1997 Chevrolet Blazer Steering Problems

I PURCHASED MY 1997 CHEVY BLAZER LS IN FEBRUARY OF 2005. SINCE THE PURCHASE I HAVE HAD THE ALIGNMENT DONE TWICE. AFTER THE SECOND ALIGNMENT THE MECHANIC STATED THEY FOUND THE REASON MY BLAZER WAS CONTINUING TO PULL THE RIGHT WAS BECAUSE THE GEAR BOX NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT WAS STUCK TO THE RIGHT. THIS PROCEDURE IS GOING TO COST ME 470.00. THE MECHANIC SAID THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH GM VEHICLES. THE STEERING WHEEL TURNS TO THE RIGHT WHEN I START THE VEHICLE AND PULLS SEVERELY TO THE RIGHT MAKING MY DRIVING EFFORT MORE DIFFICULT AND ALSO CAUSING UNNECESSARY WEAR ON MY TIRES. *JB

NHTSA ID

10134443

Incident

Aug 27, 2005

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

NHTSA ID

10054924

Incident

Jan 21, 2004

Mileage

70,000 mi

I TOOK MY 1997 CHEVROLET BLAZER IN TO MY MECHANIC TO HAVE ALL TIRES REPLACED. I WAS CALLED ABOUT AN HOUR LATER TO BE INFORMED BY HIM THAT BOTH LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE BAD, ALSO THE IDLER ARM NEEDED REPLACED. I WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A RE-CALL SOME TIME AGO THAT THE MANUFACTURER WOULD REPLACE AT NO COST TO THE CONSUMER. AFTER CALLING GENERAL MOTORS, I WAS INFORMED THAT THE RECALL DID NOT INCLUDE THE "VIN #" FOR THIS RECALL. *LA

NHTSA ID

10042961

Incident

Oct 16, 2003

Mileage

89,218 mi

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS, UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS, IDLER ARM, CAP ROTOR AND COIL WIRE WERE REPLACED. *PH *JB

NHTSA ID

10014773

GM WON'T REIMBURSE BALL JOINTS DUE TO REPLACEMENT NOT BY GM DEALER. DT

NHTSA ID

769050

Incident

Oct 5, 2001

VEHICLE HAS LOSE STEERING, WHEN VEHICLE HITTING A BUMP IT FELT REAL HOLLOW. THIS WAS A RESULT OF BAD LOWER BALL JOINTS.*AK

NHTSA ID

8014254

Incident

Jun 18, 2002

WHILE GETTING AN OIL CHANGE TECHNICIAN INFORMED CONSUMER THAT UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS AND IDLE ARM NEEDEDEDTO BE REPLACED. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED THAT CONSUMER THAT UPPER BALL JOINT IS COVER EDUNDER A RECALL, BUT NOT LOWER BALL JOINT AND IDLE ARM. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

8012640

Incident

Apr 1, 2002

CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER COULD NEVER CORRECT THE PROBLEM WITH THE POWER WINDOWS, AND ALSO THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL SEAL LEAKED AND WAS REPLACED.*YH

NHTSA ID

8009778

Incident

May 10, 2002

MY '1997 CHEVROLET BLAZER LOST ITS CONTROL AFTER FAILING ITS RIGHT FRONT UPPER BALL JOINT OF KNUCKLE ASSEMBLY. RIGHT FRONT TIRE WAS OFF THE GROUND AND THE RH FRT KNUCKLE SCRUBBED THE INSIDE OF TIRE RIM. THE CHEVROLET DEALER INFORM ME TO REPLACE THE UPPER BALL JOINT AS A RECALL ITEM. AND THEY CHARGE ME FOR ALL THE OTHER DAMAGED PARTS. SECOND PROBLEM: THE GEAR SHIFTING LEVER DID NOT GO TO THE RIGHT POSITION ON THE PRINDLE DURING MY DRIVING. I ASKED THE CHEVY DEALER TO FIX IT. THEY OPEN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THEY TOLD ME THEY FIXED IT. THE SAME DAY, MY TRANSMISSION WAS ENGAGED INTO DIFFERENT GEARS AGAINST MY INTENTION DURING DRVING CONDITION. THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO MAKE A KICKING SOUND ON THE ROAD BESIDES SHIFTING INTO ANY GEARAS AND MAKING SERIOUS METALLIC NOISE ON THE FREE WAY. THE CHEVY DEALER RECOMMENDED ME MY VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION AND I HAD TO PAY FOR IT AFTER PAYING FOR INSTRUMENT PANEL FIX, REPLACEMENT OF TORQUE CONVERTER AND TOWING FROM TENNESSEE TO DETROIT.*AK

