Most common 1996 Chevrolet Blazer problems
Share of the 1,153 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Chevrolet Blazer complaints by model year
Best Blazer years: 2022, 2019, 2021. Years to avoid: 2025, 2024, 1995, 1996, 1997. Compare all years →
1996 Chevrolet Blazer recalls (6)
Visibility › Windshield wiper/washer
On certain minivans, pickup trucks, and sport utility vehicles with certain model-engine combinations, the windshield wiper motor May fail due to cracked solder joints on the controller circuit board. The windshield wipers could work intermittently or not at all.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the wiper motor circuit board and cover. Owner notification began on June 19, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free…
Suspension › Front › Control arm › Upper ball joint
On certain sport utility vehicles originally sold in or currently registered in the states of connecticut, delaware, illinois, indiana, iowa, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, missouri, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont, west virginia, and wisconsin, and in the…
Remedy: Dealers will replace both upper ball joints. Owner notification began September 4, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a…
Service brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
Vehicle description: certain 4-wheel drive pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles equipped with ABS (antilock braking system) manufactured from September 1989 through August 1996. Under certain driving conditions the switch which signals the ABS system whether the vehicle is in 2-wheel or 4-wheel drive can malfunction causing…
Remedy: Dealers will replace or repair the 4-wheel/2-wheel drive switch.
Visibility › Windshield wiper/washer
Vehicle description: light duty pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles, 2 and 4-wheel drive. Solder joints near the wiring harness connector can crack causing the windshield wipers to work intermittently.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the wiper motor circuit board and cover.
Seat belts
Vehicle description: extended cab pickup trucks equipped with 60/40 front bench seats and extended cab pickup trucks and 2-door utility vehicles equipped with manual locking recliner bucket seats. The outboard safety belt webbing on the driver's and/or passenger's seat can separate during a frontal impact.
Remedy: Dealers will install a protective cover over the recliner mechanism.
Fuel system, gasoline › Storage › Tank assembly
Vehicle description: 4-door, 4-wheel drive and all-wheel drive multi-purpose passenger vehicles. During development testing, the prop shaft contacted the inboard side of the fuel tank allowing fuel leakage. This leakage was in excess of the amount permitted by FMVSS 301, "fuel system integrity."
Remedy: Dealers will install additional shielding of the fuel tank. This will be added without removing or disassembling the fuel system.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 7 possible defects involving the 1996 Chevrolet Blazer:
Front seat recliner bolt failure
Upper control arm ball joint breakage
An upper control arm ball joint fails, resulting in the front suspension collapsing on the failed side.
Upper and lower control arm ball joint
There is no summary currently available
Steering shaft separations
Coupling bolts, joining the steering shaft, May separate.in some cases, total unforeseen, loss of steering control May result.
Seat belt webbing separation
NHTSA's new car assessment program (ncap) tested a 1997 Chevrolet s-10 extended cab pickup equipped with a driver-side air bag.the front passenger seat belt was completely cut during the test.
ABS braking system
This investigation resulted in a safety recall, 99v-193, and a service campaign, 99i-006.
Windshield wiper failure
As a result of this, and the precedinginvestigation, rq99-003, GM has expanded the population of safety recall 98v-150 (replacement of the windshield wiper control module) to include an additional 1.77 million vehicles.included are various 1994-1997 my m/l vans, s/t trucks and suvs, & c/k trucks and suvs.see attached technical report for details.
What 1996 Chevrolet Blazer owners say
Brakes all 443 →
On March 23, 2023 ABS Extended Stopping Distance on snow / slush surface proceeding downhill on a 4 lane highway (7200 South Wasatch Blvd. Midvale Utah). Other vehicles around me were stopping without issue. I noticed my ABS brakes were making the (typical operating sound a type of grinding) and I wasn't stopping. I changed lanes twice to provide for more stopping distance and eventually stopped in the left turn lane within 2 feet from rear-ending other cars had I remained in the inside lane. Located Investigation EA94-038 noting 10,000 complaints, 2000 accidents, 600 injuries. Chevrolet Safety campaign 99I006000 addressing a PCM coding change and replacing the Kelsey Hayes ABS actuator unit. Chevrolet at [phone] declined to say whether this recall was in force, was a valid recall or had ever existed.
Car accident was May 2008 was reported to usaa insurance and nc commissioner. I am former us army spouse and contractor 15 years. I am back at home of record. I have lost over $5000 to this incident and I deal with added medical disabilities from this dealing with chronic back, tbi ptsd and brain injury to left side. Confirmed with cat scan and army womack hospital. Did not have health care at the time. I have had ignition switch. The light bulb dealing with nc testing issues costing me with testing. Ohio thanks goodness not. But brights don't come on. Radio clock stays on drained battery in the past. Also, there was a problem with the brakes. I tried to get a service but didn't know where in dayton , ohio.....updated10/20/15
Windows, wipers & sunroof all 167 →
Brake failure. Brake work done several times including recall of ABS. Which is not included in repair cost. The vehicle was involved in an accident on July 9 2002. The brakes failed without warning at slow speed on surface street resulting in a three car collision one vehicle was totaled. Accident costs not included. Minor injury to drivers of two of the vehicles. Contacted GM and was told that recall work had been done and so would not take any responsiblily etc. Vehicle has been parked since as unable to verify what actual problem is. Brakes failed again when the autobody repair shop took it in for brake check prior to returning to us.
GM has a safety recall on my 1996 Blazer that they will not honor for me. They have indicated the recall was a long time ago and my car is 10 years old. I had the exact problem for the last 5-6 years or more, but never received a notice, and never got it fixed. I was aware of the problem and took measures and limited my driving when it might be a problem. I felt comfortable with the problem as low risk when I drive. Now I am selling the car as is. I feel there could be a safety hazard if someone else is driving that is not as aware and cautious as I am. The recall is the windshield washer motor is intermittent. Sometimes the wipers won't work. This has been scary in a down pour and when a passing car splashed a muddy wave on the windshield while I was driving in traffic. I have been using rain-x or driving my wifes car when it is raining. …
Engine & cooling all 150 →
Dt*: the contact stated shortly after the vehicle was parked, flames were noticed dropping to the ground under the front end of the vehicle. Grey smoke was also observed coming from under the hood. The vehicle burned completely, and was considered a total loss. There was a police report and a fire department report processed at the scene. The heat from the fire melted the rear end of another vehicle parked in front of it, and did moderate damage to a third vehicle parked alongside the second vehicle. Updated 12/01/06.
On my way home from work on sept. 21, 2001, I had to sit on I-435-e- freeway for an hour because of a car accident. I was moving no more than 5 to 10 miles an hour. When I got to I-71-n and I took I-71 to the linwood exit going 55 to 60 miles an hour and then 45 to 50 miles an hour and then 55 to 60 and then 45 to 50. I exited linwood to the east, over to indiana (linwood is the 32nd hundrend blook). I went south on indiana to 3318 indiana. I parked my car and went in the house. I was in the house about 2 to 3 minutes before my neighbors came to my door and said my car was on fire. They were using their water holes to put out the fire. My better-half (trinidad medellin) came out side and open the hood of the Blazer. By the time the fire department came, the fire was out. …
1996 Chevrolet Blazer engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.3L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | RWD | 16 / 22 / 18 |
| 4.3L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 15 / 20 / 17 |
| 4.3L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | 4WD/AWD | 15 / 20 / 17 |
| 4.3L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 15 / 20 / 16 |
EPA ratings. Class: Small SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1996 Chevrolet Blazer a good car?
Based on 1,153 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1996 Blazer rates avoid: 5.1× as many complaints as a typical year of the Blazer at the same age. It is one of the Blazer years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 1996 Chevrolet Blazer?
The brakes — 443 complaints, 38% of all complaints for this model year, most often about antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip. Next are the windows, wipers & sunroof (167) and engine & cooling (150).
How many recalls does the 1996 Chevrolet Blazer have?
There are 6 recalls for the 1996 Chevrolet Blazer, the most recent from April 28, 2003 (windshield wiper/washer). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Chevrolet Blazer?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2022, 2019 and 2021. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2025, 2024, 1995, 1996 and 1997. See the full Chevrolet Blazer years comparison.
At what mileage do 1996 Chevrolet Blazer problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 84,000 miles; 14% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.