IllustrationWHEN DRIVING AT ALMOST ANY SPEED STEERING SLIPS AND JERKS TO RIGHT OR LEFT. THE TIRES DON'T MOVE WITH THE SLIP. IT STARTED OUT AS JUST A RIGHT SHIFT, AND NOW IT IS JERKING BOTH TO THE RIGHT AND LEFT. *AK
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 →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
10–25K
925–50K
1550–75K
1875–100K
12100–150K
1150K+
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
What owners actually said
201 reportsNO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
UPON BRAKING AND COMPLETELY STOPPING BRAKEJUST RELEASES BY ITSELF.*AK
TRANSFER CASE WAS SHREDDED INSIDE EVEN THOUGH THIS VEHICLE WAS NEVER USED OFF-ROAD OR FOR TOWING. MANUFACTURER DECLINED TO TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY. SERVICE TECHNICIAN COMMENTED THAT HE HAD NEVER SEEN THIS TYPE OF DAMAGE BEFORE.*AK
SPOKEN TO CHEVROLET CUSTOMER SERVICE. DEALER SAYS NO PROBLEM WITH BRAKES. VEHICLE IS UNDER RECALL NOTICE -- NHTSA RECALL 98V033000. CURRENTLY ON THIRD SET OF FRONT BRAKES. CHEVROLET AREA SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE, HARVEY MYER HAS NEVER FOLLOWED UP WITH COMPLAINT, CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE BARBARA FLEMING IS HELPFUL. DEA…
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SPOKEN TO CHEVROLET CUSTOMER SERVICE. DEALER SAYS NO PROBLEM WITH BRAKES. VEHICLE IS UNDER RECALL NOTICE -- NHTSA RECALL 98V033000. CURRENTLY ON THIRD SET OF FRONT BRAKES. CHEVROLET AREA SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE, HARVEY MYER HAS NEVER FOLLOWED UP WITH COMPLAINT, CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE BARBARA FLEMING IS HELPFUL. DEALER WORKED ON BRAKES WHEN UNDER WARRANTY, REFUSES TO ACCEPT NHTSA INFORMATION.*AK
WIRES KEEP GETTING CUT BY THE CAR HARNESS, WHY ARE THE WIRES LOCATED IN THE HARNESS? THIS IS GETTING DANGEROUS DRIVING WITHOUT BRAKE LIGHTS IS A HAZARD. THE FUEL LINE / PUMP HAS NEVER WORKED CORRECTLY, AND WHO EVER HEARD OF A TRANSMISSION GOING OUT AT 50,000 MILES. PLEASE NOTE I HAVE NEVER TOWED ANYTHING WITH THIS CAR AND I A…
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WIRES KEEP GETTING CUT BY THE CAR HARNESS, WHY ARE THE WIRES LOCATED IN THE HARNESS? THIS IS GETTING DANGEROUS DRIVING WITHOUT BRAKE LIGHTS IS A HAZARD. THE FUEL LINE / PUMP HAS NEVER WORKED CORRECTLY, AND WHO EVER HEARD OF A TRANSMISSION GOING OUT AT 50,000 MILES. PLEASE NOTE I HAVE NEVER TOWED ANYTHING WITH THIS CAR AND I AM A VERY CAREFUL FEMALE DRIVER WITHOUT ANY ACCIDENTS OR SPEEDING TICKETS, OIL IS CHANGED EVERY 3,000 MILES, ALL HIGHWAY DRIVING. PLEASE HELP! THIS CAR IS A DISASTER AND A HAZARD. THE LEAKING FUEL LINE COULD HAVE KILLED ME, NO BRAKE LIGHTS...OBVIOUS ISSUE. THANK YOU! LIZ ZIMMER.
WHILE DRIVING A 55 MPH HIT A DODGE DAKOTA AND DRIVER'S/PASSENGER'S AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, AND DID NOT PROTECT OCCUPANTS IN THIS CRASH. *AK
ALL 4 BRAKES LOCKED UP, AND CONSUMER WENT IN A 90 DEGREE CIRCLE. PRESENTLY, BRAKES WON'T STOP, THEY GO TO FLOOR, AND VEHICLE PULLS TO THE RIGHT. *AK
WE HAVE HAD TWO TIRES SEPERATE ON THIS VEHICLE PLUS THREE TIRES ON ANOTHER CHEVROLET SUBURBAN OF THE SAME SIZE AT AN EARLIER DATE. (DOT NUMBER: V611 B1A TIRESIZE: 245X75X16)
THE GEARS IN THE TRANSMISSION WERE MADE FROM A SUBSTANDARD METAL THAT HAD BROKEN DOWN AND CRUMBLED. GENERAL MOTORS IS AWARE OF THIS FLAW AND DUE TO THE LARGE QUANTITY OF VEHICLES THAT THEY PRODUCE WILL NOT FIX THE PROBLEM UNTIL THE GOVERNMENT REQUIRES THEM TO DO SO. (TIRESIZE: 16)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 16 )
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
1EA99011 · 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.