VIBRATING AT 35 MPH AND AT 70 MPH. THIS CANNOT BE SAFE. I AM METICULOUS ABOUT MAINTAINING MY TIRE PRESSRUE AT THE MANUF. SUGGESTED PRESSURE.
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING MECHANISM. THE VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING. THE 2ND ISSUE INVOLVED THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WHICH WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. *PH THE STEERING WHEEL POSITION SENSOR WAS REPLACED. *SCC
WHILE TRAVELING, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION. THIS HAPPENED TWICE WITHIN THE LAST TWO YEARS. *AK *SCC *JB
THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS MALFUNCTIONED DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY TO THE DRIVER. *AK
INTERMITTENTLY WHEN TRUCK IS BEING DRIVEN ON STRAIGHT OR CURVED ROAD, THE STEERING FEELS LOOSE AND UNCONTROLLABLE, THEN RETURNS TO NORMAL. PROBLEM IS VERY NOTICEABLE IN COLD WEATHER. *AK *TS *JB
WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAIL INTERMITTENTLY. WHEN THE TAHOE HAS BEEN DRIVEN FOR A LONG DISTANCE (HOT) WIPERS SOMETIMES FAIL TO WORK. WHEN TAHOE IS COLD WIPERS USUALLY WORK. THEY ACT VERY SIMILAR TO MY 1995 GMC JIMMY BEFORE IT WAS RECALLED FOR WIPER CIRCUIT BOARD FAILURE. *LA
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME DEFECT WITH THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS AS STATED IN RECALL 03 V 159 000. *AK *SCC *NLM *JB
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.