1996 Chevrolet Blazer complaints

WINDSHIELD WIPERS SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING DURING USE. THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES WHICH COULD LEAD TO A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. THIS PROBLEM IS VERY COMMON ON 1994, 1995, AND 1996 BLAZERS . GM RECALLED THEM IN CANADA BUT NOT IN THE U.S.

I AM WRITING TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE FACT THAT MY 1996 CHEVROLET BLAZER REQUIRED MAJOR REPAIRS TO ITS RADIATOR THAT HAS A STICKER ON IT STATING THAT THERE SHOULD BE NO MAINTENANCE FOR 100,000 MILES. THE DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THEY RECOMMEND I REPLACE THE RADIATOR, FOR ADDITIONAL MONEY. THIS WAS NOTED ON THE RECEIPT. I DECLINED, DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE MANUFACTURER NOTES THAT THE RADIATOR SHOULD BE GOOD FOR 100,00 MILES. I THEN NOTICED A SERVICE BULLETIN NUMBER REFERENCED ON THE RECEIPT. I THEN RESEARCHED THIS ITEM TO DETERMINE WHY THIS ITEM WAS REFERENCED. IN MY RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND THAT CHEVROLET WAS AWARE OF A PROBLEM WITH THE COOLANT IN THE BLAZER RADIATOR AND ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN TO ITS DEALERS TO INFORM THEM OF WHAT TO DO TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM AND ALSO TO RECOMMEND REPLACEMENT. I AM APPALLED THAT THE MANUFACTURER WOULD BE AWARE OF SUCH A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE OF ONE OF ITS AUTOMOBILES AND NOT INFORM THE CONSUMER. AND IF THEY FELT CONSUMER INFORMATION WAS NOT WARRANTED, THEY COULD AT LEAST PAY FOR REPAIRS TO THOSE AUTOMOBILE THAT HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE RADIATOR THEY DISCOVERED THEMSELVES, DOES NOT FUNCTION CORRECTLY. I PAID $ 661.00 APPROX. TO REPAIR MY RADIATOR AND WAS PRESSURED, AND REMINDED ON MY RECEIPT THAT I DID NOT PURCHASE A NEW ONE AS RECOMMENDED. I AM INFURIATED THAT CHEVROLET DID NOT REPAIR MY CAR FREE OF CHARGE. I AM WRITING TO COMPLAIN AND HOPEFULLY RECOUP SOME OF THE MONEY I PAID FOR THE REPAIRS. PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT THE PROCESS IS AND IF

RADIATOR/COOLING SYSTEM PLUGGED UP, CAUSING ENGINE LIGHT TO COME ON (2 TIMES). *AK

RADIATOR AND ENGINE COMPLETELY FLUSHED, CAP AND THERMOSTAT REPLACED DUE TO "MUD" IN SYSTEM.DEALER TOLD ME "MUD" WAS ACTUALLY METAL AND SAND LEFT IN ENGINE BLOCK DURING THE PRODUCTION/MILLING PROCESS. 1 MONTH AFTER FLUSH THE SYSTEM IS CLOGGED AGAIN WITH THIS MUD. DEALER SAYING ANOTHER FLUSH IS NEEDED ALONG WITH POSSIBLE WATER PUMP AND HEATER CORE REPLACEMENT. DEALER AND OTHER LOCAL CAR MAINTENANCE COMPANIES SAID THEY HAVE SEEN THIS MANY TIMES IN THESE BLAZERS. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A PROBLEM GM SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR.

THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN, THE CONSUMER WAS TRYING TO STOP THE BRAKES FAILED CAUSING ACCIDENT, THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. *YH

TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING OUT OF GEAR WHEN ACCELERATING FROM STOP OR RPM'S WILL REV HIGH, BUT VEHICLE WILL NOT MOVE AS FAST AS IT SHOULD. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO PONTIAC DEALER WHERE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, AND WAS TOLD A POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ADVISED CONSUMER TO GO TO A CHEVROLET DEALER TO PERFORM REPAIR BECAUSE IT STILL FELL UNDER MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO CHEVROLET DEALER, AND WAS TOLD A TSB WAS ISSUED FOR A HARNESS JUMPER KIT WHICH WAS CAUSING THE DEFECT. CHEVROLET DEALER DID NOT INSPECT VEHICLE TO DETERMINE IF THAT WAS THE ACTUAL CAUSE.*AK

