77 of the 1,025 complaints about the 1998 Chevrolet Blazer are about the transmission — 8% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 67,750 miles.
77
Complaints
3
Crashes
1
Fires
2
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION WILL NOT ENGAGE, SLIPS. CANNOT MOVE VEHICLE WITHOUT TOW. DIAGNOSTIC TEST SHOWS CODE 1870.
NHTSA complaint #10207880 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
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.
NHTSA complaint #10139854 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MY 1998 CHEVY BLAZER HAS NEEDED EXTENSIVE REPAIRS TO THE TRANSMISSION AND ULTIMATELY I HAD TO HAVE A NEW TRANSMISSION PLACED IN THE VEHICLE. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH A FEW OTHER CHEVY BLAZER OWNERS AND THEY HAVE INFORMED ME OF THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR VEHICLES. ALSO PROBLEMATIC IS THE REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER -- NEVER HAS WORKED AND I'VE HAD TO GET IT REPAIRED TWICE.
NHTSA complaint #10138494 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I HAVE HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPING AND OVERHEATING IN MY 1998 CHEVY BLAZER. I INSTALLED A TRANSMISSION COOLER HOPING THAT WOULD STOP THE PROBLEM, BUT IT HASN'T EVEN TOUCHED THE PROBLEM. I WOULD LIKE SOMETHING NONE ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS IN BLAZERS.
NHTSA complaint #10133917 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
THE SUN SHELL BREAKS ON BLAZERS, MINE BROKE AND WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER HE SAID IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME. NOW THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON AND THE VEHICLE WONT SHIFT OUT OF SECOND AND THE SPEEDOMETER WILL NOT WORK WHEN THIS IS HAPPENING, ONLY AFTER DRIVING FOR ABOUT 30+ MINUTES. WHY ARE THERE NO RECALLS WHEN THE DEALERSHIPS SAYS THESE THINGS HAPPEN ALL THE TIME AND THERE ARE FORUMS ONLINE WITH HUNDREDS OF OTHER BLAZER OWNER WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10118093 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
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.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
PURCHASED SUV IN 1999, DROVE CAR FOR 4 YEARS TIL 2004 WHEN TRANSMISSION FAILED. THERE WAS LESS THAN 90,000 MILES ON THE TRANSMISSION. HAD TRANSMISSION BUILT, FAILED 3 MONTHS LATER. HAD TRANSMISSION REBUILT FAILED AGAIN TODAY 9 MONTHS AFTER LAST REBUILD.
NHTSA complaint #10113908 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION SLIPS WHEN TRUCK IS IN MOTION, IF ACCELERATOR IS PRESSED IT STOPS BUT THEN RESUMES AFTER IT COMES BACK TO A STEADY PULL WHY .
NHTSA complaint #10102428 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MY WIFE AND I HAVE HAD TO MAKE MAJOR REPAIRS TO OUR 1998 BLAZER. WE HAD TO REPLACE THE WATER PUMP ($294.55) IN OCTOBER 2002. THEN, THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING AND GOT WORSE. WE TOOK IT TO AAMCO, WHERE WE WERE INFORMED THAT IT HAD TO BE REBUILT. THIS WAS IN JULY OF 2002. THE TOTAL COST WAS ($2077.37). I INQUIRED THAT SAME MONTH AT CHEVROLET ABOUT RECALLS, AND THEY SAID THAT THERE WERE NONE. SINCE THEN, WE HAVE HAD NUMEROUS MINOR PROBLEMS WITH THE LAME SUV, INCLUDING BROKEN RECLINER HANDLES, STEERING THAT PULLS AND GRINDS, AND A MALFUNCTIONING ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (CLICKING SOUNDS FROM UNDER THE GLOVE BOX, THREE BATTERIES REPLACED). I SAW A REPORT LAST WEEK ABOUT THE USE OF DEXCOOL AND ITS POSSIBLE LINK TO PROBLEMS IN GM VEHICLES. ARE THERE ANY REMEDIES AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME?
NHTSA complaint #10098912 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)
1998 CHEVROLET BLAZER, LT MODEL INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER SUDDENLY LOST READINGS ON FUEL GAUGE, TEMPERATURE GAUGE, AND SHIFT SELECTION. BEFORE THIS HAPPENED, THE REAR WINDOW RELAY STOPPED WORKING AND SO DID THE FIRST SPEED OF THE REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER. HAD VEHICLE DIAGNOSED AND REPLACED INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER. THIS DID NOT SOLVE PROBLEM. TOOK VEHICLE FOR ANOTHER DIAGNOSIS AND FOUND COMPUTER AND WIRING HARNESS TO BE OK. ALL GROUNDS WERE CHECKED. VEHICLE OPERATES BUT WITHOUT A FUEL GAUGE, AND TEMPERATURE GAUGE AND MOST IMPORTANTLY SHIFT SELECTOR.
