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.
My 1997 Blazer dies when I am driving it. I can drive it for 2 weeks with no problems and then it will die several times in one day. It doesn't matter how fast I am going...I can be going 50 mph or coming to a stop when it dies. The steering and brakes go out and I'm afraid I am going to have an accident. I took it to the dealer and they could not find anything wrong with it and of course it didn't cut off when the mechanic drove it. I have also had to replace the alternator, battery, thermostat, and water pump within the last 6 months.
I own a 1997 Chevrolet Blazer ls that has had repeated electrical problems including stalling while driving. The car stalls, though the headlights, radio, heater/air conditioner continue to work. The steering wheel locks, and I have to stop the car completely, put it in park, and try to restart the engine. Sometimes it starts right away, sometimes not. I'm afraid this will happen in heavy traffic and will cause an accident. Although it's been checked at least seven times, the dealer can't locate the problem. It happened to me three times today, so tomorrow morning it will be back at the dealer. I'm listing the most recent date (12/22/03) as the incident date below, though it's happened many times (I'm guessing at least 12).
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 Blazer 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.
There is a bad design in the bundle of wiring above transmission with plastic ring holding bundle, this bundle is not attached to anything allowing move rub till they short out in the Chevrolet Blazer, mine is a 1997. My Blazer wiring caused my transmission switch to short out and I was first told I needed a new transmission so I took it for second opinion, the second shop cut the wire from the bundle, rerouted it from transmission switch and the transmission switch worked. Other wires in the same bundle caused shorts through out all wiring causing a constant draw of electric and running battery down. When a fuse is removed it breaks the circuit and battery does not run down. The shorted wiring caused day lights to not work, interior lights to stay on unless I pulled the fuse and numerous other electrical problems. This is the second time I have had it in the shop for the same thing. They are now dropping the transmission to get to the bundle of wires to fix shorts and I am taking pictures of all of this. The shop had two other Blazer in at the same time for the same problem. I will also take pictures of those Blazer, one of the Blazer is the shop owners wife. The shops are telling me it should be a recall. I plan to report this to as many agencies as possible and interview as many shops as possible about this problem, I believe it is a fire hazard since it shorts out. The wiring bundle is also connected to the fuel pump at the gas tank. I hope Chevrolet will act soon and take responsibility for this problem. There should be a recall on this. I have also had it in nix Chevrolet where I bought it and the ac did not work, they have worked on the ac 8 times and totally rebuilt everything and I still do not have ac"??" they said they will look at it again. I also have numerous recalls I will have to have fixed. I have had so much trouble with this vehicle since I bought it, it's been in the shop more than I have got to drive it. I will never buy Chevrolet again.
The windshield wipers came loose twice going down the highway. The front rotors had to be repaired and brake pads replaced. This problem caused severe steering difficulty. ( the mechanic told me this is a common problem in all Blazer and he'll see me again in about 15-25K miles)tires had to be replaced early because they wear fast on the front. Replaced ball joint recently. Vehicle makes excessive noises in front end( including engine compartment) for age. Vehicle has had electrical problems since purchace to include ignition replacement, fuel pump and sensors replaced, fuel guage going wacky, lights always seem dim( I have a hard time seeing at night when driving this particular vehicle), vehicle would not start on too many occasions to list and towed once while on a trip for this problem. Vehicle had to be jump started on several occasions, battery seems to drain fo no apparent reason. Seats and belts have been repaired about 4 times. I only detail listed items which I know the exact dates. Which happened. Vehicle is at the dealer right now for electrical and they are saying there is no problem. My wife and I are currently trying to work with GM on these issues, but haven't received much help. I am very dissapointed with the GM service and the dealers. I have always been a Chevy person, but I don't beleive I want to own another problem. I have heard many people complain about similar problems with their 199X Blazer. The two dealers which have worked on this vehicle the most try to tell my wife these problems are normal. No vehicle of this age should have this many problems. I had a 20 year old Chevy truck before this Blazer and didn't have nearly the problems. Sorry, had to vent a little.
The lecrical system malfunctioned, causing the headlights to go out/power steering and braking system to fail. Anything elecrical can almost cause an accident. Problem still occurring, dealer cannot determine problem.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Virginia Beach, VA, USA