Problems · NHTSA complaints
1999 Chevrolet Blazer problems
Owners filed 442 complaints about the 1999 Chevrolet Blazer with NHTSA between Dec 1998 and Oct 2019. The most-cited component is suspension (72).
Complaints
442
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
36
Reported by owners
Fires
9
Reported by owners
Injuries
38
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Suspension72
- Service brakes, hydraulic63
- Engine and engine cooling62
- Power train54
- Seats41
- Electrical system40
- Exterior lighting29
- Air bags26
- Fuel system, gasoline24
- Visibility24
- Structure21
- Steering18
- Vehicle speed control13
- Tires12
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
1
43
58
44
57
69
57
32
23
5
13
5
14
2
5
1
2
3
4
2
1
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 1998 | 1 |
| 1999 | 43 |
| 2000 | 58 |
| 2001 | 44 |
| 2002 | 57 |
| 2003 | 69 |
| 2004 | 57 |
| 2005 | 32 |
| 2006 | 23 |
| 2007 | 5 |
| 2008 | 13 |
| 2009 | 5 |
| 2010 | 14 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 5 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2016 | 4 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Suspension
72 reports
“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…”
Service brakes, hydraulic
63 reports6 crashes
“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.”
Engine and engine cooling
62 reports2 fires
“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”
Power train
54 reports3 crashes1 fire
“I HAD TO HAVE THE DRIVESHAFT IN MY 1999 CHEVY BLAZER REPLACED IN MARCH 2011. EXACTLY ONE WEEK LATER MY SON WAS DRIVING TO SCHOOL CAYUGA-ONONDAGA BOCES IN AURBAN WHEN THE DRIVE SHAFT FELL OUT CAUSING THE BLAZER ENTIRE REAR-END TO SEIZE UP THROWING THE VEHICLE ALMOST MAKING MY SON GO DOWN OVER THE BRIDGE. THE SCHOOL CAME AND TOWED HIM BACK AND LOOKED AT IT' THE BOLT THAT HOLDS THE DRIVESHAFT IN WAS NOT THERE, AS IF THEY FORGOT TO TIGHTEN IT OR FORGET TO PUT IT ON ALL TOGETHER. THERE IS NO EVIDENCE THAT THE BOLT WAS PULLED OFF OR BROKEN, YOU CAN CLEARLY SEE BY THE TREADS. I HAD THE TRAINED AUTO MECHANICS AT THE SCHOOL CALL OVER TO PULLEN'S AND THEY WERE RUDE, SAID THEY DID THEIR JOB AND THERE WAS NOTHING TO DO TO HELP US.. VERY RUDE' ALSO, THE DRIVESHAFT DIDN'T HAVE ANY GREASE FITTINGS SO IT WOULDN'T HAVE LASTED 6 MONTHS TOP. THIS GARAGE DID A BAD JOB AND NEED TO LEARN HOW TO DO THEIR JOB RIGHT' I DIDN'T PAY OVER $500 TO HAVE MY VEHICLE FIXED FOR ONE WEEK. *TR”
Seats
41 reports1 crash1 fire
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET BLAZER. WHILE RECLINING THE BACK SEAT, THE HEAD REST RECLINED, SMASHED AND BRUISED HER FINGER. THE FINGER INJURY WAS SEVERE AND CAUSED THE FINGER NAIL TO BE REMOVED. THE HEAD REST RECLINED PREVIOUSLY AND HIT HER HAND WITHOUT CAUSING AN INJURY. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 65,416. UPDATED 10/31/07 *TR”
Electrical system
40 reports1 crash5 fires
“THE ABS SYSTEMM IS NOT WORKING AND THE IS A SHORT IN THE FRONT END,..CAUSING THE BATTERY TO DIE. AMAZINGLY AFTER THE BATTERY WAS REMOVED FROM THE VEHICLE THE LIGHTS ON THE BUMPER THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO LIGHT UP THE LICENESS PLATE WAS STILL ON. LONG WITH OTHER LIGHTS UNDER THE HOOD. HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE.,,UNLESS THERE IS AN ALTERNATE POWER SOURCE THAT I WAS NEVER MADE AWARE OF. THE IS POLICE DOCUMITATON ON THIS.”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.