← New search

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

Unknown Or Other complaints

25 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Jan 14, 2023
Service BrakesUnknown Or OtherVehicle Speed ControlCrash

Throttle stuck brakes could not stop vehicle. Lost control and rolled. Lucky I was on my property and not a public road. No report. Can be inspected. Available anytime. This is not the only year of this model I have had this problem I have had two 2002 that have had same problem.

NHTSA ODI #11501735

Mileage unknown · Jun 6, 2005
Electrical SystemEquipmentUnknown Or Other

STARTER WENT, GAS GAUGE STOPPED WORKING, REAR WIPER DON'T WORK, BALL JOINTS BAD, ALTERNATER WENT, SHOCKS WENT MANY TIMES, ANTI LOCK BREAKS DON'T WORK PROPERLY. TIRED OF THE PROBLEMS!

NHTSA ODI #10124382

Mileage unknown · Apr 29, 2003
Unknown Or Other

DEX-COOL ANTIFREEZE CAUSED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD TO LEAK. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE LABEL ON THE PRODUCT STATES THAT THE ANTIFREEZE WOULD LAST FOR 150,000 MILES. THE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10017719

Mileage unknown · Nov 6, 2002
Unknown Or Other

THIS BLAZER HAS BEEN A LEMON EVER SINCE WE BOUGHT IT. CAN YOU PLEASE HELP ME OUT BECAUSE I STILL HAVE TO PAY $ 575.59 A MONTH FOR ANOTHER 2 1/2 YEARS ON THIS LEMON. THANKS CINDY STEYER. DT

NHTSA ODI #769381

Mileage unknown · Oct 29, 2002
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingPower Train

GM WON'T REIMBURSE BALL JOINTS DUE TO REPLACEMENT NOT BY GM DEALER. DT

NHTSA ODI #769050

Mileage unknown · Feb 14, 2002
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingUnknown Or Other

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT PROBLEM IS AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH BOTH CURRENT AND FORMER OWNER. 3 DIFFERENT MECHANICS PUT THER SCANNERS ON THE VEHICLE AND KEEP BRINGING UP THE OXYGEN SENSOR AS THE PROBLEM. HAD ONE BAD SENSOR AT THE WIRING HARNESS PLUG WHICH WAS POORLY ASSEMBLED AT THE FACTOR CAUSING WATER TO GET TO THE CONTACTS AND CONTAMI…

Read full complaint

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT PROBLEM IS AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH BOTH CURRENT AND FORMER OWNER. 3 DIFFERENT MECHANICS PUT THER SCANNERS ON THE VEHICLE AND KEEP BRINGING UP THE OXYGEN SENSOR AS THE PROBLEM. HAD ONE BAD SENSOR AT THE WIRING HARNESS PLUG WHICH WAS POORLY ASSEMBLED AT THE FACTOR CAUSING WATER TO GET TO THE CONTACTS AND CONTAMINATED THE CONNECTOR. REPLACED ALL 4 O2 SENSORS AND STILL CANNOT GET THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO GO AWAY. VEHICLE PERFORMS PERFECT ALONG WITH 24 MPG GAS ONE HIGHWAY DRIVING. THIS IS AN ISSUES OTHER BLAZER OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING. GM SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE TO FIX THIS ISSUE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #758214

Mileage unknown · Aug 20, 2001
Unknown Or Other

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT ANY MPH ENGINE LIGHT WILL COME ON, AND THERE IS NO WAY TO TURN OFF, EVEN TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALER . CAUSE OF DEFECT COULD NOT BE FOUND. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #894750

Mileage unknown · Aug 6, 2001
Fuel System, GasolineUnknown Or Other

WHILE DRIVING 60 TO 70 MPH CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE STALLED IN MIDDLE OF HIGHWAY WITHOUT WARNING. WHEN ENGINE STALLED ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER STATED IT WAS A MODULE IN FUEL TANK.*AK

NHTSA ODI #893508

Mileage unknown · Mar 15, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainUnknown Or Other

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #742471

Mileage unknown · Dec 1, 2000
Unknown Or Other

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #737143

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.