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
1997 Chevrolet Blazer Problems & Recalls
Built from official NHTSA complaint and recall data · data through 07/12/2026
Elevated complaint levelIts most-reported problem — Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip — runs 1.7× the fleet median for that category across the 2075 model-years tracked on this site.
768Complaints
7Recalls
60Crashes
28Fires
64Injured
4Deaths
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 (12.6% of complaints) — was examined in a now-closed NHTSA investigation that closed with a recall campaign (99I006000).
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip complaints here are 1.7× the median for that category across the 2075 model-years tracked on this site.
3 of the 6 most-reported categories on this page are backed by a recall or open investigation; the other 3 rest on owner reports alone.
| Complaint category | Reports | Official status | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip | 97 · 12.6% | Investigation closed | EA94038 → recall 99I006000 · EA94038 → recall 99V193000 |
| Power Train:automatic Transmission | 83 · 10.8% | No official action | — |
| Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:motor | 53 · 6.9% | Recalled | Recall 03V093000 |
| Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer | 50 · 6.5% | Recalled | Recall 03V093000 |
| Suspension:front:control Arm:upper Ball Joint | 42 · 5.5% | Recalled | Recall 01V200000 · Recall 01I018000 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 33 · 4.3% | No official action | — |
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 768 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 — 7 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
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
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:front:buckle Assembly
NHTSA campaign 03V117000 · 2003 · reported 03/31/2003
IF THE ENERGY-ABSORBING LOOP FULLY DEPLOYS IN A SEVERE MULTIPLE ROLLOVER CRASH, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT A BELTED DRIVER MAY EXPERIENCE PARTIAL OR EVEN COMPLETE EJECTION FROM THE VEHICLE. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Visibility:rearview Mirrors/devices:exterior
NHTSA campaign 03V093000 · 2003 · reported 03/07/2003
IF THIS WERE TO HAPPEN, IT COULD RESULT IN AN INOPERATIVE SWITCH, HEAT DAMAGE TO THE DRIVER'S DOOR, AND/OR IGNITION OF COMPONENTS IN THE DRIVER'S DOOR AND A SUBSEQUENT VEHICLE FIRE WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. 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
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
“WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, AND CAUSING A MINOR COLLISION. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.”NHTSA complaint 844857 — filed 08/11/1999 · SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
“WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND APPLYING THE BRAKES THE ABS IS KICKING IN AND THE CONSUMER RAN A RED LIGHT, AND THE BRAKES ARE…”NHTSA complaint 844700 — filed 08/09/1999 · SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
“WHILE MAKING A SUDDEN STOP THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO TRAVEL, CAUSING EXTENED STOPPING DISTANCE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.”NHTSA complaint 844661 — filed 08/09/1999 · 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 1997 Chevrolet Blazer?
Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip issues are the most-reported category, cited in 97 of 768 NHTSA complaints (12.6%), followed by power train:automatic transmission (83), visibility:windshield wiper/washer:motor (53), visibility:windshield wiper/washer (50). Complaints are unverified owner reports.
How many complaints does the 1997 Chevrolet Blazer have?
768 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Of those, 60 involved a crash, 28 involved a fire, and 64 reported injuries. 4 deaths were reported.
Does the 1997 Chevrolet Blazer have any recalls?
Yes — 7 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 1997 Chevrolet Blazer's reported problems?
3 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.
