1998 Chevrolet Blazer: problems, recalls and reliability
3 recalls and 716 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is visibility (31% of complaints).
Data updated weekly · latest recall Aug 2000
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 716 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“After using the cruise control the first time on the highway at 65mph , it stuck and would not shut off. The vehicle accelerates to a dangerous speed and the breaks barely helped. Even after turning the car off taking out the battery and putting it back, it did not reset. Cruise will not disengage.”Owner report · Vehicle Speed Control · Oct 2020
“I had a wreck hit a deer on my driver side front bumper my air bag light came on and is still on its make a popping sound ever since that happen and it scares mey light stays on.”Owner report · Air Bags · Jun 2019
“Tl* the contact owns a 1998 chevrolet blazer. While driving with the cruise control activated at 50 mph, the contact depressed the brake pedal, but the vehicle failed to stop. Instead, the vehicle accelerated on its own. The contact coasted the vehicle to the side of the road, turned off the engine, and restarted the vehicle. In addition, while the vehicle was in park, it unintentionally accelerated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 140,000. The VIN was not available.”Owner report · Vehicle Speed Control · Jul 2016
Show 7 more owner reports
“The wipers will not work. The wiper motor seems to have an issue. It gets real hot when connected. And I had just bought this vehicle on 11/19/2015”Owner report · Visibility/Wiper · Nov 2015
“Tl* the contact owns a 1998 chevrolet blazer. The contact stated that while attempting to enter the vehicle, the key code failed causing the vehicle to not start. The failure recurred twice. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence and then to a dealer. The dealer refused to inspect the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 199,573.”Owner report · Electrical System · Jul 2015
“Tl* the contact owns a 1998 chevrolet blazer. While driving 60 mph, the windshield wiper blades stopped working without warning. The failure occurred intermittently. The windshield wipers were previously repaired by the dealer on two occasions. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The approximate failure mileage was 180,000.”Owner report · Visibility · Jun 2015
“Tl* the contact owns a 1998 chevrolet blazer. The contact stated that while driving 35 mph in the rain, the windshield wipers failed without warning. The vehicle was merged to the shoulder of the road where the windshield wipers could be activated after several attempts. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the failure was unable to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure recurred. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 140,000.”Owner report · Visibility/Wiper · Apr 2015
“Tl* the contact owns a 1998 chevrolet blazer. The contact stated that the windshield wipers failed to work intermittently and the front passenger window failed to go up. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for a diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 145,000.”Owner report · Visibility/Wiper · Aug 2014
“Tl* the contact owns a 1998 chevrolet blazer. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start and would stall intermittently. In addition, the power door locks would lock and unlock and the windshield wipers activated independently while the vehicle was in motion. The contact further stated that the dimmer switch failed to work, which resulted in a lack of visibility when using the low beam headlights. The VIN was excluded from NHTSA campaign number: 00v220000 (exterior lighting). The vehicle was not repaired or diagnosed. The manufacturer was notified. The approximate failure mileage was 127,000.”Owner report · Electrical System · May 2014
“On 3-17 experienced loud screeching sound when ignition was engaged to start engine, and simultaneously the console alert light blinked off and on . On 3-19 mechanic investigated and found a faulty ignition switch. *tr”Owner report · Electrical System · Mar 2014
When filing, owners marked a crash in 46 of these complaints and injuries in 39 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 3 campaigns
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.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE BRAKE PIPE.
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.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND RETIGHTEN THE RIGHT-HAND LOWER CONTROL ARM NUTS TO THE PROPER TORQUE SPECIFICATION.
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.
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.
How other years compare
Check your exact Blazer by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 1998 Chevrolet Blazer reliable?
NHTSA has 716 owner complaints and 3 recall campaigns on record for the 1998 Chevrolet Blazer. The most complained-about area is visibility (31% of complaints).
At what mileage do 1998 Chevrolet Blazer problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 70,193 miles or less.
Does the 1998 Chevrolet Blazer have open recalls?
3 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.