1998 GMC Suburban Consumer Reviews

7 years of great service

Written by: Jay on 03/24/2007

Vehicle

1998 GMC Suburban 4 Dr K1500 4WD Wagon

Review

We bought our '98 Burb in 2000 w/59000 miles, getting out of a poor quality Chrysler minivan. We knew what to expect as far as gas mileage but didn't as far as reliability. After countless trips back and forth to soccer games, school, 2000 mile vacations, this Burbhas never stranded us on the road and has only been in the shop twice for repair work- intake gasket and fuel pump. The only reason we're selling it is because one of my children is getting ready to drive, so we're downsizing. Except for the 14 mpg around town, this Burb has been as dependable as any Toyota or Honda!

Favorite Features

Suggested Improvements

Build a hybrid Suburban and you'll sell billions of them

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Solid SUV

Written by: I_like_burban on 01/05/2007

Vehicle

1998 GMC Suburban 4 Dr K1500 4WD Wagon

Review

I purchased this vehicle with 114000 miles six months ago. I've needed to patch the A/C lines and replace two U joints. Other than that, the Suburban has been solid. Great on long trips, comfortable, MPG runs 13-14 city and 15-16 hwy. Usable cargo space is excellent with the third row seats out, and I can pack 8 people in when all the seats are installed. Good substitute for a full sized pickup if you don't want to sacrifice seating space. The Suburbans tend to run a couple of thousand dollars less than comparable pickups on the used market as well. If you're buying a Suburban with over 90,000 miles, look for one that has already had the transmission rebuilt.

Favorite Features

Cargo space, seating space, engine power. Comfortable interior. Lots of internal storage areas too.

Suggested Improvements

Rear disc brakes. Nice addition to next two generation Suburbans.

1 out 1 people found this review helpful

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Strongest SUV Ever!

Written by: Automan on 07/25/2005

Vehicle

1998 GMC Suburban 4 Dr K1500 4WD Wagon

Review

Lets start with my truck is the stongest truck I have ever owned. I have the 5.7 V8 4x4 and I tow my 30ft. travel trailer that weighs 7500 dry! It tows it like nothing, sometimes I forget until I look in the rear view mirror. I can tow with it going 65 up steep hills! My Suburban is maroon with tan leather interior. Seats 8 with room for more. We take our friends and their family members everywhere in it. It looks and drives like when I bought it new.

Favorite Features

Leather! CD, Ice cold A/C More than 10 cup holders, power, 4x4. The ride is so soft.

Suggested Improvements

Now that they re-designed the Suburban into the Yukon XL, I don't have anything to suggest. Not that it needs it but, maybe a few extra horses under the hood, I love power.

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Saved My Family's Life

Written by: haocamper on 12/19/2004

Vehicle

1998 GMC Suburban 4 Dr C1500 Wagon

Review

Our 1998 GMC Suburban was totaled in a wreck. Thank God we were in a Suburban! The vehicle rolled and ended up upside down on the expressway. The camper we were towing flipped on it's side causing it and our truck to flip. I have three small children (still in carseats) and we all walked away without a scratch and my husband only had a nasty cut on his arm from the glass. The roof was barely crushed in. My husband is 6'6" and had plenty of head room in the Suburban - it saved his life. I will never own another vehicle but a Suburban seeing how well it held up in the crash. I only had to make minor maintenance repairs over the three years and 130,000 miles that we had it. We will soon be purchasing another one.

Favorite Features

This truck has plenty of room for a family of five and lots of cargo space.

Suggested Improvements

Make it easier access the 3rd row seating. Make the front seats more comfortable - the 2000 models are much improved!

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Best SUV ever

Written by: Vetdoc on 01/23/2004

Vehicle

1998 GMC Suburban 4 Dr K1500 4WD Wagon

Review

I love my 1998 GMC Suburban. I tow a trailer and I have 4 people in my family to travel in it with. Good gas mileage for a big SUV. Very fun to drive and reliable.

Favorite Features

It is powerful. My Suburban has leather. It is long, but still fits in the garage. Nice sound system.

Suggested Improvements

NONE!

