IllustrationTRANSMISSION FAILED NO 2ND OR 3RD REVERSE FAILED HAD TO PUSH CAR BROUGHT TO SHOP SHELL BROKE
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 reportsPLANETARY GEAR SHELL, AMONG OTHER INTERNAL COMPONENTS BROKEN - $1650 DAMAGE. *AK
AIR BAG LIGHT KEPT COMING ON WHILE DRIVING. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP AT LEAST 4 DIFFERENT TIMES FOR LIGHT PROBLEM. DEALERSHIP HAD CHANGED HANDS. AIR BAG LIGHT COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. WAS INVOLVED IN ACCIDENT & AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. DRIVER INJURED & HOSPITALIZED WITH SHOULDER INJURY.*AK
WHILE DRIVING ANTI-LOCK BRAKES ACTIVATED WITHOUT PRESSURE ON THE PEDAL. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP ON 6 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS FOR REPAIRS. DEALER HAS MADE ELECTRICAL REPAIRS FOR REMEDY, BUT PROBLEM STILL OCCURS.*AK
WHILE DRIVING ACCELERATOR PEDAL GETS STUCK DUE TO THE DEFECTIVE THROTTLE SYSTEM WHICH CAUSES CARBON TO BUILD UP AND ACCELERATOR TO STICK, RESULTING IN VEHICLE LUNCHING FORWARD. DEALER IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. THERE IS A NEW DESIGN OF THE THROTTLE SYSTEM IN OTHER VEHICLES. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
REPORTING THE PULLEY FAIL WHILE TRAVELING AT HWY SPEED OF 55 MPH; CAUSING LOST OF POWER STEERING. DEALER/ MFR'S NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THAT PART WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND NOT COVER UNDER A RECALLS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS:
DRIVERS SIDE RECLINER HAS FAILED (4) TIMES. PASSENGER SIDE HAS FAILED (1) TIME. ASIDE FROM THE INCONVEIONCE OF TAKING THE CAR TO BE REPAIED AGAIN AND AGAIN.I FEEL THERE IS A SAFETY ISSUE.IF I DRIVE SOME PLACE AND RECLINE THE SEAT AND IT BREAKS IN THE RECLINED POSITION THE CAR IS NOT SAFELY DRIVABLE FROM A PRONE POSITION. THIS …
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DRIVERS SIDE RECLINER HAS FAILED (4) TIMES. PASSENGER SIDE HAS FAILED (1) TIME. ASIDE FROM THE INCONVEIONCE OF TAKING THE CAR TO BE REPAIED AGAIN AND AGAIN.I FEEL THERE IS A SAFETY ISSUE.IF I DRIVE SOME PLACE AND RECLINE THE SEAT AND IT BREAKS IN THE RECLINED POSITION THE CAR IS NOT SAFELY DRIVABLE FROM A PRONE POSITION. THIS COULD BE A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM DEPENDING ON CONDITIONS AND/OR SITUATION. I HAVE TALKED TO SOME GM PARTS COUNTER PERSONS.I WAS INFORMED THAT THIS IS AN ONGOING AND COMMON PROBLEM. THIS WAS CONFIRMED BY AN INDEPENDENT UPOLSTRY SHOP WHICH DOES THESE REPAIRS ON A SUBLET BASIS. I HAVE EXAMEND THE PART , I AM NOT AN ENGINEER BUT I KNOW THAT SUCH A CRITICAL HIGH STRESS PART SHOULD NOT BE MADE FROM SUCH A SOFT MATERIAL. YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS PROBLEM WILL BE APRECEAITED. THANK YOU. SINCERLY MARK L. STEWART
VEHICLE'S TRANS STARTED SLIPPING AT 45MPH. WHEN STOPPED, I FOUND OUT I HAD NO REVERSE WITH ALL OTHER FORWARD GEARS SLIPPING TO WHERE IT IS UNDRIVEABLE. VEHICLE HAS HIGH HIGHWAY MILEAGE, RARELY WAS THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE USED, AND IS ON LEASE FOR $440 A MONTH FOR ANOTHER YEAR. I KNOW A FEW OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME TR…
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VEHICLE'S TRANS STARTED SLIPPING AT 45MPH. WHEN STOPPED, I FOUND OUT I HAD NO REVERSE WITH ALL OTHER FORWARD GEARS SLIPPING TO WHERE IT IS UNDRIVEABLE. VEHICLE HAS HIGH HIGHWAY MILEAGE, RARELY WAS THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE USED, AND IS ON LEASE FOR $440 A MONTH FOR ANOTHER YEAR. I KNOW A FEW OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS ON NEWER BLAZERS WITH LOWER MILAGE (STILL UNDER WARRANTY) THAT WERE REPAIRED. IT SEEMS ODD THAT THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURED TO A FEW PEOPLE I TALKED TO, AND MAKES ME WONDER HOW MANY MORE PROBLEM TRANSES ARE OUT THERE. WHAT SHOULD I DO???
WE HAVE (2) 1998 GM PRODUCTS THAT HAVE HAD FAILED TRANSMISSIONS THIS MONTH, BOTH JUST RECENTLY HIT THE 50,000 MILE MARK
FUEL INJECTORS REPLACED ON THREE OCCASIONS WITHIN 25,000 MILES. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT PROBLEM OCCURRED DUE TO CALIFORNIA'S FUEL USE IN VEHICLE, AND MANUFACTURER SENT AN EXTENDE WARRANTY FOR 100,000 MILES, BUT WHAT WOULD HAPPEN AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRE? SEEKING HELP FROM NHTSA IN THIS MATTER. *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
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Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Ball Joint
SEE ATTACHED PAGE.
Suspension:front:control Arm:upper Arm
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Suspension:front:control Arm:upper Ball Joint
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Suspension:front
SEE ATTACHED PAGE.
Suspension
SEE ATTACHED PAGE.