1998 Chevrolet Tahoe Electrical Problems

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.

NHTSA ID

10840075

Incident

Feb 27, 2016

Mileage

145,975 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10443447

Incident

Dec 27, 2011

Mileage

169,324 mi

1998 CHEVY TAHOE WIRING HARNESS FROM BRAKE PEDAL. BRAKE WIRING HARNESS MOVES WITH BRAKE PEDAL MOTION (I.E. WHEN BRAKES ARE ACTIVATED). OVER TIME, THIS MOTION CAUSES WIRES TO BREAK RESULTING IN BRAKE LIGHT FAILURE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10419278

Incident

Aug 8, 2011

Mileage

322,000 mi

WHILE TRAVELING CONSUMER SMELLED A BURNT ODOR COMING FROM INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER PULLED OVER, AND DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR CAUGHT ON FIRE. CONSUMER CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. NO INJURIES REPORTED. VEHICLE WAS TOWED, AND TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. *AK

NHTSA ID

10105367

Incident

Dec 27, 2004

CONSUMER STATED FUEL LEAKED INTO THE MAIN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.*AK

NHTSA ID

10099972

Incident

Nov 9, 2004

Mileage

87,000 mi

CONSUMER STATED FUEL LEAKED INTO THE MAIN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

10099966

Incident

Nov 9, 2004

Mileage

87,000 mi

THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO START THE VEHICLE DUE TO ACID LEAKING ONTO THE BATTERY. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

10061711

Incident

Feb 19, 2004

REAR TAIL LIGHTS/BLINKERS BURNS OUT CONSTANTLY - HAVE HAD TO REPLACE HOUSING THREE TIMES - CAUSES DELAYS AND ALMOST A WRECK. *LA

NHTSA ID

10041391

Incident

Mar 17, 2003

Mileage

95,000 mi

THE BATTERY HAS A SIDE TERMINAL POST. THE POSITIVE CABLE KEEPS DETACHING FROM THE TERMINAL, ALLOWING ACID TO BE EXPOSED, AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE HAS TO BE TOWED . DRIVER BELIEVED WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY VEHICLE POSES A SAFETY HAZARD. *AK *TS *JB

NHTSA ID

10034571

Incident

Feb 1, 2000

Mileage

45,065 mi

THE ORIGINAL FACTORY BATTERY LEAKED ACID. THE DEALER CLEANED OFF FRAME AND THE "STEEL" BRAKE LINE TO THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL AND THEN PAINTED IT. THE REPLACEMENT FACTORY BATTERY THEN LEAKED ACID AGAIN IN 09/00. THIS TIME ACID LEAKED INTO BATTERY CABLE "WRAPPING" CAUSING CORROSION OF THE ENTIRE CABLE. IT ALSO LEAKED ONTO THE COUPLING ON THE "STEEL" BRAKE LINE THAT GOES TO THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE. NOW DEALER HAS TO REPLACE THE BATTERY BOX AND CABLE, FENDER WELL AND THE COUPLER ON THE STEEL BRAKE LINE. TS

NHTSA ID

10006013

Incident

Jul 1, 1999

Mileage

20,000 mi

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

762978

Incident

May 28, 2002

CONSUMER HAD STOPPED FOR GAS AND WAS STARTING TO GET OUT OF VEHICLE WHEN HE NOTICED SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR, FLAMES WERE COMING OUT OF THE BUTTON AROUND THE SIDE VIEW MIRROR, CLAIM 14-1248-364. *SLC

NHTSA ID

6901251

Incident

Mar 11, 2000

CONSUMER HAD STOPPED FOR GAS AND WAS STARTING TO GET OUT OF VEHICLE WHEN HE NOTICED SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR, FLAMES WERE COMING OUT OF THE BUTTON AROUND THE SIDE VIEW MIRROR, CLAIM 14-1248-364. *SLC

NHTSA ID

6900446

Incident

Mar 11, 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

NHTSA ID

874705

Incident

Nov 7, 2000

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR INPROPERLY WORKING BACK WINDOWS, THEY WOULD NOT ALWAYS GO UP AND DOWN, DEALER STATED THE PROBLEM WAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM AND WHEN CONSUMER PICKED UP VEHICLE, HE SAID IT WAS FIXED, DAYS LATER THE CONSUMER HIT THE BUTTON TO PUT UP A BACK WINDOW AND SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM THE DASHBOARD, ALL CONSUMER'S EXITED VEHICLE AND THE FIRE STARTED, VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. *SLC

