Gmc C/K SUBURBAN (GMC) problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
17 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
150,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1994 to 1999 model years. Data snapshot: . 15 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Service Brakes, Hydraulic is the most frequently named component, appearing in 6 of 17 complaints (35.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 12 | 70.6% |
| Steering behavior | 4 | 23.5% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 11.8% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 6 |
| Service Brakes | 3 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Engine | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys | 1 |
| Fuel System, Diesel | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 |
Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 6; Service Brakes: 3; Electrical System: 1; Engine: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys: 1; Fuel System, Diesel: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 8 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 8
150,000 and above miles has the most reports with usable mileage (8). 2 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 3 |
| 2010 | 4 |
| 2012 | 3 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 3 |
2006: 1; 2007: 1; 2008: 3; 2010: 4; 2012: 3; 2013: 2; 2014: 3
Pattern summary
Service Brakes, Hydraulic leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 12 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 2 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 10457814 · 2012-05-08 (May 8, 2012)
COMING TO A STOP BEHIND A LINE OF CARS (NOT TOO LONG AFTER SUBURBAN PURCHASED) & BRAKE PEDAL STARTED GIVING RESISTANCE & MAKING NOISE (GROWLING-LIKE/PUSHING BACK) & DID NOT WANT TO STOP. HAD ALMOST CONSTANT TROUBLE W/ IT AFTER THAT, ESPECIALLY IN COLD & WET CONDITIONS & WE LIVE IN THE NORTHWEST, SO THIS IS HAPPENS A LOT! COUPLE OF TIMES, ALMOST SLID OFF OF ROADWAY OR INTO BACK OF PEOPLE, EVEN W/ MORE THAN ENOUGH STOPPING DISTANCE. BEFORE WE BOUGHT VEHICLE (WE HAVE GONE LESS THEN 5K MI) SEVERAL BRAKE COMPONENTS WERE CHANGED (PADS/DRUMS/ROTORS/CA…
Owner-reported narrative. 245,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10457814 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10466961 · 2012-07-22 (July 22, 2012)
APPLIED BRAKES TO STOP FOR RED TRAFFIC LIGHT AND PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR. FRONT SECTION OF METAL BRAKE LINE HAD FAILED DUE TO RUST. HAD LEAKING BRAKE LINE REPLACED. GARAGE NOTED THAT REAR SECTION OF METAL BRAKE LINES WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED IN FUTURE BECAUSE THEY WERE RUSTED AND WOULD PROBABLY START TO LEAK. ON JULY 20, 2012 THE REAR SECTION OF LINE FAILED. MILEAGE 87,697. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 82,359 miles reported. Look up ODI 10466961 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10206749 · 2007-10-24 (October 24, 2007)
THE SERPENTINE BELT COMES OFF WHILE I AM DRIVING,THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT AND VAN OVER HEATS AND I CANNOT MOVE THE VAN. I CAN BARLEY GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, BECAUSE OF THE STEERING.IT HAPPENS WHEN IT RAINS . AND SOMETIMES WHEN IT IS NOT RAINING. THIS HAS HAPPEN TO ME AT LEAST 12 TIMES IN THE PAST 2 YEARS. I GAVE THE DATE OF THE LAST TIME . IT IS IN MY DRIVE NOW BECAUSE I CAN'T AFFORD TO SEND IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN. I HAVE HAD DIFFERENT GARAGES WORK ON IT BUT IT STILL CAME OFF. SO I TOOK IT TO SCORE A DEALERSHIP. THEY HAVE HAD IT 4 …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10206749 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10215080 · 2008-01-16 (January 16, 2008)
IN THE LAST WEEK (NO CHANGES IN DRIVING OR RECENT REPAIRS)I HAVE EXPERIENCED SOME VERY SCARY TURNING IN MY 1998 GMC SUBURBAN. BETWEEN 11 AND 1 'O'CLOCK ON THE STEERING WHEEL AT SPEEDS OF BETWEEN 20-35MPH (APPROX), THE FRONT WHEELS SEEM TO SLIP AWAY FROM THEIR INTENDED "LINE'- AS IF I HIT A PATCH OF BLACK ICE. I THOUGHT IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN THE FIRST TIME- THERE WERE SOME PATCHES AROUND; BUT NOW THE PAVEMENT IS CLEAR AND THE PROBLEM IS GETTING WORSE- MORE FREQUENT. OFTEN AFTER EXPERIENCING THIS I TEND TO OVER CORRECT AS IT SEEMS I MAY BE SLIPPIN…
Owner-reported narrative. 153,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10215080 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10312334 · 2010-02-20 (February 20, 2010)
PUMP MOUNTED DRIVER (PMD) INTERMITTENT TO COMPLETE FAILURE CAUSES DIESEL ENGINE TO STALL UNPREDICTABLY AT ANY SPEED OR RPM. THIS CAUSES A LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND POWER ASSISTED BRAKING. HAVE PURCHASED 3 REPLACEMENT PMD'S SO FAR. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 160,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10312334 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10641368 · 2014-10-04 (October 4, 2014)
ENGINE STOPPED DURING ACCELERATION ONTO HIGHWAY. LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKING. AS THEY MAKE A RELOCATION KIT FOR THE MODULE, I ASSUME THIS IS A KNOW DEFECT. IN A. CURVE THIS COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 203,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10641368 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1994 | 0 |
| 1996 | 0 |
| 1997 | 0 |
| 1998 | 0 |
| 1999 | 0 |
1994: 0; 1996: 0; 1997: 0; 1998: 0; 1999: 0