1998 Chevrolet Tahoe Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe two recurring problems: the anti-lock brakes engaging at very low speeds and lengthening stopping distance, and windshield wipers that work only intermittently, sometimes quitting in heavy rain. Steering that feels loose or vague at highway speed is also reported repeatedly. Complaints cluster broadly between about 40,000 and 120,000 miles, with a number of cooling-system leak reports on higher-mileage trucks.

1. 1
   Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)

   Windshield wipers fail or work intermittently

   • 45 complaints (17%)
   • median 73,000 mi at 6.1 yrs old (28 state mileage)
   • filed 2001–2009

   Owners describe wipers that hesitate, stop mid-sweep, refuse to start, or start on their own, often in heavy rain or after long drives. Some report having to jiggle wiring or nudge the arms to get them moving. Dealers are reported to have replaced the wiper motor or module in some cases, while several owners say they were told nothing could be done because a related wiper recall covered earlier model years rather than this one. Reported from roughly 12,000 to 171,000 miles, often in rain or hot weather after extended driving.

   What to check: Run the wipers through every delay setting and both speeds, including after the truck has been running a while, and ask whether the wiper motor or pulse module has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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.”

   NHTSA complaint #10037276, filed 2003-09, 75,000 miles

   “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. I was in a rain storm behind a truck, I pulled over, almost getting hit. I could not see at all. This should be taken care of right away.”

   NHTSA complaint #10058433, filed 2004-02, 94,605 miles
2. 2
   Brakes

   ABS kicks in at low speed, poor stopping

   • 36 complaints (14%)
   • median 81,625 mi at 8.1 yrs old (21 state mileage)
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1998–2016

   Complaints describe the anti-lock system engaging during ordinary low-speed stops, often under about 5-10 mph, with a soft or spongy pedal and the vehicle travelling further than expected before it stops. Several owners say the behaviour started intermittently and became constant over months. Dealers are reported to have cleaned or replaced ABS sensors, hubs or the electronic brake control module, and some owners say corrosion from road salt was given as the cause; others report the dealer declined to act because their vehicle was outside a related recall population. Mostly reported between about 40,000 and 105,000 miles, with several owners noting it began intermittently and worsened over time; some mention wet pavement or road-salt climates.

   What to check: Test the brakes at walking pace on a clear lot and see whether the pedal pulses or drops and the truck rolls past the expected stop point; ask whether ABS sensors, hubs or the brake control module have been replaced, and check for corrosion around the front hub/ABS sensor area.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Abs system engages and creates dangerous brake sponginess. I have a difficult time stopping this vehicle. I have taken it to numerous dealers who attribute the problem to the existing recall on similar GM light trucks and SUV's related to oxidation/corrosion of the brake system. I would like this fixed.”

   NHTSA complaint #10159397, filed 2006-06, 170,400 miles

   “My brakes on my 1998 Tahoe, which I am the original owner, have had to be replaced 3 times. The anti-lock system engages on dry pavement causing the vehicle not to stop. This vehicle currently has 37,000 miles on it. Gm will not fix because they say the warranty is up. I feel this is a defect and should be recalled. I have read that the systems on the newer vehicles have been improved because the one I have is substandard for the vehicles. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10023885, filed 2003-06, 16,000 miles
3. 3
   Electrical system

   No-start or stalling electrical and fuel faults

   Mentioned in 7 of 60 sampled complaints

   Complaints here cover a mixed set of electrical faults: a truck that cranks and runs for a moment then shuts off, loss of motive power with the check engine light on, tail lamp and blinker housings burning out repeatedly, a battery cable that would not stay attached to the side terminal, and a brake-pedal wiring harness that chafed until the brake lights stopped working. One owner reported the fuel sending unit and in-tank line were badly rusted when the pump was serviced. Dealers, where involved, generally diagnosed the individual fault rather than a single pattern. Reported across a wide mileage range, from about 45,000 to 322,000 miles, with several reports on trucks over 100,000 miles.

