1998 Chevrolet Tahoe Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Tahoe years
- About as many complaints as other years 17th of 32 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 263 complaints with NHTSA about the 1998 Chevrolet Tahoe. That ranks 17th out of 32 Tahoe model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is service brakes, hydraulic (71 complaints, 27%), typically at around 85,000 miles. Complaints mention 18 crashes, 7 fires, 12 injuries. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 2 defect investigations involving it.
- 263owner complaints
- 2safety recalls
- 2NHTSA investigations
- 18complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1998 Chevrolet Tahoe problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems | 71 | 27% | 85,000 | “applying brakes” (11%) | — |
| Visibility problems | 50 | 19% | 73,000 | “windshield wipers” (70%) | — |
| Steering | 31 | 12% | 90,000 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 21 | 8% | 87,604 | — | — |
| Power Train | 21 | 8% | 72,899 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 20 | 8% | 87,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 16 | 6% | 53,775 | — | — |
| Suspension | 13 | 5% | 121,650 | — | — |
| Tires | 10 | 4% | 113,093 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 9 | 3% | 82,927 | — | — |
| Equipment | 5 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 5 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 4 | 2% | 175,395 | — | — |
| Structure | 4 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Wheels | 4 | 2% | 119,095 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 3 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Seats | 3 | 1% | 99,929 | — | — |
| Child Seat | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Engine | 1 | 0% | 240,000 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 1 | 0% | 95,000 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Parking Brake | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Air | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1998 Chevrolet Tahoe recalls (2)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:disc:rotor
Problem: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the rotors for a core date of "287" and, if found, replace the rotor.
Steering:gear box (other than rack and pinion)
Problem: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Seat belt anchorage separation (PE01023) — opened Jul 17, 2001, closed Dec 20, 2001.
- Erratic power steering assist while driv (EA99011) — opened May 12, 1999, closed Feb 27, 2001.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 1998 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The…
Driver side window switch caught fire shortly after use (several hours). A light rain storm came while the windows were down. Some rain entered the inside of the vehicle, some water likely got into the switch assembly. This all happened while vehicle was parked on the curb and ignition was off. I…
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 chevrolet tahoe. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 10 mph, the brake pedal was engaged but the vehicle hesitated to respond without warning. The contact was able to avoid an accident. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was…
My vehicle failed to start upon leaving the mall. After several trouble shooting procedures at my resident the next day, i found that the in tank fuel sending unit was not working. During the gently lowering of the fuel tank, the sending unit to filter fuel line that runs along the inside of the…
At 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
Other Chevrolet Tahoe years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Tahoe | 27 | 3 |
| 2025 Tahoe | 49 | 1 |
| 2024 Tahoe | 68 | 3 |
| 2023 Tahoe | 229 | 5 |
| 2022 Tahoe | 193 | 4 |
| 2021 Tahoe | 457 | 16 |
| 2020 Tahoe | 57 | 3 |
| 2019 Tahoe | 107 | 2 |
| 2018 Tahoe | 105 | 3 |
| 2017 Tahoe | 174 | 4 |
| 2016 Tahoe | 256 | 8 |
| 2015 Tahoe | 658 | 14 |
| 2014 Tahoe | 90 | 3 |
| 2013 Tahoe | 233 | 4 |
| 2012 Tahoe | 178 | 3 |
| 2011 Tahoe | 447 | 5 |
| 2010 Tahoe | 314 | 3 |
| 2009 Tahoe | 284 | 5 |
| 2008 Tahoe | 528 | 4 |
| 2007 Tahoe | 1,177 | 4 |
| 2006 Tahoe | 114 | 3 |
| 2005 Tahoe | 293 | 5 |
| 2004 Tahoe | 467 | 2 |
| 2003 Tahoe | 507 | 4 |
| 2002 Tahoe | 449 | 3 |
| 2001 Tahoe | 512 | 5 |
| 2000 Tahoe | 282 | 6 |
| 1999 Tahoe | 552 | 1 |
| 1998 | 263 | 2 |
| 1997 Tahoe | 410 | 0 |
| 1996 Tahoe | 283 | 3 |
| 1995 Tahoe | 246 | 6 |
See all Chevrolet Tahoe problems by year, every Chevrolet model, or the Chevrolet VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1998 Chevrolet Tahoe?
Owners most often report service brakes, hydraulic, visibility, steering problems. The top one, service brakes, hydraulic, accounts for 71 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1998 Chevrolet Tahoe?
Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1998 Chevrolet Tahoe a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Tahoe model years, the 1998 has about as many complaints as a typical year. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.