1996 Chevrolet Blazer complaints

REAR WINDOW WIPER MOTOR DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. EITHER IT WON'T START OR WILL NOT STOP UNLESS YOU DISCONNECT THE MAIN BATTERY. *LA

BALL JOINT SEPARATED AND CONTROL ARM NEED TO BE REPLACED. *LA

UPON MAKING A RIGHT TURN WHILE PULLING INTO A DRIVEWAY FRONT WHEELS TURNED INWARD AND FELL OFF. THE UPPER/LOWER BALL JOINTS WORE OUT PREMATURELY, CAUSING THE FAILURE.*AK

VEHICLE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING.*MR THE CONSUMER STOPPED AT MIDDLE RIDGE SERVICE PLAZA AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE CONSISTED OF HOSES, WIRES AND INSULATION UNDER HOOD. CONSUMER HAD NO RECENT ENGINE PROBLEMS. *PH *JB

UPPER BALL JOINTS SEPARATED, CAUSING THE FRONT WHEEL TO VIBRATE WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. RECALL 95V080000 DEALT WITH THIS ISSUE; BUT, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO MODEL AND VIN. *AK

ABS BRAKE SYSTEM; CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO TWO DEALERS.THEY HAD NO RECORD OF RECALLS. VEHICLE GRABBED/RELEASED/ KEPT SLIDING, AND WOULD NOT STOP. *AK

APPLIED BRAKES WHILE TWO CAR LENGTHS BEHIND ANOTHER CAR IN TRAFFIC ON FREEWAY, GOING ABOUT 25 MPH. BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR, CAR DID NOT STOP UNTIL IT HIT CAR IN FRONT OF US. WHILE BRAKING ON WET PAVEMENT, OR RR TRACKS, OR UNEVEN PAVEMENT THE ABS FAILS AND PEDAL GOES TO FLOOR. AT MY EXPENSE I TOOK CAR TO GMC DEALERSHIP TO CHECK BRAKES. I WAS TOLD CAR HAD NO OPEN RECALLS. THEY LOOKED AT ABS AND SAID THERE WERE NO ERRORS COMING UP. GMC SAID BRAKE PADS WERE WORN - THEY WERE REPLACED 6 MONTHS AGO, AND THEN AGAIN ABOUT 30 DAYS PRIOR TO ACCIDENT. MECHANIC TOOK US ON TEST DRIVE OVER UNEVEN PAVEMENT, WE TRIED TO BRAKE, AND ABS WENT TO FLOOR, STOPPING WAS EXTREMELY DELAYED. WE WERE TOLD THAT WAS "NORMAL". HE ALSO SAID THAT IF WE HAD GMC BRAKE PADS THEN WE WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO STOP BETTER. OPENED CALL WITH GMC AND WAS TOLD THAT DUE TO MILEAGE OF CAR THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. HOW CAN A CAR BE CONSIDERED SAFE TO DRIVE IF THE BRAKES DON'T WORK? GMC RECALL 99I006000 DESCRIBES THIS EXACT PROBLEM WE EXPERIENCED. I WAS TOLD MY CAR HAD THIS RECALL PERFORMED. I WILL TAKE CAR TO 3RD PARTY FOR OPINION, AND THEN WILL SEEK LEGAL REPRESENTATION. CAR WILL SIT IN GARAGE UNTIL THEN. IT'S TOO UNSAFE TO DRIVE. *LA

