Owner-reported complaints naming the transmission system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
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 1999 Chevrolet Blazer submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 34 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 34, in the owner's own words
THIS JUST STARTED ONE DAY WHEN WE WERE COMING BACK INTO TOWN. THE CAR HAS NEVER BEEN CRASHED. IF YOU DRIVE AROUND TOWN I DRIVES FINE BUT ONCE YOU ACCELERATE ABOVE 55 MPH SOMETHING CAUSES THE TRANSMISSION TO SLIP FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR. AFTER ABOUT AN HOUR THE TRANSMISSION WILL WORK FINE. I KNOW ANOTHER PERSON WHOSE CHEVY BLAZER DID THE SAME THING. *TR
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
1999 CHEVY BLAZER TRANSMISSION SLIPS. THE VEHICLE HAD 101635 MILES WHEN PURCHASED AND HAS ONLY BEEN DRIVEN AN ADDITIONAL 21604 IN THE LAST 2 1/2 YEARS. *TS *NM
DT*: THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNED. AFTER TURNING ON THE HEATER, SMOKE POURED FROM THE INTERIOR VENTS AND VISIBLE FLAMES WERE BEHIND THE DASHBOARD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE AND DETERMINED THE FIRE WAS ELECTRICAL IN NATURE. AFTER THE INITIAL PURCHASE, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALERSHIP SUSPECTED IT COULD HAVE BE THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPING SIGNALING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND THE AIRBAG SENSOR INDICATING AIRBAG FAILURE. THE DEALERSHIP CLEARED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CODE AND RECOMMENDED THE VEHICLE BE SEEN BY A TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP. CONTRARY TO THE DEALERS SUGGESTION, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC ALSO RECOMMENDED THE VEHICLE BE TAKEN TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP. TWO DAYS LATER, THE VEHICLE BURNED AND WAS TOTALED BY THE EXTENSIVE FIRE DAMAGE. *JB
I AM IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING MY TRANSMISSION REBUILT. MY BLAZER HAS <75,000 MILES, WITH NO LEAKS OR ANY INDICATION THERE WAS A PROBLEM. I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AND HEARD A VERY LOUD THUMP. I GOT OUT TO SEE IF I RAN OVER SOMETHING (LIKE MY CAT), NOTHING WAS THERE SO I GOT BACK IN AND TRIED TO CONTINUE BACKING UP BUT THE BLAZER WOULD NOT MOVE. *JB
CHEVY BLAZER TRANMISSION WENT OUT. RPMS REV UP AND NO REVERSE GEAR.
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
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE BLAZER BEGAN SHIFTING FROM 1ST GEAR TO 2ND GEAR VERY HARD. I EXPERIENCED LOSS OF POWER AND HAD TO SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION. A DIAGNOSTICS TEST SHOWED A P1870 CODE. I HAVE HAD THE PROBLEM CHECKED BY A MECHANIC, WHO STATES THAT MY TORQUE CONVERTOR AND THE CLUTCHES WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED, AS WELL AS A SWITCH, TO THE COST OF $2000. AFTER READING NUMEROUS OTHER COMPLAINTS SIMILAR OR IDENTICAL IN NATURE, I WONDER IF PERHAPS IT IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT OR DESIGN PROBLEM? ONE OF THE MECAHNICS I SPOKE WITH SAID THAT CHEVROLET BLAZERS ARE NOTORIOUS FOR THIS PROBLEM.*AK