   What to check: Confirm the truck starts and keeps running from cold and after a short drive, check that all exterior lights work, inspect the battery terminal connections and the wiring near the brake pedal, and look at the fuel lines and tank area for rust.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “For the past couple of weeks my Tahoe will crank start but only run for about 1 second then shuts off. After doing some internet research I have found that thousands other GM owners are having the same issue. This problem is very annoying and inconveniencing. Im sure its cost many people there jobs or at minimum gotten them in trouble for being either late or unable to come in to work. I am in the military and the my car wont start doesn't come off very well with my superiors. Something needs to be done about this.”

   NHTSA complaint #10443447, filed 2012-01, 169,324 miles

   “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 vehicle frame just crumbled into chunks of rust. After further inspection, I can not believe that GM actually installed fuel lines made out of plain unprotected steel tubing, especially on a vehicle that was sold and operated in a snow belt state. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10723888, filed 2015-06, 95,000 miles
4. 4
   Steering

   Loose or vague steering at highway speed

   • 29 complaints (11%)
   • median 90,000 mi at 10.0 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1998–2015

   Complaints describe the steering feeling loose, wandering or briefly slipping, sometimes with the wheel jerking, most noticeably in shallow curves at highway speeds. Some owners say the vehicle pulls or slides to one side. According to complaints, replaced parts have included the steering wheel position sensor, steering box and front-end components, with some owners reporting the symptom persisted afterward; others say the front end was checked and found tight. Mostly reported from about 60,000 to 240,000 miles, often at highway speeds and sometimes worse in cold weather before warm-up.

   Recall 97V1420001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Drive it at highway speed through gentle curves and note any dead spot or slip in the wheel, and have the steering shaft pinch bolt and lower steering shaft checked; ask about any prior steering sensor or steering box work.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “When turning the steering wheel to the right feels like driving on ice. When it is cold the steering feel like this all the time till the Tahoe warms up then I am back the random turning. Will not let anyone in my household drive the Tahoe because of this. Found a bunch of other tahoes with this problem on the internet and it sounds like the steering evo sensor is bad. Looks like the Tahoe would send some type of message to inform the driver to have this repaired or a bypass installed in case of failure.”

   NHTSA complaint #10207402, filed 2007-10, 63,300 miles

   “1998 chevy Tahoe loose steering at highway speed when going thru a slight curve it feels as though you hit a patch of ice. The steering wheel has a slight jerk that scares the life out of you. Replaced steering sensor, steering box, entire front end and it still does it..there needs to be a recall on this problem.”

   NHTSA complaint #10248397, filed 2008-11, 98,000 miles
5. 5
   Engine cooling

   Coolant leaks from intake manifold or heater hose

   Mentioned in 5 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners report coolant leaking near the rear of the engine at the intake manifold, or from a corroded heater hose fitting at the intake, leading to overheating in some cases. Several say a mechanic described the leak as common on this engine and replaced the intake manifold gasket set; one owner was told the revised gasket design addressed the problem. In another complaint the leak led to the engine being ruined and replaced. Reported from about 42,000 to 114,000 miles, sometimes described alongside cooling-system corrosion.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Look for coolant residue or staining at the back of the intake manifold near the firewall and on the heater hose fittings, check the coolant level and condition, and ask whether the intake gaskets or heater hose connector have been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Coolant used in my 1998 Tahoe causes early corrosion of parts in the cooling system. Even following the recommended flushing, I am finding myself facing a rather large service bill to fix a leak caused by the type of coolant used. The dealer I purchased the car from (new) admitted that they do have this problem with early corrosion, yet Chevrolet is not covering any of the repair cost.”

   NHTSA complaint #10028433, filed 2003-07, 61,855 miles

   “I have a 1998 Tahoe (purchase new from edmark Chevrolet in nampa, idaho) with a 350 vortec with 42,000 miles. I have just been told that I am leaking engine coolant from the intake manifold near the rear firewall. A very reputable mechanic says this is very common for this engine and will cost around $400-$500 to fix. While I have owned the car for 6 years I am am upset that a $34,000 car with only 42,00 miles has a problem which is deemed to be common . …”

   NHTSA complaint #10058884, filed 2004-02, 42,000 miles

Buying note. These trucks are old enough that condition and service history matter more than the model's reputation, so drive one long enough to test low-speed braking, highway steering and the wipers in every setting. Ask for records of brake, steering and cooling-system work, and budget for the intake gasket and ABS sensor or module repairs that owners most often describe.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.