54 of the 299 complaints about the 1998 Chevrolet Suburban are about the glass, mirrors and wipers — 18% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 74,500 miles.
54
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
SPEED VARIATION, AND SOMETIMES CEASE, OF OPERATION OF WINDSHIELD WIPERS. POSSIBLE DISCREPANCY WITH TURN SIGNAL LEVER, SEEMS TO BE AFFECTED BY, AND SOMETIMES CORRECTED WITH WIGGLING WITH THE LEVER.
NHTSA complaint #10177977 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
WINDSHIELD WIPERS QUIT AT VARIOUS TIMES. SOMETIMES WORK SOMETIMES NOT, SOMETIMES QUIT IN MIDDLE OF USE.
NHTSA complaint #10168071 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
(1) DRIVING IN RAIN. (2) WIPER FAILURE. CONSEQUENCES ARE OBVIOUS! (3) STOP, OPEN HOOD OF VEHICLE, AND SMACK THE WIPER CONTROL! NOTE! DUE TO FACT THAT A FRIEND OF MINE HAS A 1996 GMC SIERRA TRUCK WHICH WAS RECALLED FOR THIS PROBLEM, I REFUSE TO PAY HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS TO HAVE IT FIXED! MY VEHICLE IS A 1998 (ORDERED IN 1997 BEFORE THEY HIT THE PRODUCTION LINE) CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THE PROBLEM IS BAD SOLDER JOINTS ON THE BOARD! I AM AN EET BY DEGREE FOR 25 YEARS AND I KNOW THE PROBLEM WELL AND I ALSO KNOW THAT THE PROBLEM WITH MY FRIEND'S TRUCK AND MINE ARE THE SAME PROBLEM! I GOT ABSOLUTELY NO HELP FROM CHEVROLET CUSTOMER REPRESENTATIVES! THEY ACKNOWLEDGED THAT IT WAS INDEED THE SAME WIPER CONTROL AND COULD NOT EXPLAIN WHY THE RECALL CUTOFF STOPPED WHEN IT DID! BUT, THEY ALSO WOULD NOT GIVE ME A GUARANTEE THAT I WOULD NOT BE CHARGED TO HAVE IT FIXED! IF I HAVE AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THIS FAILURE, GMC WILL PAY THAT BLOODY MONEY!
NHTSA complaint #10110227 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
WHILE OPERATING CONTINUOUSLY FOR AN HOUR OR MORE IN HEAVY RAIN, THE WIPERS STOPPED.
NHTSA complaint #10056102 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:REAR WINDOW WIPER/WASHER
WINDSHIELD WIPERS HAVE FAILED AT LEAST ONCE ALMOST EVERY TIME USED FOR QUITE SOME TIME NOW. USUALLY COULD BE THUMPED & RESTARTED. TODAY THEY FAILED SEVERAL TIMES AND THEN QUIT ALTOGETHER, IN LIGHT TO HEAVY RAIN, ON THE INTERSTATE. DROVE TO MCCONNELL IN MOBILE AND THEY KNEW EXACTLY WHAT WAS WRONG.. HAD OBVIOUSLY SEEN IT PLENTY BEFORE. I HAD TO PAY $158.46 FOR THE REPAIR AS THEY INFORMED ME THE RECALL ONLY COVERED '94 - '97. '98 SHOULD ALSO BE INCLUDED!! GM IS VERY LUCKY THAT THERE HAVE BEEN NO TRAGEDIES BECAUSE OF THIS... AT LEAST, THAT ANYBODY KNOWS ABOUT. I THINK IT'S VERY POSSIBLE THAT THERE ARE UNREPORTED ACCIDENTS OR DEATHS RELATED TO THIS PROBLEM. VISIBILITY GOES TO ZERO ALMOST IMMEDIATELY! REIMBURSE ME, GM, YOU'RE GETTING OFF CHEAP!!
NHTSA complaint #10078743 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
1998 CHEVY SUBURBAN-WIPERS STOP WORKING AT RANDOM INTERVALS, MUST FORCE TO WORK BY HAND UNTIL THEY START WORKING AGAIN, NEED TO REPLACE WIPER MOTOR
NHTSA complaint #10075229 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
IN HEAVY RAIN, WINDSHIELD WASHERS FAILED COMPLETELY WITH NO WARNING. HUMMING IN THE MOTOR BUT THE WIPERS WOULD NOT WORK. EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS CONDITION. COULD NOT SEE ROAD NOR ONCOMING TRAFFIC.
