IllustrationCONSUMER DISAPPOINTED WITH THE LACK OF RECALLS ON THE DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELD WIPER CIRCUIT BOARD ON HIS 1998 GMC SUBURBAN. *NM ARTEMIS DOWN UNTIL JULY,05 AAE THE CONSUMER RECENTLY HEARD ABOUT RECALL OF SEVERAL VEHICLE WHICH HAVE THE SAME WIPER COMPONENT. THE WIPERS FAILED WHILE DRIVING IN A RAIN STORM AT 70 MPH. *NM
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
Visibility complaints
17 reportsWINDSHEILD WIPERS DON'T WORK PROPERLY WHEN SET TO INTERMITTENT. THEY WORK FINE WHEN SET TO LOW OR HIGH SPEED.
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
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
INTERMITTENTLY WINDSHIELD WIPERS BECOME INOPERABLE, OBSTRUCTING THE DRIVER'S VIEW. DEALER STATED THERE IS NOT RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE. A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED ON SIMILAR MAKES AND MODELS, HOWEVER THIS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO THE VIN#. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *PH
THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS EXPERIENCED THE SAME DEFECT AS STATED IN RECALL 03 V 159 000. *NLM PH *JB
I OWN A 1998 GMC SUBURBAN. THE WIPER MOTOR ON THIS VEHICLE IS DEFECTIVE. THERE IS A RECALL (# 03V159000) ON THE 1997 WIPER MOTORS......BUT NOT ON THE 1998 EVEN THOUGH THE DESIGN AND WIPER MOTOR ARE THE SAME. DURING A RECENT RAINSTORM THE WIPER MOTOR BECOME COMPLETELY UNRESPONSIVE WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED. THE MOTOR MAKES T…
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I OWN A 1998 GMC SUBURBAN. THE WIPER MOTOR ON THIS VEHICLE IS DEFECTIVE. THERE IS A RECALL (# 03V159000) ON THE 1997 WIPER MOTORS......BUT NOT ON THE 1998 EVEN THOUGH THE DESIGN AND WIPER MOTOR ARE THE SAME. DURING A RECENT RAINSTORM THE WIPER MOTOR BECOME COMPLETELY UNRESPONSIVE WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED. THE MOTOR MAKES THE SAME "BUZZING" SOUND THAT GM TECHNICIANS REFER TO FOR OTHER GM VEHICLE YEARS. CLEARLY, THIS IS THE SAME ISSUE. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE RECALL RE-EVALUATED OR AT A MINIMUM INCLUDE THE 1998 MODELS. *NLM
CONSUMER STATES WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY DURING USE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*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.