A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Jan 1995peak 7Jan 2002
NHTSA investigations into the 1990 Chevrolet Blazer
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough
complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks
something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
EA94029Opened 29 Jul 1994Closed 31 Jul 1996ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES
AN ALLEGED MALFUNCTION IN THE ATLERNATOR RESULTING IN ENGINE COMPARTMET FIRES.
EA92015Opened 22 May 1992Closed 28 May 1993VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
HIGH IDLE FLARE
PE92001Opened 7 Jan 1992Closed 22 May 1992VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
HIGH IDLE FLARE
EA91028Opened 10 Jun 1991Closed 30 Jun 1992SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
BRAKE FAILURE
===
PE91057Opened 6 Mar 1991Closed 12 Jul 1991EXTERIOR LIGHTING
HEADLIGHT SWITCH FAILURE
PE91052Opened 22 Feb 1991Closed 10 Jun 1991SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
BRAKE FAILURE
Complaints that involved harm
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
Pontiac, MIFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
CONSUMER PULLED VEHICLE IN DRIVEWAY AND THERE WAS BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH HOOD AND THE DASHBOARD. FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED OUT TO PUT FIRE OUT.
NHTSA complaint #8002626 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Danvers, ILFire
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
POSSIBLE ENGINE FAILURE RESULTED IN ENGINE FIRE (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). *MJS
NHTSA complaint #560460 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Newport News, VACrash1 injured
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 70MPH THERE WAS A LOUD THUMBING NOISE UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. TIRE TREAD WAS OFF, AND VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING ON THE RIM. CONSUMER'S NINE YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS THROWN FROM THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #863879 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Byers, COFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IT CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE DASH DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL SHORT.
NHTSA complaint #849764 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Millville, PAFire2 injured
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
CONSUMER STATES THAT GMC INSTALLED A MOTOR IN TRUCK. WHEN CONSUMER WENT TO START VEHICLE, TRUCK BURST INTO FLAMES, INJURYING SEVERAL PEOPLE.
NHTSA complaint #845000 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Millville, PAFire2 injured
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
GMC INSTALLED A MOTOR. UPON STARTING VEHICLE, IT BURST INTO FLAMES, INJURING SEVERAL PEOPLE.
NHTSA complaint #845001 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
Pontiac, MIFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
CONSUMER PULLED VEHICLE IN DRIVEWAY AND THERE WAS BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH HOOD AND THE DASHBOARD. FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED OUT TO PUT FIRE OUT.
NHTSA complaint #8002626 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Broadview, OH
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE ENGINE TROUBLE, THE DRIVER PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER, THE VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING THEN BECAME ENGULFED IN FLAMES (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). NLM
NHTSA complaint #560375 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Danvers, ILFire
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
POSSIBLE ENGINE FAILURE RESULTED IN ENGINE FIRE (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). *MJS
NHTSA complaint #560460 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Oklahoma, OK
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHEN APPLYING BRAKES PEDAL GOES TO FLOOR, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #884706 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Leominster, MA
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
WANT TO KNOW IF THERE ARE ANY RECALLS ON THIS BLAZER.
NHTSA complaint #735939 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SAN Luis Obispo, CA
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
PAINT IS BUBBLING AND PEELING OFF, EXPOSING PRIMER UNDERNEATH IN VARIOUS LOCATIONS ON THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #729625 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Pleasant Hill, CA
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
SEATBELT BUCKLE JAMMED INTO SEAT HANDLE RECESS AND CANNOT EXTRACATE; BELIEVE THIS IS DESIGN DEFECT, BUCKLE SHOULD BE LARGER TO AVOID FITTING INTO SEAT LOCK RECESS. CANNOT USE SAFETY BELT, CANNOT RAISE/LOWER SEAT.
NHTSA complaint #729175 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Orlando, FL
SEAT BELTS
PASSENGER SIDE AND DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBELT MOUNTING RUSTED OUT. WHILE TRYING TO FASTEN SEATBELT ENTIRE BELT POPPED OUT/.LOOSENED CONSUMER CAN'T FASTEN SEATBELT.
