Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (power windows, windshield, wipers, mirrors, sunroof).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1998 Chevrolet Suburban owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
(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! …
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.
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!!
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.
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.
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.
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!!!!
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!
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.
The windshield wipers do function correctly most of the time. When switched on to the intermittent setting they usually operate at low speed rather than intermittent. When switched off they usually continue wiping for many cycles and then stop seemingly randomly anywhere in there path of travel. Also, the windshiled washer no longer pumps fluid.
Related recalls
Visibility › Rearview mirrors/devices › Exterior
Certain sport utility vehicles, Mini vans, and pickup trucks May develop a short circuit in the electric outside rearview mirror switch.
Remedy: Dealers will install a fused jumper harness to the electric outside rearview mirror switch. Owner notification began on April 24, 2003.
Window & Wiper complaints in other Suburban years
Frequently asked questions
How common are window & wiper problems on the 1998 Chevrolet Suburban?
NHTSA has 46 complaints about the windows, wipers & sunroof of the 1998 Chevrolet Suburban, 23% of the model year's 201 complaints. The component named most often is windshield wiper/washer (13 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1998 Chevrolet Suburban window & wiper problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 03V-093 (exterior, Mar 7, 2003). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 1998 Chevrolet Suburban window & wiper problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 77,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 0 fires and 2 injuries to windows, wipers & sunroof problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.