1996 Chevrolet Blazer
This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.
This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.
- Complaints
- 1,153
- Recalls
- 11
- Investigations
- 7
- Top problem
- Service brakes
Campaigns on file for 1996
Opened by NHTSA
43% of complaints
Complaints per year
1996: 1,153 complaints
View as data table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 1980 | 1 |
| 1981 | 1 |
| 1982 | 1 |
| 1983 | 4 |
| 1984 | 9 |
| 1985 | 29 |
| 1986 | 19 |
| 1987 | 30 |
| 1988 | 41 |
| 1989 | 40 |
| 1990 | 33 |
| 1991 | 222 |
| 1992 | 280 |
| 1993 | 517 |
| 1994 | 628 |
| 1995 | 1,225 |
| 1996 | 1,153 |
| 1997 | 768 |
| 1998 | 716 |
| 1999 | 436 |
| 2000 | 589 |
| 2001 | 326 |
| 2002 | 246 |
| 2003 | 77 |
| 2004 | 50 |
| 2005 | 15 |
| 2006 | 19 |
| 2007 | 9 |
| 2008 | 5 |
| 2019 | 185 |
| 2020 | 218 |
| 2021 | 133 |
| 2022 | 50 |
| 2023 | 43 |
| 2024 | 50 |
| 2025 | 31 |
| 2026 | 1 |
Known problem areas
Percentages can add to more than 100% — a complaint can name more than one system.
Service brakes
43% · 492 reportsMost commonly citing hydraulic and air.
Show complaint excerpts
Car accident was May 2008 was reported to usaa insurance and nc commissioner. I am former us army spouse and contractor 15 years. I am back at home of record.
NHTSA ODI report, 2015-07-09
On March 23, 2023 ABS Extended Stopping Distance on snow / slush surface proceeding downhill on a 4 lane highway (7200 South Wasatch Blvd. Midvale Utah). Other vehicles around me were stopping without issue.
NHTSA ODI report, 2023-03-28
Visibility
16% · 190 reportsMost commonly citing motor and windshield wiper/washer.
Show complaint excerpts
Tl* the contact owns a 1996 Chevrolet Blazer. The contact stated that the vehicle was parked when the interior caught on fire. The fire department came and extinguished the fire.
NHTSA ODI report, 2012-08-21
Engine and engine cooling
15% · 169 reportsMost commonly citing cooling system and gasoline.
Show complaint excerpts
Design: mis-position of engine valve seals causes excessive oil consumption; also, leakage at valve seals could cause fire. Tt
NHTSA ODI report, 1996-02-08
Suspension
14% · 167 reportsMost commonly citing upper ball joint and control arm.
Show complaint excerpts
While driving at normal speed two front wheels suddenly went to right, and consumer hit a stone wall. Please provide any further information.
NHTSA ODI report, 2002-09-12
Power train
9% · 105 reportsMost commonly citing automatic transmission and differential unit.
Show complaint excerpts
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.
NHTSA ODI report, 2002-10-22
Safety timeline
11 recalls · 7 investigations · oldest first
To check one car, enter its VIN on the NHTSA recall page. Check a VIN →
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1994-10-31Engineering analysisClosed 2000-02-28 ABS braking system
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1996Complaint volume 1,153 complaints filed for this model year.
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1996-11-21Fuel system, gasoline96V234000 Vehicle description: 4-door, 4-wheel drive and all-wheel drive multi-purpose passenger vehicles. During development testing, the prop shaft contacted the inboard side of the fuel tank allowing…
Remedy: Dealers will install additional shielding of the fuel tank. This will be added without removing or disassembling the fuel system.
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1997-02-28Engineering analysisClosed 1997-08-05 Seat belt webbing separation
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1997-04-17Engineering analysisClosed 1998-03-12 Steering shaft separations
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1997-09-22Seat belts97V096001 Vehicle description: extended cab pickup trucks equipped with 60/40 front bench seats and extended cab pickup trucks and 2-door utility vehicles equipped with manual locking recliner bucket seats.…
Remedy: Dealers will install a protective cover over the recliner mechanism.
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1998-12-15Visibility98V150001 Vehicle description: light duty pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles, 2 and 4-wheel drive. Solder joints near the wiring harness connector can crack causing the windshield wipers to work…
Remedy: Dealers will replace the wiper motor circuit board and cover.
