1999 Chevrolet Blazer Suspension Problems

I AM SHOCKED TO FIND OUT THAT THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE ABS BRAKES AND THE FRONT END BALL JOINTS. I AM ACTUALLY AFRAID TO DRIVE MY BLAZER AFTER READING ABOUT THE PROBLEMS. I LIVE IN A SMALL TOWN IN THE MOUNTAINS AND HAVE TO DRIVE MOUNTAIN ROADS AND ALONG A RIVER TO GET TO A BIGGER CITY. I AVERAGE ABOUT ONCE A MONTH THIS TRIP AND IF I MY BLAZER WAS TO HAVE A WHEEL FALL OFF BECAUSE OF A BAD BALL JOINT SYSTEM I AND MAYBE OTHERS WOULD BE DEAD OR SERIOUSLY HURT. I HAVE OVER THE YEARS REPLACED MY BALL JOINTS SEVERAL TIMES AS THEY KEEP GOING BAD, MUCH MORE THAN JUST NORMAL WEAR IT APPEARS. I ALSO HAVE FOR THE LAST 6 MONTHS OR SO HAVE HAD THE ABS LIGHT COME ON AND THE ABS BRAKES COME INTO PLAY WHEN SLOWING DOWN OR COMING TO A STOP ON DRY ROADS. THERE ARE TIMES THE LIGHT IS ON WHEN I FIRST START MY BLAZER AND HAVEN'T EVEN MOVED YET. A MECHANIC THAT LOOKED AT IT SAID THAT IT APPEARED THAT THE SENSOR WOULD NEED REPLACING. I DID NOT HAVE IT DONE AS IT WAS GOING TO BE SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS FOR THE REPAIR. WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO HAVE A RECALL? HOW CAN PEOPLE TELL YOU OF THE PROBLEMS THEY TOO ARE HAVING, WHEN THESE PROBLEMS ARE NOT PUBLICLY ANNOUNCED AND THEY HAVE NO IDEA THAT IT IS NOT JUST THEIR VEHICLE. LIKE ME, I HAD NO IDEA THERE WERE THESE PROBLEMS GOING ON FOR OTHER PEOPLE TOO. LIKE I SAID I NOW AM AFRAID ABOUT HAVING A MAJOR ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THE BALL JOINT/SUSPENSION PROBLEM THAT IS TALKED ABOUT ON THIS WEBSITE. I CAN NOT AFFORD TO BUY A NEW VEHICLE. CAN'T WE GET HELP BEFORE SOMEONE HAS TO BE HURT OR KILLED? *TR

NHTSA ID

10511332

Incident

Jun 1, 2011

Mileage

100,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET BLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC FOR AN UNRELATED ISSUE WHEN THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE BALL JOINTS WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE 55,000.

NHTSA ID

10425225

Incident

Jan 13, 2011

Mileage

35,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING HIGHWAY SPEED WHEN I HEARD A LOUD GRINDING NOISE IN FRONT END THEN A SEVERE PULL TO MY LEFT WHICH VEERED ME OFF THE ROAD , LUCKILY THERE WAS A GRASSY KNOLL TO MY LEFT AND NOT A GUARD RAIL. WHEN I EXITED I FOUND MY FRONT LEFT WHEEL OFF . THE SHOP SAID MY WHEEL FELL OFF DUE TO A BAD BEARING. I FOUND THIS ODD DUE TO MY REPLACING BOTH BEARINGS A YEAR BEFORE. APPARENTLY ITS A COMMON PROBLEM. VEH. HAS 147K AT THIS INCIDENT AND ONLY 126K WHEN REPLACED PARTS THE FIRST TIME. IN ADDITION HAD 4X4 ACTUATOR REPLACED, FUEL PUMP, OIL COOLER LINES REPLACED, AND PITMAN ARM...ALL APPARENTLY COMMON AND FREQUENT REPAIRS WITH THIS VEHICLE !! *TR

