Chevrolet Blazer 1996 - Suspension - car safety information, failing parts, recalls, bulletins, complaints

Chevrolet Blazer 1996

Recalls
Technical Service Bulletins
Defect investigations
Consumer Complaints

Recalls

Campaign	Manufacturer	Manufacturing date	Type	# of units affected	Date Owner notified Mfg	Recall Initiated by	Manufacturers of recalled vehicles/products	Report Recieved Date	Record Creation Date
SUSPENSION - FRONT - CONTROL ARM - UPPER BALL JOINT
01V200000	GENERAL MOTORS CORP.	from 11/01/1995 to 06/30/1996	V (Vehicle)	48600	09/04/2001	ODI	GENERAL MOTORS CORP.	06/28/2001	07/02/2001
Defect Summary	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 district of columbia. failure of an upper control arm ball joint assembly could occur due to corrosion.
Consequence Summary	This can result in impaired steering or steering loss, or a partial or complete collapse of the front suspension, increasing the risk of a crash.
Corrective Summary	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 reasonable time should contact chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020, gmc at 1-800-462-8782, or oldsmobile at 1-800-442-6537.
Notes	Also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-dash-2-dot (1-888-327-4236).
01I018000	GENERAL MOTORS CORP.		I		12/04/2001	ODI	GENERAL MOTORS CORP.	12/04/2001	01/07/2002
Defect Summary	This is not a safety recall in accordance with the safety act. however, it is deemed a safety improvement campaign by the agency. vehicle description: 1996-1997 4-wheel drive chevrolet blazer, gmc jimmy, and oldsmobile bravada sport utility vehicles. some owners have had to pay for replacement of the upper ball joints that have separated. gm is providing a special policy to these owners to cover upper ball joint replacement if the customer followed the recommended maintenance schedule for the chassis lubrication and the vehicle still required the replacement of the upper ball joints due to separation.
Consequence Summary	This could cause a loss of steering control of the vehicle.
Corrective Summary	Gm has decided to conduct a customer satisfaction campaign to replace the upper ball joints on affected vehicles. this special policy is for a period of 8 years or 100,000 miles, whichever occurs first, from the date the vheicle was originally placed in service, regardless of ownership. the upper ball joint replacement, due to separation, will be made at no charge to the customer during this period. owners can contact chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020, gmc at 1-800-862-4389, or oldsmobile at 1-800-442-6537, concerning this program.
Notes

Bulletins

Bulletin	Bulletin date	Item no.	Summary	Added
SUSPENSION - FRONT
02015	01/01/2004	10006961	Pop snap noise in the front suspension when braking. *mr	05/20/2004
01049	12/05/2001	628527	Special policy adjustment for four-wheel and all-wheel utility vehicles that may have front suspension upper ball joints that separate at a lower mileage than expected by customers. *tt	03/13/2002
SUSPENSION - FRONT - CONTROL ARM - UPPER BALL JOINT
01049	11/01/2001	628913	Special policy adjustment 01049 for upper ball joint replacement. *tt	03/22/2002

Investigations

NHTSA ID	Manufacturer	Date open	Date close	Subject	Recall campaign
SUSPENSION
EA99022	GENERAL MOTORS CORP.	07/30/1999	08/28/2001	UPPER AND LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT	01V200000
	There is no summary currently available
EA99022	GENERAL MOTORS CORP.	07/30/1999	08/28/2001	UPPER AND LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT	01I018000
	There is no summary currently available

Consumer Complaints

Fail date	miles	occurences	Purchase date
SUSPENSION
09/09/2006	74000	1	08/19/1996
	Ball joint on passenger side failed with no warning. vehicle has under 75,000 and has been well maintained. *nm
10/15/2003	71331
	Brake failure. brake work done several times including recall of abs. which is not included in repair cost. the vehicle was involved in an accident on july 9 2002. the brakes failed without warning at slow speed on surface street resulting in a three car collision one vehicle was totaled. accident costs not included. minor injury to drivers of two of the vehicles. contacted gm and was told that recall work had been done and so would not take any responsiblily etc. vehicle has been parked since as unable to verify what actual problem is. brakes failed again when the autobody repair shop took it in for brake check prior to returning to us.
01/05/2002	99000		03/14/1996
	Windshield wipers front & rear failed, water pump quit, drive shaft broke, ball joints right front broke, heater quit, air conditioner quit. drivers side rear view mirror fell off, steering problems, brake problems, universal joints worn out, cracked front rotors,etc. *jb
08/14/2002		1
	The upper and lower ball joints failed. dt jb
			05/01/2002
	Driving under the legal speed limit i swered to my left, i heard a noise from under the front end i over corrected the turn and turned left and became airborn rolling 3 times then spinning on the roof, then another car slamed into me. dt
08/30/2002
	While driving at normal speed two front wheels suddenly went to right, and consumer hit a stone wall. please provide any further information.*ak
02/01/1996		3	02/03/1996
	While driving, vehicle veers to the left, as if out of alignment. upon putting foot on brakes to slow down, vehicle did not stop. consumer had an accident, there were two injuries. ak consumer states rear axle seal is leaky, when stopping vehicle or slowing, the brake pedal gives way, air bag failed. yd
06/06/2000		1	03/01/1997
	This could have been a fatal accident if it occurred on a highway at a greater rate of speed as the suv would have rolled-over. *ak

	While driving 55 mph or above the vehicle vibrates in the steering column area cause unknown. dealer cannot identify the problem. please give any further details. *ak
08/22/1997		1	07/31/1996
	Vehicle experiences vibration in the front end of the vehicle.
SUSPENSION - FRONT
09/20/2009	11287
	Right side upper ball joint separation
06/13/2009	216000	1
	The front tires are worn, and i have been told that i need upper and lower ball joints. i have had these replaced in the past. this is a continual repair and getting costly. i called gm and they told me there was a recall but because of the time that has past that it is no longer covered. i am in fear of getting in an accident driving the way it is. it is very unsafe. i was told also that i need idler arm replacements. *tr
06/15/2002		1
	Our dealer said that our upper ball joint is a safety risk. we have not had an accident yet, but the dealer claimed that there is danger of the front suspension failing.*ak
07/03/2002		3	01/01/2096
	No summary listed fcor above vehicle. *ak
			08/01/2097
	Received notice from mfg on 3-1-02- states is not a recall though is listed as a recall on your web site. contacted local dealer on 3-1-02 & was told chevrolet would not rpair/replace parts due to mileage on my vehicle (just turned 1000,000 miles). noticed on your web site that this is in fact a recall item dated 7/02/01. my vehicle had less than 1000,000 miles on it at that time. i have been having a front end clunking noise since last fall, and when had lubrication service done recently, was informed of front suspension problems. just what is the law regarding this issue? their letter states is not a recall, and that they are not libel if vehicle is either 8 years old or has greater than 100,000 miles. i was not contacted for this recall item for 8 months after the recall date of 7/2/01, and by that time i had just went over the 100,000 mileage mark. also, my partner owns a 1995 blazer and never received a recall notice for either the upper or lower ball joint problem. she has just under 100,000 miles. what recourse do i have now? if i had been contacted about this in a reasonable time frame, i believe my vehicle would have qualified for free warranty repairs. i have been unemployed now for over 10 months and cannot afford the costs of repairs and as a result am uneccessarily putiing myself and any passengers at risk of severe injury due to front end failure. shouldn't chevrolet still be responsible given the misinformation (not a recall), and lack of timely contacting of me?*ak
02/15/2002		1	03/01/1996
	Many problems are continuing. currently, the front suspension needs repaired, the brakes were replaced at 18000 and are now gone again, the rear seals are leaking damaging the rear brakes, the drive lights still flash intermittently, a smell of gasoline is in the vehicle after refueling, the engine pings no matter what fuel is used. nothing the dealer has done has solved the multitude of problems. seat belt problems on passenger side, interior trim fell off, on and on.
08/07/2001			02/01/1997
	No summary listed for above vehicle. *ak
10/19/2001		1	10/01/1998
	Campaign 1048 washington state needs to be added to this recall: this recall should pertain to all states that have heavy rain or snowfall fyi: i don't even see alaska on this recall either. no safety defect mentioned in summary. *ak
07/11/2001			06/01/1996
	Pulling away from a stoplight something was terribly wrong with the front end. having gone maybe a hundred feet, the right front wheel was greatly out of place, as if it was ready to tear away completely from the vehicle. i had absolutely no warning of this nor was there any discernible reason for this other than manufacturer defect. i have every 3000 miles lubricated the chassis.*ak
			05/01/1999
	No summary listed for above vehicle. *ak
04/18/2001		2	03/01/1996
	The ball joints have significant play in them and are in need of replacement: this was noticed when tires that were new in november were found to be bald on the inner edge when i saw the steel belt. i thought it was perhaps the allignment but it turned out to be the ball joints allowing the wheels to toe outward. this i have subsequently found to be poor planning in the design of the factory ball joints in that they do not allow for lubrication or maintenance. on one side the wheel has play of approximately 1/2 inch the other side has signifcant play as well, but not as much. the failure was not catastrophic, i was advised by my mechanic not to drive the vehicle as the ball joints are degraded to a state that is unsafe.*ak
03/20/2000		1	02/16/1996
	Right front suspension collapsed causing the wheel and tire to explode. nlm
07/13/2000		1
	Front tires were getting quite worn out and rotating was not helping. was forced into replacing all four at 49559 miles - well before the 60000 miles warranty on the the tires. the tire shop said that i need two front lower ball joints and an idler arm. the dealership said that i needed two front upper ball joints also. the dealership added that the joints should last a lifetime if properly lubricated - which i had taken care of. asked the chevrolet customer service about a replacement schedule for the ball joints and was told to ask the dealership. bottomline - did not get a replacement schedule from either place. the dealership warned that the joints could break while driving and reading some of the other complaints to nhtsa scared the heck out of me. ended up getting the lower and upper ball joints on either side along with the idler arm replaced at a cost of $800. the chevrolet customer service gave a bunch of platitude about how sorry they were that the warrany had expired and that they could not help me.*ak

