1997 Chevrolet Blazer S10 from North America - Comments

Rust in the transmission found during a "fluid check" at 25,000 miles.

Alternator out at 50,050 miles (50 miles over warranty and 2 batteries later).

Complete brake overhaul at 55,500 miles.

Gas gauge quit working at 56,000 miles.

Air conditioner compressor was gone at 59,000 miles (that quit in March, couldn't afford to replace it until August).

Pulley harness for universal belt snapped at 62,000 miles.

Heater coil leaking inside the truck now, when I need a heater and defroster (notice the above, I just got the air fixed).

This Blazer has a rear mounted tire that continues to rattle as if the fender is about to fall off.

And fuel consumption? Hummmm. I pour it in... It pours it out! On a good day I get about 14 miles to the gallon in town and 18 on the road. I can't let it go empty to check for perfect accuracy - remember the gas tank assembly will cost me about $700.00 to replace.

Carpet wearing through on the driver's side and all that plastic trim on outside of the truck looks like someone has be scrubbing it with a hot wire brush.

The plastic levers that release the backs on the two front seats are stripped out from ordinary use at about 53,000 miles.

The keyless entry remote quit working at about 56,000 miles.

I have put out over $2,200.00 for repairs in less than a year. I could have been driving a dependable and enjoyable vehicle with warranty for peace of mind. At this point, I am looking for any new car except a Chevrolet! And I love America, but am not real happy with GM.

The only thing I can depend on about this vehicle is its high maintenance, gas guzzling ability to leave me stranded and always looking for a good mechanic.

I just read what you said about the Chevy Blazer, and I am having the same problems with mine. Everything you wrote is what is going on with mine now. I should of read this before I bought mine.

I have a 96 Blazer And I love it, no problems yet and I have had it for 2 years. It has 97,000 miles on it and I run it into the ground. All I have done do it since I have had it is wash it and change the oil. Isn't Chevy great!!!

I have a 96 Blazer and it is nothing but problems. At 60,000 it needed a new engine. Fortunately that happened 3 weeks after I bought it so the dealership paid for it. In the year since then I have had the air conditioner compressor replaced twice, the windshield-washer motor broke, no more key-less entry. And at this moment it is once more in the shop because the heater coil is broken. This is the 1st and last Chevy I will ever own. I am going back to Toyota.

Well I must say you have had some problems, in December of 1996 I purchased a brand new 1997 S-10 Blazer jet Black with Tan leather and all the options you could get on it at that time for my wife. And yes I to have had most of the problems that you have had in and around the same mileage as your's. But I can say this that in seven years and 155,000 miles it has never let me or my wife down, we enjoy driving it we also now use it as a tag-a-long behind your new 2003 Allegro Bus motor coach. I take it that you didn't buy your blazer new and you picked up someone else's problems! We liked this Chev Blazer so much that we are thinking of stepping up to a new chev Trailblazer 4X4 with all the options. If we do get the new Trailblazer this will make # 25 Chevrolet that I have owned since I started Driving, well let's just say a long time ago. Oh buy the way I have also owned several Toyota's like them to. Good luck with what ever you get next.

I have had every single problem that you have had with your blazer and more!!! I sold my car yesterday and was so happy to finally get rid of it, well turns out the guy that bought it from me came to get it and it would not start!!! I am now stuck with this car and it seems like forever!! RESEARCH THINGS BEFORE YOU BUY THEM!!!

I have a 96 S10 Blazer which is my 2nd one. The first one had 200,000 miles on it before I traded. The one I have now has 238,000 miles and still going. I am trying for 300,000. I have had a few problems, but the engine is still great.

I agree what you have written is right. I bought a 97 Blazer, but I also had to change the 4X4 switch kit which cost about $400, and all the stuff you have talked about.

My 97 S10 is at 155000. The engine runs great however I have had your normal problems. I have replaced the alternator, water pump, u-joints, ball joints, idler arm, and last week the fuel pump went. Still solid as a rock though.

I have a 2001 Chevy Blazer S10 with about 135000 miles and I have recently had a problem with the headlights. One night I turned the car off, but the headlights would not go off. I tried changing the solenoid in the fuse block, but no luck. I was pulling the fuses every time I stopped, but after the car sat for a few days, the battery went dead.

Is it possible that the light switch went bad? Has anyone ever had a similar problem?

Thanks.

My 97 blazer I replace the radio 3x, but 1 speaker will play last I look I had 6 speakers in there is there a amp some where in the mess??

