1999 Chevrolet Blazer LS from North America - Comments

Where do I begin??

Both seat recliners broke after 36K warranty ran out.

It has been squeaking since 20K..

front end shimmies a lot and never could keep in alignment long (now I know why!)

Gas mileage sucks (my 10yr 89 Blazer with 175,000 miles still got 24-25 on the Interstates at 70+MPH...this one is lucky to do 20!)

AC with R134 is not half as good as the old R12 was.

Less interior room than my 89 Blazer

The rear window wiper washer motor quit (75 bucks!) along with the tubing is blocked and no water comes out the back

NOW I have the front end hub bearings bad (after a $400 set of tires) and JUST yesterday I started hearing a HISS when I depress the brake pedal.. and the engine is missing.. bad vacuum line somewhere? I cannot find it.. and its getting dangerous to drive. I just cannot afford to keep paying for repairs...

I'm still paying on the note (5 yrs..1st time that long for me!) Even trailering, it does not pull as well as my older Blazer did (and it was not geared for trailering as this one is supposed to be!)

NO MORE GM products... I have talked with other GM owners who have had the same things above go wrong (seat recliner handles, wheel bearings, etc)..they are really dissatisfied with GMs as well!

Chris

Houston.

AM FM CD is OK (Bose speakers)

I thought I liked this better.. but I have changed my mind in 4 years.

Update-----

123,000 miles and just replaced the bearings... got them second sourced for $139 each. (NOW Timken drops the price of theirs to $199...or less!!) BTW this second sourced model looks better... no center cap (sealed instead) and has lifetime warranty! Easy to change I will admit... all it takes is a 17mm & 3/4in sockets and maybe a pair of pliers to remove any clips holding the rotor to the bearing.. but a noise still comes from the brakes?? Sounds like its in the back end (maybe a parking brake problem?)..guess I didn't need to change the bearings... the front brake pads were still half there!! AMAZING!! Well, it was until one of them dropped and cracked.. so I had to buy new ceramic replacements... there went another $46..

BUT I have had to replace the AC compressor, water pump and the radiator since my last post and the heater core is bypassed thanks to DEX CRAP... For long trips, I use Enterprise and their cheap rates (thank gawd for their $9.99 weekend summer rates)...I won't be putting this old horse on the open highway...can't trust it. Next on the list is the plugs and wires... and MAYBE the heater core...

IF I can afford it.

I, too, had a 1989 Blazer 4.3 and loved it. I saw ZR2 Blazers driving around and thought they were awesome. My '89 was only a 2WD, but never let me down and never needed much repair. Not so for the ZR2.

The 2001 ZR2 I have is like the final gasp of GM engineering. It's built the same way the old GM's were, but the quality went to zero (and parts manufacturing went to Canada). I actually wanted the dash back from the '89 instead of the '01. The door panels are a joke. Everything squeaks and rattles like it's about to fall apart. The front end suspension is bizarre to say the least.

It's the torsion bars on 4WD Blazers and S-10's that make them unwieldy on the highway. 2WD versions have springs. They are the direct cause of the ball joint failure, in my opinion. My 2WD 1989 truck was smooth as silk... the ZR2 is certainly not.

Can I get this body on something that works?