I AM THE OWNER OF A 1999 CHEVROLET BLAZER (59000 MILES) AND ONE DAY I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AND MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. AFTER COMMING TO A STOP, MY VEHICLE STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS SWITCHING INTO 2ND GEAR. WHEN I GOT HOME THE TRUCK WAS FINE. THEN A FEW DAYS LATER IT HAPPENED AGAIN AND WITH NO WARNING I COULD NO LONGER GO INTO REVERSE. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO A COUPLE OF SHOPS AND HAVE BEEN TOLD BY EACH ONE THE THE TRANSMISSIONS IN THESE VEHICLES ARE KNOWN TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM. I NO LONGER HAVE A WARRENTY AND IT IS GOING TO COST ME OVER $2,000 TO HAVE IT FIXED. AFTER REVIEWING SIMILAR REPORTS ON THIS SITE, I AM BOTHERED THAT THERE IS NOTHING BEING DONE ABOUT THIS ISSUE.*AK
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE: 1) NORMAL HIGHWAY DRIVING CONDITIONS, NOT TOWING, 87K MILES 2) HESITATING/PROBLEMS SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR, "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT ON 3) MECHANIC SAYS NEW TRANSMISSION NEEDED, $2000 *LA
I HAVE A 1999 CHEVY BLAZER...THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAS A 1ST - 2ND SHIFT PROBLEM OR DEFECT AFTER SOME HIGHWAY DRIVING ON VERY WARM OR HOT DAYS...I NEARLY REAR-ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE...SEVERAL TRANSMISSION SHOPS SAID IT'S A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH MY CAR OR TRANS...TROUBLE CODE WAS 1870...SOME WANT TO REPLACE TORQUE CONVERTER, CLUTCH, REBUILD TRANS $$$...I HEARD THAT CHEVY IS WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND THAT A "SHIFT KIT UPDATE" WOULD FIX IT...DO YOU HAVE ANY INFO ON THIS MATTER ?..THANKS !
MY HUSBAND'S WAS DRIVING HIS 2000 CHEVY BLAZER (52,000 MI) OUT OF A PARKING LOT WHEN HE HEARD A BUMP AND HIS TRANSMISSION FELL OUT OF GEAR, FROM THEN ON THE CAR WOULD NOT GO IN REVERSE. WE SPENT $2,200.00 FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION. A YEAR I AM DRIVING MY 1999 CHEVROLET BLAZER (56,000 MI.) UP HILL ON A ONE LANE, (EACH WAY) CURVYROAD AND I HEAR A BANG AND GRINDING NOISE AND, SURPRISE, NO MORE REVERSE. COINCIDENCE - I THINK NOT. WE HAD TO GET OUT AND STOP TRAFFIC TO TRY TO MANUALLY TURN THE CAR AROUND SO WE COULD DRIVE BACK FORWAD. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. *AK
TRANSMISSION FAILURE - VEHICLE WILL NO MOVE IN REVERSE - TRANSMISSION SQUEALS, TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT UNTIL ENGINE REACHES AT LEAST 3000RPM EVEN UNDER NO PRESSURE. TRANSMISSION DROPS INTO NEUTRAL AFTER FOOT IS TAKEN FROM ACCELLERATOR.*AK
TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WITH ONLY 52,237 MILES ON VEHICLE. CHEVY BASICALLY SAYS IT'S NOT THEIR PROBLEM UNTIL A RECALL IS ISSUED. THREE LOCAL GARAGES IN OUR AREA ALL REPORT THE SAME THING TO US... THE TRANSMISSIONS ARE JUNK!
1999 CHEVY BLAZER TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. REVERSE GEAR JUST STOPS WORKING WITH NO WARNING.
TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 39,400 MILES, REQUIRING A COMPLETE REBUILD. VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO REVERSE AT ALL, AND SHIFTING TO 3RD AND 4TH GEARS BECAME EXTREMELY SLUGGISH. DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED A BROKEN SUN SHELL AND THAT SEVERAL CLUTCH PACKS HAD GONE OUT. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED AND HAS NEVER TOWED ANYTHING. THE DEALERSHIP OFFERED TO SPLIT THE REPAIR COST 50/50, BUT I FELT THAT MORE WAS WARRANTED GIVEN THE LOW MILEAGE OF THE VEHICLE. GM REFUSED TO PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE.*AK
HAVE A 99 BLAZER,2 WD. THE RECLINER HANDLE BROKE OFF THE FIRST WEEK I OWNED IT( MY KID BROKE IT BY SIMPLY TOUCHING IT!) VEHICLE HAD 32000 MI AT THE TIME. HAVE NOT FIXED IT BECAUSE OF COST.SINCE THEN I HAVE DISCOVERED AN OIL LEAK ON THE OIL LINE COOLER,A $300 FIX(TO REPAIR BOTH LINES),AND TO TOP THINGS OFF I'M BEING TOLD THAT THE INTAKE GASKET HAS THE POTENTIAL OF GIVING WAY. I HAVE 58000MI ON THIS VEHICLE SO FAR. HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE S-10 BLAZER ARE NOTORIOUS FOR THESE PROBLEMS, AND SO FAR G.M. HAS NO RECALL ON ANY OF IT. INCENDENTLY A MECHANIC I KNOW HAS A S-10 BLAZER SIMILAR TO MINE, HIS OIL LINES LEAKED, AND FINALLY BLEW,COSTING HIM A NEW ENGINE. MINE HAVEN'T BLOWN -----YET. I CAN STILL DRIVE IT, BUT IT WORRIES ME. I'VE BEEN A G.M. FAN FOR MANY YRS. BUT THIS CRAZY BLAZER IS STARTING TO MAKE ME RECONSIDER WHAT MY NEXT VEHICLE WILL BE. CAN ANYTHING BE DONE ABOUT THIS????? THANKS. *AK
TRANSMISSION VALVE IS STICKING WHICH CAUSES THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO COME ON. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT FOR THE SECOND TIME. IT NOW HAS 46,200 MILES. THE FIRST TIME IT WENT OUT IT HAD 13,000 MILES. SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH THE SEAT BACK ADJUSTORS. THE CAST GEAR BROKE ON EACH SEAT AT LEAST TWICE. *TT
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 49,026 MILES. WHILE DRIVING AND APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THERE IS AN AUDIBLE SOUND OF A GEAR "FREE WHEELING". THE TRANSMISSION HESITATES TO SHIFT GEARS WHEN TRAVELING FORWARD. ALTHOUGH THE GEAR SHIFT LEVEL CAN BE PLACED INTO REVERSE, THE VEHICLE WILL NOT MOVE IN REVERSE. LINDSAY CHEVROLET (DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE 3 YEARS, 2-1/2 MONTHS AGO) CONDUCTED A PRELIMINARY DIAGNOSIS THAT INVOLVED NO COMPUTER CHECK, BUT BASED ON THE EVIDENT NOISE AND PERFORMANCE OF THE TRANSMISSION RECOMMENDED REPLACEMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION. BEGINNING AT 28,805 MILES, THIS VEHICLE ALSO EXPERIENCED A RECURRING OIL LEAK FROM THE LOWER OIL LINE/OIL LINE ADAPTER THAT TOOK THE DEALER FOUR ATTEMPTS OVER FOUR MONTHS TO IDENTIFY AND REPAIR. THE RIGHT HUB ASSEMBLY ALSO BURNED OUT AT 38,190 MILES. TS
FOUR-WHEEL LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON DASHBOARD, FOUR WHEEL DRIVE DID NOT FUNCTION. *AK CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC THAT THE PROBLEM IS THE 4-WHEEL DRIVE SENSOR MOTOR. *MJ
CONSUMER STATED WINDOW FAILED. *TT
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK
WHILE DRIVING OR AT A STOP THE VEHICLE WILL KICK ITSELF INTO FOUR WHEEL DRIVE. WHEN IT DOES THAT VEHICLE IS VERY HARD TO CONTROL. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER CAN'T FIND WHAT IS WRONG WITH VEHICLE.*AK
TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED AT 26378 PROBLEMS CONTINUE. VEHICKLE DOES NOT WANT TO SHIFT INTO SECOND GEAR,WITHOUT REVVING THE ENGINE CAUSING NOT ONLY UNSAFE SHIFTING, BUT POOR FUEL ECONOMY.AFTER REPLACEMENT OF ORIGINAL TRANSMISSION,PROBLEM APPEARS WORSE THAN EVER. *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.
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