NHTSA complaint #10074574 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR CONTROL BOARD FAILED DUE TO FAULTY SHOULDER JOINT. *PH THIS WAS THE SAME FAILURE AS IN THE 1997 SUBURBAN RECALL. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION DURING THE RAIN. *SC
NHTSA complaint #10068568 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD STOP SUDDENLY. I WOULD HAVE TO GET OFF THE ROAD SHUT CAR OFF, THEN AIT 5-10 MINUTES BEFORE WIPERS WILL WORK AGAIN.
NHTSA complaint #10058434 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAIL DURING USE; WILL NOT OPERATE IN TIMED MODE; STOP AT INCORRECT LOCATIONS
NHTSA complaint #10057058 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:REAR WINDOW WIPER/WASHER
MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD STOP WORKING FROM TIME TO TIME. IT APPEARS TO BE THE SAME DEFECT AS IN EARLIER YEAR SUBURBANS, BUT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. GENERAL MOTORS HAS PLENTY OF NOTICE THAT THE SAME DEFECT EXISTS IN SUBURBANS OLDER THAN THOSE ALREADY RECALLED, AND SHOULD INCLUDE OTHERS IN THE RECALL AS WELL.
NHTSA complaint #10056624 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
WHILE OPERATING CONTINUOUSLY FOR AN HOUR OR MORE IN HEAVY RAIN, THE WIPERS STOPPED. *PH HEN THE CONSUMER PULLED ON THE WIPER ARM, THE WIPERS WORKED FOR AWHILE. THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A RECALL, HOWEVER IT ONLY INCLUDED THE 1995 TO 1997 MODELS. *JB
NHTSA complaint #10055477 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR A FAULTY WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR ON MY 1998 SUBURBAN, THE WIPER WOULD QUIT WORKING PERIODICAL AND YOU WOULD HERE A BUZZING NOISE BUT NO WIPER MOVEMENT. BY OPENING THE HOOD AND HITTING OR TAPPING ON THE WIPER MODULE THEY WOULD WORK AGAIN TEMP FOR SOME TIME. I TAKE THE SUBURBAN IN WITH MY RECALL NOTICE, BUT THEY REFUSE TO REPLACE SINCE THEY SHOW THIS MODEL IS NOT AFFECTED OR FALL WITH THE VIN #'S THAT SHOW EVEN THOUGH THE EXACT SYMPTOMS EXIST. THIS IS A MAJOR SCAM!!!!
NHTSA complaint #10053297 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 32000 MILES - RADIATOR REPLACED AT 54000 - WATER PUMP- DIFFERENTIAL AND TRANSMISSION MOUNTS REPLACED NOW DRIVER SIDE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM INSIDE AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS DO NOT WORK .
NHTSA complaint #10039261 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES
AUTO DIMMING FOR THE REAR VIEW MIRRORS HAS BECOME DEFECTIVE,AND IT DOESN'T DIM THE MIRRORS ANYMORE. WITH NO MANUAL WAY TO DIM YOUR REAR VIEW MIRROR THIS MAKES DRIVING AT NIGHT VERY DANGEROUS AT TIMES. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER TO GET IT FIXED AND THEY WANTED $500 SAYING THAT THE REAR VIEW MIRROR NEEDED REPLACED. I FEEL THAT THE REPLACEMENT PRICE IS TOO EXORBITANT, AND BECAUSE OF THAT IT HASN'T BEEN REPLACED. IT SEEMS LIKE THEY SHOULD PUT A MANUAL FLIP SWITCH ON THE MIRROR AS A BACK-UP IN CASE THE MIRROR WOULD BECOME DEFECTIVE LIKE MINE HAS.
NHTSA complaint #10037174 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
WINDSHIELD WIPERS QUIT WORKING DURING A STRONG STORM ON I-75. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO GET OVER TO THE RIGHT LANE AND PULL OFF THE ROAD...A BUZZING NOISE WAS COMING FROM A BLACK MOTOR CASING, SO I TAPPED IT AND THE WIPERS BEGAN TO WORK AGAIN. THIS HAS HAPPEN ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE CAR IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE IN THE RAIN. *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10036639 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:REAR WINDOW WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
WINDSHIELD WIPERS EXPERIENCED THE SAME DEFECT AS STATED IN RECALL 03 V 159 000, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK THE WIPERS HAD BECOME INOPERATIVE AT TIMES, THE BRAKES WERE SOFT, THE WHEEL CYLINDERS WERE FOUND LEAKING, AND THE SHOES CRACKED. TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKED, AND THE TAIL SHAFT SEAL WAS REPLACED. *SCC
NHTSA complaint #10034437 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
CONSUMER STATES WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY DURING USAGE.
