Steering. Review the 105 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 104 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 58 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

24 crash reports3 fire reports8 injury reports

What owners actually said

410 reports

Mileage unknown · Dec 24, 1998

Electrical SystemCrashFireInjury

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ON 3/24/98 MY 1997 CHEVROLET TAHOU WAS 10 MONTHS OLD WITH 5400 MILES ON IT WHEN THE TRUCK CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE DRIVER'S SIDE DASH WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND WAS TOTALLY DISTROYED. WHEN THE FIRE STARTED IT WAS LATE ON MY WAY HOME FROM A MOVIE WITH MY WIFE . WE SMELLED SMOKE AND I STOPPED BUT COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING. WE HAD GONE A LITTLE DISTANCE WHEN FIRE STARTED FALLING AT MY FEET, I RAN OFF THE ROAD AND HIT SOME SMALL TREES TO TRY TO STOP THE TRUCK THEN TRUNED ACROSS THE ROAD AND FINILLY HIT A TREE BIG ENOUGH TO STOP THE TRUCH. WHERE I GOT OUT AND HAD TO PULL MY WIFE OUT AND CALLED 911 ON MY CEL PHONE. MY WIFE HAD HIT HER HEAD AND WAS A LITTLLE OUT OF IT AND PASSED OUT ON THE GROUND. SHE PASSED OUT AGAIN JUST BEFORE THE MEDICS GOT THERE. THE TRUCK CONTENUIED TO BURN UNTILL THE FIRE DEPT. GOT THERE TO PUT IT OUT. GM CLAIMS THAT THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANY OTHER CLAIMS OF CHEVROLET TRUCKS CATCHING FIRE FROM THE DASH IN '97 OR ANY OTHER LATER YEAR TRUCKS AND WOULD NOT TAKE ANY RESPONCEALILITY FOR THE FIRE. IF THERE ARE ANY OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD ANY THING LIKE THIS PLEASE LET ME KNOW. R.W. PARKER

NHTSA ODI #701586

Mileage unknown · Dec 21, 1998

Steering

THE PLAY IN THE STEERING INCREASES AND BECOMES LOOSE WITH HIGH SPEEDS. THE VES SYSTEM IS WORKING THE OPPOSITE OF WHAT IT IS SUPPOSE TO DO. TRUCK WILL BE CHECKED BY THE DEALERSHIP ON JAN.25-1999. *AK.ET.

NHTSA ODI #832505

Mileage unknown · Dec 17, 1998

Electrical SystemSteering

HAD COME TO A STOP, WAS MAKING LEFT TURN, STEERING FAILED TO OPERATE & COULD NOT MAKE TURN. VEHICLE COULD GO STRAIGHT. BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON. VEHICLE TOWED TO MECHANIC. NOTICED TENSIONER BELT HAD BROKEN. HAD NO WARNING THAT IT BROKE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #832399

Mileage unknown · Dec 15, 1998

Electrical System

BATTERY FAILED DUE TO POSITIVE POST SEPARATING FROM CASE. THIS CAUSED BATTERY ACID TO LEAK ONTO FRONT BRAKE LINE CAUSING BRAKES TO FAIL. CHEVROLET CONTACTED AND NOTIFIED BUT NOT CONCERNED WITH POTENTIAL SAFETY PROBLEM. HAD SPEED BEEN INCREASED, THE POSSIBILITY OF DEATH/SERIOUS INJURY WAS IMMINENT. SEVERAL MECHANICS IN LOCAL …

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NHTSA ODI #701381

Mileage unknown · Nov 18, 1998

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

FRONT BRAKE ROTORS ARE WARPED, CAUSING THE BRAKE PADS TO WEAR DOWN QUICKLY, AND WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED THE VEHICLE VIBRATES AND SHAKES . DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #830965

Mileage unknown · Nov 17, 1998

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH ANTI-LOCK BRAKES. WHE APPLIED BRAKES, THEY WENT TO THE FLOORBOARD. IT WAS HARD FOR THE CONSUMER TO STOP VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #830916

Mileage unknown · Oct 15, 1998

Fuel System, Gasoline

GAS TANK HAS FAILED TWO TIMES RESULTING IN GASOLINE EXPULSION.

