IllustrationRIGHT FRONT BALL JOINT COLLAPSED AT HIGHWAY SPEED, CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING/TIRE DAMAGE, AND NEAR COLLISION.*AK
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
Steering complaints
29 reportsSTEERING PULLS SEVERELY TO THE RIGHT. UNSUCCESSFUL IN OBTAINING AN ALIGNMENT TO PRECLUDE THE SITUATION. *NLM
THE VEHICLE PULLED REALLY HARD TO THE RIGHT. I HAVE SINCE REPLACED THE TIRES AND HAD A FRONT END ALIGNMENT BUT IT ALREADY SEEMS TO BE SLIPPING BACK. *JB
I HAD THE SAME STEERING GEAR FAILURE REFERENCED IN THE GM RECALL FROM 11/14/02. EXCEPT THIS RECALL DOES NOT COVER MY VEHICLE. PLEASE CONSIDER INVESTIGATING BLAZERS AS WELL! DT
LOWER BALL JOINTS WORE OUT AT 800 MILES ON VEHICLE. THIS WAS NOTICED WHEN CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE INTO REPAIR SHOP. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK DEALER ALSO FOUND IDLER ARM LOOSE. DEALER ADJUSTED CAMBER AND CASTER ON BOTH SIDES AND SET TOE. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED BUT WILL NOT OPEN A RECALL UNLESS THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. HOWEVER CONSU…
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LOWER BALL JOINTS WORE OUT AT 800 MILES ON VEHICLE. THIS WAS NOTICED WHEN CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE INTO REPAIR SHOP. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK DEALER ALSO FOUND IDLER ARM LOOSE. DEALER ADJUSTED CAMBER AND CASTER ON BOTH SIDES AND SET TOE. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED BUT WILL NOT OPEN A RECALL UNLESS THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. HOWEVER CONSUMER WAS GIVEN COMPLAINT NUMBER SI-4462134. *TT
POWER STEERING WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH. CONSUMER REPAIRED VEHICLE. *AKCONSUMER FOUND THAT THE POWER STEERING HOSE WAS WORN AND HAD A HOLE IN IT CAUSING IT TO LEAK. PHOTOS ATTACHED. *TT
I HAVE HAD SEVERE PROBLEMS WITH THE SUSPENSION ON MY TRUCK. I HAVE RECENTLY TAKEN IT O PINKERTON CHEVROLET AND WANTED THEM TO FIX THE PROBLEM . AT THIS TIME I DID NOT KNOW OF ANY RECALL ON THE 1996 AND 1997 MODELS. I THOUGHT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS REPAIR. BUT THE GUY AT THE PLACE INFORMED ME THERE MAY BE A RECALL, BUT HE W…
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I HAVE HAD SEVERE PROBLEMS WITH THE SUSPENSION ON MY TRUCK. I HAVE RECENTLY TAKEN IT O PINKERTON CHEVROLET AND WANTED THEM TO FIX THE PROBLEM . AT THIS TIME I DID NOT KNOW OF ANY RECALL ON THE 1996 AND 1997 MODELS. I THOUGHT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS REPAIR. BUT THE GUY AT THE PLACE INFORMED ME THERE MAY BE A RECALL, BUT HE WANTED TO LOOK AT IT AND CALL ME BACK. WELL A FEW HRS LATER HE CALLED ME AND SAID THAT IT WAS NOT MY BALL JOINTS IT WAS THE IDLER ARM SO I HAD IT REPLACED AND THOUGHT I WAS DONE. WELL 3 DAYS LATER MY TRUCK IS WORSE THAN IT WAS BEFORE .SO I HAVE SINCE CALLED THE DEALER AND I AM GOING TO TAKE IT TODAY TO SEE IF WE CAN COME TO TERMS ON THIS. MY COMPLAINT IS THAT THERE IS A RECALL ON THE 96 AND 97 MODELS, IS MY TRUCK AFFECTED? WHY DID THE MECHANIC TELL ME HE CHECKED BALL JOINTS WHEN HE DIDN'T . HE SENT ME ON THE ROAD UNSAFE WITH MY CHILD. AND PROBABLY FIXED SOMETHING NOT BROKEN. WAS I SCAMMED? IS THE A WAY TO ABSORB THE COST OF A RECALL AT THE PUBLICS EXPENSE? NOT GOOD BUSINESS. WERE LEFT OVER PARTS USED ON 98 VEHICLES? IS THIS CONSIDERED WHEN A RECALL IS DETERMINED NECESSARY? ARE THE PARTS STAMPED TO DETERMINE MANF. DATE ON PARTS? *AK
WHEN MAKING A RIGHT TURN STEERING WHEEL WOULD LOCK UP INTERMITTENTLY. VEHICLE BEEN IN DEALER SHOP ON THREE OCCASIONS, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS MATTER. *AK
WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 TO 15 MPH POWER ASSISTED STEERING WAS LOST AND THE DRIVER HAD A DIFFICULT TIME MAINTAINING CONTROL OF VEHICLE. UPON EXAMINATION, BELT TENSIONER BAR BROKE WHICH RESULTED IN THE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. *AK *JB
WHENEVER TURNING A SHARP CORNER OR PARALLEL PARKING STEERING WHEEL POPS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFOMATION.*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
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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
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Suspension:front
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Suspension
SEE ATTACHED PAGE.