22 of the
1,579 complaints about the 1996 Chevrolet Blazer are about the
wheels — 1% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
82,500 miles.
A
22
Complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
Exactly what failed
Wheels
1359.1%
Lugs/Nuts/Bolts/Studs
627.3%
RIM
14.5%
HUB
14.5%
Hubcap/Cover
14.5%
What owners said
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
at 216,000 milesPewaukee, WI
WHEELS
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.
at 62,000 milesLake Peekskill, NY
WHEELS
WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH THE FRONT RIGHT WHEEL COMPLETELY DISENGAGED FROM THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *JB. CONSUME RCLAIMED WHEEL FELL OFF, AND SON COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED.
NHTSA complaint #10108739 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 80,000 milesShawano, WI
WHEELS:HUB
THE WHEELS WERE NOT SEATED PROPERLY ON THIS PARTICULAR TRAILER. WHEN TRAILER WAS BEING PULLED AT ANY SPEED THE HUBS OVERHEATED. THIS CAUSED THE AXEL TO BE DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIR.
NHTSA complaint #10083575 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 85,000 milesLeominster, MA
WHEELS
BOTH REAR WHEELS AND AXLES SEPARATED FROM THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL WHILE TRAVELING AT 55 MPH ON HIGHWAY. LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND BRAKING DUE TO SEVERED BRAKE LINES AND REAR WHEELS SEPARATED FROM REAR DIFFERENTIAL.BODY DAMAGE INCURRED WHEN REAR WHEEL AND AXLE JAMMED UNDER REAR BUMPER.
NHTSA complaint #10029299 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Bronx, NY
WHEELS
CONSUMER STATES BALL JOINTS ARE CONSTANTLY FAILING. CONSUMER HAS HAD TO REPLACE THEM TWICE. A RECALL WAS INITIATED, BUT CONSUMER'S VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. RELATED RECALLS 01V200000 AND 01I018000. *AK RIGHT FRONT WHEEL FELL OFF AS A RESULT OF THE FAULTY BALL JOINTS. THERE WAS SQUEAKING NOISE ON TURNS DUE TO IDLER ARM FAILURE. FRONT PADS WORN OUT AND ROTORS FAILED, BOTH WERE REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #8019559 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Yuba City, CA
WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS
WHILE PULLING OUTSIDE OF DRIVEWAY, LEFT FRONT WHEEL FELL OFF. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
NHTSA complaint #8009943 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Cinncinati, OH
WHEELS
WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH FRONT LEFT WHEEL COLLAPSED, AND CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. CONTACTED DEALER ,AND DEALER WAS TAKING A LOOK AT VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #8006663 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Traverse City, MI
WHEELS
HAVE EXCESSIVE LATERIAL RUN OUT IN BOTH REAR TIRES, FIRESTONE STATES IS DUE TO OEM WHEELS BENT, WHEELS MEASURED AND WELL WITH IN MFG SPEC'S, FIRESTONE WANTS TO REPLACE WITH SAME, AS A CONSUMER I WANT REIMBURSEMENT FOR TIRES, NOTE THESE ARE REPLACEMENT TIRES FROM RECALL LAST YEAR. UNABLE TO DRIVE VEHICLE AT HWY SPEEDS DUE TO VIBRATION. ALSO UNABLE TO ROTATE TIRE PER MFG RECOMMENDATIONS DUE TO PROBLEM. IF FIRESTONE REPLACES JUST REAR TIRES STILL HAVE FRONTS WITH WEAR FROM NOT BEING ABLE TO ROTATE, FIRESTONE SAYS 'TO BAD'*AK (TIRESIZE: P235/75/R1)
NHTSA complaint #752503 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Ransom, MO
WHEELS
FRONT WHEEL CAME LOOSE FROM TIRE. IT HOLDS WHOLE FRAME OF VEHICLE. CONSUMER WAS IN REVERSE AND TURNED OUT ON A MAIN ROAD. ABOUT 10 FEET THERE WAS A POP, STEERING FELT FUNNY. DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL POPPED LOOSE FROM FRAME. CONSUMER WILL CONTACT MANUFACTURER TO REFER THEM TO A CHEVROLET DEALER.
