Problems · by component

1996 Chevrolet Blazer power train problems

92 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1996 Chevrolet Blazer cite power train, 8% of all 1,161 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
92
8% of all complaints
Crashes
3
Reported by owners
Fires
3
Reported by owners
Injuries
2
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the power train

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 27, 2006Power trainODI 10166659
“DT*: 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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 26, 2006Power trainODI 10163472
“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…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 26, 2006Power trainODI 10153733
“PROBLEM WITH FOUR WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM ON 1996 CHEVROLET BLAZER. *BF THE VEHICLE' 4-HI IS NO LONGER WORKING. TWO YEAR PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT 4-HI WOULD GO IN AN D OUT ON IT'S OWN WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER TO SEE IF ANY RECALLS EXISTED, BUT NONE DID. *NM”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 7, 2005Power trainODI 10114871
“CONSUMER RECEIVED SEVERAL RECALLS FOR 1996 CHEVROLET S10 BLAZER. *MR 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. *NM”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 11, 2004Power train, Electrical systemODI 10073798
“MOST OF THE PROBLEMS THAT SURFACED HAD ALREADY BEEN REPAIRED AT LEAST ONCE. *PH MOST OF THE PROBLEMS HAD ALREADY BEEN REPAIRED AT LEAST ONCE UNDER WARRANTY AND HAVE RECURRED. THE A/C SEAL LEAKED AND NEEDED A PUMP. THERE WERE PROBLEMS WITH THE IDLER PULLEY, OIL FILTER LINES, CRANK SHAFT,DOOR HINGES, POWER STEERING, THROTTLE POSITIONER SENSOR 2, LEFT FRONT AXLE SEAL, AND THE DIFFERENTIAL SIDE COVERS. *SC *MR *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 22, 2004Steering, Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Structure, EquipmentODI 10057277

Showing 6 of 92 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.