1996 Chevrolet Blazer: problems, recalls and reliability
11 recalls and 1,153 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is service brakes, hydraulic (32% of complaints); the 1994 model year looks more trouble-free.
Data updated weekly · latest recall Apr 2009
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 1,153 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“Tl* the contact owns a 1996 chevrolet blazer. While driving at various speeds, an abnormal noise was heard from the brakes when the brake pedal was depressed. There were no warning lights illuminated. The steering wheel began to seize and the turn signals began to malfunction. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the struts, and both driver and passenger side brake pads and rotors failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred numerous times. The manufacturer was not aware of the failures. The failure mileage was approximately 142,185.”Owner report · Electrical System · Apr 2016
“Driving approx. 35 mph north on 5700 blk of tacony st philadelphia pa 19137, 2005 silver honda pulls out of drive way hits the rear passenger side and rear passenger tire of truck, truck then spins and flips over. No air bag deployed at all sustained injuries. Was taken by rescue to hospital.”Owner report · Air Bags · Aug 2015
“Tl* the contact owns a 1998 chevrolet blazer. The contact stated that the brakes failed and the brake pedal traveled to the floor. The ABS light illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and it was determined that the pressure modulator valve needed to be replaced. The manufacturer stated that the part was not under warranty. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 81,000. Updated 5/4/15*cn the consumer stated the ABS midule shorted out. Updated 05/07/15*jb”Owner report · Service Brakes · Mar 2015
Show 7 more owner reports
“I have a 1996 chevy blazer 4wd 4.3l central port fuel injection. The #4 fuse which is my gauge fuse keeps blowing and when it blows my instrument cluster zeros out and I have no clue what my speed is what my rpms are what my fuel level its, etc. My alternator stops charging and my vehical eventually stalls out due to the battery draining. *tr”Owner report · Engine · Mar 2013
“Put the cigarette lighter in. Got out of my car and walked to the front of the car. By the time got back to the door of the car to get my things out for work the dashboard of my car was on fire. *tr”Owner report · Electrical System · Sep 2012
“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. The fire department informed the contact that the origin of the fire was from the heater. Three weeks prior to the fire, the vehicle had regular maintenance performed. There were no injuries and the vehicle was destroyed. A fire report was filed. The manufacturer was not notified of the incident. The failure mileage was unknown.”Owner report · Visibility · Aug 2012
“Tl* the contact owns a 1996 chevrolet blazer equipped with definity tires ex600, size 235-70-r15 (n/a). The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to a mechanic for a routine tire rotation when he was informed that the front driver's side tire belt became separated. In addition, the passenger's side rear and front tires were prematurely worn. The tires were not replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The tire failure mileage was 50,000. The vehicle approximate current mileage was 153,000. Updated 12/18/13*cn”Owner report · Tires · Jun 2012
“I have a 1996 chevy blazer and the gas hand floats. It does not give an accurate reading on the gas gauge. I can drive and it will float from 1/2 tank to 1/4 tank while driving. It floats no matter how full or empty the tank is. It has caused me to run out of gas due to the inaccuracies. I have another gm vehicle--1993 suburban that has the same exact issue. I have ran out of gas on the freeway on the way to the airport--only thing that saved me and my children at 2:00 am in the morning was that I have roadside. *tr”Owner report · Fuel System, Gasoline · Oct 2010
“On my 1996 chevy blazer it was recently brought to my attention that I had no rear brake lights. I brought the vehicle to my regular mechanic and I was told that the multifunction switch was defective, as I had no rear hazards either. The only operational brake light was the overhead center light. I had the item replaced and received the car back yesterday, but decided to google the item and came up with the recall #01v364000. This recall only covers gmc related vehicles during calendar years 2000-2002. I have the receipt for work and have the defective part in my possession. *tr”Owner report · Electrical System · Jun 2010
“Tl* the contact owns a 1996 chevrolet blazer. The contact was traveling 40 mph when the vehicle was involved in a front end crash with another vehicle. The contact stated that none of the air bags deployed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the contact was informed that the vehicle had performed as designed based on the specifications of the crash. The current and failure mileage was 145,000.”Owner report · Air Bags · May 2010
When filing, owners marked a crash in 157 of these complaints and injuries in 103 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 11 campaigns
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 FUEL LEAKAGE. THIS LEAKAGE WAS IN EXCESS OF THE AMOUNT PERMITTED BY FMVSS 301, "FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY."
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL ADDITIONAL SHIELDING OF THE FUEL TANK. THIS WILL BE ADDED WITHOUT REMOVING OR DISASSEMBLING THE FUEL SYSTEM.
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 MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 18, 2005, THROUGH MARCH 21, 2006, SOLD FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE AND ON CERTAIN SCHOOL BUSES. (TO SEE THE SCHOOL BUS ENGINE SIZES, CLICK ON "DOCUMENT SEARCH" AND THEN "BUS APPLICATIONS"). THE CONNECTOR ON THE FUEL FILTER WAS NOT MANUFACTURED TO HONEYWELL'S SPECIFICATION. AS A RESULT, THE O-RING MAY NOT SEAT CORRECTLY ON THE FUEL LINE.
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).
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, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A PROTECTIVE COVER OVER THE RECLINER MECHANISM.
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 UTILITY VEHICLES, OR MINIVANS EQUIPPED WITH 3-SENSOR ABS (ANTILOCK BRAKING SYSTEM) EBC4 UNITS.
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.
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 DRIVING CONDITIONS THE SWITCH WHICH SIGNALS THE ABS SYSTEM WHETHER THE VEHICLE IS IN 2-WHEEL OR 4-WHEEL DRIVE CAN MALFUNCTION CAUSING INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCES DURING ABS STOPS WHILE IN THE TWO-WHEEL DRIVE MODE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE OR REPAIR THE 4-WHEEL/2-WHEEL DRIVE SWITCH.
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 INTERMITTENTLY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WIPER MOTOR CIRCUIT BOARD AND COVER.
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. SOME OWNERS HAVE HAD TO PAY FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE UPPER BALL JOINTS THAT HAVE SEPARATED. GM IS PROVIDING A SPECIAL POLICY TO THESE OWNERS TO COVER UPPER BALL JOINT REPLACEMENT IF THE CUSTOMER FOLLOWED THE RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE FOR THE CHASSIS LUBRICATION AND THE VEHICLE STILL REQUIRED THE REPLACEMENT OF THE UPPER BALL JOINTS DUE TO SEPARATION.
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 FIRST, FROM THE DATE THE VHEICLE WAS ORIGINALLY PLACED IN SERVICE, REGARDLESS OF OWNERSHIP. THE UPPER BALL JOINT REPLACEMENT, DUE TO SEPARATION, WILL BE MADE AT NO CHARGE TO THE CUSTOMER DURING THIS PERIOD. OWNERS CAN CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, GMC AT 1-800-862-4389, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537, CONCERNING THIS PROGRAM.
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 STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
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.
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. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS COULD WORK INTERMITTENTLY OR NOT AT ALL.
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 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.
How other years compare
Check your exact Blazer by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 1996 Chevrolet Blazer reliable?
NHTSA has 1,153 owner complaints and 11 recall campaigns on record for the 1996 Chevrolet Blazer. The most complained-about area is service brakes, hydraulic (32% of complaints).
At what mileage do 1996 Chevrolet Blazer problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 84,000 miles or less.
Does the 1996 Chevrolet Blazer have open recalls?
11 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assembly. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.