STRUCTURE:BODY
1998 GMC Envoy
Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Overview
Our database contains 19 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1998 GMC Envoy, most frequently naming the suspension, engine and visibility categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 43 manufacturer communications are on file.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Complaint activity over time
When owners filed reports about this model year
View as table
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Aug 2000 | 1 | 1 |
| Dec 2000 | 1 | 2 |
| Apr 2001 | 1 | 3 |
| Mar 2002 | 2 | 5 |
| Jun 2002 | 1 | 6 |
| Jul 2002 | 1 | 7 |
| Dec 2003 | 1 | 8 |
| Jan 2004 | 2 | 10 |
| Mar 2004 | 1 | 11 |
| Apr 2004 | 1 | 12 |
| May 2004 | 1 | 13 |
| Oct 2004 | 1 | 14 |
| Dec 2004 | 1 | 15 |
| Feb 2005 | 1 | 16 |
| May 2005 | 1 | 17 |
| May 2006 | 1 | 18 |
| Oct 2011 | 1 | 19 |
What owners report
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
- Suspension315.0%
- Engine315.0%
- Visibility315.0%
- Exterior lighting315.0%
- Tires & wheels210.0%
- Brakes210.0%
- Other / unspecified15.0%
- Electrical15.0%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Safety recalls
2 campaigns cover this model year
Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.
Check a VIN on NHTSA.govEXTERIOR LIGHTING
Recent owner complaints
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
I WAS DRIVING ON A 4 LANE DIVIDED HIGHWAY WITH MULTIPLE STOPLIGHTS. AS A LIGHT TURNED RED, I APPLIED THE BRAKES. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR ACCOMPANIED BY THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT AND I ALMOST HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I PULLED OFF INTO A PARKING LOT AND DISCOVERED BRAKE FLUID LEAKING IN THE VICINITY OF THE LEFT REAR WHEEL. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT ALL OF THE BRAKE LINES ARE SEVERELY CORRODED AND THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED IN THE STEEL BRAKE LINE THAT GOES TO THE REAR BRAKES. ALL OF THE STEEL LINES ON THIS VEHICLE (BRAKES, FUEL LINES) ARE SEVERELY CORRODED ALONG WITH THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THIS VEHICLE. I'VE OWNED THIS VEHICLE SINCE IT WAS NEW AND IT'S BEEN LOCATED IN DELAWARE WHICH GENERALLY HAS VERY LITTLE SNOW (AND THEREFORE SALT) DURING THE WINTER MONTHS. THIS BRAKE FAILURE AND THE CONDITION OF THE FUEL LINES ARE A SEVERE SAFETY ISSUE AND WARRANTS AN IMMEDIATE RECALL. HAD I BEEN GOING SLIGHTLY FASTER OR HAD BEEN TOWING, I WOULD HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT THAT WOULD HAVE CAUSED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE OR LOSS OF LIFE. UPON FURTHER RESEARCH, THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT THAT NEEDS IMMEDIATE ATTENTION BEFORE MORE PEOPLE ARE KILLED. I CANNOT DRIVE THIS VEHICLE NOW WITHOUT REPLACING ALL OF THESE LINES--THE CONDITION OF THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THIS VEHICLE IS INEXCUSABLE AND I WILL NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER GM PRODUCT. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10430282
- Incident
- Oct 9, 2011
- Mileage
- 128,469 mi
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 45MPH, THE VEHICLE STRUCK A DIP IN THE ROAD AND THE REAR LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY FRACTURED WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE BODY TO DROP TO THE GROUND. THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED NEAR THE CONTACT'S HOME AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TOWED TO A DEALER. AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND CONFIRMED THE FRACTURED LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY. THE VEHICLE IS WAITING REPAIR
- NHTSA ID
- 10157719
- Incident
- May 17, 2006
- Mileage
- 77,000 mi
PROBLEM WITH ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SENSOR; ANTI-LOCK BRAKES KICK IN AT LOW SPEEDS 5-10 MPH
- NHTSA ID
- 10119811
- Incident
- Mar 10, 2005
- Mileage
- 90,000 mi
THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR DID NOT CLOSE PROPERLY. WHEN THE DOOR WAS LOCKED, IT WOULD COME OFF OF THE HINGE AND WAS PARTIALLY OPEN. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK THIS WOULD OCCUR WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. *SC *JB
- NHTSA ID
- 10102077
- Incident
- Dec 1, 2003
- Mileage
- 50,000 mi
ON DEC. 7, 2004, IT WAS A VERY RAINY DAY AND OF COURSE MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE NOT WORKING PROPERLY. THEY WOULD TURN OFF, OR THEY WOULD TURN ON TO FULL WIPING WHEN I HAD THEM SET FOR INTERMITTENT WIPING. THEY ALSO WOULD NOT TURN OFF WHEN I TURNED THEM OFF. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE CORRECTED. THIS FIRST HAPPEND IN OCTOBER OF 2002. I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THE PROBLEM IS THAT IT ONLY HAPPENS ONCE IN AWHILE, BUT WHEN YOU BRING IT TO THE DEALER, IT DOESN'T HAPPEN! I NOTIFIED GENERAL MOTORS ABOUT THIS ON AUGUST 11, 2003. CONFIRMATION NUMBER 1-128999107.*AK
- NHTSA ID
- 10102325
- Incident
- Dec 7, 2004
- Mileage
- 62,000 mi
WIPER MALFUNCTION WITH EXACT SYMPTOMS THAT THE NEWER GMC SUV ARE HAVING. MECHANICS ARE USING THE SAME PART ON ALL VEHICLES AND IT OCCURS SPIRATICALLY. DEALERS ARE SAYING THIS CONTROLLING DEVICE IS COMMON TO HAVE THIS OCCUR. THE WIPER MOTOR SOMETIMES JUST STOP OR CHANGE SPEED ON IT'S OWN AND IT HAS BE OCCURING FROM 96 TO CURRENT AND THEY ONLY WANT TO REPLACE CERTAIN ONES. I OWN A 98 GMC ENVOY AND THIS PROBLEM IS HAPPENING. IT DOESN'T HAPPEN ALL THE TIME, BUT WHEN IT DOES IT IS DANGEROUS TO BE DRIVING IN THE VEHICLE ESPECIALLY TRAVELING AT HIGHER SPEEDS WHEN IT IS RAINING.
