IllustrationWHILE TRAVELING IN RAIN WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD WORK INTERMITTENTLY. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*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 reportsDEXCOOL ANTI-FREEZE, THIS PRODUCT CLOGGED THE COOLING AND HEATING SYSTEM. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.*AK *SLC
LOUD "CLUNK" NOISE IS HEARD FROM THE EXHAUST SYSTEM UNDER VEHICLE DURING START-UP AND ENGINE SHUTOFF, CRUISE CONTROL SHUTS OFF DURING OPERATION AT 55+ MPH, FRONT PASSENGER SEAT RECLINER HANDLE BROKE OFF WITHOUT FORCE, HANDLE ON THE CARGO SHADE IN THE REAR BROKE DURING COLD TEMPERATURES, DRIVER SIDE MIRROR SHAKES WHILE DRIVING, F…
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LOUD "CLUNK" NOISE IS HEARD FROM THE EXHAUST SYSTEM UNDER VEHICLE DURING START-UP AND ENGINE SHUTOFF, CRUISE CONTROL SHUTS OFF DURING OPERATION AT 55+ MPH, FRONT PASSENGER SEAT RECLINER HANDLE BROKE OFF WITHOUT FORCE, HANDLE ON THE CARGO SHADE IN THE REAR BROKE DURING COLD TEMPERATURES, DRIVER SIDE MIRROR SHAKES WHILE DRIVING, FOG LAMPS KEEP BLOWING OUT ON BOTH SIDES, GAS PEDAL STICKS OFTEN, CAUSING A SAFETY HAZZARD IN TRAFFIC.*AK
LEFT FRONT ELECTRIC WINDOW MOTOR FAILED AND THE REGULATOR FAILED. *SLC
FLUSHED RADIATOR SYSTEM AND FOUND IT TO BE CORRODED AND CLOGGED WITH RUST. CURRENTLY, HEATER IS INOPERABLE. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE.
GAS PETAL STICKS. *SLC
WINDSHIELD WILL INTERMITTENTLY FAIL DURING OPERATION AND USUALLY WHEN THERE IS A DOWN POUR ,CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY. *AK
DRIVERS SIDE HEATED MIRROR, THAT BECOMES HEATED WHEN PUT ON REAR DEFROSTER, IS CRACKED. CONSUMER FEELS IT CRACKED FROM COLD WEATHER CONDITIONS. *AK
REAR GLASS SHATTER WHEN PARKED. SEVERAL WITNESSES HEARD A POP SOUND AND THEN THE REAR WINDOW SHATTERED. REAR WINDOW IS A HATCH TYPE. *AK
WITHIN 8 MONTHS OF PURCHASING MY VEHICLE I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH OPENING THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT DOOR. THE VERTICAL MOULDING ATTACHED TO THE DRIVERS SIDE TRIANGLE WINDOW WOULD OVERLAP THE DRIVERS DOOR WHEN THE DRIVERS DOOR WAS SHUT. THIS MADE IT VERY DIFFICULT TO ENTER OF EXIT THE VEHICLE WHICH COULD BE THOUGHT OF AS A S…
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WITHIN 8 MONTHS OF PURCHASING MY VEHICLE I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH OPENING THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT DOOR. THE VERTICAL MOULDING ATTACHED TO THE DRIVERS SIDE TRIANGLE WINDOW WOULD OVERLAP THE DRIVERS DOOR WHEN THE DRIVERS DOOR WAS SHUT. THIS MADE IT VERY DIFFICULT TO ENTER OF EXIT THE VEHICLE WHICH COULD BE THOUGHT OF AS A SAFETY HAZARD. IT WAS BROUGHT IN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE TO BE FIXED 7 TIMES. THREE OF THE TIMES THEY REPLACED THE ENTIRE SIDE TRIANGLE WINDOW, YET IT STILL KEPT HAPPENING. THE LAST TIME I BROUGHT THE CAR IN WAS 11/19/1999. THE PROBLEM LOOKS TO BE FIXED NOW BUT ONLY TIME WILL TELL. THE DEALERSHIP HAS SAID THAT THEY HAVE SEEN OTHER BLAZERS WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM, YET NOT AS BAD. IT SEEMS TO BE A DESIGN FLAW WHICH SHOULD BE TAKEN CARE OFF. THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT IF THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT WHERE THE BLAZER CAUGHT ON FIRE, THE DRIVER MAY NOT BE ABLE TO QUICKLY EXIT THE VEHICLE DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. *AK
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.