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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.

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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

Power Train complaints

74 reports
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Mileage unknown · Feb 26, 2002
Electrical SystemPower TrainSeats

REPLACED BOTH SEAT ADJUSTERS. REPLACED BATTERY AFTER IT BROKE AND LEAKED ON THE CABLE OPERATING THE 4WD. REPLACED THE CABLE OPERATING THE 4WD. REPLACED BOTH BACK WINDOWS, (2-DOOR) THE SEALS KEPT COMING OUT IN FRONT OF THE DOORS MAKING IT HARD TO OPEN THE DOORS. REPLACED DRIVERS SIDE MIRROR. SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHT WAS STAYING ON…

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REPLACED BOTH SEAT ADJUSTERS. REPLACED BATTERY AFTER IT BROKE AND LEAKED ON THE CABLE OPERATING THE 4WD. REPLACED THE CABLE OPERATING THE 4WD. REPLACED BOTH BACK WINDOWS, (2-DOOR) THE SEALS KEPT COMING OUT IN FRONT OF THE DOORS MAKING IT HARD TO OPEN THE DOORS. REPLACED DRIVERS SIDE MIRROR. SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHT WAS STAYING ON. LASTLY THE LOWER BALL JOINTS, TIE ROD ENDS, PITTMAN ARM AND IDLER ARM HAVE BEEN REPLACED. ALL DONE UNDER WARRANTY EXCEPT THE FRONT END COMPONENTS. WHAT A CRAPPY CAR!

NHTSA ODI #758663

Mileage unknown · Dec 22, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainCrashInjury

AFTER TURNING A CORNER, THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY SHUT OFF, CAUSING ME TO COAST THROUGH A RED LIGHT. IN DOING SO, I WAS STRUCK BY AN ONCOMING VEHICLE. BOTH VEHICLES WERE TOTALED IN THE ACCIDENT. THREE PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THIS ACCIDENT WERE INJURED, INCLUDING MYSELF. IN A SEPERATE INCIDENT, THE RADIATOR BLEW APART, LEAKING CO…

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AFTER TURNING A CORNER, THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY SHUT OFF, CAUSING ME TO COAST THROUGH A RED LIGHT. IN DOING SO, I WAS STRUCK BY AN ONCOMING VEHICLE. BOTH VEHICLES WERE TOTALED IN THE ACCIDENT. THREE PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THIS ACCIDENT WERE INJURED, INCLUDING MYSELF. IN A SEPERATE INCIDENT, THE RADIATOR BLEW APART, LEAKING COOLANT AND TRANSMISSION FLUID. DEALERSHIP FOUND VEHICLE LEAKING FROM TOP OF TRANSMISSION LINE FROM RADIATOR. THEY REPLACED COUPLER FITTING AND O-RING AND ADDED 6 QUARTS OF TRANSMISSION FLUID (AT THEIR EXPENSE).

NHTSA ODI #755944

Mileage unknown · Nov 3, 2001
Power Train

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #754057

Mileage unknown · Oct 3, 2001
Power Train

AT 12300 MILES CONSUMER NOTICED FLUID LEAKING FROM VEHICLE, DEALER REPLACED TRANSMISSION COOLING LINES THAT HAD BEEN LEAKING. ON 3 SEP 2001, CONSUMER NOTICED ANOTHER LEAK. DEALER AGAIN REPLACED LEAKING TRANSMISSION COOLING LINES.*AK

NHTSA ODI #897270

Mileage unknown · Sep 25, 2001
Power Train

THE VEHICLE WOULD OCCASIONALLY SHIFT INTO FOUR WHEEL DRIVE WITHOUT THE DRIVER PUSHING THE TRANSFER BUTTONS, SOMETIMES IT WENT INTO FOUR WHEEL HIGH AND SOMETIMES FOUR WHEEL LOW, THE CONSUMER FIRST THOUGHT HE WAS ACCIDENTALLY HITTING THE BUTTON WITH HIS FIST WHILE SHIFTING FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE, THE DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO DUPLI…

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THE VEHICLE WOULD OCCASIONALLY SHIFT INTO FOUR WHEEL DRIVE WITHOUT THE DRIVER PUSHING THE TRANSFER BUTTONS, SOMETIMES IT WENT INTO FOUR WHEEL HIGH AND SOMETIMES FOUR WHEEL LOW, THE CONSUMER FIRST THOUGHT HE WAS ACCIDENTALLY HITTING THE BUTTON WITH HIS FIST WHILE SHIFTING FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE, THE DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO DUPLICATE AND REPAIR THE PROBLEM. NLM

NHTSA ODI #563265

Mileage unknown · Sep 24, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingLatches/locks/linkagesPower Train

VEHICLE WAS LEAKING TRANSMISSION FLUID. ALSO, DOORS ON DRIVER'S SIDE RATTLE LIKE THEY ARE GOING TO FALL APART. VEHICLE SHUTS OFF WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEMS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #896749

Mileage unknown · Sep 24, 2001
Electrical SystemPower Train

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

NHTSA ODI #896699

Mileage unknown · Sep 13, 2001
Power TrainFire

CONSUMER WAS AT A STOP LIGHT REAR TIRES STARTED SPINNING AS HE PULLED OFF. AS CONSUMER WENT UP THE BRIDGE HE LOOKED THOUGH REARVIEW MIRROR AND SAW WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM REAR. VEHICLE PULLED OVER AND CONSUMER LIFTED HOOD UP AND NOTICED THAT ENGINE WAS ON FIRE. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AKTHE NYLON RETAINER R…

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CONSUMER WAS AT A STOP LIGHT REAR TIRES STARTED SPINNING AS HE PULLED OFF. AS CONSUMER WENT UP THE BRIDGE HE LOOKED THOUGH REARVIEW MIRROR AND SAW WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM REAR. VEHICLE PULLED OVER AND CONSUMER LIFTED HOOD UP AND NOTICED THAT ENGINE WAS ON FIRE. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AKTHE NYLON RETAINER RING THAT LOCKS THE TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINE INTO THE RADIATOR FAILED, IT BROKE AND SLID DOWN THE COOLER LINE ALLOWING THE OIL COOLER LINE TO DISCONNECT SPRAYING THE ENGINE WITH TRANSMISSION FLUID WHICH CAUGHT FIRE. NLM

NHTSA ODI #896312

Mileage unknown · Sep 9, 2001
Power Train

MECHANIC EXPRESSED THAT THE AUTO'S MILEAGE WAS VERY LOW TO HAVE THIS KIND OF PROBLEM, AND FEELS STRONGLY THAT THIS HOSE MUST BE DEFECTIVE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #751955

Mileage unknown · Jul 2, 2001
Power Train

BOTH FRONT HUB/WHEEL BEARINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT 70500. DEALER ADVISED THIS WAS NORMAL WEAR AND COULD HAPPEN AT ANY TIME.

NHTSA ODI #747694

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

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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.