IllustrationREPLACE STARTER AGAIN. *LA
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
Electrical System complaints
71 reportsTEMPERATURE CHANGES TO CELCIUS WHEN RAINING (REPLACED OUTSIDE SENSOR), REAR AXEL NOISE (NOT FOUND), BINDING IN FRONT END (NOT FOUND), SHIFTING CONCERN (NOT FOUND), COOLENT MISSING (PRESSURE TESTED,NO LEAKS), LOUD NOISE WHEN STARTING (REPLACE STARTER), LEFT MIRROR VIBRATES (REPLACE MIRROR). *AK
HARD STARTING, BATTERY SHOT. *LA
PASSENGER SEAT RECLINER LEVER BROKE, 4 WHEEL DRIVE WILL NOT ENGAGE (ENCODER MOTOR) ALTENATOR LIGHT IS ON (REPLACE). *LA
PASSENGER SEAT RECLINER LEVER BROKE OFF, REAR DIFFERENTIAL FRONT SEAL LEAKING, TEMPERATURE DISPLAY CHANGES TO CELSIUS WHEN RAINING, TAILGATE COVER BROKE. *LA
VEHICLE STALLED WHEN DRIVING AND WOULD NOT RE-START. THE ENGINE WOULD TURN OVER BUT THERE DIDN'T SEEM TO BE ANY SPARK. CAR HAD FUEL AND I DIDN'T NOTICE ANY EXCESSIVE FUEL SMELL SO RULED OUT FLOODED ENGINE. WAITED 20 MINUTES BUT STILL WOULD NOT START. BATTERY WAS NEARLY DRAINED AFTER JUST A FEW MINUTES OF TRYING TO START THE …
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VEHICLE STALLED WHEN DRIVING AND WOULD NOT RE-START. THE ENGINE WOULD TURN OVER BUT THERE DIDN'T SEEM TO BE ANY SPARK. CAR HAD FUEL AND I DIDN'T NOTICE ANY EXCESSIVE FUEL SMELL SO RULED OUT FLOODED ENGINE. WAITED 20 MINUTES BUT STILL WOULD NOT START. BATTERY WAS NEARLY DRAINED AFTER JUST A FEW MINUTES OF TRYING TO START THE VEHICLE. SUSPECT ELECTRICAL PROBLEM (ALTERNATOR? SHORT?) BUT HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO DIAGNOSE. LATEST IN A STRING OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS INCLUDING: WIPERS NOT WORKING CONSISTENTLY OR GETTING STUCK, HORN RELAY FAILING DURING ROUTINE DRIVING, REAR SPEAKERS WEAK/INTERMITTENT. OVERALL DISSATISFACTION WITH VEHICLE FOR PRICE. *LA
VEHICLE HEADLIGHTS FAILED. *MR ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASION THE HEAD LIGHTS FAILED. THE FIRST TIME THE LIGHT WOULD NOT COME ON THE SECOND TIME THE HEADLIGHT WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING IN THE EARLY EVENING. *SCC *NLM
ON MY 1998 BLAZER THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD WORK INTERMITTENTLY. MY HUSBAND WOULD WIGGLE THE WIRING HARNESS AND THEY WOULD START UP AGAIN BUT ONLY FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME (USUALLY MINUTES). CHEVROLET MORAN 586-791-1010 SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL AND THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THE CIRCUIT BOARD. *NLM
VEHICLE SHUT DOWN IN HEAVY TRAFFIC ON INTERSTATE AT 60 MPH,HAD TO DRIFT TO SIDE OF ROAD, PANEL LIGHTS CAME ON INCLUDING SECURITY LIGHT, WOULD NOT RESTART.HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER WHO CHECKED IT OUT NEXT MORNING. STARTED RIGHT UP AND COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG.*AK HAD HAPPENED BEFORE BUT OCCURED IN PARKING LOT AND STARTED BACK …
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VEHICLE SHUT DOWN IN HEAVY TRAFFIC ON INTERSTATE AT 60 MPH,HAD TO DRIFT TO SIDE OF ROAD, PANEL LIGHTS CAME ON INCLUDING SECURITY LIGHT, WOULD NOT RESTART.HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER WHO CHECKED IT OUT NEXT MORNING. STARTED RIGHT UP AND COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG.*AK HAD HAPPENED BEFORE BUT OCCURED IN PARKING LOT AND STARTED BACK UP. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION WHEN IT OCCURS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. NO ENGINE, LOSS OF POWER STEERING ETC. HAVE SEEN MANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON INTERNET AND HAVE HEARD OF OTHERS. NO ONE SEEMS TO HAVE AN ANSWER, INCLUDING DEALER. WONDER HOW MANY PEOPLE MAY HAVE BEEN KILLED BY THIS BUT ARE NOT AROUND TO TELL WHAT HAPPENED. ALL I WANT IS TO HAVE IT FIXED.
I HAVE A 1998 4X4 CHEVROLET BLAZER. I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE IN AUGUST OF 2002. SINCE THEN, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS HAVE QUIT OFF AND ON. IF THE QUIT, I HAVE TO TAPE THE WIRING HARNESS WHERE THEY PLUG IN. IT APPEARS THAT THE HARNESS BEGINS TO SAG AFTER TIME AND PULLS THE PLUGS OUT. *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.