The 1998 GMC Suburban has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 508,308 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 137 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the service brakes, hydraulic. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
VISIBILITY03V0930002003-03-07507,171 affected
Defect
CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, MINI VANS, AND PICKUP TRUCKS MAY DEVELOP A SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE ELECTRIC OUTSIDE REARVIEW MIRROR SWITCH.
Consequence
IF THIS WERE TO HAPPEN, IT COULD RESULT IN AN INOPERATIVE SWITCH, HEAT DAMAGE TO THE DRIVER'S DOOR, AND/OR IGNITION OF COMPONENTS IN THE DRIVER'S DOOR AND A SUBSEQUENT VEHICLE FIRE WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED JUMPER HARNESS TO THE ELECTRIC OUTSIDE REARVIEW MIRROR SWITCH. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON APRIL 24, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT…
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC98V0330001998-02-171,137 affected
Defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS AND MULTI-PURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLES. ONE OR BOTH FRONT BRAKE ROTOR/HUBS WERE BUILT WITH AN OUT-OF-SPECIFICATION GRAY IRON THAT CAN FAIL DURING THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE.
Consequence
IF A DRIVER CONTINUES TO DRIVE WITH A CRACKED ROTOR, THE CRACKS COULD CONTINUE AROUND THE WHEEL MOUNTING BOLT CIRCLE AND ULTIMATELY RESULT IN A WHEEL SEPARATION.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE ROTORS FOR A CORE DATE OF "287" AND, IF FOUND, REPLACE THE ROTOR.
Complaints by component
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
15
3crashes
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
10
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
10
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
9
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
7
1crashes1injuries
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
4
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
4
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
4
STEERING
3
TIRES
3
2crashes5injuries1deaths
Total complaints137
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“While sitting.. Standing still.. Parked.. The spare tire in the rear of the suburban exploded.. I discovered this several days later.. The explosion caused approximately $650 in damage.. Not including the cost of the tire itself.. I contacted b.f. Goodrich and was assigned a claim number .. A case…”
“I have a 1998 gmc suburban just purchased and I experienced the same problem described in recall #05v379000. Result was my wife slammed into the back of another car in our driveway. Damage was minimal but I sure don't want her driving this vehicle until it is fixed! I called gm and they said this…”
“Previous separation of the tread on passenger rear tire, replaced with spare on july 18, 2006. Checked all other tires showed good condition. July 24, 2006 while driving freeway separation of driver side tire tread caused major car accident. Summit premium plus tires. *jb”
“Dt*: the contact stated at speeds below 10 mph, the abs would pump and grab. As a result, the brake pedal needed excessive pressure to stop. The dealership determined the driver side front hub and bearing needed to be replaced. There is a nhtsa recall, # 05v379000, regarding the anti-lock brakes.…”
“Dt: the contact stated while the engine was warming up, and a few minutes later while getting in to the vehicle, the passenger's seat was smoking. The heater in the seat burned a hole in the seat. The vehicle was taken to the dealership for inspection. The dealership told the contact if the seat…”
“Abs locked at low speeds. *ak”
“Dt: the consumer stated that the abs locked up at low speeds. The consumer stated that this happens every time she slowed down. The problem would occur at 10 mph and slower when pulling into parking spots. There was a recall on this for other gmc vehicles. Recall campaign #05v379000; anti-lock.…”
“Dt: the contact states there is a nhtsa recall campaign 05v379000 concerning the anti lock brakes. This vehicle has the same problems as indicated in the recall, but it is not included in the recall due to vin and the model year. The contact repaired the vehicle at her own expense.*ak”
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1998 GMC Suburban as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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