	Consumer will complete form. *ak
12/15/1999			10/01/1998
	I've owned 25 vehicles, its time to switch to a dodge. no safety defect (s) mentioned. *ak
12/21/1999		8	10/01/1998
	I wish gm would take this ? back. no safety defect (s) listed in summary. *ak
08/30/1999
	When putting the vehicle into reverse while coming out of the garage, the whole front end fell apart. *ak
04/01/1998		1	11/01/1995
	Replaced ball joints and antisway bar at 40,000 miles. dealer refused to even discuss reagrding warranty. brakes pads were replaced at 30,000 and 60,000 miles. very early wearout on vehicle which only is used for highway driving...ie low brake usage vs. mileage.
07/26/1999		1	12/01/1995
	Car sputtered and lost power on two occasions. first time engine was replaced. second time distibutor was replaced. third diagnosis for the check engine soon light being on was that the cateletic converter is no good. dealer is replacing it. this dealer also indicates that both lower ball joints are worn out. must be replaced. this seems outrageous for a 3.5 yr old truck which has not been off-road. summary: new radiator system, new engine, new distributor, new cateletic convertor, and soon to have new ball joints -- all prior to 45000 miles. i fear this vehicle may be dangerous.
06/23/1999		1	02/01/1996
	Jack's chevrolet's service department at only 45,000 miles reported front end looseness which included upper and lower ball joints and idler arm. would like chevrolet to act socially responsible and repair this obvious defect and not push off onto unsuspecting public.*ak
05/29/1999		1	07/01/1996
	No summary listed for above vehicle. *ak
03/22/1999		1	11/01/1996
	When leaving a parking lot onto the street, there was a clunk sound which came from the right front tire area. i drove approximately one block and heard a rubbing sound, thought i had a flat. i pulled into a parking lot and observed the right front tire was tilted in toward the center of the vehicle. the dealer replaced the upper right and both lower ball joints. when i asked how this happened, i was told metal fatigue. *ak
10/09/1995		10	10/01/1995
	The front end pops very loud when the temperature reaches 50 degrees, the dealer has checked out this promblem several times, but can never pinpoint the problem. they have been looking at this problem since it was new, but now that it is out of warranty g.m. doesn't want to have any problem with it .i've talked to g.m. several times, but they won't listen to the complaint. *ak
		1	09/20/1996
	Vehicle vibrates.
02/09/1996
	While driving above 55mph the vehicle vibrates as the speed increases, the vibration gets worse. please describe. *ak
SUSPENSION - FRONT - CONTROL ARM
10/03/2003	75000	1	09/07/1996
	Ball joint separated and control arm need to be replaced. *la
09/24/2002		2	05/01/2001
	Consumer states ball joints are constantly failing. consumer has had to replace them twice. a recall was initiated, but consumer's vin was not included. related recalls 01v200000 and 01i018000. ak right front wheel fell off as a result of the faulty ball joints. there was squeaking noise on turns due to idler arm failure. front pads worn out and rotors failed, both were replaced. yh
05/20/2002
	While driving 45mph heard a popping noise .*ak
03/31/2000		3	12/28/1995
	Ball joints failed, consumer listed that there was an accident, however did not give specific details, manufacturer replaced the defective part, there are two recalls regarding both the upper and lower ball joints, consumer is requesting reimbursement. *slc
03/31/2000		3	12/20/1995
	Consumer states the left front ball joint failed, and manufacturer is not willing to assist.*jb
		1	06/01/2096
	Due to letter from manufacturer, i took vech in for service to upper ball joints. they said uppers are fine but lowers need replaced and it isn't covered under the letter and it won't pass inspection. i called manufacturer after seeing on your web site that lower ball joints were also identified as problem but they said is the dealer says the uppers don't need replaced that the lower ball joint problem may have been caused by something other than the possible upper ball joint problem. does this seem reasonable? *ak
03/20/2002			09/01/1995
	Driving on highway when ball joint failed, broke and cut aluminum rim in half causing blowout. nlm
02/17/2002		1	09/01/1997
	Nhtsa recall 01v20000/manufacturer's recall 01048; got notice about upper and lower control arms malfunctioning. dealer only repaired upper control arm. dealer also admitted that lower ball joints needed to be replaced. ak consumer is upset that ball joints failed so soon. tt
03/31/2000		3	12/20/1995
	Consumer states the left front ball joint failed, and manufacturer is not willing to assist.*jb
10/26/2001
	Vehicle has been aligned 4-5 times and has not been corrected. 4 months ago 4 sets of tires were purchased to correct the problem, nothing has changed. vehicle makes a clunking noise when making a hard right turn. dealer found cause of problem, but hasn't specified if it was upper or lower ball joints that needed to be replaced. consumer has contact, but would not be acknowledged because consumer didn't live in one of the states included.*ak
03/31/2000		3	12/28/1995
	Ball joints failed, consumer listed that there was an accident, however did not give specific details, manufacturer replaced the defective part, there are two recalls regarding both the upper and lower ball joints, consumer is requesting reimbursement. *slc

	Recall 01v200000; while driving tires were wearing funny. tires were brand new. took vehicle for alignment, and was informed that both upper & lower ball joints were corroded. repairs could not be done on tires due to ball joints. manufacturer indicated this vehcle not covered under recall due to vin. *ak
09/17/2001		1	08/01/2001
	Ball joint failed, almost causing a head on collision. there are 2 recalls on this vehicle and both are affected on mine, but gmc says my vin# is not on there list and will do nothing about it.*ak
09/21/2001
	Consumer received a recall notice 01v200000. dealer was willing to replace defective upper control arm, but not damaged lower control arm even though recall stated lower/upper control arm.*ak
09/08/2001
	Consumer received recall notice 01v200000/ manufacturer's 01048 letter. consumer called dealer, and dealer referred to corporate customer service because consumer already remedied problem and was seeking reimbursement. corporate customer service and dealer stated that couldn't get reimbursed because consumer did not use chevrolet parts. also, did not see statement on documentation.*ak