DUE TO FRONT FRAME OF THE VEHICLE BREAKING BEHIND LEFT FRONT WHEEL VEHICLE WAS ROCKING BACK AND FORTH DURING OPERATION; IN ADDITION, TO A POPPING AND GRINDING NOISE BEING EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP HAS EXAMINED VEHICLE AND WAS IN PROCESS OF REPAIRING DEFECT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

WHENEVER WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE IN USE THEY WOULD CUT OFF BY THEMSELVES. WOULD NEED TO GET OUT AND JIGGLE THEM. SOMETIMES, THEY COME ON BY THEMSELVES. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. *AK

FRONT PASSENGER AND DRIVER REAR SEAT BELTS FAILED TO WORK PROPERLY. DRIVER REAR FAILED TO RELEASE ENOUGH TO BE USED. PASSENGER'S FRONT SEAT BELT KEPT LOCKING UP WITHOUT PASSENGER USING IT. *AK

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK WHEN THEY WANT TO WORK. THIS HAS BEEN RECALLED ON VEHICLES THAT WERE MADE AUGUST 1994 THROUGH MAY 1996. MY VEHICLE WAS MADE IN JULY 1996 AND HAS THE SAME WIPER TROUBLE AS THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID# 98V150001 WHICH IS MANUFACTURERS CAMPAIGN #98043.I HAVE TALKED WITH DEALER ABOUT THIS SAFTY HAZARD, BUT SINCE IT IS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST, THEY DO NOT WANT TO REPAIR IT. THANK YOU. *AK

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR A BRAKE SERVICE, AND ASKED FOR A ROTATION OF TIRES. DEALERSHIP INFORMED HIM THEY COULD NOT ROTATE TIRES OR PERFORM A FRONT END ALIGNMENT BECAUSE ALL OF FRONT BALL JOINTS WERE WORN OUT. A CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP MENTIONED THAT THIS COULD BE THE RESULT OF A BAD DESIGN. *AK CONSUMER ALSO HAD FRONT BRAKES REPLACED, CONSUMER ALSO HAD TO REPLACE ALL FOUR TIRES DUE TO BALL JOINTS.*JB

I THINK THAT THE PROPER WAY TO ADDRESS THIS SITUTATION IS TO NOT BUY ANOTHER CHEVROLET. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED IN SUMMARY. *AK

RADIATOR WAS DEFECTIVE, AND TEMPERATURE GAUGE WAS ON RED. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK

RECALL 98V1500.0I/WINDSHIELD WIPER WIRING: WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY, CAUSING IN NOPERATIVE WIPERS, AND POOR VISIBILITY WHICH COULD LEAD TO A VEHICLE CRASH. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT COVER UNDER ANY RECALL. *AK

RECALL 99 I 006 00 & 99 V 193 000/ABS BRAKES. VEHICLE EXPERIENCED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALLS DUE TO VIN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

WHEN DRIVING IN RAIN WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL JUST STOP WORKING, THEY MAY COME BACK ON OR THEY MAY NOT.*AK

EA 99022,WHILE DRIVING BALL JOINTS IN FRONT END FAILED/CAME OUT AND CUT RIM DOWN CENTER, CAUSING FRONT WHEEL TO COLLAPSE AGAINT WALL. *AK

VEHICLE ACCELERATED SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY, RESULTING IN A COLLISION . *NOTE: ON JUNE 19TH, THE CONSUMER CALLED AGAIN TO STATE THAT THE DEALERSHIP FOUND THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM FOR SUDDEN ACCELERATION IN THE VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP STATED THAT THE IDLE AIR CONTROL WAS THE DEFECTIVE COMPONENT AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. OPERATOR 920. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENT.

