1998 GMC Suburban problems
The 1998 GMC Suburban has 137 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (24%) concerns brakes. After that come wipers, windshield & visibility (13%) and electrical system (12%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 137 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Brakes 24% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 10 and 3
- Injuries and deaths
- 7 and 1
- Typical mileage
- 88,000 miles 31 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 5 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 2 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 5 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 3 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 7 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 9 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 0 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 0 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 0 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Among the 31 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 88,000 miles.
Safety-related details: 10 complaints mention a crash; 3 complaints mention a fire; 7 injuries reported; 1 death reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 1998 ranks 7th most-complained-about out of 10 model years of the GMC Suburban with enough data (95 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 2 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
Vehicle 1998 GMC suburban: when driving on the highway at 65-70 MPH one rear firestone steeltex radial tire blew out, causing loss of vehicle control/ collision which resulted in one fatality. Tire size r4slt245/75r16, DOT number v611b1a377.
The tires that failed the first time had been replaced with the same firestone steeltex at tires. These new tires are a year old and already are falling apart and all cracked. I want firestone to recall these tires before I get into another accident. (tiresize: 16)( DOT number: tire size: 16 )
Previous separation of the tread on passenger rear tire, replaced with spare on july 18, 2006. Checked all other tires showed good condition. July 24, 2006 while driving freeway separation of driver side tire tread caused major car accident. Summit premium plus tires.
I have a 1998 GMC suburban just purchased and I experienced the same problem described in recall #05v379000. Result was my wife slammed into the back of another car in our driveway. Damage was minimal but I sure don't want her driving this vehicle until it is fixed! I called GM and they said this year (1998) is not effected! Yeah, right!
1998 GMC suburban transmission problems. Our vehicle was special ordered from gmac in 1997. The issues in our transmission started late last summer, 2002. There is a very noticeable "bump" when starting from a standstill and going from 1st to 2nd and 2nd to 3rd gears. As stated in other complaints this is our family vehicle transporting or 3 small children. *nlm