IllustrationWINDSHEILD WIPERS DON'T WORK PROPERLY WHEN SET TO INTERMITTENT. THEY WORK FINE WHEN SET TO LOW OR HIGH SPEED.
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 reportsSTEERING SPEED SENSOR INTERMITANTLY FAILED CAUSING UNPREDICTABLE STEERING MOVEMENT WHEN MAKING RIGHT TURNS AT SPEED. STEERING POWER ASSIST WOULD SUDDENLY CHANGE RESULTING IN SUDDEN VEER OF VEHICLE. COUPLE OF "NEAR MISSES" WHEN PULLING TRAILERS AND ENTERING FREEWAY. VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED AND PROBLEM RESOLVED. *AK
ROTORS ON 4WD SUBUBAN RUSTED OUT AT THE WELD BETWEEN THE CAST RIM AND THE STAMPED STEEL INTERWHEEL. THE STAMPED PART HAS THE LUG HOLES, THE CAST RIM IS THE WHAT THE BRAKE PADS GRIP.
WHILE DRIVING IN A RAINSTORM WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED.*AK
WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER HAD NOT BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. ALSO, WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. *AK
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AFTER AN HOUR OF DRIVING.*MR. THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN SHE CAME TO A STOP AND THEN PROCEEDED TO DRIVE AGAIN, THE VEHICLE JERKED EXTREMELY HARD. *JB *NLM
ROLLBACK OF ODOMETER EQUIPMENT IN 1998 GMC SUBURBAN.*MR *TS
THE TRANSMISSION ON MY 1998 GMC SURBURBAN FAILED. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER AND ANOTHER TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST THAT THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM HAS BEEN COMMON TO THE 1997-98 GMC AND CHEVROLET SURBURBANS, TAHOES AND COMPARABLE VEHICLES. IT IS NOT FAIR TO CONSUMERS FOR AN AUTO MAKER TO KNOW ABOUT SEVERE PROBLEMS LIKE THIS WITH VEHI…
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THE TRANSMISSION ON MY 1998 GMC SURBURBAN FAILED. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER AND ANOTHER TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST THAT THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM HAS BEEN COMMON TO THE 1997-98 GMC AND CHEVROLET SURBURBANS, TAHOES AND COMPARABLE VEHICLES. IT IS NOT FAIR TO CONSUMERS FOR AN AUTO MAKER TO KNOW ABOUT SEVERE PROBLEMS LIKE THIS WITH VEHICLES AND NOT ISSUE A RECALL OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. OF THE 86 COMPLAINTS LISTED ON YOUR WEBSITE FOR THIS MODEL, 7 INVOLVED AND OTHERS INVOLVED THE DRIVETRAIN WHICH CAN BE AN ASSOCIATED PROBLEM.
WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY WHILE TRAVELING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER. CAUSE OF FAILURE IS UNDETERMINED AT THIS TIME. *AK
WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY. WHEN THEY DO NOT WORK, THE WIPERS AND THE WINDSHIELD FLUID MOTOR DON'T WORK AT ALL. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS EXACT SAME PROBLEM FOR SUBURBAN 1994-1997. NORMALLY THEY WILL WORK WHEN YOU FIRST START THE CAR, BUT THEN GO OUT AFTER ABOUT 10 MINUTES, AND FAIL TO WORK THE REST OF THE DAY. …
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WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY. WHEN THEY DO NOT WORK, THE WIPERS AND THE WINDSHIELD FLUID MOTOR DON'T WORK AT ALL. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS EXACT SAME PROBLEM FOR SUBURBAN 1994-1997. NORMALLY THEY WILL WORK WHEN YOU FIRST START THE CAR, BUT THEN GO OUT AFTER ABOUT 10 MINUTES, AND FAIL TO WORK THE REST OF THE DAY. *PH
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.