Recalls


CampaignManufacturerManufacturing dateType# of units affectedDate Owner notified MfgRecall Initiated byManufacturers of recalled vehicles/productsReport Recieved DateRecord Creation DateRegulation Part NumberFMVSS Number
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - FOUNDATION COMPONENTS - DISC - ROTOR
98V033000GENERAL MOTORS CORP.from 10/01/1997 to 10/31/1997V (Vehicle)113703/15/1998MFRGENERAL MOTORS CORP.02/17/199802/25/1998
Defect SummaryVehicle 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.
Consequence SummaryIf a driver continues to drive with a cracked rotor, the cracks could continue around the wheel mounting bolt circle and ultimately result in a wheel separation.
Corrective SummaryDealers will inspect the rotors for a core date of 287 and, if found, replace the rotor.
NotesOwner notification is expected to begin during march 1998. owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020 or gmc at 1-800-462-8782.also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-dash-2-dot (1-888-327-4236).

Bulletins


BulletinBulletin dateReplacement BulletinItem no.SummaryAdded
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR - ANTILOCK
020525006A12/01/200202052500610000749Antilock brake (abs) activation at low speeds on various models including the 1995 and 1996 envoy. *tt03/28/2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - ANTILOCK
02052500601/01/2006020525006B10000062Antilock brake (abs) activation at low speeds. *tt02/10/2003

