IllustrationWINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON I-5 @ 70 MPH. I PULLED OVER AND LOOKED AT THE WIPER MOTOR , TAPPED THE WIRE HARNESS , IT WORKED FOR ABOUT 10 MILES, DID THEY DO A RECALL???? ANYONE KNOW !!!. *JB
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 reportsLOTS TO LIST... 1998 CHEVY BLAZER ZR2 FUEL SYSTEM FAILURE CAUSE STILL UNKNOWN, LEVER FOR PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BROKE OFF. NOW STARTING TROUBLES CAUSE STILL UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME. HELP ME. *NM
DT: THE CONTACT COMPLAINED ABOUT A MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, AND THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE WATER PUMP. AFTERWARDS, THE THERMOSTAT CONTINUED TO ELEVATE, AND SHE RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT AN…
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DT: THE CONTACT COMPLAINED ABOUT A MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, AND THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE WATER PUMP. AFTERWARDS, THE THERMOSTAT CONTINUED TO ELEVATE, AND SHE RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT AND ADDED COOLANT. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO RUN HOT. THE CONTACT TOOK VEHICLE TO A DIFFERENT REPAIR SHOP, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED A LEAK IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. THE DEALER ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR IT BY FLUSHING THE INTAKE AND ADDING MORE COOLANT. ALTHOUGH MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS HAVE BEEN MADE TO REMEDY THIS PROBLEM IT CONTINUED TO PERSIST. *AK
WIPERS FAIL. *NM
STRONG GAS SMELL ON AND OFF SINCE AUGUST 2005. LOOKED OVER BY MECHANIC - WAS TOLD I HAVE A INTERNAL GAS LEAK - AND THAT I WAS DRIVING A "FIRE HAZARD". GAS LEAKING IN ENGINE - SMALL CUP IN AREA OF ENGINE - FILLED WITH GASOLINE. *NM
DT: THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL STOP MIDWAY AND SOMETIMES THEY WILL NOT WORK AT ALL. AK *JB
MY 1998 BLAZER HAD A WIPER FAILURE DURING THE FIRST RAINSTORM OF THE CALIFORNIA YEAR YESTERDAY. FORTUNATELY, I WAS OFF THE FREEWAY AND ONLY A MILE OR TWO FROM HOME. THE WIPERS WOULD NOT WORK. THIS MORNING, THEY DID. I SAW THAT THIS IS A FREQUENT PROBLEM WITH THE 1998 BLAZER. *JB
DT: CONTACT STATES THAT WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT THEN TRIED TO ACCELERATE THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE. HE WAS ABLE TO GET VEHICLE HOME ,AND THERE HE COULD NOT SHIFT GEARS. THIS HAPPENED WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET. *AK
THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK WHEN THEY WANT TO, THEY QUIT AT ANYTIME THEN START WORKING AGAIN THEN QUIT. THERE IS NO DELAY, LOW, OR HIGH THEY WORK ON WHAT EVER LEVEL THEY WANT TO. I HAVE CALLED LOCAL DEALERS AND THERE IS A RECALL FOR OTHER MODELS OF VEHICLES EXCEPT FOR 1998 FOR THE SAME REASON.( IT IS GOING TO COST $200.00 PLUS …
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THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK WHEN THEY WANT TO, THEY QUIT AT ANYTIME THEN START WORKING AGAIN THEN QUIT. THERE IS NO DELAY, LOW, OR HIGH THEY WORK ON WHAT EVER LEVEL THEY WANT TO. I HAVE CALLED LOCAL DEALERS AND THERE IS A RECALL FOR OTHER MODELS OF VEHICLES EXCEPT FOR 1998 FOR THE SAME REASON.( IT IS GOING TO COST $200.00 PLUS TO FIX) I WENT OFF THE RODE TODAY ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY BECAUSE OF THE WIPERS STOPPING IN A DOWN POUR. THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESS AS I SEE I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. *JB
MY 1998 CHEVY BLAZER HAS NEEDED EXTENSIVE REPAIRS TO THE TRANSMISSION AND ULTIMATELY I HAD TO HAVE A NEW TRANSMISSION PLACED IN THE VEHICLE. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH A FEW OTHER CHEVY BLAZER OWNERS AND THEY HAVE INFORMED ME OF THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR VEHICLES. ALSO PROBLEMATIC IS THE REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER -- NEVER HAS WORKED AND…
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MY 1998 CHEVY BLAZER HAS NEEDED EXTENSIVE REPAIRS TO THE TRANSMISSION AND ULTIMATELY I HAD TO HAVE A NEW TRANSMISSION PLACED IN THE VEHICLE. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH A FEW OTHER CHEVY BLAZER OWNERS AND THEY HAVE INFORMED ME OF THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR VEHICLES. ALSO PROBLEMATIC IS THE REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER -- NEVER HAS WORKED AND I'VE HAD TO GET IT REPAIRED TWICE. *JB
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.