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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

What owners actually said

768 reports
Mileage unknown · Dec 2, 2003
Power Train

WHILE DRIVING THERE WAS A BUZZING NOISE. CONSUMER TURNED AROUND AND PARKED VEHICLE. VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO INTO FIRST GEAR OR THIRD GEAR. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10049898

106,000 miles · Nov 28, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND STALLED, VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO INDEPENDENT SHOP, TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT COOLANT TURNED INTO ACID AND DAMAGED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD/WATER PUMP/ THERMOSTAT, AND RADIATOR. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10048775

45,000 miles · Nov 25, 2003
Air BagsCrashInjury

SLID ON ICY ROAD DOING ABOUT 65 MPH HIT AN EMBANKMENT HEAD ON AND ROLLED ABOUT 3 TIMES BLAZER IS TOTALED ALL SENSORS HIT IN THE FRONT AND DRIVERS AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. *LA

NHTSA ODI #10047520

114,387 miles · Nov 16, 2003
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipment

97 BLAZER COOLING SYSTEM FAILURE. FROM THE TIME I BOUGHT THE CAR THE COOLING SYSTEM HAD TROUBLE. THE RADIATOR HAD A LEAK ( 34391 MILES), THE COOLING SYSTEM CLOGGED UP AND THE HEATER CORE LEAKED FROM DEX-COOL GELLING UP ( 65265 MILES ), AGAIN HEATER CORE LEAKING FROM BAD DEX-COOL ( 104044 MILES ), HEATER CORE LEAKING (114387 MILE…

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97 BLAZER COOLING SYSTEM FAILURE. FROM THE TIME I BOUGHT THE CAR THE COOLING SYSTEM HAD TROUBLE. THE RADIATOR HAD A LEAK ( 34391 MILES), THE COOLING SYSTEM CLOGGED UP AND THE HEATER CORE LEAKED FROM DEX-COOL GELLING UP ( 65265 MILES ), AGAIN HEATER CORE LEAKING FROM BAD DEX-COOL ( 104044 MILES ), HEATER CORE LEAKING (114387 MILES). EACH TIME THE HEATER CORE HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE COOLING SYSTEM HAD TO BE ACID FLUSHED BY THE DEALER BECAUSE THE DEX-COOL GELLED UP. ALL THESE REPAIRS WHERE DONE BY GM DEALER. THE DEALER COULD NOT TELL ME WHY THE DEX-COOL WAS GELLING UP OR THE HEATER CORE KEPT LEAKING. I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH GMC (COMPLAINT # 1-152407734) GMC COULD NOT HELP ME. I FOUND OUT FROM A RADIATOR REPAIR SHOP THAT THEY HAVE HAD MANY GM COOLING SYSTEM FAILURES DU TO THE DEX-COOL CAUSING ELECTROLYSIS. THIS IS THE MAIN CAUSE OF MY PROBLEM AND GM AND THE DEALER WILL NOT ADDRESS IT. THE RADIATOR SHOP SAID THE ONLY REPAIR IS TO FLUSH OUT THE COOLING SYSTEM FOR 36 HOURS THE REFILL IT WITH ANTIFREEZE, NOT DEX-COOL. ALSO ADD AN ANTI-ELECTROLYSIS SOLUTION TO IT AND A RADIATOR CAP WITH AN ANODE ROD ON IT. THEY HAVE HAD VERY GOOD RESULTS WITH THIS REPAIR. THERE MANY COMPLAINTS ON YOUR SITE ABOUT THIS AND ALSO MANY ON OTHER AUTO REPAIR WEB SITES. ALL I WANT IS TO BE REFUNDED THE MONEY I SPENT ON REPAIRS FROM DAY ONE AND HAVE GM PAY FOR THE RADIATOR SHOP TO DO THE FLUSHING AND REPAIRS. *LA

NHTSA ODI #10047001

55,000 miles · Nov 13, 2003
Electrical SystemFuel System, GasolineSuspension

PRIMARY: ELECTRICAL FAILURES! IGNITION SWITCH; MULTIPLE ELECTRICAL FAILURES WITH INTERIOR LIGHTS FOR WHICH NO ONE CAN FIGURE OUT WHAT IS HAPPENING; CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME ON SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE EVEN AFTER DEALER WORKED ON IT; VEHICLE STALLING OUT WHILE DRIVING ALMOST CAUSED ACCIDENT; ALTERNATOR REPLACEMENT; MULTIP…

