Owner-reported complaints naming the visibility system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors. 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. 48 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.
The 25 most recent of 48, in the owner's own words
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) DRIVING IN RAIN. (2) WIPER FAILURE. CONSEQUENCES ARE OBVIOUS! (3) STOP, OPEN HOOD OF VEHICLE, AND SMACK THE WIPER CONTROL! NOTE! DUE TO FACT THAT A FRIEND OF MINE HAS A 1996 GMC SIERRA TRUCK WHICH WAS RECALLED FOR THIS PROBLEM, I REFUSE TO PAY HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS TO HAVE IT FIXED! MY VEHICLE IS A 1998 (ORDERED IN 1997 BEFORE THEY HIT THE PRODUCTION LINE) CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THE PROBLEM IS BAD SOLDER JOINTS ON THE BOARD! I AM AN EET BY DEGREE FOR 25 YEARS AND I KNOW THE PROBLEM WELL AND I ALSO KNOW THAT THE PROBLEM WITH MY FRIEND'S TRUCK AND MINE ARE THE SAME PROBLEM! I GOT ABSOLUTELY NO HELP FROM CHEVROLET CUSTOMER REPRESENTATIVES! THEY ACKNOWLEDGED THAT IT WAS INDEED THE SAME WIPER CONTROL AND COULD NOT EXPLAIN WHY THE RECALL CUTOFF STOPPED WHEN IT DID! BUT, THEY ALSO WOULD NOT GIVE ME A GUARANTEE THAT I WOULD NOT BE CHARGED TO HAVE IT FIXED! IF I HAVE AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THIS FAILURE, GMC WILL PAY THAT BLOODY MONEY! *JB
WINDSHIELD WIPERS HAVE FAILED AT LEAST ONCE ALMOST EVERY TIME USED FOR QUITE SOME TIME NOW. USUALLY COULD BE THUMPED & RESTARTED. TODAY THEY FAILED SEVERAL TIMES AND THEN QUIT ALTOGETHER, IN LIGHT TO HEAVY RAIN, ON THE INTERSTATE. DROVE TO MCCONNELL IN MOBILE AND THEY KNEW EXACTLY WHAT WAS WRONG.. HAD OBVIOUSLY SEEN IT PLENTY BEFORE. I HAD TO PAY $158.46 FOR THE REPAIR AS THEY INFORMED ME THE RECALL ONLY COVERED '94 - '97. '98 SHOULD ALSO BE INCLUDED!! GM IS VERY LUCKY THAT THERE HAVE BEEN NO TRAGEDIES BECAUSE OF THIS... AT LEAST, THAT ANYBODY KNOWS ABOUT. I THINK IT'S VERY POSSIBLE THAT THERE ARE UNREPORTED ACCIDENTS OR DEATHS RELATED TO THIS PROBLEM. VISIBILITY GOES TO ZERO ALMOST IMMEDIATELY! REIMBURSE ME, GM, YOU'RE GETTING OFF CHEAP!!*AK
1998 CHEVY SUBURBAN-WIPERS STOP WORKING AT RANDOM INTERVALS, MUST FORCE TO WORK BY HAND UNTIL THEY START WORKING AGAIN, NEED TO REPLACE WIPER MOTOR
IN HEAVY RAIN, WINDSHIELD WASHERS FAILED COMPLETELY WITH NO WARNING. HUMMING IN THE MOTOR BUT THE WIPERS WOULD NOT WORK. EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS CONDITION. COULD NOT SEE ROAD NOR ONCOMING TRAFFIC. *AK
WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR CONTROL BOARD FAILED DUE TO FAULTY SHOULDER JOINT. *PH THIS WAS THE SAME FAILURE AS IN THE 1997 SUBURBAN RECALL. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION DURING THE RAIN. *SC *JB
WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD STOP SUDDENLY. I WOULD HAVE TO GET OFF THE ROAD SHUT CAR OFF, THEN AIT 5-10 MINUTES BEFORE WIPERS WILL WORK AGAIN. *AK
WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAIL DURING USE; WILL NOT OPERATE IN TIMED MODE; STOP AT INCORRECT LOCATIONS
MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD STOP WORKING FROM TIME TO TIME. IT APPEARS TO BE THE SAME DEFECT AS IN EARLIER YEAR SUBURBANS, BUT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. GENERAL MOTORS HAS PLENTY OF NOTICE THAT THE SAME DEFECT EXISTS IN SUBURBANS OLDER THAN THOSE ALREADY RECALLED, AND SHOULD INCLUDE OTHERS IN THE RECALL AS WELL. *JB
WHILE OPERATING CONTINUOUSLY FOR AN HOUR OR MORE IN HEAVY RAIN, THE WIPERS STOPPED. *PH
WHILE OPERATING CONTINUOUSLY FOR AN HOUR OR MORE IN HEAVY RAIN, THE WIPERS STOPPED. *PH HEN THE CONSUMER PULLED ON THE WIPER ARM, THE WIPERS WORKED FOR AWHILE. THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A RECALL, HOWEVER IT ONLY INCLUDED THE 1995 TO 1997 MODELS. *JB *NM
I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR A FAULTY WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR ON MY 1998 SUBURBAN, THE WIPER WOULD QUIT WORKING PERIODICAL AND YOU WOULD HERE A BUZZING NOISE BUT NO WIPER MOVEMENT. BY OPENING THE HOOD AND HITTING OR TAPPING ON THE WIPER MODULE THEY WOULD WORK AGAIN TEMP FOR SOME TIME. I TAKE THE SUBURBAN IN WITH MY RECALL NOTICE, BUT THEY REFUSE TO REPLACE SINCE THEY SHOW THIS MODEL IS NOT AFFECTED OR FALL WITH THE VIN #'S THAT SHOW EVEN THOUGH THE EXACT SYMPTOMS EXIST. THIS IS A MAJOR SCAM!!!! *CB
TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 32000 MILES - RADIATOR REPLACED AT 54000 - WATER PUMP- DIFFERENTIAL AND TRANSMISSION MOUNTS REPLACED NOW DRIVER SIDE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM INSIDE AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS DO NOT WORK . *JB
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
AUTO DIMMING FOR THE REAR VIEW MIRRORS HAS BECOME DEFECTIVE,AND IT DOESN'T DIM THE MIRRORS ANYMORE. WITH NO MANUAL WAY TO DIM YOUR REAR VIEW MIRROR THIS MAKES DRIVING AT NIGHT VERY DANGEROUS AT TIMES. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER TO GET IT FIXED AND THEY WANTED $500 SAYING THAT THE REAR VIEW MIRROR NEEDED REPLACED. I FEEL THAT THE REPLACEMENT PRICE IS TOO EXORBITANT, AND BECAUSE OF THAT IT HASN'T BEEN REPLACED. IT SEEMS LIKE THEY SHOULD PUT A MANUAL FLIP SWITCH ON THE MIRROR AS A BACK-UP IN CASE THE MIRROR WOULD BECOME DEFECTIVE LIKE MINE HAS. *AK
WINDSHIELD WIPERS QUIT WORKING DURING A STRONG STORM ON I-75. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO GET OVER TO THE RIGHT LANE AND PULL OFF THE ROAD...A BUZZING NOISE WAS COMING FROM A BLACK MOTOR CASING, SO I TAPPED IT AND THE WIPERS BEGAN TO WORK AGAIN. THIS HAS HAPPEN ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE CAR IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE IN THE RAIN. *NLM
CONSUMER STATES WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY DURING USAGE. *AK
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
THE QUARTER PANEL GLASS DOOR SHATTERED INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE WHILE CLOSING THE FRONT DOOR. DEALER STATED THAT IT WAS COMMON ON THOSE VEHICLES.*AK
FOR ABOUT 2 MONTHS THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD FAIL INTERMITTENTLY. THEY FINALLY QUIT COMPLETELY JULY 7,2003. CALLED CHEVY DEALER AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NOT A RECALL FOR 1998 SUBURBAN.*AK
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME DEFECT AS STATED IN RECALL 03 V 159 000, BUT IT'S MODEL YEAR AND VIN NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED.*AK
I HAVE A 1998 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 5.7L V8, 4X4 WITH THE LT PACKAGE. I AM EXPERIENCING WINDSHIELD WIPER PROBLEMS WHERE THE WIPERS FAIL APPROXIMATELY 50% OF THE TIME WHEN NEEDED. THERE IS CURRENTLY A RECALL ON 94-97 MODEL CHEVROLET PICKUPS/SUV'S ON THIS ISSUE BUT THE 98 MODELS ARE NOT INCLUDED. I BELIEVE I AM EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM AND THE ISSUE SHOULD BE GM'S RESPONSIBILITY. *AK
I HAD MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS QUIT WORKING ON MY 1998 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. AT FIRST IT STARTED OUT ONCE IN AWHILE. HOWEVER COMING BACK FROM VACATION IN THE AUTUMN OF 2001, I WAS COMING THROUGH A MOUNTAIN PASS AT 10:30 PM. IT WAS RAINING VERY HARD AND ON A TWO LANE HIGHWAY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS QUIT. I HAD MY WIFE AND 2 YOUNG DAUGHTERS IN THE SECOND ROW SEAT. THERE WAS NO SHOULDER TO PULL OVER ON, AND IN THE PITCH BLACK I THOUGHT FOR SURE WE WOULD EITHER END UP IN THE OTHER LANE AND HIT AN ONCOMING CAR OR END UP IN THE DITCH. I HAD THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MODULE CHANGED AT CAPITOL CHEVROLET IN SALEM OREGON. I HAVE THE INVOICE. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT NO ONE ELSE HAS TO GO THROUGH THE SAME SITUATION AS WE DID. I AM AWARE OF THE RECALL ON CERTAIN CHEVROLET MODELS, BUT IT DOES NOT INCLUDE 1998 MODELS...BIG MISTAKE...IT SHOULD INCLUDE 1998'S ALSO. *JB
I OWN A 1998 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK VERY INTERMITTENTLY. WHEN ON DELAY THEY SOMETIMES DELAY, SOMETIMES WORK ON SLOW SPEED AND SOMETIMES DO NOT WORK AT ALL. THERE IS AN ACTIVE RECALL ON OTHER CHEVROLET MODELS FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM BUT NOT THIS MODEL AND YEAR. CHEVROLET NEEDS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM BEFORE THERE IS A FATAL OR DEBILITATING CRASH. SAFETY FIRST! *NLM
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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