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Chevrolet Blazer: Years to Avoid and Best Years (Engine & Transmission)
Chevrolet Blazer problems by model year, from 637 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. For each year: the share of complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system, how many there were, and the recalls.
Worst years to avoid: 2020 (61%, 132 drivetrain complaints), 2022 (59%, 30 drivetrain complaints) and 2023 (58%, 22 drivetrain complaints). 5 of the 5 Chevrolet Blazer years we score have an elevated engine, transmission or fuel-system complaint share; 1 of them is at the very high level (60% or more), where every model year we track has a documented failure behind it.
No Chevrolet Blazer year we score is clear of an elevated signal. The lowest is the 2021 (50%).
By raw volume, the 2020 drew the most drivetrain complaints (132 of 348 across the scored years). Volume also tracks how many were sold and how long they have been on the road, which is why the share, not the count, sets the verdict.
Engine and transmission complaint share, 2010–2023
Share of relevant owner complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system. 33% is elevated, 40% high, 60% very high. A dash means too few complaints to score.
Every Chevrolet Blazer year
| Model year | Signal | Drivetrain share | Drivetrain complaints | All complaints | Rank (1 = worst) | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 Blazer | too few to score | – | 1 | 1 | – | 0 |
| 2019 Blazer | high | 53% | 97 | 186 | 4/5 | 2 |
| 2020 Blazer | very high | 61% | 132 | 220 | 1/5 | 3 |
| 2021 Blazer | high | 50% | 67 | 136 | 5/5 | 1 |
| 2022 Blazer | high | 59% | 30 | 51 | 2/5 | 1 |
| 2023 Blazer | high | 58% | 22 | 43 | 3/5 | 2 |
What owners complain about most, all years
Categories as NHTSA files them, summed across the Chevrolet Blazer years with data. A complaint can name more than one component, so the shares overlap. Red is engine, transmission or fuel.
Chevrolet Blazer transmission recalls: timeline
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns on the Chevrolet Blazer involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 7 across the years we track. Each model-year page has the details. Whether a particular car still has a recall open depends on its VIN.
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2020 | 20V668000 | power train: automatic transmission | 2019–2020 |
| Feb 2023 | 23V042000 | power train: driveline: driveshaft | 2023 |
| Mar 2023 | 23V172000 | power train: automatic transmission | 2023 |
4 other recalls (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 2020 | 20V446000 | air bags: side/window: curtain: inflator | 2020 |
| Dec 2020 | 20V811000 | seat belts | 2021 |
| Feb 2021 | 21V115000 | tires | 2019–2020 |
| May 2022 | 22V359000 | seats | 2022 |
What the free pages leave out on the Chevrolet Blazer
- The mileage where it happens, for the model year you are looking at.
- What the repair costs, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives: similar cars with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive.
- Open recalls on the actual car, by VIN.
Questions people ask about the Chevrolet Blazer
What are the worst years for the Chevrolet Blazer?
On engine and transmission complaints, the worst Chevrolet Blazer years are the 2020 (61% of relevant complaints, very high), the 2022 (59% of relevant complaints, high) and the 2023 (58% of relevant complaints, high). 5 of 5 scored years are elevated in all.
What are the best years for the Chevrolet Blazer?
No Chevrolet Blazer year we score is below the 33% line. The lowest share is the 2021 (50%).
Does the Chevrolet Blazer have transmission problems?
In some years. Across the 5 scored years, 348 of 631 relevant NHTSA complaints (55%) concern the engine, transmission or fuel system; the largest drivetrain category is power train. The years with an elevated share are 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023.
Is the Chevrolet Blazer reliable?
On the engine and transmission it depends on the year: 5 of 5 Chevrolet Blazer years we score have an elevated complaint share and 0 do not. Pooled across those years, 55% of relevant complaints are about the drivetrain, against a 33% line for an elevated signal. Complaint data does not measure overall reliability, so pick the year first, then inspect the car.
Are there transmission or engine recalls on the Chevrolet Blazer?
Yes. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns involving the engine, transmission or fuel system across the Chevrolet Blazer years we track, out of 7 in total: 20V668000 (Oct 2020, 2019–2020), 23V042000 (Feb 2023, 2023), 23V172000 (Mar 2023, 2023). Whether a car still has one open depends on its VIN.
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across model years, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Model years with fewer than 25 complaints are not scored.