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PRIMARY: ELECTRICAL FAILURES! IGNITION SWITCH; MULTIPLE ELECTRICAL FAILURES WITH INTERIOR LIGHTS FOR WHICH NO ONE CAN FIGURE OUT WHAT IS HAPPENING; CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME ON SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE EVEN AFTER DEALER WORKED ON IT; VEHICLE STALLING OUT WHILE DRIVING ALMOST CAUSED ACCIDENT; ALTERNATOR REPLACEMENT; MULTIPLE BATTERIES -DRAIN FOR UNIDENTIFIED REASON; FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM AND PUMP; UNEXPLAINED NOISES IN THE FRONT END; FRONT BALL JOINTS LOOSE FOR WHICH THE DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT REPLACE WHEN I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THEY SAID IT WAS WITHIN FACTORY LIMITS EVEN THOUGH MY MECHANIC SAID THAT THEY WERE NOT; AT THIS POINT I HAVE BECOME AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS AND STALLING BUT FEEL THAT I HAVE NO CHOICE BECAUSE THE COSTS TO MAINTAIN THE VEHICLE IS THAT OF THE PAYMENTS AND SOMETIMES MORE AND I CANNOT AFFORD THE REQUIRED MONEY DOWN TO REPLACE IT. BOTTOM LINE -I AM GETTING RID OF IT AS SOON AS I CAN SINCE I HAVE SPOKEN TO OTHER OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD SIMILAR RECURRENT PROBLEMS. I NEED A RELIABLE VEHICLE. THIS IS NOT ONE AND FROM WHAT I HAVE SEEN AND DEALT WITH -1997 CHEVY BLAZERS ARE NOT. THE RULE OUT THERE IS YOU EITHER HAVE A GOOD ONE OR A BAD ONE AND I CANNOT AFFORD ON MANY FRONTS THE ONE I HAVE. AT LEAST CHEVY SHOULD OWN UP TO THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS PARTICULARLY SINCE IT IS TIED TO A MOVING VEHICLE STALLING OUT AND PUTTING PEOPLES LIVES AT RISK. I WILL NOT OWN ANOTHER CHEVY ONCE I CAN GET RID OF THIS ONE. THE INCIDENT DATE REFERS TO THE PERIOD STARTING WITH THE ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT FAILURES. *LA

NHTSA ODI #10046889

Mileage unknown · Nov 12, 2003
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES AT ANY SPEED, THE BRAKE PEDAL FEELS HARD. A HISSING SOUND CAN BE HEARD AND DASH LIGHTS FLICKERED. BRAKING DISTANCE WOULD BE EXTENDED. VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN EXAMINED BY DEALERSHIPS MECHANIC AT THIS TIME. *PH

NHTSA ODI #10047802

73,217 miles · Nov 5, 2003
Air Bags

AT ALL THE TIMES THAT VEHICLE IS ON AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO DEALER AND WAS DIAGNOSED AS AIR BAG MODULE FAILURE. THE ONLY WAY IT COULD BE FIXED WAS FOR THE CONSUMER TO PAY THE REPAIR COST. MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. *AK *PH *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10042691

82,000 miles · Oct 31, 2003
Engine And Engine CoolingVehicle Speed Control

WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH ENGINE REVVED VERY HIGH. CONSUMER PULLED TO THE SHOULDER, AND CALLED A TOW TRUCK AND HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP. A REBUILT ENGINE WAS INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE, BUT NOT BY THE DEALER.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10046130

72,000 miles · Oct 31, 2003
Suspension

TRUCKS UPPER/LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS BECAUSE OF PREMATURE WEAR. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10046127

Mileage unknown · Oct 22, 2003
Child Seat

CLAMPS THAT HOLD THE STRAPS TO SECURE BABY INTO CAR SEAT ARE WORN DOWN.*MR *TS *JB

NHTSA ODI #10044510

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.