IllustrationDEFECTIVE ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM: RADIATOR, CAUSING VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT. *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
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
64 reportsTHE MANUAL ADJUSTMENTS BROKE OF BOTH THE RIGHT AND LEFT FRONT SEATS. ONE MONTH AFTER PURCHASING MY VEHICLE, PARTS OF THE MUFFLER HAD TO BE REPLACE CAR. THE EMERGENCY BRAKES STICK. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG LIGHTS COMES ON FOR AND EXTENDED PERIOD FOR NO REASON. *AK
TENSIONER BELT BROKE, AND ENGINE SHUT OFF. CAUSE UNKNOWN. ALSO, DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE SEATS SLIDE UP AND DOWN WHEN BRAKING AND ACCELERATING. *AK *ML
VEHICLE BURNED OVER 9 QTS OF OIL IN 3-4 MONTHS. FIRST NOTICED 12/98, DEALER BEGAN CHECKING AND TESTING. FINALLY, IN APRIL - MAY 1999, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT VEHICLE WAS BURNING ABOUT 1 QT EVERY 300-400 MILES. THEY FINALLY AGREED TO REPLACE ENTIRE ENGINE BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT LOCATE SOURCE OF PROBLEM. THE NIGHT BEFORE CARRYING I…
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VEHICLE BURNED OVER 9 QTS OF OIL IN 3-4 MONTHS. FIRST NOTICED 12/98, DEALER BEGAN CHECKING AND TESTING. FINALLY, IN APRIL - MAY 1999, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT VEHICLE WAS BURNING ABOUT 1 QT EVERY 300-400 MILES. THEY FINALLY AGREED TO REPLACE ENTIRE ENGINE BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT LOCATE SOURCE OF PROBLEM. THE NIGHT BEFORE CARRYING IT FOR SERVICE, VEHICLE LOST TRANSMISSION POWER. THE DEALER HAD TO TOW THE VEHICLE IN THE NEXT DAY. AT THIS TIME, THEY NOT ONLY REPLACED THE ENGINE, BUT ALSO THE ENTIRE DRIVE TRAIN/TRANSMISSION SYSTEM. THEY STILL HAVE NO IDEA WHAT CAUSED THE FAILURES ON SUCH A NEW VEHICLE. I TRIED TO GET A REPLACEMENT VEHICLE SINCE THE FIRST FAILURE WAS AROUND 5,000 MILES, BUT THE GM REPRESENTATIVE REFUSED AND ONLY OFFERED TO REPLACE THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION. I DON'T THINK I'LL EVER FULLY TRUST MY VEHICLE NOW, BUT CAN'T AFFORD TO TRADE AT THE MOMENT. *AK
THE HVAC SYSTEM CANNOT BE SET TO SHUT OUT FUMES FROM OTHER VEHICLE CAUSING THEM TO ENTER THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE AND RESULTING IN DRIVER AND PASSENGER DISCOMFORT WHILE DRIVING. NLM
ENGINE OIL FILTER IS LEAKING OIL ONTO THE ENGINE. CONSUMER HAD THE PROBLEM REPAIRED THREE TIMES, DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE THE CAUSE. *AK
HAD TRIED TO START VEHICLE THE 1ST TIME & IT FAILED TO CATCH. RETRIED THE 2ND TIME & FINALLY CAUGHT. WEATHER WAS NOT A FACTOR IN STARTING VEHICLE. HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER & MECHANIC REPLACED THE BATTERY. ALSO HAD FUEL PUMP CHECKED & REPLACED IT. THE NEW FUEL PUMP TERMINAL WAS BROKEN & NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE COMPUTER CHIP…
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HAD TRIED TO START VEHICLE THE 1ST TIME & IT FAILED TO CATCH. RETRIED THE 2ND TIME & FINALLY CAUGHT. WEATHER WAS NOT A FACTOR IN STARTING VEHICLE. HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER & MECHANIC REPLACED THE BATTERY. ALSO HAD FUEL PUMP CHECKED & REPLACED IT. THE NEW FUEL PUMP TERMINAL WAS BROKEN & NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE COMPUTER CHIP WAS ALSO REPLACED. IN ADDITION, PCV HOSE WAS NOT INSULATED & THE WINDSHIELD WIPER WASHER WAS NOT WORKING. *AK
FRONT END NOISE REQUIRED REPAIR. MJS
BELT.
RADIO FAILED. YH
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.