Problems · by component
1997 Chevrolet Blazer engine and engine cooling problems
92 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1997 Chevrolet Blazer cite engine and engine cooling, 12% of all 774 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
92
12% of all complaints
Crashes
3
Reported by owners
Fires
4
Reported by owners
Injuries
2
Reported by owners
What owners say about the engine and engine cooling
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“FOR THREE YEARS IN THE SUMMERS I COULD NOT DRIVE FAR WITHOUT SMOKE TRICKLING UP BY THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDSHIELD. NEVER HAPPENED IN THE WINTER. TOOK IT TO SEVERAL MECHANICS AND TRANSMISSION SHOPS, NO ONE COULD FIND THE PROBLEM. THIS YEAR IT CAUGHT ON FIRE AND I HAD TO JUNK THE VEHICLE. MY NEIGHBORS 2000 BLAZER IS DOING THE SAME THING NOW. *TR”
“I HAVE OCCURYING MULTIPLE ISSUES WITH MY 1997 CHEVY BLAZER WHICH INCLUDE THE BACK SEAT SEAT BELTS NOT WORKING CORRECTLY,SUSPENSION CONTROL ARM AND BUSHINGS, CORROSION OF INTAKE GASKETS DUE TO DEXCOOL REQUIRED COOLANT. *TR”
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET BLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. AFTER WAITING 5-10 MINUTES, THE VEHICLE RESTARTED. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED WHILE MAKING A TURN, DRIVING DOWNHILL AT APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, AND ANOTHER TIME WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH. AFTER THE MOST RECENT FAILURE, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP THE NEXT DAY. THE MECAHNIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO WAIT UNTIL IT OCCURS AGAIN. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN DRIVEN FOR ALMOST A MONTH AND THE FAILURE HAS NOT RECURRED. THE FAILURES WERE INTERMITTENT AND NO WARNING INDICATORS WERE PRESENT. ONCE THE FAILURE OCCURRED, THE KEY COULD NOT BE TURNED OR REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION AND EVERYTHING FAILED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 60,000. UPDATED 01/11/08. *LJ UPDATED *JB”
“OWNING THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE AND A FINANCIAL DRAIN. WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKED WHEN THEY CHOSE, REPLACED WIPER MOTOR DUE TO DEFECTIVE PART. UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS ALL HAD TO BE REPLACED. WHEEL BEARINGS HAD TO BE REPLACED. A/C STOPPED WORKING, HAD IT LOOKED AT AND RECHARGED AND IT STILL DOESN'T WORK. FUEL GAGE DIDN'T WORK, REPLACED FUEL SENSOR AND SENDING UNIT. REAR WIPER QUIT WORKING, REPLACED REAR WIPER MOTOR, A FEW DAYS LATER IT DOES NOT WORK AGAIN. REPLACED WATER PUMP, HAVE REPLACED ABS ONLY TO GET A RECALL AFTER THE FACT WITH NO REIMBURSEMENT. WEARS THROUGH BRAKE PADS ENTIRELY TOO FAST. REPLACED ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY TWICE. REAR HATCH DOES NOT UNLOCK WITH KEY. HEADLIGHTS ARE SO DIM THEY MIGHT AS WELL NOT EXIST. WATER LEAKS INTO INTERIOR ON DRIVERS SIDE DUE TO A BAD SEAL. IDLER ARM NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. GAS PEDAL STICKS. NOW HEATER FAN WORKS SOMETIMES. READING THROUGH THE COMPLAINTS WE ARE ALL EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS AND NOTHING IS BEING DONE ABOUT IT. RECALLS ISSUED ON SOME VEHICLES BUT NOT ALL? NOW I HEAR GM PUT A BAD INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET ON THESE AS WELL AS SEVERAL OTHER CARS (1997) AND DID NOT ISSUE A RECALL BECAUSE IT IS NOT A…”
“DRIVING SOUTH ON I-5. HEARD LOUD RATTLING NOISE WHICH BECAME LOUD BANGING NOISE, FOLLOWED BY BOOM AND WHITE SMOKE POURING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. CAR SPUN AROUND SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE I COULD GAIN CONTROL. ENGINE BLEW. THIS CAR HAS COST ME $4490 IN REPAIRS FROM 1/1/04 TO 9/26/05. CAR WELL MAINTAINED - I HAVE ALL RECEIPTS FOR WORK. AAA AUTO SVCS TEAM CONDUCTING INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION AS TO CAUSE OF THIS INCIDENT. *NM UPDATED 12/12/05. *JB”
“BALL JOINT UPPER CONTROL ARM BROKE AS I WAS DRIVING TODAY. SINCE I PURCHASED THIS 1997 BLAZER I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS-THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAIL,THE WATER PUMP HAS BEEN REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP HAS ALSO BEEN REPLACED. THIS VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 60,000 MILES. I JUST FOUND OUT THAT MOST OF THESE PROBLEM HAVE BEEN RECALLED I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED. I PURCHASE THE VEHICLE USED AT A LOCAL DEALERSHIP,WHOM BY THE WAY DID NOT TELL ME OF ANY OF THESE RECALLS. I HAVE HAD VERY SERIOUS AND DANGEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. *JB”
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.