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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

Electrical System complaints

71 reports
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Mileage unknown · Oct 1, 2004
Electrical SystemExterior LightingSuspension

CONSUMER STATED THAT AT ONE POINT HEADLIGHTS AND FLASHERS WERE NOT WORKING PROPERLY. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AND FOUND THAT THE WAIT WAS TOO LONG. THEN, CONSUMER DECIDED TO TAKE VEHICLE TO A PRIVATE CERTIFIED MECHANIC, AND WAS TOLD BY HIM THAT MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH WAS DEFECTIVE. HAD THIS REPLACED, BUT HAZARD LIGHT…

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CONSUMER STATED THAT AT ONE POINT HEADLIGHTS AND FLASHERS WERE NOT WORKING PROPERLY. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AND FOUND THAT THE WAIT WAS TOO LONG. THEN, CONSUMER DECIDED TO TAKE VEHICLE TO A PRIVATE CERTIFIED MECHANIC, AND WAS TOLD BY HIM THAT MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH WAS DEFECTIVE. HAD THIS REPLACED, BUT HAZARD LIGHTS DID NOT WORK HALF THE TIME. ALSO, SOMETHING WAS DRAINING BATTERY BECAUSE VEHICLE WILL NOT START. WENT TO THE WEB, AND FOUND THAT THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL ON VEHICLE. CONSUMER CALLED THE MANUFACTURER, AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT IN THE RECALL. *AK THE VEHICLE BALL JOINTS WERE ALSO REPLACED. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10091956

Mileage unknown · Sep 22, 2004
Electrical System

WHILE DRIVING,THE VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE, AND NOTICED THAT THE LIGHTS FLASHED ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY. ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE JUMP STARTED THE VEHICLE. THEN, IT WOULD START FOR A MOMENT THEN STOP.*AK THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE AL…

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WHILE DRIVING,THE VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE, AND NOTICED THAT THE LIGHTS FLASHED ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY. ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE JUMP STARTED THE VEHICLE. THEN, IT WOULD START FOR A MOMENT THEN STOP.*AK THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE ALTERNATOR NEEDED REPLACEMENT DUE TO A CORRODED WIRE. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

NHTSA ODI #10094108

102,000 miles · Aug 15, 2004
Electrical System

SMOKING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN WHEN TURN SIGNAL IS BEING USED AND THEN THE TURN SIGNALS REFUSE TO TURN OFF. SEEMS AS THOUGH THERE IS SOME KIND OF A SHORT IN THE BLINKER SYSTEM. IF THIS IS NOT FIXED A FIRE COULD BE IN THE NEAR FUTURE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10086896

92,000 miles · Aug 4, 2004
Electrical System

HAD DRIVERS SIDE DOOR REHUNG DUE TO SAGGING. SHORTLY AFTER THAT MY INTERIOR LIGHTS BEGAN TO MALFUNCTION AND MY AUTO RESERVE POWER(ALLOWS RADIO, INTERIOR LIGHTS AND POWER WINDOWS TO OPERATE FOR 15 MINUTES AFTER ENGINE SHUTOFF) BEGAN TO WORK "OCCASIONALLY". ALSO, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS OPERATE RANDOMLY - JUGGLING THE WIRES UNDER TH…

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HAD DRIVERS SIDE DOOR REHUNG DUE TO SAGGING. SHORTLY AFTER THAT MY INTERIOR LIGHTS BEGAN TO MALFUNCTION AND MY AUTO RESERVE POWER(ALLOWS RADIO, INTERIOR LIGHTS AND POWER WINDOWS TO OPERATE FOR 15 MINUTES AFTER ENGINE SHUTOFF) BEGAN TO WORK "OCCASIONALLY". ALSO, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS OPERATE RANDOMLY - JUGGLING THE WIRES UNDER THE HOOD HELPS TO MAKE THEM RUN . NOW, AT 3:30AM THIS MORNING, I REALIZE THAT MY HEADLIGHTS ARE NOT OPERATING, CHECKED IN THE MORNING AND THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS WORK, BUT WHEN YOU MANUALLY TURN THE HEADLAMPS ON, THE DAYLIGHTS GO OUT AND YOU HAVE NO HEADLIGHTS ON.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10086138

48,000 miles · Jun 25, 2004
Electrical SystemLatches/locks/linkagesVisibility

10/10/2001 REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR - IT WAS OVER CHARGED AND WENT BAD! NOTICED SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS TOO! 12/20/2001 WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING IN HEAVY RAIN. THEN WHEN MOTOR TURNED OFF AND ON AGAIN THEY WORKED, THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING ON AND OFF SINCE THAT TIME, BUT TODAY 06/26/2004 THEY JUST STOPPED ALL TOGETHE…

