Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (service brakes, ABS, rotors and pads, parking brake).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1998 Chevrolet Tahoe owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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. Also while I was replacing the fuel supply and return lines, I noticed that the brake line that feeds the rear brakes that also runs along the inside of the frame was in the same sad shape, during removal of this brake line, it also crumbled into chunks of rust, how these lines did not fail prior to this incident is beyond me. …
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.
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.
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 diagnosed that the ABS brake system failed and the front driver and the passenger side hub bearing assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact mentioned that the failure recurred several times. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 170,000.
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.
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.
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.
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. The cost to repair this system is considerable, when I questioned the dealer they could not give me an accurate sum because as they got further into fixing it there is no way of knowing how much it will cost until it was done. Who is to say it would work properly when they finished and I would have spent well over a thousand dollars.
I have had a problem with the ABS brake not working now for about 2 years. The ABS will kick in at 10 MPH or less and will not stop the vehicle. The vehicle will slide and the tires just lock up. If I release and pump the brake, I am able to stop. I have learned to drive very slowly when coming to a stop but I feel that in an emergency, I May not be able to stop at all. I notice that GM has put out a recall for this exact same thing. They recently added mn & wi to that recall but not the earlier years. My Tahoe is a 1998. I don't feel I should have to pay for repairs of a bad sensor, which is what a service tech had told me 2 years ago, when there is a known problem with the sensors. This is something that happens every single time I apply my brakes.
My 1998 Chevy Tahoe has an ABS event when coming to a stop at approximately 6 miles per hour. This just started happening at around 60K miles. It has gotten progressively worse as the miles accumulated. Currently I have 80K on my SUV. This increases my stopping distance an worries me about how much control I have if I need to stop quickly. I have not done anything yet to fix the problem. I just started researching this and found that there is a limited recall already happening on GM suvs and trucks from 1999 - 2002. I am scared to take it to the dealer due to the costs. Everytime I come to a stop, the ABS kicks on.
Related recalls
Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Disc › Rotor
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.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the rotors for a core date of "287" and, if found, replace the rotor.
Brake complaints in other Tahoe years
Frequently asked questions
How common are brake problems on the 1998 Chevrolet Tahoe?
NHTSA has 77 complaints about the brakes of the 1998 Chevrolet Tahoe, 29% of the model year's 263 complaints. The component named most often is antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (43 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1998 Chevrolet Tahoe brake problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 98V-033 (rotor, Feb 17, 1998). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 1998 Chevrolet Tahoe brake problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 86,000 miles, and 4% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 7 crashes, 0 fires and 2 injuries to brakes problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.