IllustrationINCONSISTANT STEERING RESISTANTANCE AT ALL SPEEDS CAUSING THE WHEEL TO JERK AND OVER STEER. THIS PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT.
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 reportsWHILE TRAVELING AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION VEHICLE LOCKED UP STEERING/ BRAKES. DEALER STATED THAT PCM WAS THE PROBLEM. *AK THE WATER PUMP WAS LEAKING. *YH
FIRESTONE STEELTEX RADIAL TIRES P245 75 R16 EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION. *SLC
FIRST OWNER DETECTED A STRONG FUEL SMELL. ABOUT TWO WEEKS LATER, OWNER NOTICED A PUDDLE OF FUEL ON THE GARAGE FLOOR. TRUCK WAS TAKEN TO DEALER WHERE A CRACK WAS FOUND IN THE FUEL TANK WHERE THE FUEL PUMP WAS INSERTED INTO TANK. FUEL TANK WAS REPLACED AT OWNER'S EXPENSE.*AK
NANKANG TIRES P225 75 R15 EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION, CAUSING DAMAGE TO MOTOR HOME, CONSUMER WANTS REIMBURSEMENT. *SLC
MY BATTERY FAILED WHERE THE POSITAVE POST CONNECTS TO IT,BATTERY ACID SPILLED ALL OVER WIRE HARNESS.MY FRIEND HAS A 1997 TAHOE THAT DID THE EXACT SAME THING! WHEN I CONTACTED COSTOMER SERVICE, I WAS TOLD THAT THEY DID NOT KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM NOR DID THEY HAVE ANY COMPLAINTS.THE LADY FINALLY NOTICED WHERE YOU(NHTSA) …
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MY BATTERY FAILED WHERE THE POSITAVE POST CONNECTS TO IT,BATTERY ACID SPILLED ALL OVER WIRE HARNESS.MY FRIEND HAS A 1997 TAHOE THAT DID THE EXACT SAME THING! WHEN I CONTACTED COSTOMER SERVICE, I WAS TOLD THAT THEY DID NOT KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM NOR DID THEY HAVE ANY COMPLAINTS.THE LADY FINALLY NOTICED WHERE YOU(NHTSA) WAS INVESTIGATING THIS SITUATION.AMAZING!!!PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME FOR ADD. FOLLOW-UPS. THANK-YOU. DOUG CATRON
VEHICLE HAS CONSISTENTLY PULLED TO THE RIGHT SINCE PURCHASE. VEHICLE HAS BEEN ALIGNED THREE TIMES WITHIN FIRST 30,000 MILES. DEALERSHIP CONTENDS NOTHING WRONG WITH VEHICLE. THIS PROBLEM HAS RUINED THE TIRES OF THE VEHICLE, AS WELL. I HAVE CONTACTED MANUFACTURER RE: FLORIDA LEMON LAW, AS WELL AS FL STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL (I HAVE …
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VEHICLE HAS CONSISTENTLY PULLED TO THE RIGHT SINCE PURCHASE. VEHICLE HAS BEEN ALIGNED THREE TIMES WITHIN FIRST 30,000 MILES. DEALERSHIP CONTENDS NOTHING WRONG WITH VEHICLE. THIS PROBLEM HAS RUINED THE TIRES OF THE VEHICLE, AS WELL. I HAVE CONTACTED MANUFACTURER RE: FLORIDA LEMON LAW, AS WELL AS FL STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL (I HAVE NOT HEARD BACK FROM STATE AG OFFICE IN 6 WEEKS). *AK
POWER DOOR LOCKS WOULD LOCK & UNLOCK AFTER GETTING WET. HAVE TAKEN TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS, BUT PROBLEM WITH THE LOCKS HAS REAPPEARED. ALSO, REAR HATCH WOULD OPEN UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE DRIVING. HAVE TAKEN VEHICLE BACK TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS. *AK THE KEYLESS ENTRY ALSO FAILED. THE HOOD RELEASE HANDLE MALFUNCTIONS. *YH
INITIALLY EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPERATION DURING ANNUAL CHECK IN OCT 99. REPLACED TIRE AND PUT TRAILER IN STORAGE. IN JULY WHEN TAKING THE TRAILER OUT OF STORAGE, THE "NEW" TIRE TREAD JUST PEELED OFF. I TOWED THE UNIT TO THE TRAILER DEALER, RV TRADERS, FOR CORRECTION. THE DEALER UPON FURTHER INSPECTION NOTED THAT THE REMAING OEM TI…
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INITIALLY EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPERATION DURING ANNUAL CHECK IN OCT 99. REPLACED TIRE AND PUT TRAILER IN STORAGE. IN JULY WHEN TAKING THE TRAILER OUT OF STORAGE, THE "NEW" TIRE TREAD JUST PEELED OFF. I TOWED THE UNIT TO THE TRAILER DEALER, RV TRADERS, FOR CORRECTION. THE DEALER UPON FURTHER INSPECTION NOTED THAT THE REMAING OEM TIRES (3), WITH APPROX 10,000 MILES, WERE ALSO STARTING TO SEPERATE. I WAS ABOUT TO GO ON VACATION, SO HAD TO INSTALL (4) NEW TIRES (GOODYEAR). RV TRADERS IN CONTACT WITH THE TIRE MANUFACTURER AGREED TO RE-IMBURSE ME AT $50.00 PER TIRE AFTER I SENT A LETTER TO THE MANU DESCRIBIONG THE CIRCUMSTANCES. THIS I DID ON JULY 21, 2000. I HAVE YET TO HEAR FROM THE MANUFACTURER IN CHELSEA, MA.( DOT NUMBER: CFKCMT2389 TIRE SIZE: ST205/75R1 )
SOMETIMES IT FEELS LIKE AIR IS IN THE BRAKE LINE. WHEN PUTTING ON BRAKES CONSUMER CAN FEEL THE PAD. BUT IT WON'T STOP. ALSO, WHEN GOING OVER A SERIES OF BUMPS, VEHICLE WON'T STOP.*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.