IllustrationRECALL 98 V 150 001/WINDSHIELD WIPER WIRING: WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY, MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK CONSUMER STATED ALL WIPERS FREEZE UP AT TIMES, ALSO WINDOW MOTOR IS INOPERATIVE.*SLC
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 reportsVEHICLE HAS BEEN ALIGNED 4-5 TIMES AND HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. 4 MONTHS AGO 4 SETS OF TIRES WERE PURCHASED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, NOTHING HAS CHANGED. VEHICLE MAKES A CLUNKING NOISE WHEN MAKING A HARD RIGHT TURN. DEALER FOUND CAUSE OF PROBLEM, BUT HASN'T SPECIFIED IF IT WAS UPPER OR LOWER BALL JOINTS THAT NEEDED TO BE R…
Read full complaint
VEHICLE HAS BEEN ALIGNED 4-5 TIMES AND HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. 4 MONTHS AGO 4 SETS OF TIRES WERE PURCHASED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, NOTHING HAS CHANGED. VEHICLE MAKES A CLUNKING NOISE WHEN MAKING A HARD RIGHT TURN. DEALER FOUND CAUSE OF PROBLEM, BUT HASN'T SPECIFIED IF IT WAS UPPER OR LOWER BALL JOINTS THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. CONSUMER HAS CONTACT, BUT WOULD NOT BE ACKNOWLEDGED BECAUSE CONSUMER DIDN'T LIVE IN ONE OF THE STATES INCLUDED.*AK
ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM IS INOPERATIVE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK CONSUMER STATED BRAKES RELEASE UNDER HARD BRAKING, WHEN ON LOOSE SURFACE SUCH AS SAND OR WET PAVEMENT.*SLC
RECALL 99V193000; ABS SYSTEM FAILS IN WET OR SLIPPERY ROAD CONDITIONS. WHEN APPLYING BRAKE PEDAL FEELS HARD, BRAKES LOCK THEN RELEASE. HAD ABS RECALL DONE, BUT DID NOT REMEDY PROBLEM. *AK
CAMPAIGN 1048 WASHINGTON STATE NEEDS TO BE ADDED TO THIS RECALL: THIS RECALL SHOULD PERTAIN TO ALL STATES THAT HAVE HEAVY RAIN OR SNOWFALL FYI: I DON'T EVEN SEE ALASKA ON THIS RECALL EITHER. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED IN SUMMARY. *AK
ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK ON SEPT. 21, 2001, I HAD TO SIT ON I-435-E- FREEWAY FOR AN HOUR BECAUSE OF A CAR ACCIDENT. I WAS MOVING NO MORE THAN 5 TO 10 MILES AN HOUR. WHEN I GOT TO I-71-N AND I TOOK I-71 TO THE LINWOOD EXIT GOING 55 TO 60 MILES AN HOUR AND THEN 45 TO 50 MILES AN HOUR AND THEN 55 TO 60 AND THEN 45 TO 50. I EXITED L…
Read full complaint
ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK ON SEPT. 21, 2001, I HAD TO SIT ON I-435-E- FREEWAY FOR AN HOUR BECAUSE OF A CAR ACCIDENT. I WAS MOVING NO MORE THAN 5 TO 10 MILES AN HOUR. WHEN I GOT TO I-71-N AND I TOOK I-71 TO THE LINWOOD EXIT GOING 55 TO 60 MILES AN HOUR AND THEN 45 TO 50 MILES AN HOUR AND THEN 55 TO 60 AND THEN 45 TO 50. I EXITED LINWOOD TO THE EAST, OVER TO INDIANA (LINWOOD IS THE 32ND HUNDREND BLOOK). I WENT SOUTH ON INDIANA TO 3318 INDIANA. I PARKED MY CAR AND WENT IN THE HOUSE. I WAS IN THE HOUSE ABOUT 2 TO 3 MINUTES BEFORE MY NEIGHBORS CAME TO MY DOOR AND SAID MY