Equipment: labels
CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION."
NHTSA lists 1 safety recall and 104 owner complaints for the 2003 Chevrolet Blazer. Most complaints involve electrical system (18) and air bags (16). The EPA rates it 15–17 mpg combined.
CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION."
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Complaints for each Blazer model year we’ve synced.
| Model year | NHTSA complaints |
|---|---|
| 1996 | 1,161 |
| 1997 | 774 |
| 1998 | 734 |
| 1999 | 442 |
| 2000 | 600 |
| 2001 | 331 |
| 2002 | 259 |
| 2003 | 104 |
| 2004 | 50 |
| 2005 | 15 |
| 2019 | 190 |
| 2020 | 224 |
| 2021 | 142 |
| 2022 | 55 |
| 2023 | 44 |
| 2024 | 133 |
| 2025 | 56 |
| 2026 | 1 |
“TAKATA INFLATORS: I HAD LEFT MY HOUSE HEADED TO WORK AT APPROXIMATELY 6:30 AM AND GOT ON I40 EASTBOUND, IT HAD SNOWED THE DAY BEFORE AND THE ROADS HAD BEEN TREATED AND WERE CLEAR FOR TRAVEL, I WAS TRAVELING ON A 3 LANE HIGHWAY IN THE LEFT LANE @ APROX 50MPH AND I APPLIED MY BRAKES TO DO UPCOMING TRAFFIC, WHEN THE ABS SYSTEM LOCKED. I ATTEMPTED TO LET OFF AND RE APPLY THE BRAKE BUT THE ABS SYSTEM JUST STAYED ENGAGED AND THE FRONT END STARTED SLIDING HARD TO THE LEFT AND I STEERED AWAY FROM THE PULL. I SUBSEQUENTLY HIT THE CENTER CONCRETE WALL AT APPROX. 40MPH WITH THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF MY CAR, WHICH CAUSED ME TO SPIN AROUND AND HIT THE PASSENGER REAR, I CONTINUED TO SPIN UNTIL I WAS FACING BACK EAST. MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY BUT IT CAUSED SEVERE DAMAGE TO CORE SUPPORT AND PASSENGER SIDE FRAME HORN. IT WAS A SINGLE VEHICLE ACCIDENT AND NO DAMAGE WAS DONE TO ANYTHING BUT MY VEHICLE AND MYSELF, THE ABS DID NOT RELEASE WITHIN WHAT I APPROXIMATE TO BE ABOUT 6 SECONDS AND THIS SO CALLED SAFETY DEVICE NEARLY KILLED ME. I WAS WEARING MY SEAT BELT.”
“REAR ENDED A STOPPED PICK UP AT 45 MPH AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. IT WAS ON A HIGHWAY WHERE THE SPEED LIMIT IS 55. THE WHOLE FRONT END WAS DAMAGED BUT MOST WAS ON DRIVER SIDE.”
“I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN FEBRUARY 2015 WITH 71,000 - THE BODY WAS VERY WELL KEPT INSIDE AND OUT. WHAT I DIDN'T KNOW WAS THE EXTENSIVE AMOUNT OF RUST AND CORROSION UNDER THE VEHICLE, WHICH DID NOT SHOW INITIALLY. I HAVE ONLY HAD SAME A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AND HAVE HAD TO ALREADY REPLACE FRONT ARM JOINTS BECAUSE THEY SNAPPED IN HALF AND MY TIRE WAS SITTING CROOKED AND IN DANGER OF FALLING OFF!! FUEL LINES HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THEY COMPLETED RUSTED THROUGH AND GASOLINE WAS LEAKING OUT ALL OVER. THE DRIVER DOOR WAS CHECKED 2X AS IT DOES NOT SHUT CORRECTLY AND I CAN HEAR WIND GETTING INTO THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING (NOT TO MENTION WATER POURING IN OVER THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR AND DOOR CONTROLS), THE BRAKES GO COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR (DESPITE BEING FIXED), THE ABS LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAY ON DESPITE BEING CHECKED - THIS TRUCK DESIGN IS TERRIBLE AND IT NOW RIDES AND SOUNDS LIKE A BUCKET OF BOLTS. I HAVE HAD MANY TRUCKS FROM GMC JIMMY, CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER, ETC. - I HAVE NEVER HAD ONE THAT HAS GONE COMPLETELY SOUR IN SO SHORT A TIME. I HAVE ALSO READ THE NUMEROUS ACCOUNTS OF PEOPLE IN ACCIDENTS WITH THIS YEAR VEHICLE AND THE BRAKES FAILING AND AIRBAGS…”
Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.
| Version | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blazer 2WD Auto 4-spd, 6 cyl, 4.3 L · Rear-Wheel Drive | 15 | 21 | 17 | $3,650 | 523 |
| Blazer 2WD Man 5-spd, 6 cyl, 4.3 L · Rear-Wheel Drive | 14 | 20 | 16 | $3,900 | 555 |
| Blazer 4WD Auto 4-spd, 6 cyl, 4.3 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 13 | 17 | 15 | $4,150 | 592 |
| Blazer 4WD Man 5-spd, 6 cyl, 4.3 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 13 | 18 | 15 | $4,150 | 592 |
| Item | Miles | Time | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine oil & filter | 5,000–10,000 mi | 6–12 months | Follow the oil-life monitor if fitted |
| Tire rotation | 5,000–7,500 mi | Every oil change | Check pressure monthly |
| Engine air filter | 15,000–30,000 mi | 1–2 years | Sooner in dusty areas |
| Cabin air filter | 15,000–25,000 mi | 1–2 years | |
| Brake fluid | — | 2–3 years | Absorbs moisture over time |
| Coolant | 60,000–100,000 mi | 5–10 years | Long-life coolants last longer |
| Spark plugs | 60,000–100,000 mi | — | Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end |
| 12V battery | — | 3–5 years | Heat shortens battery life |
1 safety recall as of Nov 8, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.
Owners filed 104 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are electrical system (18), air bags (16), structure (13). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.
The EPA rates the 2003 Chevrolet Blazer at 15–17 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (4 versions rated).