1996 Chevrolet Blazer complaints

1. ANTI-LOCK BRAKE CONTROLLER BAD 2. AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR LEAKS OUT ALL REFRIGERANT 3. HEAD LIGHTS ARE SO BAD, YOU CAN NOT SEE THE ROAD HARDLY AT ALL. *JB

THE HEATER SWITCH STARTED TO SMOKE, BECAUSE THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED. *JB

THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO RUN OUT OF GAS, DUE TO A GAS GAUGE THAT WAS NOT REGISTERING GAS INTAKE. *JB

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

AFTER HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS SINCE THE PURCHASE OF OUR 1996 BLAZER IN 8/2002, THEY COMPLETELY QUIT WORKING DURING A RAINSTORM WHILE TRAVELING ON FRIDAY FEB 16. THERE IS A RECALL FOR A SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH BLAZERS BUT AFTER CALLING A LOCAL DEALER I WAS TOLD IT DID NOT APPLY TO OUR VEICLE. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS NOW INSTEAD OF WORKING INTERMITANTLY DO NOT WORK AT ALL AND MAKE A BUZZING NOISE.

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

THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS FAILED. *DT *JB

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

THE CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE LEFT FRONT UPPER BALL JOINT SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE, CAUSING THE TIRE/WHEEL PROBLEMS. SCC

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, AFTER REPLACING IT , WE TESTED DROVE IT AND IT STILL DID THE SAME THING AGAIN. WE LOOKED AT THE RADIATOR AND FOUND THAT IT WAS GEL UP AND LOOK LIKE RUBBER. WE THEN DECIDED TO CHECK THE FLUID IN THE TRANSMISSION WE NOTICED THAT THE DIPPED STICK WAS RUSTED ON THE OUTSIDE AND WAS RUSTED THE LENGTH OF THE STICK THE FLUID WAS RUSTED. WE WILL NOW HAVE TO FLUSHED THE RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION. I HAD CHECKED YOUR SITE AND FOUND NO RECALLS OR SERVICE BULLETINS ON THE GELING AND TRANSMISSIONS BEFORE BUYING. TELL TODAY WHEN I DECIDED TO CHECKED OUT COMPLAINTS AND FOUND THAT THERE WAS 54 AND COUPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS OF GELING AND TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. SO I DECIDED TO CHECK OUT 98 BECAUSE MY SISTERINLAW HAD JUST BROUGHT ONE AND NO RECALLS OR SERVICE BULLETINS BUT THEY ARE COMPALINTS OF COOL HEATING (PROBABLY FROM GELING ANITIFREEZE) AND TRANSMISSIONS BEING REPLACED ONCE ,TWICE AND I GUY 3 TIMES. SO I CHECK 2001 AND THEY WAS SOMEONE ELSE REPLACING A TR

CONSUMER STATED HATCH BACK LATCH BECOMES LOOSE IN RESULT OF EXHAUST FUMES ENTERING INTO VEHICLE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE'S WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS

CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE OVER HEATED, DUE TO A BLOWN HEAD GASKET.*JB

AIRBAG MODULE IS DEFECTIVE DUE TO A DIAGNOSTIC ENERGY RESERVE MODULE DROPPING BELOW NORMAL. CONSUMER FEELS AIRBAG MAY NOT DEPLOY.THIS IS A SAFETY RELATED DEFECT. TS...*AK

CONSUMER IS CONCERN THAT AIRBAG MAY NOT DEPLOY IN AN IMPACT DUE TO A DEFECTED DIAGNOSTIC ENERGY RESERVE MODULE. TS

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

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE IN TO HAVE TIRES SERVICED, AND WAS TOLD AT THAT TIME THAT THEIR WAS A RECALL ON HIS VEHICLE FOR THE UPPER BALL JOINT. CONSUMER HAD NEVER RECEIVED ANY NOTIFICATION. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, AND WAS GIVEN THE RUN-A-ROUND, BUT THEY NEVER SENT HIM THE RECALL LETTER. NOW THE MANUFACTURER IS FUSING TO SEND THE LETTER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAS PAST THE MILEAGE. TS

NO SUMMARY. DT

CONSUMER HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE UPPER BALL JOINTS. ALSO STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE UPPER BALL JOINT SEPARATED AND THE TIRE FELL OFF. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. DEALER FIXED AND KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM BUT THE VEHICLE WAS FIXED UNDER WARRANTY. PH WHEEL AND UPPER BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED. *TT

ALL ITEMS LOOKED AT BY DEALER, DEALER ALSO INFORMED ME THAT THESE ARE COMMON PROBLEMS CHEVROLET IS AWARE OF. ODD THAT THEY DON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT THEM. DT