NHTSA complaint #869337 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Newport News, VACrash1 injured
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 70MPH THERE WAS A LOUD THUMBING NOISE UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. TIRE TREAD WAS OFF, AND VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING ON THE RIM. CONSUMER'S NINE YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS THROWN FROM THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #863879 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Copperas Cove, TX
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE PAINT ON THE HOOD AND ROOF OF VEHICLE HAS TURNED WHITE AND DISCOLORED. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY.
NHTSA complaint #718366 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Byers, COFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IT CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE DASH DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL SHORT.
NHTSA complaint #849764 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Fairfield, CT
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ONGOING/INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH ABS LOCKING UP WHILE APPLYING BRAKE PEDAL. DEALER/MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED.
NHTSA complaint #846117 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Millville, PAFire2 injured
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
CONSUMER STATES THAT GMC INSTALLED A MOTOR IN TRUCK. WHEN CONSUMER WENT TO START VEHICLE, TRUCK BURST INTO FLAMES, INJURYING SEVERAL PEOPLE.
NHTSA complaint #845000 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Millville, PAFire2 injured
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
GMC INSTALLED A MOTOR. UPON STARTING VEHICLE, IT BURST INTO FLAMES, INJURING SEVERAL PEOPLE.
NHTSA complaint #845001 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
White Lake, WI
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
DEFECTIVE ABS IS CAUSING LOSS OF BACK BRAKES WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER HAS REPLACED DUMP VALVES 5 TIMES, DEFECT IS STILL REOCCURRING.
NHTSA complaint #829629 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Mandeville, LAFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
WHILE DRIVING HEARD THINGS UNDER THE HOOD MAKING NOISE. PULLED OVER AND OPENED HOOD, AND THERE WAS A FIRE UNDERNEATH. CALLED THE POLICE, BUT THE FIRE WAS THEN PUT OUT.
NHTSA complaint #832158 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Forest Hills, CACrash
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHILE DRIVING HOME IN A HEAVY RAIN STORM CAME TO A STOP AT TOP OF STEEP HILL, GETNLY TEPPED THE BRAKES, BRAKES FAILED TO STOP VEHICLE. VEHICLE SLID INTO THE BACK OF A TRUCK, CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE.
NHTSA complaint #820690 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Powder Springs, GACrash2 injured
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING APPROX. 15 MPH WHEN HE PRESSED THE BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN FOR VEHICLE IN FRONT MAKING A TURN, AND THE BRAKES FAILED. CONSUMER CRASHED INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF HIM, THEN HE WAS HIT FROM BEHIND DURING THE SAME CRASH. THERE WAS DRIZZLES OF RAIN AT TIME OF INCIDENT. CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED BRAKE FAILURE MORE THAN FIVE TIMES.
NHTSA complaint #817861 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Genesee, MI
SUSPENSION:FRONT
VEHICLE DEVELOPED SEVERE DRIVEABILITY PROBLEMS, INCLUDIN GPULLING AND DRIFTING TO LEFT AND RIGHT. ALSO, PREMATURE TIRE WEAR.
NHTSA complaint #518504 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Frankfort, IL
SEATS
WHEN APPLYING BRAKES, NOTICED SEATS MOVE DUE TO LOOSENESS. THE BOLTS WERE TIGHTENED. CHECKED UNDERNEATH & NOTICED MOUNTING PLATE METAL FOR SEAT WAS RUSTY & HAD CORRODED AWAY. HAVE NOT TAKEN TO DEALER.
NHTSA complaint #815135 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Genesee, MI
TIRES
EXCESSIVE AND IRREGULAR TIRE WEAR.
NHTSA complaint #518504 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Grants Pass, ORCrash
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHEN APPLYING THE ABS BRAKES, WHILE GOING DOWN A HILL, THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON AND BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE, CAUSING AN ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #812889 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Wilbraham, MA
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
THE PASSENGER'S AND DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT ANCHORAGE RUSTED, CAUSING THE SEAT BELT TO BECOME INOPERATIVE.
NHTSA complaint #811549 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Paradise, CAFire
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES
TRANSMISSION FLUID SPEWED OUT VENT/FILLER TUBE ONTO MANIFOLD, CAUSING FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #516956 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Mertztown, PA
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
SEAT BELT RETRACTOR JAMMED.
NHTSA complaint #515056 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.