1998 Chevrolet Suburban Problems

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

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.

SPEED VARIATION, AND SOMETIMES CEASE, OF OPERATION OF WINDSHIELD WIPERS. POSSIBLE DISCREPANCY WITH TURN SIGNAL LEVER, SEEMS TO BE AFFECTED BY, AND SOMETIMES CORRECTED WITH WIGGLING WITH THE LEVER. *JB

WINDSHIELD WIPERS QUIT AT VARIOUS TIMES. SOMETIMES WORK SOMETIMES NOT, SOMETIMES QUIT IN MIDDLE OF USE. *JB

1) NEAR CRASHES HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY AN ERRATIC CONDITION IN THE STEERING. CALLED GM NATIONAL CUSTOMER SERVICE NUMBER AND GAVE ALL INFORMATION AND WAS PROMISED SOMEONE WOULD CONTACT ME. (NEVER HAPPENED) 2 OTHER FAMILIES HERE IN ROCHESTER HAVE THE SAME VEHICLE AND THE SAME PROBLEM. 2) UPON TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL, THE WHEEL ITSELF SUDDENLY FREE-WHEELS SEVERAL INCHES. THIS RAPIDLY ACCELERATES THE DEGREE OF TURN AND MAKES THE DRIVER FEEL AS IF THEY HAVE LOST CONTROL AND THE ENTIRE VEHICLE OFTEN SWERVES OUT OF CONTROL. 3) I BROUGHT IT TO 2 DEALERS HERE IN ROCHESTER AND NEITHER WAS ABLE TO DETECT THE PROBLEM ON A TEST DRIVE. THE PROBLEM COMES AND GOES. WHEN IT HAPPENS, IT WILL SCARE THE LIVING OUT OF YOU, AND THE DRIVER ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD. WE HAVE ALL BUT LOST CONTROL ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION. A FRIEND OF MINE WHO ALSO HAS A SUBURBAN SAID HE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND FINALLY SOMEONE SUGGESTED REPLACING SOMETHING CALLED THE POWER STEERING ASSIST? WE HAVE A 98' SUBURBAN AND HAVE HAD IT SINCE IT WAS 7,000 MILES OLD. IT HAS A 350 AND IS AN LT AND HAS 3RD SEAT AND FOUR WHEEL DRIVE. I THINK THIS PROBLEM AFFECTS MOST IF NOT ALL SUBURBAN'S IN OUR YEAR CLASS. CHEVY IS NOT RESPONDING TO MY QUESTIONS. PLEASE HELP. *JB

STEERING SENSOR FAILED, CAUSING STEERING WHEEL TO SKIP WHEN TURNING AND FEELS LIKE CONTROL OF STEERING IS LOST MOMENTARILY. SENSOR WAS REPLACED ONCE AND PROBLEM WAS CURED FOR A TIME, BUT IT IS NOW RECURRING.*AK

