RoadVitals

1998 Chevrolet Suburban Brakes Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Brakes reportsComplaints 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.
65
Latest Feb 5, 2016
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
32%
of 201 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
5
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
5

What this page shows

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1998 Chevrolet Suburban submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 65 reports on file name it.

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

Owner reports naming brake

The 25 most recent of 65, in the owner's own words

Brakes
Filed Feb 5, 2016
Crash reported

BRAKE LINE FAILED AFTER MED TO HEAVY BRAKING, LEAVING LITTLE TO NO BRAKE AS PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR.

NHTSA ID
10824474
Incident
Feb 4, 2016
Brakes
Filed Jul 24, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL FAILED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE ABS AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE ABS SENSOR, THE INNER AND OUTER BEARINGS AND THE CALIBER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 182,000.

NHTSA ID
10616104
Incident
Jul 21, 2014
Mileage
182,000 mi
BrakesFuel system
Filed Apr 2, 2012

I PURCHASED ON 11/1997 A NEW 1998 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 3/4 TON 2500 SERIES. THE SUBURBAN HAS 38,528 ORIGINAL MILES AND HAS BEEN GARAGE KEPT SINCE NEW. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN USED PRIMARILY AS A SECONDARY VEHICLE FOR RECREATIONAL PURPOSES. THE SUBURBAN HAS BEEN DRIVEN IN SNOW CONDITIONS ONLY 12-14 TIMES. I AM EXPERIENCING EXCESSIVE BRAKE AND FUEL LINE CORROSION ON THE STEEL BRAKE/FUEL LINES, FLEXIBLE BRAKE HOSES AND CONNECTIONS. I AM VERY CONCERNED OVER THE BRAKE/FUEL LINE CORROSION ISSUEA AND HAVE SINCE LEARNED THAT AN INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN INITIATED BY THE NHTSA ON 1/5/11, NHTSA INVESTIGATION FILE NO. EA11001. *TR

NHTSA ID
10453780
Incident
Apr 4, 2011
Mileage
38,528 mi
Brakes
Filed Sep 11, 2010

1. HARD STOP TO AVOID HITTING WILDLIFE. GOING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH. 2. AFTER THE BRAKES HOLDING FOR A SECOND OR TWO THE PEDAL DROPPED TO THE FLOOR. AFTER THAT ONLY 1/4 BRAKE POWER. ONCE HOME, OBSERVED BRAKE FLUID COMING FROM CORRODED BRAKE LINES. 3. I WILL NEED TO REVIEW COST OF SERVICE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10355013
Incident
Sep 11, 2010
Mileage
90,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Nov 8, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS AND APPLYING THE BRAKES UNDER NORMAL BRAKING CONDITIONS, THE BRAKES INCREASED IN STOPPING DISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE LEFT FRONT BRAKE SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, THE CONTACT NOTICED A NHTSA RECALL # 05V379000 REGARDING SERVICE BRAKES HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.

NHTSA ID
10172916
Incident
Nov 6, 2006
Mileage
144,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Nov 22, 2005

MY 1998 SUBURBAN HAD SAME REPAIR DONE ON THE ABS BRAKES THAT CURRENT RECALL IS OUT FOR 1999-2002 AND GM IS SAYING THE PART ON 99-2000 RECALL IS NOT THE PART ON MY 98 SUBURBAN. THE DEALERSHIP SAYS IT IS THE SAME RECALL PART AND THEY ARE REFUSING TO REIMBURSE ME FOR REPAIRS I PAID FOR BEFORE THE RECALL WAS ISSUED. *JB

NHTSA ID
10143501
Incident
Nov 22, 2005
Mileage
56,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Oct 14, 2005

CATASTROHIC LOSS OF ENTIRE BREAKING SYSTEM DUE TO BURSTING OF BRAKE LINES WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE; DEALER REQUIRED COMPLETE REPLACEMENT OF ENTIRE BRAKE SYSTEM OWING TO SERVELY RUSTED PARTS THROUGHOUT; MECHANICAL EMERGENCY BRAKE SYSTEM REQUIRED SEVERAL HUNDRED YARDS TO STOP VEHICLE; VEHICLE HAD BEEN REGULARLY SERVICED SINCE NEW WITH MOST RECENT SERVICE JUST 2 MONTHS BEFORE BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE; HAD VEHICLE BEEN TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED POSSIBLE FATAL CONSEQUENCES; POSSIBLE ISSUE OF DESIGN/COMPONENT DEFECT

