IllustrationMileage unknown · Aug 12, 2000
Unknown Or Other
NO SUMMARY
NHTSA ODI #727698
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 reportsNO SUMMARY
FUEL INJECTION HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE AND CHECKED VEHICLE 3 TIMES. MANUFACTURER CLAIMED IT WAS DUE TO CALIFORNIA GAS . GAS HAS AN INGREDIENT THAT WAS EATING AWAY OR MELTING SEAL OF FUEL INJECTION. *AK
WHILE DRIVING TURN SIGNALS MALFUNCTIONED IN WHICH THE SMOKE CAME FROM THE STEERING WHEEL, INDICATING A SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE WIRING HARNESS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
MAUAL ADJUST HANDLE METAL SHAFT (ROD) BROKE WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ADJUST SEAT BACK ANGLE. MINIMUM FORCE WAS USED. DEALERSHIP ESTIMATED > 150.00 TO REPLACE SHAFT AS SEAT WILL HAVE TO BE REMOVED. THIS METAL SHAFT SHOULD'NT HAVE FAILED SO EASILY.
DRIVER'S SEAT BACK LATCH HAS BROKEN FOUR TIMES. DEALER HAS REPAIRED THE VEHICLE THREE TIMES UNDER WARRANTY. *AK
ON 2/9/00, RUCK WAS TAKEN TO JAMES MARTIN CHEVROLET-BUICK DEALERSHIP DUE TO EMISSION PROBLEMS. THE TRUCK WAS NOT REPAIRED UNTIL 3/7/00 BECAUSE IT WAS "DIFFICULT" TO DETERMINE WHERE THE EVAPORATION LEAK WAS COMING FROM. LESS THAN 6,000 MILES LATER, ANOTHER EMISSION PROBLEM HAPPENED ON JULY 29TH. I WAS DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY…
Read full complaint
ON 2/9/00, RUCK WAS TAKEN TO JAMES MARTIN CHEVROLET-BUICK DEALERSHIP DUE TO EMISSION PROBLEMS. THE TRUCK WAS NOT REPAIRED UNTIL 3/7/00 BECAUSE IT WAS "DIFFICULT" TO DETERMINE WHERE THE EVAPORATION LEAK WAS COMING FROM. LESS THAN 6,000 MILES LATER, ANOTHER EMISSION PROBLEM HAPPENED ON JULY 29TH. I WAS DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY WHEN I STARTED TO SMELL GAS FUMES. IT BROUGHT ME TO THE POINT OF CHOCKING AND I HAD TO GET OFF THE EXPRESSWAY AND GET OUT OF THE TRUCK TO BREATHE. THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED ON 7/31/00, HOWEVER, I STILL FEEL THAT A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED ON THE CHEVY BLAZER 1998 EDITION. THE BOTTON OF MY INVOICE STATES THAT FURTHER DIAGNOSIS WILL BE DONE ONCE THE DRIVER NOTICES ANY OTHER PROBLEMS. THIS CONCERNS ME BECAUSE EACH TIME, THE EMISSION PROBLEMS IS BECOMING WORSE THAN THE LAST ONE. *AK
DEFECTIVE HUB WAS LEAKING GREASE ONTO THE SENSOR CAUSING IT TO FAIL AND RESULTING IN THE ABS LIGHT ILLMINATING. NLM
WHILE FILLING FUEL TANK FUMES ENTERED INTO VEHICLE AND CAUSED OCCUPANT TO FEEL SICK. THIS MAY POSSIBLY RESULT IN LOSS OF CONTROL . *AK *ML
WHEN BRAKING THE VEHICLE JERKS UNTIL STOPPED. ROTORS WERE WARPED CHIPPED BADLY DAMAGED. *AK
CHEVROLET HAS SEEN THE TRUCK SEVERAL TIMES AND WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND I HAVE TALKED TO OTHER PEOPLE THAT HAVE THE SAME TRUCK AND THEY ALSO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM.I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE IS SOMETHING ELSE THAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT IT. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONE DIN SUMMARY. *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.