WE STILL NEED OUR VEHICLE FIXED!!! WE GOT THE RUNAROUND AND WERE DISCOURAGED FROM PURSUING THE PROBLEM AS THE GM & GMPP CUSTOMER SERVICE? EMPLOYEES KEPT TRYING TO BEAT US DOWN SO WE WOULD GIVE UP. GM & GMPP EMPLOYEES HAVE DONE THEIR BEST TO DISCOURAGE US FROM PURCHASING ANOTHER GM PRODUCT. THANK YOU, [XXX] VIN #[XXX] [XXX] 87 TOTAL PROBLEMS NEVER FIXED. SUMMARY OF REPAIRS (CONTINUED) 1)OIL LEAKS14 TIMES, NEVER FIXED 2)ENGINE ROUGH IDLE10 TIMES NEVER FIXED 3)WIND NOISE RIGHT FRONT WINDOW6 TIMES NEVER FIXED 4)COOLING SYSTEM LEAKS\T4 TIMES 5)DOME LIGHT\T4 TIMES 6)STEERING\T4 TIMES NEVER FIXED 7)TAILGATE CARPET\T4 TIMES\EVER FIXED 8)DOOR (LEFT REAR) GLASS RATTLE3 TIMES NEVER FIXED 9)GRAB HANDLES COVER CAPS3 TIMES NEVER FIXED 10)REAR AXLE 3 TIMES 11)SUSPENSION CLUNK (LEFT FRONT)3 TIMES 12)AIR CONDITIONING 2 TIMES 13)BATTERY2 TIMES AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRED, WAS REPLACED BY A BETTER COSTCO BATTERY 14) DOOR (RIGHT FRONT) GLASS 2 TIMES 15)FUEL FILTER 2 TIMES FIXED FOR NO REASON 16) MIRROR 2 TIMES 17)SIGNAL (RIGHT REAR) 2 TIMES NEVER FIXED 18) SEAT BELT 2 TIMES 19) SEATS 2 TIMES 20) TAILGATE ALIGNMENT2 TIMES 21)TRANSMISSION2 TIMES 22)WINDOW STRUT (REAR)2 TIMES 23)WIPERS2 TIMES 24)ALTERNATOR OUTPUT CABLE1 TIME 25)2 HIGH SWITCHES1 TIME 26)AXLE LEAKS1 TIME 27BRAKE SYSTEM1 TIME 28)DOOR (RIGHT REAR) GLASS CHANNEL\T1 TIME 29)FUEL PUMP\T1 TIME 30) SUN VISOR1 TIME HISTORY MISFIRE (ROUGH IDLE) WARRANTY DISPUTE 1)THE VEHICLE WAS TAKE TO GUY SCHMIDT SIX (6) TIMES FOR MISFIRE (ROUGH IDLE). 2)THE VEHICLE NEVER HAD DIAGNOSTIC COMPUTER CODES PRESENT. 3)BY WORKING, REPLACING PARTS AND BILLING GMPP FOR SERVICES PERFORMED, GUY SCHMIDT CONFIRMED AND ACKNOWLEDGED THAT MISFIRE (ROUGH IDLE) WAS PRESENT. 4) AFTER SIX (6) TIMES AT GUY SCHMIDT, I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA TO TRY COMMUNITY CHEVROLET SINCE GUY SCHMIDT COULDN'T REPAIR THE PROBLEM AFTER SIX (6) ATTEMPTS. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

HYDRAULIC VALVE LIFTERS IN 7.4L ENGINE CAME APART UNDER NORMAL DRIVING AT 78,000 MI. OIL HAS BEEN CHANGED REGULARLY SINCE NEW. *AK

WHEN FIRST TAKING VEHICLE FROM THE SALES LOT IT PULLED TO THE RIGHT. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER, WHO BALANCED THE TIRES, BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED. ALSO, WHEN THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED VEHICLE SHOOK SEVERELY. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER FOUR TIMES, AFTER TAKING THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT WHEEL HUB WAS WARPED FROM THE FACTORY. *AK

WHEN TURNING TO RIGHT VEHICLE WILL MAKE A SHARPER TURN, LIKE STEERING WHEEL IS BEING JERKED IN THAT DIRECTION. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY CHANGED STEERING SENSOR. CONSUMER FELT THAT THIS WAS VERY DANGEROUS, CAR COULD TIP OVER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

1998 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN SUFFERED DAMAGE TO VEHICLE WHEN A BLOWOUT OCCURRED.*MR *JB *NM

KUMHO ROAD VENTURE HT TIRE HAD TREAD SEPARATION WHILE DRIVING AND PULLING A 26 FOOT TRAVEL TRAILER AT 68 MPH . TIRE WAS STILL INFLATED. AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT INSTALLED AT 38,000 MILES, TIRE SIZE 245/75R16, DOT# H211YD1P309. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK THE TIRE MANUFACTURER INSPECTED THE FAILED TIRE AND FOUND NO DEFECT. *YH

