Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 1998 record →
VEHICLE VEERS TO LEFT / RIGHT, COUNTER CLOCKWISE FROM THE WAY ITS SWINGS. THIS HAPPENS AT 55 TO 60 MPH. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. VEHICLE HAS HAD CONTINUED COMPONENT REPLACEMENTS IN THE SUSPENSION AND STEERING DUE TO DEFECT. ALSO POWER STEERING SENSOR WAS REPLACED/NUTS:BOLTS THAT HOLD TIRE TOGETHER SHEARED OFF, CAUSING TIRE TO FALL OFF. *AK
DURING IMPACT WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE THE MASTER CYLINDER SHEARED OFF THE FIRE WALL RENDERING BRAKES INOPERABLE AFTER IMPACT. DO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER NOR PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG RESULTED IN DRIVER SUFFERED A FRATURED STERNUM. VEHICLE TOTALED. *YC
FRONT BRAKES.
HEATER MOTOR.
WELD ON HEAT SHIELD.
OUTSIDE REAR VIEW MIRROR.
BRAKES--PREMATURE FAILURE. 6 SETS OF BRAKES USED IN 60000 MILES.
BRAKES--DISC BRAKES. SEAT BELT--RIGHT FRONT SEAT BELT.
CAR WAS DIFFICULT TO START, AND WHEN IT DID START, WOULDN'T ACCELERATE PAST 28 MPH. WINDOWS SQUEAK. TAILGATE HAS TROUBLE LATCHING AND UNLATCHING.
WHENEVER A TURN IS MADE IT APPEARS THE VEHICLE WOULD TURN MORE THEN THE DRIVER REQUIRED. CAN NHTSA HELP OR PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED AT THIS TIME. *AK
WHEN BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED TO PULL OVER, THE BRAKES DID NOT RESPOND. PEDAL WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO KEEP ROLLING, IT HAD TO CRUISE TO COME TO A STOP. AFTER THIS OCCURRED, THE BRAKES FELT MOIST, HAVING A SMELL OF THE PADS BEING BURNED. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
BRAKE PADS AND SHOES HAVE WORN OUT UNDER 8,00 MILES. WHEN THE PEDAL IS APPLIED, THE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR, AND THE THEY WILL CLICK. CONSUMER WILL FEEL BRAKES KICK IN, AND BEGIN TO SLOW DOWN THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
PROBLEM WITH BRAKE FAILURE FROM DAY ONE. 1ST:ORIGINAL POWER STEERING PUMP THAT CONTROLS THE BRAKE PRESSURE WAS REPLACED WHEN PULLEY SHAFT BROKE. LOST ALL POWER AND BRAKING ABILITY WHEN THE PUMP SHAFT BROKE. NO BRAKES NO STEERING. 2ND: SINCE INITIAL PURCHASE I HAVE HAD PANIC BRAKE FAILURE. WHEN BRAKES ARE REQUIRED AT PANIC STOP, THE BRAKE PEDAL WILL GO ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FLOOR. BRAKES BECOME INACTIVE UNTIL PRESSURE BUILDS UP AND PEDAL REGAINS ORIGINAL HEIGHT. AT THAT TIME THE BRAKES WILL BECOME ACTIVE AND START TO SLOW THE VEHICLE. THIS ALMOST CAUSED ME TO HIT SOMEONE WHO JUMPED INFRONT OF MY VEHICLE. SWERVED TO AVOID INCIDENT. HAVE SPOKE TO DIFFERENT DEALERS AND ALL SAY THAT THAT IS NORMAL AND NOTHING CAN BE DONE. I HAVE SPOKEN TO OTHER SUBURBAN OWNERS WHO ALSO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AND ALSO TO NOTHING WRONG. 3RD PROBLEM IS WITH STEERING SYSTEM IS TOO LOOSE. TRUCK WANDERS AT HWY SPEEDS. MUST CONTINUALLY READJUST STEERING BACK AND FORTH.
POWER STEERING PUMP ALSO POWERS THE BRAKING SYSTEM. BRAKES FAIL AT PANIC STOPS AND PEDALS GO TO FLOOR. POWER STEERING SYSTEM CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO WANDER AT HWY SPEEDS. REQUIRES CONSTANT READJUSTMENTS. AT TIMES WILL LOSE CONTROL. GM SAYS NORMAL. HAVE CONTACTED THEM AND REFUSED ASSITANCE IN THESE ISSUES BUT RECEIVED ONLY STANDARD CORPORATE NO ASSISTANCE/FORM ANSWERS.
