Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1997 Chevrolet Blazer submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 159 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 159, in the owner's own words
Throttle stuck brakes could not stop vehicle. Lost control and rolled. Lucky I was on my property and not a public road. No report. Can be inspected. Available anytime. This is not the only year of this model I have had this problem I have had two 2002 that have had same problem.
WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT THE HIGH BEAMS GO OUT AND THE INTERIOR LIGHT WILL NOT TURN OFF WHEN THE DOORS ARE CLOSED OR THE SWITCH TURNED OFF.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET BLAZER. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE FRONT BRAKES LOCKED UP INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ABS PUMP AND ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,300.
WHILE DRIVING MY 1997 CHEVY BLAZER, I WAS TURNING TO THE LEFT OFF THE HIGHWAY AT 60MPH. I APPLIED MY BRAKES WHICH STARTED MY DECELERATION, SUDDENLY THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT THE FLOOR. I PUMPED THE BRAKE PEDAL ONE MORE TIME WITH NO RESISTANCE. I HAD TO APPLY THE PARKING BRAKE AND STARTED MAKING LARGE S-TURNS TO BURN OFF THE SPEED AND MANUALLY DOWNSHIFTING THE TRANSMISSION. AFTER I FINALLY STOPPED THE VEHICLE I CHECKED THE BRAKE LINES AND FOUND OUT THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE METAL BRAKE LINE HAD RUSTED THROUGH AND WAS SPRAYING BRAKE FLUID ALL OVER THE PLACE. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN 3 MONTHS THAT THE BRAKE LINES HAVE BURST ON THIS 1997 CHEVY BLAZER. THE LAST TIME THE REAR MAIN BRAKE LINE BURST. *TR
I JUST PICKED UP MY 1997 CHEVY BLAZER OCT 31, 2012 WITH 79000 MILES ON IT. I NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A LARGE AMOUNT OF CORROSION BUILDUP ON THE UNDER CARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE. LUCKILY YESTERDAY, WHILE SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY, I NOTICED BRAKE FLUID LEAKING BEHIND THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR. UNDER CLOSER INSPECTION, I FOUND OUT THAT THE REAR BRAKE LINE WAS SEVERELY CORRODED AND HAD BURST. NOW I CANNOT DRIVE MY BLAZER UNTIL I GET THIS FIXED. WITH THIS LEAK, I INSPECTED THE REST OF MY BRAKE LINES TO WHICH I'VE FOUND BOTH MY FRONT BRAKE LINES IN A SEVERELY CORRODED STATE AS WELL WAITING TO BURST. THIS IS A GREAT SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
LEFT REAR OEM METALLIC BRAKE LINE CORRODED ON A 1997 CHEVY BLAZER RESULTING IN LOSS OF BRAKING POWER. LINE WAS NOT DAMAGE, JUST LEAKS OUT OF PIPE EVERY TIME YOU PUSH THE BRAKE PEDAL. LINE IS ATTACHED TO FRAME ABOVE LEFT REAR WHEEL AXLE. UPON INSPECTION IT LOOKS RUSTED OUT. *TR
ABS WIRE CAUGHT FIRE ON MY 1997 CHEVY BLAZER AFTER TURNING IT OFF. AND CAUGHT ANTIFREEZE RESERVOIR ON FIRE. LUCKILY I COULD CATCH IT BEFORE IT BURNED THE TRUCK UP. CALLED DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE PROBLEM. *TR
PURCHASED THIS PREVIOUSLY ENJOYED VEHICLE FROM DEALER JUNE 2009, FIRST SNOW FALL FOUND THAT THE ABS SYSTEM LOCKS UP WHEN GOING OVER ANY SLIPPERY SERVICE. PEDAL IS HARD TO COMPRESS DURING INCIDENT AND RESISTS PRESSURE, AND MAKES GROWLING SOUND. OUTSIDE OBSERVER NOTES THAT FRONT WHEEL ACTUALLY LOCKS UP AND SOON NOT TURN DURING OCCURRENCE. WILL BE SERVICED BY DEALER ON FOLLOWING FRIDAY, SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT WAS PURCHASED WHEN CAR WAS PURCHASED. WILL RETURN WITH MORE INFORMATION AFTER. AND WILL ALSO REPORT IF DEALER HONORS WARRANTY IN THIS SITUATION. COULD CAUSE ACCIDENT AND SLIDING IF NOT SKILLED IN HANDLING VEHICLE AND EVEN IF YOU ARE. *TR
