171 of the 1,579 complaints about the 1996 Chevrolet Blazer are about the suspension — 11% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 74,500 miles.
171
Complaints
9
Crashes
1
Fires
6
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
RIGHT SIDE UPPER BALL JOINT SEPARATION.
NHTSA complaint #10325847 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT
RIGHT SIDE UPPER BALL JOINT SEPARATION.
NHTSA complaint #10325847 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING
1996 CHEVROLET BLAZER RIGHT REAR TIRE CAME OFF VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING ON THE OHIO TURNPIKE. *KB THE RIGHT REAR TIRE FELL OFF, DUE TO BAD BEARINGS. OHIO TRAFFIC REPORT# 10-0020-89 UPDATED LETTER 04/29/10
NHTSA complaint #10312118 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT
THE FRONT TIRES ARE WORN, AND I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT I NEED UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS. I HAVE HAD THESE REPLACED IN THE PAST. THIS IS A CONTINUAL REPAIR AND GETTING COSTLY. I CALLED GM AND THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS A RECALL BUT BECAUSE OF THE TIME THAT HAS PAST THAT IT IS NO LONGER COVERED. I AM IN FEAR OF GETTING IN AN ACCIDENT DRIVING THE WAY IT IS. IT IS VERY UNSAFE. I WAS TOLD ALSO THAT I NEED IDLER ARM REPLACEMENTS.
NHTSA complaint #10273912 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 01V200000 PRODUCT CAMPAIGN BULLETIN NO: 01048 AFTER NEARLY LOSING CONTROL ON THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY I DECIDED TO HAVE THE FRONT END CHECKED. THE FRONT BALL JOINTS NEED REPLACED. I FURTHER LEARNED OF THE ABOVE MENTIONED REFERENCES HOWEVER, THE DEALERSHIP IN ANKENY WAS UNHELPFUL, RUDE, AND BASICALLY TOLD ME THEY DON'T HAVE TO DO ANY WORK REGARDLESS OF BULLETINS, ETC... EACH DAY THE VEHICLE IS HARDER TO HANDLE AND A MECHANIC FRIEND ADVISED WILL START TO CAUSE ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS WITH SUSPENSION. WHY DO WE HAVE POLICIES BOTH GOVERNMENT AND CORPORATE WHEN DEALERSHIPS TOTALLY DISREGARD ALL THE RULES. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS BEFORE AND KNOW OF MANY OTHERS THAT DEALERSHIPS LEFT IN DIRE STRAITS. THIS IS A PROBLEM I WOULD LIKE ADDRESSED FOR THE GOOD OF ALL.
NHTSA complaint #10170476 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 01V200000 PRODUCT CAMPAIGN BULLETIN NO: 01048 AFTER NEARLY LOSING CONTROL ON THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY I DECIDED TO HAVE THE FRONT END CHECKED. THE FRONT BALL JOINTS NEED REPLACED. I FURTHER LEARNED OF THE ABOVE MENTIONED REFERENCES HOWEVER, THE DEALERSHIP IN ANKENY WAS UNHELPFUL, RUDE, AND BASICALLY TOLD ME THEY DON'T HAVE TO DO ANY WORK REGARDLESS OF BULLETINS, ETC... EACH DAY THE VEHICLE IS HARDER TO HANDLE AND A MECHANIC FRIEND ADVISED WILL START TO CAUSE ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS WITH SUSPENSION. WHY DO WE HAVE POLICIES BOTH GOVERNMENT AND CORPORATE WHEN DEALERSHIPS TOTALLY DISREGARD ALL THE RULES. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS BEFORE AND KNOW OF MANY OTHERS THAT DEALERSHIPS LEFT IN DIRE STRAITS. THIS IS A PROBLEM I WOULD LIKE ADDRESSED FOR THE GOOD OF ALL.
NHTSA complaint #10170476 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
BALL JOINT ON PASSENGER SIDE FAILED WITH NO WARNING. VEHICLE HAS UNDER 75,000 AND HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED.
NHTSA complaint #10167765 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
PURCHASED VEHICLE 12/03 SINCE THEN HAVE REPLACED: WATER PUMP 3 TIMES, RADIATOR, THERMOSTAT, LEFT UPPER BALL JOINT, UPPER MANIFOLD GASKET, MAIN REAL SEAL. OVER THE PAST 6-8 MONTHS I HAVE NOTICED THE BRAKING ISSUE SEVERAL TIMES (MORE THAN 10.) LUCKILY NONE WERE EMERGENCY STOPS, HOWEVER WHEN BRAKING DUE TO TRAFFIC LIGHT CHANGE OR STOPPING WHILE GOING DOWNHILL, THE BRAKES "CHATTER," AN AUDIBLE WHINE IS PRODUCED, AND IT IS NECESSARY TO PUMP THE BRAKES BEFORE IT WILL REGAIN PRESSURE AND STOP.
NHTSA complaint #10164486 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
FRONT UPPER BALL JOINT FAILURE, REPLACEMENT REQUIRED, PARTS NOT AVAILABLE
NHTSA complaint #10108377 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
ABS BRAKING LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. A BANGING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE FRONT. VEHICLE DROVE ROUGHLY. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT BOTH FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE BALL JOINTS, AND ABS MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #10103793 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
WHILE DRIVING THE BALL JOINTS SEPARATED AND BROKE. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER. WAS TOLD SHE WOULD HAVE TO PAY. HOWEVER, CONSUMER FOUND OUT THROUGH THE MANUFACTURER THAT HER VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. MANUFACTURER CONTACTED THE DEALER TO LET THEM KNOW THAT CONSUMER WAS INCLUDED, AND THEY NEED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED, AND THE VEHICLE WAS STILL IN THE SHOP.
NHTSA complaint #10099982 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
WHILE DRIVING THE BALL JOINTS SEPARATED AND BROKE. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER. WAS TOLD SHE WOULD HAVE TO PAY. HOWEVER, CONSUMER FOUND OUT THROUGH THE MANUFACTURER THAT HER VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. MANUFACTURER CONTACTED THE DEALER TO LET THEM KNOW THAT CONSUMER WAS INCLUDED, AND THEY NEED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED, AND THE VEHICLE WAS STILL IN THE SHOP.
NHTSA complaint #10099982 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
BALL JOINTS WERE DESIGNATED AS POSSIBLY BEGINNING DEFECTIVE, BUT WERE NOT REPLACED. REPAIRS WOULD ONLY BE MADE AFTER THE JOINT FAILED, EVEN WITH PROPER MAINTENANCE.
NHTSA complaint #10086634 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
BRAKE FAILURE. BRAKE WORK DONE SEVERAL TIMES INCLUDING RECALL OF ABS. WHICH IS NOT INCLUDED IN REPAIR COST. THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT ON JULY 9 2002. THE BRAKES FAILED WITHOUT WARNING AT SLOW SPEED ON SURFACE STREET RESULTING IN A THREE CAR COLLISION ONE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. ACCIDENT COSTS NOT INCLUDED. MINOR INJURY TO DRIVERS OF TWO OF THE VEHICLES. CONTACTED GM AND WAS TOLD THAT RECALL WORK HAD BEEN DONE AND SO WOULD NOT TAKE ANY RESPONSIBLILY ETC. VEHICLE HAS BEEN PARKED SINCE AS UNABLE TO VERIFY WHAT ACTUAL PROBLEM IS. BRAKES FAILED AGAIN WHEN THE AUTOBODY REPAIR SHOP TOOK IT IN FOR BRAKE CHECK PRIOR TO RETURNING TO US.
NHTSA complaint #10071015 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
UPPER BALL JOINT BREAKAGE AT 55MPH.
NHTSA complaint #10066212 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
UPPER BALL JOINT COLLASPED, LUCKILY THE CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN @ LOW SPEED OR THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT!!!!
NHTSA complaint #10065980 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE DRIFTED TO THE RIGHT. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR AN EXAMINATION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED REPLACEMENT.
NHTSA complaint #10061367 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #10057627 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #10057627 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
THE FRONT TIRE FELL OFF DUE TO FAILURE OF LOWER CONTROL ARM. *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10049190 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
I OWN A 1996 CHEVY BLAZER I HAVE SEEN RECALLS ON THE UPPER BALL JOINTS BUT THIS VEHICLE WEARS THE BALL JOINTS OUT WAY MORE THAN A REGULAR VEHICLE SHOULD I WOULD HAVE TO SAY THIS IS THE SIXTH SET OF BALL JOINTS THAT WERE PUT ON AND I DON'T THINK I SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO KEEP PAYING FOR THESE EXPENSIVE REPAIRS.
NHTSA complaint #10047574 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
I OWN A 1996 CHEVY BLAZER I HAVE SEEN RECALLS ON THE UPPER BALL JOINTS BUT THIS VEHICLE WEARS THE BALL JOINTS OUT WAY MORE THAN A REGULAR VEHICLE SHOULD I WOULD HAVE TO SAY THIS IS THE SIXTH SET OF BALL JOINTS THAT WERE PUT ON AND I DON'T THINK I SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO KEEP PAYING FOR THESE EXPENSIVE REPAIRS.
NHTSA complaint #10047574 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM
BALL JOINT SEPARATED AND CONTROL ARM NEED TO BE REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #10047058 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
BALL JOINT SEPARATED AND CONTROL ARM NEED TO BE REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #10047058 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
BALL JOINT SEPARATED AND CONTROL ARM NEED TO BE REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #10047058 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
UPON MAKING A RIGHT TURN WHILE PULLING INTO A DRIVEWAY FRONT WHEELS TURNED INWARD AND FELL OFF. THE UPPER/LOWER BALL JOINTS WORE OUT PREMATURELY, CAUSING THE FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #10046463 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
UPON MAKING A RIGHT TURN WHILE PULLING INTO A DRIVEWAY FRONT WHEELS TURNED INWARD AND FELL OFF. THE UPPER/LOWER BALL JOINTS WORE OUT PREMATURELY, CAUSING THE FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #10046463 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
UPPER BALL JOINTS SEPARATED, CAUSING THE FRONT WHEEL TO VIBRATE WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. RECALL 95V080000 DEALT WITH THIS ISSUE; BUT, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO MODEL AND VIN.
NHTSA complaint #10046290 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
WHILE DRIVING AT 30MPH ON A WELL PAVED ROAD, HEARD A LOUD BANG. TWO SECONDS LATER, ANOTHER LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD, AND THE BLAZER TILTED TO THE LEFT LIKE HAVE A BLOWN TIRE. LUCKILY, WE WERE GOING AT SLOW SPEED AND MANAGED TO PULL THE BLAZER TO THE CURB. AFTER TOLD TO THE NEARBY SERVICE STATION, THE MECHANIC SAID THE UPPER BALL JOINT ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WAS PULLED OFF THE SOCKET. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE WHEEL RIM WAS CUT AND TIRE WAS BLOWN. AFTER LEARNING THAT THERE WAS A RECALL OF THIS KIND ON 1996 BLAZER, I CALLED GM AND GAVE THE VIN. THE CUSTOMER SERVICE SAID MY VEHICLE IS NOT IN THE RECALL LIST AND THERE IS NOTHING HE CAN DO. THE CAR IS WELL MAINTAINED, OILED AND LUBRICATED EVERY 3000 MILES. I CANNOT IMAGINE IF THIS HAD HAPPENED ON THE FREE WAY. THIS IS A DANGEROUS DEFECT THAT ALL BLAZER OWNER SHALL KNOW.
NHTSA complaint #10041774 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
I HAVE A 96 CHEVY BLAZER WITH COOLING PROBLEMS. I HAVE REPLACED THE WATER PUMP 2 TIMES IN THE LAST YR. THE RADIATOR NEEDS TO BE FLUSHED AND CLEAN ABOUT EVERY 2 MONTHS DUE TO SLUGGED AND RUST BUILD UP. I HAVE ALSO HAD THE UPPER BALL JOINTS BREAK ON ME.
NHTSA complaint #10039038 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.