IllustrationVEHICLE EXPERIENCED PROBLEM WITH BRAKING SYSTEM; WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED VEHICLE WOULD PULL TO THE RIGHT, AND SOMETIMES TO THE LEFT. VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT DEALER'S REPAIR SHOP ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, AND NOTHING HAS BEEN FOUND TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Suburban years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
10–25K
925–50K
1550–75K
1875–100K
12100–150K
1150K+
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
What owners actually said
201 reportsTHIS VEHICLE WAS USED AS A PASSENGER VEHICLE, NEVER PULLED ANYTHING MORE THAN A SMALL TRAILER WITH RIDING MOWER, OR DIRT BIKES. IT WAS NOT USED TO PLOW SNOW OR OFF ROAD. IT WAS A LARGE FAMILY SEDAN THAT WAS USED ON THE HIGHWAY DAY IN AND DAY OUT. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK
I RECENTLY READ AN ARTICLE ABOUT 1995-1997 SUBURBANS, TAHOES THAT HAVE BATTERIES. *AK
HAD NOT PREVIOUSLY HEARD ANYTHING UNUSUAL. HAVE OWNED 2 OTHER SUBURBANS BESIDES THIS ONE. I WAS LEAVING A PARKING LOT, TURNING LEFT ONTO THE STREET WHEN I HEARD A POP. I THEN HEARD SOME RATTLING AND SQUEAKING. I PULLED OVER AND COULD NOT SEE ANYTHING, SO I DROVE IT HOME...ABOUT 5 MILES. TOOK OFF THE LUGS:NUTS COVER AND 2 BR…
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HAD NOT PREVIOUSLY HEARD ANYTHING UNUSUAL. HAVE OWNED 2 OTHER SUBURBANS BESIDES THIS ONE. I WAS LEAVING A PARKING LOT, TURNING LEFT ONTO THE STREET WHEN I HEARD A POP. I THEN HEARD SOME RATTLING AND SQUEAKING. I PULLED OVER AND COULD NOT SEE ANYTHING, SO I DROVE IT HOME...ABOUT 5 MILES. TOOK OFF THE LUGS:NUTS COVER AND 2 BROKEN STEMS FELL ON THE GROUND WITH THE NUT STILL ON THEM AND THE REST OF THE LUGS: NUTS WERE EXTREMELY LOOSE. HAD ALL THE TIRES ROTATED AT FIRESTONE ON 10-7-99 AND THE MILEAGE WAS 42,720. NONE OF THE OTHER WHEELS WERE AFFECTED.ALL LUGS: NUTS WERE ON TIGHT EXCEPT FOR THIS ONE WHEEL. FOUND OUT THAT FORD HAD A RECALL ON ALL 1998 LUGS: NUTS ON FORD F150 PICK UPS...COULD THIS BE RELATED? *AK
VEHICLE IS A COMPANY VEHICLE AND WAS PURCHASED WITHOUT TEST DRIVE. AFTER VEHICLE WAS PUT INTO SERVICE WE EXPERIENCED INSUFFICIENT BRAKING POWER, GRABING BRAKES, 100% LOSS OF BRAKES. ORIGINAL DEALER REPLACED BRAKE PADS, ROTORS & ABS SYSTEM. MARYVILLE, TN DEALER ALSO REPLACED PADS & ABS PARTS. STILL VEHICLE HAS NO STOPPING POWER. …
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VEHICLE IS A COMPANY VEHICLE AND WAS PURCHASED WITHOUT TEST DRIVE. AFTER VEHICLE WAS PUT INTO SERVICE WE EXPERIENCED INSUFFICIENT BRAKING POWER, GRABING BRAKES, 100% LOSS OF BRAKES. ORIGINAL DEALER REPLACED BRAKE PADS, ROTORS & ABS SYSTEM. MARYVILLE, TN DEALER ALSO REPLACED PADS & ABS PARTS. STILL VEHICLE HAS NO STOPPING POWER. ON GOING PROBLEM WHICH CREATES A DANGEROUS VEHICLE.
DESTROYS FRONT RIGHT 2 TIRES (NOT ALIGNMENT PROBLEM) 2 TIRES IN 22K MILES( DOT NUMBER: M3DD TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )
VEHICLE WOULD WANDER AT ANY SPEED. APPOINTMENT HAS BEEN MADE FOR DEALER INSPECTION. DO NHTSA HAVE ANY OTHER INFORMATION ON THIS PROBLEM. *AK
VIBRATIONS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS (60 TO 75) AS WELL AS WANDERING ON HIGHWAY. DEALER SAYS THEY CANNOT RECREATE. REPLACED VARIABLE SPEED ADJUSTMENT MODULE TWICE WITH SOME IMPROVEMENT.
TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *AK
CONSUMER BOUGHT A BOA., BUT WHEN HE PUTS IT ON TRUCK IT MAKES THE TRUCK VIBRATE. ALSO, WHEN NOT CARRYING THE BOAT IT VIBRATES IF VEHICLE IS TRAVELING AT A HIGHER SPEED. *AK
Official recalls
203V093000 · 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
1EA99011 · 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.