1999 Chevrolet BlazerRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

“I AM SHOCKED TO FIND OUT THAT THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE ABS BRAKES AND THE FRONT END BALL JOINTS. I AM ACTUALLY AFRAID TO DRIVE MY BLAZER AFTER READING ABOUT THE PROBLEMS. I LIVE IN A SMALL TOWN IN THE MOUNTAINS AND HAVE TO DRIVE MOUNTAIN ROADS AND ALONG A RIVER TO GET TO A BIGGER CITY. I AVERAGE ABOUT ONCE A MONTH THIS TRIP AND IF I MY BLAZER WAS TO HAVE A WHEEL FALL OFF BECAUSE OF A BAD BALL JOINT SYSTEM I AND MAYBE OTHERS WOULD BE DEAD OR SERIOUSLY HURT. I HAVE OVER THE YEARS REPLACED MY BALL JOINTS SEVERAL TIMES AS THEY KEEP GOING BAD, MUCH MORE THAN JUST NORMAL WEAR IT APPEARS. I ALSO HAVE FOR THE LAST 6 MONTHS OR SO HAVE HAD THE ABS LIGHT COME ON AND THE ABS BRAKES COME INTO PLAY WHEN SLOWING DOWN OR COMING TO A STOP ON DRY ROADS. THERE ARE TIMES THE LIGHT IS ON WHEN I FIRST START MY BLAZER AND HAVEN'T EVEN MOVED YET. A MECHANIC THAT LOOKED AT IT SAID THAT IT APPEARED THAT THE SENSOR WOULD NEED REPLACING. I DID NOT HAVE IT DONE AS IT WAS GOING TO BE SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS FOR THE REPAIR. WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO HAVE A RECALL? HOW CAN PEOPLE TELL YOU OF THE PROBLEMS THEY TOO ARE HAVING, WHEN THESE PROBLEMS ARE NOT PUBLICLY…”

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET BLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH AND COMING TO A STOP, THE BRAKES WOULD NOT ENGAGE PROPERLY, CAUSING AN INCREASE IN STOPPING DISTANCE AND TIME. THE ABS WARNING LIGHT ALSO ILLUMINATED AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 05V379000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK) BUT DID NOT RECEIVE CONFIRMATION OF WHETHER THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.”

“AFTER HAVING DRIVEN THE VEHICLE FOR ABOUT 2 HOURS ON INTERSTATE ROADS (CONSTANTLY MONITORING THE COOLANT GAUGE - STANDARD FOR ANY TRIP I TAKE). I STOPPED TO GO TO THE REST ROOM AND WHEN I RETURNED AND STARTED THE VEHICLE IT MADE A HORRIBLE LOUD METAL BANGING NOISE. I MOVED THE VEHICLE TO THAT IF IT NEEDED TO BE TOWED IT WOULD BE READY. I CHECKED THE COOLANT GAUGE AND IT WAS AT THE VERY END OF THE HOT ZONE, CHECKED THE COOLANT AND FOUND ALMOST NO COOLANT IN THE RESERVOIR. I HAD TO PUT WATER IN TO GET IT HOME (ANOTHER 3 HOURS ON THE ROAD). AT NO TIME DURING THAT TRIP DID THE COOLANT GAUGE INDICATE THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OVERHEATING. I HAVE CHANGED THE OIL PER THE RECOMMENDATION IN THE OWNERS MANUAL AND HAVE DONE MOST OF THE OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS AND HAVE HAD NO OTHER MAJOR ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE. ON JULY 12TH I HAD THE MANIFOLD INTAKE GASKET REPLACED, OIL CHANGED AND TIRES ROTATED IN PREPARATION FOR THE TRIP.*JB”