1996 Chevrolet BLAZER problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
618 owner complaints analyzed
6 distinct recall campaigns
84,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1996 model year. Data snapshot: . 105 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip is the most frequently named component, appearing in 103 of 618 complaints (16.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 150 | 24.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 36 | 5.8% |
| Transmission and shifting | 28 | 4.5% |
| Steering behavior | 25 | 4.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 9 | 1.5% |
| Engine operation | 7 | 1.1% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 103 |
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor | 58 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 45 |
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer | 42 |
| Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Upper Ball Joint | 37 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 30 |
| Suspension:Front:Control Arm | 28 |
| Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint | 25 |
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 103; Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor: 58; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 45; Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer: 42; Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Upper Ball Joint: 37; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 30; Suspension:Front:Control Arm: 28; Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint: 25
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 6 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 9 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 22 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 35 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 18 |
| 150,000 and above | 15 |
Under 25,000: 6; 25,000 to 49,999: 9; 50,000 to 74,999: 22; 75,000 to 99,999: 35; 100,000 to 149,999: 18; 150,000 and above: 15
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (35). 513 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 4 |
| 1996 | 30 |
| 2000 | 171 |
| 2001 | 146 |
| 2002 | 102 |
| 2003 | 70 |
| 2004 | 31 |
| 2005 | 16 |
| 2006 | 20 |
| 2007 | 5 |
| 2008 | 4 |
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2010 | 5 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 3 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
1995: 4; 1996: 30; 2000: 171; 2001: 146; 2002: 102; 2003: 70; 2004: 31; 2005: 16; 2006: 20; 2007: 5; 2008: 4; 2009: 3; 2010: 5; 2011: 1; 2012: 2; 2013: 3; 2015: 3; 2016: 1; 2023: 1
Pattern summary
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 150 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 36 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 28 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10001385 · 2002-12-23 (December 23, 2002)
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN APPLYING THE ANTI LOCK BRAKES THEY CAN HEAR A LOUD NOISE AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WILL GO TO THE FLOOR CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO HAVE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001385 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10007616 · 2003-02-16 (February 16, 2003)
I HAVE A 1996 BLAZER WITH ONLY 56000 MILES ON IT AND THE VEHICLE CONTROL UNIT AND THE ABS MODULE SHORTED OUT COSTING 1700.00. THE CAR IS STILL YOUNG. I DID A SEARCH FOR THE PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET AND OVER 200 OTHER PEOPLE POSTED THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS ALSO HAPPENED IN MY 1993 BLAZER. WE CURRENTLY HAVE 5 CARS 4 OF THEM ARE CHEVROLET BUT HOPEFULLY THAT NUMBER WILL DECREASE, WELL IM SURE IT WILL IF WE KEEP HAVING PROBLEMS
Owner-reported narrative. 56,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10007616 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10006497 · 2003-02-05 (February 5, 2003)
TWICE, 2 DIFFERENT BATTERIES HAVE LEAKED ACID FROM THE POSITIVE TERMINAL MELTING THE BATTERY CABLE. BOTH BATTERIES WERE AC DELCO/PART NO. 19001628. 2ND BATTERY WAS INSTALLED 01/12/00. PH
Owner-reported narrative. 32,374 miles reported. Look up ODI 10006497 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10012084 · 2003-03-19 (March 19, 2003)
THE HEATER SWITCH STARTED TO SMOKE, BECAUSE THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 89,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10012084 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10003428 · 2003-01-26 (January 26, 2003)
