1985 Chevrolet Blazer Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1985 Chevrolet Blazer, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Brakes515.6%
- Steering515.6%
- Engine515.6%
- Seat belts39.4%
- Interior & seats39.4%
- Transmission26.3%
- Powertrain (other)26.3%
- Body & structure26.3%
- Suspension26.3%
- Tires & wheels26.3%
- Electrical13.1%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
RUBBER PLUG ON SIDE OF PROPORTIONAL VALVE FAILED, CAUSING PARTIAL LOSS OF BRAKES.
MASTER CYLINDER/VACUUM BOOSTER REPLACED TWICE. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHERE THE TILT IS ON VEHICLE HAS LOOSENED UP. THE STEERING WHEEL IS VERY LOOSE AND WOBBLES A LOT. *AK
FRAME CRACKED WHERE STEERING BOX BOLTS TO FRAME.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE ENGINE OIL COOLING LINES ARE WEEPING. WHEN I LOOK THE PROBLEM UP ONLINE I FINE A RECALL BY THE MANUFACTURER: 85C1466A AUG 85 CAMPAIGN - ENGINE OIL COOLER HOSE MAY BURST. AND 85C1466AZ AUG 85 CAMPAIGN - ENGINE OIL COOLER HOSE MAY FAIL. CONTAINED IN THE RECALL DOCUMENT: "DEALER CAMPAIGN RESPONSIBILITY: "DEALERS ARE TO SERVICE ALL VEHICLES SUBJECT TO THIS CAMPAIGN AT NO CHARGE TO OWNERS, REGARDLESS OF MILEAGE, AGE OF VEHICLE, OR OWNERSHIP, FROM THIS TIME FORWARD." I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT DEALERS ARE NOT HONORING THIS RECALL ANY LONGER. IS THERE A TIME LIMIT WHEN THEY HAVE STATED: "DEALERS ARE TO SERVICE ALL VEHICLES SUBJECT TO THIS CAMPAIGN AT NO CHARGE TO OWNERS, REGARDLESS OF MILEAGE, AGE OF VEHICLE, OR OWNERSHIP, FROM THIS TIME FORWARD."? *TR
VEHICLE FIRE DUE TO POSSIBLE ENGINE FAILURE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
SEAT BELTS DO NOT LOCK UP REGARDLESS OF THE AMOUNT OF TENSION
SEAT BELT FAILURE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BRACKET FAILED CAUSING THE SEAT TO COLLAPSE, ONCE WHILE IN USE. NLM
DRIVING ABOUT 60 MPH, FELL ASLEEP AT WHEEL ON HWY, WOKE UP AND OVER CORRECTED, VEHICLE WENT OFF SIDE OF ROAD, DRIVER THROWN OUT OF DOOR (LOCKED), BLAZER ROLLED ON TOP OF DRIVER. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING IN VEHICLE - TOOK TO JOY TRANSMISSION SERVICE BECAUSE OF AD SEEN IN LOCAL PAPER STATING $200 COMPLETE TRANSMISSION OVERHAUL - TOOK IN 1/6/1998 PROMISED TO COMPLETE BY 1/8/98 KEPT VEHICLE 6 DAYS - THEY CALLED ON 6TH DAY AND STATED THE TRANSMISSION TORN DOWN AND WOULD COST ANOTHER $350 TO "REASSEMBLE" EVEN IF THEY DIDN'T DO THE REPAIR TO IT OR THEY COULD RETURN THE VEHICLE IN PIECES AND WE COULD REASSEMBLE OURSELVES - WE GAVE THEM AND ADDITIONAL $350- THEY PROMISED VEHICLE WOULD BE COMPLETELY REPAIRED ON NEXT DAY 2 DAYS LATER CALLED AND SAID THE VEHICLE WAS FIXED - WENT TO PICK UP VEHICLE - VEHICLE HAD A FLAT TIRE AND THE STEREO FACEPLATED WAS MISSING BUT OWNER SUDDENLY PULLED OUT OF BOTTOM DESK DRAWER WHEN OUR TEMPERS BEGAN TO SHOW. 2 WEEKS AFTER VEHICLE RETURNED IT BEGAN TO LEAK TRANSMISSION FLUID RAPIDLY - RETURNED VEHICLE THEY KEPT 3 DAYS AND SAID IT WAS "FIXED FOR GOOD THIS TIME" 2 WEEKS AFTER VEHICLE RETURNED BEGAN TO POUR TRANSMISSION FLUID FROM THE BOTTOM OF VEHICLE- TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT HOLD FLUID. RETURNED AND KEPT ANOTHER 5 DAYS - AFTER 2 MONTHS SAME PROBLEM ALONG WITH SMOKING FROM TRANSMISSION AND OVERHEATING OF TRANS. RETURNED TO SAME SHOP - NOW WITH A DIFFERENT NAME ON SHOP WOULD NOT HONOR WARRANTY OR REPAIR EVEN THOUGH THE SAME MECHANICS WORKING IN SHOP - FILED PAPERS FOR SMALL CLAIMS - SHOP WILL NOT ACCEPT PAPERWORK FOR COURT UNDER JOY TRANSMISSION NAME. MECHANICS NAME : PETER PHONE NUMBER (310) 676-5061 *AK
TRANSMISSION OVERHEATED. *SD
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES AFTER SLIDING ON ICY PAVEMENT, THE REAR AXLE BROKE. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK
WHILE DRIVING THE CAR IT STARTED MAKING A LOUD NOISE, DRIVER PULLED OVER, CAR WAS THEN TOWED, DRIVER WERE TOLD THAT THERE WAS A SPLIT IN THE REAR AXLE. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
CLIENT INJUIRED WHEN ROOF CRUSHED IN DURING ROLLOVER, POSSIBLY RELATED TO STRUCTURAL WEAKNESS. (ATTORNEY FOR CLIENT) *CJ
WHILE STEPPING DOWN AND OUT OF THE BACK DOOR, CONSUMER SLIPPED DOWN OFF TAILGATE, CONSUMER FEELS THIS VERY UNSAFE.*AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
DRIVING ABOUT 60 MPH, FELL ASLEEP AT WHEEL ON HWY, WOKE UP AND OVER CORRECTED, VEHICLE WENT OFF SIDE OF ROAD, DRIVER THROWN OUT OF DOOR (LOCKED), BLAZER ROLLED ON TOP OF DRIVER. *AK
SUSPENSION CONTROL ARM FAILED. *SD
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING, SOME OF THE TREAD CAME OFF THE TIRE. TIRE NAME & SIZE, UNIROYAL LARADO, P23575R15. *CJ
SPARE TIRE STEEL BELTED UNIROYAL PAW PLUS, LOCATED IN INTERIOR COMPARTMENT LEFT WALL, EXPLODED FOR NO APPARENT REASON, WITH SUCH FORCE IT BLEW OUT REAR WINDOW.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
EMISSION SYSTEM FAILURE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .