1998 GMC Suburban

Fatalities reported

Owners filed 100 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the service brakes, hydraulic › antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip. It has been recalled 3 times.

When it fails
020k40k60k90k120k200k
92,000 milesMedian miles at failure

26 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 90,000105,000 miles.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip14
300
Power Train › Automatic Transmission9
000
Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer › Motor8
000
Tires › Tread/Belt7
101
Electrical System › 12v/24v/48v Battery7
000
Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer4
000
Tires3
205
Unknown or Other2
000
Steering › Hydraulic Power Assist System2
000
Steering2
000

3 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Fuel System, Gasoline06E043000
Filed May 19, 200688,303 vehiclesHoneywell International, Inc.

Defect. CERTAIN REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS, FRAM BRAND NAME P/N G3727, WITH DATE CODES X52911 THROUGH X60801 SEQUENTIALLY OR X600141 AND A MEXICO COUNTRY OR ORIGIN MARKING ON THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 18, 2005, THROUGH MARCH 21, 2006, SOLD FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE AND ON CERTAIN SCHOOL BUSES. (TO SEE THE SCHOOL BUS ENGINE SIZES, CLICK ON "DOCUMENT SEARCH" AND THEN "BUS APPLICATIONS"). THE CONNECTOR ON THE FUEL FILTER WAS NOT MANUFACTURED TO HONEYWELL'S SPECIFICATION. AS A RESULT, THE O-RING MAY NOT SEAT CORRECTLY ON THE FUEL LINE.

Risk. THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE AN INADEQUATE SEAL AT THE CONNECTION, POTENTIALLY LEADING TO A FUEL LEAK. IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.

Remedy. HONEYWELL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FUEL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 18, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-890-2075 (OPTION 1).

Visibility › Rearview Mirrors/Devices › Exterior03V093000
Filed Mar 7, 2003507,171 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.

Defect. CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, MINI VANS, AND PICKUP TRUCKS MAY DEVELOP A SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE ELECTRIC OUTSIDE REARVIEW MIRROR SWITCH.

Risk. 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.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Rotor98V033000
Filed Feb 17, 19981,137 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.

Defect. 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.

Risk. 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.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Unknown or Other
Filed Aug 1, 201195,000 milesMI

WHILE SITTING.. STANDING STILL.. PARKED.. THE SPARE TIRE IN THE REAR OF THE SUBURBAN EXPLODED.. I DISCOVERED THIS SEVERAL DAYS LATER.. THE EXPLOSION CAUSED APPROXIMATELY $650 IN DAMAGE.. NOT INCLUDING THE COST OF THE TIRE ITSELF.. I CONTACTED B.F. GOODRICH AND WAS ASSIGNED A CLAIM NUMBER .. A CASE NUMBER.. 2983357.. I SUBMITTED INFORMATIONTTO B.F. GOODRICH WITH NO REPLY AT THIS TIME..

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited SlipCrash
Filed Oct 26, 2007109,200 milesME

I HAVE A 1998 GMC SUBURBAN JUST PURCHASED AND I EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM DESCRIBED IN RECALL #05V379000. RESULT WAS MY WIFE SLAMMED INTO THE BACK OF ANOTHER CAR IN OUR DRIVEWAY. DAMAGE WAS MINIMAL BUT I SURE DON'T WANT HER DRIVING THIS VEHICLE UNTIL IT IS FIXED! I CALLED GM AND THEY SAID THIS YEAR (1998) IS NOT EFFECTED! YEAH, RIGHT! *TR

Tires › Tread/BeltCrash1 injured
Filed Aug 1, 2006GA

PREVIOUS SEPARATION OF THE TREAD ON PASSENGER REAR TIRE, REPLACED WITH SPARE ON JULY 18, 2006. CHECKED ALL OTHER TIRES SHOWED GOOD CONDITION. JULY 24, 2006 WHILE DRIVING FREEWAY SEPARATION OF DRIVER SIDE TIRE TREAD CAUSED MAJOR CAR ACCIDENT. SUMMIT PREMIUM PLUS TIRES. *JB