- NHTSA ID
- 10096096
- Incident
- Oct 19, 2004
- Mileage
- 92,000 mi
ON MONDAY, 5/3/04, MY SON BACKED OUR 1998 GMC ENVOY OUT OF HIS GARAGE. THE LEFT FRONT END DROPPED TO THE GROUND. ACCORDING TO GMC DEALER, THE BALL JOINT AND CV JOINTS FAILED. DEALER ADVISED US RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED FOR GMC JIMMYS UP TO 1996 YEAR, BUT NOTHING FOR 1998. HAD MY SON BEEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, SERIOUS INJURY OR WORSE COULD HAVE RESULTED. *AK
- NHTSA ID
- 10068454
- Incident
- May 3, 2004
- Mileage
- 75,000 mi
I WAS DRIVING ALONG AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHEN MY 1998 GMC ENVOY WITH 43162 MILES STOPPED ACCELERATING. WHEN I STEPPED HARDER ON THE GAS, THE ENGINE WOULD NOT REV AND POWER BEGAN TO RUN OUT FROM THE ENGINE. THE MOTOR STALLED AND YET THE ELECTRICITY WAS STILL ON IN THE CAR. I BEGAN TO LOSE BRAKING POWER AND STEERING BECAME HARDER. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD, TURN OFF AND TURN THE CAR BACK ON AGAIN. BUT THE CAR STALLED AGAIN AND AGAIN, FIVE (5) TIMES IN SIX (6) MILES. THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL YEARS BACK, AND HAS CONTINUED TO HAPPEN INTERMITTENLY. I ALWAYS THOUGHT IT HAPPENED WHEN I GOT BELOW 1/4 OF A TANK OF GAS, BUT TONIGHT I WAS AT HALF A TANK. THE ONLY THING I NOTICED WAS THE OOIL PRESSURE GAGUE WAS AT SLIGHTLY RIGHT OF MIDDLE, LIKE AROUND 60 I THINK, WHICH HAPPENS ONLY OCCASIONALLY. FINALLY I GOT HOME AND, WITH THE CAR IN PARK, PUT CONTINUOUS EVEN PRESSURE ON THE ACCELERATOR BUT THE NUMBER OF RPMS WAS VARYING, BY UP TO 1000 OR 1500, FROM 3500 DOWN TO 2000 -- UP AND BACK CONTINUOUSLY BUT NOT ON AN EVEN CYCLE. IT'S VERY DANGEROUS WHEN THIS HAPPENS UNEXPECTEDLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND I HAVE BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER BEFORE TO REPORT THIS (SINCE AROUND 1998 OR 1999) BUT THIS KEEPS HAPPENING. I ONLY HAD THOSE FEW SECONDS WHEN THE MOTOR WAS NOT ACCELERATING BUT THE CAR HAD NOT YET STALLED TO REACT -- PUT ON THE HAZARD LIGHTS, PULL OFF THE ROAD, COME TO A STOP -- AND LUCKILY I KNEW WHAT TO DO OR ELSE I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED BY SOMEONE REAR-ENDING MY CAR. PLEASE HELP, I AM TERRIFIED OF THE CAR AND HAVE LOST ALL CONFIDENCE IN IT, YET AGAIN.*AK
- NHTSA ID
- 10066384
- Incident
- Apr 17, 2004
- Mileage
- 43,162 mi
Manufacturer communications
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL
This warranty administration bulletin provides information regarding the field action courtesy transportation policy.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE; SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or updating operating software for the Tire Pressure Monitor, Active Fuel Injector tester, multi media tester, PICO Scope, GR8 starting/charging tester and Vehicle Data Recorder tools, giving website address and step by step instructions to complete the update.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or updating operating software for the Tire Pressure Monitor, Active Fuel Injector tester, multi media tester, PICO Scope, GR8 starting/charging tester and Vehicle Data Recorder tools, giving website address and step by step instructions to complete the update.
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ANTI-THEFT DEVICES; EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how to unlock radios that are Delco TheftLock. Technician will use the radio to get the scrambled code. Technician will need to contact the radio unlock center to retrieve the unlock code from the scrambled code. The PI update to version D is to advise the unlock procedure is temporarily unavailable. E version update is to add administrative details.
EQUIPMENT
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how to unlock radios that are Delco TheftLock. Technician will use the radio to get the scrambled code. Technician will need to contact the radio unlock center to retrieve the unlock code from the scrambled code. The PI update to version D is to advise the unlock procedure is temporarily unavailable.
EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY; EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how to unlock radios that are Delco Theft Lock. Technician will use the radio to get the scrambled code. Technician will need to contact the radio unlock center to retrieve the unlock code from the scrambled code.
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.
Compare model years
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.