JUST BROUGHT 96 BLAZERLS WITH 82,000 IN DEC.02. WAS TOLD THAT THE ONLY PROBLEM WAS THEY HAD TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED AT 20,000. WELL,83,000 MILES THE HEATER WAS ON HOT BLOWING WHEN I NOTICED THAT IT TURN COLD AND THE GAGE WENT TO THE RED ZONE. I IMMEDIATELY TURN SWICHES OFF ON THE BLOWER IT WENT BACK TO NORMAL. TWO DAYS LATER IT HAPPEN AGAIN BUT I TURN OFF THE HEATER AND BLOWER COMPLETELY IT WENT BACK TO NORMAL. WE THOUGHT THE TERMOSTACT GOT STUCK AND REPLACED IT . AT THAT TIME WE NOTICE THAT IT WAS GEL UP OVER THE TERMOSTACT, AFTE…
Owner-reported narrative. 83,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10003428 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10017014 · 2003-05-04 (May 4, 2003)
ALL OXYGEN SENSOR FAILED TRANSMISSION SLIPPING. 13 SENSORS FAIL. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10017014 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10008368 · 2003-03-04 (March 4, 2003)
STEERING PROBLEMS SINCE VEHICLE ACQUIRED. REPORTED TO DEALER IN 2001, RESPONSE "UNABLE TO REPLICATE CUSTOMER CONCERN." WENT TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP WHEN PROBLEM PERSISTED (2002). UPPER BALL JOINT REPLACED UNDER RECALL. RETURNED TO DEALER BECAUSE ALIGNMENT NOT COMPLETED, ADVISED THAT LOWER BALL JOINT ALSO BAD AND NOT COVERED BY RECALL BUT WAS IN SIMILAR CONDITION AS UPPER. DID NOT ALIGN AT THAT TIME EITHER. ATTEMPTED CONTACT WITH GM, THEY DECLINED TO REPLACE, REPAIR OR FURTHER INVESTIGATE (REF# 1-78000118). *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10008368 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10016198 · 2003-04-19 (April 19, 2003)
WINDSHIELD WIPERS FRONT & REAR FAILED, WATER PUMP QUIT, DRIVE SHAFT BROKE, BALL JOINTS RIGHT FRONT BROKE, HEATER QUIT, AIR CONDITIONER QUIT. DRIVERS SIDE REAR VIEW MIRROR FELL OFF, STEERING PROBLEMS, BRAKE PROBLEMS, UNIVERSAL JOINTS WORN OUT, CRACKED FRONT ROTORS,ETC. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 99,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10016198 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10017036 · 2003-05-05 (May 5, 2003)
MOSES LAKE FIRE DEPARTMENT INCIDENT REPORT 2003-1096. POSSIBLE PROBLEM WITH FUEL PUMPS INSTALLED ON 1996 CHEVROLET BLAZERS, CAUSING FUEL TO BE RELEASED FROM THE FILL TUBE WHILE FUELING IS BEING ACCOMPLISHED. VEHICLE TURNED OFF AT TIME OF INCIDENT. OWNER REPORTS THIS AS THE SECOND INCIDENT INVOLVING A FUEL SPILL DURING FUELING--MECHANICAL INVESTIGATION INDICATED A PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL PUMP ON THE FIRST INCIDENT AND PUMP WAS REPLACED. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10017036 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10104101 · 2004-12-19 (December 19, 2004)
ON SEPTEMBER 5, 2004, MY HUSBAND, MOTHER, 8 YEAR OLD SON, 4 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER, AND 1 YEAR OLD SON, WERE STRANDED IN THE EMERGENCY LANE ON I-66 EAST IN FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA WITH A BROKEN FUEL PUMP. WHILE WAITING FOR A TOW TRUCK THEY WERE HIT BY A DRUNK DRIVER WHO WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 100 MPH. THE BLAZER FLIPPED ONTO ITS SIDE AND SKIDDED A GREAT DISTANCE, BEFORE FINALLY COMING TO REST UPSIDE DOWN. MY 4 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED WHEN THE BACK SEAT, AND THE FRONT SEAT BROKE AND SANDWICHED HER IN BETWEEN THE TWO. SHE BROKE …
Owner-reported narrative. 178,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10104101 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10065641 · 2004-04-06 (April 6, 2004)
THE RADIATOR AND COOLING SYSTEM ON MY 1996 CHEVROLET BALZER GETS RUSTY AND CLOGGED EVERY COUPLE OF YEARS. IN 1998 THE WHOLE RADIATOR WAS TAKEN OUT AND BOILED. IN 2001 THE COOLING SYSTEM WAS FLUSHED AGAIN DUE TO RUST AND CLOGGING. AND NOW, APRIL 2004, THE SYSTEM HAS CLOGGED AGAIN AND CAUSES ENGINE OVERHEAT. GM USES DEX COOL WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO LAST FIVE YEARS, BUT EVERY COUPLE OF YEARS THIS COOLANT SEEMS TO CLOG THE SYSTEM AND REQUIRES AN OVERHAUL COSTING AROUND $400. *LA
Owner-reported narrative. 84,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10065641 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10155009 · 2006-04-11 (April 11, 2006)
VEHICLE STALLS AT STOP LIGHTS, STOP SIGNS, AND WHILE AT STOP WITH ENGINE IDLING. OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE IS OVER 70 DEGREES. IT HAS BEEN TO A MECHANIC 5 TIMES IN THE LAST MONTH. PARTS REPLACED - FUEL PUMP ONE YEAR AGO, MASS AIRFLOW SENSOR, EGR HAS BEEN CLEANED ONCE AND REPLACED ONCE. THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR HAS BEEN REPLACED. TWO OTHER SENSORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED - PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 125,253 miles reported. Look up ODI 10155009 at NHTSA ↗