I WAS ON MY WAY TO MY SISTER'S HOUSE, I CAME UP TO A STOP SIGN, AND THE BRAKES WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. I TRIED PUMPING THE BRAKES, BUT NOTHING, SO I TRIED HOLDING THEM TO THE FLOOR AND STILL NOTHING. THE ROAD DEAD ENDED AND I HAD TO TURN THE VEHICLE, AT WHICH TIME I LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND IT WENT IN THE DITCH AND ROLLED ON IT'S SIDE. THE BRAKES WORKED UP TIL THIS POINT, I HAD MADE 5 STOPS PRIOR TO THIS ONE. THERE WERE NO SKID MARKS, BECAUSE THERE WERE NO BRAKES. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OUT OF THE DITCH, AND THE BRAKES WERE TESTED, THEY SEEMED TO WORK AGAIN. I WAS VERY LUCKY, I FOUND OUT LATER, THAT MY BOYFRIEND HAD DRIVEN THE CAR, EARLIER THAT MONTH AND THE BRAKES HAD DONE THE SAME THING TO HIM, HE CHECKED THE BRAKE PADS, BUT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THEM, AND THE BRAKES SEEMED TO WORK AFTER THAT. I HAVE TALKED TO SEVERAL PEOPLE AND FOUND OUT THIS PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED TO A LOT OF PEOPLE. I HAVE TALKED TO A PERSON, WHO HAD WORKED FOR GM FOR OVER 20 YEARS AND HE KNEW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, AND TOLD ME THEY NEVER DID A RECALL, BUT THERE WERE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO BROUGHT THEIR CARS IN FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM, THE BRAKES WOULD RANDOMLY FAIL. I CAN NOT BELIEVE A RECALL HAS NOT BEEN DONE, I WAS VERY LUCKY, SOMEONE ELSE MAY NOT BE. DT

THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN CHECKED SEVERAL TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM AND I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG, BUT IT HAS CAUSED 1 ACCIDENT IN WICH I WAS CITED AND NEARLY CAUSED 4 OTHER ACCIDENTS. THE BRAKES HAVE FAILED AT LEAST 5 OTHER TIMES IN CONDITIONS THAT NORMAL BRAKES WOULDN'T HAVE HAD A PROBLEM. DT

DRIVING UNDER THE LEGAL SPEED LIMIT I SWERED TO MY LEFT, I HEARD A NOISE FROM UNDER THE FRONT END I OVER CORRECTED THE TURN AND TURNED LEFT AND BECAME AIRBORN ROLLING 3 TIMES THEN SPINNING ON THE ROOF, THEN ANOTHER CAR SLAMED INTO ME. DT

NO SUMMARY. DT

DEALERSHIP IS REFUSING TO DO RECALL FOR THE UPPER BALL JOINT, UNLESS VEHICLE HAS ALREADY EXPERIENCE THE DEFECT STATED IN THE RECALL. TS

CONSUMER STATES THAT TRANSMISSION FLUID STARTED LEAKING ONTO THE GROUND AND DOWN THE EXHAUST PIPE. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE STARTED TO FILL WITH SMOKE AND CAUGHT FIRE. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER CAME OFF IN COMSUMER HAND FROM THE HEAT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. MR

TURN SIGNALS NOT WORKING. AT FIRST NOTICED FAST FLASHING OF INDICATOR ON DASH, THEN NOTICED SLOW FLASHING, AND THEN NO FLASHING, JUST A STEADY INDICATOR LIGHT, AND FINALLY, NO INDICATOR LIGHT AT ALL. BOUGHT A FLASHER AT NAPA AUTO PARTS, THINKING I COULD JUST REPLACE IT, BUT I COULDN'T FIND THE FLASHER. WENT TO THE DEALER TO INQUIRE ABOUT THE REPLACEMENT OF THE FLASHER AND THEY SAID CHEVROLET HAS DESIGNED THE TURN SIGNAL SYSTEM SO THAT THE ENITRE DASHBOARD HAS TO BE REMOVED TO REPLACE THE FLASHER WHICH WILL TAKE APPROX. 2 HOURS OF LABOR, COSTING OVER $200. THAT IS OUTRAGEOUS! THEY ALSO SAID THERE IS A RECALL ON THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH WHICH CONTROLS THE HAZARD LIGHTS AND TURN SIGNALS, (#O1V364000) BUT THAT MY VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE DEALER SAID THAT THE RECALL MAY BE EXTENDED TO OTHER VEHICLES, AND I COULD GET REIMBURSED. I SURE HOPE SO. IT'S REDICULOUS TO HAVE TO PAY OVER $200 TO REPLACE A FLASHER OR REPLACE A DEFECTIVE SWITCH. DT