	While traveling steering was pulling to one side. dealer has been contacted, and technician replaced upper and lower ball joints. please provide furather information.*ak
07/29/2001			10/01/1996
	The car had made a nasty noise since about 30k miles. we brought this to the dealers attention more than once, but they found no problem. we had the car lubed, aligned, replaced tires, etc. we lived with the noise, assured there was no problem. then last sunday my wife turned into our drive, and the right front wheel detached at the lower ball joint. had she been going faster, this would have been catastrophic. chevrolet says there is no problem, and ball joint failure is not unusual. i disagree and consider this a serious defect, as at moderate speed this kind of failure would result in a rollover.*ak
06/27/2001		1	01/01/2000
	Front left control arm, rusted and carroded, causing the control arm to break and damage to the steering knuckel, shock, left front axcle, axcle boot and axcle seel. this accured while beginning to back to car out of a drive way (approx. 3mph). the car was taken back to the dealer after purchase for a snaping and popping in the front driverside wheel, both times we were told it was a squeeky spring and nothing was wrong. now we know what the noises where, not a spring. the car has been at the dealer for over 2 weeks. we have been told a couple of different stories about why the car did this and how this is seen all the time( which i know is not true). the final conclusion from the dealer is lack of maintance, yet we have this car lubed and taken care of often. this is a real concern, if this part would have broke just moments before or after it did, me and my children would have been severly injured or killed. i am very worried that the other side may do the same thing, since i can not get a good answer o. *ak
05/01/2001		1	02/02/1996
	Consumer took vehicle in for a brake service, and asked for a rotation of tires. dealership informed him they could not rotate tires or perform a front end alignment because all of front ball joints were worn out. a chevrolet dealership mentioned that this could be the result of a bad design. ak consumer also had front brakes replaced, consumer also had to replace all four tires due to ball joints.jb
		0
	Ea 99022,while driving ball joints in front end failed/came out and cut rim down center, causing front wheel to collapse againt wall. *ak
08/03/2000		1	03/01/1996
	While traveling 45 mph during rush hour, the front left top ball joint failed causing the tire to collapse inward and loss of steering control. $1000 to repair. i believe this is another case for investigation ea99022.
			12/01/1997
	Premature ball joint failure. two chevrolet dealers refused to acknowledge or fix ball joint problem-vehicle was still under warranty. lower ball joints replaced at our expense; upper will have to be replaced shortly. several mechanics stated that this is a common problem for chevy blazers/trucks, but chevrolet won't acknowledge the defect. why is that?
12/11/1999		1
	While driving the vehicle the ball joint failed causing the vehicle to drag. *mjs
06/25/2000		1	02/01/1996
	Was leaving on vacation, towing 2000lb boat - as we were pulling in to a local gas station to check the air in the trailer tires, the ball joint assembly in the left front wheel failed causing the upper half of the wheel to turn in at a 45 degree angle. had it occurred while towing at highway speeds, we would have made the evening news.
06/17/2000		1	01/01/1999
	While driving at 65 mph on the expressway the left ball joint failed, causing the drivers side wheel to buckle, cutting the tire,rim,and causing loss of control of the vehicle. the dealer indicated the right ball joint was broken also. the bottom line is this shouldn't have happened. the ball joints are defective and my family and i could have been killed. *ak
04/30/2000		1
	The front top & bottom ball joints went bad while driving. driver's side/front wheels caved inward. unable to drive vehicle. had vehicle towed to dealership. mechanic gave no indication of cause of problem. *ak
05/18/2000		6	09/01/1996
	All front end ball joints failing from approx.. 38,000 miles and up. (6) total to date. have been replaced with liftime ball joints. these ones also fail. this has caused us to purchase tires on a regular basis because for the front because of wear along side of tires. according to various auto dealers and auto parts stores, this is continual problem with s-10 blazers. i have checked the recall list for chevrolets and could not find this problem listed.*ak
11/24/1999		2	05/01/1999
	I replaced all of the front ball joints, after 60,000 miles. as a result of the ball joints going bad it messed up my tires, so i had to get new ones. the ac compressor is making really lous noises, it sounds like it is defective bearings, on the front of the compressor.*ak

	The upper and lower ball joints are prematurely breaking,causing a loud noise in front end. please give any further details. *ak
02/19/2000			10/01/1995
	Coolant,rusty appearance in reservoir/radiator,dealer claims contamination of dexcool.this is a sealed system,gm contaminated system let them fix.claim denied 2/19/00 ball joints breaking? sloppy,loose sensation in turns,popping of tire/wheel area

