← New search

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

Seat Belts complaints

18 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Mar 14, 2001
Seat Belts

DRIVER'S SEAT BELT DOES NOT FULLY EXTEND FROM RETRACTING MECHANSIM, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #883057

Mileage unknown · Dec 2, 2000
Engine And Engine CoolingExterior LightingSeat Belts

I HAVE CONTACTED GM SEVERAL TIMES TO NO AVAIL.HERE ARE MY PROBLEMS.THE RIGHT SIDE LATCH ON THE SEAT HAS BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES BY APPLE VALLEY CHEROLET. NOW THE ONE ON THE LEFT HAS BROKEN.THIS IS A TWO DOOR VEHICLE AND THE ONLY WAY TO GET IN AND OUT OF BACK SEAT.THIS CAR IS NOT MISTREATED TO HAVE THIS HAPPEN.THREE TIMES IT HA…

Read full complaint

I HAVE CONTACTED GM SEVERAL TIMES TO NO AVAIL.HERE ARE MY PROBLEMS.THE RIGHT SIDE LATCH ON THE SEAT HAS BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES BY APPLE VALLEY CHEROLET. NOW THE ONE ON THE LEFT HAS BROKEN.THIS IS A TWO DOOR VEHICLE AND THE ONLY WAY TO GET IN AND OUT OF BACK SEAT.THIS CAR IS NOT MISTREATED TO HAVE THIS HAPPEN.THREE TIMES IT HAS LEFT ME SITTING AND WONT START SOMETIMES YOU CAN TELL WHEN ITS GOING TO HAPPEN BECAUSE THE LIGHTS WILL DIM AND THE CHARGING GAGE WILL DROP THEY HAVE TRIED TO REPAIR THIS BUT HAVENT,THE WINDSHEILD WIPERS NOW WILL DELAY FOR ABOUT FIVE TIMES THEN THEY JUST STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHEILD OR KEEP RUNNING AS FAST AS THEY CAN UNTIL YOU TURN THEM OFF AND START OVER,THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM KICKS IN ON ITS OWN AND YOU HAVE TO STOP TO GET IT BACK TO TWO WHEEL DRIVE,NOT THE LIGHT ON THE DASH IT STAYS IN TWO,THE BRAKES ARE SPONGEE AND GO ALMOST ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR,GM SAID MY BLAZER WASNT IN THE RECALL FOR THE BRAKES BECAUSE OF WHERE IT WAS MADE,THE EXHAUST SMELLS LIKE SEWER I DONT KNOW IF I HAVE AN EXHAUST LEAK OR NOT,WHEN I RECEIVED THIS VEHICLE I ORDERED IT IN DECEMBER OF 97 AND RECEIVED IT IN FEB. OF 98.THE BOLT WAS MISSING OFF OF THE STRUT,THEY REPLACED THAT AND ALLIGNED THE FRONT END AND IT STILL WILL NOT STAY IN ALLIGNMENT,SINCE THE WARRANTY HAS RAN OUT 4,000 MILES AGO WE HAVE REPLACED A BELT TIGHTNER AND A WATER PUMP

NHTSA ODI #737188

Mileage unknown · Nov 3, 2000
Seat Belts

RETRACTOR HANDLE FOR DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDES SEAT BELTS WILL NOT RETRACT PROPERLY. THEREFORE, CONSUMER FEELS NOT PROPERLY RESTRAINED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #874316

Mileage unknown · Oct 5, 2000
Seat Belts

REAR SEAT BELT FAILED. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #555446

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Seat Belts

SEAT BELT BUCKLE CONTAINS A DEFORMED RECEIVER PART. MJS

NHTSA ODI #608137

Mileage unknown · Sep 18, 1998
Seat BeltsCrashInjury

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION IN WHICH THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELTS DID NOT RETRACT, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO BECOME INJURED. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #828023

Mileage unknown · Jul 21, 1998
Seat Belts

DRIVER'S SEAT BELT FAILS TO RESTRAIN.

NHTSA ODI #538062

Mileage unknown · Jun 25, 1998
Seat BeltsInjury

CHILD SEATED IN REAR SEAT BELTED WITH A SHOULDER HARNESS TYPE SEAT BELT. SHE LAY DOWN TO SLEEP, BUCKLED IN, AND IN DOING SO BECAME ENTANGLED IN THE BELT IN SUCH A WAY THE BELT WRAPPED AROUND HER BODY ON COMPLETE TIMES. WHEN SHE REALIZED SHE WAS TRAPPED SHE UNBUCKLED HER BELT. THIS RESULTED IN THE LOCK MECHANISM ENGAGING, FURT…

Read full complaint

CHILD SEATED IN REAR SEAT BELTED WITH A SHOULDER HARNESS TYPE SEAT BELT. SHE LAY DOWN TO SLEEP, BUCKLED IN, AND IN DOING SO BECAME ENTANGLED IN THE BELT IN SUCH A WAY THE BELT WRAPPED AROUND HER BODY ON COMPLETE TIMES. WHEN SHE REALIZED SHE WAS TRAPPED SHE UNBUCKLED HER BELT. THIS RESULTED IN THE LOCK MECHANISM ENGAGING, FURTHER CONSTRICING AND DRAWING HER UP. THE BELT HAD BE CUT IN ORDER TO FREE CHILD.

NHTSA ODI #537501

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.