1996 Chevrolet Blazer Interior & seats Problems

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 CHEVROLET BLAZER. WHILE PROCEEDING TO TURN A CORNER AT 25 MPH, THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR UNEXPECTEDLY OPENED. THE DRIVER IMMEDIATELY CLOSED THE DOOR MANUALLY WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THE DRIVER THEN WENT TO A REPAIR SHOP AND HAD THE DOOR TEMPORARILY SECURED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON A SEPARATE OCCASION. THE AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. UPDATED 04/21/09. *LJ UPDATED 04/21/09.*JB

NHTSA ID

10262825

Incident

Dec 17, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 CHEVROLET BLAZER. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR FLEW OPEN. THE CONTACT EXAMINED THE DOOR AND NOTICED THAT THE LATCH FAILED. HE PLACED A PIECE OF WOOD AT THE LOCK POSITION TO KEEP THE DOOR CLOSED. A FEW DAYS LATER, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR LOCK ALSO FAILED. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY PARKED AT HER HOME AND WILL BE TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC. THE VIN, ENGINE SIZE, NUMBER OF CYLINDERS, DEALER INFORMATION, AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 49,000.

NHTSA ID

10212487

Incident

Dec 13, 2007

DRIVERS SIDE DOOR ALWAYS SAGGED DOWN A BIT. HINGES EVENTUALLY FAILED REQUIRING HINGES TO BE REPLACED. DUE TO THIS PROBLEM, THE LATCH CATCH ALSO FAILED. BOTH REQUIRED NEW PARTS AND WELDING TO MAKE THE DOOR OPERABLE AS DOOR WOULD NO LONGER LATCH SHUT. I LITERALLY HAD TO TIE THE DOOR SHUT TO TAKE IT FOR REPAIRS. IN REVIEWING YOUR SITE, I ALSO HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS AS MANY OTHER BLAZER OWNERS (HOOD LATCH MECHANISM FAILED; UPPER BALL JOINTS NEEDED REPLACED; TOO MANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE TO LIST HERE). I AM TOLD BY THE REPAIR SHOP THAT THE DOOR HINGE ISSUE IS QUITE COMMON AMONG CHEVROLET/GM PRODUCTS.

NHTSA ID

10127691

Incident

Jul 4, 2005

Mileage

138,750 mi

ON SEPTEMBER 5, 2004, MY HUSBAND, MOTHER, 8 YEAR OLD SON, 4 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER, AND 1 YEAR OLD SON, WERE STRANDED IN THE EMERGENCY LANE ON I-66 EAST IN FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA WITH A BROKEN FUEL PUMP. WHILE WAITING FOR A TOW TRUCK THEY WERE HIT BY A DRUNK DRIVER WHO WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 100 MPH. THE BLAZER FLIPPED ONTO ITS SIDE AND SKIDDED A GREAT DISTANCE, BEFORE FINALLY COMING TO REST UPSIDE DOWN. MY 4 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED WHEN THE BACK SEAT, AND THE FRONT SEAT BROKE AND SANDWICHED HER IN BETWEEN THE TWO. SHE BROKE HER JAW WHEN SHE WAS SLAMMED INTO THE SMALL HANDLE ABOVE THE REAR RIGHT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. SHE ALSO SUFFERED A BROKEN WRIST AND BROKEN ARM WHEN SHE WAS THROWN INTO THE DOOR. WHEN THE BACK SEAT BROKE IT CAUSED HER TO HIT THE HEADSET OF THE BROKEN FRONT SEAT WHICH IN TURN CAUSED SOME OF HER TEETH TO GO THROUGH HER BOTTOM LIP. MY MOTHER WHO WAS SITTING IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WAS INJURED WHEN THE ROOF DID NOT HOLD UP IN THE CRASH AND SUFFERED THANKFULLY WHAT WAS CLASSIFIED AS "MINOR" INJURIES, BUT COULD HAVE VERY WELL BEEN MAJOR INJURIES BECAUSE THE ENTIRE RIGHT SIDE FROM FRONT TO BACK DID NOT HOLD UP IN THE ACCIDENT. I DO HAVE MANY PICTURES OF WHAT WAS LEFT OF MY BLAZER, FROM MANY DIFFERENT ANGLES BOTH INSIDE AND OUT. I AM DEEPLY TROUBLED BY THE FACT THAT BOTH SEATS BROKE, AND THE ROOF DID NOT HOLD UP AT ALL. MY 8 YEAR SITTING IN THE REAR CENTER SEAT HAD A LACERATION AND CONCUSSION, MY 1 YEAR OLD SITTING IN THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE SEAT HAD NO INJURIES, AND MY HUSBAND IN THE DRIVERS SEAT SUFFERED MINOR HEAD AND SHOULDER INJURIES. GRANTED THIS COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE, BUT I EXPECTED A LOT MORE OUT OF THE BLAZER THAN WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10104101