NHTSA ID

761071

Incident

Apr 19, 2002

RE: RECALL ID 3'S 01L08000 & 01V200000, DEALER CLAIMS MY VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THESE RECALLS. INDEPENDENT REVIEW SHOWS THAT BALL JOINTS AND IDLER ARM NEEDS REPLACING AT LESS THAN 50K MILES. WILL RECALL BE EXPANDED?*AK

NHTSA ID

758284

IDLER ARM FAILED PENNSYLVANIA STATE INSPECTION AT 22,000 MILES!! COST ME $106 TO REPLACE. MECHANIC SAID HE HAS REPLACED A FEW OF THESE ON OTHER BLAZERS, BUT NEVER WITH SUCH LOW MILES ON IT

NHTSA ID

758213

Incident

Feb 21, 2001

PITTMAN ARM/ IDLER ARM, AND UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS HAVE CORRODED. A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED ON VEHICLES MAKE AND MODEL,; HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. THE DEALER HAS REPAIRED VEHICLE AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE.*AK *SLC

NHTSA ID

899752

Incident

Oct 10, 2001

THE FRONT STEERING MECHANISM ON MY BLAZER HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE, AND EACH TIME IF I HAD NOT BEEN KEEPING AN EYE ON IT IT COULS HAVE CAUSED A CRASH. IN ANY EVENT IT WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE EITHER TIME. THIS SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO BECAUSE THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF THESE VEHICLES ON THE ROAD AND AMNY PEOPLE WHO ARE TOTALLY UNWARE THAT TIS COULD BE A PROBLEM . I HAVE CHECKED SEVERAL OTHERS SETTING IN CAR LOTS FOR SALE AND THERE IS EXCESSIVE PLAY IN THE FRONT ENDS OF ALL OF THEM SO THIS PROBLEM IS NOT JUST MY PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

745596

Incident

Apr 11, 2001

BRAKES SQUEAK, IDLER ARM NOT ATTACHED PROPERLY CAUSING RATTLING AND PULLING WHILE DRIVING, WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOP WORKING INTERMITTENTLY DURING USE CAUSING PROBLEMS SEEING OUTSIDE, REAR DEFROST DOES NOT WORK, FUEL GAUGE GIVES INCORRECT READINGS AND BOBS BACK AND FORTH, DEX COOLANT TURNED TO SLUDGE CAUSING BLOCKAGES IN HEATING CORE, ENGINE BLOCK, AND RADIATOR

NHTSA ID

744445

Incident

Mar 1, 2001

FAULY BALL JOINTS AND IDLER ARM CAUSED BOTH FRONT TIRES TO BEGIN TO WEAR ON THE INSIDE TREAD PREMATURELY. NLM

NHTSA ID

559764

Incident

Jan 19, 2001

BOTH UPPER BALL JOINTS AND IDLE ARM FAILED AT LOW MILEAGES OF 33,000. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED THAT VEHICLE WAS OUT OF ITS WARRANTY. *AK THE CONSUMER RESTATED THE PROBLEM SAYING THE LOWER BALL JOINTS AND IDLE AREM FAILED RATHER THAN THE UPPER BALL JOINTS. *YH

NHTSA ID

878701

Incident

Jan 17, 2001

CAR WAS MAKING BANGING SOUND WHEN TURNING. CAUSE WAS IDENTIFIED AS FAILED IDLER ARM AND BALL JOINTS. REPAIRED BY GM/CHEVY UNDER 36,000 MILE WARRANTY. CONCERNED THAT LOW MILEAGE FAILURE MAY REFLECT SIGNIFICANT AND DANGEROUS FRONT END PROBLEM WITH CHEVY BLAZER.

