1998 Chevrolet Tahoe SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
98 TAHOE, HAS ABS BRAKING ISSUE. WHEN DRIVING AT SLOW SPEEDS, THE ABS WILL ENGAGE DURING STOPPING AND SEVERELY EXTEND THE STOPPING DISTANCE REQUIRED TO COMPLETELY STOP. PEDAL IS VERY SPONGY AND DOES NOT RESPOND LIKE IT SHOULD. MULTIPLE SHOPS HAVE STATED THE ABS IS A REPEATING ISSUE WITH THE TAHOES. HAVE HAD MANY CLOSE ACCIDENTS AND DO NOT FEEL SAFE ALLOWING OTHERS TO DRIVE VEHICLE AS THEY ARE NOT USED TO THE STOPPING DISTANCE REQUIRED. THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET TAHOE. AT LOW SPEEDS HE EXPERIENCED UNWANTED ANTI-LOCK BRAKE (ABS) ACTIVATION. THE CONDITION LEADS TO EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCES. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 104000.
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. *TR
1998 TAHOE ABS BRAKING PROBLEM. ABS SYSTEM ENGAGES AT LOW SPEED MAKING IT VERY HARD TO STOP VEHICLE SAFELY. *NM
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. *NM
ANTILOCK BRAKE ACTIVATION AT LOW SPEEDS (< 5MPH). SOUNDS SAME AS RECALL 05V37900. STARTED OUT INTERMITTENT, NOW OCCURS 80% OF TIME. DANGEROUS AS IT EFFECTS STOPPING DISTANCE AS YOU APPROACH TO MAKE A STOP. DEALER WILL NOT ADDRESS AS RECALL IS FOR 1999+, MY TAHOE IS 1998. *NM
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. *JB
LOW SPEED ANTILOCK BRAKE ACTIVATION CAUSING EXCESSIVE STOPPING DISTANCES. DEALER SERVICE REP STATED THAT THE ABS SENSORS WERE CORRODED MOST LIKELY FROM ROAD SALT. STARTED OUT AS VERY INTERMITTENT BUT RECENTLY BECAME A CONSTANT PROBLEM. *NM
WHEN TRAVELING 10 MPH OR UNDER THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES SYSTEM STARTS MAKING IT HARD TO STOP. *JB
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. *JB
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. *NM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKE ON WET PAVEMENT AT SPEEDS OF 4 MPH THE ANTI-LOCK ENGAGES. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 05V379000, REGARDING THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. UPDATED 03/03/06
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ABS ACTIVATES AT LOW SPEEDS. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, #05V379000, REGARDING THE ANTILOCK BRAKES. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER, IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.
DT: THE CONTACT STATES THERE IS NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 05V370000 CONCERNING THE ANTI LOCK BRAKES. THIS VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL, BUT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE.*AK
ABS ACTIVATION AT LOW SPEEDS FOR PAST 9 MONTHS ON A 1998 CHEVROLET TAHOE RECALLS IN MY STATE APPLICABLE TO 1999 & NEWER DESPITE GM SERVICE BULLETINS OF MODELS OF 1995 & UP AFFECTED BY PROBLEM. PAID DEALER TO CLEAN ABS SINCE GM REFUSED. *JB
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. *JB