	4 ball joints have excessively worn out within 75000, causing a safety hazard.please provide further information. *ak
04/12/1999			07/27/1996
	Ball joint failed. yh
08/29/1998		4	07/01/1998
	Backing out driveway with foot on brakes, heard a clunking noise & then scraping sound. wheel rubbing against suspension, left upper ball joint had ripped out, and the right uppoer ball joint was ready to rip out. ball joints replaced by dealer at owner's expense. dealer denies that there is a defect. ak ml
09/06/1997		1	09/01/1997
	Ball joint failed. mjs
08/22/1997		1	07/31/1996
	Ball joints failed.
SUSPENSION - FRONT - CONTROL ARM - LOWER ARM
12/04/2001		1
	The front tire fell off due to failure of lower control arm. *nlm
10/13/2001
	Recall 01 v 200 000/upper/lower control arm: while driving at 10 mph or less, right front wheel toed in, causing loss of right front wheel. dealer notified, and informed consumer that this vehicle was not covered under recall. feel free to provide any further information. *ak
SUSPENSION - FRONT - CONTROL ARM - LOWER BALL JOINT
10/10/2006	60500	1	06/15/2006
	Nhtsa campaign id number: 01v200000 product campaign bulletin no: 01048 after nearly losing control on the interstate highway i decided to have the front end checked. the front ball joints need replaced. i further learned of the above mentioned references however, the dealership in ankeny was unhelpful, rude, and basically told me they don't have to do any work regardless of bulletins, etc... each day the vehicle is harder to handle and a mechanic friend advised will start to cause additional problems with suspension. why do we have policies both government and corporate when dealerships totally disregard all the rules. i have experienced this before and know of many others that dealerships left in dire straits. this is a problem i would like addressed for the good of all. *jb
11/09/2004		1
	While driving the ball joints separated and broke. consumer contacted the dealer. was told she would have to pay. however, consumer found out through the manufacturer that her vehicle was included in the recall. manufacturer contacted the dealer to let them know that consumer was included, and they need to repair the vehicle. however, the problem recurred, and the vehicle was still in the shop. *ak
03/20/2002	60000	1
	While driving at any speed vehicle drifted to the right. vehicle was taken to the dealer for an examination, and mechanic determined that the lower ball joints needed replacement.*ak
12/30/2003	85000	1
	Upper and lower ball joints failed. *ak
11/19/2003		1
	I own a 1996 chevy blazer i have seen recalls on the upper ball joints but this vehicle wears the ball joints out way more than a regular vehicle should i would have to say this is the sixth set of ball joints that were put on and i don't think i should be required to keep paying for these expensive repairs. *la
10/03/2003	75000	1	09/07/1996
	Ball joint separated and control arm need to be replaced. *la
	81000	2
	Upon making a right turn while pulling into a driveway front wheels turned inward and fell off. the upper/lower ball joints wore out prematurely, causing the failure.*ak
	86000	1
	While driving at 45 mph upper and lower ball joints snapped, which resulted in vehicle spinning around and almost impacting a tree. there is a recall for the upper ball joints, but not for the lower.*ak
		1	12/01/1996
	Lower ball joint failure/ right & left side idler. also idler arm & pitman arm loose. mr scc *jb
06/07/2003	72500	1	04/30/2001
	My 1996 chevrolet blazer did not pass a state inspection due to corrosion of the upper and lower ball joints and as well that the idler arm,. the front steering and suspension must be replaced. upon searching the internet, i have discovered that this has been a serious problem with 1996 blazer's and a recall was issued. i did contact chevrolet and speak with a representative about the recall,however, after providing my vehicle's vin number, i was told that my blazer does not qualify for the recall. i feel that this is inappropriate. if my vehicle is experiencing the exact same problem discribed in the recall, then it should qualify for the remedy. *ak
		1
	Both upper and lower ball joints failed. however, consumer was not covered under gmc safety improvement campaign 011-49 or recall 01048 for the lower ball joints, because it only referred to the upper ball joints. ak. the consumer was informed the lower ball joints failed, due to lack of lubrication. jb
10/16/2002	40000	2	04/01/2000
	Steering problems since vehicle acquired. reported to dealer in 2001, response unable to replicate customer concern. went to another dealership when problem persisted (2002). upper ball joint replaced under recall. returned to dealer because alignment not completed, advised that lower ball joint also bad and not covered by recall but was in similar condition as upper. did not align at that time either. attempted contact with gm, they declined to replace, repair or further investigate (ref# 1-78000118). *nlm
07/22/2002
	While recall repairs on upper ball joints were done, mechanic noticed lower ball joints were worn out as well.*ak
09/21/2001		1
	Consumer received a recall notice for the upper ball joints, nhtsa campaign id number 01v200000. the mechanic had commented to consumer, prior to bringing the vehicle in that it was very unlikely that the defective upper ball joints would not destroy the lower ball joints, when the consumer took the vehicle to the dealer for the upper ball joint recall repair, consumer found out that the lower ball joints also needed to be replaced which would be at the consumers expense.*yd
		1
	Prior to recall, consumer had the lower ball joints replaced due to them being loose, when consumer first had them replaced she was informed by manufacturer there was no recall. *yh
01/04/2002		1	11/01/1996
	While at an inspection station lower ball joints malfunctioned. vehicle was taken to a mechanic, and they replaced lower ball joints. ak although there is a recall for replacing the upper ball joints - 01v200000 - the lower ball joints were replaced at owners expense, consumer also received letter from gm regarding replacement of upper ball joints. tt
02/01/2002		1	10/01/1996
	Steering wheel is looser and unresponsive than normal. driver then received a recall letter 01v200000 concerning ball joints. consumer feels this is the cause of the problem. consumer contacted dealer, and vehicle was not covered.ak consumer was informed that the manufacturer would replaced the ball joints if the vehicle was less than 8 yeasr old or if the mileage was less than 100,000 miles however consumer was informed that his vehicle was not included in the recall.yd
02/17/2002		1	09/01/1997
	Nhtsa recall 01v20000/manufacturer's recall 01048; got notice about upper and lower control arms malfunctioning. dealer only repaired upper control arm. dealer also admitted that lower ball joints needed to be replaced. ak consumer is upset that ball joints failed so soon. tt

