IllustrationTHE SEAT BACK, TRANSFER CASE, AND WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR ALL FAILED. *AK *CB THE PARKING BRAKE WAS ADJUSTED, THE AIR CONDITION BLEW WARM AIR, AND THE OIL COOLER LINES WERE REPLACED.*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
What owners actually said
716 reportsINTERMITTENTLY WINDSHIELD WIPERS BECOME INOPERABLE, OBSTRUCTING DRIVER'S VIEW. A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED ON SIMILAR MAKES AND MODELS. HOWEVER THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. *AK
I HAVE A 1998 4X4 CHEVROLET BLAZER. I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE IN AUGUST OF 2002. SINCE THEN, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS HAVE QUIT OFF AND ON. IF THE QUIT, I HAVE TO TAPE THE WIRING HARNESS WHERE THEY PLUG IN. IT APPEARS THAT THE HARNESS BEGINS TO SAG AFTER TIME AND PULLS THE PLUGS OUT. *AK
THERE WAS A RECALL ON OUR 1995 S-10 TRUCK AND OUR 1998 CHEVROLET BLAZIER HAS THE EXACT SAME PART AND IS ALSO DEFECTIVE ALSO. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON OUR 1998 BLAZIER DONOT WORK SOME TIMES THEY WON'T WORK OTHER TIMES AND SOMETIMES THEY WON'T SHUT OFF. OUR GAS PEDAL STICKS WHEN YOU TRY TO TAKE OFF.*AK
THE SUPPLEMENTAL INFLATABLE RESTRAINT WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATES PERIODICALLY. DEALER IS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE. DEALER RETRIEVED COMPUTER ERROR CODE: B1036 SENSOR CIRCUIT SHORT OR OPEN. DEALER STATES THAT PROBLEM CANNOT BE REPRODUCED. DEALER ALSO STATES THAT THE PROBLEM IS UNABLE TO BE RESOLVED WITHOUT EXTENSIVE DIAGNOSTICS. DE…
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THE SUPPLEMENTAL INFLATABLE RESTRAINT WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATES PERIODICALLY. DEALER IS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE. DEALER RETRIEVED COMPUTER ERROR CODE: B1036 SENSOR CIRCUIT SHORT OR OPEN. DEALER STATES THAT PROBLEM CANNOT BE REPRODUCED. DEALER ALSO STATES THAT THE PROBLEM IS UNABLE TO BE RESOLVED WITHOUT EXTENSIVE DIAGNOSTICS. DEALER CANNOT GIVE ESTIMATE OF REPAIR COSTS OR GUARANTEE REPAIRS. DEALER STATES THAT WHEN SIR WARNING LIGHT IS ON, AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY. *AK
THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY, AND RESULTED IN POOR VISIBILITY WHEN DRIVING DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER. RELATED RECALL 98V150001, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER. *AK THIS OCCURRED EVERYTIME THE WIPERS WERE ON. THE CONSUMER HAD TO JIGGLE THE CONNECTION OR TAP ON THE MOT…
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THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY, AND RESULTED IN POOR VISIBILITY WHEN DRIVING DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER. RELATED RECALL 98V150001, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER. *AK THIS OCCURRED EVERYTIME THE WIPERS WERE ON. THE CONSUMER HAD TO JIGGLE THE CONNECTION OR TAP ON THE MOTOR. *SCC *JB
AT NIGHT DURING A POURING RAINSTORM MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING ON A NARROW TWO LANE ROAD. THINK THIS WON'T QUICKEN YOUR PULSE? REPAIR WAS $166.00 AND MY MECHANIC SAYS THIS IS A FREQUENT REPAIR IN HIS SHOP. I SEE PLENTY OF COMPAINTS FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM IN THE 1998 MODEL. THIS IS A REAL SAFETY ISSUE AND A RECALL SH…
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AT NIGHT DURING A POURING RAINSTORM MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING ON A NARROW TWO LANE ROAD. THINK THIS WON'T QUICKEN YOUR PULSE? REPAIR WAS $166.00 AND MY MECHANIC SAYS THIS IS A FREQUENT REPAIR IN HIS SHOP. I SEE PLENTY OF COMPAINTS FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM IN THE 1998 MODEL. THIS IS A REAL SAFETY ISSUE AND A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED.
98 CHEVY BLAZER; WINDSHEILD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING IN THE MIDDLE OF A SEVERE RAIN STORM. IN THE VEHICLE WERE MY WIFE, MY THREE YEAR OLD SON AND MYSELF.
WHILE DRIVING ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY, THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL BROKE OFF FROM THE SPROCKET AND SEPARATED FROM VEHICLE.*AK
AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENLY, DEALER UNABLE TO RESOLVE.*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.