NHTSA complaint #10033684 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:SWITCH/WIRING
PROBLEM WITH ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ON CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1998 MODEL. VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN SEPTEMBER 1997 BUT IS A 1998 MODEL. PROBLEMS ARE AS FOLLOWS: . CHEVROLET HAS A RECALL FOR 1997 MODEL FOR WINDSHIELD WIPER MALFUNCTION I HAVE A 1998 MODEL WITH THE SAME PROBLEM BUT THE RECALL DOES NOT COVER IT. 2. I ALSO HAVE PROBLEM WITH THE REMOTE CONTROL. VEHICLE HAS SOME SORT OF WIRING PROBLEM, I CHANGED THE BATTERIES ON THE REMOTE CONTROL BUT IT WILL NOT WORK. 3. I HAD TO CHANGE WIRING HARNESS FOR REAR LIGHTS SINCE THE LIGHTS WOULD NOT WORK AND DEALERSHIP SAID THAT I HAD TO CHANGE THE WIRING.
NHTSA complaint #10029090 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR
THE QUARTER PANEL GLASS DOOR SHATTERED INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE WHILE CLOSING THE FRONT DOOR. DEALER STATED THAT IT WAS COMMON ON THOSE VEHICLES.
NHTSA complaint #10027030 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
FOR ABOUT 2 MONTHS THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD FAIL INTERMITTENTLY. THEY FINALLY QUIT COMPLETELY JULY 7,2003. CALLED CHEVY DEALER AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NOT A RECALL FOR 1998 SUBURBAN.
NHTSA complaint #10025751 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME DEFECT AS STATED IN RECALL 03 V 159 000, BUT IT'S MODEL YEAR AND VIN NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED.
NHTSA complaint #10026645 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:SWITCH/WIRING
I HAVE A 1998 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 5.7L V8, 4X4 WITH THE LT PACKAGE. I AM EXPERIENCING WINDSHIELD WIPER PROBLEMS WHERE THE WIPERS FAIL APPROXIMATELY 50% OF THE TIME WHEN NEEDED. THERE IS CURRENTLY A RECALL ON 94-97 MODEL CHEVROLET PICKUPS/SUV'S ON THIS ISSUE BUT THE 98 MODELS ARE NOT INCLUDED. I BELIEVE I AM EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM AND THE ISSUE SHOULD BE GM'S RESPONSIBILITY.
NHTSA complaint #10025459 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
I HAD MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS QUIT WORKING ON MY 1998 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. AT FIRST IT STARTED OUT ONCE IN AWHILE. HOWEVER COMING BACK FROM VACATION IN THE AUTUMN OF 2001, I WAS COMING THROUGH A MOUNTAIN PASS AT 10:30 PM. IT WAS RAINING VERY HARD AND ON A TWO LANE HIGHWAY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS QUIT. I HAD MY WIFE AND 2 YOUNG DAUGHTERS IN THE SECOND ROW SEAT. THERE WAS NO SHOULDER TO PULL OVER ON, AND IN THE PITCH BLACK I THOUGHT FOR SURE WE WOULD EITHER END UP IN THE OTHER LANE AND HIT AN ONCOMING CAR OR END UP IN THE DITCH. I HAD THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MODULE CHANGED AT CAPITOL CHEVROLET IN SALEM OREGON. I HAVE THE INVOICE. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT NO ONE ELSE HAS TO GO THROUGH THE SAME SITUATION AS WE DID. I AM AWARE OF THE RECALL ON CERTAIN CHEVROLET MODELS, BUT IT DOES NOT INCLUDE 1998 MODELS...BIG MISTAKE...IT SHOULD INCLUDE 1998'S ALSO.
