IllustrationCONSUMER DISAPPOINTED WITH THE LACK OF RECALLS ON THE DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELD WIPER CIRCUIT BOARD ON HIS 1998 GMC SUBURBAN. *NM ARTEMIS DOWN UNTIL JULY,05 AAE THE CONSUMER RECENTLY HEARD ABOUT RECALL OF SEVERAL VEHICLE WHICH HAVE THE SAME WIPER COMPONENT. THE WIPERS FAILED WHILE DRIVING IN A RAIN STORM AT 70 MPH. *NM
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 reportsBRAKES DO NOT STOP THE VEHICLE PROPERLY. *AK
CRASH
CONSUMER REQUEST FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF REPAIRS ON GMC 1998 SUBURBAN. *BF THE CONSUMER LEARNED OF A RECALL REGARDING THE ROTORS, HOWEVER THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE RECALL WAS ONLY FOR C TYPE TRUCKS NOT K AND THE ONLY DIFFERENCE BEING A C IS A TWO WHEEL DRIVE AND THE K TYPE IS FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE. *JB
THIS CONCERNS NHTSA ACTION NUMBER : EA99011. I HAD A STEERING MODULE THAT FAILED. PRIOR TO REPLACEMENT OF THE MODULE, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD PERIODICALLY JERK AS IF TO INCREASE THE RATE OF TURN SIGNIFICANTLY WHEN I WAS IN A TURN, EITHER LEFT OR RIGHT. AFTER REPLACEMENT OF THIS MODULE AT THE GMC DEALERSHIP (AT ABOUT 50,000 M…
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THIS CONCERNS NHTSA ACTION NUMBER : EA99011. I HAD A STEERING MODULE THAT FAILED. PRIOR TO REPLACEMENT OF THE MODULE, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD PERIODICALLY JERK AS IF TO INCREASE THE RATE OF TURN SIGNIFICANTLY WHEN I WAS IN A TURN, EITHER LEFT OR RIGHT. AFTER REPLACEMENT OF THIS MODULE AT THE GMC DEALERSHIP (AT ABOUT 50,000 MILES, AS I RECALL), THE JERKING INSTANTLY STOPPED. I NOW HAVE ABOUT 111,000 MILES, AND THE SAME JERKING HAS BEGUN AGAIN (AT ABOUT 100,000 MILES) FROM TIME TO TIME. IF A DRIVER UNFAMILIAR TO THE PROPENSITY TO JERK IN TURNS WAS DRIVING, I COULD DEFINITELY SEE WHERE THE UNEXPECTED JERKING MAY CAUSE THEM TO LOSE CONTROL. THE LATEST JERKING COMES AND GOES AND IS NOT VERY CONSISTENT FROM WEEK TO WEEK YET. WHEN IT GETS MORE CONSISTENT, I WILL ASK THE DEALERSHIP TO REPLACE THE MODULE. I DON'T PRESENTLY RECALL FOR SURE, BUT I THINK I MAY HAVE PAID FOR HAVING THE SENSOR MODULE REPLACED THE FIRST TIME. THE INCIDENT DATE BELOW IS AN ESTIMATE, SINCE I DON'T HAVE MY RECORDS OF THE FIRST STEERING MODULE REPLACEMENT WITH ME AS I AM FILLING OUT THIS FORM. ALSO, THE PURCHASE DATE WAS IN JANUARY, 2000, BUT I DON'T RECALL THE EXACT PURCHASE DATE AND DON'T HAVE MY PURCHASE RECORDS WITH ME.*AK
WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL THE BRAKES FAILED. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND PULLED OVER. CONSUMER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO CORROSION. THIS INFORMATION WAS PROVIDED HELEN'S BOY FRIEND ERICK WUNK.*AK FRONT PASSENGER BRAKE ROTOR SEPARATED FRO…
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WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL THE BRAKES FAILED. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND PULLED OVER. CONSUMER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO CORROSION. THIS INFORMATION WAS PROVIDED HELEN'S BOY FRIEND ERICK WUNK.*AK FRONT PASSENGER BRAKE ROTOR SEPARATED FROM LUG BOLT HUB. DRIVERS SIDE ROTTER ALSO READY TO SEPARATE. GMC RECALLED THIS PART BUT NOT FOR THE SERIAL NUMBER OF THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE. CONSUMER REPLACED PARTS AT HIS OWN EXPENSE. CONSUMER STATES THAT IF THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED HE WOULD HAVE LOSS CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. *TC
1998 SUBURBAN W/ 4L60E TRANSMISSION, SHIFTING HARD 1-2 AND 2-3. RESEARCH SHOWS IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM OF MANUFACTURER ADDRESSES UNDER GM TECH SERV BULLETIN 01-07-30-023B. FURTHER, INTERNET SEARCH INDICATES THAT PROBLEM IS MANUFACTURERS DESIGN ERROR, AND THAT ONLY PERMANENT FIX IS TO USE AN AFTERMARKET SUPPLIERS RE-DESIGNED REPLAC…
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1998 SUBURBAN W/ 4L60E TRANSMISSION, SHIFTING HARD 1-2 AND 2-3. RESEARCH SHOWS IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM OF MANUFACTURER ADDRESSES UNDER GM TECH SERV BULLETIN 01-07-30-023B. FURTHER, INTERNET SEARCH INDICATES THAT PROBLEM IS MANUFACTURERS DESIGN ERROR, AND THAT ONLY PERMANENT FIX IS TO USE AN AFTERMARKET SUPPLIERS RE-DESIGNED REPLACEMENT PART. CURRENTLY, I AM IN THE POSITION OF HAVING TO SEEK REPAIR AT ESTIMATED COSTS RANGING FROM $1800-2800 FROM LOCAL SERVICE PROVIDERS. *AK
FIRE THEN SMOKE COMING FROM WIRE HARNESS.*AK
WHILE DRIVING AND WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL JERKS IN THE SAME DIRECTION. *AK
MY 1998 SUBURBAN HAS HAD TWO NEW FUEL PUMPS INSTALLED BY THE DEALER WITHIN FOUR MONTHS.AFTER A SHORT TIME, APPROX.2 MONTHS. THE FUEL PUMP STILL MAKES A BUZZING NOISE.*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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.