TroubleCAR
62
Trouble

1998 Chevrolet Tahoe

Complaints: 263Avg mileage: 94,091 miSince: Feb 1998
CrashFire12 injured

Problem Areas

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
43
Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer
25
Windshield Wiper/Washer: Motor
18
Steering
14
Disc: Rotor
12
Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System
9
Power Train:Automatic Transmission
9
Delivery: Fuel Pump
8
Electrical System
8
Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar
5

Complaints Over Time

Recent Complaints

AIR BAGS
Sep 7, 2012PLAINVIEW, TX
Crash1 injured

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER WAS TRAVELING 40 MPH AND EXPERIENCED A SEIZURE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A DITCH AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CRASH CAUSED THE DRIVER TO SUFFER HEAD INJURIES. THE POLICE WERE CONTACTED AND REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A BODY SHOP. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN.

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
168,000 miJun 1, 2009MORRISVILLE, PA
Crash1 injured

I WAS IN A FRONT END ACCIDENT AND MY AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. *TR

AIR BAGS
84,228 miDec 12, 2005OZARK, MO
Crash1 injured

TRUCK SKID ON ICE AND FRONT END WAS SMASHED IN. THE AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED CAUSING AND DRIVER TO BE THROWN FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER DID HAVE SURGERY ON HIS LEG BECAUSE OF THE SEVERITY OF THE BREAK. THE DRIVER WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PUT ANY PRESSURE ON THE LEG FOR A MINIMUM OF THREE MONTHS. AND AFTER THAT IT WILL BE VERY MINIMAL AND WILL GRADUALLY INCREASE. DURING THIS TIME THE DRIVER WILL NOT BE ABLE TO WORK AND THEREFORE NOW HAS NO SOURCE OF INCOME. TRUCK IS TOTALED. *NM

CHILD SEAT:HARNESS BUCKLE:INFANT
Feb 15, 2002EAGAN, MN
Crash2 injured

THIS IS TO REPORT THE FAILURE OF A CENTURY BRAND CHILD CAR SEAT IN AN TRAFFIC ACCIDENT. CENTURY CAR SEAT MODEL: 45100STH, MANUFACTURER'S DATE: 06-30-2000; PURCHASE DATE APPROXIMATELY 8/00. SEAT WAS PROPERLY INSTALLED IN CHEVROLET TAHOE AND CHILD WAS PROPERLY SEATED AND BUCKLED INTO CAR SEAT. ACCIDENT OCCURRED ON 2/9/02; APPROXIMATE TRAVEL SPEED: 50 MPH, IN 4-WHEEL DRIVE. TRUCK SPUN OUT OF CONTROL ON ICY ROAD AND CAME TO STOP IN A DITCH. CHILD WAS COMPLETELY EJECTED FROM THE CAR SEAT; BUCKLE ACROSS CHEST BROKE AND CAME OPEN DURING CRASH. PROPER INSTALLATION AND BROKEN/FAILED PART NOTED BY BOTH WITNESSES AND POLICE AT THE SCENE. PLEASE CONTACT US FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/COPY OF POLICE REPORT. THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED TO CENTRY PRODUCTS.*AK

SEATS
Jul 3, 2001OWINGS MILLS, MD
Crash2 injured

VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT AND ANOTHER VEHICLE REARENDED CONSUMER'S VEHICLE. FRONT SEATS COLLAPSED BACKWARDS. CONSUMER WILL ADD VIN.*AK 2 PEOPLE WERE INJURED WITH BACK, NECK, LEG, AND ARM INJURIES. *SLC

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
Mar 29, 2000SAN JOSE, CA
Crash2 injured

INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE JUST SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. THIS HAS HAPPENED 5 TMES SINCE MAY OF 99, RESULTING IN A REAR END CRASH ON 3/23/00. DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO FIND WHAT WAS CAUSING VEHICLE TO SHUT DOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
Jan 26, 1999KINGS PARK, NY
Crash1 injured

1998 CHEVROLET TRUCK SHOULD NOT HAVE THIS MANY PROBLEMS AND CONSIDERED SAFE *AK

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Sep 15, 2008MERIDIAN, ID
Crash