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE ABS WAS MAKING A GRINDING NOISE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY FOUND THE GREASE WAS GETTING BETWEEN THE WHEEL BEARINGS, CAUSING THEM TO SLIP. THERE WAS NO REMEDY OFFERED AT THAT TIME. THEREFORE, SHE DISCONNECTED THE FUSE FOR THE ABS IN APRIL 2005. WHEN SHE RECENTLY TRIED TO RECONNECT THE FUSE THE GRINDING NOISE WORSENED AND SHE DISCONNECTED THE FUSE. *AK UPDATED 12/27/2005 - *NM
ANTI-LOCK BRAKE FALSES AT 6 MPH. NO DIFFERENCE IF ACCELERATING OR DE-ACCELERATING. IN THE BEGINNING THE PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTEN, BUT WITH TIME THE FREQUENCY OF FALSING INCREASED. FINALLY A TROUBLE CODE SET INDICATING THE RIGHT FRONT SENSOR. AFTER FOLLOWING THE PROCEDURES IN THE SECOND EDITION OF THE C/K TRUCK SERVCE MANUAL IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE RIGHT SENSOR DIDN'T PASS THE MV TEST. THE SENSOR WAS REPALCED W/A SENSOR FROM A GM DEALERSHIP. THE SENSOR DIDN'T CORRECT THE PROBLEM. AFTER FOLLOWING THE SERVICE MANUAL IT DIRECTS YOU TO REPLACE EBCM AFTER ADDITIONAL TESTING. A EBCM WAS PURCHASED AT A GM DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP DID PROGRAM IN THE CORRECT TIRE SIZE. THE FALSING AT 6 MPH CONTIUNES WITH NO IMPROVEMENT. A SCAN TOOL WAS PLUGGED IN WITH THE FOLLOWING RESULTS: ALL THREE (3) SENSORS, THE LEFT, RIGHT SENSOR, AND THE REAR WHEEL THROUGH THE ECM. ALL THREE (3) SENSORS READ THE SAME UNTIL 6 MPH IS REACHED AT WHICH TIME THE LEFT FRONT SENSOR WILL SUDDENLY SHOW 3 MPH WITH THE OTHER TWO (2) SENSORS WILL STILL SHOW 6 MPH, THE ANTI-LOCK FALSES. WHEN THE SPEED CHEANGES EITHER > OR < 6 MPH, THE FALSING STOPS. THE FALSING OCCURRS WITH BRAKE PEDAL APPLIED OR NOT. THE MV TEST INDICATED THE LEFT FRONT SENSOR WAS WITHIN SPEC'S W/A MV READ OF 129. THE LEFT FRONT SENSOR WAS REPLACED ONCE AGAIN PURCHASED FROM A GM DEALERSHIP. THE FALSING CONTINUES AND THE TEST ABOVE WITH THE SCAN TOOL WAS REPEATED WITH SAME RESULTS. THE ANTI-LOCK DOES OPERATE CORRECTLY WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED AND A WHEEL SLIP TAKES PLACE. YOUR GM DEALERSHIP CAN'T REALLY HELP WITHOUT CHANGING MORE COMPONETS. THE PROBLEM EXISTS TODAY. NUMBER OF FAILURES: EVERY TIME 6 MPH.
DT: THE CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT AN ABS PROBLEM. THERE WAS EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE IN THE STOPPING WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE SEPTEMBER OF 2004. RECALL 05V379000 WAS ISSUED FOR THE SAME PROBLEM BUT IT WAS ON THE 1999 MODELS. WHEN THE CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS THEY COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER HAD THE BRAKE PAD REPLACED. THEY TURNED THE ROTORS. NOTHING FIXED THE PROBLEM. *AK UPDATED 11/17/2005. *NM