1998 CHEVY TAHOE WONT START, SPONTANEOUSLY. IT WILL TURN OVER, BUT WONT START. FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED WASN'T SURE WHAT WAS WRONG, TRIED IT AGAIN AFTER 10-15 MINUTES AND IT STARTED. I FIGURED IT WAS JUST COLD. SECOND TIME IT HAPPENED, IT WAS ABOUT 45 MINUTES BEFORE IT STARTED, AND I WAS TOLD BY THE GUY AT THE TIRE DEALER, THAT HIS AND A FRIENDS TAHOE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM, I SHOULD TAKE IT TO THE DEALER. I DID THIS AND WAS TOLD IT WAS THE THEFT DETERRENT MODULE. AFTER SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS AND A RENTAL CAR FOR A WEEK I GOT THE TRUCK BACK. IT WAS ABOUT 2 MONTHS LATER, IT HAPPENED AGAIN. SAME THING, COUPLE HUNDRED DOLLARS, A RENTAL CAR FOR A WEEK AND I GOT IT BACK AFTER 3 DAYS. 3 DAYS LATER, THE SAME THING. I DO NOT HAVE MY TRUCK NOW, I HAVE A RENTAL AGAIN. I WAS TOLD I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS AGAIN, BECAUSE IT IS A "....TOTALLY DIFFERENT SET OF CODES THAN READ THE FIRST COUPLE OF TIMES..." *JB

PROBLEM WITH ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ON CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1998 MODEL. VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN SEPTEMBER 1997 BUT IS A 1998 MODEL. PROBLEMS ARE AS FOLLOWS: . CHEVROLET HAS A RECALL FOR 1997 MODEL FOR WINDSHIELD WIPER MALFUNCTION I HAVE A 1998 MODEL WITH THE SAME PROBLEM BUT THE RECALL DOES NOT COVER IT. 2. I ALSO HAVE PROBLEM WITH THE REMOTE CONTROL. VEHICLE HAS SOME SORT OF WIRING PROBLEM, I CHANGED THE BATTERIES ON THE REMOTE CONTROL BUT IT WILL NOT WORK. 3. I HAD TO CHANGE WIRING HARNESS FOR REAR LIGHTS SINCE THE LIGHTS WOULD NOT WORK AND DEALERSHIP SAID THAT I HAD TO CHANGE THE WIRING.*AK

STOPPED ON ROADWAY TO PICK UP A PART THAT HAD FALLEN OUT OF THE TRUCK TRAVELING IN FRONT OF ME. I PUT MY 1998 CHEVY SUBURBAN IN PARK AND POPPED THE REAR HATCH. I REMEMBER HEARING THE REAR HATCH CLICK AND NOW REALIZE THAT THE HATCH WON'T RELEASE UNLESS THE TRUCK IS IN PARK. I WALKED BEHIND MY TRUCK TO PICK UP THE PART. AFTER I PICKED IT UP, I WAS KNOCKED DOWN BY THE FORCE OF MY TRUCK. THE TRUCK MUST HAVE SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR AFTER I'D PUT IT IN PARK. I RECENTLY READ ABOUT A SIMILAR INCIDENT IN THE LOCAL NEWSPAPER, WHERE THIS HAPPENED TO SOMEONE ELSE WITH THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE. THE TRUCK ROLLED OVER ME, AND I WAS TRAPPED UNDER IT. A MAN CAME AND DROVE THE TRUCK OFF ME. I SUFFERED A DEEP CUT TO THE BACK OF MY HEAD, THE MEAT WAS RIPPED OFF MY LEG, I SHATTERED THE T-12 VERTEBRA IN MY BACK AND THE DISKS ABOVE AND BELOW WERE COMPRESSED.

