FaultScore

1998 Chevrolet Tahoe steering problems

33 of the 315 complaints about the 1998 Chevrolet Tahoe are about the steering — 10% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 90,000 miles.

B

33

Complaints

1

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Steering 14 42.4%
Hydraulic Power Assist System 9 27.3%
Steering Wheel/Handle BAR 5 15.2%
Pump 2 6.1%
Gear BOX (Other Than Rack AND Pinion) 2 6.1%
Pinion Shaft 1 3.0%

Steering across every Chevrolet Tahoe year

1996 11 2.2%
1997 109 21.7%
1998 33 6.6%
1999 50 10.0%
2000 12 2.4%
2001 21 4.2%
2002 42 8.4%
2003 52 10.4%
2004 28 5.6%
2005 19 3.8%
2007 10 2.0%
2015 70 13.9%
2016 20 4.0%
2018 11 2.2%
2021 14 2.8%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 240,000 miles Linden, NJ

STEERING

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.

NHTSA complaint #10714744 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 98,000 miles Orlando, FL

STEERING

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 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 115,000 miles Monteagle, TN

STEERING

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WAS VERY LOOSE. THROUGH ONLINE RESEARCH, HE DISCOVERED THE DEFECT AND CALLED CHEVROLET AND GM. HE WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 115,000.

NHTSA complaint #10246631 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 63,300 miles Hudson, NC

STEERING

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 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Gilbert, SC

STEERING

WHILE DRIVING AND MAKING TURNS STEERING WHEEL BECAME LOOSE. DEALERSHIP SERVICED VEHICLE AND REPLACED EVO SENSOR.

NHTSA complaint #10053960 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 60,000 miles Elizabethtown, KY

STEERING

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING MECHANISM. THE VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING. THE 2ND ISSUE INVOLVED THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WHICH WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. *PH THE STEERING WHEEL POSITION SENSOR WAS REPLACED. *SCC

NHTSA complaint #10047831 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Yukon, OK

STEERING

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THE DRIVER CHANGED LANES AND THE VEHICLES STEERING WHEEL TURNED FURTHER THAN DRIVER TURN IT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE EVO SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #10038438 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Council Bluffs, IA

STEERING

INTERMITTENTLY WHEN TRUCK IS BEING DRIVEN ON STRAIGHT OR CURVED ROAD, THE STEERING FEELS LOOSE AND UNCONTROLLABLE, THEN RETURNS TO NORMAL. PROBLEM IS VERY NOTICEABLE IN COLD WEATHER. *AK *TS

NHTSA complaint #10034062 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 72,000 miles Chantilly, VA

STEERING

WHILE DRIVING THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD MAKE A SHARP RIGHT OR LEFT WHICH CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO JERK THE STEERING WHEEL BACK IN PLACE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *NLM EVO SENSOR REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #10015873 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 90,000 miles Clever, MO

STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AS STATED IN RECALL #97V142000, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT INCUDED IN THE RECALL. *JB STEERING WANDERS 1/4 TURNOR SO AND MAKES VEHICLE SLIGHTLY JERK.

NHTSA complaint #10009479 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Fayetteville, NC

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

WHILE DRIVING, SUDDENLY MY VEHICLE FELT LIKE I WAS TRYING TO STEER A VEHICLE ON ICE. WHEN I ASKED SOMEONE IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT, I WAS TOLD THIS PROBLEM WAS NOT UNCOMMON, ALTHOUGH DANGEROUS.

NHTSA complaint #758564 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Toddville, MD

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

STEERING PROBLEM- I SUDDENLY LOST STEERING WHILE DRIVING. ACCORDING TO THE DEARORSHIP THIS WAS CAUSED BY A MALFUNCTION OF THE POWER STEERING SENSOR. I ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH, AND LUCKILY THERE WERE NO VEHICLES AROUND AND I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. I ASKED THE DEALER IF THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS, AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NOT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY EITHER. BRAKES- WHILE MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING, HE LOST BRAKES ON THE CAR. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER SERVICE DEPT, THE REAL AXEL SEALS WERE LEAKING, AND THE FRONT CALIPERS WERE STUCK. SEALS AND GASKETS WERE REPLACED ALONG WITH THE MASTER CYLINDER. THIS ITEM WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. WE'VE HAD ON-GOING PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE BRAKING VERY ROUGHLY AND "SKIPPING". THE ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE DUE TO THEM WARPING DUE TO OVERHEATING. THE BRAKES ARE STILL GIVING US PROBLEMS. THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY WENT UP WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH. THERE WERE ABSOLUTLY NO SIGNS OF THIS HAPPENING BEFORE THIS TIME. THE FLUID WAS CLEAN WHEN I PULLED THE CAR OVER, AND THERE WAS NO SLIPPING EITHER. I WAS DRIVING ALONG AND A VERY LOUD NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE CAR- IT SOUNDED LIKE THE REAR-END, AND THE CAR BECAME SUDDENLY UNDRIVEABLE. LUCKILY I WAS ON A DESERTED ROAD AND WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER. I FEEL THAT IF I WAS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC DRIVING AT 55-65 MPH IN ANY OF THE ABOVE INSTANCES A SERIOUS ACCIDENT COULD HAVE OCCURRED.

