Chevrolet Blazer Common Issues
The Chevy Blazer has been in the market for some time and has seen a fair share of complaints on the NHTSA’s website. The most common issue has been about the brakes, while the electrical issues have been prevalent as well. Let’s see what all difficulties the owners had to go through during their tenure with the Blazer:
Electrical issues:
- Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) issues: The TPMS gives out a false warning regarding the air pressure in the tires. The issue has cropped up randomly for some people and is also a frequent occurrence.
- Instrument cluster issues: The instrument cluster of the Blazer blanks out without any errors. This disables the display of various important information.
- Backup camera issues: People have reported the backup camera to stutter. Sometimes, the camera does not display images in the infotainment. In some cases the camera did not engage in Reverse gear, causing loss of rearward visibility.
- “Shift to Park” error: People have reported the driver’s information display to show the “Shift to Park” error while the vehicle is already in Park. Sometimes, there have been cases of the gears not engaging properly that have caused unintended movement of the vehicle. This issue also doesn’t let the driver lock the vehicle, increasing the risk of theft.
Mechanical issues:
- Injector issues: Many 2020 Blazer owners have complained of the fuel injector failing. The issue caused the engine to miss revs and stall, sometimes in the middle of a highway. The issue is recurring and the longevity of the injector is questioned by the owners.
- Power steering issues: Some 2019 Blazer owners have reported a complete loss of power assistance to the steering wheel. This makes the car very difficult to steer and has also caused collisions in some cases.
- Brake failure: Loss of brake pressure is a pretty recurring issue in the Chevrolet Blazer that has caused collisions as well. People have complained about a sudden loss of braking power in the car, followed by a brake service light.
- Brake noise: Many 2021 Blazer owners have reported the brakes to make a grinding noise when coming to a stop at low speeds. Although the braking is not affected, the noise causes a lot of vibration that is resonated through the brake pedal.
- Transmission failure: Some owners have reported a complete failure of the transmission in the Chevy Blazer. The complainants have reported a sudden jolt in the transmission, post which the gearbox gets stuck in the first gear and wouldn’t upshift. GM has issued a bulletin regarding the same and asked technicians to replace the transmission.
Safety features issues:
- Vehicle Speed Control (VSC) issues: Some owners of the 2019 Blazer have complained about the VSC malfunctioning. This causes the revs to spike while the driver is decelerating, leading to instances of unintended acceleration. In some cases, owners have complained of the automatic application of brakes without any object in proximity.
- Premature airbag deployment: People have reported premature deployment of the airbags, causing a distraction while driving. In some instances, this issue has also caused collisions and crashes due to the suddenness of the event.
Chevrolet Blazer Recalls
The Chevrolet Blazer has been in the market for four years and has seen four new recalls issued under its name. The frequency of recalls was the most for the 2019 model year, signifying the rough edges left. The subsequent model years did see a drop in the recalls, with the 2022 Blazer being a recall-free offering. The first recall for the Blazer was made on July 30, 2020, with NHTSA Campaign Number 20V446000.
The recall consisted of nearly 769 potentially affected units of the Buick Enclave, the Chevy Blazer, the Cadillac XT5, the Silverado truck, the GMC Sierra, and the GMC Acadia. Improperly crimped diffuser component of the Roof-Rail Air Bag (RRAB) inflator could separate from the inflator, increasing the risk of injury in a crash. The RRAB modules were replaced, free of charge. A summary of the recalls is available below:
S. No.
|
Date
|
NHTSA Campaign Number
|
Issues Noticed
|
Additional Remarks
|
1.
|
July 30, 2020
|
20V446000
|
Airbags
|
Improperly cramped diffuser components of the RRAB may detach the airbag from the inflator, increasing the risk of a crash.
|
2.
|
October 29, 2020
|
20V668000
|
Powertrain
|
Missing bolts on the start/stop accumulator endcap may cause the transmission fluid to leak and stall the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash. If the oil leaks near an ignition source, there’s an increased chance of fire.
|
3.
|
December 23, 2020
|
20V811000
|
Seatbelts
|
Improper attachment of the seatbelt to the car due to use of a wrong bolt increases may not restrain the occupant properly, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
|
4.
|
February 25, 2021
|
21V115000
|
Tires
|
Overcuring of the tires during production may result in cracking of the sidewalls or a belt separation, affecting the vehicle’s handling. This also increases the risk of a crash.
|
Model Years
|
Airbags
|
Powertrain
|
Seatbelts
|
Tires
|
2019
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
2020
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
2021
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
2022
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
Which model year of the Chevrolet Blazer should you avoid?
The Chevrolet Blazer is an amazing car with sharp handling and a potent powertrain. Although powerful, the crossover has given a lot of issues to its owners in the current generation. Of all the model years, the 2020 Chevy Blazer has been the most troublesome. It had constant issues popping up with the electrical system and the powertrain. It has also been recalled three times, two of which were with the 2019 model year. As things stand, we recommend avoiding the 2019 and the 2020 Blazer.
Should you buy the 2022 Chevy Blazer?
The 2022 Chevrolet Blazer has seen a lot of improvements made from its previous model ears. It has also gone through some changes internally that now cure most of the recurring issues of the past. The crossover still retains the pros of the previous model years but now offers more peace of mind, with no recalls under its name. If one wants to go for a Chevy Blazer used, consider no older than the 2021 model year.