1999 Chevrolet Blazer LT 4WD 4.3 V6 from Australia and New Zealand

Summary:

Love hate relationship with my Blazer

Faults:

Left front wheel bearing

Right front wheel bearing

Water pump

A/C compressor

A/C low pressure switch

Fan belt tensioner

Fan belt idler

Alternator

Brake lamp bulb holders

Electric compass.

General Comments:

I bought my LT Blazer second hand with 82ooo km on it.

I love it as a vehicle to drive, but it hasn't been exactly what I would call a reliable vehicle, there are not many of them here in New Zealand and we don't have any GM Dealerships in this country so parts are a problem.

Poor fuel economy, but I guess you can't expect a lot better from a 2 1/2 ton truck with a 4.3 litre engine, plus I like to "drive" my Blazer.

Great comfort, great visibility, good looks, just wish it was a little more reliable.

I am a full time mechanic so repairs are not the problem, it's more availability of parts and diagnostic info that are the major concern with owning this vehicle.

Apart from that I love my Blazer.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 29th March, 2007

1999 Chevrolet Blazer LX S-10 V6 from North America

Summary:

This is the worst vehicle I've ever owned

Faults:

The brakes needed to be replcced at 19,000 miles.

My right mirror cracked at 20,000 miles.

The wheel bearings needed to be replaced for the first time at 40,000 miles.

The alternator failed and needed to be replaced at 60,000 miles.

My transmition needed to be rebuilt because I lost reverse at 70,000 miles.

My right rear brakes froze in the closed position and over heated and I needed a full break replacement again at 70,000 miles.

My left mirror cracked at 75,000 miles.

I needed a second wheel bearing replacement at 96,000 miles.

My oil pressure lines needed to be replaced at 97,000 miles.

My drivers side power seat.

General Comments:

This car is seriously flawed.

I have had more major things go wrong with this vehicle than all my other vehicles put together.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 24th February, 2007

24th Feb 2007, 19:28

One of my relatives had three Blazers. The first one was a 1994 that seemed to be relatively trouble-free, then they purchased a '95 model to have the newer body style. The '95 had lots of problems for about two years then they got a 1998 model which had a lot of improvements. They drove this one until it had almost 200,000 miles on it. The only trouble they had was one of the front wheel bearings at about 170,000 miles. They had the other side's bearing replaced preventively at the same time. I guess the Blazers are a mixed bag as I have known several people that had wonderful ones and just as many that had crappy ones. I used to want one sooo bad, then I rode in a couple of them and that eliminated the desire.

1999 Chevrolet Blazer TrailBlazer from North America

Summary:

I will never buy another GM product

Faults:

The following things have gone on this SUV:

* Alternator

* Wheel bearing hub

* Heater core - twice

* Radiator

* Oil cooling lines - twice

* Fuel pump

* Fuel pod unit

* Heater control

* Driver's door hinge

* Rear speaker do not work.

General Comments:

I would never buy another GM car due to the high service costs and poor reliability. I have two of these money pits. And in comparison I have a 1990 Honda, 175,000, very little maintenance cost in comparison.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 31st January, 2007

1999 Chevrolet Blazer LS 4.3L F.I. from North America

Summary:

Could have been great, but I'm disappointed

Faults:

My 1999 Blazer LS has been nothing, but trouble. When I picked it up new, the cassette did not work. Three return trips to the dealer, three times the dealers “expert” diagnosed the main stereo unit and ordered and replaced it. Naturally, that wasn’t it. Someone finally noticed that the plug was not installed on the cassette unit itself during vehicle assembly.

Within the first 30,000 miles, I had three front hub / bearing assemblies replaced at around $750.00 each time. Both seat back levers broke off with no effort at all.

Around 80,000 miles, the actuator that directs hot air to the floor broke internally so I had to deal with heat only at the dash vents. Then the heater core started leaking badly and I had to bypass it altogether so as to not drain all the engine coolant. It is a monster job to get at the heater core to replace it and I still haven’t yet.

Fuel pump died leaving my wife stranded far from home. Drivers door hinge is so worn that the door sags when opened. I can see it jump up when I close it.

After reading other owners problems and histories, and speaking with some independent mechanics, I feel that many of the issues with this truck are “designed in” to keep owners going back to the dealer long after the warranty is up. Most of the problems require dealer parts for repair thus keeping a constant revenue stream for GM. In short, they are designed to fail.

I am as patriotic as anyone you will find, but I will really have to think about buying another American made truck after the burn I took with this Chevy.

General Comments:

Many failures early on.

All problems require major, difficult labor.

Classic example to not buy American cars.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 10th October, 2006

28th Jan 2010, 14:43

I do agree after hearing stories and reading most of these reviews that GM did a horrible job designing the Blazer/Jimmy.

However, I disagree that people "shouldn't buy an American car because they are all junk."

I had a 1991 Chevy Scottsdale with the 4.3, just like the Blazer. I had it up till almost 200K, and I loved it; never gave me any major issues.

I just recently had a 99 Crown Vic police interceptor. I've had it for 3 years; again no major issues other than routine maintenance.

My dad had a 94 Olds Delta 88, and we put 400-500K miles on it before it died in Columbus.

American made vehicles aren't all junk. Quite a few are built well, you just have to know where to look. Not all Toyotas or Hondas or Subarus are built well either.

I think in the end, no matter what you have, if you take care of it it should last awhile "with a few exceptions when it comes to how it was designed"