1997 Chevrolet Blazer

I UNDERSTAND THAT THE BLAZERS HAVE AN INHERENT TRANSMISSION PROBLEM, DUE TO A RUSTY DIPSTICK TUBE. I CURRENTLY HAVE 124K MILES ON MY CAR AND I TOO HAVE NOTICED ON LONG TRIPS THAT MY TRANSMISSION SHIFTS VERY HARD FROM 1ST INTO 2ND. THIS PROBLEM IS EXTREMELY ANNOYING, BUT I WILL KEEP DRIVING IT UNTIL THE TRANSMISSION FAILS COMPLETELY.*AK

WHILE CHECKING FLUID LEVELS, CONSUMERS SON, WHO IS A MECHANIC, NOTICED RUST IN THE RADIATOR FLUID, HE ALSO FOUND TSB 666841 REGARDING RUST IN THE COOLANT SYSTEM, CONSUMER HAS BEEN TRYING TO GET GM TO ALLEVIATE THIS PROBLEM DUE TO THE SAFETY FACTORS IT COULD CAUSE, HOWEVER IT IS VERY COSTLY, GM HAS NOT BEEN OF ANY ASSISTANCE BECAUSE THE CONSUMER IS NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE VEHICLE. *SLC

WHEN FIRST EXPERIENCED WE WERE COMING HOME FROM HERSHEY ON A HOT DAY WHEN WE CAME TO A TRAFFIC LIGHT. WHEN WE PROCEEDED THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED REAL HARD INTO SECOND GEAR CAUSING US TO JERK BACK AS THE TRUCK JERKED FORWARD. THIS PROBLEM CONTINUED EVERYTIME WE WOULD COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. WE WERE ABLE TO MAKE IT TO OUR MECHANIC AND DROP THE BLAZER OF. THE NEXT DAY WHEN THE MECHANIC LOOKED AT THE VEHICLE HE COULD NOT DETECT ANY MALFUCTIONS. APPROX. ONE WEEK LATER WE DROVE TO NEW JERSEY, THE TRUCK WAS FINE UNTIL WE CAME TO OUR FIRST TRAFFIC LIGHT IN OCEAN CITY NJ WHEN THE PROBLEM STARTED AGAIN BUT THIS TIME THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. WHEN LEAVING NJ THE PROBLEM STARTED WHEN WE HAD TO STOP AT OUR FIRST TOLL, THIS TIME I PULLED OVER LET THE BLAZER REST FOR A WHILE, THEN STARTED BACK HOME AND IT WAS OK FOR AWHILE BUT THEN STARTED ACTING UP AGAIN SO I PULLED OVER AND TURNED THE TRUCK OF FOR ABOUT A MINUTE AND IT WAS OK FOR A WHILE AGAIN. I NOTICED THAT EVERYTIME IT ACTED UP AND I PULLED OVER THAT I JUST HAD TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF AND TURN IT RIGHT BACK ON AND IT WOULD BE OK FOR A WHILE. WHEN RETURNING HOME OUR MECHANIC COULD NOW SCAN THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT AND REPORTED GEAR SLIPPAGE. HE TALKED TO A TRANSMISSION SPECIALISTS WHO SAID THIS SEEMS TO HAPPEN ON LONG HOT TRIPS, WHO SUGGESTED THAT THIS PROBLEM CAN LAST FOR YEARS BEFORE THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. CONTACTING AW GOLDEN THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT HELP US BECAUSE THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED AT 36000 MILES AND WE HAD 41196MILES. CONTACTING GM THEY SAID THE SAME BUT IF WE WOULD TRADE IT IN THEY WOULD GIVE US A 2000 DOLLAR LOYALTY. WE DECLINED BECAUSE WE LIKE THE BLAZER AND WOULD HAVE LIKED THEM TO GIVE THAT MONEY TO FIX THE PROBLEM. CONTACTING BBBAUTOLINE THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T HELP US. WE JUST CAME FROM PHILA. AND THE PROBLEM OCCURED AGAIN TO AND FROM. CHECKING THE INTERNET WE NOTICED SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH GM TRANSMISSIONS AND DECIDED TO CONTACT NHTSA.*AK

THE TRANSMISSION HAD A SLIP. THE VALVE INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION IS TOO SMALL AND PRESSURE BUILDS UP WHEN IT GETS HOT AND DIRTY. I HAD THE VEHICLE IN AT 35K WITH THE PROBLEM. THEY DIDN'T REPLACE THE VALVE, ONLY CLEANED IT. THEN AT 68K, THEY SAID THEY WOULD HAVE TO TEAR THE TRANNY APART AND REPLACE THE VALVE. THEY WANTED $1200, I FOUND A TRANNY SPECIALIST WHO FIXED IT FOR $250. HE SAID THE ORIGINAL VAVLE WAS THE PROBLEM. I HAVE FOUND HUNDREDS OF BLAZER OWNERS WITH THIS PROBLEM AND CHEVY IS MAKING US PAY FOR THEIR PROBLEMS.*AK

WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AT APPROX. 5MPH THE FRONT AXLE AND UPPER BALL JOINT SNAPPED, CAUSING ADDITIONAL DAMAGE TO THE ABS SENSOR, SLICED THE RIM AMONG OTHER THINGS. TIRES WERE WEARING IN A ODD POSITION DOWN TO THE BELTS, OBVIOUSLY DUE TO PROBLEMS IN THE FRONT END. DEALERSHIP IS REPAIRING NOW. ALL UNDER WARRANTY, EXCEPT THE RIM SINCE IT IS A NONMECHANICAL PART EVEN THOUGH MECHANICAL DEFECTS CAUSED THE DAMAGE. LUCKILY THIS HAPPENED IN A PARKING SPACE AND NOT 50FT. SOONER ON THE 4 LANE HIGHWAY I WAS ON WITH MY 8 YR OLD DAUGHTER. THE WHEEL WAS HALF ON LEANING INTO THE TRUCK. HAD IT HAPPENED SOONER THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN AN ACCIDENT INVOLVING NUMEROUS PEOPLE. THE REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER IS INTERMITTENT AND ONLY WORKS WHEN IT WANTS, CAUSING DISTRACTIONS IN VISION WHILE DRIVING. SOMETIMES THE WIPER WILL NOT GO DOWN FOR UP TO 30MIN.THAT IS ALSO BEING REPAIRED NOW. CONTACTED GM AND THEY CLAIM THERE HAVE BEEN NO PREVIOUS COMPLAINTS OF THIS MATTER WITH THE AXLE OR BALL JOINTS BREAKING. *AK