I have a 1997 blazer and it's got around 110,000 miles and it runs great it's a 4x4 the only problem with it is that it has a hole in the vaccume hose to make the 4x4 work, but other than that it is great I've pulled more than my share of people out of the mud it can keep up with a 2001 G.M.C single cab pick up with the 4.3l v6 which is what mine has I myself love Chevy and wouldn't own any other.

Rust found during a "fluid check" at 25,000 miles.

Alternator out at 50,050 miles (50 miles over warranty and 2 batteries later).

Complete brake overhaul at 55,500 miles.

Gas gauge quit working at 56,000 miles.

Air conditioner compressor was gone at 59,000 miles (that quit in March, couldn't afford to replace it until August).

Pulley harness for universal belt snapped at 62,000 miles.

Heater coil leaking inside the truck now, when I need a heater and defroster (notice the above, I just got the air fixed).

This Blazer has a rear mounted tire that continues to rattle as if the fender is about to fall off.

And fuel consumption? Hummmm. I pour it in... It pours it out! On a good day I get about 14 miles to the gallon in town and 18 on the road. I can't let it go empty to check for perfect accuracy - remember the gas tank assembly will cost me about $700.00 to replace.

Carpet wearing through on the driver's side and all that plastic trim on outside of the truck looks like someone has be scrubbing it with a hot wire brush.

The plastic levers that release the backs on the two front seats are stripped out from ordinary use at about 53,000 miles.

The keyless entry remote quit working at about 56,000 miles.

I have put out over $2,200.00 for repairs in less than a year. I could have been driving a dependable and enjoyable vehicle with warranty for peace of mind. At this point, I am looking for any new car except a Chevrolet! And I love America, but am not real happy with GM.

____________________________________________________________

The Rust in the transmision fluid comes from moisture getting in the dip stick... it is dip stick rust. Happens on mine... clean off the stick real good and dip and clean a few times and you'll see no more rust.

Vehicles break down when not taken care of...

Alternator, brakes, AC, loose tire mount, carpet wear, and keyless remote are petty maintenance that you will find on every car as it gets used... Get ya a wrench and tighten up whatever needs tightening on the tire mount.. get used to alternators going out, and replacing brake pads when they START making noises, and cut ya new piece of carpet for your floor and save whatever carpet is left, or just quit moving your feet around so much.

I'm at 139,000 miles.. Gas gauge is fine, heater coil is fine, interior is fine.. and MPG are exactly what a vehicle like a 1997 Chevy Blazer S-10 should be getting.. depending of course on how you drive it.. I get 20 mpg... I don't keep track of city to interstate ratio, sorry... 20 mpg on average. I don't race up to speed or pull out into oncoming traffic as I am patient and in no hurry.. I don't speed... Those little Blazers got some weight to em, that takes gas to go as fast as lighter vehicles.. simple physics.. you want 30 mpg, then buy a saturn coupe...

*- The author didn't specify if he/she lived in the north where they put salt on the roads to melt ice and ruin automobiles... nor did the guy who said he had to replace ball joints. But, cleaning your undercarriage during winter weather where salt is used can save you lots of $$$$$ and trouble looking for a good mechanic...

Cars require routine maintenance. Plain and simple.

As for the 'broken' keyless entry remote, that's probably not really broken, but rather needs new batteries. It takes CR2016 lithium cells that you can buy at the jewelry counter at Wal-Mart in a two pack for $3-4. To open it, just stick a key, dime, screwdriver, etc. into the top of the remote (where the hole for your key ring is) and pop it apart. The batteries are in the back half. Changing them should be fairly self-explanatory, just put the new ones in the same way as the old ones were installed and snap the remote back together.

As for brakes, that sort of thing has to be done. If you wait too long between changing brake pads, you'll wear out your rotors much faster. This is because of the metal rivets that hold the pad material to the backplate. When the pad wears down a certain amount, these rivets begin to grind into the rotors. Generally, the brakes will make a squealing noise when it's time to change pads. That's a warning, heed it. Brakes are serious business.

And about door hinges wearing out: Sure, this is a known problem with the S-10/Blazer as well as with many other cars, both American and foreign, but the key thing is to be gentle with doors, not flinging them back and forth carelessly, and to apply white lithium grease to the hinges periodically to help reduce wear.

Thanks for your comments I am looking at a 1997 blazer and was trying to find some information on it... before i buy it