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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

Visibility complaints

129 reports
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Mileage unknown · Aug 29, 2002
Visibility

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY. CAUSE IS UNKNOWN. THERE IS RECALL 98V150001THATS DESCRIBESC THE SAME PROBLEM, BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT AFFECTED BY RECALL DUE TO VIN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8017523

Mileage unknown · Aug 26, 2002
Visibility

INTERMITTENTLY WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL FAIL ,NOT MOVING EVEN THROUGH, MOTOR IS RUNNING. OWNER HAS HAD TO SIT ON SIDE OF THE ROAD FOR TWENTY MINUTES UNTIL WIPERS STARTED MOVING AGAIN. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #8017150

Mileage unknown · Aug 13, 2002
Visibility

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY. VEHICLE CHECKED BY DEALER WHO DETERMINED THAT THE MODULE WAS BAD. *AK THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS NORMAL. THE MODULE WAS REPLACED ON 8-07-02 AND TO DATE 2-25-2002, THERE HAS BEEN NO RE-OCCURENCES. *SCC

NHTSA ODI #8016168

Mileage unknown · Aug 9, 2002
Visibility

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL INTERMITTENTLY STOP WORKING. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER IS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8015903

Mileage unknown · Aug 7, 2002
Visibility

WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOP AT MID SWIPE AND WON'T START AGAIN. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THE WIPERS WILL NOT START WHEN TURNED ON. CONSUMER HAS ALMOST WRECKED THE VEHICLE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER SAYS THAT THERE IS NO PROBLEM. *SCC

NHTSA ODI #8015741

Mileage unknown · Jul 29, 2002
Visibility

I JUST SAW THIS IN THE NEWSPAPER - I WAS NOT NOTIFIED BY THE DEALER ABOUT THE PREVIOUS RECALL. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED.

NHTSA ODI #764876

Mileage unknown · Jul 15, 2002
Visibility

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY. THE PROBLEM HAS EXISTED FOR A MONTH. THE WIPERS WORK AWHILE, BUT ONCE TURNED OFF THEY MAY NOT COME BACK ON. DEALER WAS INFORMED. *AK *YH

NHTSA ODI #8013834

Mileage unknown · Jul 11, 2002
Visibility

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY.*AK *MJ

NHTSA ODI #8013809

Mileage unknown · Jun 25, 2002
Visibility

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKING INTERMITTENTLY WHILE IN USE OR WILL NOT TURN ON. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK CONSUMER ADDS WHEN WIPERS ARE ACTIVATED THE MOTOR CAN BE HEARD, BUT THE WIPERS WORK WITH EXCESSIVE EFFORT. WIPER DELAY MODULE WAS REPLACED. CONSUMER'S HUSBAND WHO HAS SAME YEAR IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. *TT

NHTSA ODI #8012590

Mileage unknown · Jun 25, 2002
Visibility

WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOP INTERMITTENTLY WHEN BEING USED. VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN EXAMINED BY DEALER.*AK THE DEALER LOOKED AT THE VEHICLE AND SAID THE WIPER MALFUNCTIONED DUE TO SWITCH FAILURE. *YH

NHTSA ODI #8012523

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.