NHTSA ID
10139750
Incident
Sep 10, 2005
Mileage
114,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Oct 12, 2005

DT: THE CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT ABS BRAKES KICKING IN AT LOW SPEEDS. THE SERVICE BRAKES AND ABS WILL NOT HOLD WHEN THE ABS KICKS IN. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN ON GOING SINCE NOVEMBER OF 2004. THE DEALERSHIP CLEANED AND GREASED THE BRAKES. THEY MACHINED THE ROTORS AND REPLACED THE LEFT UPPER ARM BUSHING. AND THEY CHECKED THE ABS SENSORS. THE PROBLEM RECURRED. WHEN SHE CONTACTED THEM THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. IT STARTED GETTING WORSE IN JULY OF 2005. SHE TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN. THEY REPLACED THE SENSOR BUSHINGS AND AN IDLE ARM. THE PROBLEM IS STILL OCCURRING. SHE TOOK IT BACK TO THEM. THEY REPLACED TWO REAR DRUMS, THE SWAY BAR BUSHINGS, THE U JOINTS, AND T TIGHTENED THE TRANSFER CASE. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. A RECALL FOR THE 2000 MODELS WAS ISSUED. WHEN SHE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, THEY SAID THAT THIS MODEL YEAR VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CONTACT HAD TO HAVE THE SERVICE BRAKES REPLACED BEFORE. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE ROTORS AND THE PADS. THE CONTACT FELT THAT IT WAS A RESULT OF NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. . *AK

NHTSA ID
10139449
Incident
Nov 1, 2004
Mileage
100,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Sep 28, 2005

ABS BRAKE SYSTEM ON THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL BEGAN HAVING FAILURES AT VERY LOW SPEEDS(UNDER 10 MPH) WHEN THE VEHICLE(1998 CHEVROLET TAHOE) WAS COMING TO A FULL STOP AT THE END OF THE DRIVE OR WHEN PULLING TO A STOP. THIS WAS OCCURRING OVER & OVER MORE MORE THAN A MONTH. I CONTACTED WHITE-ALLEN CHEVOLET IN DAYTON OHIO AND THE SERVICE MANAGER CONTACTED THE GM ZONE MANAGER AND GM WOULD NOT WARRANTY THIS REPAIR SAYING THAT MY VEHICLE DID NOT FALL UNDER THE RECALL YEARS FOR THIS PROBLEM EVEN THOUGH THE PROBLEM WAS EXACTLY THE SAME AS THE RECALL ISSUED FOR THE SAME VEHICLE 1999-2002 ( MINE IS 1998). I FINALLY HAD TO HAVE IT DONE STRICTLY BECAUSE OF MY CHILDREN'S SAFETY THE DAY I MADE THE APPOINTMENT MY DAUGHTER AND I ALMOST GLIDED INTO TRAFFIC COMING TO A STOP WHILE TAKING HER TO SCHOOL. THE ZONE MANAGER RESPONSE TO OUR CLAIM WAS THAT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL AND THEY WILL NOT HAVE THE REPAIRS DONE AS PART OF THE RECALL EVEN THOUGH THE FAILURE IS THE SAME DEFECT ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE MANAGER. SERVICE WAS SUPPLIED ON 9/26/2005 AT WHITE-ALLEN SERVICE ORDER READS "CHECKED ABS SYSTEM RIGHT FRONT SENSOR FAILURE DUE TO LOW VOLTAGE OUTPUT ACTION TAKEN : REPLACED LEFT FRONT HUB AND BEARING PARTS: OWNER HAS THE OLD REPLACED PARTS. *JB

NHTSA ID
10137959
Incident
Sep 20, 2005
Brakes
Filed Sep 26, 2005

I EXPERIENCED THE BRAKING ISSUE DESCRIBED IN RECALL 05V379000. ON THE DATE BELOW, I NARROWLY AVOIDED A CRASH WITH CHILDREN IN THE VICINITY. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REGISTERED IN MN SINCE PURCHASE TO ME AS THE ORIGINAL OWNER. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS BRAKING ISSUE 3 OR SO TIMES OVER THE LAST YEAR. *NM

NHTSA ID
10137702
Incident
Aug 20, 2005
Mileage
58,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jun 4, 2005
Crash reported3 injuries reported

BRAKES SHAKE AND VIBRATE WHEN BRAKING. ON OCCASION, BRAKES FAILED AND PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. MECHANIC INSPECTED FOUND "NO PROBLEM" WITH BRAKES. THE LAST INCIDENT WITH THE BRAKES RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT WHEN MORE THAN ENOUGH DISTANCE WAS GIVEN FOR STOPPING.

