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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.

About this comparison →

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

What owners actually said

716 reports
Mileage unknown · Oct 31, 2003
Visibility

BAD SOLDER IN WIPER MOTOR MODULE IN 1997 AND ARE RECALLED I OWN A 98 HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AND ARE NOT RECALLED( 98 CHEVY BLAZER). *LA

NHTSA ODI #10045162

Mileage unknown · Oct 23, 2003
Visibility

1998 CHEVY BLAZER - WINDSHIELD WIPERS RANDOMLY STOP WORKING. MAKING DRIVING IN THE RAIN PRACTICALLY IMPOSSIBLE. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS A RECALL FOR BLAZERS BUILT BETWEEN 1994 AND 1996 THAT HAD THE SAME EXACT WIPER PROBLEM. HOWEVER, THE 1998 BLAZER WAS NEVER INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL. T…

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1998 CHEVY BLAZER - WINDSHIELD WIPERS RANDOMLY STOP WORKING. MAKING DRIVING IN THE RAIN PRACTICALLY IMPOSSIBLE. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS A RECALL FOR BLAZERS BUILT BETWEEN 1994 AND 1996 THAT HAD THE SAME EXACT WIPER PROBLEM. HOWEVER, THE 1998 BLAZER WAS NEVER INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL. THIS PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES - SOMETIMES IT CORRECTS ITSELF WITHIN A FEW MINUTES OTHER TIMES IT STOPS WORKING FOR DAYS AT A TIME. *LA

NHTSA ODI #10043425

79,000 miles · Oct 21, 2003
Fuel System, Gasoline

TRUCK IMMEDIATELY STALLED WHILE TRAVELING HIGHWAY SPEEDS 65-75 MPH DUE TO THE FUEL PUMP FAILING. THE TRUCK WAS PUT IN THE SHOP TWO TIMES BEFORE A DIAGNOSIS WAS MADE. CONSUMER WAS APPALLED THAT THERE WAS NO WARNING DEVICE TO ACKNOWLEDGE TO THE OWNER THAT FUEL PUMP FAILED.*AK *TS *JB

NHTSA ODI #10040501

50,000 miles · Oct 17, 2003
Visibility

WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR EXPERIENCED THE SAME DEFECT AS STATED IN RECALL 03V159000; BUT, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10044204

68,000 miles · Oct 16, 2003
Seats

BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER RECLINER HANDLES WHERE BROKEN. ONE BROKE WITHOUT BEING USED OR TOUCHED. *LA

NHTSA ODI #10043026

3,637 miles · Oct 15, 2003
Visibility

WHILE DRIVING IN RAINY WEATHER, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED TO WORK PROPERLY. THIS WAS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. CALLED DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC INDICATED THAT PROBLEM COULD NOT BE CORRECTED BECAUSE OF A LACK OF RECALL.*AK THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD NOT TURN OFF WHEN THEY WERE SWITCHED TO OFF POSITION OR WOULD NOT ENGAGE.*TS …

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WHILE DRIVING IN RAINY WEATHER, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED TO WORK PROPERLY. THIS WAS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. CALLED DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC INDICATED THAT PROBLEM COULD NOT BE CORRECTED BECAUSE OF A LACK OF RECALL.*AK THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD NOT TURN OFF WHEN THEY WERE SWITCHED TO OFF POSITION OR WOULD NOT ENGAGE.*TS *JB

NHTSA ODI #10038271

68,442 miles · Oct 11, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

ON 9/16/02 WE HAD GURGLING NOISE COMING FROM THE DASH OF CAR IN THE HEATER CORE AREA. LUCAS CHEVROLET TECH REPLACED RADIATOR CAP UNDER WARRANTY. BUT CHARGED US $56.95 FOR COOLANT AND ADDITIVE. ON 10/09/03 HAD NO HEAT COMING FROM THE HEATER CORE. I CHECKED THE RADIATOR AND COOLANT TANK OVERFLOW AND FOUND A MINERAL SLUDGE TYPE SUB…

