IllustrationNO SUMMARY.
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 →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: 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
Power Train complaints
110 reportsTRANSMISSION FALURE FOR A CHEVROLET BLAZER 1997--WANT A REFUND FOR REPAIRS
TRANSMISSION SLIPS FROM 2-WHEEL DRIVE INTO 4-WHEEL DRIVE. TOOK TO CAR DEALER AT 31K+ MILES. TOLD DIP STICK RUSTED. TRANSMISSION SLIPPED ON 3 OCCASIONS PREVIOUSLY FROM 2 WHEEL TO 4 WHEEL DRIVE AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 45 -55 MPH. AT DEALER NOW WITH JUST OVER 52K MILES AND TOLD TRANSMISSION WILL PROBABLY BE REPLACED, ESTIMATED COST $1800…
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TRANSMISSION SLIPS FROM 2-WHEEL DRIVE INTO 4-WHEEL DRIVE. TOOK TO CAR DEALER AT 31K+ MILES. TOLD DIP STICK RUSTED. TRANSMISSION SLIPPED ON 3 OCCASIONS PREVIOUSLY FROM 2 WHEEL TO 4 WHEEL DRIVE AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 45 -55 MPH. AT DEALER NOW WITH JUST OVER 52K MILES AND TOLD TRANSMISSION WILL PROBABLY BE REPLACED, ESTIMATED COST $1800. BELIEVE THIS OCCURS MORE FREQUENTLY THAN REPORTED AND UNSUSPECTING OWNER ARE SHELLING OUT EXCESSIVE MONEY FOR FAULTY TRANSMISSIONS.
VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITHOUT A KEY ON THE IGNITION SWITCH WHEN TWO KIDS WERE PLAYING INSIDE OF VEHICLE AND THEY MOVE THE PAWL WITHOUT STEPPING ON THE BRAKES PEDAL, AS SPECIFIED ON THE OWNER MANUAL THAT BRAKES PEDAL SHOULD BE PRESS TO MOVE PAWL. *AK
ENGINE CHECK LIGHT COMES ON. VEHICLE WOULD LURCH FORWARD AFTER SHIFTING INTO 2ND GEAR. BEEN TO DEALER. INFORMED TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REBUILT OR REPLACED. TOOK TO TRANSMISSION SHOP & HAD IT REPLACED W/REBUILT TRANSMISSION WHICH IS SLIPPING. TAKING VEHICLE BACK TO DEALER. *AK
SHOP DETERMINED AN INTERMITTENT INTERNAL PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSION CAUSING 2ND AND 3RD GEARS TO REMAIN IN NEUTRAL WHILE ENGINE REVS IN 1ST BEFORE REACHING THE SHIFT SPEED INTO 4TH. PLRBLEM FIRST APPEARED AT 12000 MILES AND WAS REPORTED TO DEALER WHO DETERMINED "THERE WAS NO PROBLEM." SITUATION CONTINUED TO GET WORSE OVER TIME …
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SHOP DETERMINED AN INTERMITTENT INTERNAL PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSION CAUSING 2ND AND 3RD GEARS TO REMAIN IN NEUTRAL WHILE ENGINE REVS IN 1ST BEFORE REACHING THE SHIFT SPEED INTO 4TH. PLRBLEM FIRST APPEARED AT 12000 MILES AND WAS REPORTED TO DEALER WHO DETERMINED "THERE WAS NO PROBLEM." SITUATION CONTINUED TO GET WORSE OVER TIME UNTIL TEMP IN ENGINE BEGAN TO RUN HIGH CAUSING ALARM. OWNER HAD VEHICLE INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST TO HAVE PROBLEM DETECTED. NOW WITH APPROXIMATELY 32000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE, THE TRANSMISSION IS SHOT.
TRANSMISSION FAILED. YH
NO SUMMARUY
WELL SO FAR THE ENCODER MOTOR, THE DRIVE BELT,TRANS. DIPSTICK RUSTED,SENSOR IN SES LIGHT,WHINING FUEL PUMP, VIBRATION IN REAR WHEN LEAVING FROM STOP,NOW THE CAR STALLS WHILE DRIVING ALONG.AND YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN IT WILL ,IT MAY GO SEVERAL MILES BEFORE DOING SO AND IT MAY ONLY GO A COUPLE BEFORE DOING SO. I FEEL THAT IT IS VERY …
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WELL SO FAR THE ENCODER MOTOR, THE DRIVE BELT,TRANS. DIPSTICK RUSTED,SENSOR IN SES LIGHT,WHINING FUEL PUMP, VIBRATION IN REAR WHEN LEAVING FROM STOP,NOW THE CAR STALLS WHILE DRIVING ALONG.AND YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN IT WILL ,IT MAY GO SEVERAL MILES BEFORE DOING SO AND IT MAY ONLY GO A COUPLE BEFORE DOING SO. I FEEL THAT IT IS VERY DANGEROUS NOT KNOWING WHETHER YOU CAN GET OUT OF THE WAY OR NOT.THE DEALER TELLS ME HE IS PRETTY SURE THAT IT IS THE FUEL PUMP.BUT CAN NOT TELL ME FOR SURE THAT IT WILL TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM....AND THE PART ALONE IS 518.00 WE HAVE A VAN WITH 142K MILES AND A TRUCK WITH 262K MILES SO WE FEEL LIKE WE MAINTAIN OUR VEHICLES OR WOULD NOT GET THE MILEAGE..REALLY CONCERNED WITH THIS VEHICLE.....WHICH WAS A FLEET VEHICLE PURCHASED FROM AUCTION....AND WE WERE TOLD DIFFERENTLY.....I WANT TO BE ABLE TO GET SATISFACTION FROM SOMEWHERE....PLEASE HELP. *AK
ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE BRAKES ARE IN GOOD SHAPE AND THE FLUID LEVEL IS FINE. THE BRAKE PEDAL ALWAYS FEELS SPONGY AND ITS HARD TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE OTHER COMPLAINT DEALS WITH THE REAR END. AFTER THE CAR HAS BE EN DRIVEN FOR ABOUT FIFTEEN MINUTES THE REAR END WILL VIBRATE AND MAK…
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ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE BRAKES ARE IN GOOD SHAPE AND THE FLUID LEVEL IS FINE. THE BRAKE PEDAL ALWAYS FEELS SPONGY AND ITS HARD TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE OTHER COMPLAINT DEALS WITH THE REAR END. AFTER THE CAR HAS BE EN DRIVEN FOR ABOUT FIFTEEN MINUTES THE REAR END WILL VIBRATE AND MAKE A GRINDING NOISE WHEN THE CAR TAKES OFF FROM A STOP LIGHT OR STOP SIGN. I AM THE SECOND OWNER OF THE CAR AND IT HAD 17000 MILES ON IT WHEN I BOUGHT IT.
Official recalls
403V117000 · 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
2EA97004 · 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.