VehicleVerdict

1998 Chevrolet Suburban visibility & wipers problems

The 1998 Chevrolet Suburban has 54 visibility & wipers complaints filed with NHTSA — 18% of the year's total, and up sharply from the prior model year.

54

Visibility & Wipers complaints

18%

Share of year

0

Crash-involved

1

Related recalls

Visibility & Wipers complaints by year

Suburban visibility & wipers complaints by model year176 complaints1988: 1 complaints1989: 1 complaints1990: 1 complaints1992: 18 complaints1993: 45 complaints1994: 176 complaints1995: 53 complaints1996: 44 complaints1997: 37 complaints1998: 54 complaints1999: 47 complaints2000: 24 complaints2001: 14 complaints2002: 10 complaints2003: 13 complaints2004: 10 complaints2005: 5 complaints2007: 3 complaints2008: 5 complaints2010: 1 complaints2011: 3 complaints2012: 2 complaints2013: 3 complaints2014: 2 complaints2015: 6 complaints2016: 3 complaints2017: 1 complaints2019: 2 complaints2020: 1 complaints2021: 2 complaints2022: 1 complaints2023: 5 complaints2024: 1 complaints
Suburban visibility & wipers complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

Related recalls

03V093000Visibility & WipersMarch 7, 2003 · 507,171 units

Defect

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

Consequence

IF THIS WERE TO HAPPEN, IT COULD RESULT IN AN INOPERATIVE SWITCH, HEAT DAMAGE TO THE DRIVER'S DOOR, AND/OR IGNITION OF COMPONENTS IN THE DRIVER'S DOOR AND A SUBSEQUENT VEHICLE FIRE WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

Remedy

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 CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020 OR GMC AT 1-800-462-8782.

What owners report

“WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING, STOPPED AND SAW YELLOW SMOKE COMING FROM BEHIND DRIVER'S DOOR PANEL, SPARKS WERE FLYING. SMOKE STOPPED, FUSE HAD BLOWN. MECHANIC FOUND THAT WIRE TO OUTSIDE MIRROR SWITCH. *AK AFTER FURTHER INVESTIGATION, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE WIRE WAS 14 GAUGE. THE…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Visibility & Wipers · May 22, 2001

Common questions

How many visibility & wipers complaints does the 1998 Chevrolet Suburban have?

NHTSA has 54 complaints about the 1998 Chevrolet Suburban visibility & wipers — 18% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Are there recalls for the 1998 Chevrolet Suburban visibility & wipers?

Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign for this model year is tied to the visibility & wipers: 03V093000.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.