CHEVROLET BLAZER · model year

1989 CHEVROLET BLAZER

47 NHTSA complaints, 10 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1989CHEVROLETBLAZER carries 47 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 10 crashes, 6 fires, 7 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 1989 BLAZER is electrical system:wiring:interior/under dash with 4 filings, followed by fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assembly (3) and seats (3). 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 1989 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.

47
Complaints
10
Crashes
6
Fires
7
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

47 filings

Crashes Reported

10 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH4
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY3
SEATS3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE3
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS3
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP3
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY3
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE3
TIRES2
STEERING:COLUMN1
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE1
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD1
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM1
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER1
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES1

Recent Complaints

20170929SERVICE BRAKES

BRAKE AND FUEL LINES ROTTED AWAY FUEL LEAKING LOST OF BRAKES AND BRAKE FLUIDS GAS TANK RUSTED AND LEAKING FUEL FLOOR RUSTED AWAY SEATS BROKE LOOSE OF MOUNTS

20170929FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

BRAKE AND FUEL LINES ROTTED AWAY FUEL LEAKING LOST OF BRAKES AND BRAKE FLUIDS GAS TANK RUSTED AND LEAKING FUEL FLOOR RUSTED AWAY SEATS BROKE LOOSE OF MOUNTS

20070112ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL

I HAVE A 89' S10 BLAZER THAT HAS HAD THE FRONT FAN DETACH, I REPLACED THE WATER PUMP AND RADIATOR (DUE TO THE FAN COMING OF IT CUT INTO THE RADIATOR) AND THE SERPENTINE BELT. AFTER FIXING THE PROBLEM IT OCCURRED AGAIN. I SEARCHED THE INTERNET FOR ANY INFORMATION AND FOUND ON YOUR WEBSITE THAT THERE WAS A SAFETY RECALL FOR THE YEAR TRUCK AND PROBLEM I HAVE BEEN HAVING, CURIOUS AS TO HOW TO GO ABOUT THE RECALL OR IF IT APPLYS TO ME. *NM

20070112ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

I HAVE A 89' S10 BLAZER THAT HAS HAD THE FRONT FAN DETACH, I REPLACED THE WATER PUMP AND RADIATOR (DUE TO THE FAN COMING OF IT CUT INTO THE RADIATOR) AND THE SERPENTINE BELT. AFTER FIXING THE PROBLEM IT OCCURRED AGAIN. I SEARCHED THE INTERNET FOR ANY INFORMATION AND FOUND ON YOUR WEBSITE THAT THERE WAS A SAFETY RECALL FOR THE YEAR TRUCK AND PROBLEM I HAVE BEEN HAVING, CURIOUS AS TO HOW TO GO ABOUT THE RECALL OR IF IT APPLYS TO ME. *NM

20050811TIRES:TREAD/BELT

DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THE TREAD ON DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE CAME OFF, BUT THE TIRE STAYED IN ACT. THE TRIM FOR THE WHEEL WELL TORE, AND THE EXHAUST WAS PINCHED , NEARLY CLOSED. THE TIRE WAS TAKEN TO FIRESTONE AND THEY CHECKED IT. THE MECHANIC STATED IT SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED. THEY WERE GIVEN THE CUSTOMER SERVICE NUMBER FOR FIRESTONE. FIRESTONE STATE THE TIRE HAD TO BE MAILED TO THEM TO DETERMINE WHETHER THEY WILL REPLACE IT. THERE WAS NEARLY A CRASH. THIS OCCURRED ON JULY 25, 2005. *AK THE CONSUMER NO LONGER OWNS THIS VEHICLE. *NM

20021022FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND COULD NOT MAINTAIN SPEED. WHEN THE CONSUMER PULLED OVER, HE NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED SEVERE BURN DAMAGE TO THE ENTIRE VEHICLE. *SCC (OHIO TRAFFIC POLICE REPORT)

20020521SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS

WHILE DRIVING AND APPLYING BRAKES VEHICLE VEERS TO THE RIGHT. STEERING IS LOOSE. CAN'T HOLD VEHICLE IN ROAD. PLEASE ADD VIN. *AK

20020521STEERING

WHILE DRIVING AND APPLYING BRAKES VEHICLE VEERS TO THE RIGHT. STEERING IS LOOSE. CAN'T HOLD VEHICLE IN ROAD. PLEASE ADD VIN. *AK

20020408STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)

THIS IS THE THIRD FULL SIZE BLAZER THAT I HAVE OWNED ALL 3 HAVE DONE THE SAME THING IN THE EXACT SAME SPOT WITH NO RUST OR ROT PRESENT OR PRIOR DAMAGEOR ALTICATIONS DONE TO VEHICLE THIS IS A VERY BAD SAFTEY DEFECT I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY AT 55MPH SWITCHING LANES WHEN THIS SNAPPED AND I LOST MY STEERING WHEN I GOT IT TO A SHOP THEY SAID THIS IS COMMON ON CHEVROLET BLAZERS BECAUSE THE FRAME IS TO THIN TO HANDLE THE STRESS AT THAT SPOT. *AK

20010305CrashSEATS

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED WHERE THE SEAT BROKE CAUSING CONSUMER TO JAM KNEES AGAINST THE DASHBOARD. *SLC

