Owner-reported complaints naming the visibility system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors. 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. 129 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 129, in the owner's own words
THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS DON'T WORK ALL THE TIME. THE LAST 10 TIMES THAT I TRIED TO TURN THEM ON, THEY DIDN'T 5 OF THOSE TIMES. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING ON AND OFF FOR THE PAST MONTH. LAST NIGHT I HAD TO PULL INTO THE BREAKDOWN LANE ON THE HIGHWAY ACROSS 3 LANES IN A DOWNPOUR, BECAUSE THE WIPERS JUST STOPPED OPERATING. I WAS ALMOST HIT BECAUSE I COULDN'T SEE ANYTHING. *TR
I OWN A 1997 CHEVROLET BLAZER. A FEW YEARS BACK THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING WHILE I WAS DRIVING IN A HEAVY RAINSTORM ON A HIGH TRAFFIC EXPRESSWAY. IT WAS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AS THERE WAS NO VISIBILITY DUE TO THE WIPERS STOPPING. I CONTACTED CHEVROLET AND REPAIRS WERE MADE AT A DEALERSHIP. ON MONDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2008, I WAS DRIVING IN A RAINSTORM AND ONCE AGAIN THE WIPERS FAILED. I CONTACTED CHEVROLET AND THEY GAVE ME A SERVICE REQUEST CLAIM NO. AND MADE AN APPOINTMENT AT THE SAME DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED. THEY TOLD ME THAT I WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC FEE AND NO GUARANTEE THAT THEY WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR CHARGES. I BELIEVE THIS IS A HAZARDOUS PROBLEM TO MYSELF, PASSENGERS, OTHER MOTORISTS, AND PEDESTRIANS. THIS IS THE 2ND INCIDENT. I CHECKED FOR RE-CALLS ON THIS AND THERE ARE NONE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET BLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUSPENSION FRONT UPPER BALL JOINT WAS MAKING A POPPING NOISE. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SHIFT, WHICH MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO ALIGN THE FRONT END. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER. SHE ALSO STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. OCCASIONALLY, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS GRIND WHEN ACTIVATED. SHE STATED THAT THE WIPER MOTOR WORKS, BUT THE ARMS DO NOT. IF SHE JIGGLES THE ARMS, THE WIPERS WOULD WORK TEMPORARILY. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.
INTERMITTENT WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILURE. *AK
WINDSHIELD WIPER INTERMITTENT FAILURE. *TR
DRIVER'S SIDE REAR VIEW MIRROR SWITCH WIRING CAUGHT ON FIRE. MY HUSBAND HAD TO TEAR THE DOOR PANEL UP TO KEEP MY BLAZER FROM BURNING UP. GM REFUSES TO FIX THIS UNDER THE RECALL BECAUSE MY VIN NUMBER DOES NOT FALL IN THE SEQUENCE OF THOSE THAT WERE RECALLED FOR THIS DEFECT. MY INTERIOR DOME LIGHT CAUGHT ON FIRE AS WELL. MY HUSBAND HAD TO PULL OFF THE COVER AND BREAK THE BULB OUT OF THE HOUSING TO KEEP THE BLAZER FROM BURNING. DEALER WILL PROBABLY REFUSE TO FIX THIS AS WELL. *TR
WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILURE. *AK
THE BLOWER MOTOR INTERMITTENTLY QUITS WHILE THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE LIGHT SIMILTANIOUSLY GO ON AND THE CRUISE CONTROLS DISENGAGES. UNDER HIGH HUMIDITY CONDITIONS THE INSIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD FOGS UP AND CANNOT BE SAFELY CLEARED. THIS CONDITION OCCURS ABOUT 25% OF THE TIME.*AK
TL* - THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED. SHE STATED THAT THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME THAT SHE HAS HAD A FIRE IN THE TRUCK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ITWAS THE DRIVER'S SIDE MIRROR MOTOR THAT CAUGHT ON FIRE AGAIN. SHE WILL HAVE A POLICE AND FIRE REPORT TO STATE THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. *AK
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY. THIS OCCURS EVERY TIME THE WIPERS ARE TURNED ON. THEY WILL WORK ONLY FOR SHORT PERIODS OF TIME. THE WIPERS WILL ONLY START BACK WORKING AFTER THE VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. IT WAS DETERMINED THE WASHER MOTOR IS FAILING. THERE IS AN NHTSA RECALL, 03V159000, REGARDING THE WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.