HEATING AND COOLING SYSTEM CAN CREATE A FLOOD IN ENGINE. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER HAD TO FLUSH RADIATOR WITH ACID FLUSH TYPE LIQUID. DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. *AK

BRAKES FAIL-PEDAL GOES ALL THE WAY TO FLOOR MAKING NOISE, MUST PUMP BRAKES FOR SEVERAL SECONDS TO GET THEM TO START TO WORK AGAIN= THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM NOT FIXED BY THE PREVIOUS TWO RECALLS AND IS VERY UNSAFE. *AK

THE BALL JOINTS HAVE SIGNIFICANT PLAY IN THEM AND ARE IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT: THIS WAS NOTICED WHEN TIRES THAT WERE NEW IN NOVEMBER WERE FOUND TO BE BALD ON THE INNER EDGE WHEN I SAW THE STEEL BELT. I THOUGHT IT WAS PERHAPS THE ALLIGNMENT BUT IT TURNED OUT TO BE THE BALL JOINTS ALLOWING THE WHEELS TO TOE OUTWARD. THIS I HAVE SUBSEQUENTLY FOUND TO BE POOR PLANNING IN THE DESIGN OF THE FACTORY BALL JOINTS IN THAT THEY DO NOT ALLOW FOR LUBRICATION OR MAINTENANCE. ON ONE SIDE THE WHEEL HAS PLAY OF APPROXIMATELY 1/2 INCH THE OTHER SIDE HAS SIGNIFCANT PLAY AS WELL, BUT NOT AS MUCH. THE FAILURE WAS NOT CATASTROPHIC, I WAS ADVISED BY MY MECHANIC NOT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AS THE BALL JOINTS ARE DEGRADED TO A STATE THAT IS UNSAFE.*AK

STEERING BECAME HARD TO STEER EVEN THOUGH POWER STEERING. I WAS TOLD BY DEALER P/S PUMP WAS LEAKING AND LACK OF FLUID MADE STEERING DIFFICULT. I FEEL WITH THE LOW MILAGE OF 53,000 THIS SHOULD NOT BE A PROBLEM AND COULD HAVE RESULTED IN MORE SEVERE PROBLEMS IF PUMP HAD COMPLETELY LEAKED EMPTY CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH VEHICLE DROPPED DOWN, RIGHT FRONT UPPER CONTROL ARM HAD BROKEN. *AK THE UPPER ARM CAME OFF BALL JOINT DUE TO LACK PROPER GREEZING. *YH

WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, CAUSING A COLLISION. DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED ON VEHICLE'S MAKE AND MODEL; HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. MANUFACTURER WILL BE NOTIFIED.*AK

CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE BRAKE SHOES/ROTORS APPROXIMATELY 4 TIMES SINCE SHE HAS OWNED VEHICLE. FIRST REPLACEMENT OCCURRED WHEN VEHICLE HAD LESS THAN 11,000 MILES ON IT. LAST OCCURRENCE INVOLVED REPLACEMENT OF FRONT BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS AT 59,189 MILES. *AK

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY, THEY STOP WORKING DURING OPERATION . DEALER / MANUFAXCTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER MANUFACTURER'S RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK *SLC

DEXACOOL ENGINE COOLANT TURNED TO "MUD" CAUSING THE ENGINE TO OVER HEAT AND RESULTING IN TOTAL REPLACEMENT OF RADIATOR AND ASSOCIATED SYSTEMS. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION GM IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE DEXACOOL "SERVICE BULLETIN" ISSUED. GM HAS CHARGED A $500 DEDUCTABLE. IT STILL SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER THE 5YR/100,000 WARRENTY. GM CUSTOMER SERVICE HAS PROVIDED NO HELP. PLEASE ADVISE WHAT MY NEXT STEP SHOULD BE. THANKS

RECALL 99I006000 WAS REPAIRED BY THE DEALERSHIP. HOWEVER, AFTER DEFECT WAS REPAIRED BRAKE SYSTEM WILL LOCK UP, AND CONSUMER WILL LOSE CONTROL OF STEERING. *AK VEHICLE STALLED 2 TIMES AFTER DRIVEN, THEN SHUT OFF FOR 15 MINUTES THEN RESTARTED, DEALER REPROGRAMMED ECM. FRONT BRAKE PADS REPLACED, RESURFACED ROTORS, REPLACED WORN OUT BRAKES, DURING LIGHT BRAKING DURING LIGHT RAIN, ABS KICKS IN. REAR TIRES WORN ON OUTSIDE EDGES, CONSUMER DID NOT GIVE ANY SPECIFIC INFORMATION REGARDING TIRES. *SLC