	Lower ball joints components are very bad. cause unknown. please provide any further information.*ak
01/18/2002
	Consumer received a letter from chevrolet regarding a program to replace upper ball joints, but the lower ball joints needed to be replaced as well.*ak
		2
	Defective top and bottom ball joints.
		1
	Prior to recall, consumer had the lower ball joints replaced due to them being loose, when consumer first had them replaced she was informed by manufacturer there was no recall. *yh
09/01/2001		1	08/09/2001
	Recall #01v2000000 concerning lower ball joint boot. consumer feels that this vehicle should be included in recall. ak upper ball joint broke, almost causing an accident and cutting wheel into pieces, the other upper and both lower ball joints were weak. slc
12/23/2000		0
	Steering started getting tight, had to jerk it to steer. took vehicle to dealer, and they said that lower ball joints and idler arm were bad. consumer replaced ball joints, and they only lasted for 38000 miles. they should have lasted longer than that.*ak
02/01/1999		1
	Ea99022, passenger side ball joint broke while driving causing a crash. dealer had to replace the passenger and driver side ball joints. common problem. ak slc consumer was injured in accident. *slc
03/17/1999		50	03/01/1999
	Both o2 sensors have been replaced (at seperate time in past 4 months). upper/lower ball joints are in need of replacement. according to dealership (desantis chevrolet) should have never passed inspection in april. have had problem with abs since purchase of the vehicle. first recall did nothing to fix problem. abs can't tell difference from wet & dry pavement. abs will kick in when slowing down on gravel at 20mph, but not at faster speeds on wet pavement.
12/30/1998		1	04/01/1998
	1) the front lower ball joints wore out prematurly causing the vehicle to wander as if it were misaligned. 2) front differential bearing on the 4x4 powertrain failed causing loss of 4x4 engagement.
06/15/1999		1	02/01/1999
	1&2) lower left ball joint and idler arm have been replaced, lower right ball joint is showing signs of wear and will require replacement in the near future. 3) 4x4 electric shift just failed last week. preliminary troubleshooting indicates a #2 failure code which point to either the encoder/shift motor assembly or the transfer case control module (tccm). 4) this is a continuing problem. whenever the gas gauge indicates 1/8 tank or less and the vehicle stands for more than 2 hours it is difficult to start. it takes 4-5 tries and requires that the gas pedal be pressed about 1/2 travel in order to start. when taken to the dealer for repair with a nearly empty gas tank, dealer claimed that they could not duplicate the problem. yet, the day before the hard starting problem occured at least 6 times. *ak
08/29/1998		4	07/01/1998
	All four ball joints failed causing steering to be off, vehicle to wander and damage to other components. nlm
SUSPENSION - FRONT - CONTROL ARM - UPPER ARM
09/01/2001		1	08/09/2001
	Recall #01v2000000 concerning lower ball joint boot. consumer feels that this vehicle should be included in recall. ak upper ball joint broke, almost causing an accident and cutting wheel into pieces, the other upper and both lower ball joints were weak. slc
04/02/2001		1
	While driving 30 mph vehicle dropped down, right front upper control arm had broken. ak the upper arm came off ball joint due to lack proper greezing. yh
SUSPENSION - FRONT - CONTROL ARM - UPPER BALL JOINT
10/10/2006	60500	1	06/15/2006
	Nhtsa campaign id number: 01v200000 product campaign bulletin no: 01048 after nearly losing control on the interstate highway i decided to have the front end checked. the front ball joints need replaced. i further learned of the above mentioned references however, the dealership in ankeny was unhelpful, rude, and basically told me they don't have to do any work regardless of bulletins, etc... each day the vehicle is harder to handle and a mechanic friend advised will start to cause additional problems with suspension. why do we have policies both government and corporate when dealerships totally disregard all the rules. i have experienced this before and know of many others that dealerships left in dire straits. this is a problem i would like addressed for the good of all. *jb
08/04/2006		10	12/10/2003
	Purchased vehicle 12/03 since then have replaced: water pump 3 times, radiator, thermostat, left upper ball joint, upper manifold gasket, main real seal. over the past 6-8 months i have noticed the braking issue several times (more than 10.) luckily none were emergency stops, however when braking due to traffic light change or stopping while going downhill, the brakes chatter, an audible whine is produced, and it is necessary to pump the brakes before it will regain pressure and stop. *jb
12/30/2004	90850	2	12/24/2004
	Front upper ball joint failure, replacement required, parts not available*ak
12/14/2004		2
	Abs braking light appeared on the dashboard and remained on. while applying the brakes pedal went to the floor. a banging noise was heard coming from the front. vehicle drove roughly. consumer was able to maintain control of the vehicle, and drove it to the dealer. mechanic determined that both front driver's side and passenger's side ball joints, and abs module needed to be replaced. *ak
11/09/2004		1
	While driving the ball joints separated and broke. consumer contacted the dealer. was told she would have to pay. however, consumer found out through the manufacturer that her vehicle was included in the recall. manufacturer contacted the dealer to let them know that consumer was included, and they need to repair the vehicle. however, the problem recurred, and the vehicle was still in the shop. *ak
07/17/2004	112318	2	09/30/1996
	Ball joints were designated as possibly beginning defective, but were not replaced. repairs would only be made after the joint failed, even with proper maintenance. *jb
04/09/2004	91963	1	01/29/2003
	Upper ball joint breakage at 55mph. *ak
12/20/2003	130	0	06/15/2001
	Upper ball joint collasped, luckily the car was being driven @ low speed or this could have been a very serious accident!!!!*ak
12/30/2003	85000	1
	Upper and lower ball joints failed. *ak
11/19/2003		1
	I own a 1996 chevy blazer i have seen recalls on the upper ball joints but this vehicle wears the ball joints out way more than a regular vehicle should i would have to say this is the sixth set of ball joints that were put on and i don't think i should be required to keep paying for these expensive repairs. *la
10/03/2003	75000	1	09/07/1996
	Ball joint separated and control arm need to be replaced. *la
	81000	2
	Upon making a right turn while pulling into a driveway front wheels turned inward and fell off. the upper/lower ball joints wore out prematurely, causing the failure.*ak
	105000	1
	Upper ball joints separated, causing the front wheel to vibrate while driving at any speed. recall 95v080000 dealt with this issue; but, this vehicle was not included in the recall due to model and vin. *ak
10/11/2003	62189	1	09/07/1996
	While driving at 30mph on a well paved road, heard a loud bang. two seconds later, another loud noise was heard, and the blazer tilted to the left like have a blown tire. luckily, we were going at slow speed and managed to pull the blazer to the curb. after told to the nearby service station, the mechanic said the upper ball joint on the front driver side was pulled off the socket. subsequently, the wheel rim was cut and tire was blown. after learning that there was a recall of this kind on 1996 blazer, i called gm and gave the vin. the customer service said my vehicle is not in the recall list and there is nothing he can do. the car is well maintained, oiled and lubricated every 3000 miles. i cannot imagine if this had happened on the free way. this is a dangerous defect that all blazer owner shall know. *la
08/16/2003	50000	5	04/19/1996
