IllustrationWINDSHIELD 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
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
What owners actually said
716 reportsTHE TURN SIGNAL ON MY BLAZER WON'T STOP CLICKING. *JB
TURN SIGNAL FLASHER UNIT CONTINUES TO "CLICK" WHEN TURN SIGNALS ARE NOT IN USE. LIGHTS DO NOT FLASH. CLICKING STOPS WHEN BRAKES APPLIED. APPEARS THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN ONGOING IN GM SUV'S SINCE MID 80'S. RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR SOME 2000-2002 GM SUV'S. PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE WITH THE LUBRICANT USED IN THE TURN SIGNAL …
Read full complaint
TURN SIGNAL FLASHER UNIT CONTINUES TO "CLICK" WHEN TURN SIGNALS ARE NOT IN USE. LIGHTS DO NOT FLASH. CLICKING STOPS WHEN BRAKES APPLIED. APPEARS THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN ONGOING IN GM SUV'S SINCE MID 80'S. RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR SOME 2000-2002 GM SUV'S. PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE WITH THE LUBRICANT USED IN THE TURN SIGNAL MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH. GM FIX IS TO REPLACE SWITCH AND WAIT FOR NEXT FAILURE. *AK
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
WHILE TRAVELING 35 MPH, THE DRIVER DROVE INTO A DITCH AND NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THE DEALER HAD BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE DESCRIBE FURTHER. *JB *MR
I HAVE A 1998 CHEVY BLAZER 2-DOOR S10. I HAVE A PROBLEM W/ MY TURN SIGNALS. THE TURN SIGNALS WORK FINE, BUT THE CLICKING SOUND THAT GOES W/ THE TURN SIGNAL IS CONSTANTLY CLICKING, IT BEGAN WHEN THE TRUCK ONLY HAD ABOUT 35,000 MILES ON IT, JUST AFTER THE WARRANTY ENDED. I'VE REPLACED 2 DIFFERENT PARTS ON IT AND IT HAS STILL CO…
Read full complaint
I HAVE A 1998 CHEVY BLAZER 2-DOOR S10. I HAVE A PROBLEM W/ MY TURN SIGNALS. THE TURN SIGNALS WORK FINE, BUT THE CLICKING SOUND THAT GOES W/ THE TURN SIGNAL IS CONSTANTLY CLICKING, IT BEGAN WHEN THE TRUCK ONLY HAD ABOUT 35,000 MILES ON IT, JUST AFTER THE WARRANTY ENDED. I'VE REPLACED 2 DIFFERENT PARTS ON IT AND IT HAS STILL CONTINUED. *JB
1998 BLAZER WENT OUT ROAD INTO 2 DITCHES AND HAD FRONT END DAMAGE AND BOUNCED AROUND . THE FRAME WAS BENT RIGHT WHERE THE RIGHT AIR BAG SENSOR IS LOCATED AND IT DIDN'T GO OFF. FENDER,HOOD,COW,BUMPER,GRILL, MOTOR MOUNT HAD BEEN REPLACED THAT I KNOW OF SO FAR. STILL AT REPAIR SHOP. I PURCHASED THIS CAR BECAUSE AIR BAGS AND SAFETY…
Read full complaint
1998 BLAZER WENT OUT ROAD INTO 2 DITCHES AND HAD FRONT END DAMAGE AND BOUNCED AROUND . THE FRAME WAS BENT RIGHT WHERE THE RIGHT AIR BAG SENSOR IS LOCATED AND IT DIDN'T GO OFF. FENDER,HOOD,COW,BUMPER,GRILL, MOTOR MOUNT HAD BEEN REPLACED THAT I KNOW OF SO FAR. STILL AT REPAIR SHOP. I PURCHASED THIS CAR BECAUSE AIR BAGS AND SAFETY. THE 2 PEOPLE THAT WERE IN CAR ARE OKAY, THEY WAERE BRUISED AND SORE.*AK
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.
WITHIN 1 MINUTE OF TURNING ON MY REAR DEFROSTER, THE REAR WINDSHIELS EXPLODED. MY CAR WAS ALREADY WARMED UP AND WAS DRIVEN FOR ABOUT 45 MINUTES BEFORE TURNING ON THE REAR DEFROSTER. *AK
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.