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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.

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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

Visibility complaints

256 reports
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92,000 miles · Jun 25, 2004
EquipmentVisibility

I HAVE A 1998 CHEVROLET BLAZER, MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL NOT START, OR IF THEY DO START. THEY WILL STOP WITH WARNING. IN ADDITION TO THIS MY AIR CONDITIONER DOES NOT HOLD COOLENT.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10078825

56,770 miles · Jun 13, 2004
Fuel System, OtherSeatsStructure

1. DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT RECLINER LEVERS HAVE BROKEN OVER LAST FEW YRS, DRIVERS SIDE REPLACED 3 TIMES, I HAD TO PAY 100. DEDUCTIBLE TO FIX EACH TIME. 2. FUEL GUAGE INDICATOR SHOWED FUEL TANK 1/'2 FULL, NO GAS IN THE TANK,CAR STOPPED IN A DARK STREET IN AN UNSAFE PART OF TOWN, HAD TO PAY $100. DEDUCTIBLE TO FIX, NO WARNING L…

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1. DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT RECLINER LEVERS HAVE BROKEN OVER LAST FEW YRS, DRIVERS SIDE REPLACED 3 TIMES, I HAD TO PAY 100. DEDUCTIBLE TO FIX EACH TIME. 2. FUEL GUAGE INDICATOR SHOWED FUEL TANK 1/'2 FULL, NO GAS IN THE TANK,CAR STOPPED IN A DARK STREET IN AN UNSAFE PART OF TOWN, HAD TO PAY $100. DEDUCTIBLE TO FIX, NO WARNING LIGHTS TO SHOW GAS EMPTY, CAR JUST SUDDENLY STOPPED. 3.REAR TRUNK LATCH WOULD NOT WORK, HAD TO PAY DEDUCTIBLE FOR DEALER TO FIX. 4. WINDSHIIELD WIPER MECHANISM STOPPED WORKING, DEALER REPLACED AFTER WE PAID DEDUCTIBLE. 5. CURRENTLY THERE IS A RUBBING NOISE FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL WHEN PEDAL DEPRESSED, CAR NO LONGER UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY, WAS BROUGHT TO DEALER'S ATTN SEV TIMES BEFORE WARRNTY EXPIRED, DEALER MECH COULD FIND NO PROBLM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10075290

35,000 miles · May 30, 2004
Visibility

WIPERS FAILED CAN'T SEE IN THE RAIN. *LA

NHTSA ODI #10074516

Mileage unknown · May 28, 2004
Visibility

WIPERS WORK ONLY WHEN THEY WANT. LAST 2 EVENINGS, OUT OF TOWN, VERY LATE, MIDDLE OF MAJOR STORMS...NO WIPERS! HAPPENS ALL THE TIME. BUT, WHEN I WANT TO WASH MY WINDSHIELD...THEY WORK! *LA

NHTSA ODI #10073290

79,000 miles · May 26, 2004
Visibility

WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING DURING RAINSTORM. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10073193

77,000 miles · Apr 30, 2004
Visibility

INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD STOP WORKING. *LA

NHTSA ODI #10071890

58,000 miles · Apr 22, 2004
Visibility

INTERMITTENTLY WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING. A MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR POST BOARD WAS DEFECTIVE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10068671

95,000 miles · Apr 19, 2004
Visibility

I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE USED. BUT FROM THE DAY I PURCHASED IT, I HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS! IT SEEMED AS THOUGH SOMETIMES THEY WILL FREEZE HALFWAY THROUGH THE MOTION, AND OTHER TIMES THEY WOULDN'T SHUT OFF.*AK ONE YEAR LATER - DUE TO LACK OF TIME AND FUNDING - I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM - WHICH HAS …

