IllustrationGEERAL MOTORS RECCOMMENDED COOLANT FOR CHEVROLET BLAZER'S CLOGGED THE RADIATOR AND THERMOSTAT RESULTING IN THE REPLACEMENT OF ALMOST THE ENTIRE COOLING SYSTEM. THIS OCCURED WELL BEFORE THE MANUFACTURER'S SUGGESTED SIMPLE COOLANT REPLACEMENT.100,000 MILE C
1996 Chevrolet Blazer
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Blazer years
Owner complaints for the 1996 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: 105 of 1,153 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 420 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Visibility. Review the 182 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 149 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
156 crash reports31 fire reports77 injury reports
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
149 reportsNO SUMMERY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
RIGHT FRONT SUSPENSION COLLAPSED CAUSING THE WHEEL AND TIRE TO EXPLODE. NLM
NO MAJOR SAFETY PROBLEMS. HOWEVER, SIGNFICANT MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WITH VERY MODERATE MILEAGE. MECHANICAL PROBLEMS INCLUDE STEERING LINKAGE, WATER PUMP, STARTER, HEAD GASKET.
ON 8/18/1999 I TOOK MY 1996 CHEVY BLAZER TO SUPERIOR CHEVROLET (MERRIAM, KS [XXX]) BECAUSE THE ENGINE COOLING LIGHT KEPT COMING ON. AS SOON AS I TOLD THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE ABOUT THE PROBLEM HE REPLIED THAT THIS WAS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH 1996 BLAZERS DUE TO A DEFECTIVE COOLANT (DEX-COOL) THAT WAS USED IN THE VEHICLE. …
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ON 8/18/1999 I TOOK MY 1996 CHEVY BLAZER TO SUPERIOR CHEVROLET (MERRIAM, KS [XXX]) BECAUSE THE ENGINE COOLING LIGHT KEPT COMING ON. AS SOON AS I TOLD THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE ABOUT THE PROBLEM HE REPLIED THAT THIS WAS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH 1996 BLAZERS DUE TO A DEFECTIVE COOLANT (DEX-COOL) THAT WAS USED IN THE VEHICLE. THEY SAID THAT THE FIX WAS TO "FLUSH" THE COOLING SYSTEM IN ACCORDANCE TO GM SERVICE BULLETIN NO. 99-06-02-012 (OF WHICH I HAVE A COPY). AT THIS TIME THEY CHARGED ME $543.96 FOR THE "FLUSH". AS I INVESTIGATED THE INCIDENT MORE I FOUND FROM SEVERAL OF THE SERVICE PERSONEL AT THIS DEALERSHIP, AS WELL AS FROM THE SERVICE MANAGER ([XXX] [XXX]) THAT THE PROBLEM WITH THE DEX-COOL COOLANT WAS VERY COMMON WITH 1996 &1997 BLAZERS. I THEN QUESTIONED WHY THE CONSUMER SHOULD PAY FOR AN INFERIOR COOLANT THAT WAS USED IN THESE VEHICLES. AS I PURSUED MY COMPLAINT MORE, THE SERVICE MANAGER ENDED UP CONTACTING THE AREA REP FOR CHEVY, WHO IN TURN ENDED UP REIMBURSING ME APPROX. $312. OF MY $543. AT THE TIME I FIGURED THAT I BETTER TAKE WHAT I COULD GET, AND THAT THE PROBLEM WAS RESOLVED.... WELL HERE I AM 18 MONTHS LATER AND 19,200 MILES LATER AND THE COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. ONCE AGAIN I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO SUPERIOR CHEVROLET, AND ONCE AGAIN THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE COOLING SYSTEM DUE TO THE DEX-COOL COOLANT ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE REPS AND SERVICE MANAGER. THIS TIME THOUGH THE SERVICE MANAGER SAYS THAT THE ENTIRE COOLING SYSTEM (RADIATOR, HEATER CORE, AND WATER PUMP) ALL NEED REPLACEMENT BECAUSE THE DEX-COOL HAS "GELLED" UP THROUGHOUT THE SYSTEM. MR. [XXX] HAS TOLD ME THAT TO REPAIR THIS WOULD COST $2100., BUT BECAUSE WE HAD THE SYSTEM FLUSHED JUST 18 MO. AGO, AND BECAUSE THE PROBLEM WITH THIS DEX-COOL COOLANT IS SO COMMON THAT HE WOULD ONLY CHARGE ME $1300. I VOICED MY CONCERN OF WHY THE CONSUMER SHOULD PAY FOR A PROBLEM THAT IS COMMONLY KNOWN AT CHEVROLET. PLEASE CONTACT ME AT THE LISTED PHONE NUMBERS. THANKS. *AK PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY ID
