IllustrationFAILURE OF AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY IN SEVERE ROLLOVER. SEVERE FRONTEND DAMAGE.
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
Air Bags complaints
38 reportsI OWN A 1998 BLAZER ON 10-19-O3 IT WAS HIT FROM REAR. SINCE THIS TIME THE AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON AND EVERYTHING ON THAT SWITCC MALFUNCTIONS. I HAVE NOTICED ON ONE OCASION THAT SMOKE CAME FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. I DO NOT WANT TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE IT.*AK
WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, AND AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. NO AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT APPEARED PRIOR TO THE CRASH. DRIVER WAS WEARING THE SEAT BELT. *AK
AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT A FIRST CAME ON PERIODICALLY BUT NOW STAYS ON CONTINUOUSLY. DEALER SAID VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND WOULD COST ME FOR REPAIRS ON A SAFETY ITEM. WINDSHIELD WIPERS NOW OPERATE ON THEIR OWN. ON, OFF SETTING, SOMETIMES THEY OPERATE. ON DIFFERENT RUN SETTINGS THEY STOP COMPLETELY OR VARY SPEEDS. BOTH ARE VE…
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AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT A FIRST CAME ON PERIODICALLY BUT NOW STAYS ON CONTINUOUSLY. DEALER SAID VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND WOULD COST ME FOR REPAIRS ON A SAFETY ITEM. WINDSHIELD WIPERS NOW OPERATE ON THEIR OWN. ON, OFF SETTING, SOMETIMES THEY OPERATE. ON DIFFERENT RUN SETTINGS THEY STOP COMPLETELY OR VARY SPEEDS. BOTH ARE VERY SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARDS AND SHOULD BE RECALLED IMMEDIATELY. IF AN ACCIDENT OCCURS BY THE WINDSHIELD FUNCTION OR IF SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY INJURED BECAUSE THE AIRBAGS FAIL TO DEPLOY, THERE WILL BE A SERIOUS LAWSUIT ON SOMEONE'S HANDS. *PH
VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE AN AIR BAG ON AND OFF SWITCH. *MR *CB *JB
THE SUPPLEMENTAL INFLATABLE RESTRAINT WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATES PERIODICALLY. DEALER IS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE. DEALER RETRIEVED COMPUTER ERROR CODE: B1036 SENSOR CIRCUIT SHORT OR OPEN. DEALER STATES THAT PROBLEM CANNOT BE REPRODUCED. DEALER ALSO STATES THAT THE PROBLEM IS UNABLE TO BE RESOLVED WITHOUT EXTENSIVE DIAGNOSTICS. DE…
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THE SUPPLEMENTAL INFLATABLE RESTRAINT WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATES PERIODICALLY. DEALER IS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE. DEALER RETRIEVED COMPUTER ERROR CODE: B1036 SENSOR CIRCUIT SHORT OR OPEN. DEALER STATES THAT PROBLEM CANNOT BE REPRODUCED. DEALER ALSO STATES THAT THE PROBLEM IS UNABLE TO BE RESOLVED WITHOUT EXTENSIVE DIAGNOSTICS. DEALER CANNOT GIVE ESTIMATE OF REPAIR COSTS OR GUARANTEE REPAIRS. DEALER STATES THAT WHEN SIR WARNING LIGHT IS ON, AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY. *AK
AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENLY, DEALER UNABLE TO RESOLVE.*AK
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
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT HEAD ON AND NONE OF THE FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. MR
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT REMAIN ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING. DEALER NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. NLM
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
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Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Arm
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Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Ball Joint
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Suspension:front:control Arm:upper Arm
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Suspension:front:control Arm:upper Ball Joint
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Suspension:front
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Suspension
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