By September 4th, 2003 the Blazer had to return to the dealer because the CD player would not work and the rear defrost was only partially working, and had already been repaired once.
December 30, 2003 the right front wheel bearing and HUB ASSEMBLY needed to be replaced.
(I have been advised by MORE than one mechanic, as well as a Chevy dealership OWNER that this is ridiculous, and that these original parts should last at least 12 years... and this wouldn’t be the only time it needed to be replaced, read on...) $407.10.
September 7, 2004: The parking brake had been adjusted too tight, so this had to be repaired.
As well, the left front HUB ASSEMBLY had to be replaced, and the calipers serviced. $748.22.
I checked on line for any recalls on the vehicle, and discovered the “stop lamps/hazard lamps” were to be replaced. This was done in Jan/05.
January 5, 2005: Again the CD player does not work, there is an “internal problem”, (not fixable unless through dealership) and the rear defrost is not working. $54.22.
January 31, 2005 the side mirror on the drivers side was fixed, as the warming feature had broken
already. $28.75.
March 2005: BOTH left and right FRONT HUB ASSEMBLIES replaced $800.00.
September 7, 2005: Both front lower ball joints replaced. $490.94.
October 12, 2005: After having numerous problems, the drivers door hinge pins and bushings were removed and replaced, and the rear gate window was repaired. $173.03.
April 13, 2006: Both left and right front HUB ASSEMBLIES replaced. $828.00.
May 26, 2006: At 148, 234km I had NO REVERSE!!! I had to replace the transmission. Again, I was advised that this is RIDICULOUS at such low mileage. $2358.01.
So, in 20 months, this “dream vehicle” of mine has cost me $5888.27 in repairs that should not be needed in less than 150,000 km!!! Keep in mind that this does not reflect regular maintenance and reasonable repairs.
Oil changes have been done regularly within 5000km since purchase. I do not take this vehicle 4X4ing, drive it hard, or “beat on it” in any way. I drive back and forth to work, and up north to the cottage on major highways a couple of times per year. I am still making payments on this vehicle, (I still owe about HALF of the purchase price!) and find it very hard to believe that this is reasonable to have spent this amount of money on major repairs already. I have no desire to give Chevrolet my business any longer.
So, as it stands, when all is said and done, I still have a CD player that is estimated at $400 to fix, a rear windshield that can no longer be patched and must be replaced for the defrost (estimated at $600 for used - $1500 for new), and a drivers side window that is in need of repair (no quote obtained yet). So at LEAST $2000 more if I want a fully operational vehicle.
Same writer... just wanted to add that the rear left u-joint needs replacing now as well... add another $120 to the "to do" list...
I manned a weather station up north for 5 years.
The first year I was up there in a firebird (opportunity called... i ran). ( (it didn't make it thru December) ).
Picked up an old jimmy out of someones back yard up there because they couldn't get it started... paid them $500, tossed in a new battery and drove away listening to the screams that I owed them more... (but he was gigglin' when I signed the deal).
Because it had no back window it 'tended' to get chilly in the month of February. (-40*C--->FLIPPIN' cold in Fahrenheit).
================
Started shopping around for something new based on specs.
-Wide stance for the hills and valleys
-horsepower to push thru 3ft snow drifts (the guy that drove the snowplow called ME before he started his shift).
-good towing capacity (scientific equipment too many isolated sites)
NEARLY bought me a jeep...SAHARA...until I inquired about a towing package..."well umm err... you can only pull a sea-doo..."
Back to the drawing board.
Ended up talking to a fella (car salesman) that said he thought he had what I needed, but it wasn't 'OUT' just yet.
2000 blazer ZR2... (new idea because EVERYBODY keeps goofing up their warranty by throwing on bigger tires)...oversize your tires and your powertrain warranty is poop.
So I paid for it over the phone... flew down to pick it up... (could have been pink for all I cared as long as it held up for HALF of what they say it could do).
===============
I've done NOTHING, but the regular maintenance... and YES I should get rid of these original tires (6 years old don't ya know).
But this last weekend I crawled up to a glacier and licked it in this VEE-HICK-el that everyone else seems to have nothing, but problems with.
(granted I don't try to street race, but I did have someone in a corvette 'VAR-OOMing' me the other day and I looked over and thought..."THAT would make a nice ramp!"
=============
SUMMATION:...no problems and 'baby' is still a joy to get away from boneheads and their whinning.
I bought it to crawl over mountains and she's still doing her job!
( (2000 Blazer Zr2) )
Sincerely
Cloudwatcher.
I have 66,000 on mine.
12/02/02 30,000 mile checkup $475.00
01/06/03 32,349 miles broken thermostat
03/26/03 35,132 4,000 mile service $53.00
07/14/03 38,718 8,000 mile service $408.87
9/04/03 41,150 Transmission problems $54.20
10/27/03 44,281 12,000 mile service $386.06
11/13/03 45,154 Replace heater core $106.00
3/10/04 47,700 4,000 mile service $153.87
03/24/04 47,977 Heater core flushed due to poor maintenance from previous heater core work
4/16/04 48,214 Bad Alternator $100.00
08/04/04 50,767 8,000 mile service $144.31
03/15/05 53,700 Fuel Gauge stopped working, replaced fuel level sensor, Idler arm loose, had to be replaced, both sides upper and lower ball joints replaced, thermostat leaking and had to be replaced. Covered under warranty $100.00 deductible.
04/25/05 54, 700 Broken moter mount, replaced, bad transmission band, replaced, loose hood nut (5th time) (They are trying to charge me $91.39 for diagnose the noise, used to do it for free), oil coolent lines leaking, needed to be replaced. Warranty deductible waived Rear Brakes done for $198.00.
Total so far = $2,279.00
PLUS $1300 for air conditioner repair and a new fuel pump.
There seems to be only a few good ones out there. I don't have one.
The Chevy Blazer is a disposable vehicle; not meant to last long, as is the case with all Chevy's actually. I can't believe that it is legal to sell these pieces of junk to the public. They are so sub-par (even for Chevrolet) that they are unsafe right off of the sales lot when they are brand new. Nothing is done right on these; not one single detail. I have owned Chevy's before, so anyone about to bore me with a comment concerning foreign/domestic can stop typing right now. The motors are cheap, out of spec. pieces of oil burning junk. The transmissions are no better, the interiors fall apart like children put them together, and the paint starts falling off of the plastic bumpers after the first carwash. Did I mention that the brakes are about as cheap as it is possible to get and still pass inspection (maybe)? And how about the electrical problems? Fun isn't it? If you enjoy being stranded and miserable, buy a Blazer, or any other Chevy for that matter.
Have a 1995 Blazer with 212,000 miles. I've driven it from Alabama to Oregon, Michigan, California, and Miami all without any trouble. The thing runs like a horse. I guess you could say I got one of the good ones. It is the best truck I've ever driven in the snow. I was the only car to get through a pass in a storm in Oregon. The only problems that have arisen are the door hinges wearing out and the EGR valve getting clogged with carbon. Sounds to me like you guys just got lemons.
Roll Tide...
2000 Blazer LT 4x4: We also had no reverse at 70,000 miles in 2006. Had the transmission rebuilt for $2300.
We also have replaced the hub assemblies, alternator, and driver door hinge pins and bushings. The door would only close if it was lifted.
Summer 2007 we replaced the radiator. Recently, we had to replace the intake gasket for the manifold that was leaking coolant and overheating the engine at 82,000 miles - $650. I heard this is a problem with GM cars.
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