1997 Chevrolet Blazer from North America - Comments

First things first we all know the transmission in this thing sux!!! Had it looked at after being truckless for a month to find nothing wrong. After minor maintenance the transmission actually started engaging again. You have to wait a few minutes, but it will eventually engage. Before the breakdown was getting a 1-2 hard upshift dealer said nothing wrong. Were they ever wrong. Still get the hard 1-2 upshift.

Getting a gurgling noise near heater core area. There is a law suit out on this one. Not sure progress. The suit states that GM began using Dex-Cool engine coolant in 1996, claiming that it would protect engines for up to five years or 150,000 miles. The suit alleges that the coolant did not produce the promised claims, and therefore costly repairs were needed because of damage caused by Dex-Cool.

Back window rattles and sometimes will open automatically while driving down the road. Not a big deal in the summer, but the winter leaves you a bit on the chilly side.

Passenger side seat control knobs have broken off.

Fuel Gauge has completely quit working.

Have to reset trip meter at each fill up.

Middle spark plug on driver side pain in the rear to change. But can be done. Struggled the first time.

Getting a clunking noise while turning left with a slight acceleration. Probably torsion bar mount or lower ball joint. Don't really care at this point!! Just trying to make it another year if at all possible to trade this bad boy in!!

This truck has been more problems then almost all cars I've owned in the past combined. Besides the mechanical problems I now have a physical drinking problem because of this truck. Don't recommend it to anyone. I plan on trading it in within the next year for something besides a chevy truck if it keeps getting me from point a to b without too many more problems. Stay away from this truck if at all possible. If you find it for sale REALLY REALLY CHEAP pass on it anyway. It's gonna cost you more in the end trust me!!!

I agree with this review. I bought a 1997 Blazer LS nine months ago. Although I agree that you take a risk when buying a used vehicle it has been nothing, but trouble. I replaced the front brake pad and rotors the first month I owned it... no big deal really. The air bag light kept flashing the first couple days I had it so the dealer I bought it from paid to have it fixed as well as charge the a/c because it wasn't working. Another.. no biggie because I didn't have to pay for it. Then it started leaking radiator fluid, ends up to be the pulley and water pump... replaced those.. this is starting to become a big deal. Two months ago I opened my drivers side door and the spring and pin on the door literally popped out! My door was just hanging there. I've never had that happen before. Did I mention this vehicle had 76,000 miles when I bought it. I drive 40 miles one way to work so it has around 93,000 now, but this is all highway driving.. wouldn't think it would affect the doors! Also, my clunks real hard when shifting from 1st to 2nd also.. has since the beginning not to mention the ball joints on the drivers side are bad and need to be replaced. The check engine light has been going on and off since the month I purchased it and now stays on all the time. I had diagnostics run on it and it gives a transmission message, but nothing anyone can figure out. Oh yeah.. for about 2 months straight it the truck would completely die while driving 60mph or more for just a second. It felt like someone had just grabbed the back of my truck and held it in place for a second. All the lights on the dash would flash and the gages would all go to zero then in a split second they would go back to normal and the truck would keep going. Talk about freaky! It hasn't done it now in almost a month.. that one has me and everyone who's looked at it perplexed. So... I love the Blazer and wish it was a better vehicle, but am not real eager to purchase another after all of this. I want to sell it, but no one is going to buy a vehicle with the Service Engine soon light on and I don't want to sell it to someone and they'll have the same problems. I know buying from a private party is "buyer beware" but I don't have it in me to do that. I'm stuck with a truck that will probably die long before I have it paid off!

The wiring harness behind the ignition is going out on you, before long there will be no signal turning key to engage electrical system. It can be expensive done at dealership, as much as 300, or you can get it done for much less if you are resourceful. This will take care of Check engine light also.