IllustrationNHTSA# 01 I 018 000 & 01 V 200 000/BALL JOINT SEPARATION: CONSUMER STATES THAT THE LEFT FRONT UPPER BALL JOINT SEPARATED AND CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING. DEALER CONTACTED AND INFORMD THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT COVER UNDER THE VIN#. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *MR
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Blazer years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
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
What owners actually said
1,153 reportsBOUGHT USED VEHICLE THOUGHT IT NEEDED A TUNE UP. LEAKING INJECTORS CAUSES SHAKE WANT TO KNOW IF THIS IS A REOCCURING PROBLEM. MR
CONSUMER STATES BALL JOINTS ARE CONSTANTLY FAILING. CONSUMER HAS HAD TO REPLACE THEM TWICE. A RECALL WAS INITIATED, BUT CONSUMER'S VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. RELATED RECALLS 01V200000 AND 01I018000. *AK RIGHT FRONT WHEEL FELL OFF AS A RESULT OF THE FAULTY BALL JOINTS. THERE WAS SQUEAKING NOISE ON TURNS DUE TO IDLER ARM FAILURE. FRO…
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CONSUMER STATES BALL JOINTS ARE CONSTANTLY FAILING. CONSUMER HAS HAD TO REPLACE THEM TWICE. A RECALL WAS INITIATED, BUT CONSUMER'S VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. RELATED RECALLS 01V200000 AND 01I018000. *AK RIGHT FRONT WHEEL FELL OFF AS A RESULT OF THE FAULTY BALL JOINTS. THERE WAS SQUEAKING NOISE ON TURNS DUE TO IDLER ARM FAILURE. FRONT PADS WORN OUT AND ROTORS FAILED, BOTH WERE REPLACED. *YH
WHILE DRIVING AT NORMAL SPEED TWO FRONT WHEELS SUDDENLY WENT TO RIGHT, AND CONSUMER HIT A STONE WALL. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
WHILE APPLYING BRAKES AT LOW SPEED, INTERMITTENTLY BRAKE PRESSURE CAUSED PEDAL TO HARDEN. MORE PRESSURE NEEDED TO BE APPLIED ON BRAKE PEDAL TO GET VEHICLE TO STOP. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AKI
WHILE DRIVING 45MPH HEARD A POPPING NOISE .*AK
AT 30 MPH ACCELERATOR PEDAL GOT STUCK, CONSUMER APPLIED MORE PRESSURE AND PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THEN, GOT STUCK IN THAT POSITION. CONSUMER HAD TO APPLY BRAKES HARD, SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL, AND SHUT OFF ENGINE. DEALER STATED THE ENGINE WAS DAMAGED, AND HAD TO BE REPLACED.*AK
I TRIED TO GET MY EXTENDED WARRANTY TO FIX THE ISSUE, BUT REFUSED TO COVER IT. I TOLD THEM THAT IT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE, THEY DISAGREED. I DID NOT KNOW THAT THE NHTSA EXISTED, OTHER WISE YOU WOULD OF HEARD FROM ME A LONG TIME AGO. I READ AN ARTICLE IN THE PAPER WHICH STATED PROBLEMS WITH RECALLS AND THE VEHICLES INVOLVED AND THATS…
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I TRIED TO GET MY EXTENDED WARRANTY TO FIX THE ISSUE, BUT REFUSED TO COVER IT. I TOLD THEM THAT IT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE, THEY DISAGREED. I DID NOT KNOW THAT THE NHTSA EXISTED, OTHER WISE YOU WOULD OF HEARD FROM ME A LONG TIME AGO. I READ AN ARTICLE IN THE PAPER WHICH STATED PROBLEMS WITH RECALLS AND THE VEHICLES INVOLVED AND THATS WHEN I SAW THAT MY CAR WASN'T THE ONLY CHEVROLET VEHICLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP TO SEE IF IT HAD ANYMORE RECALLS TO IT AND THEY TOLD ME NO. MY BLAZER HAS HAD PRIOR RECALL FOR A HARNEST OF SOME SORT!!!! THIS IS A BIG SAFETY ISSUE TO ME. EVERYTIME IT RAINS I HAVE TO PULL OVER TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY. WIPERS DON'T SEEM TO WORK AT ALL NOW, AND NEITHER DOES THE WATERPUMP THAT SQUIRTS THE WATER TO CLEAN THE WINDSHILD. THIS HAPPEND AFTER APPROX. 90 DAYS AFTER I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. *AK
IN JAN 99, THERMOSTAT APPEARED TO FAIL AND WHEN I OPENED THE RADIATOR CAP, NOTICED WHAT LOOKED LIKE MUD/GRIT IN CAP. TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE CHEVROLET DEALER, THEY SAID THEY DID NOT KNOW WHAT IT WAS. ENDED UP REPLACING INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET, PULLING AND REPAIRING/CLEANING RADIATOR AND REPLACING THERMOSTAT. IN JULY 2002, TRUCK …
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IN JAN 99, THERMOSTAT APPEARED TO FAIL AND WHEN I OPENED THE RADIATOR CAP, NOTICED WHAT LOOKED LIKE MUD/GRIT IN CAP. TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE CHEVROLET DEALER, THEY SAID THEY DID NOT KNOW WHAT IT WAS. ENDED UP REPLACING INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET, PULLING AND REPAIRING/CLEANING RADIATOR AND REPLACING THERMOSTAT. IN JULY 2002, TRUCK OVERHEATED AGAIN. TOOK IT TO FIRESTONE WHERE THEY RECOMMENDED $1200 IN REPAIRS TO FLUSH OUT "COAGULATED" COOLANT (DEXCOOL). ENDED UP REPLACING RADIATOR, RADIATOR CAP, AND THERMOSTAT (AGAIN) AND FLUSHING ENTIRE COOLANT SYSTEM. FIRESTONE PERSONNEL SAID THIS WAS A RECURRING PROBLEM ON THE BLAZERS WITH THE DEXCOOL BREAKING DOWN AND TURNING INTO A BROWN, MUDDY, GUMMY SUBSTANCE. ACCODING TO FIRESTONE, GM HAS SEVERAL TECH BULLETINS OUT ON THIS, BUT THEY REFUSE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THIS DEXCOOL BROKE DOWN AFTER ONLY 30,000 MILES. WHY HAS NOTHING BEEN DONE ABOUT THIS? GM IS KNOWINGLY SELLING A DEFICIENT PRODUCT AND THEY REFUSE TO STAND BEHIND IT. PLEASE, CAN SOMEONE OUT THERE HELP US!?!?!?!*AK
Official recalls
603V159000 · 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
7EA02006 · 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.