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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

Tires complaints

7 reports
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63,000 miles · Mar 20, 2018
Tires

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET BLAZER EQUIPPED WITH CAPITOL PRECISION TRAC II TIRES, SIZE: 235/75R15. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TIRES EXPERIENCED ISSUES WITH BALANCING. THE CONTACT WAS MADE AWARE OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14T013000 (TIRES); HOWEVER, HE WAS UNABLE TO GET THE RECALL REPAIR COMPLETED DUE TO LACK OF COMMUNI…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET BLAZER EQUIPPED WITH CAPITOL PRECISION TRAC II TIRES, SIZE: 235/75R15. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TIRES EXPERIENCED ISSUES WITH BALANCING. THE CONTACT WAS MADE AWARE OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14T013000 (TIRES); HOWEVER, HE WAS UNABLE TO GET THE RECALL REPAIR COMPLETED DUE TO LACK OF COMMUNICATION FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT THE CONTACT DID NOT RECEIVE A RESPONSE AFTER THE INITIAL CONTACT. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000. THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 6,000.

NHTSA ODI #11080394

110,000 miles · Dec 6, 2005
Tires

DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THE SPARE TIRE CABLE BROKE AND THE SPARE TIRE CAME LOOSE. THE TIRE WAS ATTACHED UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE CABLE HE NOTICED THAT IT CORRODED, AND COULD NOT HOLD THE WEIGHT OF THE TIRE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10144577

Mileage unknown · Aug 30, 2002
TiresWheels

WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE AND RIM SNAPPED OFF VEHICLE. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8017662

Mileage unknown · Mar 5, 2002
SuspensionTires

HAVING VEHICLE SERVICED FOR AN UPPER BALL JOINT RECALL, NOTICED HOWEVER THAT AS A RESULT OF RECALL REPAIRS FRONT TWO TIRES HAVE AN UNEVEN WEAR ON THEM. MANUFACTURER STATED DID NOT HAVE TO DO AN ALIGNMENT ON VEHICLE AFTER REPLACING UPPER BALL JOINT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #8004996

Mileage unknown · Sep 14, 2000
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingEquipment

DRIVER SIDE REARVIEW MIRROR FELL OFF WHEN THE DOOR WAS BEING SHUT. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #554605

Mileage unknown · Jan 9, 1999
Tires

AFTER REPORTING THE PROBLEM THE SECOND TIME, THE DEALER NOTICED A LUG ON THE RIGHT REAR TIRE HAD SNAPPED OFF COMPLETELY.

NHTSA ODI #702059

Mileage unknown · Nov 25, 1998
Tires

I WAS HAVING TROUBLE WITH RIDE QUALITY ON MY 1997 CHEVROLET BLAZER FOR QUITE SOME TIME. THE DEALERSHIP ROTATED AND BALANCED THE TIRES NUMEROUS TIMES AS WELL AS CHECKED THE ALIGNMENT SEVERAL TIMES. AFTER CHECKING MY OWNER'S MANUAL, I DETERMINED THAT THE TIRES WERE COVERED UNDER THE 3/36 MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY. I ATTEMPTED TO …

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I WAS HAVING TROUBLE WITH RIDE QUALITY ON MY 1997 CHEVROLET BLAZER FOR QUITE SOME TIME. THE DEALERSHIP ROTATED AND BALANCED THE TIRES NUMEROUS TIMES AS WELL AS CHECKED THE ALIGNMENT SEVERAL TIMES. AFTER CHECKING MY OWNER'S MANUAL, I DETERMINED THAT THE TIRES WERE COVERED UNDER THE 3/36 MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY. I ATTEMPTED TO HAVE THE TIRES REPLACED UNDER THIS WARRANTY. IT WAS DETERMINED BY THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT TWO OF THE TIRES HAD SEPARATED, BUT ALL FOUR WERE WORN OUT. I TOLD HIM THAT MAY BE TRUE, BUT THEY SHOULD STILL BE COVERED UNDER THE 3/36 WARRANTY. HE STATED THAT THEIR HANDS WERE TIED BECAUSE MICHELIN WOULD STATE THAT THESE WERE ONLY A 30K MILE TIRE AND WERE PAST THEIR USEFUL LIFE. I CONTACTED CHEVROLET CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE ON 11/25/98 TO ATTEMPT TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM. THE PERSON I SPOKE WITH TOLD ME THE SAME THING. SINCE THE TIRES WERE WORN OUT, THEY COULD NOT REPLACE THEM. I TOLD HER THAT TWO OF THEM HAD SEPARATED AND ACCORDING TO MY OWNER'S MANUAL, THEY WERE COVERED UP TO 36K MILES. THE PERSON I WAS SPEAKING WITH TOLD ME THAT SHE WAS SORRY BUT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT THEY COULD DO AS FAR AS REPLACING THESE TIRES. THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. WITH THE TIRE SEPARATION OCCURRING, THIS COULD POSSIBLY CAUSE TIRE FAILURE LEADING TO AN ACCIDENT. THE CONSUMER ALSO BELIEVES THAT THEY ARE PROTECTED BY THEIR 3/36 WARRANTY FOR THE FULL TIME WHEN THEY ACTUALLY ARE NOT. CHEVROLET/GM NEEDS TO BE MADE TO EITHER UPGRADE THE TIRES THAT THEY ARE PUTTING ON THEIR VEHICLES OR THEY NEED TO SPECIFICALLY STATE THE MILEAGE RESTRICTIONS ON THE TIRES IN THEIR 3/36 WARRANTY EXPLANATION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ASSISTANCE IN THIS MATTER. SINCERELY, CHIP WRIGHT( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P23570R15 )

NHTSA ODI #700909

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.