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1997 Chevrolet Blazer

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Blazer years

Owner complaints for the 1997 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: 171 of 768 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 144 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Visibility. Review the 129 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 110 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

60 crash reports26 fire reports44 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

93 reports
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106,000 miles · Nov 28, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND STALLED, VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO INDEPENDENT SHOP, TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT COOLANT TURNED INTO ACID AND DAMAGED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD/WATER PUMP/ THERMOSTAT, AND RADIATOR. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10048775

114,387 miles · Nov 16, 2003
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipment

97 BLAZER COOLING SYSTEM FAILURE. FROM THE TIME I BOUGHT THE CAR THE COOLING SYSTEM HAD TROUBLE. THE RADIATOR HAD A LEAK ( 34391 MILES), THE COOLING SYSTEM CLOGGED UP AND THE HEATER CORE LEAKED FROM DEX-COOL GELLING UP ( 65265 MILES ), AGAIN HEATER CORE LEAKING FROM BAD DEX-COOL ( 104044 MILES ), HEATER CORE LEAKING (114387 MILE…

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97 BLAZER COOLING SYSTEM FAILURE. FROM THE TIME I BOUGHT THE CAR THE COOLING SYSTEM HAD TROUBLE. THE RADIATOR HAD A LEAK ( 34391 MILES), THE COOLING SYSTEM CLOGGED UP AND THE HEATER CORE LEAKED FROM DEX-COOL GELLING UP ( 65265 MILES ), AGAIN HEATER CORE LEAKING FROM BAD DEX-COOL ( 104044 MILES ), HEATER CORE LEAKING (114387 MILES). EACH TIME THE HEATER CORE HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE COOLING SYSTEM HAD TO BE ACID FLUSHED BY THE DEALER BECAUSE THE DEX-COOL GELLED UP. ALL THESE REPAIRS WHERE DONE BY GM DEALER. THE DEALER COULD NOT TELL ME WHY THE DEX-COOL WAS GELLING UP OR THE HEATER CORE KEPT LEAKING. I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH GMC (COMPLAINT # 1-152407734) GMC COULD NOT HELP ME. I FOUND OUT FROM A RADIATOR REPAIR SHOP THAT THEY HAVE HAD MANY GM COOLING SYSTEM FAILURES DU TO THE DEX-COOL CAUSING ELECTROLYSIS. THIS IS THE MAIN CAUSE OF MY PROBLEM AND GM AND THE DEALER WILL NOT ADDRESS IT. THE RADIATOR SHOP SAID THE ONLY REPAIR IS TO FLUSH OUT THE COOLING SYSTEM FOR 36 HOURS THE REFILL IT WITH ANTIFREEZE, NOT DEX-COOL. ALSO ADD AN ANTI-ELECTROLYSIS SOLUTION TO IT AND A RADIATOR CAP WITH AN ANODE ROD ON IT. THEY HAVE HAD VERY GOOD RESULTS WITH THIS REPAIR. THERE MANY COMPLAINTS ON YOUR SITE ABOUT THIS AND ALSO MANY ON OTHER AUTO REPAIR WEB SITES. ALL I WANT IS TO BE REFUNDED THE MONEY I SPENT ON REPAIRS FROM DAY ONE AND HAVE GM PAY FOR THE RADIATOR SHOP TO DO THE FLUSHING AND REPAIRS. *LA

NHTSA ODI #10047001

82,000 miles · Oct 31, 2003
Engine And Engine CoolingVehicle Speed Control

WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH ENGINE REVVED VERY HIGH. CONSUMER PULLED TO THE SHOULDER, AND CALLED A TOW TRUCK AND HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP. A REBUILT ENGINE WAS INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE, BUT NOT BY THE DEALER.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10046130

30,600 miles · Sep 24, 2003
Engine And Engine CoolingSuspension

UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDS REPLACED. UPPER BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED WITH THE 2001 RECALL FROM GM. VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 31,000 MILES

NHTSA ODI #10039499

59,800 miles · Aug 10, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

VEHICLE WILL NOT START OR QUITS RUNNING WHILE ON ROADWAY OR IN TRAFFIC. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10031208

Mileage unknown · Jun 16, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

FOR ABOUT A WEEK VEHICLE HAS STALLED FOUR TIMES. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10024085

Mileage unknown · Jun 16, 2003
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingSuspension

I PURCHASE MY 97 BLAZER IN DEC 2000 WITH 35000 MILES FROM A LOCAL DEALER, I BELIEVE IT WAS A PREVIOUS LEASE VEHICLE. WITHIN ONE YEAR I HAD TO REPLACE BALL JOINTS BUT WAS TOLD THAT I DID NOT QUALIFY FOR A RECALL. IN FEB OF 2003 I LOST MY HEAT AND SPENT CLOSE TO 2000 DOLLARS REPLACING FIRST THE WATER PUMP, THEN THE RADIATOR. AF…

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I PURCHASE MY 97 BLAZER IN DEC 2000 WITH 35000 MILES FROM A LOCAL DEALER, I BELIEVE IT WAS A PREVIOUS LEASE VEHICLE. WITHIN ONE YEAR I HAD TO REPLACE BALL JOINTS BUT WAS TOLD THAT I DID NOT QUALIFY FOR A RECALL. IN FEB OF 2003 I LOST MY HEAT AND SPENT CLOSE TO 2000 DOLLARS REPLACING FIRST THE WATER PUMP, THEN THE RADIATOR. AFTER THAT DIDN'T SOLVE THE PROBLEM, THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT THE SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE FLUSHED WITH A SPECIAL MACHINE THAT WOULD COST ANOTHER 400 DOLLARS. THE SYSTEM HAD TO BE FLUSHED TWICE TO GET MARGINAL HEAT. ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP, THE NEXT MOVE IS TO REPLACE THE HEATER CORE. NOW THE WIPERS STOP WORKING AND ONLY RESTART BY FLIPPING THE SWITCH BACK AND FORTH. NOT REAL GOOD ON THE HIGHWAY IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. I RECENTLY HAD THE ALTERNATOR REPLACED AND THE DEALERSHIP STATED THAT THE SERPENTINE BELT WAS OLD AND CRACKED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IT ACTUALLY HAD LESS THAN 5000 MILES ON IT AS THEY REPLACED IT IN FEBRUARY WHEN THE WATER PUMP WAS DONE, THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. THE COMBINATION OF LOUSY SERVICE FROM 2 DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS, A VEHICLE THAT HAS HAD NOTHING BUT ONGOING PROBLEMS WILL BE ENOUGH TO STOP ME FROM BUYING ANOTHER GM PRODUCT AGAIN. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10023197

98,000 miles · May 19, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET FAILURE ON A 1997 CHEVY BLAZER LT. LEAKING LARGE AMOUNT OF COOLANT, WATER PUMP FAILURE LEAKING LARGE AMOUNT OF COOLANT. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10018913

76,000 miles · Apr 22, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

HEATER IN TRUCK FAILED, NO HEAT TO DEFROST WINDOWS. COOLANT GAUGE SPIKING WITH SLUDGE IN RADIATOR AND OVERFLOW BOTTLE. AFTER TRUCK HAS BEEN RUN, STRONG SMELL OF COOLANT IS APPARENT. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10016376

74,000 miles · Apr 4, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE FAILURES RELATED TO COOLANT GEL UP WITH DEX-COOL. COOLING SYSTEM FLUSHED TWICE. INTAKE GASKET LEAKED COOLANT INTO ENGINE AND DAMAGED INTERNAL BEARINGS. NEW ENGINE NEEDED. WATER PUMP FAILED AFTER THAT. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10013959

Official recalls

4

03V117000 · Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly

Mar 31, 2003

CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH A DRIVER'S SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY THAT CONTAINS AN ENERGY-ABSORBING LOOP. SUSTAINED LOADS OF SUFFICIENT MAGNITUDE AND DURATION ON THE BELT IN SEVERE CRASHES COULD FULLY DEPLOY THE BUCKLE ENERGY-ABSORBING LOOP, INTRODUCING A TOTAL OF 10 ADDITIONAL INCHES OF WEBBING INTO THE SEAT BELT SYSTEM. THE FREE FALLING LATCH PLATE USED IN THIS SYSTEM MAY ALLOW WEBBING TO DYNAMICALLY DISTRIBUTE BETWEEN THE LAP AND SHOULDER BELT AS THE DRIVER'S POSITION CHANGES DURING A MULTIPLE ROLLOVER EVENT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE ENERGY-ABSORBING LOOP FULLY DEPLOYS IN A SEVERE MULTIPLE ROLLOVER CRASH, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT A BELTED DRIVER MAY EXPERIENCE PARTIAL OR EVEN COMPLETE EJECTION FROM THE VEHICLE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ENERGY-ABSORBING SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES WITH ONE THAT DOES NOT HAVE THE ENERGY-ABSORBING LOOP. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON AUGUST 8, 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.

03V093000 · Visibility:rearview Mirrors/devices:exterior

Mar 7, 2003

CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, MINI VANS, AND PICKUP TRUCKS MAY DEVELOP A SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE ELECTRIC OUTSIDE REARVIEW MIRROR SWITCH.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THIS WERE TO HAPPEN, IT COULD RESULT IN AN INOPERATIVE SWITCH, HEAT DAMAGE TO THE DRIVER'S DOOR, AND/OR IGNITION OF COMPONENTS IN THE DRIVER'S DOOR AND A SUBSEQUENT VEHICLE FIRE WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED JUMPER HARNESS TO THE ELECTRIC OUTSIDE REARVIEW MIRROR SWITCH. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON APRIL 24, 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 OR GMC AT 1-800-462-8782.

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.

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.

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

2

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.