TURN SIGNAL, FRONT AND REAR STOPPED WORKING, FUES AND RELAY ARE NOT AT FAULT. *AK

I HAVE CALLED THE GMC ABOUT THE RECALLED 1996 BLAZER FOR WINDSHIELD WIPERS. ACCORDING TO THEM THEY SAY MY VEHICLE DOES NOT FALL UNDER THE RECALL. AS OF 03/19/01 THEY QUIT WORKING. I HAVE MADE SEVERAL CALLS AND GMAC WOULD LOOK INTO IT. I HAVE A REFERENCE # THAT THEY HAVE GIVEN ME C01482358.*AK

RECALL 98V 150 001/ WINDSHIELD WIPER WIRING: VEHICLE EXPERIENCING INTERMITTENT WORKING OF WINDSHIELD WIPERS. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL DUE TO VIN. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

TRANSMISSION FAILED. 3 TO 4 CLUTCH PATCHES DISINTEGRATED . TRANSMSSION HAS BEEN REPLACED.*AK

BATTERY LEAKED ACID ONTO 4 WHEEL DRIVE CABLE. FRONT WHEEL DRIVE FAILED. CABLE HAD CORRODED ACTUATOR CABLE.CAUSED CABLE TO BREAK.FAILURE OCCURED ON TRIP TO MOUNTAINS. HAD TO GET CHAINS TO GET OUT OF SNOW. IT COST 203.13 TO REPLACE ACTUATOR CABLE AND 226.61 TO REPLACE BATTERY CABLE AND BATTERY. BATTERY WAS ONLY ONE YEAR OLD. SERVICE MANAGER SAID THEY HAVE SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH DELCO BATTERIES. SAME PROBLEM HAS ALREADY BEEN REPORTED TO NHTSA. REFERENCE ODI ID 554064,724743,717883,885560

WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO STOP BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO FLOOR, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, RESULTING IN A COLLISION. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

GEERAL MOTORS RECCOMMENDED COOLANT FOR CHEVROLET BLAZER'S CLOGGED THE RADIATOR AND THERMOSTAT RESULTING IN THE REPLACEMENT OF ALMOST THE ENTIRE COOLING SYSTEM. THIS OCCURED WELL BEFORE THE MANUFACTURER'S SUGGESTED SIMPLE COOLANT REPLACEMENT.100,000 MILE C

OIL LEAKING FROM TRANSMISSION COOLER LINE AT A REMOTE FILTER LOCATION. *AK *SLC

NO SUMMERY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

ABS BRAKES LOCK UP SPORADICALLY, WITH NO WARNING. CAN HAPPEN AT ANY TIME BRAKE PRESSURE IS APPLIED. BRAKES ALSO HAVE A HIGH PITCHED SQUEAL/SQUEEK WHEN BRAKING TO STOP. THE LOCKING UP PROBLEM IS ONLY OCCASIONALLY, WHILE THE SQUEALING/SQUEEKING NOISE IS THERE ALL THE TIME.

WHILE APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION AND APPLYING THE BRAKES THE ABS VALVE BEGAN TO CHATTER BUT THE BRAKE DID NOT APPLY THE BRAKE VALVE ONLY CHATTERED QUICKLY ALLOWING THE BRAKES TO SHUTTER, AS A RESULT OF THE VEHICLE NOT BEING ABLE TO STOP THE CONSUMER HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. NLM

WHILE TURNING INTO A PARKING LOT THE UPPER BALL JOINT ON THE DRIVER SIDE BROKE CAUSING TIRE TO COME OFF THE VEHICLE, THE CONSUMER HAD ALL FOUR BALL JOINTS REPLACED. NLM

RIGHT FRONT SUSPENSION COLLAPSED CAUSING THE WHEEL AND TIRE TO EXPLODE. NLM

NO MAJOR SAFETY PROBLEMS. HOWEVER, SIGNFICANT MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WITH VERY MODERATE MILEAGE. MECHANICAL PROBLEMS INCLUDE STEERING LINKAGE, WATER PUMP, STARTER, HEAD GASKET.

FRONT WHEEL CAME LOOSE FROM TIRE. IT HOLDS WHOLE FRAME OF VEHICLE. CONSUMER WAS IN REVERSE AND TURNED OUT ON A MAIN ROAD. ABOUT 10 FEET THERE WAS A POP, STEERING FELT FUNNY. DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL POPPED LOOSE FROM FRAME. CONSUMER WILL CONTACT MANUFACTURER TO REFER THEM TO A CHEVROLET DEALER.*AK

WINDSHIELD WIPERS ONLY WORK OCCASIONALLY.....USUALLY WHEN IT'S RAINING,THEY DON'T WORK. CONTACTED CHEVROLET BECAUSE WE SAW THAT THE 1996 BLAZER WIPERS WERE RECALLED....THEY SAID OUR BLAZER IS A WEEK OF OF THE RECALL VIN #'S. , AND SINCE WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN INT AN ACCIDENT, THEY WON'T DO ANYTHING.*AK

BRAKES FAILED,RUBBING NOISE RESULTING THE PATH OF AN AUTO/DAMAGE LISTED

SOMETIMES WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD BE WORKING/SOMETIMES THEY WOULD NOT,AND SOMETIMES THERE WAS A DELAYED REACTION. *AK

WHILE CHANGING LANES VEHICLE SWERVED. DRIVER STOPPED VEHICLE, AND UPON VISUAL INSPECTION NOTICED THAT BALL JOINT BROKE OFF. *AK

ON 8/18/1999 I TOOK MY 1996 CHEVY BLAZER TO SUPERIOR CHEVROLET (MERRIAM, KS [XXX]) BECAUSE THE ENGINE COOLING LIGHT KEPT COMING ON. AS SOON AS I TOLD THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE ABOUT THE PROBLEM HE REPLIED THAT THIS WAS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH 1996 BLAZERS DUE TO A DEFECTIVE COOLANT (DEX-COOL) THAT WAS USED IN THE VEHICLE. THEY SAID THAT THE FIX WAS TO "FLUSH" THE COOLING SYSTEM IN ACCORDANCE TO GM SERVICE BULLETIN NO. 99-06-02-012 (OF WHICH I HAVE A COPY). AT THIS TIME THEY CHARGED ME $543.96 FOR THE "FLUSH". AS I INVESTIGATED THE INCIDENT MORE I FOUND FROM SEVERAL OF THE SERVICE PERSONEL AT THIS DEALERSHIP, AS WELL AS FROM THE SERVICE MANAGER ([XXX] [XXX]) THAT THE PROBLEM WITH THE DEX-COOL COOLANT WAS VERY COMMON WITH 1996 &1997 BLAZERS. I THEN QUESTIONED WHY THE CONSUMER SHOULD PAY FOR AN INFERIOR COOLANT THAT WAS USED IN THESE VEHICLES. AS I PURSUED MY COMPLAINT MORE, THE SERVICE MANAGER ENDED UP CONTACTING THE AREA REP FOR CHEVY, WHO IN TURN ENDED UP REIMBURSING ME APPROX. $312. OF MY $543. AT THE TIME I FIGURED THAT I BETTER TAKE WHAT I COULD GET, AND THAT THE PROBLEM WAS RESOLVED.... WELL HERE I AM 18 MONTHS LATER AND 19,200 MILES LATER AND THE COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. ONCE AGAIN I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO SUPERIOR CHEVROLET, AND ONCE AGAIN THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE COOLING SYSTEM DUE TO THE DEX-COOL COOLANT ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE REPS AND SERVICE MANAGER. THIS TIME THOUGH THE SERVICE MANAGER SAYS THAT THE ENTIRE COOLING SYSTEM (RADIATOR, HEATER CORE, AND WATER

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK