DRIVER COMPLAINS OF LOUD AIR SOUND WHEN BRAKE IS APPLIED. ALSO, WHEN PARKED APPLYING THE BRAKE MAKES THE SAME SOUND AS WELL AS AFFECTING THE REV OF THE ENGINE. *AK
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 →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: 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.
What owners actually said
768 reportsTHE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED BEFORE WARRANTY WAS OUT.
THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS HAVE STOPPED WORKING SEVERAL DIFFERENT TIMES WHILE IT HAS BEEN RAINING. THIS HAS ALMOST CAUSED ME TO WRECK!! I FEEL THIS IS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT AS MY BROTHER OWNS A CHEVROLET SANOMA & HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. HE REPLACED THE MOTOR & HAS CONTINUED TO HAVE PROBLEMS. THIS IS GETTING TO BE VERY COSTLY. TH…
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THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS HAVE STOPPED WORKING SEVERAL DIFFERENT TIMES WHILE IT HAS BEEN RAINING. THIS HAS ALMOST CAUSED ME TO WRECK!! I FEEL THIS IS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT AS MY BROTHER OWNS A CHEVROLET SANOMA & HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. HE REPLACED THE MOTOR & HAS CONTINUED TO HAVE PROBLEMS. THIS IS GETTING TO BE VERY COSTLY. THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD COVER IT. HOW CAN I CONTACT CHEVROLET AS WELL?*AK
TRANSMISSION TUBE AND DIP STICK WERE RUSTED AND FINE SEDIMENT WAS IN THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. THIS PART SHOULD BE IMPROVED BY GENERAL MOTORS AND A RECALL INITATED ON THEIR PART THE REPAIR COST OF EACH FAILURE IS 750.00 TO 800.00. I HAVE NOTICED MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ABOUT BLAZER AND OTHER CHEVROLET/GMC TRANSMISSIONS
PERIODICALLY VEHICLE WOULD STALL WHETHER AT 65 MPH OR 25 MPH. DEALER HAS NOT FOUND SPECIFIC CAUSE OF DEFECT OR REMEDY, BUT HAD ADMITTED TO STALLING. PLEASE ADD ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *AK
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
RIGHT FRONT UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINT FAILURE, THE DEALER WOULD NOT COVER THE CLAIM, I HAD TO USE MY EXTENDED WARRANTY AND THEY WOULD NOT COVER MY RIM THAT WAS DAMAGED WHEN THE TIRE CAVED IN FROM THE FAILURE.*AK
CRUISE CONTROL CABLE/ PLASTIC RETAINER SNAPPED, CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED BY ITSELF. ON APPROACH TO AN INTERSECTION ACCELERATOR PEDAL JAMMED DESPITE RELEASE OF FOOT FROM PEDAL. ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE WITH BOTH FEET ON BRAKE PEDAL WITH NO APPARENT SLOWING OF VEHICLE. GIVEN THE FACT THAT BOTH OF MY YOUNG CHILDREN WERE IN THE VEHICLE, …
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CRUISE CONTROL CABLE/ PLASTIC RETAINER SNAPPED, CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED BY ITSELF. ON APPROACH TO AN INTERSECTION ACCELERATOR PEDAL JAMMED DESPITE RELEASE OF FOOT FROM PEDAL. ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE WITH BOTH FEET ON BRAKE PEDAL WITH NO APPARENT SLOWING OF VEHICLE. GIVEN THE FACT THAT BOTH OF MY YOUNG CHILDREN WERE IN THE VEHICLE, AND WE WERE QUICKLY APPROACHING THE INTERSECTION, I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL. WITH BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKE AND STILL NO SLOWING OF THE VEHICLE, MY CONCERN FOR THE SAFETY OF MY CHILDREN BECAME OVERWHELMING. WITH MY ENGINE REVING AT AN AUDIBLY 'PENDING- DOOM' LEVEL, AND CARS CRUISING DIRECTLY ACROSS MY PATH, ( CROSSING TRAFFIC DID NOT HAVE A STOP SIGN), I SLAMMED MY VEHICLE INTO PARK AND PRAYED FOR IT TO STOP. I THEN PROCEEDED TO TURN OFF THE IGNITION AND IT WASN'T UNTIL AN ETERNITY OF A SECOND LATER THAT THE VEHICLE CEASED. THE SEQUENCE OF EVENTS THAT TOOK PLACE, ULTIMATELY RESULTED IN THE TOWING OF THE VEHICLE, AND THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ENGINE. MY BIGGEST CONCERN IS FOR THE FUTURE SAFETY OF THE MANY FAMILIES WHO OWN THESE SUV'S. PLEASE CONTACT ME.
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
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 MECH…
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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
Official recalls
403V117000 · 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
2EA97004 · 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.
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