DRIVER WAS FORCED OFF THE ROAD FROM AN EMBANKMENT AND VEHICLE LANDED IN A DITCH APPROXIMATELY 12 FEET BELOW THE ROAD. VEHICLE IMPACTED THE GROUND SURFACE HEAD ON. AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES. DT

BRAKES FAILED/SKIPPED WHEN I TRIED TO SLOW DOWN TO EXIT OFF MAJOR HIGHWAY. I WAS GOING BELOW THE SPEED LIMIT WHICH WAS 55 MPH, I WAS GOING 50 MPH. AS I PROCEEDED TO SLOW DOWN TO EXIT OFF THE HIGHWAY. I PRESSED THE BRAKES, THE BRAKES SKIPPED AND THE CAR BEGAN TO SPIN 1-2 TIMES. THEN PROCEEDED TO FLIP OVER FOUR TIMES. NO FATALITIES, BUT DRIVER WHO WAS MYSELF WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED AND REQUIRED LEFT ARM AND HAND SURGERY DUE TO DEGLOVING OF HAND AND LACERATED TRICEPS AND SERIOUS GLASS DAMAGE. THE CAR WAS TOTALLED OUT. DRIVER SIDE ROOF WAS CAVED IN AND PASSENGER SIDE ROOF WAS COMPLETELY CAVED IN. BRAKES SEEMED LIKE THEY TRIED TO GRASP THE TIRES FAILED TO DO SO THEREFORE SKIPPING AND CAUSING THE CAR TO GO OUT OF CONTROL. DT

NHTSA# 01 I 018 000 & 01 V 200 000/BALL JOINT SEPARATION: CONSUMER STATES THAT THE LEFT FRONT UPPER BALL JOINT SEPARATED AND CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING. DEALER CONTACTED AND INFORMD THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT COVER UNDER THE VIN#. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *MR

ENOUGH OIL IS NOT BEING SUPPLIED TO ENGINE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED, PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *MR

BOUGHT USED VEHICLE THOUGHT IT NEEDED A TUNE UP. LEAKING INJECTORS CAUSES SHAKE WANT TO KNOW IF THIS IS A REOCCURING PROBLEM. MR

CONSUMER STATES BALL JOINTS ARE CONSTANTLY FAILING. CONSUMER HAS HAD TO REPLACE THEM TWICE. A RECALL WAS INITIATED, BUT CONSUMER'S VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. RELATED RECALLS 01V200000 AND 01I018000. *AK RIGHT FRONT WHEEL FELL OFF AS A RESULT OF THE FAULTY BALL JOINTS. THERE WAS SQUEAKING NOISE ON TURNS DUE TO IDLER ARM FAILURE. FRONT PADS WORN OUT AND ROTORS FAILED, BOTH WERE REPLACED. *YH

WHILE DRIVING AT NORMAL SPEED TWO FRONT WHEELS SUDDENLY WENT TO RIGHT, AND CONSUMER HIT A STONE WALL. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

WHILE APPLYING BRAKES AT LOW SPEED, INTERMITTENTLY BRAKE PRESSURE CAUSED PEDAL TO HARDEN. MORE PRESSURE NEEDED TO BE APPLIED ON BRAKE PEDAL TO GET VEHICLE TO STOP. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AKI

WHILE DRIVING 45MPH HEARD A POPPING NOISE .*AK

AT 30 MPH ACCELERATOR PEDAL GOT STUCK, CONSUMER APPLIED MORE PRESSURE AND PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THEN, GOT STUCK IN THAT POSITION. CONSUMER HAD TO APPLY BRAKES HARD, SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL, AND SHUT OFF ENGINE. DEALER STATED THE ENGINE WAS DAMAGED, AND HAD TO BE REPLACED.*AK

