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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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85,553 miles · Jul 25, 2003
Visibility

NHTSA 03-V-159-000 ON CERTAIN MINIVANS, PICKUP TRUCKS, AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES WITH CERTAIN MODEL-ENGINE COMBINATIONS, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR MAY FAIL DUE TO CRACKED SOLDER JOINTS ON THE CONTROLLER CIRCUIT BOARD. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS COULD WORK INTERMITTENTLY OR NOT AT ALL. THE CONSUMER'S HAD THE SAME PROBLEM, HOWEVER …

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NHTSA 03-V-159-000 ON CERTAIN MINIVANS, PICKUP TRUCKS, AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES WITH CERTAIN MODEL-ENGINE COMBINATIONS, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR MAY FAIL DUE TO CRACKED SOLDER JOINTS ON THE CONTROLLER CIRCUIT BOARD. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS COULD WORK INTERMITTENTLY OR NOT AT ALL. THE CONSUMER'S HAD THE SAME PROBLEM, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER. *AK *TS *JB

NHTSA ODI #10022659

50,000 miles · Jul 24, 2003
SuspensionVisibility

TWO THINGS: 1. CONSISTANT KNOCKING NOISE IN FRONT END. HAD IT FIXED WHILE UNDER WARRANTY, BUT IT CONTINUED AT A LATER DATE. 2. WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR MALFUNCTION. WINDSHIELD WIPERS AT TIMES WILL NOT TURN OFF MAKING DRIVING IN SNOW OR RAIN DANGEROUS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10029093

111,500 miles · Jul 22, 2003
Visibility

I AM THE OWNER OF A 1998 CHEVY BLAZER. MY WIPERS HAVE CEASED TO FUNCTION AND THERE IS A LARGE RECALL ON GM VEHICLES 1994-1997. MY VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED IN OCT. 1997 AND SO WAS THE WIPER BOX. THE RECALL WAS FOR 1.77 MILLION TRUCKS. I THINK IT SHOULD ALSO INCLUDE THE EARLY 1998 (TECHNICALLY THEY ARE 1997) VEHICLE. MY VIN …

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I AM THE OWNER OF A 1998 CHEVY BLAZER. MY WIPERS HAVE CEASED TO FUNCTION AND THERE IS A LARGE RECALL ON GM VEHICLES 1994-1997. MY VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED IN OCT. 1997 AND SO WAS THE WIPER BOX. THE RECALL WAS FOR 1.77 MILLION TRUCKS. I THINK IT SHOULD ALSO INCLUDE THE EARLY 1998 (TECHNICALLY THEY ARE 1997) VEHICLE. MY VIN # IS [XXX]. WITH GM/CHEVY KNOWING THE ENORMITY OF THIS PROBLEM, IT IS NO FAIR THAT I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY 125.00 TO CORRECT THEIR DEFECT IN THEIR PRODUCT. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10028892

66,000 miles · Jul 13, 2003
Visibility

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAIL OR WORK AT RANDOM. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS IN RAINY DRIVING CONDITIONS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10025988

27,830 miles · Jul 11, 2003
Visibility

WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR FAILED INTERMITTENTLY WHILE IN USE. WHICH RESULTED IN POOR VISIBILITY. *AK WHEN OPERATED ON MEDIUM AND HIGH SPEEDS THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO RE-START BY SHUTTING THE WIPERS DOWN. THE LAST TIME THE INCIDENT OCCURRED DURING A HEAVY RAIN STORM. THE DEALER SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. *SCC *J…

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WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR FAILED INTERMITTENTLY WHILE IN USE. WHICH RESULTED IN POOR VISIBILITY. *AK WHEN OPERATED ON MEDIUM AND HIGH SPEEDS THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO RE-START BY SHUTTING THE WIPERS DOWN. THE LAST TIME THE INCIDENT OCCURRED DURING A HEAVY RAIN STORM. THE DEALER SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. *SCC *JB

NHTSA ODI #10022909

40,000 miles · Jul 10, 2003
Visibility

WHILE DRIVING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED MID SWEEP DURING A RAIN STORM. THIS HAS OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED TWICE. A RECALL WAS ISSUED RELATED TO THIS FAILURE BUT ONLY FOR THE 1997 BLAZER'S NOT THE 1999 BALZER'S. * PH *CB *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10027188

60 miles · Jul 10, 2003
Visibility

WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR ON MY 1998 CHEVROLET BLAZER OPERATES INTERRMITENTLY, AT TIMES. HAS NOT BEEN MUCH OF A PROBLEM UNTIL YESTERDAY ON THE WAY HOME IN A DOWN POUR. THE WIPERS JUST STOPPED. BEGAN WORKING AGAIN A FEW MINUTES LATER, AFTER I WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE FREEWAY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10025819

Mileage unknown · Jul 10, 2003
Visibility

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER STOPPED AND FAILED TO RESTART. *AK *TS *JB

NHTSA ODI #10024271

Mileage unknown · Jul 2, 2003
Visibility

CONSUMER STATES WHILE USING WINDSHIELD DRIVER HAD DIFFICULTY SEEING IN THE RAIN. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10026506

Mileage unknown · Jul 2, 2003
Visibility

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS HAVE BEEN INTERMITTENT FOR ABOUT SIX MONTHS. YESTERDAY, 7/1/2003, THE WIPERS DID NOT OPERATE AT ALL*AK

NHTSA ODI #10026449

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.