	I have a 96 chevy blazer with cooling problems. i have replaced the water pump 2 times in the last yr. the radiator needs to be flushed and clean about every 2 months due to slugged and rust build up. i have also had the upper ball joints break on me. *jb
	86000	1
	While driving at 45 mph upper and lower ball joints snapped, which resulted in vehicle spinning around and almost impacting a tree. there is a recall for the upper ball joints, but not for the lower.*ak
08/27/2003	55000	2	07/30/1999
	In july of 2002 the upper ball joints wore out and were replaced under a factory recall order. just over one year, the upper ball joints wore out again. dealer/ manufacturer would resolve the problem free of charge. ak scc *jb
06/07/2003	72500	1	04/30/2001
	My 1996 chevrolet blazer did not pass a state inspection due to corrosion of the upper and lower ball joints and as well that the idler arm,. the front steering and suspension must be replaced. upon searching the internet, i have discovered that this has been a serious problem with 1996 blazer's and a recall was issued. i did contact chevrolet and speak with a representative about the recall,however, after providing my vehicle's vin number, i was told that my blazer does not qualify for the recall. i feel that this is inappropriate. if my vehicle is experiencing the exact same problem discribed in the recall, then it should qualify for the remedy. *ak
	53972	1	05/15/1998
	The consumer stated that while driving, the left front upper ball joint separated from the vehicle, causing the tire/wheel problems. scc
03/09/2002
	Consumer took vehicle in to have tires serviced, and was told at that time that their was a recall on his vehicle for the upper ball joint. consumer had never received any notification. consumer contacted the manufacturer, and was given the run-a-round, but they never sent him the recall letter. now the manufacturer is fusing to send the letter stated that the vehicle has past the mileage. ts
11/12/2002		1
	Consumer had problems with the upper ball joints. also stated that while driving the upper ball joint separated and the tire fell off. dealer was contacted. dealer fixed and knows about the problem but the vehicle was fixed under warranty. ph wheel and upper ball joints were replaced. *tt
10/29/2002
	Dealership is refusing to do recall for the upper ball joint, unless vehicle has already experience the defect stated in the recall. ts
10/01/2002
	Nhtsa# 01 i 018 000 & 01 v 200 000/ball joint separation: consumer states that the left front upper ball joint separated and causing loss of steering. dealer contacted and informd that the vehicle was not cover under the vin#. feel free to provide any further information. *mr
09/24/2002		2	05/01/2001
	Consumer states ball joints are constantly failing. consumer has had to replace them twice. a recall was initiated, but consumer's vin was not included. related recalls 01v200000 and 01i018000. ak right front wheel fell off as a result of the faulty ball joints. there was squeaking noise on turns due to idler arm failure. front pads worn out and rotors failed, both were replaced. yh
08/15/2001		1
	Upper ball joint broke and was replaced it. *yh
		2
	Defective top and bottom ball joints.
08/15/2001		1
	Upper ball joint broke and was replaced it. *yh
10/13/2001		1	01/01/2001
	Upper ball joint failed while turning into driveway. i went to carrons chevy dealer in marshall,mi. to see if my blazer was under a recall since my friends 1996 gmc jimmy is for the problem. it wasn't but get this, there are other's (blazer's) under recall for the upper ball joint failure with a vin code before and after my vehicle's vin code. i believe that they all should. just before my ball joint failed my family and i were going down the highway at speeds up to 70 mph. i would hate to think what might have happened at that speed if the ball joint had failed. my truck is at a shop now getting fixed at a cost of 180.00 so far. they have to get up and see what other damage might have been caused by this failure. i know my blazer has alot of miles on it but i also have a chevy lumina van with 125,000 miles and a ford mustang gt with 135,000 miles and i have not had any suspension failure. thank you for your time. *ak
07/01/2001		0
	Consumer was traveling about 45mph on a side street, and when making a right turn, upper balljoints boke. dealership was aware of problem.*ak
03/08/2001
	While driving at approximately 20 mph, there was a noise coming from front of vehicle, and it felt as if there was a flat tire. when attempting to stop, brake pedal went to the floor, and the right front wheel fell off. dealership examined vehicle and determined that upper control arm/ ball joint snapped. please provide any additional information/attachments.*ak
		1	02/13/1997
	While turning into a parking lot the upper ball joint on the driver side broke causing tire to come off the vehicle, the consumer had all four ball joints replaced. nlm
01/10/2001		1
	While changing lanes vehicle swerved. driver stopped vehicle, and upon visual inspection noticed that ball joint broke off. *ak
04/15/2000		1
	Vehicle upper ball joint driver side was dry causing vehicle to collapse while driving, pregnant woman sustained physical injuries other passenger sustained neck and back injuries. *et
08/14/2000		1
	While driving, w/o warning right front end collapsed. appears to be failed upper ball joint. had regularly lubed every 3k miles. also damaged front rim by tearing away metal. very lucky my wife and daughter were not at full speed.*ak
04/28/2000			12/01/1995
	Left upper ball joint broke, the wheel buckled causing ~$1.5k in damage. dealer points to lack of maintenance. however, the suspension was lubed every 3000 miles - records available. photos of damaged parts available. damaged parts removed from vehicle and are available for nhtsa inspection. this type of failure seems to point to design problems compromising safety of this vehicle. *ak
04/22/2000
	Ea99022, front passenger's ball joint broke, which could have caused a loss of steering control. dealer said the other 3 ball joints, seem like they may break also. please provide further information. *ak
04/01/2000		1	12/01/1996
	Driving on normal paved road at about 25 mph, right upper ball joint failed, causing wheel to lock and cant at 45 degree angle (top in/bottom out). this caused partial loss of steering control. had vehicle been moving faster, the likely result would have been a roll and serious injury. dealer inspected and said that all ball joints needed replacement despite the fact that the lower ball joints were replaced one year earlier (on 15 sep 98 at 43302 miles). this means that the two lower ball joints were not acceptable after only 22,946 miles). vehicle has only been used for normal, on-road driving, and has had routine maintenance (including lubrication). this continued and frequent failure of this safety related part implies a serious design defect. i required deeler to supply me with the replaced ball joints should they be needed for inspection.*ak
10/26/1999		1	04/01/1996
	Front drivers side wheel buckled under while turning left at intersection. diagnosis was the left upper ball joint was broken. dealership blamed the breakage on maintenance. however - i have maintenance records which prove that 11 zerks where greased during the 3k mile oil changes. maintenance records are proven up to 38k. between 38k and 48k - maintenance was performed my owner - and all zerks where greased based on manufacturers recommended schedule. *background -- over the last 1.5 years before the breakage i had noticed suspension noises coming from the drivers side. clicking - or movement could be sensed from the front. i dismissed it as being wear on the front struts -- obviously that was a mis-interpretation. ak
10/28/1999			10/29/1998
	While driving at 57 mph both upper ball joints failed , rubbing against tire rim, and causing loss of control. dealer claimed both front ball joints were worn out and there was insufficient amount of grease. *ak

