NAR 03-31-2003 *MR CONSUMER EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH WHEEL BEARING, HEATER CONTROL SWITCH, GAS GAUGE, RIGHT DOOR LOCK, BRAKES, AND OIL SENDING HOSES. *CB
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
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.
Visibility complaints
256 reportsTHE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED TO WORK WHEN NEEDED. *JB
THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS HAVE FAILED REPEATEDLY WHILE IN USE. THE WIPERS CHANGE SPEED ON THEIR OWN AND/OR TURN THEMSELVES OFF ON THEIR OWN. THIS CONDITION APPEARS TO BE RELATED TO THE WIPER MOTOR WIRING OR CIRCUITRY TO THE WIPER MOTOR SIDE OF THE WIRING HARNESS. HAVE HAD THE DELAY SWITCH REPLACE ONCE AND THE MOTOR REPLACED ONCE BU…
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THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS HAVE FAILED REPEATEDLY WHILE IN USE. THE WIPERS CHANGE SPEED ON THEIR OWN AND/OR TURN THEMSELVES OFF ON THEIR OWN. THIS CONDITION APPEARS TO BE RELATED TO THE WIPER MOTOR WIRING OR CIRCUITRY TO THE WIPER MOTOR SIDE OF THE WIRING HARNESS. HAVE HAD THE DELAY SWITCH REPLACE ONCE AND THE MOTOR REPLACED ONCE BUT THE PROBLEM KEEPS RETURNING. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THIS PROBLEM IS THE SAME AS THE ONE FOUND UNDER #98043. *NLM
THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS HAVE FAILED REPEATEDLY WHILE IN USE. THE WIPERS CHANGE SPEED ON THEIR OWN AND/OR TURN THEMSELVES OFF ON THEIR OWN, SOMETIMES WITHIN THE FIELD OF VIEW OF THE DRIVER. THIS CONDITION APPEARS TO BE RELATED TO THE WIPER MOTOR WIRING OR CIRCUITRY TO THE WIPER MOTOR SIDE OF THE WIRING HARNESS. I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO …
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THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS HAVE FAILED REPEATEDLY WHILE IN USE. THE WIPERS CHANGE SPEED ON THEIR OWN AND/OR TURN THEMSELVES OFF ON THEIR OWN, SOMETIMES WITHIN THE FIELD OF VIEW OF THE DRIVER. THIS CONDITION APPEARS TO BE RELATED TO THE WIPER MOTOR WIRING OR CIRCUITRY TO THE WIPER MOTOR SIDE OF THE WIRING HARNESS. I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO RESTART THE WIPERS BY JIGGLING THE WIRING HARNESS, BUT OBVIOUSLY THIS IS NOT A SAFE CONDITION.*JB
OIL COILER LINES LEAKED FROM THE DAY I BOUGHT IT FROM THE DEALER. DEALER DEFINITELY KNEW AND CLEANED IT UP BEFORE I GOT IT. 1ST SET OF LINES FROM RADIATOR TO OIL FILTER REPLACED A FEW MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE IN 2001. SECOND SET FROM FILTER TO MOTOR NOW NEED REPLACING. EVIDENTLY, THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. WIPERS HAVE T…
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OIL COILER LINES LEAKED FROM THE DAY I BOUGHT IT FROM THE DEALER. DEALER DEFINITELY KNEW AND CLEANED IT UP BEFORE I GOT IT. 1ST SET OF LINES FROM RADIATOR TO OIL FILTER REPLACED A FEW MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE IN 2001. SECOND SET FROM FILTER TO MOTOR NOW NEED REPLACING. EVIDENTLY, THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. WIPERS HAVE THEIR OWN AGENDA. WITH THE MIST SETTING TO CLEAN WINDOWS, WIPERS STAY ON FOR AS LONG AS THEY WANT. WITH THE SECOND MIST, THEY DON'T STAY ON AS LONG. BY THE THIRD MIST, WIPERS ACT NORMAL. ALWAYS HAPPENS. TURN SIGNAL FLASHER SOUND STARTED WITHOUT THE USE OF THE TURN SIGNAL. IT STAYS ON FOR RANDOM LENGTHS OF TIME, AND MAKES THE SOUND IN REGULAR, AND IRREGULAR PATTERNS. REPLACING MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH - AS SEVERAL HAVE BEFORE ME. DEALER KNEW EXACTLY WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. TRANFER CASE LEAKS LUBE. 4-WHEEL DRIVE MESSED UP BECAUSE OF EMPTY CASE. ADDED LUBE AND HOPE NO TRANMISSION PROBLEMS ARRISE. CV JOINT REPLACED 4 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE. HOOD LATCH ABOUT TO BREAK. WHEN PULLING ON LEAVER, BARELY IS ABLE TO POP HOOD. FEELS LIKE WIRE IS GOING TO SNAP. WAITING FOR THE NEXT PROBLEM TO OCCUR - IT HAS BEEN NONSTOP. GM DESIGNED A TERRIBLE VEHICLE. I AM VERY DISSATISFIED AND I REGRET EVER BUYING IT.
WHILE DRIVING AND WITH NO WARNING, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD WORK INTERMITTENTLY, AND SOMETIMES NOT AT ALL. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK THE CONSUMER WOULD MOVE THE WIPERS TO GET THEM TO START AGAIN. SCC
CHEVY'S MOTTO FOR THEIR TRUCKS ON THEIR WEBSITE IS...... " THE MOST DEPENDABLE LONG LASTING TRUCKS ON THE ROAD " I BOUGHT A 1998 CHEVY BLAZER IN DECMBER 2001 ...........THIS TRUCK IS NOT DEPENDABLE NOR IS IT LONG LASTING. I HAVE BEEN CONCERNED ABOUT THE RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE. A REPRESENTATIVE FROM CHEVY TOLD ME THA…
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CHEVY'S MOTTO FOR THEIR TRUCKS ON THEIR WEBSITE IS...... " THE MOST DEPENDABLE LONG LASTING TRUCKS ON THE ROAD " I BOUGHT A 1998 CHEVY BLAZER IN DECMBER 2001 ...........THIS TRUCK IS NOT DEPENDABLE NOR IS IT LONG LASTING. I HAVE BEEN CONCERNED ABOUT THE RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE. A REPRESENTATIVE FROM CHEVY TOLD ME THAT MY VEHICLES VIN # WAS NOT PART OF THIS RECALL. IS THERE ANY WAY I CAN VERIFY THIS WITHOUT HAVING TO PAY FOR IT? MY VIN # IS [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
WIPER STOPPED WORKING INTERMEDIATELY. REPLACED UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS, IDLER ARM, CAP, ROTOR AND COIL WIRE. PH
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT WARNING, THE LEFT SIDE REAR VIEW MIRROR FELL OFF. DEALER WILL BE NOTIFIED. *JG
WINDSHIELD WIPER MECHANISM REPLACED ONCE HOWEVER THE MOTOR MALFUNCTIONED AGAIN. DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THERE IS NO RECALL SO THEY CAN DO ANYTHING ABOUT. *TS *TT
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.
Illustration