IllustrationREAR BRAKE DRUMS FAILED ON THREE OCCASIONS. THE MAIN BRAKE SEAL FAILED ONCE. *YC
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
What owners actually said
100 reportsTHE LEAKING TIRE VALVE STEAM CAUSED THE TIRE TO GO FLAT RESULTING IN LOSS CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. YH
FUEL INJECTOR FAILED. YH
INNER CV BOOTS FAILED.
FRONT SUSPENSION FAILED, DUE TO MISSING COMPONENT WHICH WAS REPLACED BY DEARLER. *YC
A/C BLOWER FAILED. *YC
STEERING GEAR BOX BROKEN INTERNALLY. WEAK POWER STEERING PUMP. LEAK IN BRAKING SYSTEM AT AXLE SEAL. BRAKE PADS WORN OUT PREMATURELY. VEHICLE PULLS TO LEFT WHEN BRAKES APPLIED. LEFT, REAR SEAT BELT WOULD NOT EXTEND AFTER RETRACTING. SHORT CIRCUIT IN WIRING HARNESS UNDER HOOD - HARNESS LENGTH TOO SHORT CAUSED INABILITY TO START VE…
Read full complaint
STEERING GEAR BOX BROKEN INTERNALLY. WEAK POWER STEERING PUMP. LEAK IN BRAKING SYSTEM AT AXLE SEAL. BRAKE PADS WORN OUT PREMATURELY. VEHICLE PULLS TO LEFT WHEN BRAKES APPLIED. LEFT, REAR SEAT BELT WOULD NOT EXTEND AFTER RETRACTING. SHORT CIRCUIT IN WIRING HARNESS UNDER HOOD - HARNESS LENGTH TOO SHORT CAUSED INABILITY TO START VEHICLE.
NEWLY PURCHASED VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME MAJOR BRAKING PROBLEMS AS THE OLDER MODEL THAT WAS SOLD BACK TO GMC BECAUSE THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE REPAIRED.
WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED THEY GRIND . ALSO, DRIVER EXPERIENCES EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
ALTERNATOR BELT FAILED, CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING.
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.