Incident

Sep 5, 2004

Mileage

178,000 mi

HOOD RELEASE CABLE BROKE AT LEVER INSIDE VEHICLE. T APPROX. 50MPH WHILE ENTERING HIGHWAY HOOD OPENED AND SMASHED WINDSHIELD. SAFETY CATCH DID NOT ENGAGE.REPAIRS ARE IN PROCESS.*AK

NHTSA ID

10091372

Incident

Sep 19, 2004

THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THERE WAS A SMELL OF GAS. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED AND THERE WAS A RECALL ON THESE ITEMS AND THEY HAVE BEEN REPAIRED PER THE MANUFACTURER. *JB THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR WAS INTERMITTENT, THE HATCHBACK LIGHT WAS INTERMITTENT AND THE INTERNAL LIGHT WAS INTERMITTENT. RECALL# 03V159000 AND 96V234000. *SC

NHTSA ID

10087785

Incident

May 14, 2003

Mileage

45,000 mi

CONSUMER STATED HATCH BACK LATCH BECOMES LOOSE IN RESULT OF EXHAUST FUMES ENTERING INTO VEHICLE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

NHTSA ID

10004218

I WANTED TO REPORT THIS DEFECT ON MY 1996 BLAZER BECAUSE IT IS THE EXACT SAME DEFECT I HAVE JUST REPORTED ON MY 2001 BLAZER. WHAT ARE THE ODDS THIS ONLY HAPPENED TO ME ON MY VEHICLES FIVE YEARS APART? THIS ELECTRICAL WIRING DEFECT COULD CAUSE A VEHICLE TO CATCH FIRE ANONG OTHER THINGS. I HAVE HAD THE REPAIR COMPLETED ON MY 1996 BLAZER BUT IT APPEARS PARTS ARE NOT READILY AVAILABLE TO REPAIR MY 2001 BLAZER. I WOULD GUESS SEVERAL 1000 OTHER BLAZERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. PLEASE HELP GET THIS DEFECT A RECALL SO POTENTIAL ACCIDENTS CAN BE AVOIDED. *AK

NHTSA ID

755242

Incident

Sep 7, 1999

AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IS CAUSING DOME LIGHTS AND DASH LIGHTS TO BE INOPERABLE. ALSO, ENGINE SERVICE LIGHT ILLUMINATES WHEN AIR CONDITIONER IS RUNNING. DEALER HAS SERVICED VEHICLE. HOWEVER, PROBLEM HAS REORCCURRED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

894997

WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN, CONSUMER PUT ON BRAKES AND FELT ABS KICKING IN, BUT THERE WAS A DELAY IN STOPPING, CONSUMER HAS ALSO BEEN TO THE DEALER REGARDING AN EXCESSIVE BRAKE SQUEAK, DEALER HAD REPLACED BRAKE PADS TWICE AND ROTORS ONCE. RIGHT REAR DOOR WON'T ALWAYS UNLOCK FROM INSIDE, DEALER FOUND NO PROBLEM, PINS AT DRIVER'S DOOR HINGES RUSTED. THE SEAL AROUND RIGHT REAR WINDOW HOLDS WATER AFTER RAIN. REAR PASSENGER SEAT WILL NOT FOLD DOWN, DEALER FOUND CABLE BINDING UP. WATER COLLECTS IN REAR LIGHT LENSE WHEN WASHING VEHICLE, DEALER REPLACED TAILLIGHT LENSE, CENTER HIGH MOUNT LENSE COLLECTS MOISTURE, DEALER REPLACED 3RD LIGHT BRAKE ASSEMBLY. CONSUMER FLUSHED RADIATOR AND 12 MONTHS LATER IT NEEDED FLUSHED AGAIN, DEALER PERFORMED, CONSUMER PAID TO HAVE THE FIRST FLUSH DOWN AND IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. *SLC

NHTSA ID

876082

Incident

Nov 28, 2000

THE METAL THAT THE DOOR STRIKE LATCHES ARE MOUNTED TO IS FALLING AWAY. THERE IS NO SIGN OF RUST, AND THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR HAS A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF HOLES AT THIS MOUNTING POINT. THE REAMINING 3 DOORS ARE BEGINNING TO SHOW SIGNS OF METAL FAILURE AS WELL, ALTHOUGH NOT AS BAD AS THE DRIVER'S DOOR. YOU CAN LITERALLY TAKE 2 FINGERS AND MOVE THE "U" SHAPED DOOR STRIKE LATCH QUITE EASILY. WHEN DRIVING, AIR WILL ENTER IF YOU LEAN AGAINST THE DOOR. IT IS A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THIS LATCH BREAKS OFF COMPLETELY AND THE ALLOW THE DOOR TO OPEN. 1 DEALER (KERY-MORRIS CHEVROLET IN COLUMBUS, IN) AND 2 INDEPENDENT BODY SHOPS CLAIM THEY'VE NEVER SEEN THIS BEFORE. AFTER CALLING CHEVROLET, IT WAS SUGGESTED THAT WE TAKE THIS VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALER FOR ANOTHER OPINION. WE WENT TO OUR LOCAL DEALER (ROYAL CHEVROLET IN BLOOMINGTON, IN) AND THE BODY SHOP MANAGER INDICATED THAT HE HAD SEEN THIS BEFORE BUT NOT THIS BAD; HE CHECKED OTHER 96 BLAZERS (INCLUDING HIS IN-LAWS) AND FOUND THE SAME THING TO BE HAPPENING. THERE ARE NO BULLETINS REGARDING THIS, SO EVEN THOUGH IT IS SERIOUS, IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO REPAIR IT (ESTIMATED AT $475.00 FROM KERI-MORRIS). ROYAL INDICATED THAT IF IT WAS RUSTED, THEN THE FACTORY WOULD STAND BEHIND IT, BUT NOT BECAUSE OF METAL FATIGUE. I CAN PROVIDE PICTURES IF DESIRED; THE PROBLEM IS VERY EASY TO SEE.

