RoadVitals

1998 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
14
Latest May 1, 2017
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
9
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1998 Chevrolet Suburban 1500, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Reports by component

Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category

  • Brakes425.0%
  • Visibility425.0%
  • Electrical212.5%
  • Steering16.3%
  • Tires & wheels16.3%
  • Transmission16.3%
  • Seat belts16.3%
  • Driver assistance16.3%
  • Body & structure16.3%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Each component in detail

What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words

Brakes

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.

4
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

DROVE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL ESTABLISHMENT, ALL WAS FIND. WHEN I RETURNED, STARTED THE TRUCK, PUSHED BRAKE PEDAL TO PUT THE CAR INTO REVERSE AND IT WENT TO THE FLOOR. PUMPED THE PEDAL TWICE TO SEE IF BRAKES WOULD RETURN AND THEY DID NOT. INSPECTED UNDERNEATH AND SAW BRAKE FLUID. HAD THE TRUCK TOWED TO A LOCAL GARAGE AND THEY HAD TO REPLACE A "ROTTED" LINE THAT HAD BURST. THIS IS AN EXTREME SAFETY HAZARD, HAD THE VEHICLE BEEN IN MOTION THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A SEVERE ACCIDENT. I KNOW THERE ARE DISCUSSION OF BRAKE ISSUES STARTING IN THE 1999 MODELS, BUT THIS IS THE EXACT SAME IN THE 1998!

NHTSA ID 10783022 · filed Oct 16, 2015

MY WIFE WAS TRAVELING BACK FROM A FRIENDS HOUSE WITH OUR TWO AND SEVEN YEAR OLD KIDS, AND THE BRAKES FAILED SHE WAS ABLE TO RUN THE TRUCK OFF THE ROAD AS TO NOT HIT ANYBODY OR ANYTHING, AND WAS ABLE TO STOP IT, AFTER ADDING BRAKE FLUID AND STARTING THE VEHICLE AGAIN, I REALIZED THERE WAS FLUID COMING OUT OF THE BACK OF THE TRUCK, I SAW THE METAL BRAKE LINES ARE CORRODED , WHILE THE RUBBER LINES SEEM TO BE OK. I DO NOT HAVE THE TYPE OF MONEY TO FIX A PROBLEM OF THIS MAGNITUDE, WITH FIVE CHILDREN AND MY WIFE NOT WORKING, I THINK THAT A VEHICLE LIKE THIS SHOULDN'T HAVE FAILED US LIKE THIS. *TR

NHTSA ID 10478225 · filed Oct 1, 2012

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Visibility

Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.

4
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

WHEN IT IS RAINING WATER GETS INTO THE BLOWER MOTOR OF THE HVAC AND SHORT OUT THE MOTOR WHICH CAN CAUSE THE DEFROST, HEAT, OR AIR TO STOP WORKING WHICH IS POTENTIALLY A HAZARD. WATER AND ELECTRONICS ARE NOT REALLY FRIENDLY TOGETHER. IT HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES.

NHTSA ID 10981570 · filed May 1, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FUNCTION INTERMITTENTLY WHEN ACTIVATED. USUALLY WHEN SHE RESTARTS THE VEHICLE, THE WIPERS WILL BEGIN TO FUNCTION, BUT FAIL SHORTLY AFTER OPERATION. SHE HAD NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP OR SPOKEN WITH THE MANUFACTURER TO-DATE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 64,000.

NHTSA ID 10288533 · filed Oct 15, 2009

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Electrical

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

WHEN IT IS RAINING WATER GETS INTO THE BLOWER MOTOR OF THE HVAC AND SHORT OUT THE MOTOR WHICH CAN CAUSE THE DEFROST, HEAT, OR AIR TO STOP WORKING WHICH IS POTENTIALLY A HAZARD. WATER AND ELECTRONICS ARE NOT REALLY FRIENDLY TOGETHER. IT HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES.