EA99-011, WHEN TRAVELING 50-70 MPH CONSUMER FELT A SHIMMY WITHIN THE STEERING COLUMN, ALSO, WHEN MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN VEHICLE JERKED AND PULLED TO THE LEFT. CONSUMER HAS YET TO CONTACT DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
MY VEHICLE RAN HEAD-ON INTO THE SIDE OF A CAR THAT RAN A STOP SIGN. MY CAR WAS SO DAMAGED THAT THE INSURANCE ADJUSTOR "TOTALED" IT. THE IMPACT WAS SO SEVERE THAT I, THE DRIVER, SUSTAINED A FRACTURE OF THE STERNUM (I WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT WITH SHOULDER HARNESS). THE AIR BAGS OF MY CAR DID NOT GO OFF, BUT THE AIR BAGS OF THE CAR I HIT DID GO OFF. ON IMPACT THE BRAKE MASTERCYLINDER WITH THE POWER ASSIST UNIT WAS BROKEN OFF THE FIRE WALL BY THE ABS MODULE. THEREFORE I DID NOT HAVE ANY BRAKES AND ROLLED FOR ANOTHER 300 FEET BEFORE COMING TO REST AGAINST A TREE IN THE LOWER SHOULDER OF THE ROAD.
STEERING WHEEL "SKIPS" DURING TURNS AT 30 TO 50 MPH. *AK
ACCIDENTLY STRUCK POLE AT 1 TO 2 MPH AND DID $505.08 DAMAGE TO REAR BUMPER. IS THERE NOT A SPEED REGULATION CONCERNING REAR BUMPERS. *AK
STEERING SENSOR FAILED CAUSING STEERING TO BIND MOMENTARILY-THEN FULL POWER ASSIST OCCUR. NLM
I HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES ONCE. THEY JUST FILLED UP THE BRAKE FLUID. 2ND TIME THEY REPLACED THE MASTER CYLINDER. I HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRICAL. THEY SAID IT WAS THE WIRING HARNESS AT THE ENGINE.I HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE AIR CONDITIONING . TOOK IT IN TWO OR THREE TIMES FOR THAT. THEY REPLACED SOME SWITCHES . THEN HAD TO TAKE IT IN AGAIN AND THEY REPLACED THE REAR AIRCONDITIONER. WE PURCHASED THIS TRUCK TO PULL A 20 FT TRAILER THE TRAILER WEIGHS 4200 LB. THE SUBURBAN HAS A 3.73 DIFFERENTIAL AND THE TRAILERING PKG. PLUS POST TRACTION OR WHATEVER THETY CALL IT NOW! WE WENT ON A VACATION IN NOV. PLANNING ON BEING HOME THE 1ST OF THE YEAR. OUR !ST DIFFERENTIAL BROKE OUTSIDE OF FREDERICK MD. IT WAS REPLACED. UPON TRYING TO RETURN HOME THE 2ND DIFFERENTIAL BROKE! IT WAS REPLACED IN LOUISVILLE KY. CONTINUNING OUR VENTURE HOME. THE 3RD DIFFERENTIAL WENT OUT IN MOBILE ALA. THEY GAVE ME A VERY DIFFICULT TIME. TOLD ME IT WAS MY FAULT. I WAS EITHER GOING TOO FAST OF THE TRAILER WAS TOO HEAVY. NEITHER ACUSATIONS WERE TRUE! UPON FINALLY ARRIVING HOME (ALMOST) THE 4TH DIFFERENTIAL WENT OUT AND REPLACED. I HAVE LOST ALL FAITH & TRUST IN THIS VECHICLE. AM SCARED TO DEATH TO TAKE IT ON THE ROAD. MY HUSBAND IS 67 YEARS OLD AND HAS DREAMED OF HIS RETIREMENT ALL HIS LIFE. NOW WE ARE STUCK WITH A SUBURBAN WE DON'T DARE TAKE ON THE ROAD FOR FEAR OF IT BREAKING DOWN AGAIN. CHEVROLET REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THE GARAGE WE PURCHASED IT FROM HAS BEEN VERY NICE. HOWEVER, THEY ALSO HAVE BEE
HVAC SYSTEM FAILED.
FRONT SHOCK ABSORBER FAILED. *YC
ABS BRAKE SYSTEM FAILED.
