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1996 Chevrolet Blazer

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Blazer years

Owner complaints for the 1996 Chevrolet Blazer are substantially higher than the model-year median of 32.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 105 of 1,153 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 420 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Visibility. Review the 182 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 149 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

156 crash reports31 fire reports77 injury reports

Visibility complaints

182 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jul 27, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingVisibility

DEXCOOL IN RADIATOR COOLING SYSTEM HAD TURNED TO A RUSTY SLUDGE. HAD COOLANT FLUSH DONE AT 60,000 MILES BY THE DEALER. HAD DEALER REINSPECT VEHICLE AS I WAS GOING ON A LONG ROAD. I HAVE COPY OF 27 POINT INSPECTION STATING MY VEHICLE WAS IN GOOD CONDITION WITH NO NOTED PROBLEMS. 261 MILES LATER I WAS STRANDED IN THE DESERT WITH A…

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DEXCOOL IN RADIATOR COOLING SYSTEM HAD TURNED TO A RUSTY SLUDGE. HAD COOLANT FLUSH DONE AT 60,000 MILES BY THE DEALER. HAD DEALER REINSPECT VEHICLE AS I WAS GOING ON A LONG ROAD. I HAVE COPY OF 27 POINT INSPECTION STATING MY VEHICLE WAS IN GOOD CONDITION WITH NO NOTED PROBLEMS. 261 MILES LATER I WAS STRANDED IN THE DESERT WITH A PLUGGED AND BLOWN RADIATOR AND HEATER CORE. THE RADIATOR CAP WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED. THE FLUID IN THE OVERFLOW TANK WAS A RUSTY BROWN THICK MESS. THE HOSES GOING INTO THE RADIATOR HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO A COATING OF RUST ON THE INSIDE. I HAD A NEW RADIATOR PUT ON, NEW HOSES, AND THE RADIATOR AND ENGINE BLOCK REFLUSHED, NEW COOLANT ADDED AND OVERFLOW TANK WASHED. 1,500 MILES LATER (TO THE CURRENT MILEAGE I AM AT NOW) THE DEXCOOL FLUID IS ALREADY DISCOLORING AND PARTICLES OF RUST ARE STARTING TO REAPPEAR. WHICH TELLS ME THE CORROSION IS DEEP INSIDE THE SYSTEM. GM WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE A PROBLEM OF RUSTING AND CORROSION, DEALER WILL TAKE NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR WORK OR INSPECTIONS. GM NEVER WARNED THE CONSUMERS THAT THIS HAD TO BE CAREFULLY WATCHED OR MAJOR ENGINE DAMAGE WOULD OCCUR. GM HAS A TRAINING VIDEO THAT WAS SENT TO DEALERS THAT SPECIFICALLY DEALS WITH THE DEXCOOL CORROSION PROBLEM. IT IS CALLED GM TRAINING VIDEO UNDERSTANDING RADIATOR CAP AND COOLING SYSTEM CONTAMINATION. THEY ARE CLAIMING THE RADIATOR CAPS MAY HAVE A PROBLEM PROPERLY SEALING THE RADIATOR THUS CAUSING HIGH EVAPORATION AND THUS CONTAMINATING THE COOLING SYSTEM. IF THEY ARE AWARE OF THIS WHY WAS THE CONSUMER NOT INFORMED? HOW CAN GM NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE DAMAGE THAT IS BEING DONE TO A LARGE AMOUNT ON THEIR VEHICLES. THEY ALSO CLAIM THAT THE RADIATOR DESIGN ON CERTAIN TYPES OF THEIR VEHICLES MAKE THEM MORE PRONE TO THE CORROSION CONTAMINATION, SUCH AS THE BLAZER, JIMMY, ST PICKUPS, CAMAROS. THAT IS WHY NOT ALL GM PRODUCTS THAT WERE DELIVERED ORIGINALLY WITH DEXCOOL HAS HAD A PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #749341

Mileage unknown · Jul 6, 2001
Visibility

RECALL 98 V 150 001/WINDSHIELD WIPER WIRING: WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY, RESULTING IN INOPERATIVE WIPERS, REDUCING DRIVER'S VISIBILITY AND INCREASING RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK *SLC

NHTSA ODI #892101

Mileage unknown · Jul 3, 2001
Visibility

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #891950

Mileage unknown · Jun 22, 2001
Visibility

WINDSHIELD WIPERS SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING DURING USE. THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES WHICH COULD LEAD TO A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. THIS PROBLEM IS VERY COMMON ON 1994, 1995, AND 1996 BLAZERS . GM RECALLED THEM IN CANADA BUT NOT IN THE U.S.