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Feb 23, 2006113,000 milesMI

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED AT SPEEDS BELOW 10 MPH, THE ABS WOULD PUMP AND GRAB. AS A RESULT, THE BRAKE PEDAL NEEDED EXCESSIVE PRESSURE TO STOP. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT HUB AND BEARING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 05V379000, REGARDING THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER, IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE ABS SENSORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 03/17/06. 8JB

Seats › Front Assembly › Seat Heater/Cooler
Filed Jan 11, 2006110,000 milesID

DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE ENGINE WAS WARMING UP, AND A FEW MINUTES LATER WHILE GETTING IN TO THE VEHICLE, THE PASSENGER'S SEAT WAS SMOKING. THE HEATER IN THE SEAT BURNED A HOLE IN THE SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD THE CONTACT IF THE SEAT HEATER WAS TURNED ON AGAIN IT WOULD SHORT OUT. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Dec 6, 2005MI

DT: THE CONTACT STATES THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 05V379000 CONCERNING THE ANTI LOCK BRAKES. THIS VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL, BUT IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN AND THE MODEL YEAR. THE CONTACT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE AT HER OWN EXPENSE.*AK

Fuel System, Other › Delivery › Fuel Pump
Filed Nov 12, 2005NY

WIRING TO THE ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP CAN OVER HEAT (AND POSSIBLY CAUSE A FIRE) WHEN THE FUEL PUMP FAILS. THIS WOULD OCCUR WHEN THE FUEL PUMP IS IN A FAILED (LOCKED) CONDITION WHILE POWER IS APPLIED TO THE PUMP. THE ELECTRICAL CURRENT DRAW IS HIGHER THAN THE RATING OF THE WIRING. *JB

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Sep 2, 2005100,000 milesNY

DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE ABS LOCKED UP AT LOW SPEEDS. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME SHE SLOWED DOWN. THE PROBLEM WOULD OCCUR AT 10 MPH AND SLOWER WHEN PULLING INTO PARKING SPOTS. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS FOR OTHER GMC VEHICLES. RECALL CAMPAIGN #05V379000; ANTI-LOCK. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN CONTACTED. THE DEALER WAS CALLED BUT THEY HAVE NO INFORMATION ON THE RECALL YET. *JB (11/17/05) THE CONSUMER STATED THAT SHE ALMOST WENT THROUGH THE STORE WINDOW AS A RESULT OF THIS PROBLEM. *SC

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Sep 2, 2005102,000 milesNY

ABS LOCKED AT LOW SPEEDS. *AK

Air Bags › FrontalCrash
Filed Jul 25, 2005109,968 milesCA

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 GMC SUBURBAN. HE STATES THAT ON JUNE 1, 2005 VEHICLE WAS IN A ACCIDENT AND WAS HIT IN THE FRONT END. UPON IMPACT, NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED.*AK

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer › Switch/Wiring
Filed Jun 29, 2005VA

CONSUMER 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

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited SlipCrash
Filed Apr 15, 2005NC

BRAKES DO NOT STOP THE VEHICLE PROPERLY. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited SlipCrash
Filed Mar 27, 200510,000 milesNC

CRASH

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Rotor
Filed Mar 16, 2005WV

CONSUMER REQUEST FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF REPAIRS ON GMC 1998 SUBURBAN. *BF THE CONSUMER LEARNED OF A RECALL REGARDING THE ROTORS, HOWEVER THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE RECALL WAS ONLY FOR C TYPE TRUCKS NOT K AND THE ONLY DIFFERENCE BEING A C IS A TWO WHEEL DRIVE AND THE K TYPE IS FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE. *JB

