Owner-reported complaints naming the transmission system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules. 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. 99 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 99, in the owner's own words
HAD TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION AT 140,000 MILES. SERVICING PER THE OWNER'S MANUAL WAS ALWAYS DONE, INCLUDING DEALERS RECOMMENDATIONS FOR TRANSMISSION FLUSH. TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY FAILED TO SHIFT TO 1ST GEAR, THEN FAILED TO SHIFT TO REVERSE SHORTLY AFTER THAT. 3RD PARTY REPAIR SHOP STATED TRANSMISSION WAS BEYOND ECONOMICAL REPAIR, SO REPLACED WITH 3RD PARTY TRANSMISSION TO THE TUNE OF $2800. *TR
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
INTERIOR METAL OF GEAR SHIFT CONNECTING IT TO THE STEERING COLUMN SNAPPED THIS DOES NOT ALLOW FOR SHIFTING TO ANY GEARS INCLUDING PARK. IN TURN, THE KEY CANNOT BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION AND PARKING BRAKE NEEDS USED TO PARK. *JB
THE REACTION SHELL OF THE TRANSMISSION FAILED, CAUSING TRANSMISSION TO GO BAD. REVERSE/FIRST GEAR, AND FOURTH GEAR WERE DEFECTIVE. *AK
TRANSMISSION IS BUCKING, SHIFTING HARD THRU GEARS WHILE DRIVING. SERVICE LIGHT DOSN'T WANT TO GO OUT.*AK
TRANSMISSION HAS SHIFTED HARD FROM 1ST TO 2ND SINCE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE USED 10/7/03 ALSO GET INTERMITTENT CHECK ENGINE LIGHT USED CAR DEALER CODED OUT TO TRANS COMPONENT SLIPPAGE BUT DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO ON 01/16/04 WAS ON EXTENDED TRIP AND TRANSMISSION FAILED COMPLETELY - RPMS STARTED TO CLIMB SO PULLED OVER TO SHOULDER OF ROAD - KEPT SLIPPING GEARS - FINALLY LOST ALL FORWARD MOTION. ON STOPPING AND CHECKING FOUND DIP STICK SHOWED NO FLUID BUT HAD RUST AND GRIT ON THE END FLUID APPEARED TO HAVE BEEN LEAKING OUT OF THE TOP OF THE TUBE AND THERE WAS TRANS FLUID ALL OVER THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED BACK TO USED CAR DEALER HE PUT IN 8 QTS OF FLUID TO GET IT TO MOVE HIS MECHANIC SAID IT APPEARED THAT THE FLUID "BOILED" OUT OF THE DIP STICK TUBE BUT DIDN'T KNOW WHY IN CHECKING THE INTERNET IT APPEARS THAT THESE SYMPTOMS ARE COMMON BUT UNSUPPORTED BY CHEVY ON THIS MODEL YEAR OF BLAZER. *LA
WIRING BUNDLE HOLDER ABOVE TRANSMISSION ONE OF WHICH GOES TO THE TRANSMISSION SWITCH FAILS AND LETS WIRING BUNDLE FALL ON TRANSMISSION AND RUBS THE COATING OFF OF THE WIRING CAUSING ELECTICAL SHORTS; DAYLIGHT HEADLIGHTS, TRANSMISSION FAILURE ( NOTHING WRONG WITH TRANSMISSION)INTERIOR LIGHTING GOES OUT OR STAYS ON ALL THE TIME CAUSING BATTERY TO GO DEAD OVERNIGHT, BURNING OF WIRING ESPECIALLY UNDER DASH AND AT FUSE BOX AND TRANSMISSION SWITCH (NO FIRE RESULTED, UNHOOKED BATTERY REMOVED FUSES,AND HAD WIRE REPLACED TO TRANSMISSION SWITCH THEN TRASMISSION WORKED; NO FAILURE OF SWICTH JUST WIRING,WIPER AND NIGHT LIGHT FAILURES AND MORE. TRANSMISSION AUTO REPAIR SAYS IT IS NUMBER 1 FAILURE AND HAPPENS ALL THE TIME. THE DEALER SAID I NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. THIS IS A 1997 CHEVROLET BLAZER. I STILL HAVE ELECTRAL PROBLEMS I HAVE TO GET FIXED. SOME RECALLS WERE MADE ON THIS AUTO THAT MAY BE DUE TO THIS SHORTAGE CAUSED BY WIRING BUNDLE FALLING ABOVE THE TRANSMISSION.
