IllustrationDRIVER'S SEAT BELT DOES NOT FULLY EXTEND FROM RETRACTING MECHANSIM, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*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
What owners actually said
716 reportsTHE SEAT RECLINE LEVER HAS ALREADY BEEN RELACED ONCE AND IS NEVER USED. *AK
WHEEL COULD COME OFF AT ANY TIME. MECHANIC FOUND A DESIGN PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *AK
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…
Read full complaint
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
SEATBACK LATCH ON DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES SEAT HAS BROKEN, AND BEEN REPLACED ONCE. LATCHES HAVE BROKEN AGAIN. DEALR HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK
REPLACED FRONT BALL JOINTS 3 TIMES. ONCE WITHIN A MONTH AFTER RECALL 98V053000 REPAIRS. *AK THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE SERVICED AGAIN FOR CLUNKING BUT DEALER COULDN'T DETERMINE THE CAUSE. CONSUMER FELLS UNEASY DRIVING THIS VEHICLE. *YH
FOUR OIL COOLING LINE HOSES ARE LEAKING ABOVE OIL FILTER ONTO GROUND.DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK THE DEALER STATED THAT THRE WAS NATIONAL BACK ORDER FOR PARTS TO FIX THE VEHICLE. *YH
OIL COOLING LINE HAD CRACKED. TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC, AND INDICATED THAT OIL LINE WAS LEAKING FROM CRACK IT HAD. PROBLEM COULD BE REPAIRED. *AK THE DEALER WAS AWARE OF POSSIBLE COOLING LINE DEFECT BUT REPAIRED IT AT THE CONSUMER'S EXPENSE. *YH
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WILL COME OUT OF GEAR AND DROP INTO NEUTRAL FOR NO REASON. DEALER/MECHANIC STATES THAT THIS IS A COMPUTER MALFUNCTION. THIS OCCURS AT ANY SPEED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *AK
WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER NOTICED A SEMI TRUCK HAD JACK-KNIFED, CONSUMER WENT AROUND THE TRUCK AND THE FRONT WHEEL HIT A DITCH CAUSING VEHICLE TO FLIP UPSIDE DOWN, ANOTHER SEMI ATTEMPTED TO GO AROUND THE DISABLED TRUCK WHEN IT TOO JACK-KNIFED HITTING CONSUMER'S VEHICLE SENDING IT 175 FEET, THERE WAS NO ROLL BAR IN VEHICLE WHICH WO…
Read full complaint
WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER NOTICED A SEMI TRUCK HAD JACK-KNIFED, CONSUMER WENT AROUND THE TRUCK AND THE FRONT WHEEL HIT A DITCH CAUSING VEHICLE TO FLIP UPSIDE DOWN, ANOTHER SEMI ATTEMPTED TO GO AROUND THE DISABLED TRUCK WHEN IT TOO JACK-KNIFED HITTING CONSUMER'S VEHICLE SENDING IT 175 FEET, THERE WAS NO ROLL BAR IN VEHICLE WHICH WOULD HAVE HELPED IN THE SITUATION, CONSUMER WAS INJURED (MINOR) IN ACCIDENT. *SLC
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.