WHILE DRIVING AT 30MPH ON A WELL PAVED ROAD, HEARD A LOUD BANG. TWO SECONDS LATER, ANOTHER LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD, AND THE BLAZER TILTED TO THE LEFT LIKE HAVE A BLOWN TIRE. LUCKILY, WE WERE GOING AT SLOW SPEED AND MANAGED TO PULL THE BLAZER TO THE CURB. AFTER TOLD TO THE NEARBY SERVICE STATION, THE MECHANIC SAID THE UPPER BALL JOINT ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WAS PULLED OFF THE SOCKET. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE WHEEL RIM WAS CUT AND TIRE WAS BLOWN. AFTER LEARNING THAT THERE WAS A RECALL OF THIS KIND ON 1996 BLAZER, I CALLED GM AND GAVE THE VIN. THE CUSTOMER SERVICE SAID MY VEHICLE IS NOT IN THE RECALL LIST AND THERE IS NOTHING HE CAN DO. THE CAR IS WELL MAINTAINED, OILED AND LUBRICATED EVERY 3000 MILES. I CANNOT IMAGINE IF THIS HAD HAPPENED ON THE FREE WAY. THIS IS A DANGEROUS DEFECT THAT ALL BLAZER OWNER SHALL KNOW. *LA

MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON MY 1996 CHEVY BLAZER FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. SOME DAYS, THEY WILL NOT START UP, OTHER DAYS THEY STOP WHILE I AM DRIVING AND OTHER DAYS THEY WORK FINE. I CONTACTED GM BUT THEY TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS A RECALL, BUT MY VEHICLE ALREADY HAD THE REPLACEMENT PART INSTALLED. I FELT THAT THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY PROBLEM THAT COULD LEAD TO ACCIDENTS OR FATALITIES. *LA

IN JULY OF 2002 THE UPPER BALL JOINTS WORE OUT AND WERE REPLACED UNDER A FACTORY RECALL ORDER. JUST OVER ONE YEAR, THE UPPER BALL JOINTS WORE OUT AGAIN. DEALER/ MANUFACTURER WOULD RESOLVE THE PROBLEM FREE OF CHARGE. *AK *SCC *JB

REPLACED HEAD GASKETS AT 48K AND AGAIN AT 80K. EITHER DEXCOOL EATS THE GASKETS, OR THE GASKETS GO BAD AND LET AIR INTO THE COOLING SYSTEM WHICH CAUSES THE DEXCOOL TO GO BAD. I READ A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT DEXCOOL, HEAD GASKETS, AND 1996 BLAZERS. THERE MUST BE A CONNECTION.

I HAVE A 96 CHEVY BLAZER WITH COOLING PROBLEMS. I HAVE REPLACED THE WATER PUMP 2 TIMES IN THE LAST YR. THE RADIATOR NEEDS TO BE FLUSHED AND CLEAN ABOUT EVERY 2 MONTHS DUE TO SLUGGED AND RUST BUILD UP. I HAVE ALSO HAD THE UPPER BALL JOINTS BREAK ON ME. *JB

WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS SNAPPED, WHICH RESULTED IN VEHICLE SPINNING AROUND AND ALMOST IMPACTING A TREE. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE UPPER BALL JOINTS, BUT NOT FOR THE LOWER.*AK

I HAVE EXPERIENCED SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH MY 1996 CHEVROLET S10 BLAZER INCLUDING PROBLEMS WITH MY ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM AFTER TALKING TO TWO OTHER PEOLPLE THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE SAME MODEL VEHICLE I DECIDED TO LOOK FOR RECALLS AND INDEED THERE ARE SEVERAL RECALLS ON THIS MODEL NONE OF WITCH I HAVE BEEN INFORMED I ALOND WITH A CLOSE FRIEND OF MINE DEPEND ON OUR BLAZERS TO TRANSPORT OUR CHILD TO AND FROM SCHOOL. THE HEATER CORES ARE ALSO DEFECTIVE I BELIEVE GM IS RESPOBSIBLE AND I WILL HOLD THEM LIABLE IF THEY DO NOT FIX THESE DEFECTS AND AN ACCIDENT SHOULD OCCUR. *AK

LOWER BALL JOINT FAILURE/ RIGHT & LEFT SIDE IDLER. ALSO IDLER ARM & PITMAN ARM LOOSE. *MR *SCC *JB

TRAVELING AT 45MPH AND HAD TO COME TO A STOP. BRAKES BECAME VERY HARD TO PUSH. SLOWLY WAS ABLE TO STOP BLAZER S-10. THERE WAS NO EARLY INDICATOR THAT MY BRAKES WERE FAILING. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THE POWER ASSIST BOOSTER IS FAULTY. COST IS OVER 600.00 TO REPAIR . *AK

