Visibility. Review the 256 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Seats. Review the 84 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 74 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

46 crash reports15 fire reports31 injury reports

What owners actually said

716 reports

85,000 miles · Feb 12, 2003

Suspension

UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINT FAILURE. IF THE UPPER OR LOWER BALL JOINT FAIL ON A 1997 PRIOR TO 8 YEARS OR 100,000 MILES THEY WILL BE REPLACED ACCORDING TO YOUR SYSTEM. THIS WOULD LEAD ME TO BELIEVE THAT THEY SHOULD NOT FAIL WITHIN 100,000 MILES. MY CHEVROLET BLAZER HAS FAILED AT APROXAMATELY 87,000 MILES.

NHTSA ODI #10005755

Mileage unknown · Feb 12, 2003

Engine And Engine CoolingExterior LightingLatches/locks/linkages

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OIL COILER LINES LEAKED FROM THE DAY I BOUGHT IT FROM THE DEALER. DEALER DEFINITELY KNEW AND CLEANED IT UP BEFORE I GOT IT. 1ST SET OF LINES FROM RADIATOR TO OIL FILTER REPLACED A FEW MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE IN 2001. SECOND SET FROM FILTER TO MOTOR NOW NEED REPLACING. EVIDENTLY, THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. WIPERS HAVE THEIR OWN AGENDA. WITH THE MIST SETTING TO CLEAN WINDOWS, WIPERS STAY ON FOR AS LONG AS THEY WANT. WITH THE SECOND MIST, THEY DON'T STAY ON AS LONG. BY THE THIRD MIST, WIPERS ACT NORMAL. ALWAYS HAPPENS. TURN SIGNAL FLASHER SOUND STARTED WITHOUT THE USE OF THE TURN SIGNAL. IT STAYS ON FOR RANDOM LENGTHS OF TIME, AND MAKES THE SOUND IN REGULAR, AND IRREGULAR PATTERNS. REPLACING MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH - AS SEVERAL HAVE BEFORE ME. DEALER KNEW EXACTLY WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. TRANFER CASE LEAKS LUBE. 4-WHEEL DRIVE MESSED UP BECAUSE OF EMPTY CASE. ADDED LUBE AND HOPE NO TRANMISSION PROBLEMS ARRISE. CV JOINT REPLACED 4 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE. HOOD LATCH ABOUT TO BREAK. WHEN PULLING ON LEAVER, BARELY IS ABLE TO POP HOOD. FEELS LIKE WIRE IS GOING TO SNAP. WAITING FOR THE NEXT PROBLEM TO OCCUR - IT HAS BEEN NONSTOP. GM DESIGNED A TERRIBLE VEHICLE. I AM VERY DISSATISFIED AND I REGRET EVER BUYING IT.

NHTSA ODI #10005732

Mileage unknown · Feb 10, 2003

Exterior Lighting

FAULTY MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH. CONTROLS THE HAZARD AND BRAKE LIGHT OPERATION.

NHTSA ODI #10019837

Mileage unknown · Feb 3, 2003

Seat Belts

SEAT BELT ADJUSTER ARM BROKE OFF. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10005952

Mileage unknown · Jan 31, 2003

Visibility

WHILE DRIVING AND WITH NO WARNING, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD WORK INTERMITTENTLY, AND SOMETIMES NOT AT ALL. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK THE CONSUMER WOULD MOVE THE WIPERS TO GET THEM TO START AGAIN. SCC

NHTSA ODI #10006134

48,990 miles · Jan 29, 2003

Power Train

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AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE VEHICLE. FIRST FACTORY AUTOMATIC TRANS WENT OUT AT 1 YEAR 10 MONTHS/28,877 MILES. PER CERTIFIED CHEVEROLET DEALER'S REPAIR NOTES: "REMOVED TRANS...FOUND 3-4 CLUTCH BURNED SEVERELY AND NO POSSIBLE CAUSE FOR 3-4 CLUTCH FAILURE...". "...FOUND LEAKING AT TRANS COOLER LINE...REPLACED LOWER TRANS COOLER LINE...". REPLACED WITH CERTIFIED RE-BUILT (SRTA). NOW, 2ND RE-BUILT TRANS FAILED AT 77,867 MILES (BUT ONLY 48,990 ON 2ND TRANS). PER DEALERSHIP ANALYSIS, "R.T. FOUND TO SLIP IN ALL GEARS PCM STORING P1870 CONVERTOR IS OVERHEADED AND ATF BURNT BAD...". DEALERSHIP AND CHEVEROLET DISTRICT REP ACT AS IF TRANS PROBLEMS ARE UNHEARD OF. CHEVEROLET CUSTOMER SERVICE CASE OPENED, CHEVEROLET DISTRICT REP REFUSES TO PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. SOUNDS JUST LIKE SERVICE BULLETIN #020421005

