I have a 98 Blazer LS as well. In the last six months I've spent almost $6000 in repairs.
The tranny blew out on the interstate, taking a whole bunch of other stuff with it - $4000.
Radiator manifold cracked, leaked... replaced rotors - $1000.
Yesterday I had it towed because the water pump gave out. I got it back and had to have it towed 12 hours later - the starter went bad.
I've also had to replace both reclining levers in the front.
I'll never buy American again.
I have a 1998 Chevy Blazer LS. Recently it quit running. I have checked everything, but it still won't start, even after replacing all the sensors, fuel pump, any comments, (GOOD THING I HAVE BOUGHT A FORD)
I have had my 1998 chevy blazer for a little over a year. I have spent more on repairs than what I paid for the truck! The flex joints went bad, then the truck started running hot, blew the gaskets, then the day after I had the gaskets replaced the engine cracked & had to replace it. Then the front axle broke, the computer climate control doesn't work, it blows hot air out of it all the time even when it is off! The computer system that tells you how many miles you have left & the temp (on the visor) stopped working & I can't figure out how to get it working. I bought the truck for $5500 & have spent over $13,000. Since I bought it!
Its cause you bought a katrina truck, that's why we have carfax!
I had a 1997 4wd Blazer, and - for the most part - it treated me okay. I bought it used with ~80k miles. I put about 60k miles on it. I had problems with the brakes once - felt like air got into the system (probably my fault - I changed the pads myself, tried to bleed it myself after I detected the problem). Even after a mechanic flushed and bled the system, it was never back to normal. I also had gunk build up around the butterfly valve on the throttle so you sometimes had to really kick the gas pedal to get it out of idle (the gunk caused the butterfly valve to get "stuck" in idle/closed position). Finally, the cat converter on it rattled itself to pieces. After someone sideswiped me and totaled it, I bought another. I am currently driving a 1998 2wd Blazer. I bought it because, despite the fact that I knew it had reliability problems, it was very inexpensive compared to 1998 models of import SUVs. I bought it with 115k miles. It now has about 140k. Again, the cat converter is rattling itself to pieces, and the Check Engine light is on accordingly (luckily, it passed emissions anyway - the light is intermittent, so I took it in to test while it was out). I had no other problems until recently: both front wheel bearings/hubs have to be replaced and one of the rear calipers is partially stuck (which wore out the pads and dug a groove in the rotor). A mechanic wanted to charge me ~$1500 to fix everything (and assures me that more repairs will be needed soon - center link and idler arm). I got a better price from someone else - but still ~$1000. I can fix it myself for just under $400 in parts. Still debating whether to fix it myself or give it to charity and buy a different vehicle. I no longer need an SUV or truck so perhaps something with better mileage would work out - my commute is 30 miles of highway, but I still average under 20mpg in the Blazer.
I have a 99 LT Blazer and have had it for 6 years. It has 148,000 miles on it, and has had some issues.
I have been through 2 wheels bearings, 2 water pumps, 3 Thermostats, the drivers side mirror works sometimes, and not others, CD player sometimes doesn't work. The rear windshield wiper pump is broken so it won't spray fluid, and just recently my air conditioner stopped working, and now I have to replace the radiator! There is a piece of broken metal in the front left wheel that vibrates and makes an annoying noise, and sometimes the driver side window gets stuck in the down position.
Its currently can't be driven because it overheats within 5 miles of driving it, and the interior smells like anti-freeze.
So, its time to trade it in on something more reliable. After all, its been taken care of, but it obviously was not built to last. Toyota, here I come!
I think the Orange coolant had some to do with the corrosion and the heating/air problems!
My 98 Jimmy has a rear-end clunk when I take off and when I turn corners at a slow speed... the windshield leaked which caused my 4X4 touch button to go all screwy and locked the transfer case module... if anyone has had the rear-end problem like I do could you respond and tell me what is wrong with it???!?! please!
I own a 1998 Blazer LT fully loaded, 4x4 power everything. I bought the truck with 163,000 miles. So far I've only had to replace the front wiper motor relay board. The heater core just went out last week at 190,000 miles, the passenger side recliner lever was broken when I bought it, just clamped an old pair of vice-grips on the stud coming out of the seat to save some dough! hahaha. The A/C worked great untill for some reason the climate control module quit working or something and it would only blow hot air, even with the A/C recharged. It's like the heater is always on, now like I said the heater core finally went, so I've just by-passed it with a simple "U" shaped piece of pvc. Appearntly you have to remove the ENTIRE dash to replace the heater core which is $88.00 dollars at Autozone. I wasn't expecting much from it when I bought it with so many miles.
I must say that I take it fishing every other weekend, and tow a boat with it. The places I've been able to go with this truck are amazing to me. 4 low will get me up any grade or hill, boat or not. Hasn't faild yet!
98 chevy blazer LS.
GM is finally realizing with the price of vehicles today, even a chevy loyalist cannot justify the repair costs of their vehicles.
My tales with my 98 blazer.
1st and only owner,, Only has 68,000 miles on it. All highway miles except maybe three times in four wheel drive on snowy roads.
Two alternators,
upper ball joints once (maybe normal)
lower ball joints three times,
both driver and passenger door hinges went,,
New radiator twice, dex-cool AKA Deathcool.
Dex-cool should be outlawed and very surprized GM has not had a class action lawsuit against them for manufacturing the horrific product and the damage it creates to the vehicle.
Both seat recliner knobs broke twice. "pot white metal" is a joke.
Tie rods twice,
lumbar support broke twice,
fuel pump twice,
water pump twice,
and those are the mild repairs,, now the biggies,,
car was hard starting. Over the months it got worse until one day it said, no more!
