IllustrationTHE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY, THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *JB
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 reportsTHE VEHICLES WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD JUST STOP WHILE IN OPERATION. AS A RESULT THE DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO SEE WHILE IT WAS RAINING. *NLM
WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED INTERMITTENTLY WHICH CAUSED POOR VISIBILITY. *NLM
WE ARE AWARE THAT WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTORS ON 1997 CHEV. BLAZERS HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR REPAIRS. WE OWN A 1998 BLAZER THAT WE PURCHASED IN NOVEMBER OF 1997, SO IT WAS MANUFACTURED IN 1997. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON OUR BLAZER DO NOT WORK MOST OF THE TIME. WE ARE WONDERING IF A RECALL IS PLANNED FOR THE 1998 BLAZERS ALSO. *JB
HAD TO REPLACE ALTENATOR. HANDLE OF PASSENGER SEAT FELL OFF IN HAND, CAUSING RIDING AND SITTING DIFFICULT. PUTS ME RIGHT UP TO THE AIR BAG. PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE TO TAKE MY HUSBAND TO NASHVILLE, FOR HIS HEART TRANSPLANT VISITS, NEEDED A RELIABLE VEHICLE. ON THE LAST TRIP THERE, 70 MPH, IN HARD RAIN, NO WINDSHIELD WIPERS, JUS…
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HAD TO REPLACE ALTENATOR. HANDLE OF PASSENGER SEAT FELL OFF IN HAND, CAUSING RIDING AND SITTING DIFFICULT. PUTS ME RIGHT UP TO THE AIR BAG. PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE TO TAKE MY HUSBAND TO NASHVILLE, FOR HIS HEART TRANSPLANT VISITS, NEEDED A RELIABLE VEHICLE. ON THE LAST TRIP THERE, 70 MPH, IN HARD RAIN, NO WINDSHIELD WIPERS, JUST QUIT ON THE EXPRESSWAY, IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. GAS PEDAL ALSO STICKS, AND PUSHES WITH FORCE, WHEN IT RELEASES. (WONDER WE HAVEN'T HIT SOMEONE). BEING ON SOCIAL SECURITY,WE THOUGHT PAYING EXTRA, FOR AND EXTENDED WARRANTY WOULD PROTECT US. (A WASTED $1800.00) THE PAYMENT TAKES ALMOST HALF OUR INCOME, WE CAN'T AFFORD TO FIX THE MANUFACTURERS MISTAKES. BY LOOKING AT THE OTHER COMPLAINTS, WE'RE NOT THE FIRST WITH THE ABOVE PROBLEMS. VERY UNHAPPY CONSUMER. OUR FIRST PAYMENT ON THE BLAZER WAS 1-14-02, WE BEGAN HAVING THESE PROBLEMS 6 MONTHS LATER. *TT
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME DEFECT WITH THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS AS STATED IN RECALL 98 V 150 001, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED. *JB
WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL NOT ENGAGE. SOME TIMES THEY WILL COME ON AND NOT STOP. WHEN ITS RAINING THEY WILL NOT COME ON AT ALL. UP UNTIL RECENTLY THIS HAS BEEN THE ISSUE. TWO DAYS AGO IT DECIDED THAT IT WASN'T GOING TO WORK AT ALL. SO I CANNOT DRIVE MY CAR IN THE RAIN AND CANNOT AFFORD TO HAVE THE MOTOR REPAIRED AT THE DEALER …
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WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL NOT ENGAGE. SOME TIMES THEY WILL COME ON AND NOT STOP. WHEN ITS RAINING THEY WILL NOT COME ON AT ALL. UP UNTIL RECENTLY THIS HAS BEEN THE ISSUE. TWO DAYS AGO IT DECIDED THAT IT WASN'T GOING TO WORK AT ALL. SO I CANNOT DRIVE MY CAR IN THE RAIN AND CANNOT AFFORD TO HAVE THE MOTOR REPAIRED AT THE DEALER FOR 600. *NLM
WHENEVER WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE USED THEY WORK WHENEVER THEY WANT TOO. SOMETIMES THEY RUN CONTINUALLY. SOMETIMES THEY STOP ALL TOGETHER. I USED TO HAVE A GMC SONOMA THAT DID THE EXACT SAME THING AND RECEIVED A RECALL. THIS PROBLEM WAS FIXED ON THE SONOMA. THIS HAPPENS ANY TIME THE WIPERS ARE USED IN THE BLAZER. I WOULD LIKE …
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WHENEVER WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE USED THEY WORK WHENEVER THEY WANT TOO. SOMETIMES THEY RUN CONTINUALLY. SOMETIMES THEY STOP ALL TOGETHER. I USED TO HAVE A GMC SONOMA THAT DID THE EXACT SAME THING AND RECEIVED A RECALL. THIS PROBLEM WAS FIXED ON THE SONOMA. THIS HAPPENS ANY TIME THE WIPERS ARE USED IN THE BLAZER. I WOULD LIKE THIS FIXED IMMEDIATELY AT NO COST TO MYSELF. *JB
THE VEHICLES WIPERS FAILED WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *NLM
WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED DURING HEAVY DOWN POUR. CHEVROLET CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER (CAC) SAYS CONTACT SELLING DEALER. DEALER SUPPOSEDLY REPLACED "WIPER MODULE", BUT DID NOT HELP. REPEATED CONTACT WITH CAC PRODUCES "HO-HUM" AND NO SOLUTION. VEHICLE HAS 26543 MILES ON IT!
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.