IllustrationNAR 03-31-2003 *MR CONSUMER EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH WHEEL BEARING, HEATER CONTROL SWITCH, GAS GAUGE, RIGHT DOOR LOCK, BRAKES, AND OIL SENDING HOSES. *CB
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
Suspension complaints
60 reportsHAD TO REPLACE LOWER BALL JOINTS FOR SECOND TIME WITHIN 20,000 MILES.*JB
UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINT FAILURE. IF THE UPPER OR LOWER BALL JOINT FAIL ON A 1997 PRIOR TO 8 YEARS OR 100,000 MILES THEY WILL BE REPLACED ACCORDING TO YOUR SYSTEM. THIS WOULD LEAD ME TO BELIEVE THAT THEY SHOULD NOT FAIL WITHIN 100,000 MILES. MY CHEVROLET BLAZER HAS FAILED AT APROXAMATELY 87,000 MILES.
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE BEGAN COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE WHILE ACCELERATING AT HIGH SPEED. PLEASE FURNISH ADDITIONAL INFORMATION DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.*JB
WIPER STOPPED WORKING INTERMEDIATELY. REPLACED UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS, IDLER ARM, CAP, ROTOR AND COIL WIRE. PH
FRONT END WOULD SHAKE VIOLENTLY, RESULTING IN RIGHT FRONT TIRE COMING OFF. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.
WHEN TURN LEFT OR RIGHT OR STOPPING OR GOING DRIVING FOWARD MAKES CLUNKING NOISE SOMETIME IT REALLY LOAD...I HAVE TAKEN VEHICLE TO MY MECHANIC AND HE SAID ITS MY FRONT JOINTS AND SAID IT SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER MY WARRANTY.. SO I TOOK IT TO MY DEALER .. AND HE SAID IT WASN'T, SO I CALLED CHEVROLET. *AK
WHEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT, THERE IS A LOUD NOISE. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR AN OIL CHANGE, MECHANIC STATED THAT BALL JOINTS WERE SHOT. CONSUMER INDICATED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR SAME PART ON 1996 AND 1997 MODELS.*AK. CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY MANUFACTURER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.*JB
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…
Read full complaint
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
THIS VEHICLE IS PLAGUED WITH PROBLEMS. REPLACED BOTH FRONT & REAR SHOCKS AT 51,800 MILES AT A COST OF $342.00. AT 50,800 MILES, REPLACED DISC PADS, DISC BRAKE SHIMS AND REAR ROTORS AT A COST OF $290.00 - REAR BRAKES WERE COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT. FOUR NEW TIRES AT A COST OF $440.00 WERE PUT ON THIS VEHICLE AT 48,610 MILES. I HA…
Read full complaint
THIS VEHICLE IS PLAGUED WITH PROBLEMS. REPLACED BOTH FRONT & REAR SHOCKS AT 51,800 MILES AT A COST OF $342.00. AT 50,800 MILES, REPLACED DISC PADS, DISC BRAKE SHIMS AND REAR ROTORS AT A COST OF $290.00 - REAR BRAKES WERE COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT. FOUR NEW TIRES AT A COST OF $440.00 WERE PUT ON THIS VEHICLE AT 48,610 MILES. I HAVE HAD THIS VEHICLE ALIGNED AND TIRES BALANCED THREE TIMES IN TEN MONTHS - ONE WAS A FORCED BALANCE AT A COST OF $160.00. THE STEERING WHEEL IS NOT STRAIGHT AND THE VEHICLE'S PASSENGER SIDE SITS 1" TO 1 1/2" LOWER THAN THE DRIVER'S SIDE. NO ONE SEEMS TO BE ABLE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS WITH THIS VEHICLE. NEXT REPAIR IS TO ADJUST THE TORSION BAR AND RE-ALIGN IT TO SEE IF THIS FIXES THE PROBLEM. EVERY TIME I GO OVER THE SLIGHTEST BUMP, THE WHOLE BODY OF THE VEHICLE SHAKES! IT FEELS AND SOUNDS LIKE THE FENDERS AND DOORS ARE GOING TO FALL OFF. I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE FOR 13 MONTHS, PUT 8,600 MILES ON IT AND HAVE SPENT $2,385.00 IN REPAIRS SO FAR. I AM NOT A HAPPY PERSON.*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.