WHILE DRIVING THERE WAS A BUZZING NOISE. CONSUMER TURNED AROUND AND PARKED VEHICLE. VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO INTO FIRST GEAR OR THIRD GEAR. *AK
P 1870 TRANSMISSION SLIPPAGE CODE. I HAVE ABRUPT SHIFTING BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND GEARS. TRIPS OVER 20 MILES SEEMS TO AGGREVATE THE SITUATION. OCCASIONALLY AFTER THE 20 PLUS MILE TRIP THE TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO WIND UP AS THE GAS IS APPLIED AND THE VEHICLE DOESN'T RESPOND WITH FORWARD MOMENTUM.*AK
WHILE DRIVING AND COMING TO COMPLETE STOP AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DOESN'T SHIFT PROPERLY FROM THE FIRST TO THE SECOND GEAR, WON'T SHIFT, AND MAKES LOUD NOISE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
CONSUMER STATES THAT GEAR SHIFT CAN BE PULLED DOWN WHEN THE VEHICLE IS SHUT OFF. DEALER NOTIFED.*AK
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION NOT SHIFTING FROM REVERSE TO FIRST GEAR. CAUSING THE ENGINE TO RACE BUT MOVING AS THOUGH IT IS IN SECOND OR THIRD GEAR TO START FROM A DEAD STOP. ONCE MOVING AT SECOND GEAR SPEED IT IS WORKING FINE. SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT IS ON. WHEN SCANNED IT SHOWS CODES P0740 AND P1860 (P0740 IS TCC SENSOR MALFUNCTION ---P1860 IS SHIFT PLATE D GROUNDED TO BATTERY)WHEN CODES ARE CLEARED THE CODES COME BACK. TRANSMISSION FLUID AND FILTER HAVE BEEN REPLACED . *NLM
THERE IS A BAD DESIGN IN THE BUNDLE OF WIRING ABOVE TRANSMISSION WITH PLASTIC RING HOLDING BUNDLE, THIS BUNDLE IS NOT ATTACHED TO ANYTHING ALLOWING MOVE RUB TILL THEY SHORT OUT IN THE CHEVROLET BLAZERS, MINE IS A 1997. MY BLAZER WIRING CAUSED MY TRANSMISSION SWITCH TO SHORT OUT AND I WAS FIRST TOLD I NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION SO I TOOK IT FOR SECOND OPINION, THE SECOND SHOP CUT THE WIRE FROM THE BUNDLE, REROUTED IT FROM TRANSMISSION SWITCH AND THE TRANSMISSION SWITCH WORKED. OTHER WIRES IN THE SAME BUNDLE CAUSED SHORTS THROUGH OUT ALL WIRING CAUSING A CONSTANT DRAW OF ELECTRIC AND RUNNING BATTERY DOWN. WHEN A FUSE IS REMOVED IT BREAKS THE CIRCUIT AND BATTERY DOES NOT RUN DOWN. THE SHORTED WIRING CAUSED DAY LIGHTS TO NOT WORK, INTERIOR LIGHTS TO STAY ON UNLESS I PULLED THE FUSE AND NUMEROUS OTHER ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I HAVE HAD IT IN THE SHOP FOR THE SAME THING. THEY ARE NOW DROPPING THE TRANSMISSION TO GET TO THE BUNDLE OF WIRES TO FIX SHORTS AND I AM TAKING PICTURES OF ALL OF THIS. THE SHOP HAD TWO OTHER BLAZERS IN AT THE SAME TIME FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. I WILL ALSO TAKE PICTURES OF THOSE BLAZERS, ONE OF THE BLAZERS IS THE SHOP OWNERS WIFE. THE SHOPS ARE TELLING ME IT SHOULD BE A RECALL. I PLAN TO REPORT THIS TO AS MANY AGENCIES AS POSSIBLE AND INTERVIEW AS MANY SHOPS AS POSSIBLE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, I BELIEVE IT IS A FIRE HAZARD SINCE IT SHORTS OUT. THE WIRING BUNDLE IS ALSO CONNECTED TO THE FUEL PUMP AT THE GAS TANK. I HOPE CHEVROLET WILL ACT SOON AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS PROBLEM. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS. I HAVE ALSO HAD IT IN NIX CHEVROLET WHERE I BOUGHT IT AND THE AC DID NOT WORK, THEY HAVE WORKED ON THE AC 8 TIMES AND TOTALLY REBUILT EVERYTHING AND I STILL DO NOT HAVE AC???? THEY SAID THEY WILL LOOK AT IT AGAIN. I ALSO HAVE NUMEROUS RECALLS I WILL HAVE TO HAVE FIXED. I HAVE HAD SO MUCH TROUBLE WITH THIS VEHICLE SINCE I BOUGHT IT, IT'S BEEN IN THE SHOP MORE THAN I HAVE GOT TO DRIVE IT. I WILL NEVER BUY CHEVROLET AGAIN.*AK
TRANSMISSION DIP STICK AND TUBE ARE FULL OF RUST . THIS IS A DEFECT THAT WILL CAUSE THE TRANSMISSION TO FAIL AND GENERAL MOTORS SHOULD BE CORRECTING THIS PROBLEM. I ONLY HAVE 37000 MILES ON THIS VEHICLE AND I DO NOT WANT TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AT MY COST BECAUSE GM HAS MADE A MISTAKE! *JB
THE TRANSMISSION IN MY VEHICLE HAS A DEFECTIVE VALVE BODY AND IT CAUSED MY TRANSMISSION TO BREAK, I WENT TO THE DEALER WHEN I FIRST HAD THE PROBLEM OF A HARD SHIFT FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN LONG DISTANCES. THE DEALER SAID THE VEHICLE IS SHIFTING FINE AND TO BRING IT BACK WHEN IT DOES IT AGAIN. THIS WAS BACK ON 08/19/02 AND NOW I HAVE A CODE 1870 ON THE COMPUTER AND THE TRANSMISSION IS SHOT. I FOUND OUT THE TRANSMISSION IS A 4L60E AND IT IS VERY UNRELIABLE. ALSO I ALREADY HAD TO CHANGE MY WATER PUMP AND ALTERNATOR AND MY GAS GAUGE DOES NOT WORK AND THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS ALSO. *JB
TRANSMISSION TUBE AND DIP STICK WERE RUSTED AND SEDIMENT WAS IN THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. TRANSMISSION JERKS SWITCHING FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR. NOTICEABLE SLIPPING BETWEEN SHIFTING WHILE DRIVING 45-55 MPH. *JB
1997 CHEV BLAZER S-10 WINDSHIELD WIPPERS INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. STOP WORKING WITHOUT WARNING TRANSMISSION TCV SHORTED OUT, CAUSING COMPUTER TO SHORT OUT, REQUIRING REPLACEMENT GAS GAUGE DOESN'T WORK PAST 1/2 TANK NO WARNING. RAN OUT OF GAS ON INTERSTATE.
