This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
Normal driving, hard shifting, eventual transmission burn up. If caught in time simple repair for about 300 if you can find shop that will do it. I left alone. Transmission will burn up and depending on vehicle, 1500 to 2700. Hundreds of thousands vehicles are affected.
: the contact stated that while driving at any speed, the vehicle transmission slipped. There was a flare-up between gears, and a harsh engagement between first and second gear. The vehicle was taken to a private repair shop, where it was determined that the on-board computer was inaccurate. There is a NHTSA technical service bulletin # 9774L60E08A, which pertains to the automatic transmission. The contact stated that the work was not performed upon sale of the vehicle.
The transmission failed with no warning. According to tsb 00-07-30-022 the 4L60E A/T will lose reverse, 2nd, and 4th gears. This is caused by a defective part in the transmission called the reaction sun shell, which was returned to me by the transmission rebuilder. The failure was not maintenance related in any way. The failure of the part was due to inadequate strength. There are numerous aftermarket reaction sun shells that are much stronger and durable than the defective GM part. This problem is widespread and could create a dangerous situation. The transmission will only shift from 1st to 3rd if you accelerate quickly in 1st then let off the accelerator. I pulled on to a high speed highway and could only maintain 25 mph with no place to pull over, until I realized that it would shift to 3rd if you let off the accelerator. Several vehicles had to swerve to avoid hitting mine. This can create a dangerous situation if someone tries to turn around and needs reverse or needs to drive at high speed such as on a limited access highway. GM should recall all vehicles that the tsb applies to. They know about the situation but do not want to issue a recall because it would cost them too much money.
Consumer received several recalls for 1996 Chevrolet S10 Blazer. The vehicle's heating/cooling system and transmission failed prematurely. During a routine check the consumer noticed that the dex cool coolant had turned into a reddish clay-like substance. Given the condition of the coolant the consumer proceeded to flush the system. After the system was flushed both the radiator and heater core began to leak. The transmission also failed and as a result only first gear and reverse were operational. The dealer replaced the transmission with a rebuilt one and replaced the vcm.
Transmission fluid leaking, causing to leak on exhaust and cause it to smoke. Oily substance smeared on back windshield. Had that fixed and it is still happening.
- Warren, RI, USA
Search CarComplaints.com for these popular complaint phrases...
Just brought 96 blazerls with 82,000 in Dec.02. Was told that the only problem was they had to have the transmission replaced at 20,000. Well,83,000 miles the heater was on hot blowing when I noticed that it turn cold and the gage went to the red zone. I immediately turn swiches off on the blower it went back to normal. Two days later it happen again but I turn off the heater and blower completely it went back to normal. We thought the termostact got stuck and replaced it. At that time we notice that it was gel up over the termostact, after replacing it, we tested drove it and it still did the same thing again. We looked at the radiator and found that it was gel up and look like rubber. We then decided to check the fluid in the transmission we noticed that the dipped stick was rusted on the outside and was rusted the length of the stick the fluid was rusted. We will now have to flushed the radiator and transmission. I had checked your site and found no recalls or service bulletins on the geling and transmissions before buying. Tell today when I decided to checked out complaints and found that there was 54 and couple with the same problems of geling and transmission problems. So I decided to check out 98 because my sisterinlaw had just brought one and no recalls or service bulletins but they are compalints of cool heating (probably from geling anitifreeze) and transmissions being replaced once, twice and I guy 3 times. So I check 2001 and they was someone else replacing a transmission. Something is very wrong when there is geling of antifreeze from 96 to 98 and replacing transmissions left and right since 96. To me Chevrolet has a bad transmission problems and geling problems in these Blazer getting away with it. From now on I'll check out complaints before recalls or service bulletins there's the consumers eyes and ears.
All items looked at by dealer, dealer also informed me that these are common problems Chevrolet is aware of. Odd that they don't do anything about them.
Consumer states ball joints are constantly failing. Consumer has had to replace them twice. A recall was initiated, but consumer's VIN was not included. Related recalls 01V200000 and 01I018000. Right front wheel fell off as a result of the faulty ball joints. There was squeaking noise on turns due to idler arm failure. Front pads worn out and rotors failed, both were replaced.
Had faulty tfp switch and dip stick replaced per bulliten #86-71-17 on 2-8-99. On 3-20-02 tranmission failed took it to dealer but they do not rebuild them. Took it to qualified transmission mechanic. He rebuilt it at a cost of $1900. He said he found a lot of rust in it which is very unusual. I plan to call Chevrolet about this but I doult this will get me anywhere.
Engine check light illuminated, resulting in hard shifting from first to second gear. Dealership reviewed vehicle; however found no defect, and suggested to have transmission replaced.
After the 3 year warranty expired, consumer noticed cracks in the blower evaporator housing of the A/C, dealer declined repairs saying vehicle was out of warranty, therefore consumer repaired at own expense, consumer also complains of howling noise and harsh shifts.
Transmission dipstick tube and dipstick have rusted. Am afraid that this is beginning of a serious transmission problem. Nothing else in the engine compartment is rusty and vehicle has been rustproofed. Problem may be internal.
Had to have transmission repaired twice within a year of owning 96 Blazer. First repair was done by denooyer Chevrolet, just about a year later the transmission went again, with no help from Chevrolet I had transmission repaired at buff O matic in glenmont, NY (with no problems thereafter). Then had to have practically entire cooling system cleaned and repaired by depaula Chevrolet due to dex-cool anti-freeze crystallizing within engine, again with no help from Chevrolet I had to dish out money for repair. GM and Chevrolet should be resposible for both my repairs. I am currently working with the BBB, attorney general and a personal attorney to hopefully recoupe damages.
I work at night driving and often have to break fast for deer crossing the highways. The first time I had to break quickly for 2 deer the vehicle gave a growling sound and just continued at the same speed until I had hit the deer. The last time this happened was today and luckily I was able to swerve around the deer without losing control. I complained of the transmission in March, 2000 and was told there is nothing wrong with it. At that time I had them change the transmission fluid, filter and gasket, but it still has times when it doesn't want to go.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Marrero, LA, USA