NHTSA complaint #881751 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
North Clarendon, VT
WHEELS:RIM
WE WERE TRAVELLING WESTBOUND ON ROUTE 4 IN WEST RUTLAND, VERMONT, AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, WHEN WE HEARD A WHISTLING SOUND. WE THOUGHT IT WAS AIR COMING THROUGH THE TOP OF THE WINDOW, BUT IN A MATTER OF SECONDS, THE CAR LOST CONTROL AND THE FRONT END OF THE CAR "FELL DOWN". WE ORIGINALLY THOUGHT WE HAD A BLOW OUT, BUT AFTER WE VIEWED IT WITH OTHER PEOPLE WHO STOPPED TO ASSIST, WE DISCOVERED THE RIM WAS SEVERED IN HALF AND THE TIRE WAS TOTALLY OUT OF PLACE. A TRUCKER WHO STOPPED TO ASSIST US, LOOKED UNDERNEATH AND SAID IT APPEARED TO BE A BALL JOINT BREAKAGE. HE COULD NOT BELIEVE THAT WOULD HAPPEN WITH A 1996 VEHICLE WITH ONLY 24,000 OR SO MILES ON IT. WE ALSO HAD A STATE TROOPER ASSIST US, AND HE COMMENTED ON HOW LUCKY WE WERE THAT WE WEREN'T HURT. FROM THE TIME THE CAR LOST CONTROL, WE HAD SKIDDED APPROXIMATELY 100 FEET TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY, MISSING THE GUARDRAIL BY INCHES. THE BLAZER WAS SUBSEQUENTLY TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP, WHERE IT PRESENTLY AWAITS REPAIR. THE OWNER OF THE SHOP CONFIRMED THE BALL JOINT BREAKAGE. WE HAVE CONTACTED GM AND AWAIT A CALL FROM ONE OF THEIR REPRESENTATIVES TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE.WHEN WE ORIGINALLY VIEWED YOUR SITE FOR INITIAL INFORMATION ON HOW TO REPORT THIS, WE NOTICED TWO OTHER INVESTIGATIONS REPORTED WITHIN THE PAST 100 DAYS THAT INDICATED SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH BALL JOINT BREAKAGE. THANK YOU FOR ANY ASSISTANCE YOU CAN PROVIDE IN THIS MATTER AS WE WOULD LIKE TO MAKE OTHER CHEVY BLAZER OWNERS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM.TO DATE, WE STILL CAN'T USE THE VEHICLE AS WE WAIT FOR A SATISFACTORY RESOLUTION.
NHTSA complaint #711356 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Wapwallopen, PA
WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS
WHEEL IS FALLING OFF DUE TO SHEARING OFF THE NUTS:BOLTS.
NHTSA complaint #843995 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hendersonville, TN
WHEELS
MULTIPLE FAILURES, INCLUDING LOSS OF RIGHT REAR WHEEL WHILE IN MOTION.
NHTSA complaint #705318 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Evansville, IN
WHEELS:HUBCAP/COVER
FRONT AXLE AND LEFT WHEEL HUB FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #781437 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Randolph, NJ
WHEELS
97V066000, WHEELS; WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 42-45 MPH ON DRY PAVEMENT, THE VEHICLE DOES NOT STOP WHEN DRIVER PUSHES ON THE BRAKES AS HARD AS HE COULD, IT JUST SLOWS DOWN. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATES THAT THE ABS BRAKES DO NOT STOP RIGHT AWAY, AND THEY CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #823395 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Cedar Grove, NJCrash
WHEELS
THE FRONT BALL JOINT BROKE, CAUSING THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S WHEELS TO FALL OFF, CAUSING AN ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #818507 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Glenwood, NY
WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS
WHILE DRIVING AND APPROACHING A STOP SIGN, COMING DOWN A SLIGHT HILL, THE REAR WHEEL ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE SHEARED AWAY FROM THE LOGS: NUTS. THE LUG NUTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED. THE WHEEL WAS NOT DAMAGED.
NHTSA complaint #818332 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Ashland, PA
WHEELS
TRUCK WAS AT A STOP AND WAS ABOUT TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN, WHILE TURNING LEFT HEARD SOMETHING SNAP, AND THE TRUCK WOULD NOT MOVE, GOT OUT OF TRUCK TO CHECK AND THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL HAD COLLAPSED INWARD. THE TRUCK HAD TO BE TOWED. *
NHTSA complaint #816398 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Columbus, OH
WHEELS
THE FRONT WHEEL FRAME GRILL IS CRACKED. CONSUMER STATED THAT THE FRONT WHEELS ARE ON IMPROPERLY ALIGNED. WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL, THE WHEEL HITS THE FINDER. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER ABOUT THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #814607 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Newburgh, NY
WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS
WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE LEFT REAR WHEEL STUDS BROKE, CAUSING THE TIRE TO FALL OFF.
NHTSA complaint #812506 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Finley, OH
WHEELS
UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS PASSENGER'S SIDE REAR WHEEL LOCKED UP. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE DESCRIBE.
NHTSA complaint #813905 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Cincinnati, OH
WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS
WHILE DRIVING FIVE LUG NUTS COMPLETELY SNAPPED IN HALF, CAUSING THE WHEEL TO COME OFF THE TRUCK. PLEASE DESCRIBE.
NHTSA complaint #801275 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Union, WV
WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS
WHILE DRIVING 50-55MPH THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL CAME OFF, THE BOLT HAD SHEARED OFF AND THE 2 LUG AND A PART OF THE BOLT FOUND INSIDE THE WHEEL.
NHTSA complaint #981195 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.