THE SPARE TIRE THAT IS ON THE BACK OF THE 1998 CHEVROLET BLAZER ZR2 , BLOCKS YOUR VIEW. ESPECIALLY TO SMALL VEHICLES. I HAVE HAD 1 ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THIS. *NLM
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
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.
What owners actually said
716 reportsTHE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED TO WORK WHEN NEEDED. *JB
THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS HAVE FAILED REPEATEDLY WHILE IN USE. THE WIPERS CHANGE SPEED ON THEIR OWN AND/OR TURN THEMSELVES OFF ON THEIR OWN. THIS CONDITION APPEARS TO BE RELATED TO THE WIPER MOTOR WIRING OR CIRCUITRY TO THE WIPER MOTOR SIDE OF THE WIRING HARNESS. HAVE HAD THE DELAY SWITCH REPLACE ONCE AND THE MOTOR REPLACED ONCE BU…
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THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS HAVE FAILED REPEATEDLY WHILE IN USE. THE WIPERS CHANGE SPEED ON THEIR OWN AND/OR TURN THEMSELVES OFF ON THEIR OWN. THIS CONDITION APPEARS TO BE RELATED TO THE WIPER MOTOR WIRING OR CIRCUITRY TO THE WIPER MOTOR SIDE OF THE WIRING HARNESS. HAVE HAD THE DELAY SWITCH REPLACE ONCE AND THE MOTOR REPLACED ONCE BUT THE PROBLEM KEEPS RETURNING. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THIS PROBLEM IS THE SAME AS THE ONE FOUND UNDER #98043. *NLM
THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS HAVE FAILED REPEATEDLY WHILE IN USE. THE WIPERS CHANGE SPEED ON THEIR OWN AND/OR TURN THEMSELVES OFF ON THEIR OWN, SOMETIMES WITHIN THE FIELD OF VIEW OF THE DRIVER. THIS CONDITION APPEARS TO BE RELATED TO THE WIPER MOTOR WIRING OR CIRCUITRY TO THE WIPER MOTOR SIDE OF THE WIRING HARNESS. I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO …
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THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS HAVE FAILED REPEATEDLY WHILE IN USE. THE WIPERS CHANGE SPEED ON THEIR OWN AND/OR TURN THEMSELVES OFF ON THEIR OWN, SOMETIMES WITHIN THE FIELD OF VIEW OF THE DRIVER. THIS CONDITION APPEARS TO BE RELATED TO THE WIPER MOTOR WIRING OR CIRCUITRY TO THE WIPER MOTOR SIDE OF THE WIRING HARNESS. I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO RESTART THE WIPERS BY JIGGLING THE WIRING HARNESS, BUT OBVIOUSLY THIS IS NOT A SAFE CONDITION.*JB
AFTER PARKING MY 1998 BLAZER AND OPENING THE DOOR TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE, THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BACK ADJUSTER LEVER JUST FELL OFF. I VERY RARELY EVER ADJUST THE SEAT BACK.*JB
FRONT BUCKET SEAT RELEASE PIECE HAS COME OFF ONCE ON BOTH FRONT SEATS, ALREADY OFF FOR SECOND TIME FOR DRIVER SIDE (AND NOT THAT I USE IT THAT MUCH EITHER!). CANNOT MOVE THE LOCATION OF THE BACK OF THE FRONT SEAT, MAKING SITTING STRAIGHT UP VERY TIRING AND AGGRAVATING FOR DRIVING!*JB
HAD TO REPLACE LOWER BALL JOINTS FOR SECOND TIME WITHIN 20,000 MILES.*JB
SEAT BACK ADJUSTMENT LEVER SNAPPED OFF WITH NORMAL USE. ALTHOUGH THE ADJUSTMENT LEVER IS SELDOM USED, THE METAL SHAFT FAILED AND THE HANDLE CAME OFF IN THE DRIVER'S HAND.*JB
NO HEAT. *NLM
I AM WRITING CONCERNING A 1998 CHEVROLET BLAZER THAT I OWNED UNTIL JUST RECENTLY. I WAS ON MY WAY HOME AND WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHICH DESTROYED THE FRONT END OF THE BLAZER WHEN IT STRUCK THE MEDIAN WALL. WHEN THIS HAPPENED, NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED IN THE CAB OF THE VEHICLE. I WILL BE CONTACTING GENERAL MOTORS CONCERNING…
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I AM WRITING CONCERNING A 1998 CHEVROLET BLAZER THAT I OWNED UNTIL JUST RECENTLY. I WAS ON MY WAY HOME AND WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHICH DESTROYED THE FRONT END OF THE BLAZER WHEN IT STRUCK THE MEDIAN WALL. WHEN THIS HAPPENED, NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED IN THE CAB OF THE VEHICLE. I WILL BE CONTACTING GENERAL MOTORS CONCERNING THIS ISSUE. I ALSO HAVE PHOTOS OF THE VEHICLE AFTER THE ACCIDENT TO VERIFY THAT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *JB
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.
Illustration