Most common 1998 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 problems
Share of the 14 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Chevrolet Suburban 1500 complaints by model year
Best Suburban 1500 years: 1995, 1996, 1997. Years to avoid: 2025, 2023, 2011, 2004, 2007. Compare all years →
What 1998 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 owners say
Windows, wipers & sunroof
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.
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.
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!
My wife was traveling back from a friends house with our two and seven year old kids, and the brakes failed she was able to run the truck off the road as to not hit anybody or anything, and was able to stop it, after adding brake fluid and starting the vehicle again, I realized there was fluid coming out of the back of the truck, I saw the metal brake lines are corroded , while the rubber lines seem to be OK. I do not have the type of money to fix a problem of this magnitude, with five children and my wife not working, I think that a vehicle like this shouldn't have failed us like this.
1998 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5.7L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 12 / 17 / 14 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1998 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 a good car?
Based on 14 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1998 Suburban 1500 rates better than average: 88% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Suburban 1500 at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 1998 Chevrolet Suburban 1500?
The windows, wipers & sunroof — 4 complaints, 29% of all complaints for this model year, most often about windshield wiper/washer. Next are the brakes (4) and electrical system (2).
How many recalls does the 1998 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 1998 Chevrolet Suburban 1500. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Chevrolet Suburban 1500?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 1995, 1996 and 1997. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2025, 2023, 2011, 2004 and 2007. See the full Chevrolet Suburban 1500 years comparison.
At what mileage do 1998 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 136,000 miles; 0% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.