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1998 Chevrolet Blazer problems

The most common problem on the 1998 Chevrolet Blazer is windows, wipers and visibility, typically around 70,000 miles. It has 13.0 times the complaints of a typical Blazer model year.

Typical year13.0x the typical complaints
Owner complaints
715
Recalls
3
Service bulletins
78
Worst area
Visibility
Fuel economy
16-18mpg
Typical repair
$200

The worst 1998 Chevrolet Blazer problems

Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.

Problems by type

Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.

Specific symptoms reported on the 1998 Chevrolet Blazer

Wipers 240Ball joint 29ABS 17Fire or smoke 15Adaptive cruise 13Brake failure 13Airbag light 12Headlights 12No deployment 11Stalling 10Grinding brakes 9Seat belt 9Harsh shifting 8Slipping 8Transmission failure 8Door locks 7Overheating 7Jerking 6Engine failure 5Fuel gauge 5Fuel smell 5Power steering loss 5Won't start 5

Recalls 3

Exterior lightingReported August 11, 2000 · 14,279 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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.
Risk
These vehicles do not comply with requirements of fmvss no. 108.
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.

Recall number 00V220000 · Recall details

Suspension: front: control arm: lower armReported March 9, 1998 · 72 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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.
Risk
This condition can result in a loss of vehicle control.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect and retighten the right-hand lower control arm nuts to the proper torque specification.

Recall number 98V053000 · Recall details

Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: hoses, lines/piping, and fittingsReported November 24, 1997 · 19,716 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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.
Risk
Partial loss of braking at a time when minimum stopping distance was required could result in a vehicle crash.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect and replace the brake pipe.

Recall number 97V218000 · Recall details

See all 3 recalls for the 1998 Chevrolet Blazer

Defect investigations

Front control arm ball jointsOpened September 10, 2002, closed March 7, 2003

See attached page.

RQ02012

Technical service bulletins for the 1998 Chevrolet Blazer 78

Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.

See all 78 bulletins for the 1998 Chevrolet Blazer

1998 Chevrolet Blazer fuel economy

Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.

EngineDriveCityHighwayCombined
4.3L 6‑cylRWD14-1620-2116-18
4.3L 6‑cyl4WD141916

What 1998 Chevrolet Blazer owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

Filed Oct 25, 2020 · Acceleration · 247,000 miles · AZ

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.

Filed Dec 17, 2019 · Brakes · 140,000 miles · OH

My ABS light is always on as well as my gas gauge not working

Filed Jul 18, 2019 · Airbags · 198,000 miles · MS · crash

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.

Filed Jan 3, 2018 · Acceleration · 185,000 miles · OH · crash · 1 injury

Tl* the contact owns a 1998 chevrolet blazer. While entering a parking lot at 20 MPH, the accelerator pedal traveled all the way to the floorboard and the speed increased to 45 MPH. The contact attempted to apply the brakes, but the vehicle did not stop. As a result, the vehicle crashed into the front of a building. The contact placed the vehicle in reverse and drove out of the building, but the accelerator pedal was still all the way to the floorboard. The vehicle eventually stalled. A police report was filed. The contact sustained four fractured ribs, which required medical attention. The vehicle was picked up by a tow truck (paid for by the manufacturer) and towed to the contact's residence. The contact was awaiting an investigator to render a diagnosis. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and provided case number: 884883. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was not notified. The approximate failure mileage was 185,000.

Filed Jan 15, 2017 · Brakes · 165,000 miles · SD

1998 chevy blazer does not brakes do not pump up and hold they are spongy.

Filed Jul 27, 2016 · Acceleration, Brakes · 140,000 miles · GA

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.

Filed Jan 31, 2016 · Engine · WA

There was a class action regarding the dexcool coolant issues that degraded the engine gaskets. I had not known of it as the manufacture or other did not notify of it. The only way I found out was searching for another car issue online a few years after the said issue. What is this, 'keep all a secret so we do not have to deal with it.'? This has been a few years ago, hence the jan 2010 date entry as guess to the date of online knowledge. If a closer date needed; I can research.

Filed Dec 9, 2015 · Visibility · 140,000 miles · WA

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.

Filed Nov 22, 2015 · Visibility · 180,000 miles · FL

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

Filed Oct 26, 2015 · Electrical · 199,573 miles · SC

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.

Used buying checklistWhat to check on a 1998 Chevrolet Blazer before you buy

Compare the 1998 Chevrolet Blazer

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Other model years

199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007200820192020202120222023202420252026

Questions about the 1998 Chevrolet Blazer

Is the 1998 Chevrolet Blazer reliable?

Owners have filed 715 complaints about the 1998 Chevrolet Blazer, 13.0 times a typical Blazer model year.

What is the most common problem with the 1998 Chevrolet Blazer?

Windows, wipers and visibility, with 259 complaints, typically around 70,000 miles. Next is seats (84).

How many recalls does the 1998 Chevrolet Blazer have?

3 recalls, covering exterior lighting, suspension and service brakes, hydraulic.

What year does the Chevrolet Blazer have the most visibility problems?

The Chevrolet Blazer model years with the most visibility complaints are 1998 (259 complaints), 1996 (183 complaints) and 1995 (178 complaints).

What gas mileage does the 1998 Chevrolet Blazer get?

Official estimates for the 1998 Chevrolet Blazer range from 16 to 18 mpg combined. The most efficient version (4.3L 6-cyl, RWD) gets 14-16 city and 20-21 highway.

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