IN JAN 99, THERMOSTAT APPEARED TO FAIL AND WHEN I OPENED THE RADIATOR CAP, NOTICED WHAT LOOKED LIKE MUD/GRIT IN CAP. TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE CHEVROLET DEALER, THEY SAID THEY DID NOT KNOW WHAT IT WAS. ENDED UP REPLACING INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET, PULLING AND REPAIRING/CLEANING RADIATOR AND REPLACING THERMOSTAT. IN JULY 2002, TRUCK OVERHEATED AGAIN. TOOK IT TO FIRESTONE WHERE THEY RECOMMENDED $1200 IN REPAIRS TO FLUSH OUT "COAGULATED" COOLANT (DEXCOOL). ENDED UP REPLACING RADIATOR, RADIATOR CAP, AND THERMOSTAT (AGAIN) AND FLUSHING ENTIRE COOLANT SYSTEM. FIRESTONE PERSONNEL SAID THIS WAS A RECURRING PROBLEM ON THE BLAZERS WITH THE DEXCOOL BREAKING DOWN AND TURNING INTO A BROWN, MUDDY, GUMMY SUBSTANCE. ACCODING TO FIRESTONE, GM HAS SEVERAL TECH BULLETINS OUT ON THIS, BUT THEY REFUSE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THIS DEXCOOL BROKE DOWN AFTER ONLY 30,000 MILES. WHY HAS NOTHING BEEN DONE ABOUT THIS? GM IS KNOWINGLY SELLING A DEFICIENT PRODUCT AND THEY REFUSE TO STAND BEHIND IT. PLEASE, CAN SOMEONE OUT THERE HELP US!?!?!?!*AK

I TRIED TO GET MY EXTENDED WARRANTY TO FIX THE ISSUE, BUT REFUSED TO COVER IT. I TOLD THEM THAT IT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE, THEY DISAGREED. I DID NOT KNOW THAT THE NHTSA EXISTED, OTHER WISE YOU WOULD OF HEARD FROM ME A LONG TIME AGO. I READ AN ARTICLE IN THE PAPER WHICH STATED PROBLEMS WITH RECALLS AND THE VEHICLES INVOLVED AND THATS WHEN I SAW THAT MY CAR WASN'T THE ONLY CHEVROLET VEHICLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP TO SEE IF IT HAD ANYMORE RECALLS TO IT AND THEY TOLD ME NO. MY BLAZER HAS HAD PRIOR RECALL FOR A HARNEST OF SOME SORT!!!! THIS IS A BIG SAFETY ISSUE TO ME. EVERYTIME IT RAINS I HAVE TO PULL OVER TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY. WIPERS DON'T SEEM TO WORK AT ALL NOW, AND NEITHER DOES THE WATERPUMP THAT SQUIRTS THE WATER TO CLEAN THE WINDSHILD. THIS HAPPEND AFTER APPROX. 90 DAYS AFTER I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. *AK

FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED TO OPERATE SOMETIMES. *AK

WHILE DRIVING IN RAIN WINDSHIELD WHPERS STOPPED WORKING, UNABLE TO SEE, ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT.DEALER CONTACTED.*AK

WHILE RECALL REPAIRS ON UPPER BALL JOINTS WERE DONE, MECHANIC NOTICED LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE WORN OUT AS WELL.*AK

REAR MIDDLE SEATBELT BUCKLE WILL NO LONGER LATCH. VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN EXAMINED BY DEALER.*AK

WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR WILL GO OUT WHILE DRIVING. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS MAY OR MAY NOT ALWAYS TURN ON. THEY WILL GO OUT WHILE DRIVING, THEN THEY MAY TURN BACK ON AFTER A PERIOD OF TIME. *SCC

VEHICLE HAS A CONTINUAL PROBLEM WITH BATTERY GOING DEAD, DEALER CAN NOT FIND THE PROBLEM EVEN AFTER DISCONNECTING EVERYTHING TO SEE WHAT WAS DRAINING THE BATTERY. *SLC

THE CAR IS STUCK IN 4-WHEEL DRIVE. WHEN I PUSH THE 2 WHEEL DRIVE BUTTON, IT WILL NOT GO BACK TO NORMAL.

INTERMITTENTLY WINDSHIELD WIPERS BECOME INOPERABLE, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY. A RECALL HAS ISSUED ON SIMILAR VEHICLES; HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTICED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

02/17/00 (36417 MILES)--COOLING SYSTEM FLUSHED PER TSB #99-06-02-012 AND HEATER CORE REPLACED. 6/15/00 (39128 MILES)--COOLING SYSTEM FLUSHED PER TSB. 11/15/00 (42626 MILES)--COOLING SYSTEM FLUSHED PER TSB. 6/2/02 (60,715 MILES)--RADIATOR AND HEATER CORE REPLACEMENT AND COOLING SYSTEM FLUSH REQUIRED.

CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE HAS AN ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM PROBLEM.(DEX-COOL ENGINE COOLANT). NLM BECAUSE OF CRYSTALIZATION, THE COOLING SYSTEM NEEDS REPAIR. GM REFUSES TO OFFER ANY TYPE OF ASSISTANCE. *JG