1998 Chevrolet Blazer Problems, Recalls & Reliability
1,025 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 1998 Chevrolet Blazer, alongside 3 recall campaigns and 1 defect investigation. It scores 55/100 on the trouble index — one of the years to avoid for this model. Visibility & wipers leads the reports, typically around 70,000 miles.
Avoid this year if you can. The 1998 Chevrolet Blazer sits at the top of this model's complaint rankings. Quieter picks in the same family: 1990–1991, 2002–2004, 2019–2022.
Avoid
Where 1998 sits among all Blazer years
What owners report
“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 to NHTSA, 1998 Blazer
“My blazer is 2 dr with zr2,, funny sound from rear suspension when it bump, and engin cut off at backing up car without warm up, and make bone cracking noise or squeak noise from dash or brake, everytime i turn or stop or go. Very poor fitting for both of 2 door and front and rear bumper and etc,,”— owner report to NHTSA, 1998 Blazer
“The seat reclining levers broke off on both front seats. Driver side broke first, then passenger side broke about 4 months later.”— owner report to NHTSA, 1998 Blazer
“While driving the vehicle shifted down in 4 wheel drive from wheel drive while sitting still. Nlm”— owner report to NHTSA, 1998 Blazer
“Consumer continues to experience problems noise with brake system, several repairs of pad and rotors repositioning of the brake cables have not corrected problems. Yh”— owner report to NHTSA, 1998 Blazer
“Consistent and repeated heating/cooling problems; corrosion of the coolant; erosion of the radiator; lack of heat for 4 winters, etc.”— owner report to NHTSA, 1998 Blazer
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 382 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 71,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 50,000 and 95,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (3)
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…
Fix: 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.
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…
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND RETIGHTEN THE RIGHT-HAND LOWER CONTROL ARM NUTS TO THE PROPER TORQUE SPECIFICATION.
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…
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE BRAKE PIPE.
Federal defect investigations
Led to recall campaign 01V200000.
Technical service bulletins
78 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on electrical and engine — are on file for the 1998 Chevrolet Blazer. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
See the 1998 Blazer TSB list →
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 1998 Chevrolet Blazer reliable?
The 1998 Chevrolet Blazer drew 1,025 complaints in federal safety records — one of the years to avoid for this model. Its trouble index is 55/100, scored against the model's worst year (1995).
What are the most common 1998 Chevrolet Blazer problems?
The top reported problems for the 1998 Chevrolet Blazer are visibility & wipers (268 complaints), electrical (132), and seats & interior (84).
At what mileage do 1998 Chevrolet Blazer problems show up?
Owners most often report 1998 Chevrolet Blazer problems around 71,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 50,000 and 95,000 miles.
Does the 1998 Chevrolet Blazer have recalls?
3 recall campaigns apply to the 1998 Chevrolet Blazer. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.