IllustrationWIPERS FAILED TO WORK. *TR
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 reports1998 CHEVY S-10 BLAZER WITH 97K MILES AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. THIS WOULD UNFORTUNATELY OCCUR WHEN THE WINDSHIELD WASHER BUTTON WOULD BE PRESSED LEAVING THE WINDSHIELD COMPLETELY COVERED IN SOAPY SOLUTION AND MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO SEE. AFTER VISITING SEVERAL WEBSITES THE ANSWER TO OUR PROBLEM WAS ON…
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1998 CHEVY S-10 BLAZER WITH 97K MILES AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. THIS WOULD UNFORTUNATELY OCCUR WHEN THE WINDSHIELD WASHER BUTTON WOULD BE PRESSED LEAVING THE WINDSHIELD COMPLETELY COVERED IN SOAPY SOLUTION AND MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO SEE. AFTER VISITING SEVERAL WEBSITES THE ANSWER TO OUR PROBLEM WAS ON THIS LINK HTTP://WWW.AUTOMOTIVEHELPER.COM/TOPIC130258.HTM. THE CONTROL CIRCUIT CARD ATTACHED TO THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR ASSEMBLY HAD CRACKED SOLDER JOINTS ON 7 PINS OF THE HARNESS CONNECTOR. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A SOLDER FATIGUE PROBLEM DUE TO VIBRATION AND TEMPERATURE CYCLING AND THE FACT THAT THE HARNESS CONNECTOR BODY IS LONG AND MADE OF A DIFFERENT MATERIAL THAN THE CIRCUIT CARD LEAVING THE SOLDER JOINTS UNDER STRESS DUE TO MISMATCH OF THERMAL EXPANSION COEFFICIENTS. CONSEQUENTLY, AFTER TEN YEARS THE SOLDER JOINTS FINALLY GAVE UP. THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT THE CIRCUIT CARD IS EASY TO REMOVE (3 TORQUE SCREWS) AND THE SOLDER JOINTS CAN BE SIMPLY REFLOWED WITH A SOLDERING IRON AND FRESH SOLDER. THE SOLDER JOINT CRACKS ARE EASY TO SEE USING A MAGNIFYING GLASS. THE WIPERS ARE NOW WORKING PROPERLY AGAIN. *TR
LEVER TO ADJUST PASSENGER SEAT BROKE OFF, IT WAS LIKE THIS WHEN WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN 2004. I SEE THAT MANY OTHERS HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THEIR SEAT LEVERS AS WELL. THIS JUST AFFECTS MY PASSENGER SEAT, AS THE DRIVERS SEAT IS ELECTRONIC. *TR
WIPERS WORK ABOUT 50% OF THE TIME AT BEST, TYPICALLY WHEN IT IS NOT RAINING. THIS IS A BIG SAFETY ISSUE. IT LOOKS LIKE COUNTLESS OTHERS HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH THEIR 98 BLAZER. I HAVE NOT YET FIXED THE PROBLEM. WHEN WILL THIS BE RECALLED? *TR
MY POWER SEAT SHORTED OUT WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND SET MY SHORTS ON FIRE, VEHICAL COMPLETLY BURNED TO THE GROUND DESPITE THREE FIRE TRUCKS SHOWING UP IN ABOUT 5 MIN. , REPORTED TO GM , BUT THE SAID SINCE VEHICAL WAS DESTROYED THEY ARE NOT TO BLAME. *TR
THERE ARE 2 RECALLS FOR WINDSHIELD WIPERS NOT WORKING/INTERMITTENLY WORKING FOR 1996 BLAZER - MY 1998 BLAZER IS HAVING THE EXACT SAME ISSUE BUT I CAN'T FIND ANY RECALLS WITH MY 1998. IT HAS BEEN AN INTERMITTEN PROBLEM FOR 2 YEARS AND NOW THEY JUST STOPPED. THE FUSE IS GOOD AND THERE IS A LOT DEALING WITH CIRCUIT BOARD SOLDER JOI…
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THERE ARE 2 RECALLS FOR WINDSHIELD WIPERS NOT WORKING/INTERMITTENLY WORKING FOR 1996 BLAZER - MY 1998 BLAZER IS HAVING THE EXACT SAME ISSUE BUT I CAN'T FIND ANY RECALLS WITH MY 1998. IT HAS BEEN AN INTERMITTEN PROBLEM FOR 2 YEARS AND NOW THEY JUST STOPPED. THE FUSE IS GOOD AND THERE IS A LOT DEALING WITH CIRCUIT BOARD SOLDER JOINTS FOR THE WIPERS.
THERE IS A RECALL ON THE 98 BLAZER FOR RIGHT-HAND LOWER CONTROL ARMS SAYING THAT THE BOLT COULD BREAK. THAT HAPPENED TO MINE BUT IT WAS THE LEFT-HAND UPPER CONTROL ARM BOLT AND THE REPAIRS COST ME $1000
WHEEL BEARING GO OUT ABOUT EVERY 6 MONTHS. IT FEELS LIKE THE TIRE IS FALLING OFF. REPLACE WHEEL BEARING AT 200.00 A SIDE. ABS LITE ON TAKE THE FUSE OUT THEY WORK PUT THE FUSE IN THEY KICK BACK.RUNS HOT WHEN YOU USE AC,SOUNDS LIKE TURN SIGNALS ARE ON WHEN THERE NOT. *TR
1998 CHEVY S10 BLAZER SEAT RECLINER HANDLE TOO WEAK FOR USE NEEDS BETTER PRODUCT. *TR
1998 CHEVY BLAZER CAUGHT FIRE WHILE DRIVING. CONSUMER PULLED OVER ON THE SHOULDER AND CAR BURNED TO THE GROUND. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION AND HEAD GASKET WAS LEAKING PREVIOUSLY, BUT IT WAS FIXED. OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0315-90. *JB UPDATED 04/15/10 *BF REMAILED 05/27/10 *BF
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.