Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1998 Chevrolet Blazer, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Visibility256
- Seats84
- Power train74
- Electrical system71
- Engine and engine cooling64
- Suspension60
- Service brakes, hydraulic59
- Exterior lighting40
- Air bags38
- Vehicle speed control33
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 39 injuries and 13 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 35 1998 Blazer vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 28 people died inside them, and 17 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1998 Chevrolet Blazer failed the safety check 2.09% of the time — 22% more often than the average 1998 passenger car (1.71%). Median odometer at inspection: 147,827 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In New Zealand
25 1998 cars are on the New Zealand register; 96% arrived as used imports, 0% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Recalls in Canada
2 Transport Canada recalls for the 1998 Chevrolet Blazer.
| 2001263 1 Nov 2001 | Electrical Certain vehicles: Light duty trucks. passenger vehicles and sport utility vehicles. Certain vehicles do not comply with the requirements of C.M.V.S.S. NO. 118,… |
| 1997217 28 Nov 1997 | Brakes Certain vehicles may exhibit a fatigue fracture of the rear axle, right-hand brake pipe. Should the pipe crack a slow brake fluid leak would result causing a so… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
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.
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.
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.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Chevrolet told its dealers about the 1998 Chevrolet Blazer: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 634999 | DIAGNOSIS OF CRACKED OR BROKEN TRANSMISSION CASE. *TT 2006 AND PRIOR CARS AND LIGHT DUTY TRUCKS. *TT |
| 634905 | SOME VEHICLES WILL NOT MOVE WHEN 4-WHEEL DRIVE IS REQUESTED, NOISE, SHUDDER, POOR PERFORMANCE, TRANSMISSION / TRANSFER CASE SLIPS, TRANSMISSION WILL NOT UPSHIFT, SLIPS IN 4-WHEEL DRIVE. *TT |
| 634823 | TECHNICAL INFORMATION - SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT THAT THE REAR PORTION OF THE ROOF HAS SOME RUST FORMING. *TT |
| 634729 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT ON AN EXHAUST BOOM / GROAN NOISE IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. *TT |
| 634506 | SUBJECT REGARDING GENERAL WATERLEAK GUIDE. *TT |
| 634218 | SUBJECT REGARDING RUST IN COOLING SYSTEM, HEATER INOPERATIVE, BLOWS COLD AIR, ENGINE OVERHEATS (FLUSH COOLING SYSTEM). NLM |
| 629824 | INFORMATION ON REPLACING CORRODED TRAILER PRE-WIRE HARNESS AT THE REAR BUMPER. *TT |
| 629470 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT THAT THE REAR PORTION OF THE ROOF HAS SOME RUST FORMING. *TT |
| 628854 | SUBJECT REGARDING REAR ROOF PERFORATION. *TT |
| 628852 | CONCERNS THAT THE REAR PORTION OF THE ROOF HAS SOME RUST FORMING. *TT |
| 628512 | SUBJECT REGARDING REAR ROOF PERFORATION (INSTALL NEW REAR ROOF SECTION) INCLUDING 1995-1997 GMC BLAZER.*JG |
| 628070 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT AN EXHAUST NOISE, RATTLE NOISE AT 550 RPM. *TT |
| 627489 | INFORMATION REGARDING REAR ROOF PERFORATION. *YH |
| 626507 | SUBJECT REGARDING NECESSARY RESURFACING OF THE PARK BRAKE DRUM. *JG |
| 625141 | CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT THAT THE SEAT RECLINER HANDLE IS STRIPPED. *JG |
| 623792 | INFORMATION REGARDING IMPROVED BUS SEAT DECLINER ASSEMBLIES, THE HANDLE ON THE RECLINER ASSEMBLY IS ATTACHED WITH A NUMBER 20 TORQUE WITH A SHANK LENGTH OF 20 MILLIMETERS. *SLC |
| 623086 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT THAT THE HEATER IS INOPERATIVE, BLOWS COLD AIR, ENGINE MAY EXHIBIT AN OVERHEAT CONDITION OR THE COOLANT RESERVOIR HAS RUST IN IT. *TT |
| 623034 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT THAT THE SECURITY LAMP ILLUMINATES WHILE DRIVING; ENGINE CRANKS BUT WILL NOT START; AND / OR THE ENGINE STARTS THEN STALLS AND THE SECURITY LAMP IS FLASHING. *TT |
| 619740 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT THAT THE SECURITY LAMP ILLUMINATES WHILE DRIVING; THE SECURITY LAMP MAY BE ON OR OFF; THE SECURITY LAMP IS ILLUMINATED; THE ENGINE CRANKS BUT WILL NOT START AND THE SECURITY LAMP IS FLASHING; AND / OR THE ENGINE STARTS THEN STALLS AND THE SECURITY LAMP IS FLASHING. *TT |
| 619027 | SUBJECT REGARDING THE NEW RECLINCER ASSEMBLY. *TT |
| 617784 | CUSTOMER MAY COMMENT THAT THE REARVIEW MIRRORS, POWER DOOR LOCKS AND REAR HATCH DO NOT OPERATE. *TT |
| 611277 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT THAT THE HEATER IS INOPERATIVE, BLOWS COLD AIR, ENGINE MAY EXHIBIT AN OVERHEAT CONDITION OR THE COOLANT RESERVOIR HAS RUST IN IT. *TT |
| 609717 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT THAT THE HEATER IS INOPERATIVE, BLOWS COLD AIR, ENGINE MAY EXHIBIT AN OVERHEAT CONDITION OR THE COOLANT RESERVOIR HAS RUST IN IT. *TT |
| 609578 | THE SCREW THAT SECURES THE LEFT AND CENTER INSULATOR PANELS TOGETHER, UNDERNEATH THE I/P ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE MAY PULL THE ONE PUSH/INSERT NUT OUT OF THE CENTER INSULATOR PANEL CAUSING, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL(I/P) INSULATOR PANEL TO RATTLE. YD |
| 6088752 | CONCERNS WITH INSUFFICIENT REAR SEAT LIGHTING. *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
FRONT CONTROL ARM BALL JOINTS
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation