Model year guide

1998 GMC Suburban

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 1998 GMC Suburban is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 2 on record.

1998 GMC Suburban at a glance

Safety recalls3
Owner complaints119
Combined14 mpg

Free: that car's specs and build sheet, model-year recall campaigns and a fair price.

1998 GMC Suburban recalls 3

Fuel System, Gasoline NHTSA Campaign #06E043000 · 19/05/2006

CERTAIN REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS, FRAM BRAND NAME P/N G3727, WITH DATE CODES X52911 THROUGH X60801 SEQUENTIALLY OR X600141 AND A MEXICO COUNTRY OR ORIGIN MARKING ON THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 18, 2005, THROUGH MARCH 21, 2006, SOLD FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE AND ON CERTAIN SCHOOL BUSES. (TO SEE THE SCHOOL BUS ENGINE SIZES, CLICK ON "DOCUMENT SEARCH" AND THEN "BUS APPLICATIONS"). THE…

Fix: HONEYWELL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FUEL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 18, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-890-2075 (OPTION 1).

Visibility:rearview Mirrors/devices:exterior NHTSA Campaign #03V093000 · 07/03/2003

CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, MINI VANS, AND PICKUP TRUCKS MAY DEVELOP A SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE ELECTRIC OUTSIDE REARVIEW MIRROR SWITCH.

Fix: 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 CONTA…

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:disc:rotor NHTSA Campaign #98V033000 · 17/02/1998

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.

Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE ROTORS FOR A CORE DATE OF "287" AND, IF FOUND, REPLACE THE ROTOR.

Source: U.S. NHTSA. A campaign covers the model year; to see whether a particular car still needs the repair, check its VIN on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer.

1998 GMC Suburban common problems

Owners have filed 119 complaints with NHTSA. These are the most-reported areas in a sample of the most recent — and what to check before you buy.

Service Brakes
Brakes should feel firm and quiet — no grinding, pulsing or pulling. Check for an ABS light and uneven pad/rotor wear.
Hydraulic
Have a trusted mechanic inspect this system as part of a pre-purchase inspection.
Tires
Check tread depth, the DOT age date, and that all four tires match with even wear. Look for bulges or cracks.
Seats
Have a trusted mechanic inspect this system as part of a pre-purchase inspection.
Fuel System
Sniff for fuel odor, check for leaks, hard starts or stalling, and confirm the fuel gauge reads correctly.
Other
Have a trusted mechanic inspect this system as part of a pre-purchase inspection.

1998 GMC Suburban MPG & running costs

Combined14 mpg
City12 mpg
Highway17 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$4,800
EPA size classSpecial Purpose Vehicle 2WD
TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd
5-yr fuel cost vs average new car$12,000 more

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 1998 GMC Suburban costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$24,000
Fuel only$24,000
Per mile$0.32

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. There aren't enough comparable listings to estimate depreciation for this model, so it is left out. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

1998 GMC Suburban trims & engines on record

Trims
1500
Engines
5.7L 8-cyl

1998 GMC Suburban vehicles on record

Other GMC Suburban model years

1998 GMC Suburban — frequently asked questions

Does the 1998 GMC Suburban have any safety recalls?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 1998 GMC Suburban. Whether an individual car still needs a recall repair depends on its VIN — check it on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer. Recall repairs are free.

What are the most common problems with the 1998 GMC Suburban?

Owners have filed 119 complaints with NHTSA; in a sample of the most recent, the most-reported problem areas are service brakes, hydraulic, tires.

What gas mileage does the 1998 GMC Suburban get?

The 1998 GMC Suburban has a U.S. EPA estimate of 14 mpg combined (12 city / 17 highway).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.