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ON 9/16/02 WE HAD GURGLING NOISE COMING FROM THE DASH OF CAR IN THE HEATER CORE AREA. LUCAS CHEVROLET TECH REPLACED RADIATOR CAP UNDER WARRANTY. BUT CHARGED US $56.95 FOR COOLANT AND ADDITIVE. ON 10/09/03 HAD NO HEAT COMING FROM THE HEATER CORE. I CHECKED THE RADIATOR AND COOLANT TANK OVERFLOW AND FOUND A MINERAL SLUDGE TYPE SUBSTANCE. ALSO FOUND A BULLETIN ON THE COOLING SYSTEM PROBLEM, TOOK BLAZER INTO LUCAS CHEVROLET. ASSISTANT SERVICE MANAGER LORRIE COTTRELL SHE SAID WE WERE OVER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY ON TIME BUT NOT MILES AND SAID WE SHOULD CONTACT GM ON THIS COOLANT PROBLEM ISSUE. SHE IS NOT AWARE OF ANY BULLETIN ON THE COOLANT SYSTEM. *LA

NHTSA ODI #10041643

Mileage unknown · Oct 9, 2003
Air BagsCrash

WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, AND AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. NO AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT APPEARED PRIOR TO THE CRASH. DRIVER WAS WEARING THE SEAT BELT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10042663

151,800 miles · Oct 6, 2003
Latches/locks/linkagesStructureVisibility

COMPLAINT 1: HOOD LATCH PROBLEM!!! THIS IS THE SAME PROBLEM GM VEHICLES HAVE BEEN HAVING FOR AT LEAST 25 YEARS!!!!! THE HOOD WILL NOT RELEASE UNLESS YOU PULL THE RELEASE LEVER AND POUND ON THE HOOD. YOU WOULD THINK THEY WOULD BORROW OR USE FORDS SYSTEM OF BETTER PARTS!!!!-----COMPLAINT 2: THE DOOR PANELS HAVE A WEAK AREA WHERE T…

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COMPLAINT 1: HOOD LATCH PROBLEM!!! THIS IS THE SAME PROBLEM GM VEHICLES HAVE BEEN HAVING FOR AT LEAST 25 YEARS!!!!! THE HOOD WILL NOT RELEASE UNLESS YOU PULL THE RELEASE LEVER AND POUND ON THE HOOD. YOU WOULD THINK THEY WOULD BORROW OR USE FORDS SYSTEM OF BETTER PARTS!!!!-----COMPLAINT 2: THE DOOR PANELS HAVE A WEAK AREA WHERE THE KNEE COMES INTO CONTACT WITH IT ON TURNS, MINE CRACKED REAL BAD!!! COMPLAINT 3: MAIN COMPLAINT:--THE HEATER CORE STARTED LEAKING AND FOGGED MY WINDSHIELD UP SO BAD I HAD TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. COULD HAVE CAUSED A BAD ACCIDENT!!! I WAS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC ON HWY. 69 AT MCALESTER OK. AND HAD TO PULL OFF AND WOUND UP CUTTING THE HOSES AND SPLICING TO KEEP FROM RUNNING INTO HEATER CORE, THIS WAS ON LABOR DAY 2003. I NEED TO KNOW IF THIS IS A PROBLEM THE CARMAKER WILL CORRECT FOR ME FOR FREE. I KNOW THAT HEATER CORES SHOULD LAST AT LEAST 10 YEARS IF NOT MORE. THIS CAUSED ME A LOT OF PROBLEMS!!!! I CHECKED INTO A NEW HEATER CORE AT 2 AUTO PARTS STORES, AUTO-ZONE AND O'REILLEY'S AND THEY BOTH SAID IT WAS UNAVAILABLE .????? PLEASE HELP ME WITH THIS. THANK YOU, REGGIE HOLLAND. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10041332

Mileage unknown · Oct 2, 2003
Visibility

WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR FAILS INTERMITTENTLY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10042159

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.