IllustrationTHE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR INSIDE THE VEHICLE WHERE THE DOOR LATCHES HAS CAVED IN WITH THE METAL, AND THE DOOR NO LONGER SHUTS AND MUST BE TIED TO KEEP FROM FLYING OPEN AND ME FALLING OUT. THIS IS UN SAFE AND THIS CAR IS SUPPOSED TO BE BUILT WELL, AND I HAVE ALMOST FALLEN OUT OF THE CAR.*AK
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
What owners actually said
768 reportsWINDSHIELD WIPERS HAVE INTERMITTENTLY FAILED. WHEN TURNED ON A GROANING NOISE WAS AUDIBLE.*AK
MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE NOT WORKING. THERE IS A SHORT IN THE WIRING OR SOMETHING BECAUSE THE MOTOR WILL RUN BUT THE WIPERS WON'T MOVE. *JB
FUEL GAUGE CEASES TO FUNCTION. WILL CORRECTLY REGISTER FULL TANK. AS FUEL IS BURNED, THE GAUGE LEVEL GOES DOWN UNTIL IT READS HALF FULL, THEN STARTS GOING BACK UP. WHEN THE TANK IS NEARLY EMPTY, THE GAUGE WILL READ FULL. THIS IS A COMMON DEFECT AMONG BLAZER OWNERS, AND GM ACKNOWLEDGES IT IN THEIR SERVICE BULLETINS BUT NO SERVICE…
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FUEL GAUGE CEASES TO FUNCTION. WILL CORRECTLY REGISTER FULL TANK. AS FUEL IS BURNED, THE GAUGE LEVEL GOES DOWN UNTIL IT READS HALF FULL, THEN STARTS GOING BACK UP. WHEN THE TANK IS NEARLY EMPTY, THE GAUGE WILL READ FULL. THIS IS A COMMON DEFECT AMONG BLAZER OWNERS, AND GM ACKNOWLEDGES IT IN THEIR SERVICE BULLETINS BUT NO SERVICE SOLUTION IS PROVIDED. *LA
DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON 1997 CHEVROLET BLAZER.*MR THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A LETTER IN THE MAIL WHICH STATED THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE POSSIBLY DEFECTIVE AND THE REPAIR SHOULD BE DONE BY FEB. 24,3004. THE CONSUMER MISSED THE DEADLINE AND WAS TOLD ALSO THAT THE VEHICLES MILEAGE WAS OVER 70,000 MILES. *JB
WIPER FAILURE IN COOL WEATHER , INTERMITTENT WIPER MODE DOES NOT WORK AND WIPERS WON'T SHUT OFF FOR A PERIOD OF TIME . HAVE ALSO FAILED TO OPERATE AT ALL ALONG WITH CRUISE CONTROL FAILED AT THE SAME TIME ON ONE OCCASION WHILE RAINING. *NM
MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS ONLY WORK PART TIME. THEY MAY COME ON AND WORK FOR A SHORT TIME AND THEN STOP WITHOUT WARNING OR NOT COME ON AT ALL. *AK
WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT THE BRAKES FAILED. THIS CAUSED THE DRIVER TO COLLIDED WITH A VEHICLE WHILE CROSSING AN INTERSECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DRIVER'S HOME. *NM THE ANTILOCK BRAKES DID NOT ENGAGE. THE PEDAL WAS HARD AND THE CONSUMER COULD NOT SLOW DOWN. *SC *JB
CONSUMER STATED THAT FUEL GAUGE WAS GIVING WRONG READINGS. SHE RAN OUT OF GAS ON A BUSY HIGHWAY BECAUSE FUEL GAUGE INDICATED THAT SHE HAD FULL TANK WHEN SHE DID NOT. ALSO, CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT WINDSHIELD WIPERS. WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. WINDSHIELD WIPERS COULD COME ON, AND THEN STOP. CONSUMER COULD …
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CONSUMER STATED THAT FUEL GAUGE WAS GIVING WRONG READINGS. SHE RAN OUT OF GAS ON A BUSY HIGHWAY BECAUSE FUEL GAUGE INDICATED THAT SHE HAD FULL TANK WHEN SHE DID NOT. ALSO, CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT WINDSHIELD WIPERS. WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. WINDSHIELD WIPERS COULD COME ON, AND THEN STOP. CONSUMER COULD NOT GET THEM STARTED AGAIN. SHE HAD TO WAIT.*AK
1997 CHEVROLET BLAZER, WHEN PASSING A SEMI ON INTERSTATE, VEHICLE ACTED LIKE IT WAS MISSING, AFTER PASSING, LOOKED IN MIRROR, SAW SMOKE, PULLED OVER, POPPED HOOD ENGINE ON FIRE UNABLE TO PUT OUT WITH EXTINGUISHER...FIRE ENGULFED VEHICLE, COMPLETELY TOTALING IT. *AK
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.