Most common 1997 Chevrolet Blazer problems
Share of the 768 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 →
1997 Chevrolet Blazer recalls (4)
Seat belts › Front › Buckle assembly
Certain sport utility vehicles were built with a driver's seat belt buckle assembly that contains an energy-absorbing loop. Sustained loads of sufficient magnitude and duration on the belt in severe crashes could fully deploy the buckle energy-absorbing loop, introducing a total of 10 additional inches of webbing into the seat…
Remedy: Dealers will replace the energy-absorbing seat belt assemblies with one that does not have the energy-absorbing loop. Owner notification began on August 8, 2003.
Visibility › Rearview mirrors/devices › Exterior
Certain sport utility vehicles, Mini vans, and pickup trucks May develop a short circuit in the electric outside rearview mirror switch.
Remedy: Dealers will install a fused jumper harness to the electric outside rearview mirror switch. Owner notification began on April 24, 2003.
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…
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.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 2 possible defects involving the 1997 Chevrolet Blazer:
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.
What 1997 Chevrolet Blazer owners say
Brakes all 156 →
Throttle stuck brakes could not stop vehicle. Lost control and rolled. Lucky I was on my property and not a public road. No report. Can be inspected. Available anytime. This is not the only year of this model I have had this problem I have had two 2002 that have had same problem.
While traveling at 25 MPH on a wet roadway I approached a vehicle stopped at a stop light. At around 6 car lengths I applied my brakes and the vehicle would not stop, resulting in a rear end crash with the vehicle in front of me. When I applied the brakes the vehicle started to vibrate as if the ABS brakes were activating. The braking system failed to provide much stopping power. The speed at the time of collision was about 15 MPH, slowed from 25.
Windows, wipers & sunroof all 122 →
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.
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.
Transmission & drivetrain all 110 →
97 Blazer with original low miles had engine stop both on and off the highway several times but it would start back up. In jan while driving down the highway the service engine light came on and rpms went up. We pulled off and found the transmission was stuck in 3'rd gear. Also key would not release to remove. Errors came up p1860 p0785 and p740 that refer to transmission. The problem was not transmission but ignition switch contact block commonly called the ignition switch, it is the contact section and not the key or lock cylinder. This ignition switch had already been replaced once. GM has a service bulletin #17006264 on the ignition switch and this appears to be a big problem across many years and models but no recall was issued. …
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. …
1997 Chevrolet Blazer engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.3L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | RWD | 16 / 23 / 19 |
| 4.3L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 15 / 21 / 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 1997 Chevrolet Blazer a good car?
Based on 768 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1997 Blazer rates avoid: 3.4× 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 1997 Chevrolet Blazer?
The brakes — 156 complaints, 20% of all complaints for this model year, most often about antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip. Next are the windows, wipers & sunroof (122) and transmission & drivetrain (110).
How many recalls does the 1997 Chevrolet Blazer have?
There are 4 recalls for the 1997 Chevrolet Blazer, the most recent from March 31, 2003 (buckle assembly). 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 1997 Chevrolet Blazer problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 85,000 miles; 13% 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.