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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 →
716Owner complaints

Model-year median: 32

3Recall campaigns

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1Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
1,224
19951,153
1996768
1997716
1998436
1999589
2000326
2001
Compare all Blazer years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Visibility
256Seats
84Power Train
74Electrical System
71Engine And Engine Cooling
64
All reported categories
Suspension
60Service Brakes, Hydraulic
59Exterior Lighting
40Air Bags
38Vehicle Speed Control
33Steering
29Structure
25Fuel System, Gasoline
23Seat Belts
18Equipment
16Latches/locks/linkages
15Unknown Or Other
12Tires
9Wheels
8Interior Lighting
6Parking Brake
6Fuel System, Other
5Service Brakes
4Visibility/wiper
3Child Seat
2Engine
2Service Brakes, Air
2Fuel/propulsion System
1Service Brakes, Electric
1

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.

46 crash reports15 fire reports31 injury reports

Parking Brake complaints

6 reports
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52,000 miles · Nov 18, 2003
Parking Brake

ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP EMERGENCY BRAKE FAILED DUE TO PLASTIC PART POORLY DESIGNED BY THE MANUFACTURER. THE PEDAL ENGAGES, BUT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WILL NOT LOCK. OWNER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, WHO STATED THAT IT WAS WEAR AND TEAR. *AK *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10041876

35,000 miles · Aug 7, 2003
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipmentParking Brake

THE SEAT BACK, TRANSFER CASE, AND WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR ALL FAILED. *AK *CB THE PARKING BRAKE WAS ADJUSTED, THE AIR CONDITION BLEW WARM AIR, AND THE OIL COOLER LINES WERE REPLACED.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10021871

Mileage unknown · Jun 5, 2002
Parking Brake

CONSUMER BACKED HIS BOAT TRAILER INTO THE LANDING, APPLIED THE BRAKES AND PLACED THE TRANSMISSION IN PARK, CONSUMER BEGAN LOADING THE BOAT, WHEN ENTERING THE VEHICLE, HE PLACED IT IN DRIVE AND THEN PULLED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND ALSO APPLIED THE FOOT BRAKE, THE FOOT BRAKE HELD FOR A SECOND THEN WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR, THE…

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CONSUMER BACKED HIS BOAT TRAILER INTO THE LANDING, APPLIED THE BRAKES AND PLACED THE TRANSMISSION IN PARK, CONSUMER BEGAN LOADING THE BOAT, WHEN ENTERING THE VEHICLE, HE PLACED IT IN DRIVE AND THEN PULLED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND ALSO APPLIED THE FOOT BRAKE, THE FOOT BRAKE HELD FOR A SECOND THEN WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR, THE VEHICLE PROCEEDED TO ROLL INTO THE LAKE, CONSUMER HAD TO GIVE THE VEHICLE A LITTLE GAS IN ORDER TO GET THE VEHICLE ONTO LEVEL GROUND. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #8011158

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 2000
Air BagsEngine And Engine CoolingParking Brake

THE 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

NHTSA ODI #718143

Mileage unknown · Aug 3, 1999
EquipmentParking BrakeSeats

CONSUMER CONTINUES TO EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS NOISE WITH BRAKE SYSTEM, SEVERAL REPAIRS OF PAD AND ROTORS REPOSITIONING OF THE BRAKE CABLES HAVE NOT CORRECTED PROBLEMS. YH

NHTSA ODI #547717

Mileage unknown · Jul 22, 1999
Parking BrakeService Brakes, Hydraulic

WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED A NOISE WAS HEARD. DEALER CONTACTED,AND WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. ALSO, EMERGENCY BRAKE RUSTED. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS, REPAIRWORK NOT DONE. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #842906

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.