Steering
Filed Jan 11, 200550,000 milesMN

THIS CONCERNS NHTSA ACTION NUMBER : EA99011. I HAD A STEERING MODULE THAT FAILED. PRIOR TO REPLACEMENT OF THE MODULE, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD PERIODICALLY JERK AS IF TO INCREASE THE RATE OF TURN SIGNIFICANTLY WHEN I WAS IN A TURN, EITHER LEFT OR RIGHT. AFTER REPLACEMENT OF THIS MODULE AT THE GMC DEALERSHIP (AT ABOUT 50,000 MILES, AS I RECALL), THE JERKING INSTANTLY STOPPED. I NOW HAVE ABOUT 111,000 MILES, AND THE SAME JERKING HAS BEGUN AGAIN (AT ABOUT 100,000 MILES) FROM TIME TO TIME. IF A DRIVER UNFAMILIAR TO THE PROPENSITY TO JERK IN TURNS WAS DRIVING, I COULD DEFINITELY SEE WHERE THE UNEXPECTED JERKING MAY CAUSE THEM TO LOSE CONTROL. THE LATEST JERKING COMES AND GOES AND IS NOT VERY CONSISTENT FROM WEEK TO WEEK YET. WHEN IT GETS MORE CONSISTENT, I WILL ASK THE DEALERSHIP TO REPLACE THE MODULE. I DON'T PRESENTLY RECALL FOR SURE, BUT I THINK I MAY HAVE PAID FOR HAVING THE SENSOR MODULE REPLACED THE FIRST TIME. THE INCIDENT DATE BELOW IS AN ESTIMATE, SINCE I DON'T HAVE MY RECORDS OF THE FIRST STEERING MODULE REPLACEMENT WITH ME AS I AM FILLING OUT THIS FORM. ALSO, THE PURCHASE DATE WAS IN JANUARY, 2000, BUT I DON'T RECALL THE EXACT PURCHASE DATE AND DON'T HAVE MY PURCHASE RECORDS WITH ME.*AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Rotor
Filed Sep 28, 200412,500 milesNY

WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL THE BRAKES FAILED. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND PULLED OVER. CONSUMER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO CORROSION. THIS INFORMATION WAS PROVIDED HELEN'S BOY FRIEND ERICK WUNK.*AK FRONT PASSENGER BRAKE ROTOR SEPARATED FROM LUG BOLT HUB. DRIVERS SIDE ROTTER ALSO READY TO SEPARATE. GMC RECALLED THIS PART BUT NOT FOR THE SERIAL NUMBER OF THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE. CONSUMER REPLACED PARTS AT HIS OWN EXPENSE. CONSUMER STATES THAT IF THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED HE WOULD HAVE LOSS CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. *TC

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jul 16, 200497,000 milesKY

1998 SUBURBAN W/ 4L60E TRANSMISSION, SHIFTING HARD 1-2 AND 2-3. RESEARCH SHOWS IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM OF MANUFACTURER ADDRESSES UNDER GM TECH SERV BULLETIN 01-07-30-023B. FURTHER, INTERNET SEARCH INDICATES THAT PROBLEM IS MANUFACTURERS DESIGN ERROR, AND THAT ONLY PERMANENT FIX IS TO USE AN AFTERMARKET SUPPLIERS RE-DESIGNED REPLACEMENT PART. CURRENTLY, I AM IN THE POSITION OF HAVING TO SEEK REPAIR AT ESTIMATED COSTS RANGING FROM $1800-2800 FROM LOCAL SERVICE PROVIDERS. *AK

Electrical System › WiringFire
Filed Jul 9, 2004CA

FIRE THEN SMOKE COMING FROM WIRE HARNESS.*AK

Steering
Filed Mar 8, 2004WV

WHILE DRIVING AND WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL JERKS IN THE SAME DIRECTION. *AK

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Fuel Pump
Filed Mar 4, 200414 milesNJ

MY 1998 SUBURBAN HAS HAD TWO NEW FUEL PUMPS INSTALLED BY THE DEALER WITHIN FOUR MONTHS.AFTER A SHORT TIME, APPROX.2 MONTHS. THE FUEL PUMP STILL MAKES A BUZZING NOISE.*AK

20 of 100 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1994
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20041000Routine
20035100Routine
20027100Routine
20015200Routine
200015200Routine
1999285260Above average
1998 — this page100331Fatalities reported
1997200340Above average
1996172424Fatalities reported
1995227723Fatalities reported
1994411640High concern
1993212240Above average
199280420Routine
199130200Routine
199022200Routine

Compare every Suburban year →

Reading this record

1 death reported in complaints filed with NHTSA.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: May 19, 2006. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.