Seat complaints by model year
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (seat frames, recliners, heated seats and seat tracks).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
Consumer started the vehicle and pressed the gas pedal but the vehicle did not move. The consumer applied pressure to the accelerator, and it took little while for the vehicle to start moving. The dealer inspected the vehicle three times and could not resolve the problem. The consumer stated the transmission made some noises, the dealer discovered some parts of the transmission were damaged, however days later the vehicle went back to not accelerating and the engine racing. The consumer was told that the manufacturer would extended the warranty on the transmission. The brake light was inoperative there was a clicking noise in the drivers seat.
The seat backs are much too high and wide allow for clear vision to side and rear. Blocked vision when checking blind spot to change lanes has caused several near misses which could easily have been collisions at highway speed. This is clearly a safety problem with the potential to cause injury or death. The manufacturer has claimed it is a design issue and not a manufacturing flaw and has denied any action. That won't be much of an anwer when my 3 month old and 3 year old daughters and their mother are killed or injured in an accident caused by this poor design.
I purchased my vehicle in 4/01 and seven months later I began experiencing a host of problems with my vehicle, starting with multifunction switch worn, then hood hinges worn, exhaust (muffler broken) right speaker inoperable, left front seat adjuster broken, grill assembly loose, brake pedal broken and finally transmission failure (needs replacing). I have done a bit of inquiring to other Chevy Blazer owners and found out that they have or had experience some if not all of the same problems that I am experiencing now. I am hereby respectfully requesting your assistance in rectifying this complaint. I don't think that after 11mths of purchasing my vehicle I should be needing my transmission replace. From passed experienced with replacing a transmission on my wife new vehicle (Mazda mx3) back in 1992 it has never been the same. We had been having the same problems and more with it. …
2001 Chevrolet Blazer developing various problems.** answer required***. The differential pinion shaft seal was leaking. When it rained the transmission slipped, the cigarette lighter was inoperative, the lighter socket was replaced. The heater was not blowing hot air, the service engine soon light illuminated, the brake light was inoperable, the directional switch was replaced. The front rear rotors were rotted, the rear wheel well molding was coming undone, the drivers window was leaking water. The vehicle was not shifting properly, the alternator was replaced, the tail gate glass would not lock, the driver door did not shut easily, the battery was replaced. The headlights were inoperable. The driver seat recliner was replaced, the retractor in the seat belt was reset. The rear window molding was loose. The oil cooler lines were leaking.
The handle that allows you to recline the seat broke off flushed with the seat, this happened to both the driver and passenger seats in June 2005. The hood will not pop up when the lever was pulled until one banged on the grill or the hood in certain spots, which just started in March of 2007. The gas mileage dropped from 20 mpg to 16 mpg within 6 months. The back glass stuck and was hard to open, started in 2006. When turning on the air conditioner (A/C ) the car had no power, I have to turn it off when accelerating on the interstate or on hills. If the cruise control was set it kicked off when the A/C was on. When I needed to stop quickly the brakes failed, and felt a grinding sensation through the pedal, but the mechanic changed the brakes and checked the rotors, but hasn't found any problem. Suspected a defect somewhere in the brake system\ as of 2005. …
Purchased 2000 Blazer 11/24/00. Many problems since. Transmission cooler line, warranty repair. Oil cooler lines, upper and lower, warranty repair. Warranty expired and they are leaking still. Problem never really fixed. Idler arm, warranty repair. Driver side recline handle driver seat fell back would not return to upright position, warranty repair. Both front wheel bearings and rotors, warranty repair. From day 1 numerous rattles and squeaks. Door panels rattle constantly. Passenger seat rattles and squeaks. Windshield wiper entire arm came off, repaired at my expense. Out of warranty, at 41,699 miles but not even (2) years old, transmission had to be rebuilt at my expense. Chevy customer service is a joke! Cost of transmission $2,442 and the cost of a two week car rental. …
I have a 1999 Blazer on which both handles for the recliner seats in the front broke off after just 30,000. My wife drives the Blazer ... I drive a suburban. I am just amazed at the inferior quality of the metal used, and it's understandable that the metal would have broken by anyone. My wife is petite and there's no way she did anything beyond what a normal person would do in adjusting their seats. What further amazes me is pulling up the internet site and seeing the huge number of complaints regarding the same issue. It appears that the only way to get anyone's attention is to contact an attorney friend of mine here locally who successfully caused one auto company to repaint thousands of vehicles several years ago because the manufacturer just wouldn't response to a lot of customer complaints. …
When reclining driver's seat, the metal post holding the adjustment handle broke off. Had to drive home with seat in reclining position for my husband to fix. He had to use a wrench to raise seat back up. He said the bolts are made out of cheap pot metal and that's why they don't last. The post on the passenger side broke several years ago. We rarely adjust the seat backs. Guess we won't at all now. The driver's side door won't close properly and the fuel gauge bounces between full and empty all the time.
Related recalls (1)
Seats
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Chevrolet Malibu, 2022 Chevrolet Equinox, Blazer and Cadillac XT4 vehicles. The driver's seat cushion frame may have an improper weld in the power tilt-adjustment mechanism.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the driver's seat and replace the cushion frame, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 23, 2022.
NHTSA investigations
Front seat recliner bolt failure
Front seat recliner bolt
There is no summary currently available
Frequently asked questions
Which Chevrolet Blazer years have seat problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 1998 (84), 2000 (48), 1999 (40), 1995 (23) and 1996 (11) model years. Seat complaints make up 12% of all complaints for the 1998.
Is there a recall for Chevrolet Blazer seat problems?
Yes — 1 recall, including 22V-359 (seats, May 19, 2022). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Chevrolet Blazer seat problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 56,000 miles; 41% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the front assembly › recliner (119 mentions), followed by the front assembly › power adjust (18).
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.