NHTSA ODI #10004923

76,961 miles · Jan 21, 2003

Electrical SystemVisibility

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CHEVY'S MOTTO FOR THEIR TRUCKS ON THEIR WEBSITE IS...... " THE MOST DEPENDABLE LONG LASTING TRUCKS ON THE ROAD " I BOUGHT A 1998 CHEVY BLAZER IN DECMBER 2001 ...........THIS TRUCK IS NOT DEPENDABLE NOR IS IT LONG LASTING. I HAVE BEEN CONCERNED ABOUT THE RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE. A REPRESENTATIVE FROM CHEVY TOLD ME THAT MY VEHICLES VIN # WAS NOT PART OF THIS RECALL. IS THERE ANY WAY I CAN VERIFY THIS WITHOUT HAVING TO PAY FOR IT? MY VIN # IS [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10003116

Mileage unknown · Jan 16, 2003

Seats

WHEN RECLINING THE DRIVE SEAT, THE LATCH SNAPPED. AS A RESULT, THE DRIVER SEAT IS UNSTABLE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PH

NHTSA ODI #10004031

Mileage unknown · Jan 10, 2003

Suspension

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE BEGAN COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE WHILE ACCELERATING AT HIGH SPEED. PLEASE FURNISH ADDITIONAL INFORMATION DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10002539

Mileage unknown · Jan 6, 2003

Service Brakes, HydraulicSuspensionVisibility

WIPER STOPPED WORKING INTERMEDIATELY. REPLACED UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS, IDLER ARM, CAP, ROTOR AND COIL WIRE. PH

NHTSA ODI #10002082

Official recalls

00V220000 · Exterior Lighting

Aug 11, 2000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS BUILT WITH A CANDELA VALUE GREATER THAN 3,000 CANNOT BE MOUNTED HIGHER THAN 864MM ABOVE THE ROAD SURFACE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 108.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A REVISED WIRING HARNESS THAT CHANGES THE DRL'S FROM HIGH BEAM TO LOW BEAM DRL'S, AND INSTALL NEW LONG-LIFE LOW BEAM BULBS.

98V053000 · Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Arm

Mar 9, 1998

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MULTI-PURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLE EQUIPPED WITH 4-WHEEL DRIVE OR ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE. ONE OR BOTH OF THE ATTACHING NUTS FOR THE RIGHT-HAND LOWER CONTROL ARM ARE UNDER TORQUED. THIS CAN ALLOW THE ATTACHMENT BOLT TO LOOSEN AND SUBSEQUENT BREAK RESULTING IN SEPARATION OF THE LOWER CONTROL ARM FROM THE FRAME.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND RETIGHTEN THE RIGHT-HAND LOWER CONTROL ARM NUTS TO THE PROPER TORQUE SPECIFICATION.

97V218000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

Nov 24, 1997

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS AND MULTI-PURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLES. A FATIGUE FRACTURE OF THE REAR AXLE RIGHT-HAND BRAKE PIPE CAN OCCUR CAUSING A SLOW BRAKE FLUID LEAK RESULTING IN A SOFT BRAKE PEDAL. IF THE BRAKE PIPE BREAKS, THE DRIVER WOULD EXPERIENCE A SUDDEN DROP IN THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BRAKE LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE, AND THERE WOULD BE A LOSS OF REAR BRAKE PERFORMANCE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: PARTIAL LOSS OF BRAKING AT A TIME WHEN MINIMUM STOPPING DISTANCE WAS REQUIRED COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE BRAKE PIPE.

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

RQ02012 · Front Control Arm Ball Joints

Opened Sep 10, 2002 · Closed Mar 7, 2003

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension; Suspension:front; Suspension:front:control Arm; Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Arm; Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Ball Joint; Suspension:front:control Arm:upper Arm; Suspension:front:control Arm:upper Ball Joint

SEE ATTACHED PAGE.

Additional source detail variants (7)

Suspension:front:control Arm

SEE ATTACHED PAGE.

Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Arm

SEE ATTACHED PAGE.

Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Ball Joint

SEE ATTACHED PAGE.

Suspension:front:control Arm:upper Arm

SEE ATTACHED PAGE.

Suspension:front:control Arm:upper Ball Joint

SEE ATTACHED PAGE.

Suspension:front

SEE ATTACHED PAGE.

Suspension

SEE ATTACHED PAGE.