DIFFERENTIAL SERVICED, CAUSING REAR END VIBRATION. MJS
MUSKY ODOR FROM AIR CONDITIONER SYSTEM. MJS
LOCKING GAS CAP TURNS OF SERVICE LIGHT, DUE TO POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION WITH POWER ACCESSORIES. YH
THE WIRE LOOM UNDER THE DASH WAS CUT WITH EXPOSED WIRES, CAUSED THE ABS MODULE AND RELAY SHORT. YH
FRONT TIRE UNEVEN WEAR, DUE TO POSSIBLE ALIGNMENT PROBLEMS. YH
DOOR LOCKS FAILED TWICE. *YC
STARTER FAILED. YH
BRAKE PADS AND CALIPERS FAILED. YH
REAR BRAKES FAILED TWICE, CAUSED SQUEAK NOISE. YH
MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER FAILED. YH
BRAKE ROTORS HAVE BECOME WARPED TWICE NOW, FIRST TIME AT 5000 MILES THE SECOND AT 13000 MILES. AT 15000 MILES IT NOW NEEDS NEW BRAKE PADS. THE ENGINE COMPUTER WILL NOT LET THE ENGINE IDLE DOWN UNTIL YOU HAVE COME TO A STOP. THIS MAKES THE VEHICLE VERY HARD TO STOP AND HARD TO CONTROL ON SLIPPERY PAVEMENT. VERY UNSAFE. DEALER SAYS IT CHECKS OUT OK ON BOTH THE BRAKES AND ENGINE IDLE PROBLEM. 95% OF MY DRIVING IS ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS, THUS SELDOMLY USING THE BRAKES!
BRAKE ROTORS WARPED DUE TO OVERHEATING, PADS FAILED.
WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN, BUT WOULD NOT STOP. THE BRAKES HAD TO BE PUMPED IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO BE STOPPED. DEALER SAID MASTER CYLINDER FAILED, AFTER MASTER CYLINDER REPLACEMENT BRAKES CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE FAILURES, TOTAL OF FOUR MASTER CYLINDERS REPLACED. *AK
HITTING A BUMP WHILE BRAKING RELEASES THE BRAKES AT ALL 4 WHEELS (WILL CAUSE AN ACCIDENT).
DRIVER'S' SIDE FRONT BRAKE CALIBER LOCKS WHEN HOT. THIS IN TURN WILL RESULT IN PREMATURE WEAR/FAILURE OF THE BRAKE PADS. IF THE VEHICLE SITS FOR A WHILE THE PRESSURE IN THE CALIBER LESSENS AND THE WHEEL TURNS.
POWER WINDOW REGULATOR FAILED CAUSING WINDOW TO STICK AND RATTLE.
DIGITAL COMPASS/TEMPERATURE READOUT GIVING INACCURATE READING FAILED.
WHEN VEHICLE IS ATTEMPTING TO STOP, THE DRIVE TRAIN SOUNDS AS IF THE REAR END IS BANGING INTO THE TRANSMISSION, TRANSMISSION ALSO DOES NOT SHIFT SMOOTHLY. DEALER CLAIMS GM IS NOISE BUT INSIST THAT THERE IS NO PROBLEM.
BOTH SEATBELTS HAVE LOCKED AND ARE UNUSEABLE.
COOLANT LIGHT COMES ON WHILE DRIVING, AND WHEN DRIVING 200 MILES OR MORE THE LIGHT COMES ON AGAIN. DEALER REPLACED THE ENGINE BECAUSE ANTI-FREEZE GOT INTO THE ENGINE THROUGH A HEAD GASKET. *AK
WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED ABOUT 2 INCHES THE VEHICLE WILL NOT SLOW OWN OR STOP. THEN MEETS RESISTANCE AND VEHICLE STARTS TO SLOW DOWN. DEPRESSES EVEN HARDER TO THE POINT WHERE THE SEAT BELTS LOCK UP AND THEN THE VEHICLE FINALLY STOPS WITH A JERK. SAME PROBLEM OCCURS WHEN GOING AROUND CORNERS. *AK
EXPERIENCED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE RESULTING IN VEHICLE COLLISION.
STEERING WHEEL SENSOR FAILED. IN ADDIRION, RADIO/ELECTRICAL C OMPONENTS WILL NOT CUT OFF WHEN THE IGNITION IS TURNED OFF.
DESIGN OF SEAT BELT/SHOULDER HARNESS CAUSES IT TO BE TOO TIGHT.
ENGINE FAILED.
NO STEERING CONTROL.
A KINKED THROTTLE CABPLE HAS BEEN INSTALLED DURING MANUFACTURING OF THE VEHICLE. THIS ALLOWED CABLE TO FRAY AND SRICK AGAINST FIRE WALL, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE TO 80-90MPH UNEXPECTEDLY IN WHICH THE BRAKING SYSTEM DID NOT HELP IN REDUCING THE VEHICLE'S SPEED, ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. *AK
NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Full record for the 1998 Chevrolet Suburban → · Every Suburban year → · How the figures are calculated →