1998 CHEVROLET TAHOE Electrical System 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.

Mileage: 145,975

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

Mileage: 169,324

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

Mileage: 322,000

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

WHEN THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR WAS OPEN AND THE KEYS WERE LEFT IN THE IGNITION, THE AUDIBLE WARNING WILL WORK INTERMITTENTLY, OR NOT AT ALL, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN SOMEONE LOCKING OR LEAVING THEIR KEYS INSIDE THE CAR. *JB

Mileage: 80,000

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

Mileage: 87,000

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

Mileage: 87,000

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

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

Mileage: 95,000

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

Mileage: 45,065

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

Mileage: 20,000

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS FROM DASH, SURGES FROM A/C, LIGHTS SWITCHES ON/OFF AND INSTRUMENT PANEL BECOMES HOT TO TOUCH.