IllustrationA FIRE STARTED IN THE ELECTRICAL MIRROR SWITCH ASSEMBLY ON DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
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 LOCKING MECHANISM LOCKS, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO CLOSE THE DOOR. *AK
BOTH FRONT DISC PADS WERE REPLACED THE LEFT FRONT TOTALLY DISINTEGRATED AND THE RIGHT FRONT PAD HAD ONLY A MINIMAL THICKNESS LEFT. BOTH FRONT DISCS HAD SOME SCORING AND BOTH WERE TURNED TO SMOOTH THEM OUT. VEHICLE IS A 1/2 TON GMC SUBURBAN AND HAS NEVER BEEN USED TO TOW. DEALER REPLACED THE DISCS AND TURNED ROTOR AT NO COST ST…
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BOTH FRONT DISC PADS WERE REPLACED THE LEFT FRONT TOTALLY DISINTEGRATED AND THE RIGHT FRONT PAD HAD ONLY A MINIMAL THICKNESS LEFT. BOTH FRONT DISCS HAD SOME SCORING AND BOTH WERE TURNED TO SMOOTH THEM OUT. VEHICLE IS A 1/2 TON GMC SUBURBAN AND HAS NEVER BEEN USED TO TOW. DEALER REPLACED THE DISCS AND TURNED ROTOR AT NO COST STATING THAT IT WASN'T A WARRENTY PROBLEM BUT THAT HE WANTED TO MAINTAIN GOOD WILL BETWEEN ME AND THE DEALERSHIP.
PE00020; ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON A GMC, SUBURBAN 1998, VN1183A447, SP842KA14L, VN1183A447, VN1183A447 SIZE- L226575R16. CONSUMER NOTICED A CRACK GOING ALL THE WAY AROUND THE WHOLE TIRE. WHILE ON VACATION TOOK VEHICLE TO A DEALER, AND DEALER TOLD CONSUMER NOT TO DRIVE VEHICLE.*AK FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT L226/75/R16 *MW
WHEN DRIVING AT 50 MPH THE ADAPTOR WITHIN THE TRANSMISSION FELL DOWN, CAUSING OVERHEATING AND SMOKE TO FILL THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. ALSO, PASSENGER'S COMPARTMENT BECAME VERY HOT. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER HAS REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION. *AK
VEHICLE 1998 GMC SUBURBAN: WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 65-70 MPH ONE REAR FIRESTONE STEELTEX RADIAL TIRE BLEW OUT, CAUSING LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL/ COLLISION WHICH RESULTED IN ONE FATALITY. TIRE SIZE R4SLT245/75R16, DOT NUMBER V611B1A377. *AK
BATTERY ACID WAS LEAKING ONTO FRONT RIGHT BRAKE LINE AND ON HIGH PRESSURE AIR CONDITIONER HOSE, CAUSING LOSS OF BRAKES AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
BATTERY IS LEAKING ACID FROM AROUND THE POSITIVE TERMINAL DOWN TO THE BRAKE LINE AT THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE, IN THE AREA OF THE FRONT TIRE. CONSUMER FEELS IT MAY EAT A HOLE THOUGH BRAKE LINE, AND CAUSE THE BRAKES NOT TO WORK PROPERLY. DEALER REPLACED BATTERY, BUT ONLY CLEANED THE OTHER PARTS AFFECTED BY THE LEAKING BATTERY…
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BATTERY IS LEAKING ACID FROM AROUND THE POSITIVE TERMINAL DOWN TO THE BRAKE LINE AT THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE, IN THE AREA OF THE FRONT TIRE. CONSUMER FEELS IT MAY EAT A HOLE THOUGH BRAKE LINE, AND CAUSE THE BRAKES NOT TO WORK PROPERLY. DEALER REPLACED BATTERY, BUT ONLY CLEANED THE OTHER PARTS AFFECTED BY THE LEAKING BATTERY ACID, EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE SIGNS OF CORROSION ON THESE PARTS. *AK *ML
THE FRONT BRAKES ARE NOT BIG ENOUGH TO STOP THE TRUCK. THE BRAKES WILL ONLY LAST 15000 MILES. THAT IS A GOOD INDICATION THAT THEY ARE NOT BIG ENOUGH TO STOP THE TRUCK. I THINK SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS DEFECT. THANK YOU. *AK
DUE TO BATTERY DESIGN FLAW ACID LEAKS THROUGH A SCREW HOLE AND CAUSES CORROSION. THIS MAY RESULT IN A NO-START CONDITION OR STALLING. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *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.