IllustrationABS SYSTEM KICKS ON EVERY TIME VEHICLE SLOWS DOWN, REMOVING BRAKING FORCE. PH
1998 GMC Suburban
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
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
30–25K
225–50K
750–75K
575–100K
9100–150K
0150K+
26 reports with mileage · 74 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 26 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Visibility. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 16 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 reports4 injury reports
Service Brakes, Air complaints
3 reportsTHE ABS BRAKES ON MY 1998 GMC SUBURBAN COME WHEN I COME TO A STOP. (ALL OF THE TIME) I ALSO KNOW OF 4 OTHER 98 GM TRUCKS THAT THIS HAPPEN TO. PLUS ALL OF THE DEALERS I HAVE CONTACTED ARE WELL AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM THAT COSTS ABOUT $700 TO FIX. I FEEL THIS IS A SAFTEY ISSUE AS WELL AS A DEFECT. I KNOW OF ONE SMALL ACCIDENT DUE TO…
Read full complaint
THE ABS BRAKES ON MY 1998 GMC SUBURBAN COME WHEN I COME TO A STOP. (ALL OF THE TIME) I ALSO KNOW OF 4 OTHER 98 GM TRUCKS THAT THIS HAPPEN TO. PLUS ALL OF THE DEALERS I HAVE CONTACTED ARE WELL AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM THAT COSTS ABOUT $700 TO FIX. I FEEL THIS IS A SAFTEY ISSUE AS WELL AS A DEFECT. I KNOW OF ONE SMALL ACCIDENT DUE TO THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE YOUR STOPPING DISTANCE IS NOW INCREASED. DT
SEVERAL TIMES WHEN I OR MY HUSBAND HAVE HIT THE BRAKES, THEY LOCK AND INSTEAD OF STOPPING THE CAR, IT CONTINUES TO SLIDE. I REPORTED THIS TO THE TECHNICIAN AT SILVEIRA PONTIAC AFTER THE FIRST ACCIDENT IN 1998. HE TOLD ME THAT WAS THE NATURE OF ABS BRAKES, I HAD A VAN BEFORE MY SUBURBAN THJAT HAD ABS BRAKES AND I /WE NEVER EXPE…
Read full complaint
SEVERAL TIMES WHEN I OR MY HUSBAND HAVE HIT THE BRAKES, THEY LOCK AND INSTEAD OF STOPPING THE CAR, IT CONTINUES TO SLIDE. I REPORTED THIS TO THE TECHNICIAN AT SILVEIRA PONTIAC AFTER THE FIRST ACCIDENT IN 1998. HE TOLD ME THAT WAS THE NATURE OF ABS BRAKES, I HAD A VAN BEFORE MY SUBURBAN THJAT HAD ABS BRAKES AND I /WE NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM. IN FEB. 1999 WE HAD THE BRAKES REDONE AT MARIN-PONTIAC-BUICK-GMC AND WE WERE HOPING THE PROBLEM WAS CORRECTED: HOWEVER IT WAS NOT AND IT RESULTED IN MY HAVING A SECOND ACCIDENT.( DOT NUMBER: UNKNOWN TIRE SIZE: 2457512R16 )
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.