VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED DURING NIGHT. INSURANCE INVESTIGATOR DETERMINED FIRE WAS STARTED BY MAIN LINE OF ALTERNATOR. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED.*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
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.
Electrical System complaints
71 reportsBATTERY FAILED FIVE TIMES, CONSUMER STATES THAT THE DEALER AND GM ARE UNWILLING TO HELP RESOLVE WHATEVER IS CAUSING THE EXCESSIVE BATTERY FAILURES YET THEY ACKNOWLEGDE THAT THE NUMBER OF BATTERY FAILURES IS ABNORMAL. *YH
WHILE DRIVING IN 2-WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLE WILL JUMPS INTO 4-WHEEL INTERMITTENTLY. DEALERSHIP HAS EXAMINED VEHICLE, AND REPLACED WIRING HARNESS FOR THE FIRST INCIDENT, AND THEN REPLACED TRANSFER CASE SHIFT MODULAR. VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN EXAMINED FOR THIRD INCIDENT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / ATTACHMENTS.*AK
DELCO BATTERY FAILED, THE ENTIRE BATTERY POSITIVE(+) TERMINAL FELL OUT OF THE SIDE OF THE BATTERY, THERE WAS A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF CORROSION ON THE BATTERY AND WITHIN THE BATTERY TRAY, ALSO CRACKED AND LEAKING, CONSUMER HAD 5 YEARS ON BATTERY,BUT WAS TOLD BY DEALER THAT VEHICLE WAS OVER 36,000 MILES AND WOULD NOT HONOR WARRANT…
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DELCO BATTERY FAILED, THE ENTIRE BATTERY POSITIVE(+) TERMINAL FELL OUT OF THE SIDE OF THE BATTERY, THERE WAS A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF CORROSION ON THE BATTERY AND WITHIN THE BATTERY TRAY, ALSO CRACKED AND LEAKING, CONSUMER HAD 5 YEARS ON BATTERY,BUT WAS TOLD BY DEALER THAT VEHICLE WAS OVER 36,000 MILES AND WOULD NOT HONOR WARRANTY, CONSUMER HAS REPLACED BATTTERY. *JB
OUR BLAZER CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE. WE WERE TRAVELING AT 75 MPH USING THE CRUISE CONTROL. THE STEERING WHEEL JERKED A LITTLE AND WE IMMEDIATELY SAW BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. WHITE SMOKE WAS COMING OUT OF THE PASSENGER SIDE UNDER THE HOOD. WE PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD …
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OUR BLAZER CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE. WE WERE TRAVELING AT 75 MPH USING THE CRUISE CONTROL. THE STEERING WHEEL JERKED A LITTLE AND WE IMMEDIATELY SAW BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. WHITE SMOKE WAS COMING OUT OF THE PASSENGER SIDE UNDER THE HOOD. WE PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. AS WE WERE PULLING OFF THE ROAD THE COMPUTER CONTROLLED DASH INSTRUMENTS STARTED TO MALFUNCTION, BUT AT NO TIME DID THE ENGINE APPEAR TO HAVE PROBLEMS. AS SOON AS WE PULLED OVER WE REALIZED WE HAD A FIRE & IMMEDIATELY CALLED 911. SOMEONE STOPPED WITH A SMALL FIRE EXTINGUISHER TO TRY A STOP THE FLAMES. THE FIRE APPEARED TO BE LOCATED TOWARDS THE DASH ON THE PASSENGER SIDE DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OR LOWER AREA OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE FIRE WAS SO HOT THAT IT WENT THROUGH THE PASSENGER SIDE BELOW THE DASH BOARD AND ENTERED THE CAB OF BLAZER. AT THAT POINT WE HAD NOTHING LEFT TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE AND SHUT ALL THE DOORS AND THE HOOD TO TRY & CONTAIN & SMOTHER THE FIRE. WE THEN WAITED FOR HELP. WE WERE 150 MILES FROM HOME WHEN THIS HAPPENED ON A RURAL STRETCH OF INTERSTATE (THE NEAREST TOWN WAS 18 MILES AWAY). WE WOULD LIKE AN INVESTIGATION TO FIND OUR WHAT HAPPENED TO OUR VEHICLE. OUR INSURANCE COMPANY WON'T HELP. WE HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALER AND WE ARE STILL WAITING FOR THE GENERAL MANAGER TO CALL BACK. WE CONTACTED GM AND GOT AS FAR AS THE PRODUCT ALLEGATION RESOLUTION TEAM. THEY SENT A LETTER STATING "OUR INVESTIGATION REVEALED NO EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT PRODUCT ALLEGATION". WE CALLED THEM BACK AND THEY ADMITTED THAT THEY NEVER LOOKED AT THE VEHICLE. HE SAID HE FOLLOWED PROCEDURES ACCORDING TO COMPANY POLICY (WE HAVE REQUESTED A COPY OF THAT POLICY). OUR VEHICLE IS STILL WHERE IT WAS ORIGINALLY TOWED IN MARCH. WE WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR HELP IN THIS MATTER. THANK YOU. *AK
LEFT FRONT ELECTRIC WINDOW MOTOR FAILED AND THE REGULATOR FAILED. *SLC
INTERIOR LIGHTS WOULD FLICKER OFF/ON AT WILL. HEADLIGHTS & RUNNING LIGHTS FAILED. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP & WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC PROBLEM CANNOT BE RESOLVED. COMPONENTS HAD BEEN CHANGED NUMEROUS TIMES, BUT NOT THE WIRING. STILL HAS ELECTRICAL WIRING PROBLEM. *AK
GAS PETAL STICKS. *SLC
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 55 MPH ALL OF A SUDDEN HOOD FLEW UP AND DROPPED BACK DOWN. DAY BEFORE HOOD FLEW UP, OWNER COULD NOT GET HOOD TO OPEN. OWNER REPORTED INCIDENT TO CHEVROLET'S CUSTOMER SERVICE. *AK A MODULAR RELAY SWITCH FAILED. GROUND WIRE WAS NOT INSTALL. ANOTHER GROUND WIRE WAS NOT INSTALL AT FUEL INJECTOR CAUSING NOT …
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WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 55 MPH ALL OF A SUDDEN HOOD FLEW UP AND DROPPED BACK DOWN. DAY BEFORE HOOD FLEW UP, OWNER COULD NOT GET HOOD TO OPEN. OWNER REPORTED INCIDENT TO CHEVROLET'S CUSTOMER SERVICE. *AK A MODULAR RELAY SWITCH FAILED. GROUND WIRE WAS NOT INSTALL. ANOTHER GROUND WIRE WAS NOT INSTALL AT FUEL INJECTOR CAUSING NOT ENOUGH GAS TO GET INTO INJECTOR. BREAK PEDAL FAILED. BREAKS LOCKED AFTER MAKING SCREENING NOISE. TAPE PLAYER FAILED. *YH
WHILE DRIVING TURN SIGNALS MALFUNCTIONED IN WHICH THE SMOKE CAME FROM THE STEERING WHEEL, INDICATING A SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE WIRING HARNESS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *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.
Illustration