THERE HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH BRAKE LIGHTS FOR ABOUT EIGHT MONTHS. THE CONSUMER HAD TO MANEUVER THE FOUR WAY SWITCH IN ORDER TO GET THE LIGHTS TO COME ON. DEALER WAS CONTACTED, AND STATED THAT THE SWITCH HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH. *AK *CB *NLM

BOTH REAR WHEELS AND AXLES SEPARATED FROM THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL WHILE TRAVELING AT 55 MPH ON HIGHWAY. LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND BRAKING DUE TO SEVERED BRAKE LINES AND REAR WHEELS SEPARATED FROM REAR DIFFERENTIAL.BODY DAMAGE INCURRED WHEN REAR WHEEL AND AXLE JAMMED UNDER REAR BUMPER.*AK

ON CERTAIN MINIVANS, PICKUP TRUCKS, AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES WITH CERTAIN MODEL-ENGINE COMBINATIONS THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR MAY FAIL DUE TO CRACKED SOLDER JOINTS ON THE CONTROLLER CIRCUIT BOARD. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS COULD WORK INTERMITTENTLY OR NOT AT ALL. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINI VANS. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION." THE "FASTEN SAFETY-BELT" AUDIBLE WARNING OCCASIONALLY MAY NOT COME ON OR MAY TERMINATE IN LESS THAN FOUR SECONDS AS REQUIRED BY THE STANDARD. THE CONSUMER HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AS STATED IN THE RECALL. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE WIPER MOTOR. *TS *JB

THE REAR WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY.*AK *CB *JB

WHILE DRIVING, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK *TS *JB

CONSUMER STATES "WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGH SPEEDS, WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR." CONSUMER HAD TO PUMP BRAKES TO GET VEHICLE TO STOP. TOOK VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC, AND THEY STATED THEAT"BRAKE BOOSTER FAILED."*AK

COMPLAINT REGARDING FAULTY MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH IN 1996 CHEVROLET BLAZER THAT CAUGHT ON FIRE.*MR THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH IN THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE AND WAS REPLACED WITH A 2000 SWITCH, HOWEVER THE SWITCH FAILED THE SAME WAY IT WAS DESCRIBED IN RECALL #01V364000, CHEVROLET ADMITTED THEY INSTALLED A FAULTY 2000 SWITCH IN THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE, BUT THE RECALL WAS BY CAR MODEL YEAR AND NOT THE RECALL SWITCH YEAR *TS *JB

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING WHICH CAUSED POOR VISIBILITY. THE CONSUMER HEARD OF A RECALL BUT WAS NEVER PERSONALLY NOTIFIED OF ONE. (RECALL # 98V150001). *SCC *NLM

WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES VEHICLE WILL SKID AND MAKE A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE. ABS BRAKING SYSTEM LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD. *AK

1996 CHEVROLET BLAZER TCC VALVE ON TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY ONCE VEHICLE WARMED UP AFTER DRIVING FOR A DISTANCE. APPEARS THAT THE SAME TRANSMISSION ON MANY MODELS HAVE SIMILAR FAILURES AND ISSUES WHERE IT SWITCHES HARD FROM 1ST TO 2ND ON AT. SES ENGINE SERVICE CODE 1870. *NLM

