Menu

1997 Chevrolet BlazerProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 768 owner complaints about the 1997 Chevrolet Blazer, most often about the service brakes, hydraulic. It is covered by 4 safety recalls.

23
CarFlaw IndexYear to avoid3.3× the Blazer median · #3 of 28 years by complaints
Safety recalls4Free fix at dealersOwner complaints768133 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage80kService brakes, hydraulic, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through January 14, 2023. Updated daily.

Complaints by system

Where the 1997 Chevrolet Blazer has problems

768 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Service brakes, hydraulic14427
Visibility1295
Power train1106
Suspension1053
Engine and engine cooling938
Electrical system8918
Fuel system, gasoline563
Vehicle speed control473
Air bags3825
14 other systems17423

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

4 recalls

1997 Chevrolet Blazer recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

–no report yet

Front: buckle assembly

Recall 03V-117 · Mar 31, 2003 · 312,715 vehicles

Risk. 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…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Rearview mirrors/devices: exterior

Recall 03V-093 · Mar 7, 2003 · 507,171 vehicles

Risk. 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…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Control arm: upper ball joint

Recall 01V-200 · Jun 28, 2001 · 48,600 vehicles

Risk. 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.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Seat belts

Recall 97V-096 · Jun 12, 1997 · 586,058 vehicles

Risk. 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…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Chevrolet.

Owner-reported costs

What owners say repairs cost

Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.

Power train

9 owners mentioned a cost

$1,800median

Middle half: $1,200 – $2,000

If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.

Best & worst years

1997 vs. every other Blazer year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Blazer median. How we score

'69'72'73'74'76'77'78'79'80'81'82'83'84'85'86'87'88'89'90'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
NHTSA crash tests

1997 Chevrolet Blazer safety ratings

1997 Chevrolet Blazer 4-DR. 4x4 in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.

1997 Chevrolet Blazer frontal crash test, NHTSA
Frontal crashNot rated
  • Stability control: No
  • Forward collision warning: No
  • Lane departure warning: No
2 investigations

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 1997 Chevrolet Blazer, and the recalls they led to.

  1. ABS BRAKING SYSTEMEA94038 · closed Feb 28, 2000
    Led to recall 99I006000
  2. SEAT BELT WEBBING SEPARATIONEA97004 · closed Aug 5, 1997
    Led to recall 97V-096
In owners' words

What Blazer owners report

Recent service brakes, hydraulic complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

LEFT REAR OEM METALLIC BRAKE LINE CORRODED ON A 1997 CHEVY BLAZER RESULTING IN LOSS OF BRAKING POWER. LINE WAS NOT DAMAGE, JUST LEAKS OUT OF PIPE EVERY TIME YOU PUSH THE BRAKE PEDAL. LINE IS ATTACHED TO FRAME ABOVE LEFT REAR WHEEL AXLE. UPON INSPECTION IT LOOKS RUSTED OUT. *TR
Complaint 10409290 · Jun 29, 2011 · 162,557 miles
ABS WIRE CAUGHT FIRE ON MY 1997 CHEVY BLAZER AFTER TURNING IT OFF. AND CAUGHT ANTIFREEZE RESERVOIR ON FIRE. LUCKILY I COULD CATCH IT BEFORE IT BURNED THE TRUCK UP. CALLED DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE PROBLEM. *TR
Complaint 10330936 · May 17, 2010 · 175,000 miles
PURCHASED THIS PREVIOUSLY ENJOYED VEHICLE FROM DEALER JUNE 2009, FIRST SNOW FALL FOUND THAT THE ABS SYSTEM LOCKS UP WHEN GOING OVER ANY SLIPPERY SERVICE. PEDAL IS HARD TO COMPRESS DURING INCIDENT AND RESISTS PRESSURE, AND MAKES GROWLING SOUND. OUTSIDE OBSERVER NOTES THAT FRONT WHEEL ACTUALLY LOCKS…
Complaint 10294766 · Dec 7, 2009 · 104,000 miles

Own a 1997 Blazer?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.