IllustrationTRANSMISSION SHIFTS EXTREMELY ROUGH, PROBLEM IS EVEN WORSE WHEN VEHICLE IS WARM. PROBLEM STARTED AT 70,000 MILES. FOUND OUT THROUGH RESEARCH THAT THIS PROBLEM IS EXTREMELY COMMON IN CHEVROLET TRUCKS, VANS, AND SUVS FROM 1995-1999. WHY NO RECALL YET?
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
Power Train complaints
74 reportsVEHICLE TRANSMISSION LET LOOSE WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT DIDN`T COME ON. THIS HAPPENED WHILE PULLING OUT OF A RESTURAUNT INTO TRAFFIC. *AK
BOUGHT CAR BRAND NEW. DRIVERS SIDE MIRROR CONSISTENTLY VIBRATES - HAD REPLACED TWICE - DEALER WOULD NOT REPLACE A THIRD TIME DUE TO BUG SHIELD BEING INSTALLED. IT STILL VIBRATES. JUNE 2001 - DOOR LOCKS WENT NUTS. THEY WOULD LOCK AND UNLOCK THEMSELVES WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD OR WHILE PARKED - WITH KEYS IN IT. MARCH 2003…
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BOUGHT CAR BRAND NEW. DRIVERS SIDE MIRROR CONSISTENTLY VIBRATES - HAD REPLACED TWICE - DEALER WOULD NOT REPLACE A THIRD TIME DUE TO BUG SHIELD BEING INSTALLED. IT STILL VIBRATES. JUNE 2001 - DOOR LOCKS WENT NUTS. THEY WOULD LOCK AND UNLOCK THEMSELVES WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD OR WHILE PARKED - WITH KEYS IN IT. MARCH 2003 - BLINKER SWITCH WENT CRAZY. IT WOULD NOT STOP CLICKING - WHOLE DASH HAD TO BE TAKEN OUT TO REPLACE SWITCH - NOT A CHEAP THING! MAY 2003 - ALTERNATOR WENT OUT AND RUINED BATTERY. ALMOST CAUSED A CAR FIRE. TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAK. NOT YET FIXED BECAUSE OF UNKNOWN CAUSE OF PROBLEM. *NLM
AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE VEHICLE. FIRST FACTORY AUTOMATIC TRANS WENT OUT AT 1 YEAR 10 MONTHS/28,877 MILES. PER CERTIFIED CHEVEROLET DEALER'S REPAIR NOTES: "REMOVED TRANS...FOUND 3-4 CLUTCH BURNED SEVERELY AND NO POSSIBLE CAUSE FOR 3-4 CLUTCH FAILURE...". "...FOUND LEAKING AT TRANS COOLER LINE...REPLACED LOWER TRANS COOLER …
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AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE VEHICLE. FIRST FACTORY AUTOMATIC TRANS WENT OUT AT 1 YEAR 10 MONTHS/28,877 MILES. PER CERTIFIED CHEVEROLET DEALER'S REPAIR NOTES: "REMOVED TRANS...FOUND 3-4 CLUTCH BURNED SEVERELY AND NO POSSIBLE CAUSE FOR 3-4 CLUTCH FAILURE...". "...FOUND LEAKING AT TRANS COOLER LINE...REPLACED LOWER TRANS COOLER LINE...". REPLACED WITH CERTIFIED RE-BUILT (SRTA). NOW, 2ND RE-BUILT TRANS FAILED AT 77,867 MILES (BUT ONLY 48,990 ON 2ND TRANS). PER DEALERSHIP ANALYSIS, "R.T. FOUND TO SLIP IN ALL GEARS PCM STORING P1870 CONVERTOR IS OVERHEADED AND ATF BURNT BAD...". DEALERSHIP AND CHEVEROLET DISTRICT REP ACT AS IF TRANS PROBLEMS ARE UNHEARD OF. CHEVEROLET CUSTOMER SERVICE CASE OPENED, CHEVEROLET DISTRICT REP REFUSES TO PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. SOUNDS JUST LIKE SERVICE BULLETIN #020421005
WHEN TURN LEFT OR RIGHT OR STOPPING OR GOING DRIVING FOWARD MAKES CLUNKING NOISE SOMETIME IT REALLY LOAD...I HAVE TAKEN VEHICLE TO MY MECHANIC AND HE SAID ITS MY FRONT JOINTS AND SAID IT SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER MY WARRANTY.. SO I TOOK IT TO MY DEALER .. AND HE SAID IT WASN'T, SO I CALLED CHEVROLET. *AK