NHTSA complaint #10093615 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
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.
POWER TRAIN
MY WIFE WAS IN DANGER DRIVING THE TRUCK WHEN SHE BROUGHT IT TO ANOTHER ROUTE (ANOTHER SHOP), WHICH WAS HUTCHENS CHEVROLET. THEY TOLD MY WIFE AND GAVE HER THE PAPER WORK STATING THAT, THE TRUCK WAS UNSAFE AND SHE COULD HAVE BEEN IN DANGER IF CONTINUED DRIVING IT. WHEN HE WAS TOLD OF THE BRAKE PROBLEMS, (THE CAR DEALERSHIP OWNER) HE INSTRUCTED MY WIFE TO TAKE IT TO HIS OWN AUTO REPAIR SHOP, WHEN MY WIFE GOT THE TRUCK BACK, IT WAS IN THE SAME STATE NOT EVERYTHING WAS FIXED. THE WORK WAS COMPLETED AT HUTCHENS. THE WORK HAD TO HAVE COST ABOUT $378.00. AND THERE ARE MORE TROUBLES WITH THE TRUCK, I SEE SIGNS OF RUST AND CORROSION, THERE ARE VIBRATIONS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN EXCESS OF 60 MILES.
NHTSA complaint #10071173 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
WHILE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL AT 5 MPH AXLE BROKE.
NHTSA complaint #10049956 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
PASSENGER SEAT RECLINER LEVER BROKE OFF, REAR DIFFERENTIAL FRONT SEAL LEAKING, TEMPERATURE DISPLAY CHANGES TO CELSIUS WHEN RAINING, TAILGATE COVER BROKE.
NHTSA complaint #10045678 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
DRIVER'S SEAT RECLINER LEVER BROKE, REAR DIFFERENTIAL LEAKING.
NHTSA complaint #10045685 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)
PASSENGER SEAT RECLINER LEVER BROKE, 4 WHEEL DRIVE WILL NOT ENGAGE (ENCODER MOTOR) ALTENATOR LIGHT IS ON (REPLACE).
NHTSA complaint #10045687 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
LOUD SOUND DURING ACCELERATION (CATALYTIC CONVERTER SHOT AGAIN NOT REPLACED, CONTACTING GM, NO ASSISTANCE), OIL LEAK ON FRONT OF ENGINE (POWER STEERING PULLY SHAFT SEAL), NOISY AC COMPRESSOR(REPLACE), FLUID LEAK ON FRONT OF REAR DIFFERENTIAL (REPLACE YOKE AND SEAL [2ND SEAL]), REAR DIFFERENTIAL CLUNKS ON ACCELERATION (CHANGE CASE AND SHAFT BEARING), DASH GRILL CRACKED, IDELER ARM REPLACED AGAIN.
NHTSA complaint #10045691 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
TEMPERATURE CHANGES TO CELCIUS WHEN RAINING (REPLACED OUTSIDE SENSOR), REAR AXEL NOISE (NOT FOUND), BINDING IN FRONT END (NOT FOUND), SHIFTING CONCERN (NOT FOUND), COOLENT MISSING (PRESSURE TESTED,NO LEAKS), LOUD NOISE WHEN STARTING (REPLACE STARTER), LEFT MIRROR VIBRATES (REPLACE MIRROR).
NHTSA complaint #10045703 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
1998 CHEVROLET BLAZER - TRANSMISSION FAILS TO LOCK UP BETWEEN 3RD AND 4TH GEAR ON THE HIGHWAY - WEB RESEARCH SHOWS THIS IS SO COMMON AFTER MARKET PRODCUTS HAVE BEEN CREATED TO ADDRESS IT... GMC SHOULD FIX FOR FREE.
NHTSA complaint #10032658 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION SHIFTS EXTREMELY ROUGH, PROBLEM IS EVEN WORSE WHEN VEHICLE IS WARM. PROBLEM STARTED AT 70,000 MILES. FOUND OUT THROUGH RESEARCH THAT THIS PROBLEM IS EXTREMELY COMMON IN CHEVROLET TRUCKS, VANS, AND SUVS FROM 1995-1999. WHY NO RECALL YET?
NHTSA complaint #10028870 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
VEHICLE TRANSMISSION LET LOOSE WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT DIDN`T COME ON. THIS HAPPENED WHILE PULLING OUT OF A RESTURAUNT INTO TRAFFIC.
NHTSA complaint #10025477 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)
THE SEAT BACK, TRANSFER CASE, AND WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR ALL FAILED. *AK *CB THE PARKING BRAKE WAS ADJUSTED, THE AIR CONDITION BLEW WARM AIR, AND THE OIL COOLER LINES WERE REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #10021871 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
BOUGHT CAR BRAND NEW. DRIVERS SIDE MIRROR CONSISTENTLY VIBRATES - HAD REPLACED TWICE - DEALER WOULD NOT REPLACE A THIRD TIME DUE TO BUG SHIELD BEING INSTALLED. IT STILL VIBRATES. JUNE 2001 - DOOR LOCKS WENT NUTS. THEY WOULD LOCK AND UNLOCK THEMSELVES WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD OR WHILE PARKED - WITH KEYS IN IT. MARCH 2003 - BLINKER SWITCH WENT CRAZY. IT WOULD NOT STOP CLICKING - WHOLE DASH HAD TO BE TAKEN OUT TO REPLACE SWITCH - NOT A CHEAP THING! MAY 2003 - ALTERNATOR WENT OUT AND RUINED BATTERY. ALMOST CAUSED A CAR FIRE. TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAK. NOT YET FIXED BECAUSE OF UNKNOWN CAUSE OF PROBLEM. *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10019097 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE VEHICLE. FIRST FACTORY AUTOMATIC TRANS WENT OUT AT 1 YEAR 10 MONTHS/28,877 MILES. PER CERTIFIED CHEVEROLET DEALER'S REPAIR NOTES: "REMOVED TRANS...FOUND 3-4 CLUTCH BURNED SEVERELY AND NO POSSIBLE CAUSE FOR 3-4 CLUTCH FAILURE...". "...FOUND LEAKING AT TRANS COOLER LINE...REPLACED LOWER TRANS COOLER LINE...". REPLACED WITH CERTIFIED RE-BUILT (SRTA). NOW, 2ND RE-BUILT TRANS FAILED AT 77,867 MILES (BUT ONLY 48,990 ON 2ND TRANS). PER DEALERSHIP ANALYSIS, "R.T. FOUND TO SLIP IN ALL GEARS PCM STORING P1870 CONVERTOR IS OVERHEADED AND ATF BURNT BAD...". DEALERSHIP AND CHEVEROLET DISTRICT REP ACT AS IF TRANS PROBLEMS ARE UNHEARD OF. CHEVEROLET CUSTOMER SERVICE CASE OPENED, CHEVEROLET DISTRICT REP REFUSES TO PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. SOUNDS JUST LIKE SERVICE BULLETIN #020421005
NHTSA complaint #10004923 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:CONSTANT VELOCITY JOINT
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.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION LINE COUPLER FAILED ON HIGHWAY CAUSING TRANSMISSION FLUID TO FLOW OUT ON UNDERCARRIAGE AND UP AND OVER TAILGATE. FORTUNATELY NO FIRE OCCURRED. MECHANIC SAID SNAP-ON COUPLER TO TRANSMISSION LINE FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #765231 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #764845 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE DRIVING ENGINE CHECK LIGHT WAS ON AND TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, THEY CHECKED VEHICLE, BUT ENGINE CHECK LIGHT WAS STILL ON. *AK CONSUMER HAS A WARRANTY ON THE TRANSMISSION AND COMPLAINED TO DEALER 9 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF PURCHASE ABOUT THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATING. NO REASONABLE EXPLANATION WAS GIVEN EXCEPT PROBABLE GAS CAP. WHILE HAVING THE OIL CHANGED CONSUMER FOUND OUT THE LIGHT WAS FOR THE POWER TRAIN. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO A TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST WHO CONFIRMED THAT THERE WAS A DEFECTIVE PART IN THE TRANSMISSION. CONSUMER WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION CODE PROVED THAT AN AFTER MARKET PART WAS USED TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE PART PREVIOUSLY.
NHTSA complaint #8012133 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
SIDE GEARS AND CASE AND SIDE BEARINGS FAILED AT 48,300 MILES. REPLACED FRONT DIFFERENTIAL ASSEMBLY, INSTALLED NEW SIDE GEAR SET AND CASE AND SIDE BEARINGS. REPAIR COST WAS $1,154.00 DOLLARS. BOUGHT THE CAR USED IN FEB. 2001, BEARINGS FAILED IN NOV. 2001. ONLY 5,000 MILES WERE PUT ON THE VEHICLE IN THAT TIME FRAME.
NHTSA complaint #762963 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
SIDE GEARS AND CASE AND SIDE BEARINGS FAILED AT 48,300 MILES. REPLACED FRONT DIFFERENTIAL ASSEMBLY, INSTALLED NEW SIDE GEAR SET AND CASE AND SIDE BEARINGS. REPAIR COST WAS $1,154.00 DOLLARS. BOUGHT THE CAR USED IN FEB. 2001, BEARINGS FAILED IN NOV. 2001. ONLY 5,000 MILES WERE PUT ON THE VEHICLE IN THAT TIME FRAME.
NHTSA complaint #762963 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.