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
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Suspension72
  2. Service brakes, hydraulic63
  3. Engine and engine cooling62
  4. Power train54
  5. Seats41
  6. Electrical system40
  7. Exterior lighting29
  8. Air bags26
  9. Fuel system, gasoline24
  10. Visibility24
  11. Structure21
  12. Steering18
  13. Vehicle speed control13
  14. 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
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
19981
199943
200058
200144
200257
200369
200457
200532
200623
20075
200813
20095
201014
20112
20125
20131
20142
20153
20164
20172
20181
20191

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.

03 —Owner reports

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…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 9, 2013Suspension, Service brakesODI 10511332

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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 23, 2012Service brakes, hydraulicODI 10449057

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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 8, 2007Engine and engine coolingODI 10198884

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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 6, 2011Power train, EquipmentCrash reportedODI 10394422

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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 15, 2007SeatsODI 10205732

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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 22, 2018Electrical system, Service brakes, EngineCrash reportedODI 11064066
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.