IllustrationTHE ORIGINAL AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE DRIVING ON A CROWDED HIGHWAY (MARCH 1999/10878 MILES). THE REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE ACCELERATING TO MERGE WITH FREEWAY TRAFFIC (AUGUST 2000/33500 MILES). THE SECOND REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION IS NOW BEGINNING TO SHIFT INTO 4WD LO BY ITSELF (DECEMBER 2000/40000 MILES).
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 reportsFRONT END WENT OUT HAD IT REPLACE, IT IS STILL GOING INTO 4 WHEEL DRIVE WITHOUT PUSHING IT IN AS FAIR AS IT WILL GO, INTO 4WHEEL DRIVE WHILE DOING 60 R 70 MILES AN HOUR, I WILL CRASH
WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, FELT THE ENGINE GIVE. DROVE HOME WHILE NOTICING THE ENGINE WAS HAVING A HARD TIME SHIFTING FROM FIRST TO SECOND. PARKED THE TRUCK AT HOME. WENT TO LEAVE AND HAD NO REVERSE GEAR. DROVE TRUCK TO DEALERSHIP. THEY INSPECTED THE NEXT DAY AND FOUND THE SUN SHELL BROKEN. TECHNICIAN TOLD ME THIS IS A PROBLEM T…
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WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, FELT THE ENGINE GIVE. DROVE HOME WHILE NOTICING THE ENGINE WAS HAVING A HARD TIME SHIFTING FROM FIRST TO SECOND. PARKED THE TRUCK AT HOME. WENT TO LEAVE AND HAD NO REVERSE GEAR. DROVE TRUCK TO DEALERSHIP. THEY INSPECTED THE NEXT DAY AND FOUND THE SUN SHELL BROKEN. TECHNICIAN TOLD ME THIS IS A PROBLEM THEY HAVE NOTICED ON GM TRUCKS FROM THIS YEAR. HE SAID IT USUALLY IS ASSOCIATED WITH SNOWPLOWING. MY TRUCK DOESN'T DO ANY SNOWPLOWING OR TOWING. *AK
TRANSMISSION FAILED NO 2ND OR 3RD REVERSE FAILED HAD TO PUSH CAR BROUGHT TO SHOP SHELL BROKE
PLANETARY GEAR SHELL, AMONG OTHER INTERNAL COMPONENTS BROKEN - $1650 DAMAGE. *AK
VEHICLE'S TRANS STARTED SLIPPING AT 45MPH. WHEN STOPPED, I FOUND OUT I HAD NO REVERSE WITH ALL OTHER FORWARD GEARS SLIPPING TO WHERE IT IS UNDRIVEABLE. VEHICLE HAS HIGH HIGHWAY MILEAGE, RARELY WAS THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE USED, AND IS ON LEASE FOR $440 A MONTH FOR ANOTHER YEAR. I KNOW A FEW OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME TR…
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VEHICLE'S TRANS STARTED SLIPPING AT 45MPH. WHEN STOPPED, I FOUND OUT I HAD NO REVERSE WITH ALL OTHER FORWARD GEARS SLIPPING TO WHERE IT IS UNDRIVEABLE. VEHICLE HAS HIGH HIGHWAY MILEAGE, RARELY WAS THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE USED, AND IS ON LEASE FOR $440 A MONTH FOR ANOTHER YEAR. I KNOW A FEW OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS ON NEWER BLAZERS WITH LOWER MILAGE (STILL UNDER WARRANTY) THAT WERE REPAIRED. IT SEEMS ODD THAT THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURED TO A FEW PEOPLE I TALKED TO, AND MAKES ME WONDER HOW MANY MORE PROBLEM TRANSES ARE OUT THERE. WHAT SHOULD I DO???
WE HAVE (2) 1998 GM PRODUCTS THAT HAVE HAD FAILED TRANSMISSIONS THIS MONTH, BOTH JUST RECENTLY HIT THE 50,000 MILE MARK
DEFECTIVE HUB WAS LEAKING GREASE ONTO THE SENSOR CAUSING IT TO FAIL AND RESULTING IN THE ABS LIGHT ILLMINATING. NLM
I DISCOVERED A LEAK FROM THE TRUCK AND NOTICED THE REAR HATCH OF THE TRUCK WAS COVERED BY AN OILY SUBSTANCE, WHEN I PARKED THE CAR MY GARAGE FILLED WITH SMOKE. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE SERVICE STATION I ALWAYS USE FOR MY BLAZER (NOT THE DEALER). AS SOON AS THEY LOOKED AT THE BLAZER THEY SAID I WAS VERY LUCKY I DIDN'T HAVE A FIRE…
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I DISCOVERED A LEAK FROM THE TRUCK AND NOTICED THE REAR HATCH OF THE TRUCK WAS COVERED BY AN OILY SUBSTANCE, WHEN I PARKED THE CAR MY GARAGE FILLED WITH SMOKE. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE SERVICE STATION I ALWAYS USE FOR MY BLAZER (NOT THE DEALER). AS SOON AS THEY LOOKED AT THE BLAZER THEY SAID I WAS VERY LUCKY I DIDN'T HAVE A FIRE, IT WAS TRANSMISSION FLUID THAT LEAKED FROM A DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION FLUID LINE. THE CONNECTOR FROM THE TRANSMISSION TO THE TRANSMISSION LINE WAS DEFECTIVE. SINCE THE BLAZER IS 1700 MILES OVER WARRANTY, CHEVY WOULD NOT GIVE ME ANY SATISFACTION. THE SERVICE STATION SAID THE BLAZER WAS NOT DRIVABLE AND VERY DANGEROUS. I HAVE HAD THE BLAZER REPAIRED AND FOR A SIMPLE CONNECTOR (BECAUSE OF WHERE THE CONNECTION IS) IS WAS $237.00 TO REPAIR.*AK
CONSUMER PUT VEHICLE IN 4 WHEEL DRIVE, SLID OFF ROAD AND HAD TO BE TOWED. AT THAT TIME CONSUMER NOTICED ONLY 2-WHEELS WERE TURNING, EVEN THOUGH 4-WHEEL DRIVE WAS CLEARLY ENGAGED. AK
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.