SkipThatYearREAL DATA. SMARTER CAR DECISIONS.
← New search

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 →
716Owner complaints

Model-year median: 32

3Recall campaigns

View recall details →

1Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
1,224
19951,153
1996768
1997716
1998436
1999589
2000326
2001
Compare all Blazer years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Visibility
256Seats
84Power Train
74Electrical System
71Engine And Engine Cooling
64
All reported categories
Suspension
60Service Brakes, Hydraulic
59Exterior Lighting
40Air Bags
38Vehicle Speed Control
33Steering
29Structure
25Fuel System, Gasoline
23Seat Belts
18Equipment
16Latches/locks/linkages
15Unknown Or Other
12Tires
9Wheels
8Interior Lighting
6Parking Brake
6Fuel System, Other
5Service Brakes
4Visibility/wiper
3Child Seat
2Engine
2Service Brakes, Air
2Fuel/propulsion System
1Service Brakes, Electric
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

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
Mileage unknown · Jul 2, 2001
Power Train

BOTH FRONT HUB/WHEEL BEARINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT 70500. DEALER ADVISED THIS WAS NORMAL WEAR AND COULD HAPPEN AT ANY TIME.

NHTSA ODI #747694

Mileage unknown · Jun 28, 2001
Power Train

THE TORQUE CONVERTER ON THE TRANSMISSION DOES NOT LOCK OUT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND THE TRANSMISSION OVERHEATED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #747524

Mileage unknown · Jun 27, 2001
Visibility

THE WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILED TO PARK IN THE DOWN POSITION. ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS, THE WIPER WOULD ONLY OPERATE AT HIGH SPEED. THE WIPER WOULD STOP DURING OPERATION IWITHOUT WARNING WHEN IT WAS OPERATED AT LESS THAN HIGH SPEED. THIS OCCURRED TWICE UNDER RAINY DRIVING CONDITIONS. I PURCHASE A NEW DELAY MODULE AT THE DEALER F…

Read full complaint

THE WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILED TO PARK IN THE DOWN POSITION. ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS, THE WIPER WOULD ONLY OPERATE AT HIGH SPEED. THE WIPER WOULD STOP DURING OPERATION IWITHOUT WARNING WHEN IT WAS OPERATED AT LESS THAN HIGH SPEED. THIS OCCURRED TWICE UNDER RAINY DRIVING CONDITIONS. I PURCHASE A NEW DELAY MODULE AT THE DEALER FOR $88 AND IT HAS FIXED THE PROBLEM. I NOTED THAT CHEVROLET HAS PREVIOUSLY HAD THIS PROBLEM ON OTHER VEHICLES.

NHTSA ODI #747481

Mileage unknown · Jun 26, 2001
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHEN APPYLING BRAKES PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. PROBLEM BECOMES MORE PPRONONCED WHEN VEHICLE IS DRIVEN ON WET PAVEMENT. DEALER CANNOT IDENTIFY CAUSE. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #891274

Mileage unknown · Jun 3, 2001
Power Train

TRANSMISSION WHINES GEARS, LOAD GRINDING NOISE. I MUST STOP, SHIFT INTO PARK AND GO BUT SOMETIMES THAT DOESN'T WORK. TRANSMISSION SHIFTS BY ITSELF INTO NEUTRAL. PROBLEM #2 SEAT RECLINING ARMS ON BOTH FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS BROKE OFF WITH LITTLE PRESSURE. PROBLEM #3 HEAT ONLY WORKS WHEN IT WANTS TO. SOMETIMES COOL AIR …

Read full complaint

TRANSMISSION WHINES GEARS, LOAD GRINDING NOISE. I MUST STOP, SHIFT INTO PARK AND GO BUT SOMETIMES THAT DOESN'T WORK. TRANSMISSION SHIFTS BY ITSELF INTO NEUTRAL. PROBLEM #2 SEAT RECLINING ARMS ON BOTH FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS BROKE OFF WITH LITTLE PRESSURE. PROBLEM #3 HEAT ONLY WORKS WHEN IT WANTS TO. SOMETIMES COOL AIR COMES OUT WHEN HEAT IS ON. PROBLEM #4 SOMETIMES WHEN APPLYING BRAKES GRINDING NOISE IS HEARD AND AND STEERING LOCKS UP. PROBLEM #5 STRAPS ON SUN VISORS SAG CONSIDERABLY, BLOCKS VIEW. *AK

NHTSA ODI #746351

Mileage unknown · May 30, 2001
Steering

IF IDLER ARM FAILS, IT'S THROWN INTO FAN BELT AND RADIATOR, DISEMBOWELING POWER SYSTEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #746157

Mileage unknown · May 29, 2001
Power Train

TRANSMISSION COOLING LINES ARE DEFECTED BECAUSE OF PLASTICOUTER RETAINER CONNECTOR FAILING, AND CAUSES OIL LEAKAGES. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND MADE REPAIRS AT CONSUMER COST. *AK *SLC

NHTSA ODI #889329

Mileage unknown · May 21, 2001
Power Train

HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST DUE TO TRANSMISSION NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY. MECHANIC INDICATED THAT IT WAS A DESIGN FLAW THAT CAUSING POOR SHIFTING PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ODI #888784

Mileage unknown · May 12, 2001
Seats

ARM THAT HOLDS RECLINING SEAT HANDLE HAS BROKEN 2 TO 3 TIMES ON BOTH FRONT SEATS WITHOUT ABUSIVE TREATMENT.*AK

NHTSA ODI #745249

Mileage unknown · May 9, 2001
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

HAS PROBLEMS WITH BACK ROTORS AND BRAKES KEEP LOCKING UP. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER IS TAKING A LOOK AT BRAKES.*AK

NHTSA ODI #887791

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.