23 DECEMBER 2003, WHILE IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC MY TRUCK WOULD NOT STOP UNTIL I PUMPED THE BRAKE PEDAL. I CAME WITHIN INCHES OF REAR-ENDING ANOTHER VEHICLE. RIGHT OUT OF THE BLUE, NO WARNING, THE SAME SITUATION, THE PEDAL WENT RIGHT DOWN TO THE FLOOR. THE NEXT MORNING I CALLED LANNAN. THE EARLIEST APPOINTMENT I COULD GET WAS FOR FRIDAY, 2 JANUARY 2004. 2 JANUARY 2004, WHILE DRIVING TO LANNAN, IN WOBURN SQUARE, I NEARLY HIT A LADY WHO STEPPED OUT IN FRONT OF MY TRUCK, WHILE SHE WAS IN THE CROSSWALK. I RECEIVED THE ''EVIL EYE'' OF A POLICEMAN STANDING NEARBY. AT LANNAN, I WAS INFORMED BY SERVICE PRO, MR. O''MALLEY THAT THE PROBLEM WITH MY BRAKES WAS DUE TO A DIRTY ABS SENSOR. I READ (ENCLOSED) SERVICE BULLETIN #02-05-25-006A. SEE ENCLOSED LANNAN INVOICE #CTCS203241. I PAID $278.25 TO CLEAN OFF THE RUST. I CAN NOT APPRECIATE WHY AN ABS SENSOR (RESPONSIBLE FOR STOPPING LARGE VEHICLES SAFELY) IS MOUNTED ON A CORROSIVE MATERIAL THAT WILL EVENTUALLY DEGRADE SENSOR COMMUNICATION. THIS DEGRADATION PREVENTS LARGE VEHICLES FROM STOPPING AT ALL '' THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. I CANNOT APPRECIATE WHY THERE IS NO WARNING TO THE DRIVER WHEN THE ABS SENSOR COMMUNICATION IS IMPAIRED. I CANNOT APPRECIATE WHY I WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE POTENTIAL DANGER. ALL THOSE PEOPLE DRIVING ALL OF THOSE LISTED VEHICLES COULD INFLICT ALL KINDS OF DAMAGE AND INJURY TO OTHERS BECAUSE OF IMPAIRED ABS SENSOR COMMUNICATION. WHY IS THERE NO SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE ON THOSE SENSORS? IS THERE A RECALL? SHOULD THERE BE A RECALL? ARE YOU RETROFITTING? THE PEOPLE WHO OWN THOSE LISTED VEHICLES SHOULD BE NOTIFIED OF THE POTENTIAL DANGER. WHAT TYPE OF ABS SENSORS ARE YOU USING ON THE OTHER VEHICLES IN YOUR FLEET? DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA OF WHAT A PREDICAMENT I WOULD BE IN TODAY IF I HIT THAT LADY? AT MY TRIAL, HOW WELL WOULD IT BE RECEIVED WHEN THEY READ ABOUT THE ABS ACTIVATION AT LOW SPEEDS? IT WOULD NOT HELP THAT LADY THAT COULD HAVE BEEN LYING UNDER MY 5,000 LBS TRUCK. *JB
ABS BRAKES SYSTEM ROAD GRIME WEDGED INTO PLASTIC PIECE COVERING THE ABS SENSOR CAUSING SALT CORROSION AND IMPROPER ACTIVATION OF THE ABS BRAKE SYSTEM. *JB
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.
COMPLAINT REGARDING FRONT BRAKE ROTOR SEPARATION ON 1998 CHEVROLET TAHOE.*MR THE ROTORS SEPARATED UNDER NORMAL BRAKING CONDITIONS. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER WHO INDICATED THAT THE SEPARATION OCCURED DUE TO AGE AND/OR WEAR. THE ROTOR SEPARATED AT THE STEEL HUB SECTION ATTACHED TO THE CAST IRON SECTION AND BLEW APART. *NM
I HAVE A 1998 CHEVROLET TAHOE AND I AM HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS THAT THE 1999'S ARE THAT YOU JUST RECALLED. WHEN YOU TRY TO STOP AT SLOW SPEED THE VEHICLE DOES NOT STOP FOR A COUPLE OF FEET. I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE LOOKED AT AND NOT ONE CAN FIND THE PROBLEM.
CONTACT STATES; ABS SYSTEM. AT LOW SPEEDS THE ABS THE PUMP OR SOMETHING ENGAGES CREATING A SOFT SENSATION IN THE PEDAL, AND IT DOESN'T STOP CORRECTLY. IT WAS INTERMITTENT AT FIRST, BUT IS NOW ALMOST ALL OF THE TIME.*AK
Trend Over Time
Complaints by year
Other Issues
Common problems reported
Quick Summary
The 1998 Chevrolet Tahoe has 61 SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC complaints on file. 5 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.