IllustrationREPLACE STARTER AGAIN. *LA
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 reportsWINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR FAILS. WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY OR NOT AT ALL IN THE RAIN. MY SON'S 1996 BLAZER HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND HE RECEIVED A RECALL. I CALLED THE CHEVROLET CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY HAVE NOT HAD ANY NOTIFICATION FROM NTMVS ON 1998 BLAZERS YET. I THINK THIS RECALL SHOULD BE EXTENDED …
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WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR FAILS. WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY OR NOT AT ALL IN THE RAIN. MY SON'S 1996 BLAZER HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND HE RECEIVED A RECALL. I CALLED THE CHEVROLET CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY HAVE NOT HAD ANY NOTIFICATION FROM NTMVS ON 1998 BLAZERS YET. I THINK THIS RECALL SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO 1998 BLAZERS. THIS IS VERY SERIOUS. *LA
WHILE DRIVING IN A RAIN STORM AT 50 MPH WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. CONSUMER HAD TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND SHUT THE TRUCK OFF TO RESET MODULE. THEN, RESTARTED THE TRUCK AGAIN AND WIPERS BEGAN TO WORK. DEALER STATED WIPER MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK *PH
WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE IN THE RAIN WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. *AK
MY 1998 CHEVROLET BLAZER HAS HAD REGULAR PROBLEMS WITH THE COOLING SYSTEM NOT PROVIDING HEAT TO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT EVEN THOUGH THE ENGINE IS RUNNING AT PROPER TEMP. THE HEATER CORE IS CONTINUALLY CLOGGING UP REQUIRING REGULAR TRIPS TO THE DEALER TO "FLUSH" THE HEATER CORE THAT IS PLUGGED. I UNDERSTAND FROM SEARCHING THE I…
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MY 1998 CHEVROLET BLAZER HAS HAD REGULAR PROBLEMS WITH THE COOLING SYSTEM NOT PROVIDING HEAT TO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT EVEN THOUGH THE ENGINE IS RUNNING AT PROPER TEMP. THE HEATER CORE IS CONTINUALLY CLOGGING UP REQUIRING REGULAR TRIPS TO THE DEALER TO "FLUSH" THE HEATER CORE THAT IS PLUGGED. I UNDERSTAND FROM SEARCHING THE INTERNET THIS IS DUE TO THE DEX-COOL ANTIFREEZE THAT GM PUTS IN THE CAR AND THAT THERE ARE LAWSUITS AGAINST GM REGARDING THIS. THE LAST TIME I HAD THIS DONE THE DEALER TOLD ME IF IT HAPPENED AGAIN THAT A NEW CORE WOULD HAVE TO BE INSTALLED AT A COST OF $650+. THE CORE IS NOW PLUGGED ONCE AGAIN.*AK
VEHICLE VIBRATED WHILE DRIVEN 60 MPH WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE DEALER KEPT THE VEHICLE FOR OVER A MONTH. THE PROBLEM WAS RECURRING. *AK
TEMPERATURE CHANGES TO CELCIUS WHEN RAINING (REPLACED OUTSIDE SENSOR), REAR AXEL NOISE (NOT FOUND), BINDING IN FRONT END (NOT FOUND), SHIFTING CONCERN (NOT FOUND), COOLENT MISSING (PRESSURE TESTED,NO LEAKS), LOUD NOISE WHEN STARTING (REPLACE STARTER), LEFT MIRROR VIBRATES (REPLACE MIRROR). *AK
HARD STARTING, BATTERY SHOT. *LA
LOUD SOUND DURING ACCELERATION (CATALYTIC CONVERTER SHOT AGAIN NOT REPLACED, CONTACTING GM, NO ASSISTANCE), OIL LEAK ON FRONT OF ENGINE (POWER STEERING PULLY SHAFT SEAL), NOISY AC COMPRESSOR(REPLACE), FLUID LEAK ON FRONT OF REAR DIFFERENTIAL (REPLACE YOKE AND SEAL [2ND SEAL]), REAR DIFFERENTIAL CLUNKS ON ACCELERATION (CHANGE CAS…
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LOUD SOUND DURING ACCELERATION (CATALYTIC CONVERTER SHOT AGAIN NOT REPLACED, CONTACTING GM, NO ASSISTANCE), OIL LEAK ON FRONT OF ENGINE (POWER STEERING PULLY SHAFT SEAL), NOISY AC COMPRESSOR(REPLACE), FLUID LEAK ON FRONT OF REAR DIFFERENTIAL (REPLACE YOKE AND SEAL [2ND SEAL]), REAR DIFFERENTIAL CLUNKS ON ACCELERATION (CHANGE CASE AND SHAFT BEARING), DASH GRILL CRACKED, IDELER ARM REPLACED AGAIN. *LA
WIPERS DO NOT WORK AT TIMES, TURN SIGNAL SWITCH NOT WORKING, ENGINE IDLES ROUGH, LOUD SOUND DURING ACCELERATION, FRONT END LOOSE. *LA
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.