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2020 Chevrolet Blazer problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls

VERY HIGH COMPLAINT SIGNAL
61%
132 of 220 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

61% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2020 Chevrolet Blazer are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. Well over half of everything owners reported is the drivetrain. That is a severe model-level pattern; every model year we track at this level has a documented failure behind it.

Worse than 82% of the 1,789 model years we track (2010–2023).

NHTSA data checked October 3, 2026
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Does the 2020 Chevrolet Blazer have transmission problems?

Owner complaints say yes, heavily, as a model-year pattern. 132 of 220 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2020 Chevrolet Blazer concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (61%), and the largest group is filed under power train (73). For comparison, the 2019 scores 53% and the 2021 scores 50%. On a test drive, check for shuddering, slipping, delayed or harsh shifts, or a whine at speed. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.

Drivetrain complaints
132
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
220
this model year
Fires reported
0
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
3
5 crashes · 7 injuries

Complaints by component

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM76 · 35%
POWER TRAIN73 · 33%
ENGINE69 · 31%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER57 · 26%
STEERING41 · 19%
SERVICE BRAKES11 · 5%

The years either side

2010
no data
2011
no data
2012
no data
2013
no data
2014
too few complaints
2015
no data
2016
no data
2017
no data
2018
no data
2019
53%
97 of 186
2020
61%
132 of 220
2021
50%
67 of 136
2022
59%
30 of 51
2023
58%
22 of 43

Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.

Cleaner alternatives

Other midsize SUVs with no elevated signal in 2020

The percentage is each model year's drivetrain complaint share. No elevated signal describes the model year, not any one car; a well-kept example of a flagged model can still be the right buy, and any of these still needs an inspection.

What owners reported

UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM07/05/2024CRASH2 INJURED
6/12/2024 In Damon Parking lot in Rochester MN. Going less than 10 miles an hr- cars in front of me and behind me looking for a parking spot. Stop and go at times. Went to turn corner to go from one level to the next and my BLAZER took off "like a bullet". No control over accelerated speed- hit outer cement wall and s…
POWER TRAIN,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE10/09/20251 INJURED
I backed my vehicle out of the garage and put it in park and stepped out of the Driver's door. I was going to put my son in his car seat in the rear seat when the vehicle started moving backwards and the opened driver's door knocked us down. I was able to push my son out of the way, but the vehicle continued and the …
POWER TRAIN06/21/20221 INJURED
The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Blazer. The contact stated that after driving into the garage, the engine was turned off but the transmission was left in the drive position. The contact mentioned that the brake was intended to engage in order for the vehicle not to move forward or backward. After exiting the vehicle …

Three of 132 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows more, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

Recall campaigns on the 2020 Chevrolet Blazer (3)

TIRES
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Buick Enclave, Cadillac XT4, XT5, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, Traverse, GMC Yukon, Yukon XL, 2018…
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW:CURTAIN:INFLATOR
General Motors, LLC. (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Buick Enclave, Cadillac XT5 and XT6, Chevrolet Blazer, Silverado 1500, 2500 and 3500 and Traverse and GMC Acadia and S…
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…

This does not say whether a particular car has an open, unrepaired recall. That depends on the VIN.

Before you buy a 2020 Chevrolet Blazer

Questions people ask about the 2020 Chevrolet Blazer

Does the 2020 Chevrolet Blazer have transmission problems?

Owner complaints say yes, heavily, as a model-year pattern. 132 of 220 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2020 Chevrolet Blazer concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (61%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the transmission and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2020 Chevrolet Blazer?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns on the 2020 Chevrolet Blazer. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

Which Chevrolet Blazer years are better?

Among the Chevrolet Blazer years we track, the 2021 (50%), the 2019 (53%) and the 2023 (58%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2020 (61%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car.

Should I buy a 2020 Chevrolet Blazer?

That depends on the car in front of you, not just the model year. The 2020 Chevrolet Blazer has an elevated transmission complaint pattern, so treat it as a car that needs proof: service records showing transmission work, a cold-start test drive, and an independent pre-purchase inspection focused on the transmission. A well-kept or already-repaired example can be a fine car; an unknown one is a gamble.

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Experimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.