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1998 Chevrolet Suburban

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1998 Chevrolet Suburban do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 118.

About this comparison →
201Owner complaints

Model-year median: 118

2Recall campaigns

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1Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
457
1995360
1996414
1997201
1998634
1999282
2000440
2001
Compare all Suburban years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
57Visibility
48Steering
21Power Train
19Engine And Engine Cooling
17
All reported categories
Electrical System
14Suspension
14Tires
14Fuel System, Gasoline
11Equipment
5Exterior Lighting
5Latches/locks/linkages
5Seat Belts
5Air Bags
4Service Brakes, Air
4Structure
4Seats
3Wheels
3Service Brakes
2Unknown Or Other
2Vehicle Speed Control
2Child Seat
1Trailer Hitches
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

56 reports with mileage · 145 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 57 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Visibility. Review the 48 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

9 crash reports3 fire reports5 injury reports

Fuel System, Gasoline complaints

11 reports
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38,528 miles · Apr 2, 2012
Fuel System, GasolineService Brakes, Hydraulic

I PURCHASED ON 11/1997 A NEW 1998 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 3/4 TON 2500 SERIES. THE SUBURBAN HAS 38,528 ORIGINAL MILES AND HAS BEEN GARAGE KEPT SINCE NEW. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN USED PRIMARILY AS A SECONDARY VEHICLE FOR RECREATIONAL PURPOSES. THE SUBURBAN HAS BEEN DRIVEN IN SNOW CONDITIONS ONLY 12-14 TIMES. I AM EXPERIENCING EXCESSIV…

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I PURCHASED ON 11/1997 A NEW 1998 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 3/4 TON 2500 SERIES. THE SUBURBAN HAS 38,528 ORIGINAL MILES AND HAS BEEN GARAGE KEPT SINCE NEW. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN USED PRIMARILY AS A SECONDARY VEHICLE FOR RECREATIONAL PURPOSES. THE SUBURBAN HAS BEEN DRIVEN IN SNOW CONDITIONS ONLY 12-14 TIMES. I AM EXPERIENCING EXCESSIVE BRAKE AND FUEL LINE CORROSION ON THE STEEL BRAKE/FUEL LINES, FLEXIBLE BRAKE HOSES AND CONNECTIONS. I AM VERY CONCERNED OVER THE BRAKE/FUEL LINE CORROSION ISSUEA AND HAVE SINCE LEARNED THAT AN INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN INITIATED BY THE NHTSA ON 1/5/11, NHTSA INVESTIGATION FILE NO. EA11001. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10453780

121,000 miles · May 27, 2003
Fuel System, Gasoline

FUEL SYSTEM GAS SPOUT RUSTED WHICH CREATED FUME, THAT IS ENTERING THE VEHICLE AND MAKING THE OCCUPANT SICK. THIS COULD ALSO CAN CAUSE A FIRE DUE TO IT'S LOCATION PER CONSUMER.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10021562

Mileage unknown · Nov 13, 2002
Fuel System, Gasoline

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE STALLING WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND HAS HAPPEND ABOUT 60 TIMES. TWO DEALER WERE CONTACTED,FIRST DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM UNTIL CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO ANOTHER DEALER AND THEY WERE ABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM.DEALER STATED THAT IT WAS A DEFECT…

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CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE STALLING WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND HAS HAPPEND ABOUT 60 TIMES. TWO DEALER WERE CONTACTED,FIRST DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM UNTIL CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO ANOTHER DEALER AND THEY WERE ABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM.DEALER STATED THAT IT WAS A DEFECTED PUMP MODULE OF THE FUEL INJECTOR PUMP. MR

NHTSA ODI #8022626

Mileage unknown · Aug 5, 2002
Fuel System, GasolinePower TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic

CHEVROLET HAS BRUSHED ME OFF SEVERERL TIMES BY SAYING I NEVER BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN TO A GM DEALER FOR BRAKES THE FIRST TIME I DDIDNT FEEL I WAS OBLIGATED TO GO TO GM I WENT TO BRAKE MAX THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM AND CHEVY WONT FESS UP AND HELP THE PUBLIC THE TRUCK IS TO BIG FOR THE BRAKE SYSTEM MADE FOR THIS APPLICATION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #765233

Mileage unknown · Jun 4, 2002
Fuel System, Gasoline

FUEL PUMP IS NOT WORKING ANYMORE, AND THE VEHICEL CANNOT START UP. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #8010995

Mileage unknown · Sep 6, 2001
EquipmentFuel System, GasolineService Brakes, Hydraulic

FAULTY INJECTORS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO MISFIRE AND CAUSED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE.NLM

NHTSA ODI #562992

Mileage unknown · Aug 28, 2001
Fuel System, GasolineService Brakes, HydraulicSteering

CHECK THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE VEHICLE WAS MISFIRING DUE TO INJECTORS FAILURE. *YH

NHTSA ODI #562823

Mileage unknown · Apr 26, 2001
Fuel System, GasolineService Brakes, Hydraulic

BRAKES-WHEN COMING TO STOP PEDAL IS HARD THEN DROPS ABOUT AN INCH MORE BEFORE VEHICLE STOPS.ANTI LOCK WILL SOMETIMES ENGAGE AND STOP VEHICLE. AFTER VEHICLE STOPS I CAN CONTINUE TO PUSH PEDAL ALL THE WAY TO FLOOR. DEALER REPLACED REAR DUMP VALVE BUT PROBLEM STILL THERE. MASTER CYLINDER HAS BEEN REPLACED,NEW ROTORS, NEW BACK BRAKE…

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BRAKES-WHEN COMING TO STOP PEDAL IS HARD THEN DROPS ABOUT AN INCH MORE BEFORE VEHICLE STOPS.ANTI LOCK WILL SOMETIMES ENGAGE AND STOP VEHICLE. AFTER VEHICLE STOPS I CAN CONTINUE TO PUSH PEDAL ALL THE WAY TO FLOOR. DEALER REPLACED REAR DUMP VALVE BUT PROBLEM STILL THERE. MASTER CYLINDER HAS BEEN REPLACED,NEW ROTORS, NEW BACK BRAKE SHOES(3RD SET). BRAKE PROBLEM STARTED IN JAN 2001. INTAKE GASKET IS LEAKING. FUEL PUMP IS RUNNING VERY NOISY, NOSIER THAN WHEN NEW. I KNOW THAT THIS MEANS IT IS GOING TO GO.SO I WILL HAVE TO REPLACE IT.*AK

NHTSA ODI #744595

Mileage unknown · Mar 6, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, GasolineService Brakes, Hydraulic

3 FUEL INJECTORS FAILED (#1, #7 AND #8). NLM

NHTSA ODI #560211

Mileage unknown · Jan 3, 2001
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingExterior Lighting

WIRES KEEP GETTING CUT BY THE CAR HARNESS, WHY ARE THE WIRES LOCATED IN THE HARNESS? THIS IS GETTING DANGEROUS DRIVING WITHOUT BRAKE LIGHTS IS A HAZARD. THE FUEL LINE / PUMP HAS NEVER WORKED CORRECTLY, AND WHO EVER HEARD OF A TRANSMISSION GOING OUT AT 50,000 MILES. PLEASE NOTE I HAVE NEVER TOWED ANYTHING WITH THIS CAR AND I A…

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WIRES KEEP GETTING CUT BY THE CAR HARNESS, WHY ARE THE WIRES LOCATED IN THE HARNESS? THIS IS GETTING DANGEROUS DRIVING WITHOUT BRAKE LIGHTS IS A HAZARD. THE FUEL LINE / PUMP HAS NEVER WORKED CORRECTLY, AND WHO EVER HEARD OF A TRANSMISSION GOING OUT AT 50,000 MILES. PLEASE NOTE I HAVE NEVER TOWED ANYTHING WITH THIS CAR AND I AM A VERY CAREFUL FEMALE DRIVER WITHOUT ANY ACCIDENTS OR SPEEDING TICKETS, OIL IS CHANGED EVERY 3,000 MILES, ALL HIGHWAY DRIVING. PLEASE HELP! THIS CAR IS A DISASTER AND A HAZARD. THE LEAKING FUEL LINE COULD HAVE KILLED ME, NO BRAKE LIGHTS...OBVIOUS ISSUE. THANK YOU! LIZ ZIMMER.

NHTSA ODI #738749

Official recalls

2

03V093000 · Visibility:rearview Mirrors/devices:exterior

Mar 7, 2003

CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, MINI VANS, AND PICKUP TRUCKS MAY DEVELOP A SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE ELECTRIC OUTSIDE REARVIEW MIRROR SWITCH.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THIS WERE TO HAPPEN, IT COULD RESULT IN AN INOPERATIVE SWITCH, HEAT DAMAGE TO THE DRIVER'S DOOR, AND/OR IGNITION OF COMPONENTS IN THE DRIVER'S DOOR AND A SUBSEQUENT VEHICLE FIRE WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED JUMPER HARNESS TO THE ELECTRIC OUTSIDE REARVIEW MIRROR SWITCH. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON APRIL 24, 2003. 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.

98V033000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:disc:rotor

Feb 17, 1998

VEHICLE 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 & remedy

Consequence: IF 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.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE ROTORS FOR A CORE DATE OF "287" AND, IF FOUND, REPLACE THE ROTOR.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

EA99011 · Erratic Power Steering Assist While Driv

Opened May 12, 1999 · Closed Feb 27, 2001

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering

THE OFFICE OF DEFECT INVESTIGATION (ODI) HAS INVESTIGATED ALLEGATIONS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST FLUCTUATIONS IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.FOR DETAILS AND A BASIS FOR THE INVESTIGATION CONCLUSIONS, PLEASE SEE THE CLOSING REPORT IN THE EA99-011 PUBLIC FILE.ODI HAS NOT IDENTIFIED A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLE POPULATION.FUTHER EXPENDITURE OF AGENCY RESOURCES ON THIS SUBJECT DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED AT THIS TIME.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.THE ENGINEERING IS CLOSED.