2004 Chevrolet Blazer

Routine

Owners filed 50 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the electrical system. It has been recalled 1 time.

When it fails
020k40k60k90k120k200k
38,000 milesMedian miles at failure

39 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 010,000 miles.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Electrical System6
101
Structure › Body3
001
Service Brakes3
000
Air Bags3
101
Tires2
102
Suspension2
000
Structure2
000
Steering2
000
Power Train › Automatic Transmission2
100
Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer › Linkages1
000

1 safety recall

Part 573 reports
Equipment › Other › Labels04V132000
Filed Mar 18, 2004183,922 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.

Defect. CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION."

Risk. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES INCLUDE INCORRECT STATEMENTS ON ONE OF THE AIR BAG WARNING LABELS.

Remedy. OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH CORRECT LABELS AND INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JUNE 4, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 OR GMC AT 1-866-996-9463.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Air Bags
Filed Mar 8, 2018162,327 milesTX

COUPLE WEEK AFTER BOUGHT, COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE. COST 11OO TO FIX.FEB. 26 LOOK OUT DOOR IN MORNING AND AIR BAGS EXPLODED AND CAUSE ALL ELECTRIC SYSTEM TO GO OUT. BRAKE WAS ON STREET, AIR BAG WAS IN DRIVEWAY AT HOME.

Air Bags
Filed Feb 27, 201883,000 milesTX

WOKE UP IN MORNING AFTER STORM AND LOOKED OUT TO FIND THAT THE AIR BAG IN BLAZER HAD EXPLODED OUT. SHUT ALL SYSTEM OFF.? THE BLAZER WAS AND IS STILL STATIONARY IN DRIVEWAY.

Service Brakes
Filed Jan 6, 201670,139 milesMD

BRAKE LINE CORRODED THROUGH AND LOST REAR BRAKES DURING STOP--DEALER UNABLE TO REPAIR PROPERLY---PART NO LONGER AVAILABLE THRU GEN MOTORS--WENT OUT DURING STOP ON HIGHWAY --NO DAMAGE TO VEHICLE OR PEOPLE--GROSELY LONGER DISTANCE TO STOP SAFELY.

Structure
Filed Dec 4, 2014121,000 milesDE

WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN INTO A PARKING LOT, MY DRIVER'S DOOR FLEW OPEN. NOW THE DOOR WILL NOT STAY CLOSED. I AM ABLE TO MANUALLY MOVE THE LATCH WITH THE DOOR OPEN BUT IT WILL NOT ENGAGE TO SECURE THE DOOR SHUT. *TR

Service Brakes
Filed Nov 13, 2014105,000 milesMA

AFTER REPLACING BRAKE PADS ON VEHICLE I WAS PUMPING BRAKES TO BLEED OUT AIR IN THE LINES AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. UPON INSPECTION THE BRAKE LINE RUPTURED DUE TO EXCESSIVE CORROSION. REQUIRED 100% REPLACEMENT OF ALL BRAKE LINES. *TR

Structure › Body
Filed Aug 15, 2014125,173 milesNC

WHILE DRIVING IN THE PARKING LOT OF LOWES, THE DOOR HINGE ON DRIVERS SIDE FAILED ALONG WITH LATCH ALLOWING IT FALL OFF. MAKING DOOR UNCLOSABLE AND CAR UNDRIVABLE. AFTER TAKING IT TO REPAIR SHOP, MECHANIC SHOWED ME SEVERAL OTHER 2004 CHEVY BLAZERS WITH THE EXACT SAME HINGE FAILURE. HE HAS REPAIRED SO MANY OF THEM WITH THE SAME PROBLEM HE CONCLUDED IT MUST BE A DEFECT. REPAIR COST FOR THIS ARE ESTIMATED AT $1K AS THE HINGE MUST BE REPLACED AND RE ENFORCED, ALONG WITH THE DRIVERS DOOR AND LOCKING LATCH. *TR

Electrical System
Filed Jul 1, 201460,000 milesNY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET BLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY BECAME LODGED IN THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNCIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

Steering
Filed Jul 1, 2014MA

THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE IGNITION. THE KEY DOES NOT RELEASE AFTER IT HAS BEEN TURNED TO THE OFF POSITION. THE CAR MUST BE TURNED BACK ON AND OFTEN MOVED IN REVERSE THEN FORWARD A NUMBER OF TIMES BEFORE THE KEY WILL RELEASE FROM THE IGNITION . *TR

Seat Belts
Filed May 12, 2014NJ

2004 CHEVROLET BLAZER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO PASSENGER SEAT BELT PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT EXTEND. THE DEALER INDICATED THE BELT WAS PROBABLY KNOTTED WITHIN THE MECHANISM. HE STATED THE COST FOR THE PART AND LABOR WOULD BE AROUND $300.00. *JB