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE DROVE ERRATICALLY. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT SUN GEAR REACTION SHELL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED FROM THE TRANSMISSION. *AK

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

FUEL SYSTEM GAS SPOUT RUSTED WHICH CREATED FUME, THAT IS ENTERING THE VEHICLE AND MAKING THE OCCUPANT SICK. THIS COULD ALSO CAN CAUSE A FIRE DUE TO IT'S LOCATION PER CONSUMER.*AK

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THE DRIVER'S SIDE LINKAGE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE DOOR LATCH ASSEMBLY AND THE INTERIOR DRIVER'S SIDE HANDLE WAS DEFECTIVE. CHEVROLET STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THIS FAILURE. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THERE WERE WARRANTY ALERTS ON THE DOORS, INCLUDING ONE FOR THE DOOR KNOB REMAINING OPEN DUE TO THE DETAIL BRACKET NEEDING TO BE REPLACED. THROUGH ONLINE RESEARCH, THE CONTACT FOUND A NOTICE REGARDING THE SUBURBAN DOOR HANDLES BEING DIFFICULT TO OPEN BECAUSE THE STRUCTURE WAS PRODUCED INCORRECTLY. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 72,083.

I DRIVE A 1998 SUBURBAN AND MY HUSBAND DRIVES A 1997 GMC 2500 TRUCK. THE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE (USED TO OPEN THE DOOR) HAS BROKEN THREE TIMES IN HIS TRUCK AND IT HAS DIFFICULTY CATCHING AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED IN MY SUBURBAN. *JB

MY 1998 1500, 2 WD CHEVY SUBURBAN LOST A BOLT IN THE DIFFERENTIAL. BOLT HELD A PIN, WHEN THE PIN WORKED LOOSE, THE REAREND LOCKED UP, PUTTING MY CAR INTO A SPIN. FORTUNATELY I WAS ONLY GOING 25 MPH, AND NO ONE WAS HURT. *JB

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??

THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT WILL NOT PULL OUT OF THE RETRACTOR LEAVING THE FRONT PASSENGER IMPROPERLY RESTRAINED. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE DESCRIBE FURTHER. *PH

CONSUMER OWNED TWO GRACO CHILD SEATS ,AND ONE TIME OR ANOTHER SHIELD HAD FALLEN OFF DUE TO LOOSENING OF THE SCREWS. *AK

WINDSHIELD WIPER/MOTOR PROBLEM IS THE SAME AS WITH THE EARLIER SUBURBANS ON THE RECALL LIST. THE RECALL ONLY ADDRESSES '97 AND BACK, NOT 1998. WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT GETTING THIS YEAR ADDED. THERE ARE OTHER COMPLAINTS WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR AND LATER.

VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN GARAGE ON FLAT SURFACE, CONSUMER USED SCISSOR TYPE JACK FOR FIRST TIME TO CHANGE A TIRE. AFTER JACKING VEHICLE UP JUST ENOUGH SO TIRE CLEARED THE GROUND, CONSUMER TURNED AROUND TO GRAB THE NEW TIRE, JACK BEND AND VEHICLE DROPPED. *AK

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT COLLISION AT 25-30MPH, AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.*AK

WHILE DRIVING A 55 MPH HIT A DODGE DAKOTA AND DRIVER'S/PASSENGER'S AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, AND DID NOT PROTECT OCCUPANTS IN THIS CRASH. *AK

THE A/C HAD A MUSTY SMELL WHEN ON. NLM

THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING SEVERAL SUSPENSION RELATED PROBLEMS, THE SIDE SHOCK ABSORBER SPLIT CAUSING A RATTLE, THE DEALER REPLACED THE BOLTS ON BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES, CONSUMER COMPLAINED OF STEERING WHEEL PULLING TO THE RIGHT, THE DEALER FOUND THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF ALIGNMENT AND AFTER THE ALIGNMENT WAS COMPLETED, THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTED, THE DEALER LATER FOUND A LEFT FRONT INNER TIE ROD NUT LOOSE, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE STILL PULLED TO THE RIGHT SO A TIRE ROTATION WAS DONE, ALSO, THE COIL SPRING INSULATORS WERE MISSING CAUSING A CLUNKING NOISE WHEN TURNING, IT WAS LATER FOUND THAT THE INSULATORS WERE IMPROPERLY INSTALLED, THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO PULL TO THE RIGHT AFTER ALL THE REPAIRS AND THE DEALER CAN NOT FIND A REMEDY FOR THE PROBLEM. *SLC

