IllustrationWINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK ERRATICALLY. *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
Visibility complaints
256 reportsI RECENTLY BOUGHT A 1998 CHEVROLET BLAZER VIN # [XXX] AND AM CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS COMING ON THEIR OWN AND WHEN BEING USED THEY WILL STAY ON FOR SEVERAL MINUTES AFTER THEY ARE SHUTOFF. SOMETIMES THEY JUST STOP WORKING AND "PARK" IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD OBSTRUCTING THE VIEW OF …
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I RECENTLY BOUGHT A 1998 CHEVROLET BLAZER VIN # [XXX] AND AM CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS COMING ON THEIR OWN AND WHEN BEING USED THEY WILL STAY ON FOR SEVERAL MINUTES AFTER THEY ARE SHUTOFF. SOMETIMES THEY JUST STOP WORKING AND "PARK" IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD OBSTRUCTING THE VIEW OF THE ROAD.*AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH WINDSHIELD WIPERS STALLED. MONTHS BEFORE, WINDSHIELD WIPERS ONLY WORKED INTERMITTENTLY, AT LEAST 20 TIMES IN ONE YEAR. DEALER REPLACED A CIRCUIT BOARD BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. *AK
WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR DOESN'T WORK PROPERLY.*AK
THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD COME ON AND GO OFF BY THEMSELVES WHILE DRIVING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER. THIS PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT, AND THE DEALER WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK *SCC *JB
#1.WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAIL TO COME ON AND IT SEEMS THAT IF THE CRUISE CONTROL IS ON THAT'S WHEN THEY DON'T WORK. COULD BE A COINCIDENCE??HEARD 97'S HAD SAME PROBLEM AND THEY WERE UNDER RECALL. #2.INSIDE OF CAR ALWAYS FEELS LIKE YOU HAVE HEATER . HAVE TO RUN A/C TO FEEL COOL. #3 INTERIOR OVERHEAD LIGHT FAILS TO COME ON OR TO GO OF…
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#1.WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAIL TO COME ON AND IT SEEMS THAT IF THE CRUISE CONTROL IS ON THAT'S WHEN THEY DON'T WORK. COULD BE A COINCIDENCE??HEARD 97'S HAD SAME PROBLEM AND THEY WERE UNDER RECALL. #2.INSIDE OF CAR ALWAYS FEELS LIKE YOU HAVE HEATER . HAVE TO RUN A/C TO FEEL COOL. #3 INTERIOR OVERHEAD LIGHT FAILS TO COME ON OR TO GO OFF. #4 HAD MY TRANSMISSION FLUID CHANGED 6 MONTHS AGO AND NEXT DAY MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND DEALER SAID MY TRANSMISSION NEEDED REPAIRED FOR ABOUT $1200.00 AND I HAD NO MONEY TO DO IT. WHAT'S STRANGE IS MY CAR DRIVES BEAUTIFULLY AND I'VE NEVER FELT ANY GEAR SLIPPAGE. IS THERE SOME SORT OF RESET BUTTON FOR THIS? *AK
TURN SIGNAL INDICATOR CONTINUES TO "CLICK" AFTER TURN SIGNAL HAS BEEN SHUT OFF. IT CLICKS RANDOMLY WHILE DRIVING WHEN THE TURN SIGNAL HAS NOT BEEN ACTIVATED. AS WITH OTHER 1998 BLAZERS, THE WINDSHEILD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY, USUALLY THEY DO NOT SHUT OFF FOR SEVERAL MINUTES.*AK
WINDSHIELD WIPERS SOMETIMES DONT WORK. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY. RECALL ON 1994-1997 VEHICLES OF THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL WAS ISSUED. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK
WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR FAILS. WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY OR NOT AT ALL IN THE RAIN. MY SON'S 1996 BLAZER HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND HE RECEIVED A RECALL. I CALLED THE CHEVROLET CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY HAVE NOT HAD ANY NOTIFICATION FROM NTMVS ON 1998 BLAZERS YET. I THINK THIS RECALL SHOULD BE EXTENDED …
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WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR FAILS. WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY OR NOT AT ALL IN THE RAIN. MY SON'S 1996 BLAZER HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND HE RECEIVED A RECALL. I CALLED THE CHEVROLET CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY HAVE NOT HAD ANY NOTIFICATION FROM NTMVS ON 1998 BLAZERS YET. I THINK THIS RECALL SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO 1998 BLAZERS. THIS IS VERY SERIOUS. *LA
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.