While driving at 35 MPH vehicle overheated and stalled, vehicle was towed to independent shop, technician diagnosed that coolant turned into acid and damaged the intake manifold/water pump/ thermostat, and radiator. Dealer notified.
1997 Chevrolet Blazer engine complaints
Page 2 of 4: complaints 11 to 40 of 93, newest first, as owners wrote them.
97 blazer cooling system failure. From the time I bought the car the cooling system had trouble. The radiator had a leak ( 34391 miles), the cooling system clogged up and the heater core leaked from dex-cool gelling up ( 65265 miles ), again heater core leaking from bad dex-cool ( 104044 miles ), heater core leaking (114387 miles). Each time the heater core had to be replaced. The cooling system had to be acid flushed by the dealer because the dex-cool gelled up. All these repairs where done by gm dealer. The dealer could not tell me why the dex-cool was gelling up or the heater core kept leaking. I filed a complaint with gmc (complaint # 1-152407734) gmc could not help me. I found out from a radiator repair shop that they have had many gm cooling system failures du to the dex-cool causing electrolysis. This is the main cause of my problem and gm and the dealer will not address it. The radiator shop said the only repair is to flush out the cooling system for 36 hours the refill it with antifreeze, not dex-cool. Also add an anti-electrolysis solution to it and a radiator cap with an anode rod on it. They have had very good results with this repair. There many complaints on your site about this and also many on other auto repair web sites. All I want is to be refunded the money I spent on repairs from day one and have gm pay for the radiator shop to do the flushing and repairs.
While driving at 65 MPH engine revved very high. Consumer pulled to the shoulder, and called a tow truck and had vehicle towed to a repair shop. A rebuilt engine was installed in the vehicle, but not by the dealer.
Upper and lower ball joints needs replaced. Upper ball joints were replaced with the 2001 recall from gm. Vehicle has less than 31,000 miles
Vehicle will not start or quits running while on roadway or in traffic.
For about a week vehicle has stalled four times. Vehicle has been taken to the dealer.
I purchase my 97 blazer in dec 2000 with 35000 miles from a local dealer, I believe it was a previous lease vehicle. Within one year I had to replace ball joints but was told that I did not qualify for a recall. In feb of 2003 I lost my heat and spent close to 2000 dollars replacing first the water pump, then the radiator. After that didn't solve the problem, the dealership told me that the system needed to be flushed with a special machine that would cost another 400 dollars. The system had to be flushed twice to get marginal heat. According to the dealership, the next move is to replace the heater core. Now the wipers stop working and only restart by flipping the switch back and forth. Not real good on the highway in rush hour traffic. I recently had the alternator replaced and the dealership stated that the serpentine belt was old and cracked and needed to be replaced. It actually had less than 5000 miles on it as they replaced it in february when the water pump was done, there was nothing wrong with it. The combination of lousy service from 2 different dealerships, a vehicle that has had nothing but ongoing problems will be enough to stop me from buying another gm product again.
Intake manifold gasket failure on a 1997 chevy blazer lt. Leaking large amount of coolant, water pump failure leaking large amount of coolant.
Heater in truck failed, no heat to defrost windows. Coolant gauge spiking with sludge in radiator and overflow bottle. After truck has been run, strong smell of coolant is apparent.
Engine failures related to coolant gel up with dex-cool. Cooling system flushed twice. Intake gasket leaked coolant into engine and damaged internal bearings. New engine needed. Water pump failed after that.
Consumer called complaining about having radiator contamination which leaked in the front seat.
The transmission in my vehicle has a defective valve body and it caused my transmission to break, I went to the dealer when I first had the problem of a hard shift from first to second gear when the vehicle was being driven long distances. The dealer said the vehicle is shifting fine and to bring it back when it does it again. This was back on 08/19/02 and now I have a code 1870 on the computer and the transmission is shot. I found out the transmission is a 4l60e and it is very unreliable. Also I already had to change my water pump and alternator and my gas gauge does not work and there is a problem with my windshield wipers also.
