SkipThatYearREAL DATA. SMARTER CAR DECISIONS.
← New search

1998 Chevrolet Suburban

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1998 Chevrolet Suburban do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 118.

About this comparison →
201Owner complaints

Model-year median: 118

2Recall campaigns

View recall details →

1Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
457
1995360
1996414
1997201
1998634
1999282
2000440
2001
Compare all Suburban years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
57Visibility
48Steering
21Power Train
19Engine And Engine Cooling
17
All reported categories
Electrical System
14Suspension
14Tires
14Fuel System, Gasoline
11Equipment
5Exterior Lighting
5Latches/locks/linkages
5Seat Belts
5Air Bags
4Service Brakes, Air
4Structure
4Seats
3Wheels
3Service Brakes
2Unknown Or Other
2Vehicle Speed Control
2Child Seat
1Trailer Hitches
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

56 reports with mileage · 145 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 57 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Visibility. Review the 48 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 21 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 reports5 injury reports

Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

57 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · May 31, 2002
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

THE BRAKE PEDAL WILL GO TO THE FLOOR UNDER MODERATE BRAKING. THE BRAKE SYSTEM IS INADEQUATE FOR SUCH A HEAVY DUTY 3/4 TON VEHICLE. HAVE HAD SEVERAL NEAR MISSES, WHEN HAVING TO BRAKE SUDDENLY, WHERE THERE WAS SUFFICIENT DISTANCE BETWEEN MY VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. THE BRAKES MAKE A GROANING NOISE UNDER HARD BRAK…

Read full complaint

THE BRAKE PEDAL WILL GO TO THE FLOOR UNDER MODERATE BRAKING. THE BRAKE SYSTEM IS INADEQUATE FOR SUCH A HEAVY DUTY 3/4 TON VEHICLE. HAVE HAD SEVERAL NEAR MISSES, WHEN HAVING TO BRAKE SUDDENLY, WHERE THERE WAS SUFFICIENT DISTANCE BETWEEN MY VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. THE BRAKES MAKE A GROANING NOISE UNDER HARD BRAKING. ALSO, VEHICLE PULLS WILDLY AND HARD WHEN EMERGENCY BRAKING. *AK

NHTSA ODI #762495

Mileage unknown · May 31, 2002
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE DISC PAD 4 TIMES IN UNDER 10,000 MILES, I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE ROTORS TWICE IN THE SAME AMOUNT OF TIME. I AM NOW FACING ANOTHER ROTOR AND BRAKE PAD REPLACEMENT. THE ROTORS WARP VERY QUICKLY AND THE PADS DO NOT LAST, SEEMS TO ALWAYS HAVE SOME PULL WHEN BRAKES APPLIED IN NORMAL BRAKING SITUATIONS. …

Read full complaint

I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE DISC PAD 4 TIMES IN UNDER 10,000 MILES, I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE ROTORS TWICE IN THE SAME AMOUNT OF TIME. I AM NOW FACING ANOTHER ROTOR AND BRAKE PAD REPLACEMENT. THE ROTORS WARP VERY QUICKLY AND THE PADS DO NOT LAST, SEEMS TO ALWAYS HAVE SOME PULL WHEN BRAKES APPLIED IN NORMAL BRAKING SITUATIONS. ALSO, THE VEHICLE PULLS HARD AND WILDLY IN EMERGENCY BRAKING SITUATIONS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #762494

Mileage unknown · Mar 1, 2002
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

AT ANY SPEED AND INTERMITTENTLY WHEN DEPRESSING BRAKES, VEHICLE GOES INTO EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE TRAVELING TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT. *AK. CONSUMER STATES MOST OF THE COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY, HOWEVER WITHIN A SHORT INTERVAL, PROBLEMS ARISE AGAIN, THE DEALER HAS STATED THE PROBLEM MAY BE A DESIGN ISSUE.*JB

NHTSA ODI #8004818

Mileage unknown · Sep 6, 2001
EquipmentFuel System, GasolineService Brakes, Hydraulic

