Problems · by component
1997 Chevrolet Blazer service brakes, hydraulic problems
143 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1997 Chevrolet Blazer cite service brakes, hydraulic, 18% of all 774 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
143
18% of all complaints
Crashes
22
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
16
Reported by owners
What owners say about the service brakes, hydraulic
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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”
“ABS WIRE CAUGHT FIRE ON MY 1997 CHEVY BLAZER AFTER TURNING IT OFF. AND CAUGHT ANTIFREEZE RESERVOIR ON FIRE. LUCKILY I COULD CATCH IT BEFORE IT BURNED THE TRUCK UP. CALLED DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE PROBLEM. *TR”
“PURCHASED THIS PREVIOUSLY ENJOYED VEHICLE FROM DEALER JUNE 2009, FIRST SNOW FALL FOUND THAT THE ABS SYSTEM LOCKS UP WHEN GOING OVER ANY SLIPPERY SERVICE. PEDAL IS HARD TO COMPRESS DURING INCIDENT AND RESISTS PRESSURE, AND MAKES GROWLING SOUND. OUTSIDE OBSERVER NOTES THAT FRONT WHEEL ACTUALLY LOCKS UP AND SOON NOT TURN DURING OCCURRENCE. WILL BE SERVICED BY DEALER ON FOLLOWING FRIDAY, SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT WAS PURCHASED WHEN CAR WAS PURCHASED. WILL RETURN WITH MORE INFORMATION AFTER. AND WILL ALSO REPORT IF DEALER HONORS WARRANTY IN THIS SITUATION. COULD CAUSE ACCIDENT AND SLIDING IF NOT SKILLED IN HANDLING VEHICLE AND EVEN IF YOU ARE. *TR”
“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…”
“WHILE TRAVELING AT 25 MPH ON A WET ROADWAY I APPROACHED A VEHICLE STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT. AT AROUND 6 CAR LENGTHS I APPLIED MY BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP, RESULTING IN A REAR END CRASH WITH THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE STARTED TO VIBRATE AS IF THE ABS BRAKES WERE ACTIVATING. THE BRAKING SYSTEM FAILED TO PROVIDE MUCH STOPPING POWER. THE SPEED AT THE TIME OF COLLISION WAS ABOUT 15 MPH, SLOWED FROM 25. *JB”
“THE ROTORS ARE WEARING OUT, AND WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE WILL HAVE HEAVY VIBRATION AND EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. THE DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK THE POWER BOOSTER FAILED WHICH WAS LOCATED BEHIND THE MASTER CYLINDER AND MOUNTED TO A FIREWALL. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP IN THE PROPER AMOUNT OF TIME WHEN THE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE PEDAL WOULD NEED TO BE APPLIED REALLY HARD THEN WOULD STOP 15 TO 25 INCHES FURTHER. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A SPRING WITHIN THE METAL ROD WHICH CAUSED IT TO FAIL. THE MASTER AND THE BOOSTER ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED. *SC”
Showing 6 of 143 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.