CAR WAS ON FIRE. THEY WERE USING THEIR WATER HOLES TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. MY BETTER-HALF (TRINIDAD MEDELLIN) CAME OUT SIDE AND OPEN THE HOOD OF THE BLAZER. BY THE TIME THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME, THE FIRE WAS OUT. SUPERIOR CHEVROLET HAD INFORMED TRINIDAD MEDELLIN THAT SEVERE OIL LEAK WAS PRESENT FROM OIL FILTER ADAPTER HOUSING AND BOTH OIL COOLER LINES AND THIS LEAK CONSTITUTES A SAFETY AND RELIABILITY ISSUE. TRINIDAD DID NOT SEE ANY LEAKS. IF THIS DATA WAS KNOWN TO THE NHTSA UNDER RECALLS, WHY WEREN'T THE CUSTOMERS INFORMED, PER ODI ID: 978897?*AK
BALL JOINTS FAILED, CONSUMER LISTED THAT THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT, HOWEVER DID NOT GIVE SPECIFIC DETAILS, MANUFACTURER REPLACED THE DEFECTIVE PART, THERE ARE TWO RECALLS REGARDING BOTH THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. *SLC
RECALL 01 V 200 000/UPPER/LOWER CONTROL ARM: WHILE DRIVING AT 10 MPH OR LESS, RIGHT FRONT WHEEL TOED IN, CAUSING LOSS OF RIGHT FRONT WHEEL. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
UPPER BALL JOINT FAILED WHILE TURNING INTO DRIVEWAY. I WENT TO CARRONS CHEVY DEALER IN MARSHALL,MI. TO SEE IF MY BLAZER WAS UNDER A RECALL SINCE MY FRIENDS 1996 GMC JIMMY IS FOR THE PROBLEM. IT WASN'T BUT GET THIS, THERE ARE OTHER'S (BLAZER'S) UNDER RECALL FOR THE UPPER BALL JOINT FAILURE WITH A VIN CODE BEFORE AND AFTER MY VEHI…
Read full complaint
UPPER BALL JOINT FAILED WHILE TURNING INTO DRIVEWAY. I WENT TO CARRONS CHEVY DEALER IN MARSHALL,MI. TO SEE IF MY BLAZER WAS UNDER A RECALL SINCE MY FRIENDS 1996 GMC JIMMY IS FOR THE PROBLEM. IT WASN'T BUT GET THIS, THERE ARE OTHER'S (BLAZER'S) UNDER RECALL FOR THE UPPER BALL JOINT FAILURE WITH A VIN CODE BEFORE AND AFTER MY VEHICLE'S VIN CODE. I BELIEVE THAT THEY ALL SHOULD. JUST BEFORE MY BALL JOINT FAILED MY FAMILY AND I WERE GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT SPEEDS UP TO 70 MPH. I WOULD HATE TO THINK WHAT MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED AT THAT SPEED IF THE BALL JOINT HAD FAILED. MY TRUCK IS AT A SHOP NOW GETTING FIXED AT A COST OF 180.00 SO FAR. THEY HAVE TO GET UP AND SEE WHAT OTHER DAMAGE MIGHT HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY THIS FAILURE. I KNOW MY BLAZER HAS ALOT OF MILES ON IT BUT I ALSO HAVE A CHEVY LUMINA VAN WITH 125,000 MILES AND A FORD MUSTANG GT WITH 135,000 MILES AND I HAVE NOT HAD ANY SUSPENSION FAILURE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *AK
RECALL 01V200000; WHILE DRIVING TIRES WERE WEARING FUNNY. TIRES WERE BRAND NEW. TOOK VEHICLE FOR ALIGNMENT, AND WAS INFORMED THAT BOTH UPPER & LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE CORRODED. REPAIRS COULD NOT BE DONE ON TIRES DUE TO BALL JOINTS. MANUFACTURER INDICATED THIS VEHCLE NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL DUE TO VIN. *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.