NHTSA ID

873667

WHILE TRAVELING AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION VEHICLE LOCKED UP STEERING/ BRAKES. DEALER STATED THAT PCM WAS THE PROBLEM. *AK THE WATER PUMP WAS LEAKING. *YH

NHTSA ID

873052

Incident

Aug 4, 2000

MY BATTERY FAILED WHERE THE POSITAVE POST CONNECTS TO IT,BATTERY ACID SPILLED ALL OVER WIRE HARNESS.MY FRIEND HAS A 1997 TAHOE THAT DID THE EXACT SAME THING! WHEN I CONTACTED COSTOMER SERVICE, I WAS TOLD THAT THEY DID NOT KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM NOR DID THEY HAVE ANY COMPLAINTS.THE LADY FINALLY NOTICED WHERE YOU(NHTSA) WAS INVESTIGATING THIS SITUATION.AMAZING!!!PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME FOR ADD. FOLLOW-UPS. THANK-YOU. DOUG CATRON

NHTSA ID

732167

Incident

Aug 15, 2000

APROX. 4 MONTHS AFTER BUYING THIS VEH. THE CD PLAYER STARTED MALFUNCTIONING. IT WOULD NOT PLAY A CD AND WOULD GIVE THE ERR SIGN AND THE OWNERS MANUAL ADDRESSED THIS SITUATION AND SAID TO LET THE PLAYER COOL FOR A WHILE IT MUST BE OVER HEATED. THIS SEEMED STRANGE SINCE MOST OF THE TIME THIS OCCURED WAS WHEN THE CD PLAYER HAD NOT BEEN IN USE. AFTER CONTACTING THE DEALER CHUCK HUTTON WHO HAS SERVICED THIS VEH. SINCE I BOUGHT IT WOULD SAY THEY COULD NOT FIX THE PROBLEM UNLESS IT WAS HAVING THAT PROBLEM WHEN I BROUGHT THE TRUCK INTO THEIR DEALERSHIP. WHENEVER THIS PROBLEM WOULD OCCURE THE DASH AREA AROUND THE A/C CONTROLS AND RADIO/CASSETTE AND CD PLAYER WOULD GET SO HOT YOU COULD NOT KEEP YOUR HAND ON THE DASH . THIS PROBLEM CONTINUED TO OCCUR AND IT NEVER WAS DUPLICATED AT THE DEALERSHIP. A SERVICE RECORD DATED 12/14/1998 SHOWS THAT THE A/C DRAIN WAS FOUND TO BE PINCHED AND HAD TO BE REPOSITIONED TO PERMIT IT TO DRAIN BUT SINCE THAT TIME THE TRUCK AIR SYSTEM HAS DEVELOPED SOME TYPE OF FUNGUS IN IT AND THE SMELL IS TERRIBLE. ON THIS SAME SERVICE REPORT THERE IS A NOTE CONCERNING CHECKING THE CD PLAYER FOR ERROR MESSAGES BUT NOTHING WAS FOUND. CURRENTLY I AM DRIVING A $35000 VEH. WITH A BURNED UP CD PLAYER AND CASSETTE PLAYER THAT THE DEALER SAYS IS OUT OF WARRENTY. I REPORTED THE PROBLEMS WITH THESE UNITS FAR BEFORE THE WARRANTY EXPRIED AND WOULD LIKE SOME HELP TRYING TO SEE IF GM HAS HAD MUCH PROBLEM WITH THEIR DELCO AM/FM CASSETTE RADIO W/AUO TONE CONTROL, SPEED CONTROL VOLUME

NHTSA ID

711589

Incident

Jun 1, 1998

REAR DOOR SPEAKER CRACKED WHILE NEW. YH

NHTSA ID

608827

1998 CHEVROLET TRUCK SHOULD NOT HAVE THIS MANY PROBLEMS AND CONSIDERED SAFE *AK

NHTSA ID

702608

Incident

Jan 19, 1999