1997 Chevrolet Blazer Problems, Recalls & Reliability
1,098 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 1997 Chevrolet Blazer, alongside 7 recall campaigns and 2 defect investigations. It scores 65/100 on the trouble index — one of the years to avoid for this model. Brakes & stability leads the reports, typically around 81,000 miles.
Avoid this year if you can. The 1997 Chevrolet Blazer sits at the top of this model's complaint rankings. Quieter picks in the same family: 1990–1991, 2002–2004, 2019–2022.
Avoid
Where 1997 sits among all Blazer years
What owners report
“The brake power assist unit was replaced but the brakes are still not functioning well. I had the dealer check them and they said they checked out ok.”— owner report to NHTSA, 1997 Blazer
“The windshield wiper failed while driving in the rain, dealer said they had recall on the windshield wiper but vehicle not included due to vin.”— owner report to NHTSA, 1997 Blazer
“Upper and lower ball joints needs replaced. Upper ball joints were replaced with the 2001 recall from gm. Vehicle has less than 31,000 miles”— owner report to NHTSA, 1997 Blazer
“Car would not start all the time a new ingnition switch was put in. At a cost of 515 dollars”— owner report to NHTSA, 1997 Blazer
“Luddy chevrolet denies that problems with transfer case and transmission are engineering defects. Transmission fluid smelled burned, and also constantly slipped. Transfer case made a noise when in motion, was a bent shaft and worn bearing. Both of these problems should not be happening to a highway…”— owner report to NHTSA, 1997 Blazer
“Radiator overflow dry filled with what looks like dirt radiator filled with what looks like mud caused by dex-cool coolant should not have to be serviced for 6 years or 100,000 miles.”— owner report to NHTSA, 1997 Blazer
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 238 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 84,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 63,000 and 103,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (7)
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 CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY…
Fix: 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.
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 CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS,…
Fix: 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.
CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH A DRIVER'S SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY THAT CONTAINS AN ENERGY-ABSORBING LOOP. SUSTAINED LOADS OF SUFFICIENT MAGNITUDE AND DURATION ON THE BELT IN SEVERE CRASHES COULD FULLY DEPLOY THE BUCKLE ENERGY-ABSORBING…
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ENERGY-ABSORBING SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES WITH ONE THAT DOES NOT HAVE THE ENERGY-ABSORBING LOOP. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON AUGUST 8, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO…
CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, MINI VANS, AND PICKUP TRUCKS MAY DEVELOP A SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE ELECTRIC OUTSIDE REARVIEW MIRROR SWITCH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED JUMPER HARNESS TO THE ELECTRIC OUTSIDE REARVIEW MIRROR SWITCH. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON APRIL 24, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON…
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, GMC JIMMY, AND OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES.…
Fix: 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…
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, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO,…
Fix: 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 THE…
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. THE OUTBOARD SAFETY BELT WEBBING ON THE DRIVER'S AND/OR…
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A PROTECTIVE COVER OVER THE RECLINER MECHANISM.
Federal defect investigations
Led to recall campaign 97V096001.
Led to recall campaign 99I006000.
Technical service bulletins
59 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on engine and electrical — are on file for the 1997 Chevrolet Blazer. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
See the 1997 Blazer TSB list →
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 1997 Chevrolet Blazer reliable?
The 1997 Chevrolet Blazer drew 1,098 complaints in federal safety records — one of the years to avoid for this model. Its trouble index is 65/100, scored against the model's worst year (1995).
What are the most common 1997 Chevrolet Blazer problems?
The top reported problems for the 1997 Chevrolet Blazer are brakes & stability (170 complaints), visibility & wipers (136), and suspension (123).
At what mileage do 1997 Chevrolet Blazer problems show up?
Owners most often report 1997 Chevrolet Blazer problems around 84,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 63,000 and 103,000 miles.
Does the 1997 Chevrolet Blazer have recalls?
7 recall campaigns apply to the 1997 Chevrolet Blazer. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.