17 of the 137 complaints about the 1998 GMC Suburban are about the electrical system — 12% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 68,100 miles.
17
Complaints
0
Crashes
2
Fires
0
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
WIRING TO THE ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP CAN OVER HEAT (AND POSSIBLY CAUSE A FIRE) WHEN THE FUEL PUMP FAILS. THIS WOULD OCCUR WHEN THE FUEL PUMP IS IN A FAILED (LOCKED) CONDITION WHILE POWER IS APPLIED TO THE PUMP. THE ELECTRICAL CURRENT DRAW IS HIGHER THAN THE RATING OF THE WIRING.
NHTSA complaint #10142512 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
NAR 04/28/2003. MR THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH HIS VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE LEAKED OIL, ENGINE IDLED ROUGHLY, COOLANT SYSTEM LEAKED, THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE DOME LIGHT, STEERING, THE REAR AXLE, THE LEFT REAR GLASS RATTLED, THE AIR CONDITION, BATTERY, SUSPENSION WERE ALL INOPERATIVE. THE FUEL FILTER, MIRROR TRANSMISSION SEAT, SEAT BELTS, WIPERS, ALTERNATOR, BRAKES, FUEL PUMP.
NHTSA complaint #10017745 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
FIRE THEN SMOKE COMING FROM WIRE HARNESS.
NHTSA complaint #10080650 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
THE POSITIVE BATTERY TERMINAL POST BROKE LOOSE FROM THE BATTERY, SPILLING BATTERY ACID ON THE BRAKE TUBING. DISCUSSED BATTERY FAILURE WITH GM AND THEY REFUSED TO REPLACE BATTERY DUE TO THE FACT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY.
NHTSA complaint #10016514 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
1998, GMC, SUBURBAN, REPLACEMENT BATTERY LEAKS ONTO RIGHT FRONT WHEEL BRAKE HOSE, CORRODING THE FITTING. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK CONSUMER STATED THIS IS THE SECOND BATTERY THAT HAS FAILED.*SLC
NHTSA complaint #898427 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
LEFT REAR BRAKE LIGHT SOCKET HAD A SHORT FOR SECOND TIME. WHOLE SOCKET HAS TO BE REPLACED. WORKED FOR 2 WEEKS, AND IT SHORTED OUT AGAIN. PART COST $60 EACH TIME. *AK DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THERE WAS NOT A RECALL, HOWEVER THEY HAD BEEN REPLACING A LOT OF THESE PARTS. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #889925 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
REAR TAIL LIGHT PRINTED CIRCUIT HAS SHORTED OUT TWICE, LEAVING MELTED COMPONETS AND TOTAL REPLACEMENT OPTION.
NHTSA complaint #741529 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
FRONT POST OF BATTERY LEAKS, POSTIVE SIDE, CORRODES ELECTRICAL CABLES, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SHUT DOWN.
NHTSA complaint #877572 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
DURING SUMMER OF 1999, I NOTICED BATTERY ACID RESIDUE BELOW BATTERY ON LINES AND WIRES. CLEANED OFF WITH OIL. BRAKES WERE MUSHY. IN OCTOBER, 2000 BRAKES SLOWED VEHICLE BUT REQUIRED ADDITIONAL PRESSURE TO STOP. NOTICED ADDITIONAL BATTERY ACID BUILD UP ON LINES AND WIRING. BRAKES FAILED NOV. 22, 2000. ADDED BRAKE FLUID. VEHICLE WOULD NOT START ON NOV. 28, 2000. POSITIVE BATTERY POST SEPARATED FROM BATTERY. SPENT TWO HOURS REMOVING BROKEN-OFF BATTERY FROM BATTERY BOLT,CABLES AND INSTALLING BATTERY. POURED BAKING SODA WATER ON AFFECTED AREA OF LINES AND WIRES.
NHTSA complaint #737081 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
COULDN'T START VEHICLE. ATTEMPTED TO REPLACE OEM DELCO BATTERY WITH NEW BATTERY AND FOUND ACID HAD LEAKED FROM POSITIVE SIDE TERMINAL, TOTALLY CORRODING BATTERY BOLT, TERMINAL AND CABLES. ACID HAD LEAKED ONTO HIGH PRESSURE A/C LINE, ELECTRICAL WIRING AND BRAKE LINES, CORRODING THEM. SIGNIFICANT CORROSION ON BODY METAL. REPAIR ESTIMATES RUN IN EXCESS OF $500. NEGOTIATING WITH GMC FOR REPAIRS UNDER A PRODUCTS LIABILITY CLAIM.
NHTSA complaint #737708 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
A FIRE STARTED IN THE ELECTRICAL MIRROR SWITCH ASSEMBLY ON DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #871671 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
BATTERY ACID WAS LEAKING ONTO FRONT RIGHT BRAKE LINE AND ON HIGH PRESSURE AIR CONDITIONER HOSE, CAUSING LOSS OF BRAKES AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #864136 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
BATTERY ACID WAS LEAKING ONTO FRONT RIGHT BRAKE LINE AND ON HIGH PRESSURE AIR CONDITIONER HOSE, CAUSING LOSS OF BRAKES AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #864136 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
BATTERY IS LEAKING ACID FROM AROUND THE POSITIVE TERMINAL DOWN TO THE BRAKE LINE AT THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE, IN THE AREA OF THE FRONT TIRE. CONSUMER FEELS IT MAY EAT A HOLE THOUGH BRAKE LINE, AND CAUSE THE BRAKES NOT TO WORK PROPERLY. DEALER REPLACED BATTERY, BUT ONLY CLEANED THE OTHER PARTS AFFECTED BY THE LEAKING BATTERY ACID, EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE SIGNS OF CORROSION ON THESE PARTS. *AK
NHTSA complaint #856174 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
DUE TO BATTERY DESIGN FLAW ACID LEAKS THROUGH A SCREW HOLE AND CAUSES CORROSION. THIS MAY RESULT IN A NO-START CONDITION OR STALLING. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #853552 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
STEERING GEAR BOX BROKEN INTERNALLY. WEAK POWER STEERING PUMP. LEAK IN BRAKING SYSTEM AT AXLE SEAL. BRAKE PADS WORN OUT PREMATURELY. VEHICLE PULLS TO LEFT WHEN BRAKES APPLIED. LEFT, REAR SEAT BELT WOULD NOT EXTEND AFTER RETRACTING. SHORT CIRCUIT IN WIRING HARNESS UNDER HOOD - HARNESS LENGTH TOO SHORT CAUSED INABILITY TO START VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #701351 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
ALTERNATOR BELT FAILED, CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING.
NHTSA complaint #531312 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.