1996 CHEVROLET BLAZER HAS HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH COOLING SYSTEM DUE TO BAD ANTI-FREEZE GENERAL MOTORS USED IN THE VEHICLE OF THIS VINTAGE. THEY CHARGED ME TO HAVE THE SYSTEM FLUSHED OUT BECAUSE THE ANTI-FREEZE WOULD CLOG THE HEATER COILS. NO HEATER IN WINTER. PREVIOUSLY THE VEHICLE WAS OVER HEATED AND DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT AND WATER PUMP PLUS SEALS AND HEAD GASKET DUE TO THE ENGINE RUNNING TOO HOT. THIS IS THE 4TH TIME I'M RETURNING IT AND NOW THEY WANT ME REPAIR OR REPLACE THE RADIATOR. IT IS STILL RUNNING HOT. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING FROM TALKING TO THE MECHANICS THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM FOR VEHICLE OF THIS VINTAGE AND IT TOOK A COUPLE OF YEARS FOR GM TO CHANGE ANTI-FREEZE MANUFACTURERS. DO I HAVE ANY RECOURSE? *NLM

CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL FOR DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTORS. EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEMS. *MR *TT *JB

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHEN MY 1996 CHEVY BLAZER BEGAN TO SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD. THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE SHOWED THE CAR WAS NOT OVER HEATING. I PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY TO ALLOW THE SMOKE TO CLEAR AND PULLED THE HOOD RELEASE. AFTER 5 MINUTES THE CAR CONTINUED TO SMOKE. I GOT OUT OF THE CAR TO CHECK UNDER THE HOOD. I NOTICED A BLACK SPOT ON THE HOOD AND HAD THE SENSE TO REALIZE THE CAR WAS ON FIRE WITHOUT TRYING TO LIFT THE HOOD. I YELLED TO MY MOTHER TO GET OUT OF THE CAR. I CALLED 911 TO REACH THE POLICE. WHEN THEY CAME THEY COULD NOT PUT OUT THE FIRE. THE POLICEMAN CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. I THANK GOD MY 3 YEAR OLD WAS NOT WITH ME STRAPPED IN HIS CAR SEAT AS HE USUALLY TRAVELS WITH ME. THE CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS IN A MATTER OF MINUTES. *JB

WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR EXPERIENCED THE SAME DEFECT AS STATED IN RECALL 03 V 159 000, BUT THIS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

MY 1996 CHEVROLET BLAZER DID NOT PASS A STATE INSPECTION DUE TO CORROSION OF THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS AND AS WELL THAT THE IDLER ARM,. THE FRONT STEERING AND SUSPENSION MUST BE REPLACED. UPON SEARCHING THE INTERNET, I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT THIS HAS BEEN A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH 1996 BLAZER'S AND A RECALL WAS ISSUED. I DID CONTACT CHEVROLET AND SPEAK WITH A REPRESENTATIVE ABOUT THE RECALL,HOWEVER, AFTER PROVIDING MY VEHICLE'S VIN NUMBER, I WAS TOLD THAT MY BLAZER DOES NOT QUALIFY FOR THE RECALL. I FEEL THAT THIS IS INAPPROPRIATE. IF MY VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM DISCRIBED IN THE RECALL, THEN IT SHOULD QUALIFY FOR THE REMEDY. *AK

MY REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER STOPPED FUNCTIONING. THE DEALER INFORMED ME THAT IT WAS THE RESULT OF A BURNED OUT MOTOR.

THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH ABS. ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO STOP THE VEHICLE THE WHEELS LOCKED AND THE VEHICLE WENT INTO A SKID. THE SKID (SLID) IS A SAFETY ISSUE SINCE IT CAUSES A REDUCTION IN STEERING CONTROL WHICH COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. *TT

DEALER REPLACED HEATER CORE DUE TO LEAK AND FOUND SLUDGE IN COOLING SYSTEM (DEX COOL). HEATER CORE REPLACED AND SYSTEM FLUSHED 4 TIMES. HEATER CORE REPLACED AGAIN ON 1/19/03, WATER PUMP REPLACED IN 2/03. RADIATOR HAS LARGE LEAK 5/22/03. SLUDGE VISIBLE IN RADIATOR AND OVERFLOW BOTTLE. DEALER/GM INDICATES PROBLEM WITH SLUDGE BUILD UP CAUSED BY OWNER NOT MAINTAINING SYSTEM. HEAD GASKET REPLACED IN 2001 AND WINDSHIELD WIPER CIRCUIT BOARD IN 2001 (BAD SOLDER JOINT) - GM INDICATED THE WINDSHIELD WIPER PROBLEM NOT ASSOCIATED WITH VIN NUMBER. ALL COSTS OUT OF POCKET. *NLM