NHTSA ID

10263224

Incident

Feb 8, 2009

Mileage

147,868 mi

I PURCHASED A 1999 CHEVROLET S10 BLAZER IN MARCH 2002. SINCE THEN, I HAVE REPLACED A FRONT END, A REAR END AND A TRANSMISSION. NOW I HAVE TO REPLACE THE REAR END AGAIN. I HAVE 143000 MILES ON THIS VEHICLE AND I AM NOT HAPPY WITH IT ALL. I WOULD LIKE SOMETHING DONE BY GM IN REGARDS TO MY PLIGHT. I HAVE HAD GM CARS MOST OF MY LIFE AND NEVER HAD ONE AS BAD AS THIS. I AM READY TO GO TO A FOREIGN VEHICLE. THIS IS UNDOUBTEDLY THE WORST VEHICLE I HAVE EVER OWNED. *NM

NHTSA ID

10162119

Incident

Jul 7, 2006

(1) MY GAS PEDAL WILL STICK AND WILL NOT RELEASE (2) OUR BRAKE PADS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND OUR DRUMS HAD BEEN WORN DOWN BUT THE PADS WERE STILL GOOD. (3) I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE JOINT IN FRONT FOR MY TIRES - 2 TIMES NOW. *JB

NHTSA ID

10160892

Incident

Apr 20, 2006

Mileage

80,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING (AT ABOUT 5 MPH) THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT LOWER BALL JOINT FAILED. THE CAR DROPPED TO THAT SIDE, AND STEERING CONTROL WAS LOST. LUCKILY THIS HAPPENED AS I WAS SLOWING TO A STOP BEFORE ENTERING A HIGHWAY. IT APPEARED AS THOUGH THE WHEEL HAD BEEN SEPARATED FROM THE FRONT SUSPENSION. AFTER TOWING TO A MECHANIC, I FOUND THAT IT WAS THE LOWER BALL JOINT THAT HAD FAILED, AND THE BRAKE LINE HAD ALSO BEEN SEVERED. AS A RESULT THE SHOCKS ON THAT SIDE WERE BENT OUT OF SHAPE, AND THE SHOCKS ON THE OTHER SIDE WERE STRETCHED OUT (AS IT WAS PULLED BY THE WEIGHT OF THE DROPPED SIDE). HAD I BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY OR TRAVELING AT A HIGHER SPEED, I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WOULD HAVE OCCURRED WITH POSSIBLE INJURY OR DEATH. *NM

NHTSA ID

10153297

Incident

Mar 20, 2006

Mileage

90,000 mi

DT: THE CONTACT COMPLAINED ABOUT MULTIPLE PROBLEMS. WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH ON A DAMP ROAD THE DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL CAME OFF. HE WAS ABLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE SAFELY TO THE CURB. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC, WHO REPLACED THE UPPER BALL JOINT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND REALIGNED THE WHEELS. LATER, HE HEARD A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE OTHER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. HOWEVER, THEY HAVE NOT BEEN REPLACED. ALSO, THE WINDSHIELD FOGGED UP. THE MECHANIC STATED THE HEATER CORE BROKE AND THE COOLANT WAS LEAKING. THE HEATER CORE WAS REPLACED. N ADDITION, THE VEHICLE HAD PROBLEMS STARTING. THE MECHANIC HAD TO REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP AND FUEL INJECTOR. THE STARTING PROBLEM HAS NOT RETURNED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10145648

Incident

Oct 10, 2005

Mileage

87,500 mi

DT: THE CONTACT COMPLAINED ABOUT MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. THE 4-WHEEL DRIVE ACTUATION MOTOR WAS REPLACED. THE HEATER CORE BECAME BLOCKED AND WAS FLUSHED BY THE DEALER. THE STEERING BOX AND PITMAN ARM WERE REPLACED. ALSO, THE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS WERE REPLACED. THE HEADLIGHTS BECAME DIM. THE REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER STOPPED WORKING. THE DEALER PERFORMED NUMEROUS REPAIRS, AND COULD NOT OFFER AN EXPLANATION AS TO WHY THESE PROBLEMS OCCURRED AT SUCH LOW MILEAGE. THE VEHICLE IS REMAINED AT THE DEALER AWAITING REPAIRS ON THE REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER. ALSO, REPLACED LOOSE FRONT HUBS. *AK