NHTSA ID
10124196
Incident
May 25, 2005
Brakes
Filed May 10, 2005

BRAKE PEDAL GOES DOWN OR GETS SPONGEY AT SLOW STOPPING SPEEDS UNDER 5 MPH. IT FEELS LIKE AN ABS EVENT IS OCCURING! NO ABS LIGHT COMES ON. INCIDENT OCCURS AT NEARLY EVERY STOP. STOPPING DISTANCE IS LONGER. IT FEELS LIKE THE VEHICLE IS NOT GOING TO STOP. IT IS NOT A SAFE SECURE FEELING WHEN COMING TO A STOP. I HAVE HEAR (ON THE RADIO) THAT THIS IS PROBABLEY THE SAME KIND OF PROBLEM OCCURING AS OCCURING ON 1999 TO 1005 VEHICLES. I BELIEVE MY VEHILCE SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE REPAIR.

NHTSA ID
10120509
Incident
Apr 16, 2005
Mileage
60,595 mi
Brakes
Filed Feb 19, 2005

THE ANTILOCK BRAKES ON MY 1998 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN ACTIVATE AT LOW SPEEDS .IF THIS CONDITION OCCURS WHERE STOPPING DISTANCE IS LIMITED A CRASH COULD OCCUR..THIS IS A FOR REAL SAFETY ISSUE AND IS DOCUMENTED IN NHTS ITEM NUMBER 10000062. NOTICED ON THE INTERNET SOMEONE POSTED IN ONTARIO CANADA THERE IS A GM RECALL FOR THE SPEED SENSORS AND CORROSION.. I CAN NOT BELIEVE A ISSUE INVOLVING BRAKES IS NOT ON A RECALL..... I ASKED A SERVICE MANAGER ABOUT THE PROBLEM I'M HAVING AND HE QUOTED THE SPEED SENSOR RIGHT AWAY...COME ON GM KNOWS THEY HAVE A PROBLEM....GOING TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO GM NEXT WEEK AND ASK TO TALK TO THE ZONE MANAGER . *AK

NHTSA ID
10111813
Incident
Feb 2, 2004
Mileage
75,600 mi
Brakes
Filed Oct 11, 2004

I OWN A 1998 CHEVY SUBURBAN 2200 4WD. ON 7/10/00, AT 13.000 MI THE FRONT ROTORS AND PADS AND REAR SHOES WERE REPLACED BY THE DEALER. ON 9/13/00 AT 15,000 MI THE FRONT DISC PADS, MASTER CYLINDER PROPORTION VALVE AND CALIPER BRAKE HOSES WERE REPLACED PER SERVICE BULLETIN. ON 8/21/03 AT 22,500 MI I HAD THE FRONT ROTORS AND PADS REPLACED WITH FACTORY OEM PARTS. ON 10/11/04 AT 27,00 MI I HAD TO HAVE THE FRONT ROTORS CUT BECAUSE OF OVERHEATING OF THE ROTORS. ROTORS DISPLAYED HOT SPOTS. THERE SEEMS TO BE A SIGNIFICANT RECURRING PROBLEM/DEFECT WITH THE FRONT BRAKES. *NM

NHTSA ID
10095565
Incident
Oct 11, 2004
Mileage
27,000 mi
BrakesPowertrain (other)
Filed Jan 15, 2004

THE SECOND TRANSMISSION IS FAILING AT 85,939 THOUSAND MILES, OUT OF WARRANTY. IS IT NORMAL FOR TWO TRANMISSIONS TO FAIL AT RELATIVELY LOW MILEAGE. I DON'T THINK SO. MY SUBURBAN IS IN FANTASTIC CONDITION. IT IS EXTREMELY WELL MAINTAINED AND BELIEVE IT OR NOT LIKE NEW. NOW I HAVE TO SPEND ANOTHER 2000 $ ON TOP OF JUST HAVING THE BRAKES DONE??

