67 of the
1,025 complaints about the 1998 Chevrolet Blazer are about the
suspension — 7% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
63,000 miles.
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
NHTSA complaint #10618914 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 17,000 milesAiken, SC
SUSPENSION
WHEN APPLIED THE BRAKES THERE IS SOME ROUGHNESS UNDER THE VEHICLE BRAKES HAS BEEN CHANGED AND SOME TIME GETTING JAMMED.
NHTSA complaint #10450148 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 121,000 milesDenver, CO
SUSPENSION:FRONT
THERE IS A RECALL ON THE 98 BLAZER FOR RIGHT-HAND LOWER CONTROL ARMS SAYING THAT THE BOLT COULD BREAK. THAT HAPPENED TO MINE BUT IT WAS THE LEFT-HAND UPPER CONTROL ARM BOLT AND THE REPAIRS COST ME $1000
NHTSA complaint #10237792 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Marietta, OH
SUSPENSION
WHEEL BEARING GO OUT ABOUT EVERY 6 MONTHS. IT FEELS LIKE THE TIRE IS FALLING OFF. REPLACE WHEEL BEARING AT 200.00 A SIDE. ABS LITE ON TAKE THE FUSE OUT THEY WORK PUT THE FUSE IN THEY KICK BACK.RUNS HOT WHEN YOU USE AC,SOUNDS LIKE TURN SIGNALS ARE ON WHEN THERE NOT.
NHTSA complaint #10233597 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Houston, TX
SUSPENSION:REAR
1998 CHEVY BLAZER WITH TIRE FAILURE. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE TIRES BLEW OUT AND WHEN HE WENT TO GET THEM REPLACED THE MECHANIC SAID THEY WERE DRY ROTTED. HE SAID THE BRAKES ENGAGED ON HIS WAY HOME. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKE AND ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE REAR BRAKES WERE REPLACED. AFTER THE TIRE REPLACEMENT, THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE REAR BRAKES BY ANOTHER DEALER. THE FIRST DEALER STATED EVERY THING CHECKED OUT AND THAT MAYBE THE MASTER CYLINDER THAT WAS REPLACED BY THE PREVIOUS DEALER MAY HAVE PARTIALLY FAILED. THE REAR SHOCKS WERE REPLACED, THE REAR VIEW MIRROR ASSEMBLY WAS LOOSE. THE DEALER GLUED IT BACK TOGETHER.
NHTSA complaint #10212792 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Niagara Falls, NY
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM
1998 CHEVY BLAZER WITH MULTITUDE OF PROBLEMS, WHICH CHEVY DENIES. INCLUDING WIPER FAILURE, BRAKE FAILURE, COMPLETE CORROSION OF ANYTHING TOUCHED BY DEXCOOL, AND ON AND ON. VERY UNSAFE VEHICLE!!!!!
NHTSA complaint #10163219 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 118,000 milesDuanesburg, NY
SUSPENSION
SUSPENSION - RIDES ROUGH: REPLACED SHOCKS ELECTRICAL - INTERIOR/EXTERIOR PROBLEMS WITH THE HORN, HEADLIGHTS, DIRECTIONAL, WINDSHIELD WIPERS, AND CAUTION LIGHTS. REPLACED: ELECTRICAL UNIT INSIDE STEERING COLUMN AND OXGEN SENSOR. STEERING - REPLACED: WHEELS, TIRES, ROTORS, BALL JOINTS, AND SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO BALANCE TIRES AND FRONT END ALIGNMENTS WITH NO REAL DIFFERENCE. IDLES - ROUGH.
NHTSA complaint #10159032 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 115,000 milesBridgton, MECrash
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING
DT: WITHOUT WARNING THE CRUISE CONTROL STUCK AND INCREASED IN SPEED OVER ABOUT TWO MILES. HE TRIED TO STOP THE CAR, AND IT WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN. DRIVER BURNED UP THE BRAKES TRYING TO STOP, AND CRASHED INTO A HOUSE. THE SPEED CENSOR WIRES BURNED. MANUFACTURER SENT AN INSPECTOR TO LOOK AT THE CAR, AND HE INDICATED BECAUSE OF WHEEL BEARING PROBLEM HE COULD NOT DRIVE IT. THEY NEVER LOOKED AT THE CRUISE CONTROL ,AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. CALLER TOOK SOMEONE FROM DEALERSHIP OUT IN CAR AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN.
NHTSA complaint #10122077 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 57,000 milesWilliams, IN
SUSPENSION
THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH WOULD NOT SHUT OFF AND THE CONSUMER COULD STILL HEAR THE CLICKING NOISE. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK THE HEATER WAS LEAKING, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER WERE INOPERATIVE, THE REAR END HAD GONE OUT AND THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. A NEW SWITCH WAS PLACED ONTO THE TRANSFER CASE AND THE DIFFERENTIAL ASSEMBLY WAS REMOVED AND REPLACED. *SC
NHTSA complaint #10117169 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 84,445 milesGardnerville, NV
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
1. TWO DAYS AGO, AT 50 MPH, I STARTED HAVING STEERING PROBLEMS (QUICKLY STEERING FROM LEFT TO RIGHT TO STAY ON ROAD). IT IS IN THE SHOP (ONLY 84K MILES) TO THE TUNE OF $600 TO REPLACE BOTH BALL JOINTS.