Consumer Complaints


Fail datemilesoccurencesPurchase date
SERVICE BRAKES
10/15/20122400001
 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
10/15/2012240000
 Started truck, stepped on brake to engauge reverse gear, pedal dropped almost to floor. rear brake line rusty and fluid broke through near the gas tank area.
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR - ANTILOCK - WHEEL SPEED SENSOR
102/01/1998
 Brake sensor failed. *yc
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
10/10/2010
 98 tahoe, has abs braking issue. when driving at slow speeds, the abs will engage during stopping and severly extend the stopping distance required to completly 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.
04/10/20061
 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
09/01/200486000105/01/1999
 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
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - ANTILOCK
09/04/2009104000
 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.
01/01/2007650003007/25/2005
 1998 tahoe abs braking problem. abs system engages at low speed making it very hard to stop vehicle safely. *nm
10/03/2006107/20/2002
 When traveling 10 mph or under the anti-lock brakes system starts making it hard to stop. *jb
04/20/20061704001
 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
05/04/20061220002
 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
03/28/20061310001
 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
02/16/200660000104/26/2004
 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
02/12/200646000112/31/1997
 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
11/10/20057800010002/17/1998
 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
01/24/2006880005003/01/1998
 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.
12/28/20057823010010/10/1998
 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
10/01/2005112/29/1997
 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
11/15/200585000110/16/1997
 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
12/23/20051012/27/1997
 This is to address the recent expanded recall of gm light trucks/suvs. i have a 1998 tahoe and have been experiencing the exact same issues that have caused gm to recall the trucks/suvs due to rust affecting the abs system. i brought my vehicle to a chevrolet dealership and they confirmed that i am experiencing the same corrosion related issues that are addressed by the recall - however, because i have a 1998, gm will not provide me any assistance. when i inquired as to whether the wheel hub assembly (that houses the wheel speed sensor) in my vehicle is any different than the vehicles being recalled, the dealership confirmed that there was not any difference. my complaint specifically addresses the fact that gm has acknowledged that there is a faulty design in the wheel assembly, however, will not take any action to remedy this situation - ultimately leaving my vehicle (as well as many others built in 1998 or 1997) as unsafe to operate. *nm
01/01/200395000104/30/2002
 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
04/13/2005103/17/2000
 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
10/20/200152033411/24/1997
 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
05/17/20055000010011/20/1997
 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.
05/11/2004580009999
 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.
01/01/20058600005/20/1999
 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.
12/01/2004118000110/01/2003
 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
07/23/20031
 Consumer stated that while driving and without warning abs would stick, causing extended stopping distance. dealer notified. *ak
06/26/200316000312/23/1997
 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. *jb
01/18/20038162510/12/1997
 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.
06/01/20021005/29/2002
 Consumer stated the abs engage on dry pavement at a slow gradual stop.*scc
999910/01/2000
 The abs system activates on dry pavement at a slow gradual speed stop 75 percent of the time. this is an obvious defect caused by faulty engineering and manufacturing.*ak
04/05/2002
 When applying brakes to come to a stop brake pedal would go to the floor. when this occurred, consumer would have to press harder to get vehicle to stop. vehicle been to dealer, and problem has reoccurred. feel free to provide any further information.*ak
201/01/1998
 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. a bmw with 200,000 miles has more service life left in it than a brand new gm product. *ak
102/01/2001
 Spongy brakes very weak, and the feels that it won't stop. dealer states that those cars have that feel, and it is normal.*ak
04/23/2001999906/01/2000
 Anti lock brakes engage when under 10 mph, like moving around the parking lot. *ak
04/27/1998404/27/1998
 There is a delay in the braking system when abs is applied. brake pedal is very spongy. feels like air in the brakes. have taken to dealership, and nothing could be resolved by mechanic.*ak
04/15/2000
 Brake pedal goes completely to the floor. pads & master cylinder were replaced, but problem persists. techincal team from manufacturer has inspected it, and couldn't find anything. they said it was the best the system would be. *ak
01/01/1998110/01/1997
 Consumer was traveling about 5mph, backing up and he hit a tree. he applied brakes, and pedal went all the way to floor . abs braking system didn't kick in at all. also, there was fluid leaking from the brakes. dealership was aware of the problem. *ak
08/24/2000106/01/1999
 Sometimes it feels like air is in the brake line. when putting on brakes consumer can feel the pad. but it won't stop. also, when going over a series of bumps, vehicle won't stop.*ak
06/15/1999407/01/1998
 When driving vehicle and applying brakes, there is a delayed time in panic situations. the first attempt by dealer in fixing problem, resulted in replacement of master cylinder booster. two days after that brakes degraded to apoint where there were no brakes at all, and gushy feeling when pressing brake pedal. in case of need for immediate stopping , brakes are dangerous . *ak
