IllustrationNO SUMMARY
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 DEFECTIVE KELSEY HAYES ABS BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHICH MAY RESULT IN A CRASH. ALSO AT A STOP AND WNEN PROCEEDED, ABS BRAKES GRABBED. DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE.. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
CONSUMER TRIED TO APPLY BRAKES AND FOUND SHE HAD NONE. NO ACCIDENT/NO INJURIES. *AK
WHEN MAKING ANY KIND OF TURN BETWEEN 90 DEGREES OR SMALLER THE FRONT WHEELS LOCK UP. DEALER STATED THAT THIS WAS NORMAL CONDITION WHEN DRIVING IN 4- WHEEL DRIVE. OWNER WAS DRIVING IN 2- WHEEL DRIVE AT THE TIME. THE SUBURBAN IS BEING REPAIRED BY DEALERSHIP. STEERING REPAIRED, BUT VEHICLE STILL VIBRATES WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY…
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WHEN MAKING ANY KIND OF TURN BETWEEN 90 DEGREES OR SMALLER THE FRONT WHEELS LOCK UP. DEALER STATED THAT THIS WAS NORMAL CONDITION WHEN DRIVING IN 4- WHEEL DRIVE. OWNER WAS DRIVING IN 2- WHEEL DRIVE AT THE TIME. THE SUBURBAN IS BEING REPAIRED BY DEALERSHIP. STEERING REPAIRED, BUT VEHICLE STILL VIBRATES WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, DEALER SAYS THAT IT IS BECAUSE TIRES NEED TO BE REPLACED. OWNER BELIEVES TIRES SHOULD LAST LONGER THAN 21,000 MILES. *ML
WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES PEDAL SEEMS VERY SOFT, AND VEHICLE TAKES LONGER TO STOP. THIS HAPPENS EVERYTIME THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. OWNER ALSO REPLACED THE FRONT BRAKES, AT 19,000 MILES, AND PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.
THE FRONT BRAKE PADS WEAR OUT PREMATURELY. THE PADS HAVE BEEN REPLACED AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURHTER DETAILS. *AK
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…
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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 )
WINSHIELD WIPERS DO NOT WORK.CONTACED DEALER AND MANUFACTURER. *AK
REAR DOORS DO NOT HAVE CHILD SAFETY LOCKS. A CHILD WAS ABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR WHILE VEHICLE WAS MOVING. ALSO THERE IS NO LATCH ON THE INSIDE OF THE REAR DOOR TO EXIT THE VEHICLE FROM THE REAR. *AK *ML
REAR AXLE SEALS WERE LEAKING ON BOTH SIDES. THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE SEALS ALSO, REAR WHEEL BEARINGS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *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.