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1999-03-05Preliminary evaluationClosed 1999-07-30 Upper control arm ball joint breakage
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1999-07-14Recall queryClosed 2001-12-28 Front seat recliner bolt failure
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1999-07-30Engineering analysisClosed 2001-08-28 Upper and lower control arm ball joint
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1999-12-10Service brakes, hydraulic99I006000 This is not a safety recall in accordance with the safety act. However, it is deemed a safety improvement campaign by the agency. Vehicle description: certain light duty pickup trucks, sport…
Remedy: Dealers will modify the computer program which operates the ABS unit on some vehicles, or replace the computer on others to improve the performance of the ABS on these surfaces.
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2000-05-31Service brakes, hydraulic99V193000 Vehicle description: certain 4-wheel drive pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles equipped with ABS (Antilock braking system) manufactured from September 1989 through August 1996. Under certain…
Remedy: Dealers will replace or repair the 4-wheel/2-wheel drive switch.
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2001-09-04Suspension01V200000 On certain sport utility vehicles originally sold in or currently registered in the states of Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota…
Remedy: Dealers will replace both upper ball joints. Owner notification began September 4, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive…
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2001-12-04Suspension01I018000 This is not a safety recall in accordance with the safety act. However, it is deemed a safety improvement campaign by the agency. Vehicle description: 1996-1997 4-wheel drive Chevrolet Blazer…
Remedy: GM has decided to conduct a customer satisfaction campaign to replace the upper ball joints on affected vehicles. This special policy is for a period of 8 years or 100,000 miles, whichever occurs…
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2002-05-31Engineering analysisClosed 2003-07-23 Windshield wiper failure
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2003-06-19Visibility03V159000 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.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the wiper motor circuit board and cover. Owner notification began on June 19, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and…
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2006-05-09Exterior lighting06E023000 Certain anzo combination headlamp assemblies sold as replacement lamps for use on certain passenger vehicles. Some combination lamps are not equipped with amber side reflectors which fail to…
Remedy: Anzo will notify owners and replace the headlamps free of charge. The recall began May 9, 2006. Owners may contact anzo USA at 909-468-3688.
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2006-10-18Fuel system, gasoline06E043000 Certain replacement fuel filters, fram brand name p/n G3727, with date codes X52911 through X60801 sequentially or X600141 and a mexico country or origin marking on the fuel filter housing…
Remedy: Honeywell will notify owners and replace the fuel filters free of charge. The recall began on October 18, 2006. Owners may contact fram customer service at 1-800-890-2075 (Option 1).
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2009-05-11Exterior lighting09E012000 Sabersport is recalling 16,270 combination corner and bumper lamp assemblies of various part numbers sold for use as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles. These headlamps fail to…
Remedy: Sabersport will notify owners and offer a full refund for the noncompliant combination lamps. The safety recall began on May 11, 2009. Owners may contact sabersport at 1-909-598-7589.
Buy-smart checklist
1996 Chevrolet Blazer — pre-purchase inspection
Inspect
- Service brakes: 492 reports on file for this year.
- Visibility: 190 reports on file for this year.
- Engine and engine cooling: 169 reports on file for this year.
Verify these recalls were completed
- Recall 96V234000 · Fuel system, gasoline
- Recall 97V096001 · Seat belts
- Recall 98V150001 · Visibility
- Recall 99I006000 · Service brakes, hydraulic
- Recall 99V193000 · Service brakes, hydraulic
- Recall 01V200000 · Suspension
- Recall 01I018000 · Suspension
- Recall 03V159000 · Visibility
- Recall 06E023000 · Exterior lighting
- Recall 06E043000 · Fuel system, gasoline
- Recall 09E012000 · Exterior lighting
Other years of this model
See all years ranked →FAQ
- Is the 1996 Chevrolet Blazer reliable?
- Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 1996 Chevrolet Blazer is rated "significantly worse".
- What are the most common problems with the 1996 Chevrolet Blazer?
- The most-reported component is service brakes, accounting for 43% of complaints on file.
- How many recalls does the 1996 Chevrolet Blazer have?
- 11 recalls on file for this model year.
Data updated 2026-10-09 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.