Exterior Lighting
NHTSA campaign 09E012000 · 2009 · reported 04/07/2009
DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
1996 Chevrolet Blazer Problems & Recalls
Built from official NHTSA complaint and recall data · data through 07/12/2026
High complaint levelIts most-reported problem — Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip — runs 4.0× the fleet median for that category across the 2075 model-years tracked on this site.
1,153Complaints
11Recalls
158Crashes
32Fires
103Injured
2Deaths
Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint & recall data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
Is this problem acknowledged?
The most-reported problem — Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip (29.6% of complaints) — is covered by 2 NHTSA recall campaigns.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip complaints here are 4.0× the median for that category across the 2075 model-years tracked on this site.
4 of the 6 most-reported categories on this page are backed by a recall or open investigation; the other 2 rest on owner reports alone.
| Complaint category | Reports | Official status | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip | 341 · 29.6% | Recalled | Recall 99I006000 · Recall 99V193000 |
| Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:motor | 79 · 6.9% | Recalled | Recall 03V159000 · Recall 98V150001 |
| Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer | 67 · 5.8% | Recalled | Recall 03V159000 · Recall 98V150001 |
| Power Train:automatic Transmission | 62 · 5.4% | Investigation closed | PE99021 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:cooling System | 52 · 4.5% | No official action | — |
| Suspension:front:control Arm:upper Ball Joint | 49 · 4.2% | Recalled | Recall 01V200000 · Recall 01I018000 |
Recalled = an NHTSA safety recall covers this category, so a free repair exists. Under investigation = NHTSA has an open probe but no recall yet. Investigation closed = NHTSA examined it and closed the probe — this is not a defect finding; where a closed probe led to a recall we name the campaign. Not available = recall or investigation data could not be confirmed for this vehicle — it is not a “no”. Categories are matched by NHTSA's top-level component. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Complaints by component
Percentages are the share of the 1,153 complaints citing each component; one complaint can cite several components. “Unspecified / other” is NHTSA’s own catch-all category — we show it rather than hide it.
Recalls — 11 campaigns
Exterior Lighting:headlights
NHTSA campaign 06E023000 · 2006 · reported 03/13/2006
WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Fuel System, Gasoline
NHTSA campaign 06E043000 · 2006 · reported 05/19/2006
THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE AN INADEQUATE SEAL AT THE CONNECTION, POTENTIALLY LEADING TO A FUEL LEAK. IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD OCCUR. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Suspension:front:control Arm:upper Ball Joint
NHTSA campaign 01V200000 · 2001 · reported 06/28/2001
THIS CAN RESULT IN IMPAIRED STEERING OR STEERING LOSS, OR A PARTIAL OR COMPLETE COLLAPSE OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer
NHTSA campaign 03V159000 · 2003 · reported 04/28/2003
IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR DURING BAD WEATHER, DRIVER VISIBILITY WOULD BE REDUCED, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Suspension:front:control Arm:upper Ball Joint
NHTSA campaign 01I018000 · 2001 · reported 12/04/2001
THIS COULD CAUSE A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Seat Belts
NHTSA campaign 97V096001 · 1997 · reported 06/12/1997
IF A SEPARATION OCCURRED AND THERE WERE SECONDARY CRASH EVENTS OR VEHICLE ROLLOVER, THERE WOULD BE NO BELT RESTRAINT OF THE OCCUPANT AND INCREASED INJURIES COULD OCCUR. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly
NHTSA campaign 96V234000 · 1996 · reported 11/14/1996
IF AN IGNITION SOURCE IS PRESENT, AND THERE IS A FUEL LEAK, A FIRE COULD OCCUR. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer
NHTSA campaign 98V150001 · 1998 · reported 07/01/1998
THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN INOPERATIVE WIPERS, REDUCING A DRIVER'S VISIBILITY, AND INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip
NHTSA campaign 99I006000 · 1999 · reported 07/19/1999
THESE VEHICLES CAN EXPERIENCE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCES DURING ABS STOPS ON CERTAIN MULTIPLE SURFACES, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip
NHTSA campaign 99V193000 · 1999 · reported 07/19/1999
IF THIS OCCURRED AT A TIME WHEN MINIMUM STOPPING DISTANCE WAS REQUIRED, A VEHICLE CRASH COULD OCCUR WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Park it Park outside Specimen badges — shown on a recall card only when NHTSA sets the flag. None of the campaigns above carries either flag. Always check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What owners report
“BRAKES/ROTORS; WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND APPLYING THE BRAKES THEY GO COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR AND THE VEHICLE DOES NOT STOP. JANUARY 1997, TOOK TO…”NHTSA complaint 813246 — filed 06/18/1997 · SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
“ANTI-LOCK BRAKES: WHEN DRIVING ALONG THE BRAKES GO OFF INTERMITTENTLY WHEN HITTING A POTHOLE OR A RAILRIOAD TRACK. ACTIVATES ON GRAVEL MUDDY ROADS. MAKES A…”NHTSA complaint 812541 — filed 05/28/1997 · SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
“VEHICLE WAS AT COMPLETE STOP, AT IDLE POSITION VEHICLE WAS IN DRIVE, AND WENT INTO OPEN THROTTLE POSITION, IMPACT 12:00. BRAKES WERE APPLIED BUT HAD…”NHTSA complaint 812217 — filed 05/13/1997 · SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.
Complaint trend by year filed
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1996 Chevrolet Blazer?
Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip issues are the most-reported category, cited in 341 of 1,153 NHTSA complaints (29.6%), followed by visibility:windshield wiper/washer:motor (79), visibility:windshield wiper/washer (67), power train:automatic transmission (62). Complaints are unverified owner reports.
How many complaints does the 1996 Chevrolet Blazer have?
1,153 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Of those, 158 involved a crash, 32 involved a fire, and 103 reported injuries. 2 deaths were reported.
Does the 1996 Chevrolet Blazer have any recalls?
Yes — 11 NHTSA safety recall campaigns, including campaign 09E012000. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Has NHTSA acted on the 1996 Chevrolet Blazer's reported problems?
4 of the 6 most-reported complaint categories on this page are backed by an NHTSA safety recall or open investigation; the rest are unverified owner reports. A recall means a free repair is available at authorized dealers.
Is a complaint proof of a defect?
No. Complaints are reports submitted by consumers to NHTSA. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints, and a complaint is not proof that a defect exists.
About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/12/2026.
