Total Complaints
21 filings
CHEVROLET BLAZER · model year
1986 CHEVROLET BLAZER
21 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1986CHEVROLETBLAZER carries 21 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 6 fires, 4 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1986 BLAZER is engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline with 4 filings, followed by seat belts:front:buckle assembly (2) and service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (2). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 57 investigation files overlapping the 1986 BLAZER, and 2 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
21
Complaints
0
Crashes
6
Fires
4
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 4 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY | 2 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 2 |
| TIRES:TREAD/BELT | 2 |
| SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER | 1 |
| VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE | 1 |
| TIRES | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 1 |
| EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL | 1 |
| STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR | 1 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 1 |
| STEERING | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20030204TIRES:TREAD/BELT
THE CORD SEPARATED HALF WAY AROUND THE TIRE. THE TIRE HAS 9/32 TREAD. SCC PH
20020828SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
WHILE PULLING INTO THE ENTRANCE LANE OF A TOLL BOOTH AT 25 MPH, UNIT 1 APPLIED THE BRAKES, HOWEVER, THE BRAKES FAILED. UNIT 1 THEN TURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE LEFT TO AVOID HITTING UNIT 2 WHICH WAS STOPPED AT THE TOLL BOOTH. UNIT 1 WENT ONTO THE CURB AND CONCRETE BARRIER. IT THEN HIT UNIT 2 IN THE LEFT REAR AND THEN HIT THE TOLL BOOTH, WHERE IT CAME TO FINAL REST. THE OFFICER AT THE SCENE FOUND THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR WITH NO RESISTANCE. THE FRONT CHAMBER WAS COMPLETELY EMPTY AND THE REAR CHAMBER HAD BARELY ENOUGH FLUID TO COVER THE BOTTOM. NO BROKEN HOSES, LINES COULD BE SEEN. THERE WERE NO INJURIES, OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT. *TT
20001127FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
BAD MANUFACTURER PAINT, 7004R TRANSMISSION UNSAFE, ENGINE FIRE. *AK
20001127FirePOWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
BAD MANUFACTURER PAINT, 7004R TRANSMISSION UNSAFE, ENGINE FIRE. *AK
20000830TIRES:TREAD/BELT
TIRE LOST ALL TREAD TEARING UP THE SIDE OF MY VEHICLE AT THE SAME TIME. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 235/70/R15 )
20000130ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WATER IN ENGINE OIL, THE CAUSE I HAVE HEARD IS A FAILED HEAD GASKET. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF CHEVROLET HAS HAD A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM.. THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE ENGINE OVERHEATS, CRACKING THE HEAD GASKET. *AK
19990723STEERING
SOMETHING BROKE IN THE STEERING WHILE SON WAS DRIVING. AS A RESULT, CAR WAS TOTALLED. *AK
19990126FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE FIRE. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT).
19990113VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE DRIVING THE TRUCK THE CRUISE CONTROL BECAME STUCK AND IT WOULD NOT TURN OFF, THE ENGINE RACED BETWEEN 70-85 MPH. IF THE DRIVER WOULD TURN THE TRUCK OFF, THE STEERING WOULD BECOME STUCK, SO DRIVER PUT TRUCK IN NEUTRAL, HAD APPLIED THE BRAKES, AND THE BRAKES WERE BURNED OUT. *AK
19990113SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHILE DRIVING THE TRUCK THE CRUISE CONTROL BECAME STUCK AND IT WOULD NOT TURN OFF, THE ENGINE RACED BETWEEN 70-85 MPH. IF THE DRIVER WOULD TURN THE TRUCK OFF, THE STEERING WOULD BECOME STUCK, SO DRIVER PUT TRUCK IN NEUTRAL, HAD APPLIED THE BRAKES, AND THE BRAKES WERE BURNED OUT. *AK
19981208STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
DRIVING VEHICLE ABOUT 20MPH UP THE DRIVEWAY WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL BROKE. HAD NO CONTROL OVER VEHICLE. TURNED VEHICLE OFF. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. *AK
19971204SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
SEAT BELT CAN'T BE SECURED ON DRIVER'S SIDE.
19971107SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHGILE DRIVING AT APPROX 30-40 MPH WENT TO APPLY BRAKES, FELT THEY WERE SPONGY DID NOT REACT. THIS IS A INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. DEALER DID BRAKE SERVICE TWICE, CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. *AK
19970918FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE FIRE.
19970325FireEQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
CIGARETTE LIGHTER MELTED AN ELECTRICAL PLUG, CAUSING FIRE.
19970113ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
WHEN MAKING A TURN OR COMING TO A STOP, THE ENGINE SHUTS DOWN, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
19961231TIRES
RIGHT REAR WHEEL CAME OFF, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. .(OHIO STATE POLICE REPORT)
19960425FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE FIRE. (OHIO STATE POLICE REPORT)*SD
19950606VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE
COOLANT SYSTEM LEAKED,HEATER HOSE, THREADS CORRODED AND FELL WITHIN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. TT
19950404SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT LATCH IS BROKEN, WILL NOT FASTEN. TT
Compare 1986CHEVROLETBLAZER to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 2 Open
EA25007Engineering AnalysisOpen
Loss of motive power due to engine failure
PE23022Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Loss of Motive Power due to the Battery Energy Control Module
PE20016Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Electric Vehicle Battery Fires
EA20002Engineering AnalysisClosed
Outboard Front Seat Belt Anchor Cable Failure
PE20011Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Fuel Line Leak
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1986 CHEVROLET BLAZER have?▼
The 1986 CHEVROLET BLAZER has 21 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 6 fires, 4 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1986 CHEVROLET BLAZER?▼
The most-complained component for the 1986 CHEVROLET BLAZER is ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE with 4 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY and SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP.
Is the 1986 CHEVROLET BLAZER safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.