Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).
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).
The contact owns a 1998 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 240,000.
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.
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". If it is common, and I suspect it is, why doesn't GM post a bulletin and offer to repair the problem. It certainly wasn't caused from abuse or neglect. This same car last year with around 36,000 miles on it had to have its alternator replaced at a cost of $350 and a leaking gas tank which cost me $450. These repairs seem rediculous to me considering the price of the vehicle, the low mileage, and the general overall care. …
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.
Engine leaked coolant from the intake manifold gasket. As a result, engine blew out, causing the vehicle to malfunction. Consumer was driving when coolant began leaking. GM has a new part number because the previous gasket has been changed to correct deffect. Mechanic replaced intake manifold gasket set and serpentine belt.
I own a 1998 Chevy Tahoe 2 dr 4wd. It had 114,000 miles on it when the head gasket blew and the motor was ruined requiring a complete replacement. The vehicle had not been abused. Maintenance was regular. I've now found that this is a common design defect leading to failure. I now buy Mazda or Toyota vehicles.
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.
Water pump starte to leak after 2 years with a replacement from the dealership.gasket originally was corroded from the dexol coolant. This time the metal housing for the water pump developed a hole just below the shaft, large enough for a pencil to be inserted.
The brake failures are well known by all Tahoe owners. The failures for the windshield wiper control assembly, brake light assembly are all related to poor quality electrical components not intended for any reasonable service life. Junk by any quality standards. The service department at nelda stevenson Chevrolet acknolwdged these components have high failure rates, but they get paid to correct them. The coolantconnector is an extememly poor design. Despite threading into the intake, it is made of a poor quality material that breaks off at the entry to the manifold requiring removal of the manifold to remove the broken threads resulting in a $400 bill to replace a $12.95 part. Again pathetic design and choice of materials to save a couple of dollars in manufacturing. As a design engineer, I find these choices by GM designers deplorable and will buy used bmws from now on. …
While driving at a speed of 65 miles per hour, the motor would just shut down with no warning. After pulling over it would then restart. This happened 8 to 10 times durring the same trip, and then it started running fine as if there was no problem.dealer could not find anything wrong with vehicle. After this problem started at the same time the fuel tank at the top were the fuel pump and lines enter started leaking fuel at fill ups
Engine complaints in other Tahoe years
Frequently asked questions
How common are engine problems on the 1998 Chevrolet Tahoe?
NHTSA has 22 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 1998 Chevrolet Tahoe, 8% of the model year's 263 complaints. The component named most often is engine › gasoline (5 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1998 Chevrolet Tahoe engine problems?
No. NHTSA lists no engine & cooling recall for the 1998 Chevrolet Tahoe, though it has 2 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 1998 Chevrolet Tahoe engine problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 93,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 3 crashes, 0 fires and 3 injuries to engine & cooling 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.