1996 Chevrolet Blazer LS review from North America
"Less than perfect vehicle"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Serpentine belt has been squeaky since vehicle was purchased. Has not caused any problems, it is just annoying.
Loud clunking noise from the front right of vehicle. Dealership had the car for 2 weeks and could not define the problem. Still hasn't been fixed, but hasn't caused any noticeable problems.
Vehicle starts hard, always has, but has never failed to start, most likely a compression problem.
Pitman arm replaced at 107,000 again at 113,500 and yet again at 134,000.
Idler arm replaced at 110,000 and again at 134,000.
Electronic ABS engage uneccessarily ever since they were supposedly fixed at 108,000. They are far too sensitive now.
Rear axle and rear seals replaced at 123,000. I installed a used axle so it was not as expensive.
Oxygen censor and catalytic converter replaced at 117,500.
Front upper and lower ball joints have been a constant problem and have both been replaced two times since I have owned the vehicle.
Intake Gaskets leak slowly, I have not replaced them yet, but will need to before this summer because I will need the car for long trips.
Brakes are not set up correctly for this vehicle, way too much pressure on the front brakes. When friends drive this car they always notice how hard it is to stop this vehicle compared to their own.
General comments?
It may be that I just got a bad used car, but I have spent almost as much in repairs as I did to purchase the Blazer.
It seems the truck cannot run more than a few months without something breaking.
It is a comfortable ride and has quite a bit of power for a small SUV.
I wish I would have kept my Corsica which got better gas mileage and also was easier to work on.
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| 1996 - Blazer LT 4.3 VORTEC V6 Maybe I've just been lucky, but this is the best vehicle I've ever owned |
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| It taught me two lessons. Buy and import and do the work yourself |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Model year | 1996 |
| Year of manufacture | 1996 |
| First year of ownership | 2002 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2005 |
| Engine and transmission | 3.1 V6 Automatic |
| Performance marks | 6 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 5 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 8 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 4 / 10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 106000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 140000 miles |
| Previous car | Chevrolet Corsica |
| Date of Entry | 28th April, 2005 |