1997 Chevrolet Blazer Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Blazer years
- Far more complaints than other years 3rd of 22 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 4 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 768 complaints with NHTSA about the 1997 Chevrolet Blazer. That ranks 3rd out of 22 Blazer model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is service brakes, hydraulic (144 complaints, 19%), typically at around 80,000 miles. Complaints mention 60 crashes, 28 fires, 66 injuries. There are 4 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 2 defect investigations involving it.
- 768owner complaints
- 4safety recalls
- 2NHTSA investigations
- 60complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1997 Chevrolet Blazer problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems | 144 | 19% | 80,000 | “stopping distance” (16%) | — |
| Visibility problems | 129 | 17% | 94,000 | “windshield wipers” (58%) | — |
| Power Train problems | 110 | 14% | 71,000 | “dip stick” (11%) | $2,900 |
| Suspension problems | 105 | 14% | 82,000 | “ball joints” (52%) | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling problems | 93 | 12% | 81,167 | “water pump” (9%) | — |
| Electrical System problems | 89 | 12% | 87,700 | “ignition switch” (18%) | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline problems | 56 | 7% | 72,500 | “fuel pump” (25%) | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 47 | 6% | 81,064 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 38 | 5% | 75,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Other | 32 | 4% | 76,651 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 26 | 3% | 101,784 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 25 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Steering | 24 | 3% | 79,609 | — | — |
| Structure | 18 | 2% | 80,500 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 15 | 2% | 94,088 | — | — |
| Equipment | 14 | 2% | 107,000 | — | — |
| Seats | 10 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 7 | 1% | 64,500 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Air | 7 | 1% | 49,500 | — | — |
| Tires | 7 | 1% | 86,500 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 5 | 1% | 81,000 | — | — |
| Wheels | 5 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Child Seat | 2 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Interior Lighting | 2 | 0% | 59,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1997 Chevrolet Blazer recalls (4)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Seat belts:front:buckle assembly
Problem: 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 loop, introducing a total of 10 additional inches of webbing into the seat belt system. The free falling latch plate used in this system may allow webbing to dynamically distribute between the lap and shoulder belt as the driver's position changes during a multiple rollover event.
Risk: 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.
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 an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020, gmc at 1-800-462-8782, or oldsmobile at 1-800-442-6537.
Visibility:rearview mirrors/devices:exterior
Problem: Certain sport utility vehicles, mini vans, and pickup trucks may develop a short circuit in the electric outside rearview mirror switch.
Risk: 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.
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 an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020 or gmc at 1-800-462-8782.
Suspension:front:control arm:upper ball joint
Problem: 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, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont, west virginia, and wisconsin, and in the district of columbia. Failure of an upper control arm ball joint assembly could occur due to corrosion.
Risk: 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.
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 free remedy within a reasonable time should contact chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020, gmc at 1-800-462-8782, or oldsmobile at 1-800-442-6537.
Seat belts
Problem: 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 passenger's seat can separate during a frontal impact.
Risk: 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.
Fix: Dealers will install a protective cover over the recliner mechanism.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Seat belt webbing separation (EA97004) — opened Feb 28, 1997, closed Aug 5, 1997, led to recall 97V096001.
- Abs braking system (EA94038) — opened Oct 31, 1994, closed Feb 28, 2000, led to recall 99I006000.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
Throttle stuck brakes could not stop vehicle. Lost control and rolled. Lucky I was on my property and not a public road. No report. Can be inspected. Available anytime. This is not the only year of this model I have had this problem I have had two 2002 that have had same problem.
Tl* the contact owns a 1997 chevrolet blazer equipped with capitol precision trac ii tires, size: 235/75r15. The contact stated that the tires experienced issues with balancing. The contact was made aware of nhtsa campaign number: 14t013000 (tires); however, he was unable to get the recall repair…
While driving at night the high beams go out and the interior light will not turn off when the doors are closed or the switch turned off.
Takata recall. Plus there is a recall on my seatbelt. I called the local chevy dealership and they said there is no active recall on my vehicle.
Vehicle starts but then stalls out restart but amp gauge showing low
Other Chevrolet Blazer years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Blazer | 1 | 0 |
| 2025 Blazer | 33 | 1 |
| 2024 Blazer | 51 | 1 |
| 2023 Blazer | 43 | 2 |
| 2022 Blazer | 53 | 1 |
| 2021 Blazer | 137 | 1 |
| 2020 Blazer | 221 | 3 |
| 2019 Blazer | 187 | 2 |
| 2008 Blazer | 5 | 0 |
| 2007 Blazer | 9 | 0 |
| 2006 Blazer | 19 | 0 |
| 2005 Blazer | 15 | 0 |
| 2004 Blazer | 50 | 1 |
| 2003 Blazer | 77 | 1 |
| 2002 Blazer | 246 | 2 |
| 2001 Blazer | 326 | 3 |
| 2000 Blazer | 589 | 4 |
| 1999 Blazer | 436 | 0 |
| 1998 Blazer | 716 | 3 |
| 1997 | 768 | 4 |
| 1996 Blazer | 1,153 | 6 |
| 1995 Blazer | 1,224 | 6 |
See all Chevrolet Blazer problems by year, every Chevrolet model, or the Chevrolet VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1997 Chevrolet Blazer?
Owners most often report service brakes, hydraulic, visibility, power train problems. The top one, service brakes, hydraulic, accounts for 144 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1997 Chevrolet Blazer?
Yes, 4 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1997 Chevrolet Blazer a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Blazer model years, the 1997 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.