IllustrationREPLACED FRONT BALL JOINTS 3 TIMES. ONCE WITHIN A MONTH AFTER RECALL 98V053000 REPAIRS. *AK THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE SERVICED AGAIN FOR CLUNKING BUT DEALER COULDN'T DETERMINE THE CAUSE. CONSUMER FELLS UNEASY DRIVING THIS VEHICLE. *YH
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 reportsDEALER HAS BEEN VERY HELPFUL, HOWEVER SECOND SET OF LOWER BALL JOINTS ONLY LASTED 11,000 TO 12,000 MILES. WHEN GETTING THE VEHICLE ALIGNED I WAS TOLD THE PITMAN ARM AN IDLER ARM ARE WORN EXCESSIVELY. I AM BEING TOLD THAT THIS IS NOT A NORMAL OCCURRENCE. I AM CONCERNED WITH THE HIGH RATE OF WEAR ON THESE STEERING COMPONENTS. …
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DEALER HAS BEEN VERY HELPFUL, HOWEVER SECOND SET OF LOWER BALL JOINTS ONLY LASTED 11,000 TO 12,000 MILES. WHEN GETTING THE VEHICLE ALIGNED I WAS TOLD THE PITMAN ARM AN IDLER ARM ARE WORN EXCESSIVELY. I AM BEING TOLD THAT THIS IS NOT A NORMAL OCCURRENCE. I AM CONCERNED WITH THE HIGH RATE OF WEAR ON THESE STEERING COMPONENTS. THE VEHICLE IS NOT "OFF ROADED". IT IS USED AS A COMMUTER VEHICLE BY MY WIFE. THE VEHICLE HAS THE ORIGINAL TIRES AND THE SUSPENSION HAS NOT BEEN ALTERED. AT THIS POINT MY DEALER HAS NOT YET BEEN ABLE TO INSPECT THE LATEST PROBLEM DUE TO SCHEDULING CONFLICTS I HAVE HAD, NOT THE DEALERS FAULT. I HAVE RECENTLY NOTIFIED CHEVROLET OF MY CONCERN, BUT HAVE NOT YET RECEIVED A RESPONSE FROM THEM. IS THIS A COMMON PROBLEM? I DO BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN.
VEHICLE STARTED MAKING A CLUNKING NOISE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH HOOD. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC REPLACED ALL OFF UPPER BALL JOINTS. MECHANIC TOLD HER THAT IT SHOULDN'T HAPPEN AT 45000 MILES. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. *AK
VEHICLE VIBRATES WHILE DRIVING THE DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM, THE TIRES WERE CHECKED AND REPLACED BUT THE VIBRATION PERSISTED. NLM
SECOND SET TIRES WORN OUT AT 39000 MILES DUE TO UNIDENTIFIED FRT SUS.PROBLEM.DUE TO UNUSUAL AMOUNT OF DEALER VERIFIED CONCERNS AND PAST TITLE HISTORY,EVEN THOUGH MOST OCCURED BEFORE FACTORY W/ADDED GMPP ALL ATTEMTS TO HAVE LOCAL GM DEALERS REPAIR ANY OF THE PROBLEMS ACKNOWLAGED, HAVE BEEN REFUSED AT PRESANT TIME CAR SITS IN M…
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SECOND SET TIRES WORN OUT AT 39000 MILES DUE TO UNIDENTIFIED FRT SUS.PROBLEM.DUE TO UNUSUAL AMOUNT OF DEALER VERIFIED CONCERNS AND PAST TITLE HISTORY,EVEN THOUGH MOST OCCURED BEFORE FACTORY W/ADDED GMPP ALL ATTEMTS TO HAVE LOCAL GM DEALERS REPAIR ANY OF THE PROBLEMS ACKNOWLAGED, HAVE BEEN REFUSED AT PRESANT TIME CAR SITS IN MY DRIVEWAY AND WE ARE USING A RENTAL PAID FOR BY ME. THE DEALERS,AND FACTORY HAVE PASSIFIED ME THROUGH 3/36 COVERAGE AND MADE ME THINK SOME CONSERNS WERE NOT VALID,BECAUSE I WAS FORCED TO DRIVE VEHC.ALL COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN DUPLICATED AND VARIFIED,DOCUMENTED BY MANY GM TECHS. AS WELL AS PASSENGERS,PRIVATE SHOPS AND THE SAME DEALER WHO QUESTENED CONCERNS.MY JOB,MARRAGE,AND DAILY LIFE HAVE BEEN AFFECTED AND SAFTEY WAS AND IS DISREGAURDED BY WHAT I ONCE CONSIDERED THE GREATEST AUTO MANUFACTURER IN THE WORLD,THERE ARE MANY PROBLEMS THAT EXIST TO DATE AND WERE RECORDED BEFORE 3/36 *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/70R15 )
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE VEHICLE PULLS TO THE RIGHT. DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES, AND HAS ALIGNED VEHICLE. DEALER SAID IT WAS NORMAL. *AK *ML
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AT ANY SPEED THE VEHICLE PULLS TO THE RIGHT. AND MAKING SHARP TURNS, SUCH AS IN A PARKING LOT, THERE IS A POPPING NOISE PRESENT. DEALER HAS SEEN NUMEROUS TIMES AND NO REMEDY HAS BEEN FOUND.
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY NOTICED WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS THAT THE WHEELS WOULD VIBRATE VERY BADLY. VEHICLE ALSO PULLED TO THE RIGHT. CONTACTED DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT THIS WAS NORMAL. *AK
MAKES LOUD POPPING SOUND. FIXED 1X IN AUG. SAID IT WAS CONTROL ARM. WORKED AT FIRST, NOW IT'S BACK. HELP!
LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE WORN OUT, REAR BUSHINGS SEIZED. DEALER CONTACTED AND REPAIRWORK DONE, REPLACEMENTS MADE. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK *MJS
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.