Service Brakes
Filed Apr 7, 201489,630 milesOH

BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR VERY SLOWLY. REPAIRED BRAKES WITH ALL NEW COMPONENTS; ROTORS, PADS, CALIPERS, NEW BRAKE FLUID. BLED BRAKES AND PEDAL IS STILL VERY SPONGY AND PEDAL WILL STILL GO DOWN TO FLOOR AFTER STOPPING. CAR WILL NOT MOVE IF YOU HOLD THE PEDAL DOWN. FOUND SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ON LINE ABOUT SPONGY BRAKES ON CHEVROLET CARS.IS THERE A PROBLEM THAT I CAN NOT FIND FOR THESE CARS? *TR

Suspension
Filed Mar 31, 201412,400 milesTX

2004 CHEVROLET BLAZER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE IGNITION SWITCH PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE IGNITION WAS FIXED 3 DIFFERENT TIMES. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED, BECAUSE IT WOULD NOT START, DUE TO THE FAULTY IGNITION CYLINDER WOULD NOT TURN. IN NOVEMBER 2013, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO INTO NEUTRAL OR PARK AND THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE TURNED OFF. PER THE MECHANIC, THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER CAME APART, AGAIN AND IT HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE MECHANIC STATED THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO A HEAVY KEY CHAIN. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE TWO WHEEL THRUST ALIGNMENT, IN WHICH THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE SERVICED TWICE WITHIN 7 MONTHS. THE CONSUMER NO LONGER OWNS THE VEHICLE. *JB

Power Train
Filed Dec 31, 2013200,000 milesFL

GOT INTO THE VEHICLE IN THE MORNING AND WHEN I PLACED IT INTO REVERSE I HEARD A LOUD SHATTERING NOISE AND THE CAR WOULD NOT BACK UP. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE TRANSMISSION SHOP AND THEY REPORTED THAT THE "SUN" GEAR HAD SHATTERED WITH A REPAIR COST OF 2300.00. THEY ALSO TOLD ME THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH GM TRANSMISSIONS DUE TO A WEAK GEAR FROM THE MANUFACTURER. AFTER RESEARCHING IT ON LINE I AM FINDING MANY OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THE GM CUSTOMER REP WAS VERY SHORT AND STATED THAT THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND I HAVE NO CLAIM. IF THIS WAS A KNOWN ONGOING PROBLEM GM COULD HAVE RECALLED THESE VEHICLES AND SAVED A LOT OF GRIEF FOR THEIR CUSTOMERS. I FEEL THAT I SHOULD BE REIMBURSED SOME OF THE EXPENSE OF THIS KNOWN DEFECT. *TR

TiresCrash2 injured
Filed Aug 8, 201370,000 milesOH

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET BLAZER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 45 MPH IN RAINY WEATHER WHEN THE VEHICLE HYDRO PLANED AND THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO AN UNKNOWN OBJECT. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED TWO BROKEN BONES AND TORN MUSCLES IN THE ELBOW OF HER LEFT ARM. THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED BRUISING AND SWELLING TO THE LEFT ANKLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED OR DIAGNOSED BUT DEEMED AS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

Visibility
Filed Sep 12, 20113,000 milesIL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET BLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEAT AND AIR CONDITIONER WOULD NOT BLOW FROM THE VENTS WHEN SET ON LOW. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS UNDETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 92,101. UPDATED 10/12/11*LJ UPDATED 10/26/11

Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed Aug 13, 2009120,000 milesVT

FUEL PUMP AND FUEL EVAPORATION SYSTEM ARE BAD. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System
Filed Mar 25, 200949,000 milesNY

2004 CHEVY BLAZER 4.3 V6 VEHICLE 49,000 MILES THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAKING .NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ONLINE THEY USED CHEAP PLASTIC GASKET IN COMBINATION WITH DEXCOOL FLUID SOME SAY RESULT IN MELTDOWN OF FUEL LINE GASKET RESULTING IN FIRE. *TR

Electrical System
Filed Mar 10, 200978,000 milesNJ

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET BLAZER. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE SPEEDOMETER DISPLAYED 110 MPH. THE SPEEDOMETER WOULD RESET ITSELF BACK TO NORMAL ONCE THE CONTACT TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE PREVENTS HIM FROM KNOWING HOW FAST HE IS TRAVELING. A REPORT WAS FILED WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE CONTACT WILL BE NOTIFIED IF THEY CHOOSE TO ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR. HE WILL TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 78,900.

