Transmission complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 8 | 16% | 47,000 miles |
| 2023 | 10 | 23% | 96,000 miles |
| 2022 | 12 | 22% | — |
| 2021 | 18 | 13% | 84,000 miles |
| 2020 | 74 | 33% | 50,000 miles |
| 2019 | 64 | 34% | 33,000 miles |
| 2004 | 4 | 8% | 112,000 miles |
| 2003 | 12 | 16% | 21,000 miles |
| 2002 | 33 | 13% | 40,000 miles |
| 2001 | 31 | 10% | 60,000 miles |
| 2000 | 84 | 14% | 67,000 miles |
| 1999 | 54 | 12% | 65,000 miles |
| 1998 | 74 | 10% | 70,000 miles |
| 1997 | 110 | 14% | 71,000 miles |
| 1996 | 96 | 8% | 84,000 miles |
| 1995 | 68 | 6% | 72,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
The contact rented a 2024 Chevrolet Blazer. The contact stated that while driving at undisclosed speeds, the vehicle vibrated and wobbled. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that while driving at undisclosed high speeds, the vehicle vibrated abnormally. The contact stated that the vibration felt like the wheels were detaching from the vehicle, causing the children's car seats to also vibrate. The contact pulled over to the side of the road. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The rental company was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 46,831.
Vehicle: 2024 Chevrolet Blazer VIN: [redacted] Component: Engine Cooling System (Radiator) Description of Incident: On [redacted] the vehicle was brought in for a routine maintenance service at approximately 20,000 miles. During the inspection, technicians at Hamilton Chevrolet in Warren, Michigan discovered a premature radiator leak. The servicing technician noted that this is a common failure on modern Blazers due to a manufacturing material mismatch, specifically where the plastic end tanks meet the aluminum radiator core. This structural component failure poses a severe safety risk. A rapid loss of engine coolant can cause immediate engine overheating, thermal management failure, and a sudden loss of vehicle propulsion while driving at highway speeds, significantly increasing the risk of a crash. …
The contact owns a 2023 Chevrolet Blazer. The contact stated that while driving 10 MPH and pulling into a parking lot, the sun gear and the drive shaft fractured. The vehicle became inoperable. The vehicle was pushed to a safe place. The check engine warning light illuminated after the failure. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V172000 (Power Train). The vehicle was towed on a flatbed to the local dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer provided an estimate for the transmission replacement. The manufacturer was contacted and confirmed that there was no recall coverage on the VIN for the failure. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 107,000.
The contact owns a 2023 Chevrolet Blazer. The contact stated that while making a left turn, the contact heard an abnormal sound, and the accelerator pedal was depressed but the vehicle failed to accelerate as needed. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the transmission had slipped into neutral, and the transmission gear box had fractured, and the transmission was unrepairable. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact there was no recall on the VIN. No additional assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 6,500.
I am reporting a severe powertrain safety hazard involving my 2022 Chevrolet Blazer at approximately 69,000 miles. The vehicle's 9-speed transmission is experiencing a critical internal hydraulic failure that causes unpredictable and violent lurching. Specifically, there is a severe delayed engagement when shifting into Reverse. The engine revs without moving until the hydraulic pressure suddenly spikes, causing the vehicle to violently slam backwards and catch the gear. Furthermore, the transmission exhibits harsh and slipping shifts while driving forward, specifically violently jerking during the 2nd-to-3rd gear upshift. These exact symptoms align with widely documented hydraulic control and valve body defects in the GM 9T50/9T65 transmissions, which are known to cause harsh shifts, delayed engagement, and flaring between gears. …
Automatic transmission and radiator. Vehicle shifted hard and then would not go to a higher gear after pulling out into an intersection. Vehicle was pulled over to side of road and shut off. Restarted and tried to merge back onto main road and while trying to accelerate, the rpm's went over 3500 quickly and wouldn't shift once the vehicle hit 30mph. The engine light came on. There has been no previous engine lights or issues. Scheduled an appointment at a Chevrolet dealership and had the vehicle towed on a flatbed trailer to be looked at. I stated that there was a major problem/issue with the transmission and explained the problem. In their notes it states they took it for a test drive before even checking the transmission fluid for metal particles. I told them it was a severe failure and was barely drivable. …
The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Blazer. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed, and the transmission was slipping gears before the vehicle lost motive power. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to drive forward or move while in reverse. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The contact, who was an independent mechanic, diagnosed the failure as a clutch solenoid failure. The contact stated that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact referenced an unknown recall; however, the VIN was not associated with a recall related to the failure. The dealer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.
The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Blazer. The contact stated that while driving approximately 10 MPH and attempting to make a left turn, the vehicle stalled. The contact depressed the accelerator pedal aggressively several times to get the vehicle to start moving again. The failure reoccurred while the contact's daughter was driving and attempting to make a left turn at a green light when the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that the failure persisted while driving and attempting to turn to the left. The failure occurred intermittently. The contact stated that only the rear tires would move. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer who was unable to find the cause of the failure. The dealer was not able to duplicate the failure. The failure persisted. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and opened a case. The approximate failure mileage was 28,000.
Related recalls (3)
Power train › Automatic transmission
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2023 Cadillac XT6, GMC Acadia, Chevrolet Blazer, Traverse, and 2022-2023 Cadillac XT5 vehicles. The transmission may have been built with an incorrect sun gear, which can result in the driver-side half-shaft disengaging from the transmission.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the sun gears, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 27, 2023. The remedy is expected to become available August 31, 2023.
Power train › Driveline › Driveshaft
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2023 Chevrolet Blazer and Traverse vehicles. The left-side half-shaft assemblies may be missing a retaining ring.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the left-side half-shaft assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 23, 2023. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020.
Power train › Automatic transmission
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Cruze and Buick LaCrosse, 2018-2020 Chevrolet Equinox, Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Terrain, 2018 Chevrolet Malibu, 2019-2020 Buick Encore, Buick Enclave, Cadillac XT4, Chevrolet Blazer and GMC Acadia, and 2020 Cadillac XT6 vehicles.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the start-stop transmission accumulator and replace it if any bolts are missing, free of charge. The recall began December 15, 2020.
NHTSA investigations
Upper control arm ball joint breakage
An upper control arm ball joint fails, resulting in the front suspension collapsing on the failed side.
Frequently asked questions
Which Chevrolet Blazer years have transmission problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 1997 (110), 1996 (96), 2000 (84), 1998 (74) and 2020 (74) model years. Transmission complaints make up 14% of all complaints for the 1997.
Is there a recall for Chevrolet Blazer transmission problems?
Yes — 3 recalls, including 23V-172 (automatic transmission, Mar 16, 2023); 23V-042 (driveshaft, Feb 2, 2023); 20V-668 (automatic transmission, Oct 29, 2020). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Chevrolet Blazer transmission problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 63,000 miles; 36% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the automatic transmission (338 mentions), followed by the transfer case (4-wheel drive) (33).
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.