20010228SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE

SEAT BELT HOUSING HAS RUSTED OUT WERE ANCHOR ATTACHES TO PILLAR OF VEHICLE . IF SEAT BELT IS PULLED TOO HARD IT MIGHT BREAK. DEALR HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

20010228TIRES

B.F.GOODRICH TIRES, 33 X 1250R15LT, DOT BEP68L1297 EXPERIENCING CRACKING WHERE TREAD MEETS SIDEWALL. *SLC

20001213CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

ON THE 6TH OF DECEMBER 2000, MY S10 BLAZERS THROTLE PLATE STUCK, WIDE OPEN WHILE I WAS REARANGING THE TRUCK IN MY DRIVEWAY. IT THEN SENT ME FLYING INTO MY NEIGHBORS BACK YARD, WHERE I TOOK OUT A HEDGE ROW, A BIRD FEEDER, AND A COUPLE SMALL PINE TREES. THEN I PROCEDED INTO THE YARD BEHIND MY NEIGHBORS HOUSE, WHERE I SMASHED INTO A MEDIUM TO LARGE SIZED TREE, WHICH DID NOT STOP MY VEHICLE, OR UNSTICK THE THROTTLE. THEN MY TRUCK CONTINUED INTO THERE NEIGHBORS YARD WHERE I WAS HEADED STRAIGHT FOR THE BACK OF THERE HOUSE, SO INSTEAD OF HITTING THERE HOUSE I AIMED THE TRUCK INTO A LARGE MAPLE TREE. WHICH FINALLY STOPED THE TRUCK, AND ALSO SENT MY CHEST AND MY FACE INTO THE STEERING WHEEL, AND MY HEAD INTO THE WINDSHEILD. I SUFFERED A MINOR CONCUTION, A CRACKED STURNUM, AND 3 RIBS. ALONG WITH A FEW CUTS AND BUMPS, AND A TOTALED TRUCK!*AK

20001129CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

WIFE AND SON REPORTED BRAKES NOT WORKING. HAD CHECKED AT MAXI MUFFLER SAID NEEDED PADS AND SHOES, REPLACED THEM MYSELF AND CHECKED WHEEL CYLINDERS AND MASTER CYLINDER ALL OK. SON STILL REPORTED BRAKE LOSS. RECHECKED EVERYTHING, CHECKED OK. SON HAD ACCIDENT. REPAIR SHOP THAT IS REPAIRING BLAZER SAID PART WAS HARD TO DETECT IF NOT FAMILIAR. THEY HAD REPAIRED SEVERAL S10'S WITH SAME PROBLEM. *AK

20001129CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC

WIFE AND SON REPORTED BRAKES NOT WORKING. HAD CHECKED AT MAXI MUFFLER SAID NEEDED PADS AND SHOES, REPLACED THEM MYSELF AND CHECKED WHEEL CYLINDERS AND MASTER CYLINDER ALL OK. SON STILL REPORTED BRAKE LOSS. RECHECKED EVERYTHING, CHECKED OK. SON HAD ACCIDENT. REPAIR SHOP THAT IS REPAIRING BLAZER SAID PART WAS HARD TO DETECT IF NOT FAMILIAR. THEY HAD REPAIRED SEVERAL S10'S WITH SAME PROBLEM. *AK

20000824TIRES

JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THE CURRENT PROBLEMS WITH FIRESTONE RADIAL ATX TIRES HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE 1989. I HAD ONE COMPLETELY SELF DESTRUCT FOR NO APPARANT REASON AND THE FIRESTONE DEALER I TRIED TO WORK WITH LAUGHED AT ME AND THOUGHT THE WHOLE INCIDENT WAS FUNNY. I WENT STRAIGHT TO A B.F.GOODRICH DEALER AND HAD THE FIRESTONES REMOVED AND TRASHED. I'LL NEVER OWN ANOTHER FIRESTONE TIRE AND I TELL EVERYONE WHO WILL LISTEN ABOUT THE DANGER OF OWNING FIRESTONE TIRES. THANK YOU. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 235X75X15 )

20000419FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN THE PARK POSITION TURNED OFF FOR AROUND FIVE MINUTES, AND VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE AROUND THE DASH AREA/HEATER AND RADIO. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS, PE94-050. *AK

20000411FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

THE DIGITAL DASHBOARD WENT BLANK UPON START UP. A PUFF OF SMOKE PRECEEDED THE PROBLEM. THERE MIGHT BE A RECALL ON THIS TYPE OF INSTRUMENT CLUSTERS DUE TO FIRE. IF SO, PLEASE INFORM ME SO I CAN LET THE DEALER KNOW. *AK

19990505SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS

WHEN BRAKING THE PEDAL GOES COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR AND THE BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATES. NM

19990122SEATS

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE POST THAT THE SEAT RESTRAINT BOLT HAS RUSTED OUT. WHEN SEAT IS PUSHED FORWARD CAN SEE TO THE GROUND BECAUSE OF THE RUST. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

Compare 1989CHEVROLETBLAZER to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 2 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1989 CHEVROLET BLAZER have?
The 1989 CHEVROLET BLAZER has 47 NHTSA complaints, 10 crashes, 6 fires, 7 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1989 CHEVROLET BLAZER?
The most-complained component for the 1989 CHEVROLET BLAZER is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH with 4 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY and SEATS.
Is the 1989 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.