IllustrationMY WINDSHIELD WIPERS ONLY WORK MAYBE 50% OF THE TIME. THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL BY CHEVROLET FOR THE WIPER MOTORS, BUT I WAS INFORMED THAT IT DID NOT INCLUDE MY VEHICLE. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE ALL VEHICLES WITH DEFECTIVE WIPER MOTORS INCLUDED. *NLM
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 reportsWHILE DRIVING 60 MPH IN THE RAIN THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR FAILED CAUSING LOSS OF VISIBILITY. *MR *NLM
WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE TURNING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON OR ATTEMPT TO TURN THEM OFF, THEY WOULD NOT GO OFF. SOMETIMES WHEN CONSUMER TURNED THEM OFF THEY WOULD STAY ON AND THEN STOP RANDOMLY IN MID SWIPE AND GENERALLY BECAME UNCOOPERATIVE. TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY REPLACED DELAY MODULE. *YD
THE BRAKE FAILURES ARE WELL KNOWN BY ALL TAHOE OWNERS. THE FAILURES FOR THE WINDSHIELD WIPER CONTROL ASSEMBLY, BRAKE LIGHT ASSEMBLY ARE ALL RELATED TO POOR QUALITY ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS NOT INTENDED FOR ANY REASONABLE SERVICE LIFE. JUNK BY ANY QUALITY STANDARDS. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT NELDA STEVENSON CHEVROLET ACKNOLWDGED…
Read full complaint
THE BRAKE FAILURES ARE WELL KNOWN BY ALL TAHOE OWNERS. THE FAILURES FOR THE WINDSHIELD WIPER CONTROL ASSEMBLY, BRAKE LIGHT ASSEMBLY ARE ALL RELATED TO POOR QUALITY ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS NOT INTENDED FOR ANY REASONABLE SERVICE LIFE. JUNK BY ANY QUALITY STANDARDS. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT NELDA STEVENSON CHEVROLET ACKNOLWDGED THESE COMPONENTS HAVE HIGH FAILURE RATES, BUT THEY GET PAID TO CORRECT THEM. THE COOLANTCONNECTOR IS AN EXTEMEMLY POOR DESIGN. DESPITE THREADING INTO THE INTAKE, IT IS MADE OF A POOR QUALITY MATERIAL THAT BREAKS OFF AT THE ENTRY TO THE MANIFOLD REQUIRING REMOVAL OF THE MANIFOLD TO REMOVE THE BROKEN THREADS RESULTING IN A $400 BILL TO REPLACE A $12.95 PART. AGAIN PATHETIC DESIGN AND CHOICE OF MATERIALS TO SAVE A COUPLE OF DOLLARS IN MANUFACTURING. AS A DESIGN ENGINEER, I FIND THESE CHOICES BY GM DESIGNERS DEPLORABLE AND WILL BUY USED BMWS FROM NOW ON. A BMW WITH 200,000 MILES HAS MORE SERVICE LIFE LEFT IN IT THAN A BRAND NEW GM PRODUCT. *AK
NO AIR OUT OF VENTS: O-RING CRUSHED, DUE TO FACTORY INSTALLMENT.
WINDOW MOTOR FAILED. *YC
FUEL INJECTION FAILED. MJS
LOCATION OF POWER WINDOW CONTROL PANEL ON DRIVERS SIDE DOOR PANEL PLACED WHERE IF DRIVERS LEG TOUCHES THE RIGHT POWER WINDOW SWITCH THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW CAN BE OPENED INADVERTENTLY. POWER WINDOW CONTROL PANEL SHOULD BE RELOCATED HIGHER. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS WHEN ROUNDING AND CORNER AND ONES KNEE REST ON THIS PANEL.
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE THE OUTSIDE REARVIEW MIRROR BROKE, CAUSING GLASS TO SHATTER AND IINJURED PASSENGER, CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK
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.