NHTSA complaint #10100496 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Austin, PA
SUSPENSION
CONSUMER STATED THAT AT ONE POINT HEADLIGHTS AND FLASHERS WERE NOT WORKING PROPERLY. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AND FOUND THAT THE WAIT WAS TOO LONG. THEN, CONSUMER DECIDED TO TAKE VEHICLE TO A PRIVATE CERTIFIED MECHANIC, AND WAS TOLD BY HIM THAT MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH WAS DEFECTIVE. HAD THIS REPLACED, BUT HAZARD LIGHTS DID NOT WORK HALF THE TIME. ALSO, SOMETHING WAS DRAINING BATTERY BECAUSE VEHICLE WILL NOT START. WENT TO THE WEB, AND FOUND THAT THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL ON VEHICLE. CONSUMER CALLED THE MANUFACTURER, AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT IN THE RECALL. *AK THE VEHICLE BALL JOINTS WERE ALSO REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #10091956 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 75,831 milesLombard, IL
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING
RIGHT SIDE FRONT WHEEL HUB NEEDED TO BE REPLACED A 3RD TIME D/T BEARING WEAR. MECHANIC FELT THAT THE NUMBER OF REPLACEMENTS IN THIS SHORT PERIOD OF TIME WAS NOT COMMON. SUGGESTED THAT I REPORT TO GM. PHONED GM, TOOK REPORT. STATED THAT THIS WAS NOT A RECALL-ABLE ISSUE.
NHTSA complaint #10089003 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 40,000 milesBrimley, MI
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING
NAR 03-31-2003 *MR CONSUMER EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH WHEEL BEARING, HEATER CONTROL SWITCH, GAS GAUGE, RIGHT DOOR LOCK, BRAKES, AND OIL SENDING HOSES.
NHTSA complaint #10014767 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Burbank, CA
SUSPENSION
THE CONSUMER PURCHASED NEW TIRES AND WENT TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THEM PUT ON. THE DEALER TOLD HER THAT THEY COULD NOT ALIGN HER VEHICLE UNTIL SHE HAVE THE IDLE ARM, THE BALL JOINTS AND THE LOWER AXLE REPLACE. SHE STATES THEY TOLD HER IT COULD COST APPROX $500.00. SHE STATES SHE IS ALSO HAVING A PROBLEM WITH HER ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE INTERIOR LIGHT DOES NOT COME ON ANY MORE.
NHTSA complaint #10074324 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 400 milesSanta FE, NM
SUSPENSION
FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR DOES NOT LATCH DUE TO THE BODY OF THE STRIKE PLATE ON DRIVER'S SIDE CAVING IN. *AK THERE WAS A CRACK AROUND THE STICKER PLATE. THE DEALER ADJUSTED THE DRIVER SIDE STICKER PLATE. THE PROBLEM REMAINED THE SAME AFTER ADJUSTMENTS WERE MADE. TWO MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE THE CONSUMER WOULD HEAR RATTLING ON THE PASSENGER AND THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR. THE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT RELEASE, THE ENCODER MOTOR HAD BECOME INOPERATIVE AFTER THE MODULE SHORTED, THE STABILIZER LINK NUTS WERE MISSING, THE LEFT DOOR WOULD RATTLE WHEN DRIVEN OVER BUMPS, WHEN BRAKING, A SQUEALING NOISE WAS HEARD, THERE WAS A HESITATION IN THE TRANSMISSION WHEN CHANGING THE REVERSE, THE "TRIP METER" WAS INOPERATIVE, THE WAS A RATTLE IN THE DASH WHEN DRIVEN OVER BUMPS, THERE WAS AN OIL LEAK, THERE WAS A RATTLE IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION WHEN DRIVEN OVER BUMPS, THE LEFT REAR DOOR WOULD OPEN BY ITSELF, AND THE TAIL GATE RATTLED. *SC
NHTSA complaint #10072019 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 46,000 milesFairbanks, IN
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL, THERE IS A VIBRATION AND A LOUD GROANING SOUND. THIS BEGAN IN MARCH 01, AND CONTINUES. AT THIS POINT IT IS ALMOST CONSTANT. A GM SERVICE MANAGER SAID IT WAS THE BALL JOINT AND THAT HE WAS SURPRISED THAT THERE WAS NOT A RECALL. WE HAVE TRIED TO KEEP UP WITH THE RECALLS, BUT THERE HAVEN'T BEEN ANY REGARDING THIS MATTER. WE ARE CONCERNED THAT IT MIGHT BE A SAFETY HAZARD, BUT AT THIS POINT WE HAVE NO OTHER OPTION THAN TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #10052998 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 46,000 milesFairbanks, IN
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL, THERE IS A VIBRATION AND A LOUD GROANING SOUND. THIS BEGAN IN MARCH 01, AND CONTINUES. AT THIS POINT IT IS ALMOST CONSTANT. A GM SERVICE MANAGER SAID IT WAS THE BALL JOINT AND THAT HE WAS SURPRISED THAT THERE WAS NOT A RECALL. WE HAVE TRIED TO KEEP UP WITH THE RECALLS, BUT THERE HAVEN'T BEEN ANY REGARDING THIS MATTER. WE ARE CONCERNED THAT IT MIGHT BE A SAFETY HAZARD, BUT AT THIS POINT WE HAVE NO OTHER OPTION THAN TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #10052998 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 72,455 milesWaukesha, WI
SUSPENSION:FRONT
WIPERS DO NOT WORK AT TIMES, TURN SIGNAL SWITCH NOT WORKING, ENGINE IDLES ROUGH, LOUD SOUND DURING ACCELERATION, FRONT END LOOSE.
