IllustrationWHILE DRIVING COULD FEEL VIBRATION FROM THE FRONT AND SLOWDOWN. TECHNICIAN HAD SAID THAT IT WAS CAUSED BY FUEL INJECTION FAILURE. *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.
60 crash reports26 fire reports44 injury reports
What owners actually said
768 reportsTHIS HAS BEEN TAKEN INTO THE SAME DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR BRAKE PROBLEMS WITHOUT ANY SATIFACTORY ANSWERS. THE LAST TIME WAS ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO WHEN I FINALLY GAVE UP AND HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT TRADING IT OFF IN THE NEAR FUTURE WHEN I CAN AFFORD TO. AT THE LAST EFFORT TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM WITH THE SERVICE MGR, HE TOLD ME THAT TH…
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THIS HAS BEEN TAKEN INTO THE SAME DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR BRAKE PROBLEMS WITHOUT ANY SATIFACTORY ANSWERS. THE LAST TIME WAS ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO WHEN I FINALLY GAVE UP AND HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT TRADING IT OFF IN THE NEAR FUTURE WHEN I CAN AFFORD TO. AT THE LAST EFFORT TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM WITH THE SERVICE MGR, HE TOLD ME THAT THE CARACTERISTICS OF THE BRAKE PEDAL SLOWLY GO TO THE FLOOR AT A STOP SIGN OR LITE IS NORMAL. HE SAID" THIS IS CAUSED BY THE BRAKE LINES EXPANDING" AND IS NORMAL WITH THE 97 BLAZERS. BRAKING PROBLEM STILL EXISTS TODAY.*AK
EVAP. CANISTER TANK LEAKING CAUSEING THE SES LIGHT ON. *ET
TRANSMISSION STARTED TO JERK WHEN GOING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR. TRIED TO CHECK THE TRANSMISISON FLUID BUT THE DIP STICK COULD NOT BE TAKEN OUT BECAUSE IT WAS ENTIRLEY RUSTED. THE WHOLE DIP STICK AND HOLDER IS RUSTED. THERE WAS A TSB PUT OUT BY GM BUT THEY WILL NOT PAY TO HAVE THIS FIXED. THEY STATED THEY FOUND SOMETHING ELSE WRONG…
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TRANSMISSION STARTED TO JERK WHEN GOING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR. TRIED TO CHECK THE TRANSMISISON FLUID BUT THE DIP STICK COULD NOT BE TAKEN OUT BECAUSE IT WAS ENTIRLEY RUSTED. THE WHOLE DIP STICK AND HOLDER IS RUSTED. THERE WAS A TSB PUT OUT BY GM BUT THEY WILL NOT PAY TO HAVE THIS FIXED. THEY STATED THEY FOUND SOMETHING ELSE WRONG WITH THE TRANSMISSION THAT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY WILL HAVE TO COVER. MY SUSPISIONS ARE THAT THE RUST CAUSED THE PROBLEMS. DEALER STATED THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE DIP STICK AD DIP STICK HOLDER. STILL WAITING ON THE EXTENDED WARRANTY PEOPLE TO SEE IF THEY WILL COVER FIXING THE TRANSMISSION. SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY ANYTHING DUE TO A FAULTY TRANSMISSION DIP STICK HOLDER THAT RUSTS! *AK
1. THE BRAKES LOCK UP ALL THE TIME WHEN YOU GO FROM DRY TO WET WEATHER. WHEN YOU PRESS ON THE BRAKES THEY LOCK-UP. DEALER STATES THAT THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES. 2. HAVE WENT THROUGH 3 SETS OF BRAKE PADS ALREADY. DEALER REPLACED CALIPERS IN 1998 BUT THE PADS STILL WEAR OUT TOO FAST. THIS IS THE FRONT BRAKES.*AK
TOOK THE CAR IN REPEATEDLY FOR ACCELERATION PROBLEMS AND TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS.
GAS PEDAL WILL STICK INTERMITTENTLY. CONSUMER HAS TO FORCE IT DOWN TO WORK NORMALLY. SOMETIMES GAS PEDAL WILL STICK WITHOUT A WARNING. DEALER REPAIRED THE THROTTLE LINKAGE FAILURE. *ML
TRANSMISSION HAS NO REVERSE, AND ALSO IT BANGS AT START UP AND IT HAS HIGH RPMS WHEN SHIFTING
TRANSMISSION DOES NOT HAVE REVERSE,AND TRANSMISSION BANGS DURING ACCELERATION. *AK
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT ANY SPEED UP A HILL ENGINE WILL OVERHEAT,AND THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WILL RISE UP TO ITS LIMIT. THERMOSTAT HAD BEEN REPLACED, AND FLUSHED TWICE. *AK THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN CLOGGING RADIATORS AND HEATER. *YH
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.