NHTSA ODI #747262

Mileage unknown · Jun 16, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingVisibility

RADIATOR AND ENGINE COMPLETELY FLUSHED, CAP AND THERMOSTAT REPLACED DUE TO "MUD" IN SYSTEM.DEALER TOLD ME "MUD" WAS ACTUALLY METAL AND SAND LEFT IN ENGINE BLOCK DURING THE PRODUCTION/MILLING PROCESS. 1 MONTH AFTER FLUSH THE SYSTEM IS CLOGGED AGAIN WITH THIS MUD. DEALER SAYING ANOTHER FLUSH IS NEEDED ALONG WITH POSSIBLE WATER PUM…

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RADIATOR AND ENGINE COMPLETELY FLUSHED, CAP AND THERMOSTAT REPLACED DUE TO "MUD" IN SYSTEM.DEALER TOLD ME "MUD" WAS ACTUALLY METAL AND SAND LEFT IN ENGINE BLOCK DURING THE PRODUCTION/MILLING PROCESS. 1 MONTH AFTER FLUSH THE SYSTEM IS CLOGGED AGAIN WITH THIS MUD. DEALER SAYING ANOTHER FLUSH IS NEEDED ALONG WITH POSSIBLE WATER PUMP AND HEATER CORE REPLACEMENT. DEALER AND OTHER LOCAL CAR MAINTENANCE COMPANIES SAID THEY HAVE SEEN THIS MANY TIMES IN THESE BLAZERS. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A PROBLEM GM SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR.

NHTSA ODI #746926

Mileage unknown · Jun 1, 2001
Visibility

WHENEVER WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE IN USE THEY WOULD CUT OFF BY THEMSELVES. WOULD NEED TO GET OUT AND JIGGLE THEM. SOMETIMES, THEY COME ON BY THEMSELVES. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #889584

Mileage unknown · Jun 1, 2001
Visibility

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK WHEN THEY WANT TO WORK. THIS HAS BEEN RECALLED ON VEHICLES THAT WERE MADE AUGUST 1994 THROUGH MAY 1996. MY VEHICLE WAS MADE IN JULY 1996 AND HAS THE SAME WIPER TROUBLE AS THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID# 98V150001 WHICH IS MANUFACTURERS CAMPAIGN #98043.I HAVE TALKED WITH DEALER ABOUT THIS SAFTY HAZARD, BUT SINCE IT …

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WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK WHEN THEY WANT TO WORK. THIS HAS BEEN RECALLED ON VEHICLES THAT WERE MADE AUGUST 1994 THROUGH MAY 1996. MY VEHICLE WAS MADE IN JULY 1996 AND HAS THE SAME WIPER TROUBLE AS THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID# 98V150001 WHICH IS MANUFACTURERS CAMPAIGN #98043.I HAVE TALKED WITH DEALER ABOUT THIS SAFTY HAZARD, BUT SINCE IT IS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST, THEY DO NOT WANT TO REPAIR IT. THANK YOU. *AK

NHTSA ODI #746264

Mileage unknown · May 17, 2001
Visibility

RECALL 98V1500.0I/WINDSHIELD WIPER WIRING: WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY, CAUSING IN NOPERATIVE WIPERS, AND POOR VISIBILITY WHICH COULD LEAD TO A VEHICLE CRASH. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT COVER UNDER ANY RECALL. *AK

NHTSA ODI #888543

Mileage unknown · May 2, 2001
Visibility

WHEN DRIVING IN RAIN WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL JUST STOP WORKING, THEY MAY COME BACK ON OR THEY MAY NOT.*AK

NHTSA ODI #887289

Mileage unknown · Apr 23, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingVisibility

HEATING AND COOLING SYSTEM CAN CREATE A FLOOD IN ENGINE. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER HAD TO FLUSH RADIATOR WITH ACID FLUSH TYPE LIQUID. DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. *AK