	While driving 50 mp upper ball joint broke, causing loss of control cause unknown. please give any further details. *ak

	While driving 50 mph the upper right ball joint broke, causing wheel to split, resulting in loss of control. *ak
09/04/1998
	When driving at any speed there is a loud banging noise coming from the front suspension of the vehicle, and there is shaking within the steering wheel due to the upper control arm/ ball joint wearing out. it had to be replaced. *ak
08/29/1998		4	07/01/1998
	All four ball joints failed causing steering to be off, vehicle to wander and damage to other components. nlm
04/29/1999
	Upper ball joint pulled out of the socket, causing spindle to fall and cut the rim in half, resulting in a loss of tire. the dealer would not replace because the warranty had expired. *ak

	Upper left ball joint broke, causing the wheel to fall off the vehicle. please give any further details. *ak
01/05/1999		1	10/01/1996
	Upper left front ball joint broke, dealer claims lack of maint. we have records showing vehicle was serviced every 5000 miles. including complete front end lube. gm will not reimburse or admit to any fault do to the warranty was not applicable. public should be aware of chevy blazer ball joints breaking and wheels falling off at high speeds. safety should always come first. gm should acknowledge this.
09/13/1997
	The front ball joint broke, causing the driver's and passenger's wheels to fall off, causing an accident. *ak

	Owner states that front upper arm/ball joint failure caused her wheel to come off, owner fears for her safety. *ak
SUSPENSION - FRONT - MACPHERSON STRUT
08/01/1996			06/01/1996
	This blazer has offered nothing but problems. we have replaced the alternator, brake pads three times, the battery three times, the air conditioner went out in july, 1999, and even after having it repaired twice, it still doesn't work. we took it to the dealership for repair because of a gurgling noise, but they couldn't find what was causing it, (it was still under warranty at that time). now gas fumes flood into the vehicle at various times, after filling up, and even while driving. they claim that a $1,000.00 valve needs to be replaced, but i sure wish they had known that while the warranty was still good! the wipers work sometimes, the brakes allow me to slide to a stop any time there is moisture, the left radio speakers only work sometimes, dome light cover falls off, hood won't open without force, pwr. windows only work when they want to, locks stopped working before warranty expired, and they fixed them, but they still didn't work. is there any way they will take this lousy excuse for a vehicle back? i can't afford to drive my children around in something that offers the possibility of explosion due to gas leakage, not to mention that the smell and fumes make us all nautious. i wonder how many more problems we will have with it, the transmission now seems to be slipping. please help!!*ak
SUSPENSION - FRONT - SHOCK ABSORBER
01/28/1999		0
	When coming to a stop sign vehicle will not stop, it goes right through the stop sign. it does not happen all the time.*ak
03/13/1996		1	02/01/1996
	Left rear shock failed.
03/21/1997
	Brakes: took in to dealer for maintenance, told dealer when making left heard a noise. dealer said that the brakes needed to be replaced, had loose shock absorber bolt, but dealer said that brakes needed to be replaced every 15000 miles. *ak
SUSPENSION - FRONT - SPRINGS - AIR SUSPENSION - LINES AND FITTINGS
		1
	Left shock mount had broken from the frame of the car where it had been welded by the factory causing chaffing of the brake line and failure of the brakes.
SUSPENSION - FRONT - SPRINGS - COIL SPRINGS
06/22/1996		1
	Front coil springs and other unknown parts failed. *ak
SUSPENSION - FRONT - SPRINGS - TORSION BAR

	The weld broke on the front sway bar. please describe . *ak
SUSPENSION - FRONT - STABILIZER BAR
07/22/1996		1
	Rear stabilizer shaft failed.
SUSPENSION - FRONT - WHEEL BEARING
01/11/2010		1
	1996 chevrolet blazer right rear tire came off vehicle while driving on the ohio turnpike. kb the right rear tire fell off, due to bad bearings. ohio traffic report# 10-0020-89 updated letter 04/29/10 bf
06/30/2001		0
	Medford engine gasket blewout, and coolant ran from undernea vehicle.also, there was a noise coming from front of the vehicle due to bearings being defective. dealership was aware of problems. *ak
03/16/1999		1	11/09/1996
	Hub/bearings failed causing noise. mjs
04/01/1996		3	03/09/1996
	Wheel bearings lack sufficient lubrication.
SUSPENSION - MULTIPLE AXLE
10/01/1997		2
	While applying the brakes, it would make squealing noises. took to dealer & informed the front brake pads are gone & rotors need turning. stopping distance is longer when putting on the brakes. *ak
SUSPENSION - REAR
01/05/2000		2	03/30/1996
	Vehicle experiences noise in the rear end suspension, unable to find failure or rectify noise problem. *mjs
12/07/1998
	While driving heard a big bang from the rear end. dealer contacted and stated the rear end was blown and replaced it with a new one which was defective and also had to be replaced. proovide further information. *ak
05/31/1998		0
	The right front upper ball joint broke. when that happened, the wheel went side ways. had the vehicle towed to dealership to find out what really happened. *ak
09/21/1996			09/20/1996
	Upon accelerating, the rear end vibrates.
02/05/1996		5
	Rear end pulls on one side, also front end makes noise. *sd
SUSPENSION - REAR - SPRINGS - LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY - SHACKLE
07/22/1996		1
	Rear leaf spring shackle failed, causing noise from rear.