NHTSA complaint #10045688 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 85,000 milesEagan, MN
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
RIGHT FRONT BALL JOINT COLLAPSED AT HIGHWAY SPEED, CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING/TIRE DAMAGE, AND NEAR COLLISION.
NHTSA complaint #10032900 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Greensburg, LA
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM
WHILE DRIVING ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY, THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL BROKE OFF FROM THE SPROCKET AND SEPARATED FROM VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #10030218 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 50,000 milesColorado Springs, CO
SUSPENSION:FRONT
TWO THINGS: 1. CONSISTANT KNOCKING NOISE IN FRONT END. HAD IT FIXED WHILE UNDER WARRANTY, BUT IT CONTINUED AT A LATER DATE. 2. WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR MALFUNCTION. WINDSHIELD WIPERS AT TIMES WILL NOT TURN OFF MAKING DRIVING IN SNOW OR RAIN DANGEROUS.
NHTSA complaint #10029093 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 60,000 milesLittleton, CO
SUSPENSION
THE VEHICLE PULLED REALLY HARD TO THE RIGHT. I HAVE SINCE REPLACED THE TIRES AND HAD A FRONT END ALIGNMENT BUT IT ALREADY SEEMS TO BE SLIPPING BACK.
NHTSA complaint #10018645 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 63,000 milesMaple Grove, MN
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
HAD TO REPLACE LOWER BALL JOINTS FOR SECOND TIME WITHIN 20,000 MILES.
NHTSA complaint #10010103 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 85,000 milesCambridge, VT
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINT FAILURE. IF THE UPPER OR LOWER BALL JOINT FAIL ON A 1997 PRIOR TO 8 YEARS OR 100,000 MILES THEY WILL BE REPLACED ACCORDING TO YOUR SYSTEM. THIS WOULD LEAD ME TO BELIEVE THAT THEY SHOULD NOT FAIL WITHIN 100,000 MILES. MY CHEVROLET BLAZER HAS FAILED AT APROXAMATELY 87,000 MILES.
NHTSA complaint #10005755 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 85,000 milesCambridge, VT
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINT FAILURE. IF THE UPPER OR LOWER BALL JOINT FAIL ON A 1997 PRIOR TO 8 YEARS OR 100,000 MILES THEY WILL BE REPLACED ACCORDING TO YOUR SYSTEM. THIS WOULD LEAD ME TO BELIEVE THAT THEY SHOULD NOT FAIL WITHIN 100,000 MILES. MY CHEVROLET BLAZER HAS FAILED AT APROXAMATELY 87,000 MILES.
NHTSA complaint #10005755 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Louisville, OH
SUSPENSION
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE BEGAN COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE WHILE ACCELERATING AT HIGH SPEED. PLEASE FURNISH ADDITIONAL INFORMATION DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10002539 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Ripon, WI
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
WIPER STOPPED WORKING INTERMEDIATELY. REPLACED UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS, IDLER ARM, CAP, ROTOR AND COIL WIRE. PH
NHTSA complaint #10002082 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Ripon, WI
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER ARM
WIPER STOPPED WORKING INTERMEDIATELY. REPLACED UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS, IDLER ARM, CAP, ROTOR AND COIL WIRE. PH
NHTSA complaint #10002082 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Rome, NY
SUSPENSION:FRONT
WHEN TURN LEFT OR RIGHT OR STOPPING OR GOING DRIVING FOWARD MAKES CLUNKING NOISE SOMETIME IT REALLY LOAD...I HAVE TAKEN VEHICLE TO MY MECHANIC AND HE SAID ITS MY FRONT JOINTS AND SAID IT SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER MY WARRANTY.. SO I TOOK IT TO MY DEALER .. AND HE SAID IT WASN'T, SO I CALLED CHEVROLET.
NHTSA complaint #765313 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Stratton, MN
SUSPENSION:FRONT
FRONT END WOULD SHAKE VIOLENTLY, RESULTING IN RIGHT FRONT TIRE COMING OFF. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.
NHTSA complaint #8015733 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.