NHTSA ODI #886482

Official recalls

6

03V159000 · Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer

Apr 28, 2003

ON CERTAIN MINIVANS, PICKUP TRUCKS, AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES WITH CERTAIN MODEL-ENGINE COMBINATIONS, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR MAY FAIL DUE TO CRACKED SOLDER JOINTS ON THE CONTROLLER CIRCUIT BOARD. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS COULD WORK INTERMITTENTLY OR NOT AT ALL.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR DURING BAD WEATHER, DRIVER VISIBILITY WOULD BE REDUCED, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WIPER MOTOR CIRCUIT BOARD AND COVER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JUNE 19, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, GMC AT 1-800-462-8782, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537.

01V200000 · Suspension:front:control Arm:upper Ball Joint

Jun 28, 2001

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, AND WISCONSIN, AND IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. FAILURE OF AN UPPER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT ASSEMBLY COULD OCCUR DUE TO CORROSION.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CAN RESULT IN IMPAIRED STEERING OR STEERING LOSS, OR A PARTIAL OR COMPLETE COLLAPSE OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE BOTH UPPER BALL JOINTS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 4, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, GMC AT 1-800-462-8782, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537.

99V193000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip

Jul 19, 1999

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN 4-WHEEL DRIVE PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ABS (ANTILOCK BRAKING SYSTEM) MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 1989 THROUGH AUGUST 1996. UNDER CERTAIN DRIVING CONDITIONS THE SWITCH WHICH SIGNALS THE ABS SYSTEM WHETHER THE VEHICLE IS IN 2-WHEEL OR 4-WHEEL DRIVE CAN MALFUNCTION CAUSING INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCES DURING ABS STOPS WHILE IN THE TWO-WHEEL DRIVE MODE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THIS OCCURRED AT A TIME WHEN MINIMUM STOPPING DISTANCE WAS REQUIRED, A VEHICLE CRASH COULD OCCUR WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE OR REPAIR THE 4-WHEEL/2-WHEEL DRIVE SWITCH.

98V150001 · Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer

Jul 1, 1998

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, 2 AND 4-WHEEL DRIVE. SOLDER JOINTS NEAR THE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR CAN CRACK CAUSING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS TO WORK INTERMITTENTLY.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN INOPERATIVE WIPERS, REDUCING A DRIVER'S VISIBILITY, AND INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WIPER MOTOR CIRCUIT BOARD AND COVER.

97V096001 · Seat Belts

Jun 12, 1997

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: EXTENDED CAB PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH 60/40 FRONT BENCH SEATS AND EXTENDED CAB PICKUP TRUCKS AND 2-DOOR UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL LOCKING RECLINER BUCKET SEATS. THE OUTBOARD SAFETY BELT WEBBING ON THE DRIVER'S AND/OR PASSENGER'S SEAT CAN SEPARATE DURING A FRONTAL IMPACT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF A SEPARATION OCCURRED AND THERE WERE SECONDARY CRASH EVENTS OR VEHICLE ROLLOVER, THERE WOULD BE NO BELT RESTRAINT OF THE OCCUPANT AND INCREASED INJURIES COULD OCCUR.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A PROTECTIVE COVER OVER THE RECLINER MECHANISM.

96V234000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly

Nov 14, 1996

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: 4-DOOR, 4-WHEEL DRIVE AND ALL-WHEEL DRIVE MULTI-PURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLES. DURING DEVELOPMENT TESTING, THE PROP SHAFT CONTACTED THE INBOARD SIDE OF THE FUEL TANK ALLOWING FUEL LEAKAGE. THIS LEAKAGE WAS IN EXCESS OF THE AMOUNT PERMITTED BY FMVSS 301, "FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF AN IGNITION SOURCE IS PRESENT, AND THERE IS A FUEL LEAK, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL ADDITIONAL SHIELDING OF THE FUEL TANK. THIS WILL BE ADDED WITHOUT REMOVING OR DISASSEMBLING THE FUEL SYSTEM.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

