Illustration1998 CHEVROLET BLAZER, WINDSHIELD WIPERS ACTS ERRATIC. RECENTLY HAVE NOT BEEN COMING ON WHEN TURNED ON. *NM
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 reportsISSUES ONE WOULD NOT EXPECT FROM A 20K PLUS VEHICLE INCLUDING WINDSHIELD WIPER BLADE FAILURE TODAY ("NEAR MISS" ACCIDENT FROM HEAVY RAIN AND TRAFFIC), SMOKE EMITTING FROM STEERING COLUMN, CONTINUOUS INTERMITTENT REPETITIVE SOUNDS EMITTING FROM TURN SIGNAL CONTROLLER(S). SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS HAVE ALL PREVIOUSLY BEEN DESCRIBED IN G…
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ISSUES ONE WOULD NOT EXPECT FROM A 20K PLUS VEHICLE INCLUDING WINDSHIELD WIPER BLADE FAILURE TODAY ("NEAR MISS" ACCIDENT FROM HEAVY RAIN AND TRAFFIC), SMOKE EMITTING FROM STEERING COLUMN, CONTINUOUS INTERMITTENT REPETITIVE SOUNDS EMITTING FROM TURN SIGNAL CONTROLLER(S). SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS HAVE ALL PREVIOUSLY BEEN DESCRIBED IN GREAT DETAIL BY OTHER OWNERS AS: AN INSTRUMENT CLUSTER ISSUE, WIPER CONTROL BOARD, VARIOUS CONNECTORS AND OR HARNESS, MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH, SMOKE CONCERNS ETC. LISTED FROM COMPLAINTS FROM ODI CASE NUMBERS: 743685, 10014026, 10023129, 10030946, 10036610, 10045357, 10060630, 10066061, 10086138, 10086896, 10098912, 10103977, 10112458, 10137415, 549079, 847885, 866953, 874993. *JB
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY. THERE WAS AN NHTSA RECALL, # 98V150001, REGARDING THE VISIBILITY: WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.
WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK SPORADICALLY AND NEVER IN HEAVY RAIN. SOMETIMES THEY WORK IN LIGHT RAIN BUT THEN QUIT ALL TOGETHER. REFUSE TO PUT ANY MORE MONEY INTO THIS MONEY PIT AND GET THEM FIXED. ASSUMING IT'S AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE ON THIS BLAZER MODEL. AM LOOKING FOR A NEW CAR AND ONLY DRIVE BLAZER WHEN CONDITI…
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WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK SPORADICALLY AND NEVER IN HEAVY RAIN. SOMETIMES THEY WORK IN LIGHT RAIN BUT THEN QUIT ALL TOGETHER. REFUSE TO PUT ANY MORE MONEY INTO THIS MONEY PIT AND GET THEM FIXED. ASSUMING IT'S AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE ON THIS BLAZER MODEL. AM LOOKING FOR A NEW CAR AND ONLY DRIVE BLAZER WHEN CONDITIONS ARE DRY. *NM
1998 CHEVY BLAZER WITH MULTITUDE OF PROBLEMS, WHICH CHEVY DENIES. INCLUDING WIPER FAILURE, BRAKE FAILURE, COMPLETE CORROSION OF ANYTHING TOUCHED BY DEXCOOL, AND ON AND ON. VERY UNSAFE VEHICLE!!!!! *NM
1998 CHEVROLET BLAZER WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILURES 1) WIPER OPERATION HAS BEEN INTERMITTENT AND DOES NOT ALWAYS FUNCTION WHEN WIPER CONTROLS ARE EXERCISED. OCCURRENCE OF THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN ONGOING SINCE THIS VEHICLES' INITIAL PURCHASE IN 12/97. 2) WIPER FAILURE HAS RESULTED IN UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITIONS AND NEAR COLLISION…
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1998 CHEVROLET BLAZER WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILURES 1) WIPER OPERATION HAS BEEN INTERMITTENT AND DOES NOT ALWAYS FUNCTION WHEN WIPER CONTROLS ARE EXERCISED. OCCURRENCE OF THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN ONGOING SINCE THIS VEHICLES' INITIAL PURCHASE IN 12/97. 2) WIPER FAILURE HAS RESULTED IN UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITIONS AND NEAR COLLISIONS WITH OTHER VEHICLES. 3) INITIAL INVESTIGATION HAS DEEMED POTENTIAL CAUSES OF FAILURE TO BE CRACKED SOLDER JOINTS IN WIPER MOTOR CIRCUIT MODULE AND/OR DEFECTIVE WIPER CONTROL SWITCH. CORRESPONDING CORRECTIVE ACTION IS REPLACEMENT OF BOTH: WIPER MOTOR CIRCUIT MODULE AND WIPER CONTROL SWITCH. *JB
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE THE REAR WINDSHIELD EXPLODED. THE GARAGE DOOR AND THE WINDOWS IN THE VEHICLE WERE OPEN. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE TO SEE IF SOMETHING STRUCK THE WINDOW HOWEVER NO OBJECT WAS FOUND. THE DEALERSHIP HAS NOT BEEN ALERTED. UPDATED 6/12/2006 -*NM
WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAIL TO OPERATE WHEN SWITCHED ON AND/OR SHUT-OFF WITHOUT WARNING IN ALL POSITIONS EXCEPT THE FULL-ON POSITION. *NM
DT*: THE CONSUMER STATED THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 03V159000, REGARDING THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR. THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER AND MODEL YEAR WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *JB
WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON I-5 @ 70 MPH. I PULLED OVER AND LOOKED AT THE WIPER MOTOR , TAPPED THE WIRE HARNESS , IT WORKED FOR ABOUT 10 MILES, DID THEY DO A RECALL???? ANYONE KNOW !!!. *JB
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
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Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Ball Joint
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Suspension:front:control Arm:upper Arm
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Suspension:front:control Arm:upper Ball Joint
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Suspension:front
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Suspension
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