Problems · NHTSA complaints
1998 Chevrolet Blazer problems
Owners filed 734 complaints about the 1998 Chevrolet Blazer with NHTSA between Jan 1998 and Oct 2020. The most-cited component is visibility (254).
Complaints
734
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
49
Reported by owners
Fires
15
Reported by owners
Injuries
41
People reported injured
Deaths
13
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Visibility254
- Seats81
- Power train73
- Electrical system69
- Engine and engine cooling61
- Suspension59
- Service brakes, hydraulic59
- Air bags40
- Exterior lighting40
- Vehicle speed control33
- Steering32
- Structure24
- Fuel system, gasoline22
- Seat belts18
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
29
83
66
87
69
170
100
59
15
15
11
6
2
2
2
1
5
5
2
1
1
2
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 1998 | 29 |
| 1999 | 83 |
| 2000 | 66 |
| 2001 | 87 |
| 2002 | 69 |
| 2003 | 170 |
| 2004 | 100 |
| 2005 | 59 |
| 2006 | 15 |
| 2007 | 15 |
| 2008 | 11 |
| 2009 | 6 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 5 |
| 2015 | 5 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 1 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Visibility
254 reports
“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.”
Seats
81 reports3 crashes2 fires
“LEVER TO ADJUST PASSENGER SEAT BROKE OFF, IT WAS LIKE THIS WHEN WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN 2004. I SEE THAT MANY OTHERS HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THEIR SEAT LEVERS AS WELL. THIS JUST AFFECTS MY PASSENGER SEAT, AS THE DRIVERS SEAT IS ELECTRONIC. *TR”
Power train
73 reports3 crashes1 fire
“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”
Electrical system
69 reports9 fires
“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.”
Engine and engine cooling
61 reports1 crash3 fires
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET BLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE OVERHEATED. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHERE THE RADIATOR AND THE HEAT AND COOLANT THERMOSTAT WERE REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE WASN'T CORRECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WILL BE NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000.”
Suspension
59 reports2 crashes1 related recall
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET BLAZER. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD BANGING SOUND AND DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE DROPPED TO THE PAVEMENT. IN ADDITION, ALL OF THE BOLTS SHEARED OFF, THE LUG NUT WAS MISSING, AND THE ROTOR WAS DESTROYED. THE QUARTER PANEL AND THE BUMPER WERE BENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED, BUT THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RE-ATTACH THE TIRE TO THE VEHICLE AND REPLACE THE STUDS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. UPDATED 10/03/14*LJ UPDATED 3/10/2015 *JS”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.