1998 CHEVROLET TAHOE Complaints

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.

DRIVER SIDE WINDOW SWITCH CAUGHT FIRE SHORTLY AFTER USE (SEVERAL HOURS). A LIGHT RAIN STORM CAME WHILE THE WINDOWS WERE DOWN. SOME RAIN ENTERED THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE, SOME WATER LIKELY GOT INTO THE SWITCH ASSEMBLY. THIS ALL HAPPENED WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON THE CURB AND IGNITION WAS OFF. I TOWELED OFF THE INTERIOR AND SWITCH ASSEMBLY OFF, IT DIDN'T APPEAR MUCH WATER ENTERED THE SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND "OFF" THIS WHOLE TIME. I TURNED IGNITION ON TO ROLL WINDOWS BACK UP, AND PROMPTLY TURNED THE IGNITION BACK OFF. SOME HOURS LATER, THE SWITCH ASSEMBLY CAUGHT FIRE AND THE VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. THIS FIRE WASN'T DISCOVERED UNTIL THE NEXT DAY AS IT SELF-EXTINGUISHED. THE BATTERY WAS NOT DISCHARGED AFTER THE FIRE, SO IT WAS NOT A DEAD SHORT IN THE WIRING. I BELIEVE THE AUTO-DOWN CIRCUIT BOARD OR THE ELECTRIC MIRROR SWITCH WAS THE CAUSE. AFTER THE FIRE, THE PASS SIDE MIRROR WAS FULLY EXTENDED AWAY, AT SOME POINT THE CONTACTS WERE CLOSED CAUSING THE MIRROR TO MOVE, DESPITE THE IGNITION BEING "OFF". THIS HAPPENED EITHER DURING THE FIRE, OR THE SWITCH WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. THE IGNITION WAS ONLY "ON" FOR ABOUT 30 SECONDS THAT WHOLE DAY PRIOR TO THE FIRE, JUST LONG ENOUGH TO ROLL UP THE WINDOWS.

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.

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. IF IT WASN'T FOR BEING A SKILLED MECHANIC BY TRADE, THIS WOULD HAVE COST A FORTUNE IN LABOR COST TO REPAIR. FOR A VEHICLE SOLD/OPERATED IN SNOW BELT STATES, THESE LINES SHOULD HAVE BEEN MADE OUT OF STAINLESS STEEL OR SOME OTHER NON-FERROUS ALLOY MATERIAL.

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. *TR

I WAS DRIVING ON THE IH-93 NB AT 55 MPH. SUDDENLY THE CAR BEGAN PULLING TO THE RIGHT. I STOPPED AND CHECKED THE TIRES, BUT DID NOT SEE ANY PROBLEMS. ALL FOUR TIRES WERE INFLATED TO THE SPECS (35 PSI). I KEPT DRIVING, AND AFTER 20-25 MILES I HEARD A SOUND AS IF SOMETHING WAS RUBBING IN THE FRONT PASSENGER FENDER AREA. I BEGAN SLOWING DOWN AND WANTED TO STOP. AT THAT MOMENT MY FRONT RIGHT TIRE SEPARATED. IT WAS A PRIMEWELL VALERA HT 235/75-15 TIRE, INSTALLED AT A FIRESTONE SHOP IN PLAISTOW, NH IN NOVEMBER, 2014 WITH A FEW HUNDRED MILES ON IT. *TR

DRIVER'S SIDE REAR HYDRAULIC BRAKE LINE ALONG FRAME RAIL FAILURE DUE TO CORROSION IN LINE. *TR

STARTED TRUCK, STEPPED ON BRAKE TO ENGAGE REVERSE GEAR, PEDAL DROPPED ALMOST TO FLOOR. REAR BRAKE LINE RUSTY AND FLUID BROKE THROUGH NEAR THE GAS TANK AREA. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER WAS TRAVELING 40 MPH AND EXPERIENCED A SEIZURE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A DITCH AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CRASH CAUSED THE DRIVER TO SUFFER HEAD INJURIES. THE POLICE WERE CONTACTED AND REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A BODY SHOP. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN.

FOR THE PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS MY TAHOE WILL CRANK START BUT ONLY RUN FOR ABOUT 1 SECOND THEN SHUTS OFF. AFTER DOING SOME INTERNET RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND THAT THOUSANDS OTHER GM OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. THIS PROBLEM IS VERY ANNOYING AND INCONVENIENCING. IM SURE ITS COST MANY PEOPLE THERE JOBS OR AT MINIMUM GOTTEN THEM IN TROUBLE FOR BEING EITHER LATE OR UNABLE TO COME IN TO WORK. I AM IN THE MILITARY AND THE MY CAR WONT START DOESN'T COME OFF VERY WELL WITH MY SUPERIORS. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS. *TR