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U.S. public vehicle records

1998 Chevrolet SUBURBAN 1500 problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

14 owner complaints analyzed

0 distinct recall campaigns

136,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1998 model year. Data snapshot: . 11 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Service Brakes is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 14 complaints (14.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior642.9%
Transmission and shifting17.1%
Steering behavior17.1%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Service Brakes
2
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
2
Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer
2
Electrical System
1
Electrical System:Wiring
1
Power Train:Automatic Transmission
1
Seat Belts
1
Steering
1
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Service Brakes2
Service Brakes, Hydraulic2
Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer2
Electrical System1
Electrical System:Wiring1
Power Train:Automatic Transmission1
Seat Belts1
Steering1

Service Brakes: 2; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 2; Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer: 2; Electrical System: 1; Electrical System:Wiring: 1; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 1; Seat Belts: 1; Steering: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
0
25,000 to 49,999
0
50,000 to 74,999
1
75,000 to 99,999
2
100,000 to 149,999
4
150,000 and above
4
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0000
25,000 to 49,9990
50,000 to 74,9991
75,000 to 99,9992
100,000 to 149,9994
150,000 and above4

Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 4; 150,000 and above: 4

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 3 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2006
3
2007
2
2009
4
2011
1
2012
1
2015
1
2016
1
2017
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20063
20072
20094
20111
20121
20151
20161
20171

2006: 3; 2007: 2; 2009: 4; 2011: 1; 2012: 1; 2015: 1; 2016: 1; 2017: 1

Pattern summary

Service Brakes leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10172090 · 2006-10-29 (October 29, 2006)

BRAKE LIGHT AND TURN SIGNAL FAILURE. NO PERSONAL INJURY OR CRASHES AS OF YET. FAILURE OF CIRCUIT BOARD ON BACK OF TAILLIGHT HOUSING CAUSES THE BRIGHT FEATURE OF ASSEMBLY NOT TO WORK. (NO BRAKE LIGHT OR TURN SIGNAL). REPAIR CONSISTS OF TOTAL REPLACEMENT OF ASSEMBLY AT $50.00 EACH. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10172090 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10187687 · 2007-04-12 (April 12, 2007)

TL*-THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 SUBURBAN 1500. ON A CLEAR DAY WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL. HE APPLIED THE BRAKE TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL, BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TRAVEL AT THE SET SPEED. HE CONTINUED TO DRIVE, AND FOUND A SAFE PLACE TO TRY TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL BY USING THE SWITCH. BY THIS TIME HE COULD SMELL A BURNT ODOR THAT GENERATED FROM THE BRAKES. HE THEN UNHOOKED THE CRUISE CONTROL WIRE FROM THE THROTTLE AND CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. WHE…

Owner-reported narrative. 82,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10187687 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10376709 · 2011-01-14 (January 14, 2011)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SHIFT INTO FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE BECAME STUCK IN AUTOMATIC FOUR WHEEL DRIVE AND THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FELT AS IF THE WHEELS WERE ATTEMPTING TO LOCK. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO ACCELERATE PAST 40 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER INSPECTED NOR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 194,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE 194,882.

Owner-reported narrative. 194,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10376709 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10261881 · 2009-03-15 (March 15, 2009)

I HAVE 1998 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN K1500. DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY 70 MILES AND HOUR ALL OF A SADDEN THE STEERING WHEEL JERK TO THE RIGHTS, I ALL MOST CRASH INTO THE CONCRETE BARRIERS ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD THIS WAS AROUND MID FEB 09 AND NOW THE STEERING IS JERKING RIGHT AND LEFT MOSTLY WHEN I'M TAKING AND OFF RAMP TO THE RIGHT FROM THE HIGHWAY. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. SO I HAD TAKEN THE TRUCK IN TO HAVE THE FRONT END CHECK OUT AND THE MECHANIC TOLD ME EVERY THING WAS IN GOOD SHAPE ON THE FRONT END AND THE STEERING WHEEL SPEED SENSOR MUST OF WEN…

Owner-reported narrative. 177,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10261881 at NHTSA ↗