Total Complaints
1 filings
GMC C/K SUBURBAN (GMC) · model year
1998 GMC C/K SUBURBAN (GMC)
1 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1998GMCC/K SUBURBAN (GMC) carries 1 consumer safety complaint in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1998 C/K SUBURBAN (GMC) is steering:electric power assist system with 1 filings. Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 2 investigation files overlapping the 1998 C/K SUBURBAN (GMC). Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
1
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20080116STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
IN THE LAST WEEK (NO CHANGES IN DRIVING OR RECENT REPAIRS)I HAVE EXPERIENCED SOME VERY SCARY TURNING IN MY 1998 GMC SUBURBAN. BETWEEN 11 AND 1 'O'CLOCK ON THE STEERING WHEEL AT SPEEDS OF BETWEEN 20-35MPH (APPROX), THE FRONT WHEELS SEEM TO SLIP AWAY FROM THEIR INTENDED "LINE'- AS IF I HIT A PATCH OF BLACK ICE. I THOUGHT IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN THE FIRST TIME- THERE WERE SOME PATCHES AROUND; BUT NOW THE PAVEMENT IS CLEAR AND THE PROBLEM IS GETTING WORSE- MORE FREQUENT. OFTEN AFTER EXPERIENCING THIS I TEND TO OVER CORRECT AS IT SEEMS I MAY BE SLIPPING INTO THE SHOULDER OR DITCH. I HAVE NEARLY HIT PARKED CARS AND CARS WAITING TO ENTER THE INTERSECTION I AM LEAVING (AND VICE VERSA). I HAVE BEEN DRIVING SINCE 1973 AND HAVE NEVER HAD A CAR FEEL SO SCARY IN THE FRONT END- LIKE THE STEERING LINKAGE MAY DROP OUT AT THE NEXT TURN. I HAVE NOT CAUSED ANY PROPERTY DAMAGE YET... A SEARCH OF THE PROBLEM ON THE NET POINTS TO AN EPIDEMIC OF THIS PROBLEM IN THE GM LINE-UP. MOST DIY MECHANICS ARE BEING TOLD
Mileage: 153,000
Compare 1998GMCC/K SUBURBAN (GMC) to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1998 GMC C/K SUBURBAN (GMC) have?▼
The 1998 GMC C/K SUBURBAN (GMC) has 1 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1998 GMC C/K SUBURBAN (GMC)?▼
The most-complained component for the 1998 GMC C/K SUBURBAN (GMC) is STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include various components.
Is the 1998 GMC C/K SUBURBAN (GMC) safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.