RADIATOR COOLANT RUSTED. *AK
FAILED DEX-COOL. CALLED DEX-COOL AND THEY SAID THE PROBLEM WAS GMC. CALLED GMC AND THEY SAID TO CONTACT DEALER. DEALER SAID TO DRAIN DEX-COOL AND FLUSH AND FILL WITH GREEN ANTI FREEZE IMMEDIATELY. DEX COOL TURNS TO GELL PER DEALER. THEY NOTIFY ALL CUSTOMERS TO DRAIN DEX-COOL.*AK
TEMP GAUGE CLIMBED INTO RED.PER DEALER COOLENT WAS CONTAMINATED. BLAZER HAS NEVER HAD ANYONE BUT DEALER PERFORM MAINTENCE ETC...DEALER COULD NOT FIND ANY REASON FOR COOLENT TO BECOME CONTAMINATED. I UNDERSTAND THERE WAS INFACT A BULLENTINE RELEASE FOR THIS & CUSTOMERS NOT NOTIFIED BECAUSE IT WAS NOT CAUSING ANY DANGER TO PASSE…
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TEMP GAUGE CLIMBED INTO RED.PER DEALER COOLENT WAS CONTAMINATED. BLAZER HAS NEVER HAD ANYONE BUT DEALER PERFORM MAINTENCE ETC...DEALER COULD NOT FIND ANY REASON FOR COOLENT TO BECOME CONTAMINATED. I UNDERSTAND THERE WAS INFACT A BULLENTINE RELEASE FOR THIS & CUSTOMERS NOT NOTIFIED BECAUSE IT WAS NOT CAUSING ANY DANGER TO PASSENGERS. HOWEVER, IT WAS COSTLY TO REPAIR.
FAILED OIL COOLER LINES. DEALER REPORTS MANY OWNERS OF BLAZERS AND S-10 PICKUPS HAVE HAD BOTH OIL COOLER LINES REPLACED.*AK
ANTI-FREEZE COOLANT CLOGGED ENGINE. *AK THE DEX-COOLANT WAS REPLACED WITH REGULAR ANTI FREEZER BUT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT SOLVED. *YH
Official recalls
603V159000 · Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer
Apr 28, 2003
ON CERTAIN MINIVANS, PICKUP TRUCKS, AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES WITH CERTAIN MODEL-ENGINE COMBINATIONS, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR MAY FAIL DUE TO CRACKED SOLDER JOINTS ON THE CONTROLLER CIRCUIT BOARD. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS COULD WORK INTERMITTENTLY OR NOT AT ALL.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR DURING BAD WEATHER, DRIVER VISIBILITY WOULD BE REDUCED, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WIPER MOTOR CIRCUIT BOARD AND COVER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JUNE 19, 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.
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.
99V193000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip
Jul 19, 1999
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN 4-WHEEL DRIVE PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ABS (ANTILOCK BRAKING SYSTEM) MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 1989 THROUGH AUGUST 1996. UNDER CERTAIN DRIVING CONDITIONS THE SWITCH WHICH SIGNALS THE ABS SYSTEM WHETHER THE VEHICLE IS IN 2-WHEEL OR 4-WHEEL DRIVE CAN MALFUNCTION CAUSING INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCES DURING ABS STOPS WHILE IN THE TWO-WHEEL DRIVE MODE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THIS OCCURRED AT A TIME WHEN MINIMUM STOPPING DISTANCE WAS REQUIRED, A VEHICLE CRASH COULD OCCUR WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE OR REPAIR THE 4-WHEEL/2-WHEEL DRIVE SWITCH.