NHTSA ID

10144437

Incident

Aug 1, 2003

Mileage

15,421 mi

SUSPENSION FRONT CONTROL ARM BROKE AND NEEDED TO BE WELDED BACK TOGETHER

NHTSA ID

10140785

Incident

Jun 26, 2002

Mileage

45,794 mi

WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH LOWER RIGHT FRONT BALL JOINT FAILED CAUSING WHEEL TO COLLAPSE. THERE WAS NO NOISE AT FAILURE, ONLY THE FEELING THAT A TIRE MIGHT HAVE GONE FLAT. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO INDEPENDENT REPAIR FACILITY WHERE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE REMAINING 3 BALL JOINTS WERE ALL "LOOSE" AND IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT. ALL 4 BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED. VEHICLE HAD APPROXIMATELY 93000 MILES AT TIME OF INCIDENT. *JB *NM

NHTSA ID

10132664

Incident

Aug 10, 2005

Mileage

93,800 mi

WHILE GOING DONE THE ROAD AT 45 MPH, SUDDENLY THE FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL CAME OFF. TIE RODS AND RIMS WERE DESTROYED. THE BALL JOINTS WERE FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE. ALSO, ENGINE WAS DEFECTIVE, AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT RUNNING, EFFECTIVELY ON 3-20-05. *AK

NHTSA ID

10115459

Incident

Dec 31, 2004

WHILE PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT THE UPPER BALL JOINTS FAILED. AS A RESULT FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL FELL OFF. THE CAUSE HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM

NHTSA ID

10111728

Incident

Feb 12, 2005

Mileage

78,000 mi

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A BALL JOINT PROBLEM. IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE BALL JOINTS WERE DEFECTIVE. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP, WHO WAS ASKING FOR $1200.00 TO REPAIR THE DEFECTIVE BALL JOINTS. *AK THE HINGES ON THE DRIVERS DOOR HAVE RUSTED EXTENSIVELY CAUSING THE DOOR TO SAG WHEN OPENED. *SC *JB

NHTSA ID

10106746

Incident

Aug 1, 2003

Mileage

50,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING 20-25 MPH FRONT END VIBRATED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT BOTH FRONT LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK

NHTSA ID

10105087

Incident

Oct 14, 2004

Mileage

96,000 mi

CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THAT BOTH DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE WHEEL BEARINGS WERE REPLACED TWICE WHILE DRIVING. CONSUMER NOTICED VIBRATION COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER DROVE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION,AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT WHEEL BEARING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10099349

Incident

Nov 3, 2004

SUSPENSION FAILURE ALL BEFORE 60,000 MILES. *BF *TC

NHTSA ID

10099362

Incident

Oct 1, 2004

LOWER BALL JOINTS WORN ONLY AFTER 55,000 MILES. *AK

NHTSA ID

10093506

Incident

Oct 1, 2004

Mileage

55,000 mi

PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE'S WHEEL BEARING, FRONT IDLER AND PITMAN ARMS. *MR THE CONSUMER REPLACED THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL BEARING WHICH REQUIRED THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE HUB KIT. THE RIGHT FRONT BEARING FAILED AS WELL, ALONG WITH THE RIGHT FRONT IDLER AND PITMAN ARM. *SC *JB

NHTSA ID

10092747

Incident

Nov 11, 2003

SECOND FAILURE ON WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLY AT 126000 MILES (REPLACED THE FIRST TIME AT 58K MILES). 1999 CHEVY BLAZER NOT EVER DRIVEN OFF ROAD. WILL REQUIRED $600 A WHEEL TO REPLACE THE TWO FRONT WHEEL ASSEMBLIES. THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW IN THESE PARTS. READ THE 10 OTHER COMPLAINTS SAYING THE SAME THING. ALL AT 50-60K MILES...ALL WITH WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLY. IS IT A COINCIDENCE THA GM REDESIGNED THE PART, CHARGES $600 PER WHEEL TO FIX AND IS THE ONLY SUPPLIER OF THE PART?*AK

NHTSA ID

10089000

Incident

Sep 1, 2004

Mileage

120,000 mi

1999 BLAZER UNDER 60K, HAVE REPLACED BOTH FRONT WHEEL HUB BEARING, OIL COOLER LINES, FRONT SEAT RECLINER HANDLE, CONDENSATE WATER LEAKS ONTO FLOOR WHEN VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. HAVE READ SAME PROBLEM ON COMPLAINT WEB-SITE. WHY NO ACTION BY GM? *JB

