Illustration1998 CHEVROLET BLAZER 4WD SUV - UNWANTED APPLICATION OF THE ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM AT LOW SPEEDS CAUSE INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCES. *NM
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
Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints
59 reportsREPLACEING FRONT PADS , AND WENT TO PUT BRAKE GUIDE PINS BACK IN, ONLY TO FIND INSET FEMALE THREADS DETHREADED. UPON INSPECTION IT LOOKEDE LIKE THERE WAS A DIFFERENT TYPE (MAYBE SOFTER) METAL FEMALE THREAD TO THE HOUSING. *AK
WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES A LOUD GRINDING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE FRONT. BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, AND THE BRAKES FAILED TO STOP VEHICLE. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP. *AK
-- PASSENGER SIDE RECLINER HANDLE BROKE -- FRONT BRAKE PADS AND ROTOR HAVE HAD TO BE REPLACED TWICE IN THE 6YRS OF OWNERSHIP -- WINDSHIELD WIPER WORKS ERRATICALLY (STOPPING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDOW) -- THE EXTRA HEAVY DUTY BATTERY DIED AFTER 3 YRS OF OWNERSHIP -- THE ALTERNATOR HAD TO BE REPLACED. *JB
MY WIFE WAS IN DANGER DRIVING THE TRUCK WHEN SHE BROUGHT IT TO ANOTHER ROUTE (ANOTHER SHOP), WHICH WAS HUTCHENS CHEVROLET. THEY TOLD MY WIFE AND GAVE HER THE PAPER WORK STATING THAT, THE TRUCK WAS UNSAFE AND SHE COULD HAVE BEEN IN DANGER IF CONTINUED DRIVING IT. WHEN HE WAS TOLD OF THE BRAKE PROBLEMS, (THE CAR DEALERSHIP OWNER)…
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MY WIFE WAS IN DANGER DRIVING THE TRUCK WHEN SHE BROUGHT IT TO ANOTHER ROUTE (ANOTHER SHOP), WHICH WAS HUTCHENS CHEVROLET. THEY TOLD MY WIFE AND GAVE HER THE PAPER WORK STATING THAT, THE TRUCK WAS UNSAFE AND SHE COULD HAVE BEEN IN DANGER IF CONTINUED DRIVING IT. WHEN HE WAS TOLD OF THE BRAKE PROBLEMS, (THE CAR DEALERSHIP OWNER) HE INSTRUCTED MY WIFE TO TAKE IT TO HIS OWN AUTO REPAIR SHOP, WHEN MY WIFE GOT THE TRUCK BACK, IT WAS IN THE SAME STATE NOT EVERYTHING WAS FIXED. THE WORK WAS COMPLETED AT HUTCHENS. THE WORK HAD TO HAVE COST ABOUT $378.00. AND THERE ARE MORE TROUBLES WITH THE TRUCK, I SEE SIGNS OF RUST AND CORROSION, THERE ARE VIBRATIONS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN EXCESS OF 60 MILES.
VEHICLE VIBRATED WHILE DRIVEN 60 MPH WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE DEALER KEPT THE VEHICLE FOR OVER A MONTH. THE PROBLEM WAS RECURRING. *AK
MY ABS LIGHT GOES ON FREQUENTLY. I HAVE BEEN IN A COUPLE OF ALMOST COLLISIONS. IN SLOW MOVING TRAFFIC, THE SENSOR GOES ON AND FREEZES MY BRAKES. MY CAR HAS BEEN TO DEALERSHIP AND TO REPAIR CENTERS AND ALL COMPANIES SAY THEY THERE IS NOTHING WRONG. THE SOLUTION EACH TIME WAS JUST TO REPLACE THE SENSOR, HOWEVER, EVEN DRIVING O…
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MY ABS LIGHT GOES ON FREQUENTLY. I HAVE BEEN IN A COUPLE OF ALMOST COLLISIONS. IN SLOW MOVING TRAFFIC, THE SENSOR GOES ON AND FREEZES MY BRAKES. MY CAR HAS BEEN TO DEALERSHIP AND TO REPAIR CENTERS AND ALL COMPANIES SAY THEY THERE IS NOTHING WRONG. THE SOLUTION EACH TIME WAS JUST TO REPLACE THE SENSOR, HOWEVER, EVEN DRIVING OUT OF DEALERSHIP THE ABS LIGHT WENT ON. I HAVE READ IN THE PAST SIMILAR INSTANCES WITH ABS PROBLEMS, IS THERE EVER GOING TO BE A RECALL, OR IS IT GOING TO TAKE A SERIOUS LAWSUIT/ACCIDENT BEFORE THE PROBLEM GETS FIXED? I ALSO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE RIGHT PASSENGER SEAT HANDLE BREAKING, AND IT IS STILL BROKEN. *JB
FIRST THE ABS WARNING LIGHT STARTED ILLUMINATING EVERY SO OFTEN STARTING IN 2002, NOW THE WIPERS HAVE BECOME VERY ERRATIC. IT HAS NOW GOTTEN SO BAD THAT IT HAS BECOME A SAFETY HAZARD. IT DOES NOT MATTER WHAT SETTING ( DELAY, SLOW OR FAST) THE WIPERS ARE SET AT THEY REACT ON THEIR OWN. SOMETIMES THEY STOP COMPLETELY WHICH CAUSES …
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FIRST THE ABS WARNING LIGHT STARTED ILLUMINATING EVERY SO OFTEN STARTING IN 2002, NOW THE WIPERS HAVE BECOME VERY ERRATIC. IT HAS NOW GOTTEN SO BAD THAT IT HAS BECOME A SAFETY HAZARD. IT DOES NOT MATTER WHAT SETTING ( DELAY, SLOW OR FAST) THE WIPERS ARE SET AT THEY REACT ON THEIR OWN. SOMETIMES THEY STOP COMPLETELY WHICH CAUSES A SEVERE SAFETY HAZARD WHEN DRIVING IN THE RAIN. YOU COULD HAVE THE SETTING ON SLOW DELAY AND THEY WILL BEGIN GOING VERY FAST OR MEDIUM SPEED, THEN CHANGE AGAIN FOR NO REASON. THEY ALSO CONTINUE TO RUN WHEN THE SWITCH IS TURNED COMPLETELY OFF. THIS STARTED ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO AND HAS INCREASED IN INTENSITY WITH EACH USE DUE TO RAIN. I UNDERSTAND PREVIOUS YEAR MODELS WERE RECALLED FOR A VERY SIMILAR PROBLEM AND I AM WONDERING IF THIS YEARS MODEL HAS BEEN ADDED TO THE RECALL LIST? *NLM
NAR 03-31-2003 *MR CONSUMER EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH WHEEL BEARING, HEATER CONTROL SWITCH, GAS GAUGE, RIGHT DOOR LOCK, BRAKES, AND OIL SENDING HOSES. *CB
WIPER STOPPED WORKING INTERMEDIATELY. REPLACED UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS, IDLER ARM, CAP, ROTOR AND COIL WIRE. PH
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
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Additional source detail variants (7)
Suspension:front:control Arm
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Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Arm
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Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Ball Joint
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Suspension:front:control Arm:upper Arm
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Suspension:front:control Arm:upper Ball Joint
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Suspension:front
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Suspension
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