98V150001 · Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer
Jul 1, 1998
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, 2 AND 4-WHEEL DRIVE. SOLDER JOINTS NEAR THE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR CAN CRACK CAUSING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS TO WORK INTERMITTENTLY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN INOPERATIVE WIPERS, REDUCING A DRIVER'S VISIBILITY, AND INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WIPER MOTOR CIRCUIT BOARD AND COVER.
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.
96V234000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly
Nov 14, 1996
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: 4-DOOR, 4-WHEEL DRIVE AND ALL-WHEEL DRIVE MULTI-PURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLES. DURING DEVELOPMENT TESTING, THE PROP SHAFT CONTACTED THE INBOARD SIDE OF THE FUEL TANK ALLOWING FUEL LEAKAGE. THIS LEAKAGE WAS IN EXCESS OF THE AMOUNT PERMITTED BY FMVSS 301, "FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF AN IGNITION SOURCE IS PRESENT, AND THERE IS A FUEL LEAK, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL ADDITIONAL SHIELDING OF THE FUEL TANK. THIS WILL BE ADDED WITHOUT REMOVING OR DISASSEMBLING THE FUEL SYSTEM.
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
7EA02006 · Windshield Wiper Failure
Opened May 31, 2002 · Closed Jul 23, 2003
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:motor
AS A RESULT OF THIS, AND THE PRECEDINGINVESTIGATION, RQ99-003, GM HAS EXPANDED THE POPULATION OF SAFETY RECALL 98V-150 (REPLACEMENT OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPER CONTROL MODULE) TO INCLUDE AN ADDITIONAL 1.77 MILLION VEHICLES.INCLUDED ARE VARIOUS 1994-1997 MY M/L VANS, S/T TRUCKS AND SUVS, & C/K TRUCKS AND SUVS.SEE ATTACHED TECHNICAL REPORT FOR DETAILS.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:motor
AS A RESULT OF THIS, AND THE PRECEDINGINVESTIGATION, RQ99-003, GM HAS EXPANDED THE POPULATION OF SAFETY RECALL 98V-150 (REPLACEMENT OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPER CONTROL MODULE) TO INCLUDE AN ADDITIONAL 1.77 MILLION VEHICLES.INCLUDED ARE VARIOUS 1994-1997 MY M/L VANS, S/T TRUCKS AND SUVS, & C/K TRUCKS AND SUVS.SEE ATTACHED TECHNICAL REPORT FOR DETAILS.
Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:motor
AS A RESULT OF THIS, AND THE PRECEDINGINVESTIGATION, RQ99-003, GM HAS EXPANDED THE POPULATION OF SAFETY RECALL 98V-150 (REPLACEMENT OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPER CONTROL MODULE) TO INCLUDE AN ADDITIONAL 1.77 MILLION VEHICLES.INCLUDED ARE VARIOUS 1994-1997 MY M/L VANS, S/T TRUCKS AND SUVS, & C/K TRUCKS AND SUVS.SEE ATTACHED TECHNICAL REPORT FOR DETAILS.
EA99022 · Upper And Lower Control Arm Ball Joint
Opened Jul 30, 1999 · Closed Aug 28, 2001
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension
There is no summary currently available
Additional source detail variants (2)
Suspension
There is no summary currently available
Suspension
There is no summary currently available
RQ99015 · Front Seat Recliner Bolt Failure
Opened Jul 14, 1999 · Closed Dec 28, 2001
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seats:front Assembly:recliner
No summary supplied.
PE99021 · Upper Control Arm Ball Joint Breakage
Opened Mar 5, 1999 · Closed Jul 30, 1999
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train
AN UPPER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT FAILS, RESULTING IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION COLLAPSING ON THE FAILED SIDE.
EA97007 · Steering Shaft Separations
Opened Apr 17, 1997 · Closed Mar 12, 1998
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering
COUPLING BOLTS, JOINING THE STEERING SHAFT, MAY SEPARATE.IN SOME CASES, TOTAL UNFORESEEN, LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL MAY RESULT.
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.