Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (accelerator pedal, throttle, sudden acceleration, cruise control).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1998 Chevrolet Blazer owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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. …
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.
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.
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.
While driving my vehicle the cruise control went into resume and failed to let me slow down or stop vehicle. I applied the brakes several times, and I also applied the gas, while holding both feet over the brakes, vehicle still wouldn't disengage. I drove the vehicle in that position for about one mile, trying to get it to stop. When I approached my turning intersection and applied the brakes, the right tire lifted over the curb, and took my vehicle into the path of the southbound ongoing traffic. I then turned my wheel to the right to avoid running into the traffic, and the vechicle went over the grassie medium. I then applied my brakes again, but the vehicle still wouldn't disengage. At that time I realized that the vehicle wasn't going to stop. I then released my seat belt, pushed the door open, and then pushed myself outward of the vehicle. …
Had to replace altenator. Handle of passenger seat fell off in hand, causing riding and sitting difficult. Puts me right up to the air bag. Purchased this vehicle to take my husband to nashville, for his heart transplant visits, needed a reliable vehicle. On the last trip there, 70 MPH, in hard rain, no windshield wipers, just quit on the expressway, in heavy traffic. Gas pedal also sticks, and pushes with force, when it releases. (wonder we haven't hit someone). Being on social security,we thought paying extra, for and extended warranty would protect us. (a wasted $1800.00) the payment takes almost half our income, we can't afford to fix the manufacturers mistakes. By looking at the other complaints, we're not the first with the above problems. Very unhappy consumer. Our first payment on the Blazer was 1-14-02, we began having these problems 6 months later.
While driving on wet pavement at 35-40 MPH, vehicle accelerated by itself, brakes applied, would not disengage, cruise control went on by itself. Driver turned it off and applied brakes again, foot applied to gas, nothing happened, drove for one mile trying to slow down, approached turn lane with foot on brake, turned wheel, vehicle still would not disengage. When approaching left turn lane, tried to apply brakes more firmly. The right passenger tire lifted up over the curb and took vehicle into southbound traffic. Upon approaching a 4-lane highway, turned wheel to the right, and vehicle went ove rgrassie medium. Driver applied brakes again, but vehicle still wouldn't stop. Drive rpushe ddoor open, released seat belt and pushed herself out of the vehicle. Vehicle was totalled. Driver sustaine dinjuries.
The throttle, on my 1998 Blazer, sticks when first depressed and then engages, with the throttle partially open, so the vehicle lunges forward. A local repair shop told me cheverlot issued a letter telling all repair shops about this problem as it happens on all of these vehicles all the time when starting from a dead stop. I have contacted cheverlot several times and offered to fix the problem myself if they would tell me what to do but they refuse. They tell me to take it to a GM service center, which I did, and was told it will cost $65 and the repair will not be permanent. My concern is someone will be injured when one of these blazers or s10 vehicles lurches forward in a parking lot. Please tell me what I should do.
Was traveling approx. 50-55mph and went around a corner; road had uneven shoulders. Took foot off accelerator pedal, and vehicle accelerated into a ditch. Noticed and tried to correct, and vehicle hit ditch and crashed. Air bags failed to deploy. Driver was hospitalized with an injured back, crushed 2nd veterbrae.
There was a recall on our 1995 s-10 truck and our 1998 Chevrolet blazier has the exact same part and is also defective also. The windshield wipers on our 1998 blazier donot work some times they won't work other times and sometimes they won't shut off. Our gas pedal sticks when you try to take off.
Acceleration complaints in other Blazer years
Frequently asked questions
How common are acceleration problems on the 1998 Chevrolet Blazer?
NHTSA has 33 complaints about the speed control & acceleration of the 1998 Chevrolet Blazer, 5% of the model year's 716 complaints. The component named most often is accelerator pedal (12 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1998 Chevrolet Blazer acceleration problems?
No. NHTSA lists no speed control & acceleration recall for the 1998 Chevrolet Blazer, though it has 3 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 1998 Chevrolet Blazer acceleration problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 115,000 miles, and 7% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 6 crashes, 0 fires and 4 injuries and 10 deaths to speed control & acceleration problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.