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I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE USED. BUT FROM THE DAY I PURCHASED IT, I HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS! IT SEEMED AS THOUGH SOMETIMES THEY WILL FREEZE HALFWAY THROUGH THE MOTION, AND OTHER TIMES THEY WOULDN'T SHUT OFF.*AK ONE YEAR LATER - DUE TO LACK OF TIME AND FUNDING - I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM - WHICH HAS NOW PROGRESSED TO THE POINT IN WHICH 80% OF THE TIME MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL FAIL TO WORK! I WILL TURN THE KNOB - AND THEY DON'T NOT COME ON! I HAVE FOUND THAT A SHORT IN TERMS OF LOOSE CONNECTION DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE THE CAUSE OF THIS MALFUNCTION. I HAVE ALSO TESTED THIS THEORY BY TURNING ON THE WIPERS TO MAX SPEED (OF THE 20% OF THE TIME MY WIPERS WORK, ABOUT 3/4 OF THAT TIME WILL THE WIPERS ONLY WORK WHEN I HAVE THEM SET TO MAXIMUM SPEED) - I HAVE EVEN SEEN SEVERAL TIMES, WHILE DRIVING OVER A COMPLETELY FLAT SURFACE, MY WIPERS SET TO MAX SPEED, SUDDENLY COME TO LIFE AGAIN! ONLY TO STOP WORKING AGAIN LATER. I ALSO ATTEMPTED DRIVING OVER POTHOLES TO SEE IF THE BUMP WOULD JARR THE CHIP INTO WORKING - IT DID NOT WORK ONCE. GM HAS STATED THAT THIS PROBLEM IS CAUSED BY THE WIPER PULSE CONTROL MODUAL. I SEARCHED AROUND - AND FOUND THAT THIS WIPER MODUAL (WETHER IT IS THE SAME ONE, OR VARIATIONS OF THE SAME UNIT) GO BACK I BELIEVE TO THE 1980'S! NOW THAT IS INSANE WORST OF ALL - 1998 WAS ONE OF THE ONLY YEARS NOT RECALLED BY GM! I HAVE FOUND THIS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM - AND FIND IT OBSURDE THAT I MUST PAY $130 TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THIS ITEM REPAIRED. I WOULD EASILY PAY THE $100 FOR THE BOARD IF I WAS NOT A COLLEGE STUDENT - WHO CAN'T AFFORD TO SPEND $100 ON SOMETHING LIKE THIS - AND I ALSO JUST FIND IT STUPID THAT I SHOULD BE FORCED TO PAY THE DEALERSHIP A LOT OF MONEY FOR SOMETHING THAT THEY HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH FOR 10+ YEARS! THANK YOU FOR READING THIS REPORT - I JUST HAD TO EXPRESS MY DEEPEST ANGER WITH GM FOR WATCHING THEM CONTINUE TO IGNORE THIS LARGE THREAT

NHTSA ODI #10066502

79,000 miles · Apr 19, 2004
Visibility

DAILY, FLASHER UNIT CONTINUES TO CLICK WITH TURN SIGNALS OFF. UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS, WIPERS FAIL TO TURN OFF ON THEIR OWN. UNDER WET DRIVING CONDITIONS, WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAIL COMPLETELY. HAVE TO USE THE MIST OR WASHER FLUID FUNCTION TO GET WIPERS TO WOPRK WHEN RAINING. AFTER SEARCHING FOUND THAT 1995 MODELS WERE R…

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DAILY, FLASHER UNIT CONTINUES TO CLICK WITH TURN SIGNALS OFF. UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS, WIPERS FAIL TO TURN OFF ON THEIR OWN. UNDER WET DRIVING CONDITIONS, WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAIL COMPLETELY. HAVE TO USE THE MIST OR WASHER FLUID FUNCTION TO GET WIPERS TO WOPRK WHEN RAINING. AFTER SEARCHING FOUND THAT 1995 MODELS WERE RECALLED FOR THIS SAME ISSUE WITH THE WIPERS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10066428

Mileage unknown · Apr 5, 2004
Visibility

MY WIFE HAS A 1998 CHEVY BLAZER. SHE IS HAVING PROBLEM WITH HER WIPERS. THEY HAVE BEEN ACTING UP FOR SOME TIME AND ARE GETTING MORE FREQUENT. THEY WILL JUST STOP WORKING. IM SURE YOU ARE AWARE OF THIS COMPLAINT. I KNOW THERE ARE RECALLS ON THIS FOR CERTAIN YEARS BUT,THE 1998 MODEL IS NOT INCLUDED. I HAVE SEEN ON LINE THE C…

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MY WIFE HAS A 1998 CHEVY BLAZER. SHE IS HAVING PROBLEM WITH HER WIPERS. THEY HAVE BEEN ACTING UP FOR SOME TIME AND ARE GETTING MORE FREQUENT. THEY WILL JUST STOP WORKING. IM SURE YOU ARE AWARE OF THIS COMPLAINT. I KNOW THERE ARE RECALLS ON THIS FOR CERTAIN YEARS BUT,THE 1998 MODEL IS NOT INCLUDED. I HAVE SEEN ON LINE THE COMPLAINTS OF OTHER PEOPLE WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE EVEN CONTACTED GM ABOUT THIS. THEY TOLD ME BECAUSE OF THE AGE AND MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE(107,000 MILES) WE COULD NOT HAVE THIS FIXED FREE OF CHARGE. IT SEEMS TO ME THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM THAT GM DOES NOT WISH TO RESOLVE. IS THERE ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO HAVE THEM FIX THIS? *NM

NHTSA ODI #10065582

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.