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1998 Chevrolet Tahoe Steering Problems

31 owner-reported steering complaints from NHTSA data

31
Complaints
1
Recalls
1
Crashes
Jan 2004Dec 2000
Date Range

Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.

Steering Recalls (1)

RECALLCampaign #97V142000

STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)

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.

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.

Owner Complaints (31)

criticalSTEERING
Filed: Nov 2008

Your steering feels loose at highway speeds, especially when turning slightly—it feels like you've hit ice and the steering wheel jerks unexpectedly, which is frightening. You've already replaced the steering sensor, steering box, and entire front end, but the problem persists. This may require a comprehensive diagnostic to identify the underlying cause, possibly involving the steering column, suspension alignment, or remaining steering components.

NHTSA #: 10248397
highSTEERING
Filed: May 2015

At highway speeds, your truck feels like it's hydroplaning or sliding to the right, and you experience a brief sensation of looseness in the steering wheel. The front end has been checked and found to be tight, so the issue may be elsewhere in the steering system. This could involve inspecting the steering column, intermediate shaft, or suspension components that affect steering stability at high speeds.

NHTSA #: 10714744
highSTEERING
Filed: Oct 2008

Your steering wheel feels very loose and unresponsive. You discovered this is a known defect after researching online, and contacted Chevrolet and GM about it—but were told there's no recall available for your vehicle. The issue appeared at 115,000 miles. A mechanic will need to inspect and likely replace worn steering components like the steering column, u-joints, or tie rod ends to restore proper steering control.

NHTSA #: 10246631
mediumSTEERING
Filed: Oct 2007

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. *TR

NHTSA #: 10207402
mediumSTEERING
Filed: Jan 2004

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

NHTSA #: 10053960
mediumSTEERING,VISIBILITY
Filed: Dec 2003

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 #: 10047831
mediumSTEERING
Filed: Oct 2003

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 *JB

NHTSA #: 10034062
mediumSTEERING
Filed: Sep 2003

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. *AK

NHTSA #: 10038438
mediumSTEERING
Filed: Apr 2003

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. *TT

NHTSA #: 10015873
mediumSTEERING
Filed: Feb 2003

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.*TS

NHTSA #: 10009479
mediumSTEERING
Filed: Feb 2002

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.*AK

NHTSA #: 758564
mediumSTEERING,SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,POWER TRAIN
Filed: Sep 2001

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.*AK

NHTSA #: 752616
mediumSTEERING
Filed: Mar 2001

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. *AK

NHTSA #: 884105
mediumSTEERING
Filed: Feb 2001

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. *AK

NHTSA #: 741509
mediumSTEERING
Filed: Dec 2000

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 #: 876780
mediumSTEERING
Filed: Dec 2000

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. *AK

NHTSA #: 876268
mediumSTEERING
Filed: Nov 2000

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.*AK

NHTSA #: 875352
mediumSTEERING
Filed: Nov 2000

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 #: 735931
mediumSTEERING,FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
Filed: Oct 2000

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA #: 735020
mediumSTEERING
Filed: Oct 2000

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

NHTSA #: 734623
mediumSTEERING
Filed: Apr 2000

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA #: 722033
mediumSTEERING
Filed: Apr 2000

STEERING WHEEL TURNS INTO THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. *AK

NHTSA #: 860662
mediumSTEERING
Filed: Dec 1999

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. *AK

NHTSA #: 716263
mediumSTEERING
Filed: Sep 1999

STEERING PULLS TO THE RIGHT.

NHTSA #: 609147
mediumSTEERING
CrashFiled: Aug 1999

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

NHTSA #: 844838
mediumSTEERING
Filed: Jul 1999

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. *AK

NHTSA #: 708246
mediumSTEERING
Filed: Jul 1999

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 #: 708113
mediumSTEERING
Filed: Feb 1999

STEERING WHEEL SENSOR FAILED.

NHTSA #: 607612
mediumSTEERING
Filed: Nov 1998

PINION SEAL FAILED RESULTING IN LEAKING.

NHTSA #: 542511
mediumSTEERING
Filed: Jun 1998

STEERING BOLT FAILED, CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL.

NHTSA #: 536942
mediumSTEERING
Filed: Jun 1998

STEERING LOOSE, SUDDENLY MOVES WITH LESS EFFORT. VEHICLE HAS SPEED SENSITIVE STEERING.

NHTSA #: 536666

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