MY HUSBAND BOUGHT OFF A PRIVATE PARTY A 1998 TAHOE, FOR A DAUGHTER. SHE HAS COMPLAINED THAT AT LESS THAN 10 MILES AN HOUR SOMETIMES THE BRAKES WILL FAIL. WE HAVE HAD THE CAR CHECKED OUT BUT THEY COULD NOT FIND A REASON FOR THE FAILURE. I HAVE HER CAR AND HAVE BEEN DRIVING IT I SEE ALSO THAT AT LESS THAN 10 MILES AN HOUR SOMETIMES THE BRAKES WILL FAIL. I CALLED THE CHEVY DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS --- SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THIS VEHICLES BRAKING SYSTEM AND NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW WHAT IT IS. HAVE YOU HEARD OF THIS AND IF SO WHAT CAN I HAVE DONE TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM BEFORE AN ACCIDENT OCCURS. I AM VERY CONCERNED WHEN I DRIVE THIS VEHICLE. I BELIEVE MY DAUGHTER DID HIT THE BACK OF ANOTHER VEHICLE WHEN IT OCCURRED TO HER -- I WOULD SAY APPROXIMATELY 2 YEARS AGO. *TR

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
122,000 miMay 22, 2006SNYDER, NY
Crash

WHILE TRYING TO STOP WHILE DRIVING AT A SLOW SPEED MY ABS FAIL CAUSING MY VEHICLE NOT TO STOP AND IN 2 INCIDENCES WE HAVE HIT OTHER VEHICLES. SPOKE WITH DEALER AND THEY SAID ABS SENSOR IS PROBLEM. THIS IS RECALLED IN THE SAME VEHICLE IN 1999 BUT MY VEHICLE IS A 1998. *JB

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
131,000 miMar 30, 2006KALAMAZOO, MI
Crash

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE PULLING OUT FROM A RED LIGHT AT 5 MPH, A VEHICLE IN FRONT OF THE CONTACT SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES. WHEN THE CONTACT WENT TO APPLY THE BRAKES, THE ABS ENGAGED AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THE VEHICLES CRASHED. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE RECEIVED NO DAMAGE; HOWEVER, THE OTHER VEHICLE SUSTAINED PROPERTY DAMAGE TO THE REAR BUMPER. THE POLICE WERE CALLED TO THE SCENE ALTHOUGH THERE WERE NO INJURIES. GM STATED BECAUSE OF THE AGE AND AMOUNT OF MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE THEY WOULD NOT COVER ANY REPAIRS, HOWEVER THEY DID PAY FOR THE INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 06/30/06. *JB

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
50,000 miMay 18, 2005LITTLETON, MA
Crash

A CURRENT INVESTIGATION ESISTS (PE05-020) FOR UNWANTED ABS BRAKE ACTIVATION ON MODEL YEAR 1999 - 02 GM C/K SERIES VEHICLES IN SALT BELT STATES. THIS INVESTIGATION SHOULD BE FURTHER EXPANDED TO INCLUDE, AT LEAST, MODEL YEAR 1998 AS THIS CONDITION IS ALSO EXHIBITED IN THIS VEHICLE. REFERENCE VEHICLE IS A 1998 CHEVROLET TAHOE WITH 63,000 MILES. CONDITION HAS EXISTED FOR MORE THAN 2 YEARS. DURING THIS TIME REPAIRS WERE MADE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, WHICH WERE EFFECTIVE FOR LESS THAN A YEAR. PROBLEM CONDITION HAS RETURNED. PROBLEM HAS RESULTED IN MINOR CONTACT WITH OTHER VEHICLES AND OBJECTS IN THAT A DRIVER CAN NOT PREDICT WHEN THE PROBLEM WILL OCCUR AND BRAKING DISTANCE IS EXTENDED EVEN ON DRY PAVEMENT. SITUATION IS WORSENED WHEN IN "REVERSE" AND PROBLEM OCCURS.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER
May 3, 2005MASON, MI
Crash

I SEEM TO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH MY ABS BRAKES. I BELIEVE IT WAS A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR IN 1 ACCIDENT. RESULTING IN DAMAGE TO 2 TRUCKS. IT WAS REPAIRED BUT THE BODYSHOP, ASSOCIATED WITH A GM DEALER, FAILED TO REPAIR AND OR INDENTIFY THE BRAKE PROBLEM.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
38,000 miJan 19, 2005OAKWOOD, TX
Crash

