NHTSA lists 7 safety recalls and 774 owner complaints for the 1997 Chevrolet Blazer. Most complaints involve service brakes, hydraulic (143) and visibility (126). The EPA rates it 16–19 mpg combined.
SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
CERTAIN ANZO COMBINATION HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS WHICH FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."
CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH A DRIVER'S SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY THAT CONTAINS AN ENERGY-ABSORBING LOOP. SUSTAINED LOADS OF SUFFICIENT MAGNITUDE AND DURATION ON THE BELT IN SEVERE CRASHES COULD FULLY DEPLOY THE BUCKLE ENERGY-ABSORBING LOOP, INTRODUCING A TOTAL OF 10 ADDITIONAL INCHES OF WEBBING INTO THE SEAT BELT SYSTEM. THE FREE FALLING LATCH PLATE USED IN THIS SYSTEM MAY ALLOW WEBBING TO DYNAMICALLY DISTRIBUTE BETWEEN THE LAP AND SHOULDER BELT AS THE DRIVER'S POSITION CHANGES DURING A MULTIPLE ROLLOVER EVENT.
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Complaints for each Blazer model year we’ve synced.
| Model year | NHTSA complaints |
|---|---|
| 1996 | 1,161 |
| 1997 | 774 |
| 1998 | 734 |
| 1999 | 442 |
| 2000 | 600 |
| 2001 | 331 |
| 2002 | 259 |
| 2003 | 104 |
| 2004 | 50 |
| 2005 | 15 |
| 2019 | 189 |
| 2020 | 224 |
| 2021 | 140 |
| 2022 | 54 |
| 2023 | 44 |
| 2024 | 130 |
| 2025 | 55 |
| 2026 | 1 |
“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”
“THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS DON'T WORK ALL THE TIME. THE LAST 10 TIMES THAT I TRIED TO TURN THEM ON, THEY DIDN'T 5 OF THOSE TIMES. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING ON AND OFF FOR THE PAST MONTH. LAST NIGHT I HAD TO PULL INTO THE BREAKDOWN LANE ON THE HIGHWAY ACROSS 3 LANES IN A DOWNPOUR, BECAUSE THE WIPERS JUST STOPPED OPERATING. I WAS ALMOST HIT BECAUSE I COULDN'T SEE ANYTHING. *TR”
“97 BLAZER WITH ORIGINAL LOW MILES HAD ENGINE STOP BOTH ON AND OFF THE HIGHWAY SEVERAL TIMES BUT IT WOULD START BACK UP. IN JAN WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND RPMS WENT UP. WE PULLED OFF AND FOUND THE TRANSMISSION WAS STUCK IN 3'RD GEAR. ALSO KEY WOULD NOT RELEASE TO REMOVE. ERRORS CAME UP P1860 P0785 AND P740 THAT REFER TO TRANSMISSION. THE PROBLEM WAS NOT TRANSMISSION BUT IGNITION SWITCH CONTACT BLOCK COMMONLY CALLED THE IGNITION SWITCH, IT IS THE CONTACT SECTION AND NOT THE KEY OR LOCK CYLINDER. THIS IGNITION SWITCH HAD ALREADY BEEN REPLACED ONCE. GM HAS A SERVICE BULLETIN #17006264 ON THE IGNITION SWITCH AND THIS APPEARS TO BE A BIG PROBLEM ACROSS MANY YEARS AND MODELS BUT NO RECALL WAS ISSUED. AN IGNITION SWITCH PROBLEM CAN CAUSE ENGINE TO DIE, LIGHTS TO GO OUT AND OTHER PROBLEMS BUT THE CONTACT FOR THE TRANSMISSION POWER SEEMS TO BE A COMMON FAILURE POINT. I REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH AND EVERYTHING WORKED FINE FOR ONE MONTH AND THEN THE PROBLEM RECURRED WITH ERRORS P1860 P0758 P0753 P0740 AND P0785. I TESTED THE IGNITION SWITCH POWER FROM RED/WHITE TO WHITE WIRE AND GOT NO POWER WHEN SWITCH WAS ON SO THE NEW SWITCH…”
Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.
| Version | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blazer 2WD Man 5-spd, 6 cyl, 4.3 L · Rear-Wheel Drive | 16 | 23 | 19 | $3,300 | 468 |
| Blazer 2WD Auto 4-spd, 6 cyl, 4.3 L · Rear-Wheel Drive | 15 | 21 | 17 | $3,650 | 523 |
| Blazer 4WD Man 5-spd, 6 cyl, 4.3 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 15 | 20 | 17 | $3,650 | 523 |
| Blazer 4WD Auto 4-spd, 6 cyl, 4.3 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 15 | 20 | 16 | $3,900 | 555 |
| Blazer AWD Auto 4-spd, 6 cyl, 4.3 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 15 | 20 | 16 | $3,900 | 555 |
| Item | Miles | Time | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine oil & filter | 5,000–10,000 mi | 6–12 months | Follow the oil-life monitor if fitted |
| Tire rotation | 5,000–7,500 mi | Every oil change | Check pressure monthly |
| Engine air filter | 15,000–30,000 mi | 1–2 years | Sooner in dusty areas |
| Cabin air filter | 15,000–25,000 mi | 1–2 years | |
| Brake fluid | — | 2–3 years | Absorbs moisture over time |
| Coolant | 60,000–100,000 mi | 5–10 years | Long-life coolants last longer |
| Spark plugs | 60,000–100,000 mi | — | Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end |
| 12V battery | — | 3–5 years | Heat shortens battery life |
7 safety recalls as of Nov 10, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.
Owners filed 774 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are service brakes, hydraulic (143), visibility (126), power train (106). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.
The EPA rates the 1997 Chevrolet Blazer at 16–19 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (5 versions rated).