NHTSA complaint #10023637 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:SWITCH/WIRING
I OWN A 1998 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK VERY INTERMITTENTLY. WHEN ON DELAY THEY SOMETIMES DELAY, SOMETIMES WORK ON SLOW SPEED AND SOMETIMES DO NOT WORK AT ALL. THERE IS AN ACTIVE RECALL ON OTHER CHEVROLET MODELS FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM BUT NOT THIS MODEL AND YEAR. CHEVROLET NEEDS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM BEFORE THERE IS A FATAL OR DEBILITATING CRASH. SAFETY FIRST! *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10023507 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:SWITCH/WIRING
TODAY, WHILE DRIVING IN A RAIN STORM MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED, MAKING VISIBILITY NEAR ZERO! RECENTLY, THE WIPERS HAVE NOT ALWAYS WORKED WHEN TURNED ON, BUT WITH PERSISTENCE THEY HAVE EVENTUALLY COME ON. *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10023177 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:SWITCH/WIRING
ON 9/07/2003 AT 1140 HRS WHILE DRIVING MY 1998 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN IN A RAIN STORM WITH MY TWO YOUNG CHILDREN IN THE BACK, MY WIPERS FAILED TO CONTINUE WORKING. VISIBILITY WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. I PROCEEDED IMMEDIATELY TO THE NEAREST DEALER AND WAS INFORMED ABOUT A DEFECTIVE WIPER MOTOR RELAY CIRCUIT BOARD THAT GM HAS REDESIGNED TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. I PURCHASED THE UPDATED MODULE KIT AND INSTALLED THE UNIT IN LESS ONE HALF HOUR. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM WHICH SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER A RECALL PROGRAM SO AS TO AVOID SERIOUS MISHAPS.
NHTSA complaint #10021280 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
1998 SUBURBAN 2500 4X4 WIPERS DO NOT WORK ALL THE TIME. FOR SOME REASON THEY ALMOST NEVER WORK IN THE RAIN.
NHTSA complaint #10017053 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:SWITCH/WIRING
I HAVE A 1998 SUBURBAN. I ASKED GM TO INCLUDE MY VEHICLE SINCE IT HAS THE SAME DEFECTS, BUT THEY SAY NO. HOW DO I GET INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL? GM RECALLS 1.77M VEHICLES. NO. 1 AUTOMAKER RECALLS '94-'97 PICKUPS, SUV'S, VANS TO REPLACE WINDSHIELD WIPER CIRCUIT BOARDS. MAY 1, 2003: 11:21 AM EDT. NEW YORK (CNN/MONEY) - GENERAL MOTORS SAID THURSDAY IT WILL RECALL ABOUT 1.77 MILLION PICKUPS, SPORT/UTILITY VEHICLES AND VANS PRODUCED FROM 1994 THROUGH 1997 TO REPLACE WINDSHIELD WIPER CIRCUIT BOARDS AND MOTOR COVERS. GM (GM: DOWN $0.77 TO $35.28, RESEARCH, ESTIMATES) CONDUCTED SIMILAR WINDSHIELD WIPER RECALLS IN 1998 AND 2003. THE COMPANY TOLD CNNFN THAT SINCE THE FIRST RECALL IN 1998, THERE HAVE BEEN FIVE CRASHES AND ONE INJURY RELATED TO THE PARTS ON THE VEHICLES BEING RECALLED, BUT NO FATALITIES. IT ADDED THAT THERE HAVE BEEN NO LAWSUITS STEMMING FROM THE PARTS BEING RECALLED AS FAR AS IT KNOWS. THE COMPANY SAID THE VEHICLES INVOLVED ARE: 1994-1997 CHEVROLET C/K AND GMC SIERRA PICKUP TRUCKS, CHEVROLET TAHOE AND SUBURBAN/GMC YUKON AND SUBURBAN SUV'S; 1995-1997 CHEVROLET ASTRO AND GMC SAFARI MIDSIZE VANS AND CHEVROLET/GMC FULL-SIZE CREW CABS; 1996-1997 CHEVROLET BLAZER, GMC JIMMY MIDSIZE SUV'S, CHEVROLET S10, GMC SIERRA, AND ISUZU HOMBRE SMALL PICKUPS. GM SAID IT WILL NOTIFY VEHICLE OWNERS BEGINNING THIS SUMMER AND THE REPAIRS WILL BE MADE AT DEALERSHIPS AT NO COST TO THE CUSTOMERS. *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10016899 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
I HAVE A 98 CHEVY SUBURBAN, AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS SOME TIMES STOP WORKING WHILE THEY ARE IN USE. THERE WAS A RECALL ON SOME SUBURBANS, AND BLAZERS, BUT THE YEAR ONLY WENT UP TO I THINK 1997. THE RECALL HAD TO DO WITH THE WIPERS STOPPING DURING OPERATION. I CALLED CHEVEROLET JUST TO SEE IF OUR YEAR WAS GOING TO BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, AND HE REPLIED NO, AND THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE. HE SAID HE COULD CALL A DEALER AND HAVE ME TAKE IT TO THEM AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR ANY REPAIRS. I CANNOT AFFORD TO TAKE IT IN RIGHT NOW, SO HOPEFULLY THERE WILL BE A RECALL IN THE FUTURE. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME I USE THE WIPERS.
NHTSA complaint #10016681 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.