ENGINE QUIT DURING HEAVY RAIN,AT 40 MPH, BRAKES LOCKED UP, RESULTING IN LOSS OF STEERING AND CONTROL. VEHICLE RAN OFF ROAD AND HIT A TREE. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. NO INJURIES, BUT MAJOR DAMAGE TO VEHICLE. *NM

AIR BAGS
81,625 miFeb 16, 2003VALLEJO, CA
Crash

BRAKES ON 1998 CHEVY TAHOE FAILED CAUSING REAR END COLLISION. ABS BRAKES NEVER CAME ON ABS LIGHT ON OFTER COLLISION. EXTENSSIVE FRONT END DAMAGE TO VEHICILE SRS SYSTEM NEVER DEPLOYED WITH MAJOR FRONT END DAMMAGE.

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
Mar 7, 2001WICHITA FALLS, TX
Crash

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION WHILETRAVELING AT 30-40 MPH, IMPACT MID CENTER, AND NEITHER DRIVER'S SIDE NOR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
Oct 23, 2000NORCROSS, GA
Crash

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 5MPH, BACKING UP AND HE HIT A TREE. HE APPLIED BRAKES, AND PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO FLOOR . ABS BRAKING SYSTEM DIDN'T KICK IN AT ALL. ALSO, THERE WAS FLUID LEAKING FROM THE BRAKES. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK

STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
Aug 11, 1999CAVALIER, ND
Crash

WHILE DRIVING STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO GO INTO A DITCH. BUT WHEN THE INVESTIGATOR CHECKED THE VEHICLE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOOSE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION AND VIN#. *AK

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
Sep 29, 1998LANCASTER, PA
Crash

IN PASSING LANE (55-65MPH) WHEN ANOTHER STARTED BACKING UP. TAHOE REARENDED VEHICLE. DUAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. NO INJURIES. *AK

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
145,975 miMar 5, 2016FOREST GROVE, OR
Fire

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 TOWELED OFF THE INTERIOR AND SWITCH ASSEMBLY OFF, IT DIDN'T APPEAR MUCH WATER ENTERED THE SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND "OFF" THIS WHOLE TIME. I TURNED IGNITION ON TO ROLL WINDOWS BACK UP, AND PROMPTLY TURNED THE IGNITION BACK OFF. SOME HOURS LATER, THE SWITCH ASSEMBLY CAUGHT FIRE AND THE VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. THIS FIRE WASN'T DISCOVERED UNTIL THE NEXT DAY AS IT SELF-EXTINGUISHED. THE BATTERY WAS NOT DISCHARGED AFTER THE FIRE, SO IT WAS NOT A DEAD SHORT IN THE WIRING. I BELIEVE THE AUTO-DOWN CIRCUIT BOARD OR THE ELECTRIC MIRROR SWITCH WAS THE CAUSE. AFTER THE FIRE, THE PASS SIDE MIRROR WAS FULLY EXTENDED AWAY, AT SOME POINT THE CONTACTS WERE CLOSED CAUSING THE MIRROR TO MOVE, DESPITE THE IGNITION BEING "OFF". THIS HAPPENED EITHER DURING THE FIRE, OR THE SWITCH WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. THE IGNITION WAS ONLY "ON" FOR ABOUT 30 SECONDS THAT WHOLE DAY PRIOR TO THE FIRE, JUST LONG ENOUGH TO ROLL UP THE WINDOWS.

SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
89,857 miDec 4, 2007BIRMINGHAM, AL
Fire

OUTSIDE TEMP BELOW FREEZING SO I HEATED UP MY 1998 CHEVY TAHOE (INCLUDING HEATED LEATHER SEATS ON LOW SETTING) AND WHEN I RETURNED TO MY VEHICLE LESS THAN 5 MINUTES LATER, DRIVER'S SEAT WAS ON FIRE. VEHICLE HAS LESS THAT 90,000 MILES AND HAS NOT BEEN MISTREATED. I HAPPENED TO HAVE A DRINK IN MY HAND SO I POURED IT ON THE SEAT TO PUT IT OUT. HAD I ACTUALLY BEEN SITTING ON THE SEAT, I COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY BURNED. *TR

Other Tahoe Years

Other Chevrolet Models