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Just Fine

Written by: From the Flatland on 12/06/2003

Vehicle

1998 GMC Suburban 4 Dr K1500 4WD Wagon

Review

Four years and counting. This GMC has been very reliable. It's a smooth ride, easy to maneuver for its size, and about what you can expect for gas mileage. Just about to 100K with pretty much normal maintenance (which is performed religiously).

Favorite Features

Seats and internal features. Engine (350) is perfect for this vehicle. 4WD is great when the snow flies.

Suggested Improvements

Fuel pump has been loud since day one, but it works fine. Getting into/out of the third seat is a challenge. The U jt. in the drive shaft went out at 50K but wasn't a big deal to replace.

1 out 1 people found this review helpful

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Sad Owner

Written by: disheartened on 11/24/2003

Vehicle

1998 GMC Suburban 4 Dr K1500 4WD Wagon

Review

Purchased with 83,000 miles. Now 96,000 miles on the clock. Repairs so far: AC hoses & condensor, ($1,000), front breaks, (Repaired by the dealer), shocks, (%150), front end alignment, (twice so far, $200 combined), intake manifold gaskets, due to coolant leak, ($350). Next trip to the shop is scheduled for 12-2- 03 to diagnose another coolant leak. The dealer can't work on this truck for a week due, I suppose, to all of the other 1998 Suburbans in the shop. Do not buy one of these vehicles.

Favorite Features

Ride, utility, performance

Suggested Improvements

Build quality!!!!!!

1 out 2 people found this review helpful

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Bought Used

Written by: prudence on 10/18/2003

Vehicle

1998 GMC Suburban 4 Dr K1500 4WD Wagon

Review

Bought it used used with 35K+ miles. Added 100K ext warr though AAA. Have 100K+ miles now. Truck looks great and has been roomy, reliable but have only had one GMC dealer do all the work (same dealer has worked on it since sold new). Warranty has come in handy when parts wear out. Truck is quiet. Good off road but heavy. Have lubed, oil and filter every 2k to 3k miles. Use synthetics. Highway mileage 17+ Average/mixed 14.

Favorite Features

Roomy and quiet. Stands tall and long amongst other trucks with tall sized tires. Mine alost as tall as Excursion. Like heated front seats (passenger and driver)

Suggested Improvements

Outside temp, gas milage and distance to empty indicators like my old jeep GC of same year.

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LOVE it or LEAVE it

Written by: kdb on 03/28/2003

Vehicle

1998 GMC Suburban 4 Dr K1500 4WD Wagon

Review

For years I've lusted over the Suburban. However, I thought the new style (2000) was less TRUCK and more Sport Utility. So I bought my 1998. I really use this vehicle and drive it hard. With NUMEROUS cross counrty trips,it is truly an ideal vehicle. I am now getting into what I term as it's "MID LIFE CRISES" and have had to spend some serious money to keep it in the running order I demand. If I didn't love the drive and look of this truck I would have sold it. But as it is I plan on passing 200k before that will happen.

Favorite Features

COMFORT, QUIET, POWER, AMAZING TURNING RADIUS, STYLE

Suggested Improvements

ELECTRICAL COMPONENT ENGINEERING (GM doesn't want to admit this, but all you need to do is review ALL THEIR PRODUCTS)

1 out 1 people found this review helpful

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My Lemon

Written by: dgalliga on 10/24/2002

Vehicle

1998 GMC Suburban 4 Dr K1500 4WD Wagon

Review

I have always liked GM vehicles. Previous to this suburban I had one I purchased in 1992 that I traded on this vehicle with 165,000 miles. It was a great rig. This one however has been nothing but problems since we purchased it. 2 months after we bought it, it needed a new transmission fluid pump, to the tune of $3000. It then had a period of good working for about a year. In the last three months I have had to replace the alternator, the starter, the water pump, the battery, and just learned that I need a brand new transmission today. While the suburban has been an industry standard, I wouldn't recommend this model year.

Favorite Features

The GMAC Extended Warranty. This has been a lifesaver with everything that has beeen wrong with this vehicle. I would highly recommend it for anyone considering purchase of a used 4x4.

Suggested Improvements

My understanding is that other model years have been far more reliable. We have a large family and like to get out into the back woods, so I'll purchase another suburban, because the vehicle's utility can't be beaten, but an extended drivetrain warranty is needed.

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