1998 Chevrolet SUBURBAN 1500: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
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.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 6 | 42.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 7.1% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 7.1% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 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 |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 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 |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 3 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2009 | 4 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
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.
Examples from the source records
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 10173820 · 2006-11-19 (November 19, 2006)
THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED OPERATING WITHOUT WARNING WHILE I WAS DRIVING MY 1998 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN C1500. THEY HAVE BEEN PARKING INCORRECTLY, BUT HAD NOT PREVIOUSLY FAILED TO OPERATE. THE NEXT DAY THEY WORKED AGAIN. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 138,860 miles reported. Look up ODI 10173820 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10177420 · 2006-12-31 (December 31, 2006)
THE WIPERS OF MY 1998 SUBURBAN K1500 HAVE STARTED WORKING ONLY OCCASIONALLY. THEY CAN GO MINUTES WITHOUT WORKING AND THEN WORK FINE. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR ABOUT A MONTH AND I'M NOT SURE IF THE SWITCH NEEDS REPLACING OR IT'S JUST A LOOSE CONNECTION SOMEWHERE. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 136,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10177420 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 10203525 · 2007-09-20 (September 20, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500. THE VEHICLE HAS COOPER DISCOVERER ATR, SIZE LT245/75R16 TIRES. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 2 MPH AND GREATER, THE VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE AND PULL TO THE RIGHT. THE FAILURE OCCURRED MORE FREQUENTLY AT HIGHER SPEEDS. THE STEEL BELT ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE PROTRUDED THROUGH THE TREAD. THE VIN AND DOT NUMBER WERE UNKNOWN. THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000. THE VEHICLE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 205,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 205,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10203525 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 ↗
Owner report 10288533 · 2009-10-15 (October 15, 2009)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FUNCTION INTERMITTENTLY WHEN ACTIVATED. USUALLY WHEN SHE RESTARTS THE VEHICLE, THE WIPERS WILL BEGIN TO FUNCTION, BUT FAIL SHORTLY AFTER OPERATION. SHE HAD NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP OR SPOKEN WITH THE MANUFACTURER TO-DATE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 64,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 64,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10288533 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10290095 · 2009-10-28 (October 28, 2009)
ABS SYSTEM ENGAGES AT SLOW SPEEDS, ON DRY PAVEMENT FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THIS SLOWS BREAKING, CAUSES INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE, AND COULD CAUSE THE CAR TO CRASH. THIS PROBLEM WAS RECALLED ON LATER MODELS...APPARENTLY THIS IS ALSO A PROBLEM ON THE 1998 AND 1999. WHEN I GOOGLED "ABS ENGAGES AT SLOW SPEEDS SUBURBAN" I REALIZED THAT MY PROBLEM IS FAR FROM UNIQUE. MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM, AND I THINK THAT THE RECALL SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO OTHER YEARS THAT ARE EXPERIENCING THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. THANK YOU FOR YOUR EFFORTS IN…
Owner-reported narrative. 88,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10290095 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.