1998 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 Problems
- Complaints
- 14filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 136,000miles, 11 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 0campaigns on record
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
- NHTSA crash rating
- —overall rating starts with 2011 models
- EPA fuel economy
- 14 mpgcombined, 5.7L 8-cyl RWD · 12 city / 17 hwy
Sources: NHTSA records for the 1998 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error
NHTSA recorded 14 consumer complaints for the 1998 Chevrolet Suburban 1500. The part named most often is brakes, with 4 complaints (29% of the total), followed by visibility (4) and electrical system (2). 11 of the complaints include a mileage, and 0% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 136,000 miles. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 4 technical service bulletins for this model year.
This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.
Which parts are reported most
Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.
- Brakes4 29%
- Electrical system2 14%
- Seat belts1 7.1%
- Steering1 7.1%
- Body and structure1 7.1%
- Tires1 7.1%
- Vehicle speed control1 7.1%
Example complaints
Brakes: “Drove vehicle to a local establishment, all was find. When I returned, started the truck, pushed brake pedal to put the car into reverse and it went to the floor. Pumped the pedal twice to see if brakes would return and they did not. Inspected underneath and saw brake fluid. Had the truck towed to a local garage and they had to replace a rotted line that had burst. This is an extreme safety hazard, had the vehicle been in motion this could have resulted in a severe accident. I know there are discussion of brake issues starting in the 1999 models, but this is the exact same in the 1998!”
NHTSA complaint #10783022, filed 2015-10, 201,100 milesVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors): “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.”
NHTSA complaint #10177420, filed 2006-12, 136,000 milesElectrical system: “When it is raining water gets into the blower motor of the HVAC and short out the motor which can cause the defrost, heat, or air to stop working which is potentially a hazard. Water and electronics are not really friendly together. It has happened many times.”
NHTSA complaint #10981570, filed 2017-05Seat belts: “The passengers side front seat belt will not extend out fully.cannot find anything wrong with it like debris or coins down inside to jam it ,its obviously a factory defect that I now seealot of people have.”
NHTSA complaint #10916261, filed 2016-10Mileage when problems were reported
0% of the 11 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 88,000 and 194,000 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Fewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
Fuel economy and running cost
EPA ratings for each 1998 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).
| Version | Engine | Transmission | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suburban 1500 2WD | 5.7L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 12 | 17 | 14 | $4,800 |
Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.
Recalls and investigations
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 1998 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 in the data used here. A recall can apply to some vehicles of a model year and not others, so check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Technical service bulletins
TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 4 on record; the latest 4 are shown.
- 10232287Feb 21, 2023Equipment. This warranty administration bulletin provides information regarding the field action courtesy transportation policy.
- 10082506Aug 26, 2016Equipment. This technical bulletin provides a procedure to reprogram the media disc player with the latest calibrations to correct a condition of the rear entertainment system not operating as intended in…
- 10248444Jun 30, 2014Equipment. Vehicle Recalls
- 10246631Sep 1, 2013Engine cooling. Expanded Availability for Remanufacture and Return (R&R) Electronic Control Modules
Other model years of the Chevrolet Suburban 1500
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 18 | 8,250 | 3 | 5 | 17 | — | Too new |
| 2025 | 32 | 17,000 | 1 | 5 | 17 | Too new to compare | Too new |
| 2023 | 17 | — | 1 | — | — | — | Too new |
| 2011 | 80 | 80,000 | 2 | — | 17 | 67 · More | Falling |
| 2010 | 53 | 67,500 | 0 | — | 17 | 51 · Typical | Stable |
| 2009 | 55 | 77,500 | 0 | — | 16 | 35 · Fewer | Stable |
| 2008 | 101 | 69,000 | 0 | — | 16 | 49 · Typical | Stable |
| 2007 | 190 | 72,500 | 0 | — | 16 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2006 | 31 | 68,000 | 1 | — | 14 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2005 | 94 | 60,000 | 0 | — | 15 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2004 | 182 | 83,999 | 0 | — | 15 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2003 | 175 | 90,000 | 0 | — | 14 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2002 | 120 | 98,000 | 0 | — | 14 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2001 | 92 | 108,000 | 0 | — | 14 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2000 | 67 | 118,000 | 0 | — | 14 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1999 | 74 | 100,000 | 0 | — | 14 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1998 | 14 | 136,000 | 0 | — | 14 | — | Not enough data |
| 1997 | 16 | 130,000 | 0 | — | 14 | — | Stable |
| 1996 | 9 | 149,500 | 0 | — | 14 | — | Not enough data |
| 1995 | 8 | 159,500 | 0 | — | 13 | — | Not enough data |
| 1994 | 9 | 155,005 | 0 | — | 13 | — | Not enough data |
All Chevrolet Suburban 1500 model years · Best and worst years by complaints
Frequently asked questions
How many NHTSA complaints does the 1998 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 have?
NHTSA recorded 14 consumer complaints for the 1998 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 as of Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 1998 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 is reported most often?
Brakes is named most often, in 4 complaints (29% of the total), followed by visibility with 4.
Has the 1998 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 been recalled?
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year in the data used here. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 1998 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 get?
The EPA rates the 1998 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 (Suburban 1500 2WD, 5.7L 8-cyl) at 14 mpg combined, 12 city and 17 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,800 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.
At what mileage are problems with the 1998 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 reported?
Among the 11 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 136,000 miles and the middle half falls between 88,000 and 194,000 miles; 0% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).
Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.