1998 Chevrolet Suburban Service Brakes, Hydraulic Problems
Owners have filed 57 complaints with NHTSA about service brakes, hydraulic problems on the 1998 Chevrolet Suburban, 28% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 60,595 miles. The words owners use most often: “stopping distance” (12% of reports).
- 57service brakes, hydraulic complaints
- 60,595median miles at failure
- 4mention a crash
- 3mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- 18%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Stopping distance: mentioned in 7 of 57 complaints (12%)
- Front brakes: mentioned in 5 of 57 complaints (9%)
- Master cylinder: mentioned in 5 of 57 complaints (9%)
At what mileage do service brakes, hydraulic problems happen?
Based on 13 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 57 complaints, 4 mention a crash, 3 an injury.
Chevrolet Suburban service brakes, hydraulic complaints by model year
| Model year | Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 Suburban | 1 | 1% | 3,000 |
| 2021 Suburban | 1 | 1% | 30,000 |
| 2019 Suburban | 1 | 1% | 89,000 |
| 2018 Suburban | 2 | 2% | 59,500 |
| 2017 Suburban | 2 | 1% | 48,000 |
| 2016 Suburban | 4 | 2% | 110,416 |
| 2015 Suburban | 3 | 1% | 92,000 |
| 2011 Suburban | 1 | 1% | — |
| 2009 Suburban | 1 | 1% | 44,000 |
| 2007 Suburban | 2 | 1% | 50,000 |
| 2005 Suburban | 7 | 5% | 88,000 |
| 2004 Suburban | 17 | 8% | 38,260 |
| 2003 Suburban | 26 | 9% | 82,500 |
| 2002 Suburban | 68 | 24% | 68,000 |
| 2001 Suburban | 89 | 20% | 66,400 |
| 2000 Suburban | 51 | 18% | 72,000 |
| 1999 Suburban | 223 | 35% | 90,200 |
| 1998 Suburban | 57 | 28% | 60,595 |
| 1997 Suburban | 92 | 22% | 79,275 |
| 1996 Suburban | 129 | 36% | 174,116 |
| 1995 Suburban | 163 | 36% | 120,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:disc:rotor
Problem: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the rotors for a core date of "287" and, if found, replace the rotor.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
I purchased on 11/1997 a new 1998 chevrolet suburban 3/4 ton 2500 series. The suburban has 38,528 original miles and has been garage kept since new. The vehicle has been used primarily as a secondary vehicle for recreational purposes. The suburban has been driven in snow conditions only 12-14…
1. Hard stop to avoid hitting wildlife. Going approximately 40 mph. 2. After the brakes holding for a second or two the pedal dropped to the floor. After that only 1/4 brake power. Once home, observed brake fluid coming from corroded brake lines. 3. I will need to review cost of service. *tr
Dt*: the contact stated while driving 5 mph on normal road conditions and applying the brakes under normal braking conditions, the brakes increased in stopping distance. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, who determined that the left front brake sensor needed to be replaced. After the vehicle was…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 1998 Chevrolet Suburbans have service brakes, hydraulic problems?
No. NHTSA has 57 owner complaints about service brakes, hydraulic for the 1998 Chevrolet Suburban (28% of the 201 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 1998 Chevrolet Suburban service brakes, hydraulic?
Yes: 1 safety recall list service brakes, hydraulic. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do service brakes, hydraulic problems start?
The median reported mileage is 60,595 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
What do owners say about service brakes, hydraulic problems on the 1998 Chevrolet Suburban?
The most frequent phrase is “stopping distance”, in 7 of 57 complaints, followed by “front brakes” (5).
See all 1998 Chevrolet Suburban problems or service brakes, hydraulic problems across all Suburban years.