NHTSA ID
10068996
Incident
Mar 15, 2000
Mileage
45,148 mi
BrakesTransmissionVisibility
Filed Sep 12, 2003

WINDSHIELD WIPERS EXPERIENCED THE SAME DEFECT AS STATED IN RECALL 03 V 159 000, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK THE WIPERS HAD BECOME INOPERATIVE AT TIMES, THE BRAKES WERE SOFT, THE WHEEL CYLINDERS WERE FOUND LEAKING, AND THE SHOES CRACKED. TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKED, AND THE TAIL SHAFT SEAL WAS REPLACED. *SCC *JB

NHTSA ID
10034437
Incident
Apr 1, 2003
Mileage
100,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jul 26, 2003

1998 SUBURBAN K1500 = REPETITIVE PROBLEMS WITH REAR BRAKES NOT SELF ADJUSTING, REPLACED BRAKE SHOES TWICE, REPLACED SPRINGS AND ALL HARDWARE ONCE (SINCE 2000) WITH NO AVAIL. REAR BRAKES DON'T WORK WELL, FRONT BRAKES NEED TO STOP VEHICLE ANTILOCK BRAKES HAVE TO KICK IN TO STOP VEHICLE. TRANSFER CASE NOW LEAKING AND WONDERING IF REAR BRAKE PROBLEM IS THE CAUSE OF TRANSFER CASE PROBLEM. HAVE THERE BEEN ANY RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE?*AK

NHTSA ID
10029268
Incident
Jul 24, 2003
Mileage
40,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Mar 3, 2003

THE BRAKES FAILED TO STOP VEHICLE, WHICH RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT.*JB

NHTSA ID
10009658
Incident
Mar 3, 2003
Brakes
Filed Jan 31, 2003

NHTSA RECALL 98-V-033-000: 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. CONSUMER STATES HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. HAD CHANGED FIVE TIME THE BRAKE PADS, AND THREE TIMES THE ROTORS. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. HOWEVER THIS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL DUE TO VIN#. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID
10006125
Incident
Jan 31, 2003
Brakes
Filed Dec 19, 2002

THE VEHICLES' ABS BRAKES STAYS ENGAGED, WHICH CAUSES THE BRAKES PAD AND ROTORS TO WEAR EXCESSIVELY. THE DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACE PART 5 TIMES. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. TS

NHTSA ID
10001230
Brakes
Filed Nov 14, 2002

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHEN COMING TO A STOP THE ABS WOULD ENGAGE CAUSING A DISTRACTION TO THE CONSUMER. DEALER NOTIFIED. MR

NHTSA ID
8022713
Incident
Oct 19, 2002
Brakes
Filed Nov 1, 2002

ALL BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED FOR UNKNOWN PERIOD. NO WARNING OR OTHER INDICATION GIVEN THAT BRAKE LIGHTS WERE INPERATIVE UNTIL A "NEAR MISS" ACCIDENT AND WE DISCOVERED BRAKE LIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE. DEALER FOUND A WORN CONNECTION ON TWO WIRES IN TURN SIGNAL SWITCH. RESOLDERED WIRES TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. DT

NHTSA ID
769177
Brakes
Filed Oct 17, 2002

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN TRYING TO APPLY THE BRAKES THE BRAKE PEDAL WILL GO TO THE FLOOR CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO HAVE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS

NHTSA ID
8021023
Incident
Oct 6, 2002
BrakesFuel systemPowertrain (other)
Filed Aug 5, 2002

CHEVROLET HAS BRUSHED ME OFF SEVERERL TIMES BY SAYING I NEVER BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN TO A GM DEALER FOR BRAKES THE FIRST TIME I DDIDNT FEEL I WAS OBLIGATED TO GO TO GM I WENT TO BRAKE MAX THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM AND CHEVY WONT FESS UP AND HELP THE PUBLIC THE TRUCK IS TO BIG FOR THE BRAKE SYSTEM MADE FOR THIS APPLICATION. *AK

NHTSA ID
765233
Brakes
Filed Jul 15, 2002

THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES HAVE ALWAYS PULLED TO THE RIGHT AND ARE GETTING WORSE. THE AUTO WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES WHILE UNDER WARRANTY WITH NO SATISFACTION. OTHER SUBURBANS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM, BUT NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED. CALIFORNIA HAS A LEMON LAW, BUT NOT OREGON....THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM IN CA WITH SATISFACTION B/C OF THE LEMON LAW. THE PROBLEM KEEPS GETTING WORSE UNTIL THE TIME COMES WHEN THE AUTO ALMOST LEAVES THE ROAD AFTER APPLYING THE BRAKES

NHTSA ID
764276
Incident
Mar 1, 2000

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .