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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

What owners actually said

716 reports
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

47,000 miles · Mar 28, 2003
Visibility

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED TO WORK WHEN NEEDED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10014699

72,000 miles · Mar 17, 2003
Visibility

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

NHTSA ODI #10010575

63,000 miles · Mar 10, 2003
Visibility

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

NHTSA ODI #10010235

56,025 miles · Mar 7, 2003
Seats

AFTER PARKING MY 1998 BLAZER AND OPENING THE DOOR TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE, THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BACK ADJUSTER LEVER JUST FELL OFF. I VERY RARELY EVER ADJUST THE SEAT BACK.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10010125

Mileage unknown · Mar 7, 2003
EquipmentSeats

FRONT BUCKET SEAT RELEASE PIECE HAS COME OFF ONCE ON BOTH FRONT SEATS, ALREADY OFF FOR SECOND TIME FOR DRIVER SIDE (AND NOT THAT I USE IT THAT MUCH EITHER!). CANNOT MOVE THE LOCATION OF THE BACK OF THE FRONT SEAT, MAKING SITTING STRAIGHT UP VERY TIRING AND AGGRAVATING FOR DRIVING!*JB

NHTSA ODI #10010124

63,000 miles · Mar 7, 2003
Suspension

HAD TO REPLACE LOWER BALL JOINTS FOR SECOND TIME WITHIN 20,000 MILES.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10010103

58,800 miles · Mar 5, 2003
Seats

SEAT BACK ADJUSTMENT LEVER SNAPPED OFF WITH NORMAL USE. ALTHOUGH THE ADJUSTMENT LEVER IS SELDOM USED, THE METAL SHAFT FAILED AND THE HANDLE CAME OFF IN THE DRIVER'S HAND.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10008403

39,000 miles · Mar 4, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

NO HEAT. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10008369

92,000 miles · Feb 28, 2003
Air BagsCrashInjury

I AM WRITING CONCERNING A 1998 CHEVROLET BLAZER THAT I OWNED UNTIL JUST RECENTLY. I WAS ON MY WAY HOME AND WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHICH DESTROYED THE FRONT END OF THE BLAZER WHEN IT STRUCK THE MEDIAN WALL. WHEN THIS HAPPENED, NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED IN THE CAB OF THE VEHICLE. I WILL BE CONTACTING GENERAL MOTORS CONCERNING…

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I AM WRITING CONCERNING A 1998 CHEVROLET BLAZER THAT I OWNED UNTIL JUST RECENTLY. I WAS ON MY WAY HOME AND WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHICH DESTROYED THE FRONT END OF THE BLAZER WHEN IT STRUCK THE MEDIAN WALL. WHEN THIS HAPPENED, NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED IN THE CAB OF THE VEHICLE. I WILL BE CONTACTING GENERAL MOTORS CONCERNING THIS ISSUE. I ALSO HAVE PHOTOS OF THE VEHICLE AFTER THE ACCIDENT TO VERIFY THAT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10008269

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.