FAULTY INJECTORS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO MISFIRE AND CAUSED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE.NLM

NHTSA ODI #562992

Mileage unknown · Aug 29, 2001
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHEN PRESSING ON BRAKES THEY WOULD GET HARD. BRAKES GET HARDER AS DAY WEARS ON. VEHICLE WOULD BUCK IF STOPPED AT LIGHT OR SIGN. MAKES A SWOOSHING SOUND. CAN FEEL BRAKE PEDAL FIGHTING BACK. HAVE TAKEN TO INDPENDENT MECHANIC, AND WAS INFORMED BRAKE POWER BOOSTER WAS GONE AND WAS LEAVING NO POWER BRAKES.

NHTSA ODI #895407

Mileage unknown · Aug 29, 2001
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHEN DRIVING AT 55 MPH AND UPON DEPRESSING BRAKE PEDAL BRAKE BOOSTER MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING POOR BRAKING ABILITY, AND RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #895377

Mileage unknown · Aug 28, 2001
Fuel System, GasolineService Brakes, HydraulicSteering

CHECK THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE VEHICLE WAS MISFIRING DUE TO INJECTORS FAILURE. *YH

NHTSA ODI #562823

Mileage unknown · Apr 26, 2001
Fuel System, GasolineService Brakes, Hydraulic

BRAKES-WHEN COMING TO STOP PEDAL IS HARD THEN DROPS ABOUT AN INCH MORE BEFORE VEHICLE STOPS.ANTI LOCK WILL SOMETIMES ENGAGE AND STOP VEHICLE. AFTER VEHICLE STOPS I CAN CONTINUE TO PUSH PEDAL ALL THE WAY TO FLOOR. DEALER REPLACED REAR DUMP VALVE BUT PROBLEM STILL THERE. MASTER CYLINDER HAS BEEN REPLACED,NEW ROTORS, NEW BACK BRAKE…

Read full complaint

BRAKES-WHEN COMING TO STOP PEDAL IS HARD THEN DROPS ABOUT AN INCH MORE BEFORE VEHICLE STOPS.ANTI LOCK WILL SOMETIMES ENGAGE AND STOP VEHICLE. AFTER VEHICLE STOPS I CAN CONTINUE TO PUSH PEDAL ALL THE WAY TO FLOOR. DEALER REPLACED REAR DUMP VALVE BUT PROBLEM STILL THERE. MASTER CYLINDER HAS BEEN REPLACED,NEW ROTORS, NEW BACK BRAKE SHOES(3RD SET). BRAKE PROBLEM STARTED IN JAN 2001. INTAKE GASKET IS LEAKING. FUEL PUMP IS RUNNING VERY NOISY, NOSIER THAN WHEN NEW. I KNOW THAT THIS MEANS IT IS GOING TO GO.SO I WILL HAVE TO REPLACE IT.*AK

NHTSA ODI #744595

Mileage unknown · Mar 6, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, GasolineService Brakes, Hydraulic

3 FUEL INJECTORS FAILED (#1, #7 AND #8). NLM

NHTSA ODI #560211

Mileage unknown · Jan 12, 2001
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

UPON BRAKING AND COMPLETELY STOPPING BRAKEJUST RELEASES BY ITSELF.*AK

NHTSA ODI #739266

Official recalls

2

03V093000 · 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

1

EA99011 · Erratic Power Steering Assist While Driv

Opened May 12, 1999 · Closed Feb 27, 2001

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering

THE OFFICE OF DEFECT INVESTIGATION (ODI) HAS INVESTIGATED ALLEGATIONS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST FLUCTUATIONS IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.FOR DETAILS AND A BASIS FOR THE INVESTIGATION CONCLUSIONS, PLEASE SEE THE CLOSING REPORT IN THE EA99-011 PUBLIC FILE.ODI HAS NOT IDENTIFIED A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLE POPULATION.FUTHER EXPENDITURE OF AGENCY RESOURCES ON THIS SUBJECT DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED AT THIS TIME.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.THE ENGINEERING IS CLOSED.