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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

Fuel System, Other complaints

5 reports
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120,000 miles · Aug 31, 2005
Fuel System, OtherVisibility

VEHICLE: 1998 CHEVY BLAZER 4DR 4X4 4.3L VORTEC V6 EVENTS LEADING UP TO FAILURE: NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS FAILURE(S): THERE ARE TWO PRIMARY CONCERNS WITH THIS VEHICLE: 1) FUEL GAUGE DOES NOT WORK, IT WILL REPORT COMPLETE FULL AND WHEN VARYING AMOUNTS OF FUEL THE FUEL GAUGE BOUNCES AROUND(USUALLY BETWEEN HALF AND FULL, BUT SOME…

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VEHICLE: 1998 CHEVY BLAZER 4DR 4X4 4.3L VORTEC V6 EVENTS LEADING UP TO FAILURE: NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS FAILURE(S): THERE ARE TWO PRIMARY CONCERNS WITH THIS VEHICLE: 1) FUEL GAUGE DOES NOT WORK, IT WILL REPORT COMPLETE FULL AND WHEN VARYING AMOUNTS OF FUEL THE FUEL GAUGE BOUNCES AROUND(USUALLY BETWEEN HALF AND FULL, BUT SOMETIMES BETWEEN E AND FULL) I AM FORCED TO USE TRIP ODOMETER AND APPROXIMATE FUEL ECONOMY TO DETERMINE TANK LEVEL. I HAVE HEARD SEVERAL TO MANY ANECDOTAL STORIES OF OTHER CHEVY VEHICLES EXPERIENCING THE SAME SYMPTOMS. 2) THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK SPORADICALLY. CURRENTLY WHEN OPERATING IN 'INTERMITTENT' MODE, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL BEGIN TO OPERATE IN CONTINUOUS, REGULAR SPEED AND WILL NOT TURN OFF WHEN SWITCH TURNED TO 'OFF' POSITION. SITUATION WILL OCCASIONALLY CORRECT ITSELF AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES. OTHER TIMES I AM REQUIRED TO STOP, PARK, AND TURN OFF THE VEHICLE BEFORE RESTARTING IT TO TURN THE WIPERS OFF. OCCASIONALLY THE WIPERS WILL NOT WORK AT ALL IN ANY POSITION. USUALLY THIS ONLY HAPPENS FOR A SHORT PERIODS OF TIME, WHILE I AM TRYING TO TURN THEM ON BY SCRUBBING THROUGH ALL THE POSITIONS OF THE SWITCH. I OWNED A 95 GMC JIMMY PRIOR TO THIS VEHICLE AND EXPERIENCED THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. THIS MODEL YEAR WAS COVERED UNDER A RECALL THAT ENDED WITH, I BELIEVE, THE 97 MODEL YEAR. CORRECTIONS/REPAIRS: I HAVE HAD NEITHER PROBLEM REPAIRED. THEREFORE, I STILL HAVE THE OLD PARTS. INSTEAD OF REPAIRING, CURRENTLY FINANCIALLY UNFEASIBLE, I AM USING RAIN-X FOR THE WINDSHIELD AND THE ODOMETER FOR A FUEL GAUGE. *INCIDENT DATE IS APPROXIMATELY THE LAST TIME THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE USED. I HAVEN'T DRIVEN IN THE RAIN MUCH THIS SUMMER. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10134899

97,000 miles · Oct 5, 2004
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, OtherPower Train

1998 CHEVROLET BLAZER, LT MODEL INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER SUDDENLY LOST READINGS ON FUEL GAUGE, TEMPERATURE GAUGE, AND SHIFT SELECTION. BEFORE THIS HAPPENED, THE REAR WINDOW RELAY STOPPED WORKING AND SO DID THE FIRST SPEED OF THE REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER. HAD VEHICLE DIAGNOSED AND REPLACED INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER. THIS DID NOT SOLV…

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1998 CHEVROLET BLAZER, LT MODEL INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER SUDDENLY LOST READINGS ON FUEL GAUGE, TEMPERATURE GAUGE, AND SHIFT SELECTION. BEFORE THIS HAPPENED, THE REAR WINDOW RELAY STOPPED WORKING AND SO DID THE FIRST SPEED OF THE REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER. HAD VEHICLE DIAGNOSED AND REPLACED INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER. THIS DID NOT SOLVE PROBLEM. TOOK VEHICLE FOR ANOTHER DIAGNOSIS AND FOUND COMPUTER AND WIRING HARNESS TO BE OK. ALL GROUNDS WERE CHECKED. VEHICLE OPERATES BUT WITHOUT A FUEL GAUGE, AND TEMPERATURE GAUGE AND MOST IMPORTANTLY SHIFT SELECTOR.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10093615

56,770 miles · Jun 13, 2004
Fuel System, OtherSeatsStructure

1. DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT RECLINER LEVERS HAVE BROKEN OVER LAST FEW YRS, DRIVERS SIDE REPLACED 3 TIMES, I HAD TO PAY 100. DEDUCTIBLE TO FIX EACH TIME. 2. FUEL GUAGE INDICATOR SHOWED FUEL TANK 1/'2 FULL, NO GAS IN THE TANK,CAR STOPPED IN A DARK STREET IN AN UNSAFE PART OF TOWN, HAD TO PAY $100. DEDUCTIBLE TO FIX, NO WARNING L…

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1. DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT RECLINER LEVERS HAVE BROKEN OVER LAST FEW YRS, DRIVERS SIDE REPLACED 3 TIMES, I HAD TO PAY 100. DEDUCTIBLE TO FIX EACH TIME. 2. FUEL GUAGE INDICATOR SHOWED FUEL TANK 1/'2 FULL, NO GAS IN THE TANK,CAR STOPPED IN A DARK STREET IN AN UNSAFE PART OF TOWN, HAD TO PAY $100. DEDUCTIBLE TO FIX, NO WARNING LIGHTS TO SHOW GAS EMPTY, CAR JUST SUDDENLY STOPPED. 3.REAR TRUNK LATCH WOULD NOT WORK, HAD TO PAY DEDUCTIBLE FOR DEALER TO FIX. 4. WINDSHIIELD WIPER MECHANISM STOPPED WORKING, DEALER REPLACED AFTER WE PAID DEDUCTIBLE. 5. CURRENTLY THERE IS A RUBBING NOISE FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL WHEN PEDAL DEPRESSED, CAR NO LONGER UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY, WAS BROUGHT TO DEALER'S ATTN SEV TIMES BEFORE WARRNTY EXPIRED, DEALER MECH COULD FIND NO PROBLM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10075290

Mileage unknown · Oct 29, 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Other

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

NHTSA ODI #549495

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingEquipment

RADIO FAILED. YH

NHTSA ODI #606636

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

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.