NHTSA ODI #542024

Mileage unknown · Oct 15, 1998

Equipment

AIR CONDITION COMPRESSOR FELL APART.

NHTSA ODI #541980

Mileage unknown · Oct 13, 1998

Suspension

VEHICLE WANDERS WHEN DRIVING ON FLAT SMOOTH ROAD AND TURNS TO THE LEFT FAR TOO EASILY.

NHTSA ODI #781192

Mileage unknown · Sep 3, 1998

Seats

DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT HAS BROKEN AWAY FROM ONE OF THE WELDS ON THE SEAT FRAME, WHICH CAUSES THE SEAT TO ROCK BACK AND FORTH. THE MANUFACTURER/DEALER ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, WILL NOT REPAIR FREE OF CHARGE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #827588

Official recalls

No recalls in this snapshot.

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

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.

EA00013 · Battery Leaks Acid

Opened May 2, 2000 · Closed Jun 28, 2002

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System

There is no summary currently available

PE99073 · Battery Leaks Acid

Opened Dec 3, 1999 · Closed May 2, 2000

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System

ODI HAS RECEIVED 21 COMPLAINTS WHERE OWNERS ALLEGE THAT THE STANDARD GM FACTORY SUPPLIED AC DELCO BATTERY CASE FAILED, RESULTING IN THE LEAKAGE OF SULFURIC ACID.OF THE 21 COMPLAINT VEHICLES, SIX SUBURBAN, THREE TAHOES, AND ONE YUKON OWNER(S) COMPLAINED ABOUT A LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID FROM DETERIORATION OF THE RIGHT FRONTBRAKE LINE AS A RESULT OF SULFURIC ACID CONTAMINATION.THE REMAINING 11 COMPLAINTS PERTAIN PRIMARILY TO SULFURIC ACID LEAKAGE FROM THE BATTERY CASE.AT LEAST ONE COMPLAINANT STATED THAT THE REPLACEMENT BATTERY ALSO FAILED.SEVERAL OF THE COMPLAINANTS NOTE THAT THE LEAKING ACID HAD COME IN CONTACT WITH A WIRE HARNESS AT THE FRAME IN THE VICINITY OF THE STEEL BRAKE LINE.A FIELD INSPECTION BY ODI INDICATES THAT THE DESCRIBED HARNESS IS THE ABS CONNECTION TO THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL SPEED SENSOR.PRIOR TO THE BATTERY CASE FAILURE, THERE IS USUALLY NO WARNING (SHORT OF AN UNDERHOOD INSPECTION), AND THE ENSURING DAMAGE (SULFURIC ACID CONTAMINATION) IS PROGRESSIVE.OF THE KNOWN BATTERY FAILURES, THERE MAY BE A TEMPERATURE CORRELATION, AS 60% OF THE OWNER COMPLAINTS CAME FROM FOUR STATES; CALIFORNIA, FLORIDA, GEORGIA AND TEXAS.THERE IS ALSO A PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM AND ENGINEERING CHANGE NOTICE TO ADD 1% SILVER TO THE BATTERY'S POSITIVE SIDE TERMINALL, WITH THE EARLIEST IMPLEMENTATION DATE FOR THIS BEING FEB 2, 1998.THE EFFECT OF THIS DESIGN CHANGE IS AS YET UNKNOWN; FURTHER REVIEW IS WARRANTED.AN EA IS BEING OPENED TO GATHER FURTHER APPROPRIATE INFORMATION, CLARIFY ANY DEFECT TRENDS, AND TO ASSESS THE SAFETY IMPLICATIONS AND RISKS CONCERNING THESE FAILURES.

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.