IllustrationAIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY, VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN EXAMINED BY DEALER.*AK
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 reportsFRONTAL AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY DURING ACCIDENT WHICH INVOLVED A 1998 CHEVROLET BLAZER. *MC THE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND HIT A TELEPHONE POLE HEAD ON, SPLITTING IT IN HALF. *NM
WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE WHICH WAS COMING FROM THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION STRUCK HIS VEHICLE, FORCING HIM OFF THE ROAD AND INTO A TELEPHONE POLE, DURING THE ACCIDENT THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY, ONE PERSON WAS INJURED IN ACCIDENT. (ATTORNEY FOR CLIENT).*YH *JG
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
WAS TRAVELING APPROX. 50-55MPH AND WENT AROUND A CORNER; ROAD HAD UNEVEN SHOULDERS. TOOK FOOT OFF ACCELERATOR PEDAL, AND VEHICLE ACCELERATED INTO A DITCH. NOTICED AND TRIED TO CORRECT, AND VEHICLE HIT DITCH AND CRASHED. AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. DRIVER WAS HOSPITALIZED WITH AN INJURED BACK, CRUSHED 2ND VETERBRAE. *AK
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF CONSUMER. CONSUMER'S VEHICLE HIT FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE OF OTHER VEHICLE WHICH CAUSED AIR BAGS IN OTHER VEHICLE TO DEPLOY. HOWEVER, FRONTAL AIR BAGS IN CONSUMER'S VEHICLE FAILED TO DEPLOY. CONSUMER WAS WEARING LAP AND SHOULDER BEL…
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CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF CONSUMER. CONSUMER'S VEHICLE HIT FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE OF OTHER VEHICLE WHICH CAUSED AIR BAGS IN OTHER VEHICLE TO DEPLOY. HOWEVER, FRONTAL AIR BAGS IN CONSUMER'S VEHICLE FAILED TO DEPLOY. CONSUMER WAS WEARING LAP AND SHOULDER BELT, AND NEEDED 62 STITCHES FOR INJURIES. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK
AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY IN COLLISION ACCIDENT WHICH OCCURRED ON 12/18/00. BLAZER WAS TOTALLED. BLAZER WAS TRAVELING AT ESTIMATED SPEED OF 25 MPH UPON IMPACT FROM SECOND VEHICLE.*AK
THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS WHEN THE BLAZER WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON CRASH, TRAVELING AT 55 MPH. THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF BLAZER REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE,THAT VECHILE THEN SPUN AROUND AND CRASHED HEAD ON INTO THE BLAZER, CONSUMER WAS INJURED IN THE ACCIDENT (LEG AND BACK). *CJ
I WAS INVOLVED IN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT THE 28TH OF AUGUST, ON A TWO-LANE ROAD. I HIT A FORD RANGER THAT HAD REAR-ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE CAUSING THE RANGER TO SPIN AROUND HITTING ME HEAD-ON AT 55M.P.H. THE FORD'S AIR-BAGS DEPLOYED ON BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES, BUT NEITHER SIDE OF MY CHEVROLET'S DEPLOYED. I WAS WEARING MY S…
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I WAS INVOLVED IN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT THE 28TH OF AUGUST, ON A TWO-LANE ROAD. I HIT A FORD RANGER THAT HAD REAR-ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE CAUSING THE RANGER TO SPIN AROUND HITTING ME HEAD-ON AT 55M.P.H. THE FORD'S AIR-BAGS DEPLOYED ON BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES, BUT NEITHER SIDE OF MY CHEVROLET'S DEPLOYED. I WAS WEARING MY SEATBELT, BUT THE FORCE OF THE ACCIDENT STILL CAUSED MY LEFT KNEE TO HIT THE DASH BOARD. I RECEIVED BACK AND KNEE PAIN AND WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL BY AMBULANCE. I HAD TORN CARTLIDGE IN MY KNEE, AND I TORE MY MCL LIGAMENT, I HAVE HAD SURGERY ON MY LEFT KNEE TO REPAIR THE DAMAGE, BUT I AM STILL UNABLE TO WORK BECAUSE OF THE INJURIES.I BELIEVE THE AIR-BAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED AND SO DOES THE BODY SHOP THAT REPAIRED MY VEHICLE. MY INSURANCE COMPANY SENT MY VEHICLE OFF TO BE CHECKED OUT TO SEE WHY THEY DIDN'T DEPLOY AND THEIR REASON WAS I DIDN'T HIT AT A HIGH ENOUGH RATE OF SPEED. THIS ANSWER DOES NOT SATISFY ME SINCE IT WAS AT 55M.P.H.*AK
AIR BAG LIGHT KEPT COMING ON WHILE DRIVING. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP AT LEAST 4 DIFFERENT TIMES FOR LIGHT PROBLEM. DEALERSHIP HAD CHANGED HANDS. AIR BAG LIGHT COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. WAS INVOLVED IN ACCIDENT & AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. DRIVER INJURED & HOSPITALIZED WITH SHOULDER INJURY.*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.