NHTSA ID

719715

DRIVER'SS SIDE SEAT HAS A LITTE HOLE FROM WHICH A SHARP PIECE OF METAL STICKS OUT. *AK

NHTSA ID

857549

Incident

Feb 25, 1999

BOTH FRONT SEAT COVERS HAVE TORN 4 TIMES IN LESS THAN 4 YEARS, THEY HAVE BEEN REPLACED EACH TIME BY THE DEALER, BUT THIS IS ONLY A TEMP. FIX, THEY EACH TEAR AT THE LUMBER SWITCH WHICH IS VERY SHARP, GM HAS BEEN NOTIFED BUT THEY JUST KEEP REPLACING THE SEAT COVERS, THEY WILL NOT INVESTIGATE THE DESIGN PROBLEM

NHTSA ID

709613

THE HOUSING AROUND THE CONDENSER IS BROKEN AND CRUMBLES AT THE SLIGHTEST TOUCH. I AM WORRIED ENGINE FUMES ARE GETTING INTO MY CAR VIA THE HOLE. THE FRONT PASSENGER AUTOMATIC LOCK UNLOCKS ABOUT 30% OR LESS WHEN THE DOOR IS SHUT. IT SEEMS TO TRY BUT NOT BEABLE TO UNLOCK THE DOOR, BUT WHEN DOOR IS OPEN IT WORKS FINE.

NHTSA ID

709564

Incident

Jul 15, 1999

DRIVER'S POWER SEAT IS INOPERATIVE. DRIVER'S SEAT IS STUCK IN ONE PLACE, AND IF ANOTHER DRIVER CANNOT ADJUST THE DRIVER'S SEAT ACCORDINGLY, IT MAY RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID

836479

Incident

Mar 22, 1999

ENGINE STALLED FIVE TIMES W/OUT WARNING, ON ONE OCCASION ALMOST RESULTING IN VEHICLE COLLISION.

NHTSA ID

535833

Incident

Jan 9, 1998

THE SEATS KEEP TEARING, CAUSING THE METAL HINGE TO STICK OUT. CONSUMER ALSO STATED THAT WHEN PULLING THE SEATBACK TO LET SOMEONE IN THE BACK SEAT, IT STICKS OUT, CAUSING IT TO STICK DRIVER'S LEG. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THEY HAVE REPAIRED IT SEVERAL TIMES, BUT IT KEEPS ON TEARING. *AK

NHTSA ID

814208

Incident

Jul 15, 1997

SLOWING DOWN TO A STOP LIGHT AND THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SEAT WAS NOT IN A LOCKED POSITION, AND THE OCCUPANT WENT FOREWARD AND CAUSED INJURY TO THE PREGNANT OCCUPANT. THE SEAT NO LONGER LOCKS IN ANY POSITION. *AK

NHTSA ID

813987

Incident

Jul 7, 1997

NOISE DEVELOPED IN FLOORBOARD OF VEHICLE. INHERENT PROBLEM: STRESS CRACKS DUE TO METAL FATIGUE. *AK THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BROKE. *YH

NHTSA ID

813645

Incident

May 30, 1997

FAILURE OF THE HOOD LATCH ASSEMBLY, WHILE DRVING THE HOOD FLEW UP. *AK

NHTSA ID

810718

Incident

Feb 16, 1997

DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR LOCK FAILED.

NHTSA ID

603137

Incident

Oct 1, 1996

NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S AIR BAG IN A REAREND COLLISION, RESULTING IN AN INJURY, ALSO PASSENGER SEAT RELEASED AND SLID TO ITS FORWARD POSITION. *AK

NHTSA ID

510680

Incident

Oct 12, 1996

FLAMES COMING FROM DRIVERS SIDE OF VEHICLE. CAUSED BY SHORT IN POWER SEAT MOTOR. *AK

NHTSA ID

979555

Incident

Feb 16, 1996

REAR HATCHBACK LATCH FAILS TO KEEP WINDOW SHUT, CAUSING EXHAUST FUMES TO ENTER VEHICLE. *DSH

NHTSA ID

490515

Incident

Aug 20, 1995