Mechanic said (GM certified mechanic) fuel pump. I said Again?
New fuel pump and guess what. same problem. Then came the plugs, wires, distributor, PVC valve, Egr valve, air filter, all kinds of vac hoses and guess what??? same problem. Took it to another GM garage and they said,,, fuel pump,, must be wrong pressure value. So another newbie and same problem. Mysteriously the vehicle started, but soon the starting problem was back. I did my own research on line and found it to be the fuel pressure requlator. Only catch is GM shops will only change the complete fuel meter body with new injectors. They do not want to touch the old because if you move the lines they break. $60.00 requlator plus a 20.00 dollars gasket set, did it myself and saved $1,400.00 bucks. However, not for everyone. I am a electrical mechanic and have mechanical abilitites. Gas lines are involved and removal of upper intake manifold. Not for the average back yard mechanic so be careful!.
Tapping valve,, one-replaced.
Four batteries and still counting.
Air conditioning compressor just went out and I am on another turn signal switching unit. Stays on all the time.
Passenger door speaker is shorted out somewhere in the wiring harness.
To date these additional repairs have cost me $7,349.00 dollars. This does not include the normal maintenace routine items. Tires are not included, brakes, shocks etc. These would be items you would service and replace on any vehicle. So,, in closing,,, a SUV that cost me $24,000. plus change in 98' really cost me $31,000.00 and climbing. I am a Chevy loyalist, born on them, but it is fading fast. I cannot afford another vehicle. P.S- My parents own a 07' malibu and it has already been in the shop twice for warranty work.
I'm appalled! I've been sticking money into my Blazer for the last year, for exactly every single problem on these pages. What's up with that???
I've gone through three fuel pumps in the last nine months, and now my four wheel drive will not engage.
The lights on the buttons on the dash work SOMETIMES, and if pushed, nothing happens. It's not either the fuse for the dashboard switch or the fuse for the transfer case, which I had replaced a year ago, so it shouldn't be the transfer case itself. Any ideas??
In the last year, I've had to replace my water pump, radiator, (go with a flush and the green antifreeze, it helps!), upper and lower ball joints, axles, transfer case, 3 fuel pumps, sensors, wiring for the lights inside, turn signal won't stop, recline levers are broken, seat belts in back seat fell apart, rear window defroster doesn't work, rear wiper doesn't work, front window wipers work mostly, leaking valves on gas tank, patched the head block so my antifreeze doesn't leak INTO the engine, alternator... oh it goes on and on.
Can't take it far from home, and being a single mom with two kids, it's getting really hard. All my fuses are fine, so what should I do? Live in northern Wisconsin, need four wheel drive... HELP!
Ditto, Ditto, Ditto, Ditto, and Ditto to ALL of these problems - I've had them all. Here's a new one I haven't seen here yet. On cold mornings, the drivers side door handle won't operate. Getting in the passenger side and crawling over the consol is a real exercise! Thanks GM, I don't have to go to the gym anymore. BTW, I just saw that the heat strip contact attached to the rear window has come off - what's new?
I am torn when it comes to the Blazer. I own three. The 96 gets me to and from work with over 330k and only ever replaced the upper ball joints. My wife has a 98 that is her fully loaded baby at 110k. Within the last year has had the battery, alternator, throttle position switch, rear end seals, oil lines, both front wheel bearings, engine mount, passenger door pins replaced and the hinges are bad (it creaks going over small bumps), ignition wouldn't turn off and had to be replaced, and worst of all is it has had 4 fuel pumps replaced all in the last year and is now sitting out on the street as again there is no fuel pressure. One time the fuel pump went we were on the bridge crossing between Canada and the US. The border had to shut down one lane and help push the truck to the immigration parking so a tow truck could pick it up. The third Blazer is a 95 and is as reliable as the 96. We use it as a back up because the 98 has left my wife stranded so many times. I can't say anything bad about the 95 and the 96 but I can't say anything good about the 98. After owning three different years and reading everything here, I believe the 98 is a bad year for Blazers.
I agree with everything you all have said. Over the last 9 months I have had the following problems and repairs:
- Transmission rebuild
- Replaced upper/lower ball joints
- Replaced turn signal
- Replaced motor mounts
- Center break light doesn't work
- Both seat levers are broken
- Door hinges are cracked
- Passenger door won't unlock from outside the vehicle
- Battery dies weekly - New battery - didn't help
- New brake system all around (including master brake cylinder)
- Cruise control doesn't work
- Car rattles over every bump
- Back window won't stay closed.
I have spent more money on this vehicle than I did my daughters new car. This is my first and last Chevy Blazer. Tomorrow I head out in hopes of finding new seat handles. My wife won't even drive this car. And they wonder why more Americans are buying foreign cars.
All I can say is Chevy should change the from LT to POS! This thing is the biggest waste of money I have ever owned. In 2 months I have dumped $1200 into it... from the injectors to plugs, and wires cap and rotor, radiator, water pump and now I think it has a blown head gasket!
Don't ever buy one of these things... it was good until maybe 100,000 miles and then... money pit.
I will never buy a Chevy POS again. Sorry to hear ya'll have had the problems; I feel for you, heck I found this place looking for answers to my problems and now see I am not the only one. Good luck guys, and thanks for helping me see the light.
Erik.
Sure my transmission is spastic. Sure my mirrors rattle violently. Sure my seat adjustment levers are vice grips. But these things (and believe me, many others) are what give my Blazer an identity, a unique character. I wouldn't be happy with a vehicle that worked perfectly. I would know that I need it... but how would I know it needs me?