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
I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 1997 CHEVY S-10 BLAZER. A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO I NOTICED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD WORK SPORADICALLY, AND SOMETIMES NOT AT ALL. I RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE AND FOUND ON DIFFERENT INTERNET FORUMS THAT OTHERS HAD AN ISSUE WITH THIS TOO. I THEN DID A RECALL SEARCH AND FOUND NOTHING UNDER 1997 CHEVY BLAZER, HOWEVER, UNDER 1997 CHEVY S-10 (MY BLAZER IS THE S-10 MODEL) A RECALL PERTAINING TO EXACTLY WHAT I AM EXPERIENCING (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 03V159000). I THEN PROCEEDED TO CONTACT MY LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALER, AND WITH NO AVAIL, WAS TOLD THAT MY PARTICULAR MODEL WAS NOT INCLUDED. SO I THEN CONTACTED CHEVROLET DIRECTLY, AND AGAIN WAS TOLD IT WAS NOT SUBJECT TO THIS PARTICULAR RECALL. IN THE RECALL SUMMARY, IT STATES "ON CERTAIN MINIVANS, PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES." I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THIS MATTER TAKEN CARE OF WITHOUT ANY FINANCIAL IMPACT ON MY PART. OBVIOUSLY I AM EXPERIENCING EXACTLY WHAT THE RECALL STATES. *JB
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD WORK INTERMITTENTLY, THEY WOULD OPERATE ON HIGH WHEN THE INDICATOR SAID LOW, AND THEY WOULD NOT TURN OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY REPLACED THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR. THERE HAVE BEEN NO MORE INCIDENCES SINCE THE REPAIR. *AK
GM WOULD NOT HONOR RECALL FOR MY 97 BLAZER WINDSHEILD WIPERS DO NOT ALWAYS WORK RECALL NUMBER 03V159000. *NM
WIPER MOTOR FAILURE GM HAS RECALL 03V159000 BUT SAYS I AM NOT COVERED. *NM
DT: OWNER NOTICED AFTER WASHING THE CAR THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS DON'T WORK. OWNER HAS TO STOP AND GET OUT AND HIT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR IN ORDER TO GET THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS TO WORK. SOMETIMES THE OWNER HAS TO GET OUT AND WIPE OFF THE WINDSHIELD. THE AUTO PARTS STORE TOLD THE OWNER THAT THERE WAS NO SEAL IN THE MOTOR OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND THIS ALLOWS WATER TO ENTER THE MOTOR. THE OWNER HAS CHECKED WITH CHEVROLET AND THEY STATED OWNER WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE REPAIR. *NM THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THE VEHICLE ALSO HAS INFERIOR BALL JOINTS. *NM
I HAVE PROBLEMS WITH MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS INTERMITTENLY FAILING. THEY WILL WORK ONE MOMENT THEN STOP ANOTHER MOMENT. SOMETIMES JUST RESTARTING THE TRUCK WILL GET THEM GOING AGAIN, OTHER TIMES I HAVE TO GET OUT OF THE TRUCK AND PULL ON THEM TO GET THEM MOVING AGAIN. MOST RECENTLY THE WIPER FAILURE OCCURRED 3X DURING A TRIP TO WORK IN THE RAIN, AND I HAD TO PULL OVER EACH TIME TO GET THE WIPERS RESTARTED AGAIN BY PULLING ON THEM. IN A GOOGLE SEARCH ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, I FOUND THERE HAVE BEEN MANY OTHERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS SAME PROBLEM. SOME HAVE SAID THE FAILURES ARE A RESULT OF BAD(COLD) SOLDER JOINTS ON THE PC BOARD IN THE WIPER MOTOR THAT IS CAUSING THE INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. REFLOWING OF THE SOLDER JOINTS ON THE BOARD HAS CORRECTED THE PROBLEM FOR MANY.
WHILE DRIVING HOME IN THE RAIN WINDSHIELD WIPERS MALFUNCTIONED. WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULDN'T COME ON SOMETIMES WHEN ENGAGED, FINALLY THEY STOPPED IN MID STREAM. THIS OCCURRED DUE TO THE DEFECT DESCRIBED IN RECALL 03V159000 BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK TECH FOUND THAT THE WIPER COVER MODULE WAS BAD AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *TT *NM
DT: WINDSHIELD WIPERS DID NOT WORK. THE CONSUMER CALL GM AND THEY INDICATED THERE WAS NO RECALL. THERE WAS ONE ON THE SAME VEHICLE A YEAR OLDER. THE CONSUMER HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE WIPERS FOR 6 MONTHS AND NOW THEY DON'T WORK. *NM
ERRATIC WINDSHEILD WIPER BLADES ON MY 1997 BLAZER S-10. THE WIPERS WILL NOT COME ON SOMETIMES UNLESS THE WIPER ARMS ARE MOVED BY HAND. WHEN THAT HAPPENES, IT IS DIFFICULT AT TIMES TO GET THEM WORKING. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE WIPERS FOR THE 1996 BALZER AND THE 1997 S-10. MY VEHICLE HAS THE EXACT SAME WIPER SYSTEM AS BOTH OF THE RECALLED VEHICLES. MY VEHICLE NEEDS TO BE RECALLED AND REPAIRED.
1997 CHEVROLET BLAZER IS EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH WINDSHIELD WIPERS. *MR THE WAS AN INTERMITTENT ISSUE. *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
THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED DURING A SEVERE RAINSTORM. I NARROWLY AVOIDED AN ACCIDENT. THEN IT CAME BACK ON AND SUDDENLY FAILED AGAIN. THIS IS 1997, CHEVYROLET, BLAZER 2 DOOR AWD. *AK
WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING. MANUFACTURER STATED THERE WERE TOO MANY MILES ON THE VEHICLE TO MAKE THE REPAIRS AT NO COST.*AK RECALL CAMPAIGN: NHTSA ITEM NUMBER: 10001125. THE CONSUMER REFERENCED CAMPAIGN NUMBER 03V159000. *TC
THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED IN CONSUMER'S YARD. THE FIRE WAS ELECTRICAL WHICH ORIGINATED FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE REARVIEW MIRROR. CONSUMER'S HUSBAND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. VEHICLE HAD BEEN SITTING IN THE YARD FOR A WEEK, THEN MOVED THE NIGHT BEFORE THE FIRE DUE TO SNOW. CONSUMER FELT THAT THE FIRE OCCURRED DUE TO THE DEFECT DESCRIBED IN THE REARVIEW MIRROR SWITCH RECALL 03V090000.*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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