7

EA02006 · Windshield Wiper Failure

Opened May 31, 2002 · Closed Jul 23, 2003

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:motor

AS A RESULT OF THIS, AND THE PRECEDINGINVESTIGATION, RQ99-003, GM HAS EXPANDED THE POPULATION OF SAFETY RECALL 98V-150 (REPLACEMENT OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPER CONTROL MODULE) TO INCLUDE AN ADDITIONAL 1.77 MILLION VEHICLES.INCLUDED ARE VARIOUS 1994-1997 MY M/L VANS, S/T TRUCKS AND SUVS, & C/K TRUCKS AND SUVS.SEE ATTACHED TECHNICAL REPORT FOR DETAILS.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:motor

AS A RESULT OF THIS, AND THE PRECEDINGINVESTIGATION, RQ99-003, GM HAS EXPANDED THE POPULATION OF SAFETY RECALL 98V-150 (REPLACEMENT OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPER CONTROL MODULE) TO INCLUDE AN ADDITIONAL 1.77 MILLION VEHICLES.INCLUDED ARE VARIOUS 1994-1997 MY M/L VANS, S/T TRUCKS AND SUVS, & C/K TRUCKS AND SUVS.SEE ATTACHED TECHNICAL REPORT FOR DETAILS.

Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:motor

AS A RESULT OF THIS, AND THE PRECEDINGINVESTIGATION, RQ99-003, GM HAS EXPANDED THE POPULATION OF SAFETY RECALL 98V-150 (REPLACEMENT OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPER CONTROL MODULE) TO INCLUDE AN ADDITIONAL 1.77 MILLION VEHICLES.INCLUDED ARE VARIOUS 1994-1997 MY M/L VANS, S/T TRUCKS AND SUVS, & C/K TRUCKS AND SUVS.SEE ATTACHED TECHNICAL REPORT FOR DETAILS.

EA99022 · Upper And Lower Control Arm Ball Joint

Opened Jul 30, 1999 · Closed Aug 28, 2001

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension

There is no summary currently available

Additional source detail variants (2)

Suspension

There is no summary currently available

Suspension

There is no summary currently available

RQ99015 · Front Seat Recliner Bolt Failure

Opened Jul 14, 1999 · Closed Dec 28, 2001

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seats:front Assembly:recliner

No summary supplied.

PE99021 · Upper Control Arm Ball Joint Breakage

Opened Mar 5, 1999 · Closed Jul 30, 1999

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train

AN UPPER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT FAILS, RESULTING IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION COLLAPSING ON THE FAILED SIDE.

EA97007 · Steering Shaft Separations

Opened Apr 17, 1997 · Closed Mar 12, 1998

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering

COUPLING BOLTS, JOINING THE STEERING SHAFT, MAY SEPARATE.IN SOME CASES, TOTAL UNFORESEEN, LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL MAY RESULT.

EA97004 · Seat Belt Webbing Separation

Opened Feb 28, 1997 · Closed Aug 5, 1997

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts:front:webbing

NHTSA'S NEW CAR ASSESSMENT PROGRAM (NCAP) TESTED A 1997 CHEVROLET S-10 EXTENDED CAB PICKUP EQUIPPED WITH A DRIVER-SIDE AIR BAG.THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT WAS COMPLETELY CUT DURING THE TEST.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Seat Belts:front:webbing

NHTSA'S NEW CAR ASSESSMENT PROGRAM (NCAP) TESTED A 1997 CHEVROLET S-10 EXTENDED CAB PICKUP EQUIPPED WITH A DRIVER-SIDE AIR BAG.THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT WAS COMPLETELY CUT DURING THE TEST.

Seat Belts:front:webbing

NHTSA'S NEW CAR ASSESSMENT PROGRAM (NCAP) TESTED A 1997 CHEVROLET S-10 EXTENDED CAB PICKUP EQUIPPED WITH A DRIVER-SIDE AIR BAG.THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT WAS COMPLETELY CUT DURING THE TEST.

EA94038 · Abs Braking System

Opened Oct 31, 1994 · Closed Feb 28, 2000

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic

THIS INVESTIGATION RESULTED IN A SAFETY RECALL, 99V-193, AND A SERVICE CAMPAIGN, 99I-006.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

THIS INVESTIGATION RESULTED IN A SAFETY RECALL, 99V-193, AND A SERVICE CAMPAIGN, 99I-006.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

THIS INVESTIGATION RESULTED IN A SAFETY RECALL, 99V-193, AND A SERVICE CAMPAIGN, 99I-006.