TRANSMISSION LINE COUPLER FAILED ON HIGHWAY CAUSING TRANSMISSION FLUID TO FLOW OUT ON UNDERCARRIAGE AND UP AND OVER TAILGATE. FORTUNATELY NO FIRE OCCURRED. MECHANIC SAID SNAP-ON COUPLER TO TRANSMISSION LINE FAILED.*AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
WHILE DRIVING ENGINE CHECK LIGHT WAS ON AND TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, THEY CHECKED VEHICLE, BUT ENGINE CHECK LIGHT WAS STILL ON. *AK CONSUMER HAS A WARRANTY ON THE TRANSMISSION AND COMPLAINED TO DEALER 9 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF PURCHASE ABOUT THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATING. NO REASONABLE…
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WHILE DRIVING ENGINE CHECK LIGHT WAS ON AND TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, THEY CHECKED VEHICLE, BUT ENGINE CHECK LIGHT WAS STILL ON. *AK CONSUMER HAS A WARRANTY ON THE TRANSMISSION AND COMPLAINED TO DEALER 9 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF PURCHASE ABOUT THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATING. NO REASONABLE EXPLANATION WAS GIVEN EXCEPT PROBABLE GAS CAP. WHILE HAVING THE OIL CHANGED CONSUMER FOUND OUT THE LIGHT WAS FOR THE POWER TRAIN. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO A TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST WHO CONFIRMED THAT THERE WAS A DEFECTIVE PART IN THE TRANSMISSION. CONSUMER WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION CODE PROVED THAT AN AFTER MARKET PART WAS USED TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE PART PREVIOUSLY. *JG
SIDE GEARS AND CASE AND SIDE BEARINGS FAILED AT 48,300 MILES. REPLACED FRONT DIFFERENTIAL ASSEMBLY, INSTALLED NEW SIDE GEAR SET AND CASE AND SIDE BEARINGS. REPAIR COST WAS $1,154.00 DOLLARS. BOUGHT THE CAR USED IN FEB. 2001, BEARINGS FAILED IN NOV. 2001. ONLY 5,000 MILES WERE PUT ON THE VEHICLE IN THAT TIME FRAME. *AK
TRANSMISSION REPLACED AFTER 2 YEARS OF HASSLE, NEW TRANSMISSION SHIFTS HARD BUT DEALER STATES ALL TRANSMISSIONS RUN THAT WAY. TURN SIGNAL/WINDSHIELD WIPER MODULE REPLACED TWICE, TURN SIGNAL CONTINUED TO CLICK AFTER TURNED OFF, WINDSHIELD WIPERS TURNED ON BY ITSELF. DRIVER'S MIRROR REPLACED TWICE DUE TO VIBRATION AND CONTINUES …
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TRANSMISSION REPLACED AFTER 2 YEARS OF HASSLE, NEW TRANSMISSION SHIFTS HARD BUT DEALER STATES ALL TRANSMISSIONS RUN THAT WAY. TURN SIGNAL/WINDSHIELD WIPER MODULE REPLACED TWICE, TURN SIGNAL CONTINUED TO CLICK AFTER TURNED OFF, WINDSHIELD WIPERS TURNED ON BY ITSELF. DRIVER'S MIRROR REPLACED TWICE DUE TO VIBRATION AND CONTINUES TO VIBRATE, DEALER REFUSED TO REPLACE A THIRD TIME DUE TO A BUGSHIELD BEING INSTALLED EVEN THOUGH MIRROR VIBRATED BEFORE BUGSHIELD WAS INSTALLED. VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT AT GRUBBS CHEVROLET BUT HAS BEEN SERVICED FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS AT LOWE CHEVROLET IN WAYNESVILLE MO.
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.