OWNING THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE AND A FINANCIAL DRAIN. WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKED WHEN THEY CHOSE, REPLACED WIPER MOTOR DUE TO DEFECTIVE PART. UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS ALL HAD TO BE REPLACED. WHEEL BEARINGS HAD TO BE REPLACED. A/C STOPPED WORKING, HAD IT LOOKED AT AND RECHARGED AND IT STILL DOESN'T WORK. FUEL GAGE DIDN'T WORK, REPLACED FUEL SENSOR AND SENDING UNIT. REAR WIPER QUIT WORKING, REPLACED REAR WIPER MOTOR, A FEW DAYS LATER IT DOES NOT WORK AGAIN. REPLACED WATER PUMP, HAVE REPLACED ABS ONLY TO GET A RECALL AFTER THE FACT WITH NO REIMBURSEMENT. WEARS THROUGH BRAKE PADS ENTIRELY TOO FAST. REPLACED ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY TWICE. REAR HATCH DOES NOT UNLOCK WITH KEY. HEADLIGHTS ARE SO DIM THEY MIGHT AS WELL NOT EXIST. WATER LEAKS INTO INTERIOR ON DRIVERS SIDE DUE TO A BAD SEAL. IDLER ARM NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. GAS PEDAL STICKS. NOW HEATER FAN WORKS SOMETIMES. READING THROUGH THE COMPLAINTS WE ARE ALL EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS AND NOTHING IS BEING DONE ABOUT IT. RECALLS ISSUED ON SOME VEHICLES BUT NOT ALL? NOW I HEAR GM PUT A BAD INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET ON THESE AS WELL AS SEVERAL OTHER CARS (1997) AND DID NOT ISSUE A RECALL BECAUSE IT IS NOT A SAFETY MATTER! THIS CAUSES ANTIFREEZE TO LEAK INTO THE ENGINE AND ULTIMATELY ENDS IN A REPAIR OF AT LEAST 1500.00. AFTER MY EXPERIENCE WITH THIS VEHICLE I WILL BE PURCHASING SOON AND IT MOST LIKELY WILL NOT BE GM. SAD SINCE MY DAD WORKED FOR THEM FOR 30 YEARS. THEY SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR PUTTING A BAD PRODUCT ON THE MARKET AND LEAVING US TO DRY. *NM
WHILE TRAVELING AT 25 MPH ON A WET ROADWAY I APPROACHED A VEHICLE STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT. AT AROUND 6 CAR LENGTHS I APPLIED MY BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP, RESULTING IN A REAR END CRASH WITH THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE STARTED TO VIBRATE AS IF THE ABS BRAKES WERE ACTIVATING. THE BRAKING SYSTEM FAILED TO PROVIDE MUCH STOPPING POWER. THE SPEED AT THE TIME OF COLLISION WAS ABOUT 15 MPH, SLOWED FROM 25. *JB
WHEN SLOWING TO A STOP, MY ABS SYSTEM KICKS IN AND ALLOWS THE VEHICLE TO ROLL FARTHER THAN NORMAL, USUALLY HAPPENS UNDER 10 M.P.H. *NM
THE ROTORS ARE WEARING OUT, AND WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE WILL HAVE HEAVY VIBRATION AND EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. THE DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK THE POWER BOOSTER FAILED WHICH WAS LOCATED BEHIND THE MASTER CYLINDER AND MOUNTED TO A FIREWALL. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP IN THE PROPER AMOUNT OF TIME WHEN THE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE PEDAL WOULD NEED TO BE APPLIED REALLY HARD THEN WOULD STOP 15 TO 25 INCHES FURTHER. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A SPRING WITHIN THE METAL ROD WHICH CAUSED IT TO FAIL. THE MASTER AND THE BOOSTER ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED. *SC
I BOUGHT MY RIG UNDER A YEAR AGO AND HAVE BEEN HAVEING PROBLEMS WITH THE TRASMISSION,I HAVE RUN OUT OF GAS MANY TIMES BECAUSE IT DOESN'T REGISTER,MY AIR CONDITIONER DOESN'T WORK RIGHT,MY BRAKES HAVE LOCKED UP A FEW TIMES AND WHEN I TURN A CORNER IT SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING CRAHING UNDER MY RIG.I HAVE HAD NOTHING DONE YET BECAUSE IT IS GOING TO COST ME A WHOLE LOT TO HAVE ALL THIS REPLACED.MY STEREO WENT DEAD ABOUT A WEEK AFTER I GOT IT ALSO.I THOUGHT I WAS BUYING A GOOD RIG BUT,NOW I AM FINDING OUT DIFFERENT AND I PAID GOOD MONEY FOR AND AM STILL PAYING FOR IT.I HAVE REPLACED THE HEATER CORE IT WENT OUT 3 WEEKS AFTER I GOT IT,THE WINDOW WENT OUT A FEW DAY'S AFTER I GOT IT AND FORD BARELY REPLACED THAT FOR ME.*AK
CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES, AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY PUMPING THE BRAKES CONSECUTIVELY THREE TIMES. THEN, VEHICLE STOPPED ON ITS OWN. CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, BUT MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. CONSUMER INFORMED THE MECHANIC THAT THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED MORE THAN ONCE. *AK
WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT THE BRAKES FAILED. THIS CAUSED THE DRIVER TO COLLIDED WITH A VEHICLE WHILE CROSSING AN INTERSECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DRIVER'S HOME. *NM THE ANTILOCK BRAKES DID NOT ENGAGE. THE PEDAL WAS HARD AND THE CONSUMER COULD NOT SLOW DOWN. *SC *JB