Suspension › Front
Filed Feb 26, 200946,000 milesVA

2004 CHEVY BLAZER WITH 46,000 MILES ;SEVERE EROSION OF BALL JOINT WAS NOTED UPON ROUTINE STATE INSPECTION. *TR

Latches/Locks/Linkages
Filed Jan 22, 200924,563 milesMI

I OWN A 2004 CHEVROLET BLAZER. THE LEFT FRONT DOOR DROPPED ABOUT A QUARTER OF AN INCH AND THE LOCK WAS DRAGGING ON THE STRIKER PLATE ON THE DOOR JAM. AND GETTING MORE DIFFICULT TO OPEN AND CLOSE. ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO IT WAS IN TO THE DEALER FOR OIL CHANGE AND LUBE. I REQUESTED AT THAT TIME THAT THE LEFT DOOR BY LUBRICATED BECAUSE IT HAD STARTED TO CREAK WHEN OPENED AND CLOSED. THEY SAID THEY LUBED IT BUT THE NOISE WAS STILL THERE. SUBSEQUENTLY I TALKED TO SEVERAL MECHANICS AND TOLD THEM THE PROBLEM AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS EXISTED FOR A LONG TIME ON GM PRODUCTS AS MANY AS TWENTY FIVE OR THIRTY YEARS. I TOOK IT INTO THE DEALER ON 1-21-2009, WEDNESDAY AND THE WRITE UP PERSON ASKED A SUPERVISOR TO LOOK AT IT. THEY TOLD ME THAT A BUSHING, PIN OR HINGE WAS FAILING. AND THAT IT WOULD COST $150.00 TO REPAIR IT. HE ALSO TOLD ME THAT THE SERVICE POLICY I HAVE ON THIS VEHICLE EXCLUDES HINGES FROM BEING COVERED. AT THAT TIME HE ASKED ME IF I STILL WANTED IT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 24500 MILES ON IT. AND IF I DIDN'T REPAIR IT EVENTUALLY THE DOOR WOULD BE EITHER UNABLE TO OPEN OR CLOSE. THERE WOULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE TRYING TO DRIVE IT WITHOUT HAVING IT REPAIRED AND BEING EITHER UNABLE TO OPEN OR CLOSE THE DOOR. SUBSEQUENTLY I TOLD THEM TO REPAIR THE HINGES, PIN OR BUSHINGS SO THAT THE PROBLEM WOULD BE CORRECTED AND THE VEHICLE MADE SAFE TO DRIVE. I HAVE THE PARTS THAT THEY REPLACED. THE COST OF THIS REPAIR WAS $135.59. *TR

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Jan 13, 2009PA

ANTI-LOCK BRAKE PROBLEM I THINK- WHEN VEHICLE IS DRIVEN DURING A LIGHT DUSTING OF SNOW AND WHEN APPLYING BRAKES- VEHICLE WILL PULL ABOUT 8-15 FEET TO THE RIGHT AND DOESN'T STOP UNTIL IT'S DONE PULLING YOU THIS DISTANCE. NOW THIS SEEMS TO HAPPEN WHEN IT IS WET OUT AND DOESN'T HAPPEN EVERYTIME YOU BRAKE. I RECENTLY WAS BRAKING AT A RED LIGHT GOING ABOUT 15 MILES AN HOURS AND BEGAN BRAKING ABOUT 4 CAR LENGTHS BEFORE THE LIGHT AND MY BLAZER DID NOT STOP UNTIL IT TURNED THE CORNER ABOUT 15 FEET TO THE RIGHT. I WAS NOT TRYING TO TURN THE CORNER THE VEHICLE CROSSED OVER THE CORNER SIDEWALK AND LANDED AROUND THE CORNER. THIS IS VERY SCARY WHILE IT IS PULLING YOU HAVE NO CONTROL OVER THE STEERING WHEEL. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE CHEVY DEALER AND AM TOLD THAT THEIR EQUIPMENT CAN'T DETECT A PROBLEM. I ALSO KNOW OTHER PEOPLE THIS HAS HAPPENED TO AND AFTER THEY DISCONNECT THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM THE PROBLEM SUBSIDES. I NEED TO KNOW HOW TO CORRECT THIS ISSUE I DO NOT WANT TO BE IN AN ACCIDENT OR CAUSE ONE. THE CHEVY DEALER HAS NO EXPLANATION ON WHAT TO DO HE SAID HE WOULD THINK IT IS THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM BUT SINCE THE EQUIPMENT DOESN'T INDICATE PROBLEM HE CAN'T SEE ONE. I INQUIRED IF THIS MAY BE A PROBLEM WITH THE TRACTION/ANTI SKID SYSTEM HE DIDN'T HAVE A CLUE . CHARGED ME FOR LOOKING AT IT AND TOLD ME TO BE CAREFUL AND IF I KEPT HAVING THIS PROBLEM TO STOP BACK AGAIN (EVEN THOUGH THEY COULDN'T DETECT PROBLEM) I EXPLAINED TO HIM THAT I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE FOR A FEW YEARS AND OVE

20 of 50 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1995
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20261000Routine
202531100Routine
202445100Routine
202342200Routine
202249110Routine
2021133110Routine
2020217300Above average
2019186200Routine
20085000Routine
20079000Routine
200619010Routine
200515020Routine
2004 — this page50100Routine
200377100Routine
2002246260Above average
2001326352Fatalities reported
2000589472Fatalities reported
1999436090Above average
199871631513Fatalities reported
19977687284Fatalities reported
19961,15311322Fatalities reported
19951,22411260High concern
1994620776Fatalities reported
19935117121Fatalities reported
1992278691Fatalities reported
19912227150Above average
199032470Routine

Compare every Blazer year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Mar 18, 2004. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.