Owner-reported complaints naming the interior system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1998 Chevrolet Blazer submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 107 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 107, in the owner's own words
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
MY POWER SEAT SHORTED OUT WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND SET MY SHORTS ON FIRE, VEHICAL COMPLETLY BURNED TO THE GROUND DESPITE THREE FIRE TRUCKS SHOWING UP IN ABOUT 5 MIN. , REPORTED TO GM , BUT THE SAID SINCE VEHICAL WAS DESTROYED THEY ARE NOT TO BLAME. *TR
1998 CHEVY S10 BLAZER SEAT RECLINER HANDLE TOO WEAK FOR USE NEEDS BETTER PRODUCT. *TR
MY 1998 BLAZER'S DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SEAT ADJUSTMENT LEVER BROKE OFF WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ADJUST SEAT. I AM UNABLE TO ADJUST THE SEAT FOR PROPER DRIVING POSITION. THE DRIVER'S SEAT LEVER BROKE AT 30,000 MILES AND THE PASSENGER SEAT LEVER BROKE ABOUT 40,000 MILES. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING THIS VEHICLE UTILIZING VICE GRIPS TO HOLD THE DRIVER'S SEAT AND PASSENGER SEAT IN PLACE. THESE SEATS ARE NO LONGER ADJUSTABLE AND PRESENTS A SAFETY HAZARD. INQUIRIES FROM OTHER INDIVIDUALS THAT OWN THIS VEHICLE HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. FURTHER INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT AT SOME POINT THE MANUFACTURER DISTRIBUTED A SERVICE BULLETIN REGARDING THIS DEFECT. I AM CONCERNED AS TO WHY THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL AND WHY I HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF THIS ONGOING PROBLEM. OBVIOUSLY, NUMEROUS CONSUMERS OWNING THE BLAZER ARE FACED WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM. I FEEL THE LEVER SHOULD BE REPLACED AT NO COST TO THE CONSUMER SINCE IT IS APPARENTLY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
MULTI- FUNCTION SWITCH PROBLEM. THE WIPERS QUIT WORKING DURING THE RAIN. IN THE PAST I HAVE SPOKEN TO DEALER SERVICE MANAGERS AND THEY SAID A LOT OF COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN MADE ABOUT THE MULTI FUNCTION SWITCH THAT CONTROLS THE WIPER DELAY BUT THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALLS MADE ON IT. MOSTLY WHAT HAPPENS IS THE WIPERS WILL NOT TURN OFF WITH THE SWITCH, THE IGNITION HAS TO BE TURNED OFF TO TURN OFF THE WIPERS. THE CONCERN IS THE WIPER STOPPING DURING HEAVY RAIN CAUSING LOSS OF VISIBILITY. THIS HAS BEEN OCCURRING FOR YEARS, I JUST BECAME AWARE OF THIS ROUTE OF COMPLAINT PROCESS. THE REPLACEMENT OF THE MULTI FUNCTION SWITCH IS EXPENSIVE. CLICKING IS ALSO HEARD AT TIMES DUE TO THE SWITCH, A SERVICE MANAGER HAS SAID THE MULTI- FUNCTION SWITCH CAUSES THIS ALSO. THE 10 FOR NUMBER OF FAILURES IS THE MINIMUM NUMBER OF TIMES I CAN REMEMBER THE WIPERS STOPPED WHEN OPERATING. *JB
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!!!!! *NM
CONSUMER WAS INJURED BY THE SEAT ADJUSTMENT HANDLE ON THE 1998 CHEVROLET BLAZER.*MR THE CONSUMER AND HER HUSBAND WERE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHEN THE INCIDENT WITH THE SEAT ADJUSTMENT HANDLE OCCURRED. *JB
DT: CONSUMER STATES THAT THE LEVERS ON THE FRONT TWO SEATS BROKE. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE 2001. THE OWNER CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER TOLD THE OWNER TO KEEP REPLACING THE LEVERS WITH THE SAME IDENTICAL PART WITH WHAT THEY PROVIDED. AFTERWARDS, THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE LEVERS. THEY KEPT BREAKING. OWNER DECIDED TO GO TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WERE THE LEVERS WERE MADE OUT OF METAL AND WERE LASTING . THEY HAVE NOT BROKEN SINCE THE OWNER CHANGED THE LEVERS TO METAL. CURRENTLY, THE OWNER WAS GOING TO HAVE TO REPLACE THE LEVER ON THE OTHER SEAT WHICH WOULD COST $113.52. THE OWNER STATED THAT THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL, THAT THEY REPLACE THE LEVER WITH REAL METAL INSTEAD OF FLIMSY METAL, AND THE MANUFACTURERS SHOULD REIMBURSE THE CONSUMER. *AK *JB
BLINKER NOISE PERSISTS EVEN WHEN BLINKERS ARE TURNED OFF. SOUND DISAPEARS AFTER ENGAGING BRAKE PEDAL THEN PERSISTS WHEN BREAK PEDAL IS RELEASED. IN A HEAVY RAIN STORM, HAD TO USE WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND AFTER A FEW MINUTES OF USE WHITE SMOKE CAME FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. TALKED TO A GM MECHANIC WHO TOLD ME THAT THIS PROBLEM COULD CAUSE MY AIRBAG TO DEPLOY - A REAL LIABILITY. CALLED GM TO EXPLAIN THE PROBLEM & POSSIBLE LIABILITY OF AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT (CASE #1-333564043) & WAS TOLD THAT BECAUSE OF THE BLAZER BEING A 1998 THERE MAY BE NONTHING THEY CAN DO. THE SAME MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH WAS MADE IN MEXICO FOR 1998-2001 MODELS AND IF IT DISFUNCTIONS CAN CAUSE BREAK LIGHTS NOT TO WORK AS WELL AS MAJOR ELECTRICAL ISSUES LIKE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT OR FIRE - WOULDN'T THIS BE A RECALL FOR ALL MODELS THAT HAVE THE PART?
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM-INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER-SHORTED OUT TRUCK BECAME FILLED WITH SMOKE AND HAD TO PULL OVER TO GET HELP. NO HELP FROM MY INSURANCE CO.*AK
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? *AK
WHILE ADJUSTING THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT THE LATCH SHEARED OFF. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER, AND MECHANIC ASKED CONSUMER TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR INSPECTION. *AK
THE TURN SIGNAL ON MY1998 CHEVY BLAZER WON'T STOP CLICKING. I'VE ALREADY REPLACED THE COMBINATION FLASHER/SIGNAL PART THAT'S BEHIND THE GLOVE BOX WITH NO RESULT. TODAY I SAW WISPS OF SMOKE COMING FROM THE STEERING CONSOLE. I CHECKED THE FUSES AND THEY ARE FINE. I'M AFRAID MY CAR IS GOING TO CATCH ON FIRE!*AK
CONSUMER STATED THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGERS SEAT THE LEVER. BROKE OFF. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS ABLE TO GET IT FIXED UNDER WARRANTY. HOWEVER, THE LEVERS BROKE THREE TIMES AFTER THAT, WHICH HAS TOTALED UP TO FIVE TIMES. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *JB
LIKE SO MANY OTHERS, PASSENGER SIDE RECLINE LEVER HAS BROKEN. METAL SHEARED OFF SO WHOLE ROD WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. UNIT WAS NOT FORCED AND SNAPPED OFF. THINK GM NEEDS TO RECALL THIS DEFECTIVE ITEM AND REPLACE IT FREE OF CHARGE.*AK
WINDSHIELD WIPERS DID NOT WORK. ALSO, THE HANDLES ON THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS BROKE, AND WATER PUMP WAS DEFECTIVE.*AK
I RECENTLY HAD TO REPLACE THE BALL JOINTS AND IDLER ARM ON MY 1998 CHEVROLET BLAZER. I WAS ADVISED BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT THIS IS A CONSTANT PROBLEM. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND THAT IF THE MANUFACTURER KNOWS THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING COMPONENTS BECOMING DEFECTIVE, THEN WHY DON'T THEY SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THIS IS THE THIRD SET OF BALLJOINTS THAT HAVE NEEDED TO BE INSTALEDL ON THE VEHICLE. THE FIRST SET ALONG WITH THE PITMAN ARM WENT DEFECTIVE AT 29,000 MILES AND THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THEM UNDER THE MANUFACTURES WARRANTY.
AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE THE DEALER COULD NOT GET BOTH SIDES OF THE BACK SEATS TO LAY FLAT ONLY THE RIGHT SIDE. ANOTHER COMPLAINT IS I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE SHOP BECAUSE IT SOUNDED LIKE THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE WAS WARPED AND WHEN THE MECHANIC DID THE DIAGNOSIS OF THE FRONT THE HUB ASSEMBLY HAD TO BE REPLACED. I WAS WONDERING IF ANY COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN MADE OR IS THERE PENDING RECALLS FOR THESE. *AK
HAD DRIVERS SIDE DOOR REHUNG DUE TO SAGGING. SHORTLY AFTER THAT MY INTERIOR LIGHTS BEGAN TO MALFUNCTION AND MY AUTO RESERVE POWER(ALLOWS RADIO, INTERIOR LIGHTS AND POWER WINDOWS TO OPERATE FOR 15 MINUTES AFTER ENGINE SHUTOFF) BEGAN TO WORK "OCCASIONALLY". ALSO, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS OPERATE RANDOMLY - JUGGLING THE WIRES UNDER THE HOOD HELPS TO MAKE THEM RUN . NOW, AT 3:30AM THIS MORNING, I REALIZE THAT MY HEADLIGHTS ARE NOT OPERATING, CHECKED IN THE MORNING AND THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS WORK, BUT WHEN YOU MANUALLY TURN THE HEADLAMPS ON, THE DAYLIGHTS GO OUT AND YOU HAVE NO HEADLIGHTS ON.*AK
10/10/2001 REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR - IT WAS OVER CHARGED AND WENT BAD! NOTICED SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS TOO! 12/20/2001 WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING IN HEAVY RAIN. THEN WHEN MOTOR TURNED OFF AND ON AGAIN THEY WORKED, THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING ON AND OFF SINCE THAT TIME, BUT TODAY 06/26/2004 THEY JUST STOPPED ALL TOGETHER - NOTHING HELPED. HAD TO HAVE THE SAME SOLDERING REPAIR DONE AS IN THE 1995 -1997 CHEVROLET S-10 / BLAZERS - WHICH I MIGHT ADD WAS A RECALL. THE SAME PARTS ARE USED IN MOST 1998'S AS WELL. THE RECALL NEEDS TO INCLUDE ALL OF THE COMPONENTS, NOT JUST A FEW OF THEM! ALSO I HAVE HAD SEVERAL DASH PARTS BREAK LOOSE - LIKE THE HATCH DOOR RELEASE / BACK WIPER CONTROL IS JUST SITTING THERE - NOTHING HOLDING IT IN. THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT RECLINER HANDLE FELL OFF - HAD IT PUT BACK ON AT DEALER - THEN IT BROKE OFF. (MAKES BEING A PASSENGER IN MY BLAZER VERY UNCOMFORTABLE) I HAVE NOTICED SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS TOO! THE DRIVERS OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLE - ONE OF THE SCREWS THAT HOLDS IT IN PLACE IS NOT ABLE TO PUT BACK DUE TO PLASTIC IS STRIPPED- SO THE DOOR HANDLE WABBLES. THE HEAT FROM THE SUN HAS BOWED UP THE FRONT WINDSHEILD VENT UNTIL IT IS CRACKED AND BROKEN NOW TOO. I HAVE ALWAYS DRIVEN CHEVROLET'S - BUT HERE LATLEY WITH ALL OF THE PLASTIC THEY ARE USING - I AM BEGINNING TO WONDER IF MY MONEY WOULDN'T BE BETTER SPENT IN ANOTHER MAKE OF VEHICLE. I LOVE THE DESIGN AND ECT. OF THE BLAZER - BUT THE PLASTIC IS NOT HOLDING UP - THIS IS SOME EXPENSIVE PLASTIC TO BE MADE SO CHEAP. IF YOU SHUT THE DOORS HARD AT ALL THE WHOLE TOP OF THE ARM REST POPS UP AND HAS TO BE POPPED BACK IN PLACE.*AK
1. DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT RECLINER LEVERS HAVE BROKEN OVER LAST FEW YRS, DRIVERS SIDE REPLACED 3 TIMES, I HAD TO PAY 100. DEDUCTIBLE TO FIX EACH TIME. 2. FUEL GUAGE INDICATOR SHOWED FUEL TANK 1/'2 FULL, NO GAS IN THE TANK,CAR STOPPED IN A DARK STREET IN AN UNSAFE PART OF TOWN, HAD TO PAY $100. DEDUCTIBLE TO FIX, NO WARNING LIGHTS TO SHOW GAS EMPTY, CAR JUST SUDDENLY STOPPED. 3.REAR TRUNK LATCH WOULD NOT WORK, HAD TO PAY DEDUCTIBLE FOR DEALER TO FIX. 4. WINDSHIIELD WIPER MECHANISM STOPPED WORKING, DEALER REPLACED AFTER WE PAID DEDUCTIBLE. 5. CURRENTLY THERE IS A RUBBING NOISE FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL WHEN PEDAL DEPRESSED, CAR NO LONGER UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY, WAS BROUGHT TO DEALER'S ATTN SEV TIMES BEFORE WARRNTY EXPIRED, DEALER MECH COULD FIND NO PROBLM. *AK
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 *JB
WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A SIDE IMPACT ACCIDENT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE SLAMMED INTO A WALL AND THE DRIVER'S SEAT BACK COLLAPSED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM
PASSENGER SEAT RECLINER LEVER BROKE TWICE - REPAIRED BY DEALER FIRST TIME AT COST OF $150.00- WILL COST THE SAME FOR SECOND FAILURE LEVER SHAFT SHEARED. HOW MANY OF THESE FAILURES DOES THIS AGENCY NEED TO INITIATE CORRECTIVE ACTION?*AK
FRONT SEAT RECLINER HANDLES BROKE. *AK
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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