IllustrationSAME PROBLEM WITH WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPING AND STARTING IN ANY WEATHER I HAVE HAD CONTACT WITH G.M. VIA MR, TIM SINDEL AND WAS TOLD THAT BASICALLY THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH MY 1998 AND THAT SINCE I'M NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNER SORRY ABOUT YOUR LUCK EVEN THOUGH MY VEHICLE ONLY HAS 62,000 MILES.*AK
1998 Chevrolet Blazer
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Blazer years
Owner complaints for the 1998 Chevrolet Blazer are substantially higher than the model-year median of 32.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Blazer years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
100–25K
4425–50K
9350–75K
6775–100K
41100–150K
14150K+
269 reports with mileage · 447 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Visibility. Review the 256 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Seats. Review the 84 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 74 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
46 crash reports15 fire reports31 injury reports
Visibility complaints
256 reportsWHILE DRIVING OVER BUMPS AND USING THE WINDSHIELDS WIPERSS, THEY WILL STOP FUNCTIONING WITHOUT WARNING. *AK
THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL ENGAGE THEN GO OFF BY ITSELF. NOW IT WILL QUIT WORKING WHILE IT IS ENGAGED. THE CONSUMER HAS TO PUSH THE WIPER PLUG IN TO RESTART THE WIPERS. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THIS IS DUE TO A CRACK IN THE SOLDER JOINTS ON THE CONTROLLER CIRCUIT BOARD. THERE'S A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE 03V159000 BUT THE VIN # IS …
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THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL ENGAGE THEN GO OFF BY ITSELF. NOW IT WILL QUIT WORKING WHILE IT IS ENGAGED. THE CONSUMER HAS TO PUSH THE WIPER PLUG IN TO RESTART THE WIPERS. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THIS IS DUE TO A CRACK IN THE SOLDER JOINTS ON THE CONTROLLER CIRCUIT BOARD. THERE'S A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE 03V159000 BUT THE VIN # IS OUTSIDE THE REMEDY SCOPE. *NM
WIPERS ARE WORKING RARELY AND DIRECTIONAL SOUNDS WHEN DIRECTIONALS ARE OFF.*AK
WINDSHIELD WIPERS SOMETIMES STOP ON THERE OWN. SOMETIMES THEY ARE ON INTERMITENT AND JUST START WORKING LIKE THE ON THE NORMAL SETTING. SOMETIMES WHEN I SHUT THEM OFF THEY WON'T STOP. I HAVE CALLED GENERAL MOTORS AND EVEN THOUGH THERE IS A RECALL FOR 1997 BLAZERS FOR THIS PROBLEM, SINCE MY BLAZER IS A 1998(MANUFACTURE DATE 10/97…
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WINDSHIELD WIPERS SOMETIMES STOP ON THERE OWN. SOMETIMES THEY ARE ON INTERMITENT AND JUST START WORKING LIKE THE ON THE NORMAL SETTING. SOMETIMES WHEN I SHUT THEM OFF THEY WON'T STOP. I HAVE CALLED GENERAL MOTORS AND EVEN THOUGH THERE IS A RECALL FOR 1997 BLAZERS FOR THIS PROBLEM, SINCE MY BLAZER IS A 1998(MANUFACTURE DATE 10/97) THEY WILL NOT HELP ME AT ALL.*AK
FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS QUIT WORKING WHILE ENGAGED OR ENGAGEING BY THEMSELVES IN THE FASTEST MODE. CONSUMER HAD TO TURN VEHICLE OFF AND RESTART IT TO CORRECT BOTH FAILURES. RECALL 03V159000 WAS ISSUED, BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK
WINDSHIELD WIPERS DON'T OPERATE PROPERLY. WINDSHIELD WIPERS SOMETIMES COME ON BY THEMSELVES, AND WILL NOT TURN OFF. ALSO, WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL STOP OPERATING DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE WIPERS AND INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THERE IS A WIRING PROBLEM WITH THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS. *AK *NM
1998 CHEVROLET BLAZER. WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING WITHOUT WARNING. THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM FOR US SINCE WE LIVE IN ONE OF THE SNOWY STATES. VERY DANGEROUS WHEN DRIVING IN A SNOW STORM AND THEY QUIT WORKING. *JB
WINDSHIELD WIPERS CAME ON AND OFF. WINDSHIELD WIPERS STAYED ON WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS ON. *AK
1998 CHEVROLET BLAZER. WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOP WORKING WITHOUT WARNING. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR ABOUT 10 MONTHS. EARLIER AND LATER BLAZERS HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT NOT THE 1998 MODEL YEAR. I BELIEVE THE RECALL SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO INCLUDE 1998 MODELS.
Official recalls
300V220000 · Exterior Lighting
Aug 11, 2000
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS BUILT WITH A CANDELA VALUE GREATER THAN 3,000 CANNOT BE MOUNTED HIGHER THAN 864MM ABOVE THE ROAD SURFACE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 108.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A REVISED WIRING HARNESS THAT CHANGES THE DRL'S FROM HIGH BEAM TO LOW BEAM DRL'S, AND INSTALL NEW LONG-LIFE LOW BEAM BULBS.
98V053000 · Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Arm
Mar 9, 1998
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MULTI-PURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLE EQUIPPED WITH 4-WHEEL DRIVE OR ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE. ONE OR BOTH OF THE ATTACHING NUTS FOR THE RIGHT-HAND LOWER CONTROL ARM ARE UNDER TORQUED. THIS CAN ALLOW THE ATTACHMENT BOLT TO LOOSEN AND SUBSEQUENT BREAK RESULTING IN SEPARATION OF THE LOWER CONTROL ARM FROM THE FRAME.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND RETIGHTEN THE RIGHT-HAND LOWER CONTROL ARM NUTS TO THE PROPER TORQUE SPECIFICATION.
97V218000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
Nov 24, 1997
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS AND MULTI-PURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLES. A FATIGUE FRACTURE OF THE REAR AXLE RIGHT-HAND BRAKE PIPE CAN OCCUR CAUSING A SLOW BRAKE FLUID LEAK RESULTING IN A SOFT BRAKE PEDAL. IF THE BRAKE PIPE BREAKS, THE DRIVER WOULD EXPERIENCE A SUDDEN DROP IN THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BRAKE LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE, AND THERE WOULD BE A LOSS OF REAR BRAKE PERFORMANCE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: PARTIAL LOSS OF BRAKING AT A TIME WHEN MINIMUM STOPPING DISTANCE WAS REQUIRED COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE BRAKE PIPE.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1RQ02012 · Front Control Arm Ball Joints
Opened Sep 10, 2002 · Closed Mar 7, 2003
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension; Suspension:front; Suspension:front:control Arm; Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Arm; Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Ball Joint; Suspension:front:control Arm:upper Arm; Suspension:front:control Arm:upper Ball Joint
SEE ATTACHED PAGE.
Additional source detail variants (7)
Suspension:front:control Arm
SEE ATTACHED PAGE.
Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Arm
SEE ATTACHED PAGE.
Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Ball Joint
SEE ATTACHED PAGE.
Suspension:front:control Arm:upper Arm
SEE ATTACHED PAGE.
Suspension:front:control Arm:upper Ball Joint
SEE ATTACHED PAGE.
Suspension:front
SEE ATTACHED PAGE.
Suspension
SEE ATTACHED PAGE.