NHTSA ID

10088101

Incident

Aug 14, 2004

I TURNED THE CORNER AT AN INTERSECTION AND BEGAN ACCELERATING. IT FELT LIKE THE VEHICLE HAD A FLAT TIRE SO I PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT. JUST AS I STOPPED, THE WHEEL FELL UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE BALL JOINTS BROKE ON THE FRONT RIGHT WHEEL CAUSING THE WHELL TO FALL OFF THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES DUE TO HOW SLOW I WAS DRIVING AT THE TIME. THERE WAS ALMOST NO WARNING BEFORE THE WHEEL FELL OFF. THE DEALER REPLACED THE BALL JOINTS, BENT CONTROL ARM, BROKEN TIE ROD, BENT BRAKE HOSE, AXLE, AND SWAY BAR LINKS. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF RECALLS FOR OTHER CHEVY VEHICLES RELATED TO MANUFACTURING ISSUES WITH BALL JOINTS. *AK

NHTSA ID

10086764

Incident

Aug 8, 2004

Mileage

62,000 mi

PROBLEMS WITH FRONT END WHEEL BEARINGS ON 1999 CHEVROLET BLAZER.*MR WHILE DRIVING THERE WAS A MOANING NOISE COMING FORM THE FRONT END. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TOT HE DEALER WHO DETERERMINED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT HUB NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. FIFTEEN MONTHS LATER THE NOISE WAS PRESENT AGAIN. THE DEALER REPLACED ONE AND INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT HE OTHER ONE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED SOON. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THE FRONT HUBS ARE A PROBLEM IN THESE VEHICLES. *NM

NHTSA ID

10083873

Incident

Mar 26, 2003

Mileage

44,978 mi

RQ 02 012/FRONT CONTROL ARM BALL JOINTS: WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, A HUMMING NOISE WOULD COME FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP AND THEY INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT ALL UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACE ON BOTH SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE VEHICLE VIN # WAS NOT COVER UNDER THAT RECALL. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *NM

NHTSA ID

10082100

Incident

May 26, 2004

Mileage

64,000 mi

WAS DRIVING ABOUT 25 MILES PER HOUR ON A LOCAL STREET WITH A 86 YEAR OLD PASSGNER AND CHRILDREN IN THE CAR, WHEN THE PASSENGER SIDE FELL TO THE GROUND,UNAWARE OF WHAT CAUSED THIS I HAD ASSUMED I HAD A FLAT TIRE AND TRIED TO MOVE OUT OF THE WAY OF TRAFFIC UNSUCESSFULLY I REMAIN IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY STREET CAUSING A MAJOR BACK UP. UNTIL AN HOUR LATER WHEN A TOW TRUCK CAME TO TOW ME TO A LOCAL SHOP. AND THE SFPD HAD TO RE-ROUTE TRAFFIC. ONCE AT THE SHOP I WAS TOLD MY BALL JOINTS SNAPPED AND BROKE CAUSING THE VECHICLE TO DROP AS IT DID. AFTER INSPECTION BOTH SIDES I WAS THEN TOLD THE DRIVER SIDE WAS ALSO ABOUT TO FALL OFF. A FEW MONTHS BEFORE I NOTICED MY CAR LEANING HEAVLY TO THE RIGHT SIDE THEN A CLICKING NOISE STARTED WHEN I WOULD TURN BUT IT STOPPED SO I THOUGHT NOTHING MORE OF IT AND BOUT 6 MONTH LATER THIS HAPPEND. *AK

NHTSA ID

10081056

Incident

May 14, 2004

Mileage

98,621 mi

RIGHT WHEEL ASSEMBLY SLIPPED AT HIGHWAY SPEED, CAUSING MY VEHICLE TO LURCH TO THE RIGHT WITHOUT WARNING. ONLY BY MY FIRM GRIP ON THE STEERING WHEEL, DID I AVOID A LOSS OF CONTROL WHICH ALMOST CAUSED A CRASH. *AK PREMATURE WEAR OF THIS COMPONENT IS NOTED IN OTHER GENERAL MOTORS SUV'S (SPECIFICALLY DURANGOS). THE COST OF REPLACEMENT (1500) THE COSTS OF RENTAL CARS WHILE MY VEHICLE WAS UNDER REPAIR ( 400) ARE PART OF MY CLAIM......LUCKILY NO CRASH RESULTED FROM THIS FAILURE.

NHTSA ID

10066201

Incident

Feb 4, 2004

Mileage

91,000 mi