NHTSA complaint #752616 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Suffren, NY

STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR

STEERING WHEEL AT FIRST WOULD MOVE ON ITS OWN TO RIGHT AT HIGH SPEEDS, RESULTING IN MOMENTARY LOSS OF CONTROL. THIS PROBLEM HAS ADVANCED, AND STEERING WHEEL WILL MOVE TO RIGHT AND LEFT AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.

NHTSA complaint #884105 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Newport Beach, CA

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

WHEN TURNING SLIGHTLY TO THE RIGHT AT SPEED (AT 30+MPH - NEVER FROM A STOP), VEHICLE SUDDENLY OVERSTEERS LIKE IT SUDDENLY HAS INCREASED POWER ASSIST. THIS OCCURS AT THE SAME STEERING POSITION EACH TIME - APROX 30 DEGREES OFF CENTER, AND IS SOMEWHAT ERRATIC IN FREQUENCY, BUT OCCURS ABOUT TWICE PER DAY.

NHTSA complaint #741509 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Baltimore, MD

STEERING

4-WHEEL STEERING: FRONT SENSOR ACTIVATES WHILE DRIVING, MAKING IT FEEL LIKE RIDING ON ICE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK DEALER REPLACED STEERING WHEEL POSITION SENSOR. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #876780 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Norcross, GA

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP

CONSUMER NOTICED FLUID UNDER VEHICLE. DEALER STATED STEERING PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED . DEALER HAD REPLACED THIS PART LAST YEAR. CURRENTLY, NOTICED THAT PART WAS WRONG FOR VEHICLE . PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #876268 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Huston, TX

STEERING

WHEN CONSUMER TRAVELS AT 20MPH ON HIGHWAY, AND MAKES A RIGHT TURN VEHICLE IS HARD TO STEER. IT'S LIKE SHE WAS ON ICE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES.

NHTSA complaint #875352 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Webster, NY

STEERING

RECENTLY I SENT MY CHEVROLET TAHOE (1998) TO THE DEALER IN ROCHESTER, NEW YORK. WE HAD CONCERNS DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE TRUCK STEERING WAS EXTRAORDINARILY NARROW IN TURNING RADIUS SINCE WE BOUGHT IT. WITHIN THE LAST FEW MONTHS WE NOTICED THAT WHILE THE TRUCK WAS STATIONARY, OR IN PARK, IF WE TRIED TO TURN THE WHEEL IT WOULD STICK UNTIL WE MOVED A LITTLE AND THEN IT WOULD FREE ITSELF.

NHTSA complaint #735931 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Houston, TX

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #735020 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Whitman, MA

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

INCONSISTANT STEERING RESISTANTANCE AT ALL SPEEDS CAUSING THE WHEEL TO JERK AND OVER STEER. THIS PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT.

NHTSA complaint #734623 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Oxford, NC

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #722033 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

South Lake Tahoe, CA

STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR

STEERING WHEEL TURNS INTO THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION.

NHTSA complaint #860662 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Mesquite TX, AK

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

AT 31,000 MILES THE SPEED SENSITIVE STEERING WOULD SUDDENLY CHANGE THE STEERING EFFORT AND WOULD LEAD TO LOSS OF CONTROL..HAD IT REPAIRED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY, THEN AT 68,000 MILES IT HAS FAILED AGAIN.

NHTSA complaint #716263 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Carpinteria, CA

STEERING

STEERING PULLS TO THE RIGHT.

NHTSA complaint #609147 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Cavalier, ND Crash

STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR

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#.

NHTSA complaint #844838 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Warrenton, VA

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

STEERING WHEEL WILL ERRATICALLY MOVE WHILE CORNERING AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS. DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED EVO SENSOR WITH CONTINUED PROBLEM. BOTTOM LINE THIS PART DID NOT CORRECT STEERING DEFECT! DEALERSHIP DOES NOT ACKNOWLEDGE CONTINUED STEERING PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #708246 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Farmingdale, PA

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

WHEN TURNING VEHICLE SUDDENLY SEEMS TO OVERSTEER LIKE IT SUDDENLY HAS INCREASED POWER ASSIST. DEALER SUGGESTED DIFFERENT ALIGNMENT SPECS. WHICH DID NOT WORK. STEERING BOX AND PUMP WERE ALSO CHANGED.

NHTSA complaint #708113 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Farmingdale, PA

STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)

WHEN TURNING VEHICLE SUDDENLY SEEMS TO OVERSTEER LIKE IT SUDDENLY HAS INCREASED POWER ASSIST. DEALER SUGGESTED DIFFERENT ALIGNMENT SPECS. WHICH DID NOT WORK. STEERING BOX AND PUMP WERE ALSO CHANGED.

NHTSA complaint #708113 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Farmingdale, PA

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP

WHEN TURNING VEHICLE SUDDENLY SEEMS TO OVERSTEER LIKE IT SUDDENLY HAS INCREASED POWER ASSIST. DEALER SUGGESTED DIFFERENT ALIGNMENT SPECS. WHICH DID NOT WORK. STEERING BOX AND PUMP WERE ALSO CHANGED.

NHTSA complaint #708113 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Yorba Linda, CA

STEERING

STEERING WHEEL SENSOR FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #607612 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1998 Chevrolet Tahoe problems

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