THE A/C HAD A MUSTY SMELL WHEN ON. NLM

MUSKY ODOR FROM AIR CONDITIONER SYSTEM. MJS

EACH REAR TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY CIRCUIT BOARD HAD TO BE REPLACED. THESE OCCURRED AT DIFFERENT TIMES (APPROXIMATELY 6 MONTHS APART). NOW, ABOUT A YEAR LATER, THE RIGHT REAR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. THIS WAS FOUND DUE TO THE BLINKER AND BRAKE LIGHT FAILING, SO I SWITCHED THE BULB FROM THE OTHER SIDE, WITH THE EXACT SAME RESULTS, SO I KNOW IT IS THE CIRCUIT AND NOT A BAD BULB. *JB

RIGHT REAR TURN SIGNAL FAILED TO OPERATE; IN-DASH INDICATOR PROPERLY INDICATED FAILURE BY RAPID FLASH. WITH GREAT DIFFICULTY, OPENED TAILLIGHT ASSEMBLY; FOUND LIGHT BULB NOT FAILED; CAN NOT PROPERLY RE-ASSEMBLE AND GASKET IS NOT SOLD SEPARATELY TO PERMIT RE-ASSEMBLY. HAD TO REPLACE 'CIRCUIT BOARD' WHICH CONNECTS TO WIRING HARNESS TO SOCKETS; COST IS $70 (SEVENTY DOLLARS) ALTHOUGH 'CIRCUIT BOARD' IS WIRING ONLY AND HAS NO COMPONENTS; DEALER PARTS CLERK HELPFULLY ADVISED "THE CIRCUIT BOARDS FAIL ALL THE TIME -- THERE ISN'T A RECALL, BUT THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL." SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO VIRTUALLY REQUIRE REPLACEMENT OF ENTIRE TURN SIGNAL/BACKUP/TAILLIGHT UNIT FOR $127 (ONE HUNDRED TWENTY-SEVEN DOLLARS) WITH DEALER-ONLY PARTS, PRECLUDING ANY FIELD REPAIRS ON TRIPS, ETC; CAUSING GREAT LIKELIHOOD THAT TURN SIGNAL WILL NOT FUNCTION FOR EXTENDED PERIODS OF TIME BECAUSE OF TROUBLE AND COST OF REPLACING THE UNIT. *LA

THE FIRST REPORTED ITEM: SHOULDER BELT ANCHORS, 3 OF THE SHOULDER ANCHORS HAVE COME LOSS, THE FIRST CAME COMPLETELY OFF, AFTER NOTICING, I REGULARLY CHECK AND TIGHTEN. THERE APPEARS TO BE NO MECHANICAL LOCKING DEVICE TO KEEP THIS FROM REPEATING. THE SECOND ITEM REPORTED IS THE EXHAUST LEAK. THE DEALER REPEATEDLY HAS FIXED THE SAME LEAK, IT FILLS THE VEHICLE WITH FUMES AND IS DANGEROUS. I FINALLY REPLACED THE EXHAUST MANIFOLDS AT MY EXPENSE TO MAKE THE VEHICLE SAFE. THE FAILED COMPONENT WAS ALWAYS THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD TO "Y" PIPE GASKETS. THE THIRD COULD HAVE BEEN DISASTEROUS, THE THROTTLE CABLE FAILED LEAVING THE VEHICLE STUCK AT FULL THROTTLE.*AK

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