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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 →

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.

46 crash reports15 fire reports31 injury reports

Wheels complaints

8 reports
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61,500 miles · Aug 4, 2004
SeatsWheels

AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE THE DEALER COULD NOT GET BOTH SIDES OF THE BACK SEATS TO LAY FLAT ONLY THE RIGHT SIDE. ANOTHER COMPLAINT IS I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE SHOP BECAUSE IT SOUNDED LIKE THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE WAS WARPED AND WHEN THE MECHANIC DID THE DIAGNOSIS OF THE FRONT THE HUB ASSEMBLY HAD TO BE REPLACED. I WAS WONDERING IF ANY…

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AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE THE DEALER COULD NOT GET BOTH SIDES OF THE BACK SEATS TO LAY FLAT ONLY THE RIGHT SIDE. ANOTHER COMPLAINT IS I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE SHOP BECAUSE IT SOUNDED LIKE THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE WAS WARPED AND WHEN THE MECHANIC DID THE DIAGNOSIS OF THE FRONT THE HUB ASSEMBLY HAD TO BE REPLACED. I WAS WONDERING IF ANY COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN MADE OR IS THERE PENDING RECALLS FOR THESE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10086153

40,000 miles · Mar 30, 2003
WheelsCrash

THE SPARE TIRE THAT IS ON THE BACK OF THE 1998 CHEVROLET BLAZER ZR2 , BLOCKS YOUR VIEW. ESPECIALLY TO SMALL VEHICLES. I HAVE HAD 1 ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THIS. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10013702

Mileage unknown · Aug 13, 2002
Wheels

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH RIGHT FRONT WHEEL SEPARATED FROM VEHICLE BECAUSE 5 BOLTS WERE BROKEN, ALL 5 BOLTS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING, EXAMINATION OF THE WHEEL LUG HOLES SHOWED NO EVIDENCE THAT THE WHEEL WAS LOOSE PRIOR TO THIS FAILURE.*AK *NLM

NHTSA ODI #8016194

Mileage unknown · Aug 22, 2001
SuspensionWheels

WHILE DRIVING 60-65 MPH VEHICLE WENT TOWARDS LEFT AND WAS HARD TO CONTROL, AFTER PULLING OVER, CONSUMER NOTICED DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL WAS SIDEWAYS. A BROKEN UPPER BALL JOINT. NO ACCIDENT.*AK AFTER TAKEN TO MECHANIC FOR REPAIR HE NOTICED THE OTHER SIDE WAS ALSO BAD. REPAIRS INCLUDED UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS ON DRIVER'S AND P…

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WHILE DRIVING 60-65 MPH VEHICLE WENT TOWARDS LEFT AND WAS HARD TO CONTROL, AFTER PULLING OVER, CONSUMER NOTICED DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL WAS SIDEWAYS. A BROKEN UPPER BALL JOINT. NO ACCIDENT.*AK AFTER TAKEN TO MECHANIC FOR REPAIR HE NOTICED THE OTHER SIDE WAS ALSO BAD. REPAIRS INCLUDED UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS ON DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDES. WHEEL WAS ALSO DAMAGED. *YH

NHTSA ODI #894889

Mileage unknown · Apr 23, 2001
Service Brakes, HydraulicWheels

WE TOOK THE CAR IN FOR BRAKE PADS AND THE INSTALLER SAID THE DRUMS WERE WORN DOWN TO ALMOST NOTHING. THEY SHOULD NOT WEAR OUT THAT FAST. THE BACK IS FINE JUST THE FRONT. I ALSO WANT TO TELL YOU ABOUT A 1992 CADILLAC THE ALLOY WHEELS OF OUR FLEETWOOD ARE BAD. WE HAVE PUT MANY DIFFERENT TIRES ON AND THEY ALL GO FLAT BECAUSE…

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WE TOOK THE CAR IN FOR BRAKE PADS AND THE INSTALLER SAID THE DRUMS WERE WORN DOWN TO ALMOST NOTHING. THEY SHOULD NOT WEAR OUT THAT FAST. THE BACK IS FINE JUST THE FRONT. I ALSO WANT TO TELL YOU ABOUT A 1992 CADILLAC THE ALLOY WHEELS OF OUR FLEETWOOD ARE BAD. WE HAVE PUT MANY DIFFERENT TIRES ON AND THEY ALL GO FLAT BECAUSE OF THE ALLOY WHEELS. YOU WILL BE GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND THE TIRES GO FLATE. NOONE SEEMS TO BE ABLE TO FIX THEM BECAUSE THEY ARE ALLOY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #744399

Mileage unknown · Mar 29, 2001
Wheels

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #743251

Mileage unknown · Mar 12, 2001
Wheels

WHEEL COULD COME OFF AT ANY TIME. MECHANIC FOUND A DESIGN PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #882745

Mileage unknown · Dec 4, 2000
Wheels

HEARD GRINDING NOISE WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, MOSTLY WHILE MAKING TURNS. TOOK VEHICLE TO REPAIR SHOP, AND WAS TOLD THAT WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #875911

Official recalls

3

00V220000 · 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

1

RQ02012 · 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.