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
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Visibility254
  2. Seats81
  3. Power train73
  4. Electrical system69
  5. Engine and engine cooling61
  6. Suspension59
  7. Service brakes, hydraulic59
  8. Air bags40
  9. Exterior lighting40
  10. Vehicle speed control33
  11. Steering32
  12. Structure24
  13. Fuel system, gasoline22
  14. 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
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
199829
199983
200066
200187
200269
2003170
2004100
200559
200615
200715
200811
20096
20102
20112
20122
20131
20145
20155
20162
20171
20181
20192
20201

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.

03 —Owner reports

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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 19, 2015VisibilityODI 10726147

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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 8, 2008SeatsODI 10244746

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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 17, 2005Power trainODI 10139854

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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 26, 2015Electrical systemODI 10785938

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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 12, 2010Engine and engine coolingODI 10349027

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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 5, 2014Suspension, TiresODI 10618914
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.