IllustrationTHE WINDSHIELD WIPERS HESITATE AND INTERMITTENTLY FAIL TO OPERATE CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *PH
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
Visibility complaints
50 reportsI AM HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH MY 1998 TAHOE AS WAS RECALLED ON THE 1994-1997 VEHICLES IN REGARD TO THE CIRCUIT BOARD ON MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS. AFTER SPEAKING WITH THE DEALER ON THE ISSUE, THERE HAVE BEEN JUST AS MANY 1998'S AS EARLIER MODEL PROBLEMS. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE GM RECALL THIS VEHICLE FOR THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MODULE…
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I AM HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH MY 1998 TAHOE AS WAS RECALLED ON THE 1994-1997 VEHICLES IN REGARD TO THE CIRCUIT BOARD ON MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS. AFTER SPEAKING WITH THE DEALER ON THE ISSUE, THERE HAVE BEEN JUST AS MANY 1998'S AS EARLIER MODEL PROBLEMS. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE GM RECALL THIS VEHICLE FOR THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MODULE PROBLEM TO AVOID ANY FUTURE FATALITIES IN RAIM STORMS.
WINDHIELD WIPERS FAIL INTERMITTENTLY. YEAR NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL FOR SAME PROBLEM.*AK
DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED OPERATING. ALSO, REAR TAIL LIGHTS DIDN'T LIGHT UP. BULBS WERE NOT DEFECTIVE. *AK
THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. *AK *CB *JB
THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY DURING USAGE. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED. AND THE COST WAS $100.00 TO FIX. *AK *CB *JB
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY WINDSHIELD WIPERS GO ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.*AK
WINDSHIELD WIPERS OFTEN DO NOT COME ON OR WILL COME ON AND STOP. THIS FIRST OCCURRED IN 2000. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED, IT LEFT ME STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. THE MAN WHO STOPPED TO ASSIST ME HIT A BOX UNDER THE HOOD TO MAKE THE WIPERS COME ON. THIS ACTION HAS STARTED THE WIPERS EVER SINCE. *JB
THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON MY 1998 TAHOE SOMETIMES STOP WORKING. THIS STARTED ABOUT A MONTH AGO, AT FIRST THEY WOULD AT TIMES HESITATE. LAST WEEK DURING A HEAVY RAIN THEY STOPPED IN MID CYCLE. I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND ,AS I SLOWED DOWN THEY BEGAN TO WORK. THEY DID NOT STOP AGAIN BUT THEY DID HESITATE 3 OR 4 TIMES OVER …
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THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON MY 1998 TAHOE SOMETIMES STOP WORKING. THIS STARTED ABOUT A MONTH AGO, AT FIRST THEY WOULD AT TIMES HESITATE. LAST WEEK DURING A HEAVY RAIN THEY STOPPED IN MID CYCLE. I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND ,AS I SLOWED DOWN THEY BEGAN TO WORK. THEY DID NOT STOP AGAIN BUT THEY DID HESITATE 3 OR 4 TIMES OVER THE NEXT 15 MINUTES. I WAS TOLD BY LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALER THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE 1997 TAHOE FOR FAILURE OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MODULE. MY TAHOE WAS AN EARLY 98 PRODUCTION. DO I HAVE A WINDSHIELD WIPER MODULE THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED? *NLM
WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR FAILS INTERMITTENTLY. MY MODEL YEAR/VIN IS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL CLASS. *NLM
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.