Most common 1999 Chevrolet Blazer problems
Share of the 436 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 →
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 1999 Chevrolet Blazer:
Front control arm ball joints
See attached page.
What 1999 Chevrolet Blazer owners say
Suspension all 72 →
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. …
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.
Brakes all 70 →
There was a manufacturer's recall in August 20, 1999 for 2000 Chevy blazers: the brake pipe union fittings that feed the various brake system components May leak and cause a loss of braking function and need an additional stopping time. Dealers will inspect the brake pipe union for signs of leaking brake fluid and replace the union if necessary. Our vehicle is a 1999 Blazer that appears to have the same problem, but Chevrolet claims there wasn't a recall issued for our vehicle. We think it should have been included. Our vehicle doesn't stop when the brakes are applied, but needs a longer stopping time and distance. It is an unsafe condition. Original recall from the NHTSA manufacturer's report date: August 20, 1999 NHTSA campaign id number: 99V220000
The ABS systemm is not working and the is a short in the front end,..causing the battery to die. Amazingly after the battery was removed from the vehicle the lights on the bumper that are supposed to light up the liceness plate was still on. Long with other lights under the hood. How is this possible.,,unless there is an alternate power source that I was never made aware of. The is police documitaton on this.
Engine & cooling all 64 →
The ABS systemm is not working and the is a short in the front end,..causing the battery to die. Amazingly after the battery was removed from the vehicle the lights on the bumper that are supposed to light up the liceness plate was still on. Long with other lights under the hood. How is this possible.,,unless there is an alternate power source that I was never made aware of. The is police documitaton on this.
1999 Chevrolet Blazer with a v6 engine had a premature engine failure at 87K miles. A hair line crack was discovered in a cylinder using a dye test. The machinist who inspected the engine believes it was created as the result of the corrosive action of coolant used by GM. Chevrolet showed no interest in inspecting the engine. Without the aforementioned, I investigated myself, and can only conclude that a head bolt was not properly sealed during manufacturing, allowing coolant to penetrate the bolt area around the rear cylinder in question. This condition created a weakening of the cylinder wall over time causing the catastrophic failure. I've been communicating with Chevrolet for over two years with no success.
1999 Chevrolet Blazer engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.3L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | RWD | 15 / 21 / 17 |
| 4.3L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 14 / 19 / 16 |
| 4.3L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 14 / 19 / 16 |
| 4.3L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | 4WD/AWD | 13 / 16 / 14 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1999 Chevrolet Blazer a good car?
Based on 436 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1999 Blazer rates use caution: 1.8× 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 1999 Chevrolet Blazer?
The suspension — 72 complaints, 17% of all complaints for this model year, most often about front › control arm › lower ball joint. Next are the brakes (70) and engine & cooling (64).
How many recalls does the 1999 Chevrolet Blazer have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 1999 Chevrolet Blazer. You can still confirm with your VIN using our 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 1999 Chevrolet Blazer problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 76,000 miles; 20% 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.