MIRROR CONTROL SWITCH FIRE ON A 1996 CHEVROLET BLAZER. *NLM

I OWN A 1996 CHEVROLET BLAZER WHICH I PURCHASED NEW IN 1996. IT NOW HAS 59,000 MILES ON IT. WE HAVE REGULARLY SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE DONE ON THE CAR, ALONG WITH SCHEDULED OIL CHANGES, CHECKING BELTS, HOSES, ETC. WE ARE CONSTANTLY HAVING OUR BRAKES REPAIRED/REPLACED. LAST YEAR WE NEEDED TO HAVE A BRAKE BOOSTER REPLACED WHICH COST US OVER $700 AND TODAY WE WERE TOLD THAT OUR "ENTIRE" COOLING SYSTEM IS CORRODED...$1,900. AT 59,000 MILES I CERTAINLY DON'T THINK THIS SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED. *NLM

TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKING, CAUSING TO LEAK ON EXHAUST AND CAUSE IT TO SMOKE. OILY SUBSTANCE SMEARED ON BACK WINDSHIELD. HAD THAT FIXED AND IT IS STILL HAPPENING. *NLM

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

WHILE DRIVING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. (ESPECIALLY IN THE RAIN) *NLM *SCC

ALL OXYGEN SENSOR FAILED TRANSMISSION SLIPPING. 13 SENSORS FAIL. *JB

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE AND LARGE FLAMES CAME FROM UNDER THE HOOD. *NLM

I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT CHEVROLET BLAZER 97 AND NEWER HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR BAD WIPER MOTORS. I OWN A 96 CHEVROLET BLAZER AND NEED TO REPLACE IT ALSO. THIS HAS BEEN OCCURRING OFF AND ON NOW FOR 6 MONTHS, I THOUGHT IT WAS THE FUSE AT FIRST, SWAPPED VEHICLES, ETC... NOW I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE 97'S, HOWEVER, I'LL NEED TO PAY FOR MY REPAIR. SOUNDS LIKE THE SAME PROBLEM TO ME. I DON'T KNOW WHY THEY AREN'T ALL RECALLED. *NLM

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

THE VEHICLES FRONT SPINDLE BROKE WHICH RESULTED IN LOSS OF CONTROL. *NLM

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. A RECALL WAS ISSUED BUT THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. *NLM THE DEALER DIDN'T HONOR RECALL#98V150001. SCC

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON MY 1996 CHEVY BLAZER STOPPED UNEXPECTEDLY. I CONTACTED TWO CHEVY DEALERS ABOUT THE PROBLEM. EACH SAID THE PROBLEM WAS COMMON, BUT ONLY 1997 BLAZERS ARE UNDER RECALL. MY 1996 BLAZER HAS THE SAME MECHANISM AS THE 1997 BLAZER. I WROTE TO CHEVROLET AND WAS TOLD ONLY 1997'S WERE UNDER RECALL, WHICH I ALREADY KNEW. I WOULD LIKE THIS DEFECTIVE EQUIPMENT REPLACED. THIS CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.*JB

BOTH UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS FAILED. HOWEVER, CONSUMER WAS NOT COVERED UNDER GMC SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN 011-49 OR RECALL 01048 FOR THE LOWER BALL JOINTS, BECAUSE IT ONLY REFERRED TO THE UPPER BALL JOINTS. *AK. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE LOWER BALL JOINTS FAILED, DUE TO LACK OF LUBRICATION. *JB

THE VEHICLE WIPERS FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. ONE OCCASION THE WIPERS STOPPED WORKING WHILE IT WAS RAINING. THE DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *NLM

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED. *JB

SEAT BELT- THE LOCKING MECHANISM HAS COME OUT OF ITS HOUSING. *JB