08/01/1999
 When driving at any speed and applying the brakes, they went straight to the floorboard, also, motor went out without prior warning. dealer had to replace the motor. *ak
111/01/1997
 Abs brake system experiences intermittent failure in wet road condtions. *yc
01/01/199902/01/1998
 When brakes are damp, they grab hard enough to toss consumer through the windshield. when brakes have warmed up, this does not happen. the dealer was contacted. *ak
01/19/1999110/01/1998
 1998 chevrolet truck should not have this many problems and considered safe *ak
02/01/1998402/18/1998
 Brakes locked up and caused a crash.
12/13/1997112/13/1997
 Vibration when applying brakes constantly.
 Abs brakes; when applying brakes in normal conditions and in panic stops, the pedal goes to the floor and brakes fail to stop the vehicle. please provide further details. *ak
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - ANTILOCK - ABS WARNING LIGHT
01/18/20038162510/12/1997
 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.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
 Consumer states there was a pulsation in the brakes. took to dealer and dealer replaced brake shoes, drums, rotors, pads, proportioning belt. consumer states is pulsating again. please provide any further information. nlm
111/01/1997
 Brakes are very spongy and easily go all the way to the floor causing brakes to slip which could result in an accident. *yc
07/19/1999501/11/1999
 Brakes pulsate, on several occasions vehicle experiencing vibration in front end when braking, right side locked up when turning. *yc
2
 Front brakes failed. nlm
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - FOUNDATION COMPONENTS - DISC
01/05/1999301/01/1998
 Front end shimmy at speeds over 50mph. balanced and rebalanced tires, aligned front end 3 times in 6 months. finally replaced all 4 tires w/new firestone tires. aligned front end w/new tires. 3 months later, rotated and balanced tires - front end shimmy continues to occur. have tried alignment, balancing tires, and new tires. not acceptable to have significant front end shimmy beginning at 15000 miles. also increased vibration when braking - rotors have already been replaced twice and vibration that shakes steering wheel continues to occur when braking. *ak
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - FOUNDATION COMPONENTS - DISC - PADS
04/15/2000
 Brake pedal goes completely to the floor. pads & master cylinder were replaced, but problem persists. techincal team from manufacturer has inspected it, and couldn't find anything. they said it was the best the system would be. *ak
10/08/1998312/31/1997
 Brake rotors and pads failed causing vibration.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - FOUNDATION COMPONENTS - DISC - ROTOR
01/01/19011
 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
09/25/200393000
 The front brake rotor/hubs failed while driving vehicle. the brake rotors were replaced by an independent mechanic. the vehicle was not under recall #98v033000. please provide more information. *nlm
08/18/20031
 Consumer's vehicle has the same problem as mentioned in recall 98v033000 concerning brake:disc:rotors. dealer would not repair because vin was not included. *ak
02/26/20031
 When the brake was applied, the vehicle stopped abruptly. the next day, the front left wheel started to shake, the dealer stated the front rotor had sheared off from the mounting bolt. there was a recall regarding the issue, recall # 98v033000, however the vehicle identification number was not included.*jb
12/01/2001
 When applying brakes there is a pulsating noise due to warped rotors. dealership is aware of problem.*ak
05/01/20002
 Rotors went bad, they kept wearing out. had rotors changed twice. contacted dealer noted that there was no problem. *ak
08/20/199906/01/1998
 Rotors causing surging and premature brake wear, and squealing. *ak
203/20/1998
 Brake rotors failed. yh
07/02/19983
 While braking vehicle would shake / vibrate due to defective brake rotors which heats up and warp. dealer replaced rotors twice. problem is reoccurring. *ml
07/28/1999
 Brake booster malfunctioned, causing extended stopping distance which could result in a crash. also, dealer replaced brake rotors. please provide further information. *ak
10/08/1998312/31/1997
 Brake rotors and pads failed causing vibration.
02/27/19983
 Brake rotors became warped at 15,000, causing the brakes to be inoperative. it also may reduce braking ability and cause an accident. replaced rotors 3 times. cause unknown. please provide details. *ak
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - FOUNDATION COMPONENTS - MASTER CYLINDER
06/15/2000101/01/1999
 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
11/07/2000
 Engine check light came on/ fuel spilled out of fuel injector. took vehicle to dealer, who found fuel had spilled onto distributor cap and wires, shorting out distributor and causing corrosion. also, in september 2000, brake pedal got hard progressivly. took vehicle to dealer who found brake master cylinder was defective.*ak
04/15/2000
 Brake pedal goes completely to the floor. pads & master cylinder were replaced, but problem persists. techincal team from manufacturer has inspected it, and couldn't find anything. they said it was the best the system would be. *ak
412/26/1998
 Master cylinders failed. yh
02/18/1998
 Bad master brake cylinder, causing brakes to fail. when applied the brake pedal goes to the floor. dealer has been contacted. *ak
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - POWER ASSIST - VACUUM
08/17/1999102/01/1999
 Brake power booster failure. caused extended and unsafe stopping distance. *ak
10/11/1998110/22/1997
 Brake booster assembly failed. *yc
07/28/1999
 Brake booster malfunctioned, causing extended stopping distance which could result in a crash. also, dealer replaced brake rotors. please provide further information. *ak
07/07/1998102/01/1994
 Abs brake problems; when applying the brakes under normal road condition, normal braking situation, the pedal travels completely to the floor, and there is a loss of braking ability. *ak dealer stated that the brake booster was bad. *slc