THIS TRUCK WAS ALWAYS SERVICED AT THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED. ANY SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE WAS DONE INCLUDING THE TRANSMISSION. ON THE 60,000 SERVICE THE SERVICE MANAGER SUGGESTED A FLUSH TYPE OF TRANSMISSION SERVICE & I SAID TO PROCEED. THE VERY NEXT DAY THE VEHICLE WAS PICKED UP & IMMEDIATELY SHOWED SYMPTOMS OF SHIFTING AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS THAN IT HAD BEFORE THE SERVICE. AFTER SOME CALLS TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT BACK SO THEY COULD DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. NO DEFINITIVE ANSWER COULD BE GIVEN BUT THE SERVICE MANAGER STATED, THEY, THE DEALERSHIP, WOULD ACCEPT NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PROBLEM. I GUESS THEY NEVER HEARD OF CAUSE & EFFECT. NEEDLESS TO SAY I REMOVED THE VEHICLE FROM THEIR POSSESSION IMMEDIATELY. A THIRD PARTY REPAIR FACILITY HAD DETERMINED THE TRANSMISSION HAD SELF DESTRUCTED TO THE POINT OF MAJOR DAMAGE. SUBSEQUENTLY I SPOKE WITH OTHER SHOPS ONLY TO FIND THE METHOD OF FLUSHING WAS A BAD IDEA MOST LIKELY DID CAUSE THE FAILURE. SO MUCH FOR AN AUTHORIZED DEALER & MANUFACTURER STANDING BEHIND THEIR WORK. THIS COST ME TO THE TUNE OF $2,000.
GM WON'T REIMBURSE BALL JOINTS DUE TO REPLACEMENT NOT BY GM DEALER. DT
AFTER RUNNING THE VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY FOR A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME, THE VEHICLE SHIFTS HARD FROM FIRST GEAR TO SECOND. HAD TO REBUILD THE TRANSMISION. SEVERAL OTHER VEHICLES, SAME MAKE AND MODEL, AND EVEN YEAR, WERE IN THE SHOP FOR THE SAME PROBLEM.*AK
CONTAMINATION IN TRANSMISSION FLUID. DEALER CONTACTED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
AT START UP, CONSUMER SAW SMOKE ON RIGHT SIDE OF HOOD, THEN FLAMES. DEALER DETERMINED IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM.*AK *TT
WHILE SLOWING DOWN FROM HIGH SPEEDS VEHICLE WILL START TO ACCELERATE. ALSO, VEHICLE WILL SHUTDOWN AT TIMES TOO. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER HAS REPLACED SEVERAL PARTS OF VEHICLE, INCLUDING TRANSMISSION; BUT, NOTHING HAS WORKED YET. *AK
TRANSMISSION FAILED IN DRIVEWAY WHEN PLACED VEHICLE IN REVERSE IT BUCKED FORWARD CAUSING MY SON TO BE PINNED AGAINST THE GARAGE INJURING HIS RIGHT LEG AND FOOT, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE AND ENGAGED IN 4WD BY ITSELF. MY SON COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICHLE SINCE I PURCHASED IT WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND TRANSFER BOX FAILURE. CURRENTLY IN THE REPAIR SHOP ESTIMATED AT $1200. PLUS TO REPAIR THIS TIME. TRANSFER BOX COST OUT OF POCKET EXPENSE IN EXCESS OF $800. I WAS NOT SURPRISED TO SEE SO MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME PROBELM WITH THIS YEAR MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLE. THE REPAIR SHOP TECH TOLD ME HE HAS REPLACED MANY TRANSMISSIONS IN THIS VEHICLE AND IS SURPRISED THERE HAS NOT YET BEEN A RECALL.I AM A WIDOWER LIVING ON A FIXED INCOME AND THESE UNEXPECTED AND UNNECESSARY EXPENSES HAVE HURT. I EXPECT THE INCIDENTALS WITH KEEPING UP MY VEHICLE, I HAVE MY VEHICLE TAKEN IN FOR REGULAR MAINTENENCE BUT THIS GOES FAR BEYOND REGULAR WEAR AND TEAR. GMC SHOULD MAKE GOOD ON THE PROBLEM BECAUSE IT IS OBVIOUSLY, BASED ON THE NUMBER OF CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS, A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. PLEASE ADVISE AS TO FURTHER STEPS TO TAKE TO HOPEFULLY RESOLVE THIS MATTER. GMC HAS TO BE SHOWN THAT CONSUMERS DONT HAVE TO BE VICTIMS. *AK
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
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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