NHTSA ID 10981570 · filed May 1, 2017

BRAKE LIGHT AND TURN SIGNAL FAILURE. NO PERSONAL INJURY OR CRASHES AS OF YET. FAILURE OF CIRCUIT BOARD ON BACK OF TAILLIGHT HOUSING CAUSES THE BRIGHT FEATURE OF ASSEMBLY NOT TO WORK. (NO BRAKE LIGHT OR TURN SIGNAL). REPAIR CONSISTS OF TOTAL REPLACEMENT OF ASSEMBLY AT $50.00 EACH. *NM

NHTSA ID 10172090 · filed Oct 29, 2006

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Steering

Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

I HAVE 1998 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN K1500. DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY 70 MILES AND HOUR ALL OF A SADDEN THE STEERING WHEEL JERK TO THE RIGHTS, I ALL MOST CRASH INTO THE CONCRETE BARRIERS ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD THIS WAS AROUND MID FEB 09 AND NOW THE STEERING IS JERKING RIGHT AND LEFT MOSTLY WHEN I'M TAKING AND OFF RAMP TO THE RIGHT FROM THE HIGHWAY. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. SO I HAD TAKEN THE TRUCK IN TO HAVE THE FRONT END CHECK OUT AND THE MECHANIC TOLD ME EVERY THING WAS IN GOOD SHAPE ON THE FRONT END AND THE STEERING WHEEL SPEED SENSOR MUST OF WENT BAD AND HE COULD NOT GIVE ME A PRICE ON FIXING IT. SO I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP UP TO FIND OUT WHAT THAT WAS AND THEY DID NOT KNOW OF A STEERING WHEEL SENSOR ON THIS MODEL. *TR

NHTSA ID 10261881 · filed Mar 15, 2009

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Tires & wheels

Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500. THE VEHICLE HAS COOPER DISCOVERER ATR, SIZE LT245/75R16 TIRES. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 2 MPH AND GREATER, THE VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE AND PULL TO THE RIGHT. THE FAILURE OCCURRED MORE FREQUENTLY AT HIGHER SPEEDS. THE STEEL BELT ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE PROTRUDED THROUGH THE TREAD. THE VIN AND DOT NUMBER WERE UNKNOWN. THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000. THE VEHICLE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 205,000.

NHTSA ID 10203525 · filed Sep 20, 2007

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Transmission

Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SHIFT INTO FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE BECAME STUCK IN AUTOMATIC FOUR WHEEL DRIVE AND THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FELT AS IF THE WHEELS WERE ATTEMPTING TO LOCK. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO ACCELERATE PAST 40 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER INSPECTED NOR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 194,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE 194,882.

NHTSA ID 10376709 · filed Jan 14, 2011

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Seat belts

Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

THE PASSENGERS SIDE FRONT SEAT BELT WILL NOT EXTEND OUT FULLY.CANNOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT LIKE DEBRIS OR COINS DOWN INSIDE TO JAM IT ,ITS OBVIOUSLY A FACTORY DEFECT THAT I NOW SEEALOT OF PEOPLE HAVE.

NHTSA ID 10916261 · filed Oct 15, 2016

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Driver assistance

Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

TL*-THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 SUBURBAN 1500. ON A CLEAR DAY WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL. HE APPLIED THE BRAKE TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL, BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TRAVEL AT THE SET SPEED. HE CONTINUED TO DRIVE, AND FOUND A SAFE PLACE TO TRY TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL BY USING THE SWITCH. BY THIS TIME HE COULD SMELL A BURNT ODOR THAT GENERATED FROM THE BRAKES. HE THEN UNHOOKED THE CRUISE CONTROL WIRE FROM THE THROTTLE AND CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. WHEN THIS HAPPENED THE ENGINE SOUNDED AS IF IT WERE RACING. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 82,877 MILES, AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,800. *AK UPDATE 05/04/07*TR

NHTSA ID 10187687 · filed Apr 12, 2007

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Body & structure

Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

WHEN IT IS RAINING WATER GETS INTO THE BLOWER MOTOR OF THE HVAC AND SHORT OUT THE MOTOR WHICH CAN CAUSE THE DEFROST, HEAT, OR AIR TO STOP WORKING WHICH IS POTENTIALLY A HAZARD. WATER AND ELECTRONICS ARE NOT REALLY FRIENDLY TOGETHER. IT HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES.

NHTSA ID 10981570 · filed May 1, 2017

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .