IllustrationTHE STEERING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE STEERING SYSTEM TO BE INOPERATIVE AND ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. ALSO, PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKE BOOSTER AND REAR AXLE. PLEASE PROVIDE 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 reportsDUE TO THE LOCATION AND THE STYLE OF THE MANUEL SEAT HANDLE BEHIND THE LEFT KNEE OF THE DRIVER, WHEN EXITING THE VEHICLE CONSUMER DRESS GOT CAUGHT IN THE HANDLE, RESULTING IN THE CONSUMER FALLING OUT THE VEHICLE FACE FIRST. CONSUMER SUSTAINED SOME MINOR INJURIES. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER D…
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DUE TO THE LOCATION AND THE STYLE OF THE MANUEL SEAT HANDLE BEHIND THE LEFT KNEE OF THE DRIVER, WHEN EXITING THE VEHICLE CONSUMER DRESS GOT CAUGHT IN THE HANDLE, RESULTING IN THE CONSUMER FALLING OUT THE VEHICLE FACE FIRST. CONSUMER SUSTAINED SOME MINOR INJURIES. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
HEADLIGHTS WOULD NOT COME ON. DRIVER HAPPEN TO POUND ON DASH AND LIGHTS CAME ON.
DRIVER'S SEAT BELT FAILS TO RESTRAIN.
VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED WITH NO REAR BUMPER. IN CASE OF ACCIDENT. OWNER IS VERY CONCERNED FOR SAFETY. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
CHILD SEATED IN REAR SEAT BELTED WITH A SHOULDER HARNESS TYPE SEAT BELT. SHE LAY DOWN TO SLEEP, BUCKLED IN, AND IN DOING SO BECAME ENTANGLED IN THE BELT IN SUCH A WAY THE BELT WRAPPED AROUND HER BODY ON COMPLETE TIMES. WHEN SHE REALIZED SHE WAS TRAPPED SHE UNBUCKLED HER BELT. THIS RESULTED IN THE LOCK MECHANISM ENGAGING, FURT…
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CHILD SEATED IN REAR SEAT BELTED WITH A SHOULDER HARNESS TYPE SEAT BELT. SHE LAY DOWN TO SLEEP, BUCKLED IN, AND IN DOING SO BECAME ENTANGLED IN THE BELT IN SUCH A WAY THE BELT WRAPPED AROUND HER BODY ON COMPLETE TIMES. WHEN SHE REALIZED SHE WAS TRAPPED SHE UNBUCKLED HER BELT. THIS RESULTED IN THE LOCK MECHANISM ENGAGING, FURTHER CONSTRICING AND DRAWING HER UP. THE BELT HAD BE CUT IN ORDER TO FREE CHILD.
WHEN A BUMP IN THE ROAD IS HIT THE INTERIOR LIGHTS AND THE HEADLIGHTS FLICKER ON AND OFF. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT POWER ADJUSTING LEVER IS LOCATED IN FRONT OF SEAT RATHER THAN UNDERNEATH SEAT, CAUSING THE PASSENGER'S LEG TO GET CAUGHT IN SEAT LEVER ,POSSBLE INJURIES. *AK
ENGINE FIRE.
HAVE NOTIFIED GM, NOTHING SO FAR, HAVE ASK FOR A DIFFERENT BLAZER, NOTHING SO FAR, WE STOPPED FOR A TRAFFIC SIGNAL AND WOULD NOT START. THAN SMOKE CAME OUT FROM UNDER HOOD, THAN 3 FEET OF FLAMES, I THINK GM SHOULD LOOK AT THIS VERY CLOSE. IF THE GUY HADN'T CAME ALONG WITH COKE IT WOULD HAD BURN TO A CRISP. I AM UNHAPPY WITH G…
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HAVE NOTIFIED GM, NOTHING SO FAR, HAVE ASK FOR A DIFFERENT BLAZER, NOTHING SO FAR, WE STOPPED FOR A TRAFFIC SIGNAL AND WOULD NOT START. THAN SMOKE CAME OUT FROM UNDER HOOD, THAN 3 FEET OF FLAMES, I THINK GM SHOULD LOOK AT THIS VERY CLOSE. IF THE GUY HADN'T CAME ALONG WITH COKE IT WOULD HAD BURN TO A CRISP. I AM UNHAPPY WITH GM RESPOND TIME, THEY SAID IT WOULD TAKE 10 TO 14 DAYS TO LET ME KNOW WAHT THEY WILL TO. I DON'T WANT THAT BLAZER BACK!!!!!
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.