IllustrationAT HIGHWAY SPEEDS FEELS LIKE TRUCK IS HYDROPLANING/SLIDING TO THE RIGHT AND A BRIEF LOST OR LOOSE FEELING IN THE STEERING WHEEL..... FRONT END HAS BEEN CHECKED AND EVERYTHING IS GOOD/TIGHT. *TR
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 reports1998 CHEVY TAHOE LOOSE STEERING AT HIGHWAY SPEED WHEN GOING THRU A SLIGHT CURVE IT FEELS AS THOUGH YOU HIT A PATCH OF ICE. THE STEERING WHEEL HAS A SLIGHT JERK THAT SCARES THE LIFE OUT OF YOU. REPLACED STEERING SENSOR, STEERING BOX, ENTIRE FRONT END AND IT STILL DOES IT..THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WAS VERY LOOSE. THROUGH ONLINE RESEARCH, HE DISCOVERED THE DEFECT AND CALLED CHEVROLET AND GM. HE WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 115,000.
WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT FEELS LIKE DRIVING ON ICE. WHEN IT IS COLD THE STEERING FEEL LIKE THIS ALL THE TIME TILL THE TAHOE WARMS UP THEN I AM BACK THE RANDOM TURNING. WILL NOT LET ANYONE IN MY HOUSEHOLD DRIVE THE TAHOE BECAUSE OF THIS. FOUND A BUNCH OF OTHER TAHOES WITH THIS PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET AND IT …
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WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT FEELS LIKE DRIVING ON ICE. WHEN IT IS COLD THE STEERING FEEL LIKE THIS ALL THE TIME TILL THE TAHOE WARMS UP THEN I AM BACK THE RANDOM TURNING. WILL NOT LET ANYONE IN MY HOUSEHOLD DRIVE THE TAHOE BECAUSE OF THIS. FOUND A BUNCH OF OTHER TAHOES WITH THIS PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET AND IT SOUNDS LIKE THE STEERING EVO SENSOR IS BAD. LOOKS LIKE THE TAHOE WOULD SEND SOME TYPE OF MESSAGE TO INFORM THE DRIVER TO HAVE THIS REPAIRED OR A BYPASS INSTALLED IN CASE OF FAILURE. *TR
WHILE DRIVING AND MAKING TURNS STEERING WHEEL BECAME LOOSE. DEALERSHIP SERVICED VEHICLE AND REPLACED EVO SENSOR. *AK
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
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
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THE DRIVER CHANGED LANES AND THE VEHICLES STEERING WHEEL TURNED FURTHER THAN DRIVER TURN IT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE EVO SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
WHILE DRIVING THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD MAKE A SHARP RIGHT OR LEFT WHICH CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO JERK THE STEERING WHEEL BACK IN PLACE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *NLM EVO SENSOR REPLACED. *TT
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AS STATED IN RECALL #97V142000, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT INCUDED IN THE RECALL. *JB STEERING WANDERS 1/4 TURNOR SO AND MAKES VEHICLE SLIGHTLY JERK.*TS
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.