Nar 02/10/2003. The consumer had numerous problems with the vehicle. The air bags deployed for no apparent reason, the windshield wipers failed, the manifold gasket failed, the turn signals went out, 2 batteries failed within a year, the alternator and belt failed, the oxygen sensor and A/C compressor failed.
Gm won't reimburse ball joints due to replacement not by gm dealer. Dt
The vehicle accelerated suddenly and unexpectantly. After inspection of the vehicle by the dealer it was discovered that the guide housing air cleaner broke off and lodged behind the accelerator. Nlm
Consumer states that there was a fire in the engine compartment which caught the whole vehicle on fire. Contacted dealer and the dealer is not willing to do anything. Please provide further informaiton. Nlm
Egr valve failed, causing vehicle to shutdown. Vehicle loses power and doesn't restart. Dealer has replace it 2 times. Please provide more information.
Engine cut off and locks while driving at highway speed of 60-65 MPH. Dealer and manufacturer were notified. Feel free to provide any further infromation.
Xexhaust fumes entered vehicle.
Consumer complains of engine overheating. The vehicle has been in for repairs on several occasions.
During routine oil change mechanic noticed cooling lines were leaking, and had to be replaced.
Consumer had taken vehicle to dealer for a recall repairs on radiator. Notice received for radiator to be flushed, but mechanic found out that radiator had to be replaced. Consumer added that problem had happened after vehicle ran out of warranty. Please provide more infomation.
Engine check light problem is an ongoing issue with both current and former owner. 3 different mechanics put ther scanners on the vehicle and keep bringing up the oxygen sensor as the problem. Had one bad sensor at the wiring harness plug which was poorly assembled at the factor causing water to get to the contacts and contaminated the connector. Replaced all 4 o2 sensors and still cannot get the check engine light to go away. Vehicle performs perfect along with 24 mpg gas one highway driving. This is an issues other blazer owners are experiencing. Gm should be held accountable to fix this issue.
No summary listed for above vehicle.
This vehicle has had numerous problems. From bad dexcool, witch caused a major overhaul of the cooling system at approx. 37000 or 3 1/2 yr. Yet chevrolet states the coolant is good for 5yr or 150,000. The front ball joints had to be replaced at approx. 35,000. Just over the 3yr warranty with no help from chevy despite numerous complaints of this failure. Also have had two batteries in the system one after only 3000 miles and the second one is now out at 38000 miles. There is a short in the system that still has not been found. The shift lever handle has been a changed 3 times and still rattle after approx. A month of use. The front drivers side mirror shakes to the point it is hard to see out of when driving. The hood rattles when going over bumps, which can be fixed by adding a solid rubber gasket at the top of hood to keep the hinge stops from bouncing on the frame. The front brakes had to be redone at 28,000.
Consumer stated that window wipers stopped working while driving in the rain.
When I bought the truck, it had a 3,000mile 30 day warranty on it, 60000miles. 1st occurrence with engine light and dipstick corrosion was within that time. Down time for the truck one week. The next month, I was enroute and the light triggered again. Took truck to local chevy dealer who had looked at dipstick before replacement, stated same dipstick. At this point I called chevrolet company who told me the $1800 damage bill caused by the defective dipstick and subsequent transmission damage would be mine to cover.all because it was under warranty and should have been fixed the first time.
While checking fluid levels, consumers son, who is a mechanic, noticed rust in the radiator fluid, he also found tsb 666841 regarding rust in the coolant system, consumer has been trying to get gm to alleviate this problem due to the safety factors it could cause, however it is very costly, gm has not been of any assistance because the consumer is not the original owner of the vehicle.
Periodically vehicle would stall whether at 65 MPH or 25 MPH. Dealer has not found specific cause of defect or remedy, but had admitted to stalling. Please add additional information.
Cooling system will repeatedly turn black, even after consumer had radiator flushed. Problem still occurs.*ak consumer states problem comes back every 20000 miles or every 6 months.
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