Problems · NHTSA complaints
1996 Chevrolet Blazer problems
Owners filed 1,161 complaints about the 1996 Chevrolet Blazer with NHTSA between Sep 1995 and Mar 2023. The most-cited component is service brakes, hydraulic (410).
Complaints
1,161
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
156
Reported by owners
Fires
31
Reported by owners
Injuries
103
People reported injured
Deaths
2
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
4
75
185
109
202
171
147
102
70
31
16
20
5
5
3
5
1
2
3
0
3
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 4 |
| 1996 | 75 |
| 1997 | 185 |
| 1998 | 109 |
| 1999 | 202 |
| 2000 | 171 |
| 2001 | 147 |
| 2002 | 102 |
| 2003 | 70 |
| 2004 | 31 |
| 2005 | 16 |
| 2006 | 20 |
| 2007 | 5 |
| 2008 | 5 |
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2010 | 5 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 3 |
| 2014 | 0 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 0 |
| 2018 | 0 |
| 2019 | 0 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 0 |
| 2022 | 0 |
| 2023 | 1 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Service brakes, hydraulic
410 reports91 crashes3 fires2 related recalls
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET BLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES FAILED AND THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR. THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE PRESSURE MODULATOR VALVE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,000. UPDATED 5/4/15*CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE ABS MIDULE SHORTED OUT. UPDATED 05/07/15*JB”
Visibility
177 reports1 crash1 fire2 related recalls
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 CHEVROLET BLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN THE INTERIOR CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE ORIGIN OF THE FIRE WAS FROM THE HEATER. THREE WEEKS PRIOR TO THE FIRE, THE VEHICLE HAD REGULAR MAINTENANCE PERFORMED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE INCIDENT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.”
Suspension
143 reports9 crashes1 fire2 related recalls
“1996 CHEVROLET BLAZER RIGHT REAR TIRE CAME OFF VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING ON THE OHIO TURNPIKE. *KB THE RIGHT REAR TIRE FELL OFF, DUE TO BAD BEARINGS. OHIO TRAFFIC REPORT# 10-0020-89 UPDATED LETTER 04/29/10 *BF”
Engine and engine cooling
141 reports7 fires
“I PURCHASE MY VEHICLE USED ON 12/4/01 , I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE EVERY YEAR BECAUSE IT INDICATES IT IS OVERHEATING. 3 WEEKS AGO IT STARTED SAYING IT WAS OVERHEATING AND SMOKE FILLED THE INTERIOR OF MY VEHICLE WITH FUMES. IT WAS REPAIRED. AT 3:15 P.M. TODAY, MY CAR INDICATES IT IS OVERHEATING AND NOW THE SERVICE CAR LIGHT IS ON. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH THE COOLANT SYSTEM. AS SOON AS I TURN THE CAR ON IT INDICATES IT IS OVERHEATHING. HAPPENING TOO MANY TIMES. *TR”
Power train
92 reports3 crashes3 fires
“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. *JB”
Electrical system
59 reports2 crashes15 fires
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 CHEVROLET BLAZER. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE BRAKES WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO SEIZE AND THE TURN SIGNALS BEGAN TO MALFUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STRUTS, AND BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 142,185.”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.