POWER BOOSTED BRAKE FAILURE DEFECTIVE PIN & SPRING BETWEEN MASTER CYLINDER & POWER BOOSTER. VEHICLE CAN'T STOP IN FEDERAL REQUIRED DISTANCE IN FOOTAGE AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THIS CAN CAUSE MAJOR ACCIDENTS, INJURY, & DEATH. *JB
MY 1997 BLAZER DIES WHEN I AM DRIVING IT. I CAN DRIVE IT FOR 2 WEEKS WITH NO PROBLEMS AND THEN IT WILL DIE SEVERAL TIMES IN ONE DAY. IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW FAST I AM GOING...I CAN BE GOING 50 MPH OR COMING TO A STOP WHEN IT DIES. THE STEERING AND BRAKES GO OUT AND I'M AFRAID I AM GOING TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT AND OF COURSE IT DIDN'T CUT OFF WHEN THE MECHANIC DROVE IT. I HAVE ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE ALTERNATOR, BATTERY, THERMOSTAT, AND WATER PUMP WITHIN THE LAST 6 MONTHS. *LA
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED CONSUMER HAD TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL VERY HARD TO GET THE VEHICLE TO SLOW DOWN. ALSO, RIGHT REAR DOOR WILL NOT OPEN, WINDSHIELD WIPERS, AND THE ELECTRIC WINDOWS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. *AK
THIS IS A 1997 CHEVROLET BAZER. THE ANTI LOCK BRAKES ON THIS VEHICLE IS DEFECTIVE AND INGAGES UNDER VARYING CONDITIONS. THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE IN SLIPPERY CONDITIONS. FRONT SENSORS HAVE BE CHECKED. THIS VEHICLE WILL ENGAGE ANTI-LOCKS AT TIMES WHEN BRAKES ARE NOT APPLIED. BRAKE SWITCH CHECKS OK. PEDAL WILL DROP UNDER MOST STOPS AND ANTI-LOCK WILL SCREAM AND APPLY. A JERKING BRAKE ACTION IS PRESENT. I DO KNOW THERE IS A RECALL ON 1994-1996 MODELS. BY LOOKING ON THE INTERNET I SEE THAT I AM NOT ALONE IN THIS PROBLEM. HUBS ARE OK. I THINK THE TROUBLE MAY BE IN THE CONTROL UNIT, BUT NO TROUBLE CODES APPEAR AND SCAN TOOL INDICATES NO TROUBLE. I THINK GM HAS PRODUCED DEFECTIVE UNITS. THIS CAR HAS 90000 MILES BUT HAS HAD EXCELLENT CARE AND NO DAMAGE. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW TO DISCONNECT THESE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES. THEY ARE UNSAFE. THERE APPEARS TO BE NO WAY TO DETECT THE PROBLEM. *AK
WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES AT ANY SPEED, THE BRAKE PEDAL FEELS HARD. A HISSING SOUND CAN BE HEARD AND DASH LIGHTS FLICKERED. BRAKING DISTANCE WOULD BE EXTENDED. VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN EXAMINED BY DEALERSHIPS MECHANIC AT THIS TIME. *PH
WHILE DRIVING ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED . DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT ABS SENSOR MODULE HAD GONE BAD AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE VEHICLE HAD A DELAYED REACTION WHICH CAUSED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK CONSUMER HEARD NOISES ON THE BOTTOM OF THE FLOOR BOARD AND UNDER THE GLOVE DEPARTMENT. THE CONSUMER'S VIN WASN'T INCLUDED IN THE BRAKE RECALL, BUT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE SEAT BELTS. *PH *JB
BRAKES WOULD NOT WORK. EXPERIENCED EXTREME DIFFICULTY IN BRAKING VEHICLE. IN ORDER TO STOP VEHICLE, HAD TO APPLY PRESSURE WITH BOTH FEET.*AK
WHILE DRIVING THERE WAS NOISE FROM THE BRAKE MOTOR THEN THE ABS WARNING LIGHT FLASHED ON AND BRAKES LOCKED UP. THIS PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY A FAILURE IN THE ABS SENOR, AND IT NEEDED REPLACEMENT.*AK
I HAVE A 1997 CHEROLETY BLAZER AND HAVE THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM THAT THE MODEL YEAR 2000-2001 RECALL COVERS. MY BOTTOM BRAKE LIGHTS ARE INOPERATIVE AS WELL AS MY HAZARD LIGHTS. THE UPPER CENTER BRAKE LIGHT WORKS FINE. IF I PUSH MY HAZARD SWITCH TO THE SIDE, MY BOTTOM BRAKE LIGHTS WORK AND THE TOP ONE DOESN'T. I HAVE ALREADY CALLED GM AND HAVE NO SATISFACTION AFTER EXPLAINING THE SITUATION. THIS BRAKE LIGHT/HAZARD SIGNAL IS ALSO A PROBLEM ON THE 1998 MODELS. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND MANY OWNERS OF EARLIER MODELS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHY THEIR BRAKE AND HAZARD LIGHTS DO NOT WORK. IS THERE A WAY TO GET GM TO INCLUDE EARLIER MODEL YEAR SUVS INTO THIS RECALL? *AK
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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