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10/10/2001 REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR - IT WAS OVER CHARGED AND WENT BAD! NOTICED SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS TOO! 12/20/2001 WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING IN HEAVY RAIN. THEN WHEN MOTOR TURNED OFF AND ON AGAIN THEY WORKED, THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING ON AND OFF SINCE THAT TIME, BUT TODAY 06/26/2004 THEY JUST STOPPED ALL TOGETHER - NOTHING HELPED. HAD TO HAVE THE SAME SOLDERING REPAIR DONE AS IN THE 1995 -1997 CHEVROLET S-10 / BLAZERS - WHICH I MIGHT ADD WAS A RECALL. THE SAME PARTS ARE USED IN MOST 1998'S AS WELL. THE RECALL NEEDS TO INCLUDE ALL OF THE COMPONENTS, NOT JUST A FEW OF THEM! ALSO I HAVE HAD SEVERAL DASH PARTS BREAK LOOSE - LIKE THE HATCH DOOR RELEASE / BACK WIPER CONTROL IS JUST SITTING THERE - NOTHING HOLDING IT IN. THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT RECLINER HANDLE FELL OFF - HAD IT PUT BACK ON AT DEALER - THEN IT BROKE OFF. (MAKES BEING A PASSENGER IN MY BLAZER VERY UNCOMFORTABLE) I HAVE NOTICED SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS TOO! THE DRIVERS OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLE - ONE OF THE SCREWS THAT HOLDS IT IN PLACE IS NOT ABLE TO PUT BACK DUE TO PLASTIC IS STRIPPED- SO THE DOOR HANDLE WABBLES. THE HEAT FROM THE SUN HAS BOWED UP THE FRONT WINDSHEILD VENT UNTIL IT IS CRACKED AND BROKEN NOW TOO. I HAVE ALWAYS DRIVEN CHEVROLET'S - BUT HERE LATLEY WITH ALL OF THE PLASTIC THEY ARE USING - I AM BEGINNING TO WONDER IF MY MONEY WOULDN'T BE BETTER SPENT IN ANOTHER MAKE OF VEHICLE. I LOVE THE DESIGN AND ECT. OF THE BLAZER - BUT THE PLASTIC IS NOT HOLDING UP - THIS IS SOME EXPENSIVE PLASTIC TO BE MADE SO CHEAP. IF YOU SHUT THE DOORS HARD AT ALL THE WHOLE TOP OF THE ARM REST POPS UP AND HAS TO BE POPPED BACK IN PLACE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10078829

400 miles · Jun 4, 2004
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingLatches/locks/linkages

FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR DOES NOT LATCH DUE TO THE BODY OF THE STRIKE PLATE ON DRIVER'S SIDE CAVING IN. *AK THERE WAS A CRACK AROUND THE STICKER PLATE. THE DEALER ADJUSTED THE DRIVER SIDE STICKER PLATE. THE PROBLEM REMAINED THE SAME AFTER ADJUSTMENTS WERE MADE. TWO MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE THE CONSUMER WOULD HEAR RATTLING O…

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FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR DOES NOT LATCH DUE TO THE BODY OF THE STRIKE PLATE ON DRIVER'S SIDE CAVING IN. *AK THERE WAS A CRACK AROUND THE STICKER PLATE. THE DEALER ADJUSTED THE DRIVER SIDE STICKER PLATE. THE PROBLEM REMAINED THE SAME AFTER ADJUSTMENTS WERE MADE. TWO MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE THE CONSUMER WOULD HEAR RATTLING ON THE PASSENGER AND THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR. THE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT RELEASE, THE ENCODER MOTOR HAD BECOME INOPERATIVE AFTER THE MODULE SHORTED, THE STABILIZER LINK NUTS WERE MISSING, THE LEFT DOOR WOULD RATTLE WHEN DRIVEN OVER BUMPS, WHEN BRAKING, A SQUEALING NOISE WAS HEARD, THERE WAS A HESITATION IN THE TRANSMISSION WHEN CHANGING THE REVERSE, THE "TRIP METER" WAS INOPERATIVE, THE WAS A RATTLE IN THE DASH WHEN DRIVEN OVER BUMPS, THERE WAS AN OIL LEAK, THERE WAS A RATTLE IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION WHEN DRIVEN OVER BUMPS, THE LEFT REAR DOOR WOULD OPEN BY ITSELF, AND THE TAIL GATE RATTLED. *SC *JB

NHTSA ODI #10072019

Mileage unknown · May 26, 2004
Electrical SystemSuspension

THE CONSUMER PURCHASED NEW TIRES AND WENT TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THEM PUT ON. THE DEALER TOLD HER THAT THEY COULD NOT ALIGN HER VEHICLE UNTIL SHE HAVE THE IDLE ARM, THE BALL JOINTS AND THE LOWER AXLE REPLACE. SHE STATES THEY TOLD HER IT COULD COST APPROX $500.00. SHE STATES SHE IS ALSO HAVING A PROBLEM WITH HER ELECTRICAL SYST…

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THE CONSUMER PURCHASED NEW TIRES AND WENT TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THEM PUT ON. THE DEALER TOLD HER THAT THEY COULD NOT ALIGN HER VEHICLE UNTIL SHE HAVE THE IDLE ARM, THE BALL JOINTS AND THE LOWER AXLE REPLACE. SHE STATES THEY TOLD HER IT COULD COST APPROX $500.00. SHE STATES SHE IS ALSO HAVING A PROBLEM WITH HER ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE INTERIOR LIGHT DOES NOT COME ON ANY MORE. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10074324

Mileage unknown · Apr 13, 2004
Electrical SystemSteering

UNABLE TO KEEP THE VEHICLE IN ALIGNMENT, NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES WORK HAS BEEN SONE ON IT. SIGNAL ALSO CONTINUES TO MAKE SOUND EVEN WHEN THE BLINKER IS NOT ON.

NHTSA ODI #10066061

Mileage unknown · Mar 7, 2004
Electrical System

THE TURN SIGNAL ON MY BLAZER WON'T STOP CLICKING. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10060630

Mileage unknown · Feb 5, 2004
Electrical SystemService Brakes, HydraulicVisibility

-- PASSENGER SIDE RECLINER HANDLE BROKE -- FRONT BRAKE PADS AND ROTOR HAVE HAD TO BE REPLACED TWICE IN THE 6YRS OF OWNERSHIP -- WINDSHIELD WIPER WORKS ERRATICALLY (STOPPING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDOW) -- THE EXTRA HEAVY DUTY BATTERY DIED AFTER 3 YRS OF OWNERSHIP -- THE ALTERNATOR HAD TO BE REPLACED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10056583

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

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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

SEE ATTACHED PAGE.