NHTSA ID

736133

Incident

Aug 9, 2000

WHEN DRIVING IN WINDY WEATHER CONDITIONS CONSUMER NOTICED ALOT OF PLAY IN THE STEERING WHEEL , CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID

861513

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS CAME LOOSE TWICE GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. THE FRONT ROTORS HAD TO BE REPAIRED AND BRAKE PADS REPLACED. THIS PROBLEM CAUSED SEVERE STEERING DIFFICULTY. ( THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN ALL BLAZERS AND HE'LL SEE ME AGAIN IN ABOUT 15-25K MILES)TIRES HAD TO BE REPLACED EARLY BECAUSE THEY WEAR FAST ON THE FRONT. REPLACED BALL JOINT RECENTLY. VEHICLE MAKES EXCESSIVE NOISES IN FRONT END( INCLUDING ENGINE COMPARTMENT) FOR AGE. VEHICLE HAS HAD ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS SINCE PURCHACE TO INCLUDE IGNITION REPLACEMENT, FUEL PUMP AND SENSORS REPLACED, FUEL GUAGE GOING WACKY,LIGHTS ALWAYS SEEM DIM( I HAVE A HARD TIME SEEING AT NIGHT WHEN DRIVING THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE), VEHICLE WOULD NOT START ON TOO MANY OCCASIONS TO LIST AND TOWED ONCE WHILE ON A TRIP FOR THIS PROBLEM. VEHICLE HAD TO BE JUMP STARTED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, BATTERY SEEMS TO DRAIN FO NO APPARENT REASON. SEATS AND BELTS HAVE BEEN REPAIRED ABOUT 4 TIMES. I ONLY DETAIL LISTED ITEMS WHICH I KNOW THE EXACT DATES. WHICH HAPPENED. VEHICLE IS AT THE DEALER RIGHT NOW FOR ELECTRICAL AND THEY ARE SAYING THERE IS NO PROBLEM. MY WIFE AND I ARE CURRENTLY TRYING TO WORK WITH GM ON THESE ISSUES, BUT HAVEN'T RECEIVED MUCH HELP. I AM VERY DISSAPOINTED WITH THE GM SERVICE AND THE DEALERS. I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A CHEVY PERSON, BUT I DON'T BELEIVE I WANT TO OWN ANOTHER PROBLEM. I HAVE HEARD MANY PEOPLE COMPLAIN ABOUT SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THEIR 199X BLAZER. THE TWO DEALERS WHICH HAVE WORKED ON THIS VEHICLE THE MOST TRY TO TELL MY WIFE THESE PROBLEMS ARE NORMAL. NO VEHICLE OF THIS AGE SHOULD HAVE THIS MANY PROBLEMS. I HAD A 20 YEAR OLD CHEVY TRUCK BEFORE THIS BLAZER AND DIDN'T HAVE NEARLY THE PROBLEMS. SORRY, HAD TO VENT A LITTLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

718228

Incident

Mar 20, 1999

DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, RAN INTO A HOUSE, EJECTING DRIVER FROM VEHICLE. A SMALL FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE, SOMEONE TRIED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE, BUT IT KEPT BURNING , CAUSING DAMAGE TO HOUSE AND TOTALING VEHICLE. FUEL PUMP DID NOT SHUT DOWN. SEATBELT MAY HAVE FAILED; THERE WAS A RECALL TO REPLACE BELTS FOLLOWING COLLISION. *AK

NHTSA ID

844995

Incident

Jun 20, 1999

EA94038, IN ICY CONDITION BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHICH MAY RESULT IN A CRASH. ALSO, EFFECTS THE STEERING SYSTEM'S ABILITY TO STEER VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.

NHTSA ID

844040

Incident

Dec 1, 1997

FRONT UPPER BALL JOINT DISCONNECTED FROM KNUCKLE CAUSING DAMAGE TO OTHER PARTS. HOWEVER REPAIRS WERE DONE ON THE FRONT UPPER BALL JOINT, LOWER BALL JOINT, KNUCKLE, HALF SHAFT, WHEEL SPEED SENSOR, BRAKE HOSE, WHEEL & TIRE. *YC

NHTSA ID

545971

Incident

Mar 7, 1997

BRAKES FAULTY CAUSING THEM TO LOCK UP CAUSING THE VEHICLE NOT TO STOP PROPERLY.

NHTSA ID

542508

VEHICLE WAS STRUCK BROADSIDE IN RIGHT REAR QUARTER PANEL BY A GMC STAKE BODY TRUCK. VEHICLE ROLLED OVER, COMING TO REST ON THE ROOF. DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES, AND VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.

NHTSA ID

534182

Incident

Apr 6, 1998

DRIVER SEAT NOT MOUNT SECURELY, ALIGNMENT AND STEERING MALFUNCTION, WINDSHIELD SET INCORRECTLY, AND BRAKES MAKE CLICKING NOISE WHEN APPLIED.

NHTSA ID

531346