Faults:

Oil cooler lines needed replaced.

Coolant contaminated causing engine damage.

Vehicle was totaled after unknown engine problem caught the engine compartment on fire.

General Comments:

I like the blazer, but the 95-97 model years are probably the worst year to buy one. I have talked to numerous other owners and have heard nothing but bad remarks.

While driving the vehicle to work one day I began smelling smoke. Thinking my engine had overheated, I checked the gauges and it read fine. I still pulled over promptly and discovered that my engine compartment was on fire. Within minutes, my car was destroyed. I believe it happened due to some kind of defect from the design.

I would still recommend a blazer to people looking for an suv, but I would go with a '98 or newer, they seem to have gotten the bugs worked out in them. I bought a 2000 Bravada (same thing as the blazer) and it has been nothing but perfect so far.

Faults:

Everything stated above has gone wrong with my Blazer as well. Currently driving with the check engine light on and was told I will need to replace the computer in the truck. Also to add I have put 3 ignition coils in mine. The valves just started singing and an overhaul is on the horizon.

Faults:

Actually the only offense was the replacement of the AC compressor. It just about seized before I replaced it at a "discounted" cost of $700 at my favorite shop. As I suspected the bearings were shot (revealed by accumulating piles of metal dust around the clutch and a rather toasty feel). The good news is I got 6 years and 100,000 miles out of it while the bad news is it should have lasted forever. Why? Apparently the system was never filled with oil at the factory and it had never needed a charge.

It has had more than its share of recalls, but really who cares if they cover it and they did, gladly.

Other than that, strictly routine maintenance. And here is a note to everyone who complains about this car chewing up brake pads. Buy GOOD ones! Bendix Fleet Metallic will give you a normal 30K to 40k of service.

General Comments:

The problem with this SUV is that it is very uncomfortable for anyone above average size.

Road noise on the highway is horrendous, along with sloppy handling.

GM is still an idiot with certain things, in the interest of "value engineering". In order to save a few pennies they paint the white vinyl rub strips to match the finish instead of molding them in a solid color, so any little nicks show through in white. Maddening.

Slams aside, I have beaten this vehicle like a rented mule and it has never flinched an inch. Many major road trips hauling gobs of cargo and a 3000 pound trailer, and once on a 9000 mile cross country trip. Off road, I had to intentionally try to get it stuck on the beach on the Outer Banks in NC, and only did so with eight people inside going up a steep sand bank at an angle.

Faults:

Heating system had to be flushed annually to obtain heat.

Starter gradually faded away, and in the process the dealership had installed a piece of foam to the map light nib on the visor, claiming the map light was killing the truck, when in fact it was the starter. They charged me for the foam installation too.

Alternator died had to be replaced.

Pinion seals on diffs had to be replaced, then replaced again because of poor dealer service.

Exhaust in-take gasket had to be replaced.

Tailgate keyhole seized, and is still not functioning.

Tailgate release switch had to be replace.

Power seats had to have wiring work done, they stopped functioning.

Rear wiper switch had to be replaced.

Rear washer fluid doesn't dispense, not fixing that.

As someone else had mentioned, this truck is a pig on brakes, pads replaced quarterly.

ABS not functioning whatsoever.

Passenger ball-joint went @ 130km/hr this summer, busting right axle, caliper , brake lines destroying the passenger rim and tire. Dealer by the way wanted $660CAN for replacement rim.

Interior lights stopped working, don't even remember what the cause of that one was.

Rear speakers were blown when I picked up the lease from the Dealer.

Both Ball-joints and idler arm now need to be replace.

General Comments:

I apologize for not knowing the killometers at which these items needed to be replaced, but I got to the point in which I didn't care any longer about my leased vehicle and just replaced what I had signed up for.

Overall it has been a horrible experience with my Blazer, costing me over $5000 in maintenance on top of my lease payments.