Total Complaints
42 filings
CHEVROLET BLAZER · model year
1990 CHEVROLET BLAZER
42 NHTSA complaints, 4 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1990CHEVROLETBLAZER carries 42 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 4 crashes, 7 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 1990 BLAZER is service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip with 7 filings, followed by seats (3) and engine and engine cooling:engine (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 1990 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.
42
Complaints
4
Crashes
7
Fires
7
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
4 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 |
|---|---|
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 7 |
| SEATS | 3 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 3 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING | 2 |
| SEAT BELTS | 2 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 2 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 1 |
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR | 1 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:CONSTANT VELOCITY JOINT | 1 |
| VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM | 1 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20020122FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
CONSUMER PULLED VEHICLE IN DRIVEWAY AND THERE WAS BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH HOOD AND THE DASHBOARD. FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED OUT TO PUT FIRE OUT. *AK
20010406ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE ENGINE TROUBLE, THE DRIVER PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER, THE VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING THEN BECAME ENGULFED IN FLAMES (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). NLM
20010406FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
POSSIBLE ENGINE FAILURE RESULTED IN ENGINE FIRE (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). *MJS
20010330SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHEN APPLYING BRAKES PEDAL GOES TO FLOOR, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
20001115SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
WANT TO KNOW IF THERE ARE ANY RECALLS ON THIS BLAZER. *AK
20000906UNKNOWN OR OTHER
PAINT IS BUBBLING AND PEELING OFF, EXPOSING PRIMER UNDERNEATH IN VARIOUS LOCATIONS ON THE VEHICLE.
20000905SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
SEATBELT BUCKLE JAMMED INTO SEAT HANDLE RECESS AND CANNOT EXTRACATE; BELIEVE THIS IS DESIGN DEFECT, BUCKLE SHOULD BE LARGER TO AVOID FITTING INTO SEAT LOCK RECESS. CANNOT USE SAFETY BELT, CANNOT RAISE/LOWER SEAT.
20000901SEAT BELTS
PASSENGER SIDE AND DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBELT MOUNTING RUSTED OUT. WHILE TRYING TO FASTEN SEATBELT ENTIRE BELT POPPED OUT/.LOOSENED CONSUMER CAN'T FASTEN SEATBELT. *AK
20000620CrashTIRES:TREAD/BELT
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 70MPH THERE WAS A LOUD THUMBING NOISE UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. TIRE TREAD WAS OFF, AND VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING ON THE RIM. CONSUMER'S NINE YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS THROWN FROM THE VEHICLE. *AK
20000205UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE PAINT ON THE HOOD AND ROOF OF VEHICLE HAS TURNED WHITE AND DISCOLORED. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK
19991004FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IT CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE DASH DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. *AK
19990830SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ONGOING/INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH ABS LOCKING UP WHILE APPLYING BRAKE PEDAL. DEALER/MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. *AK
19990812FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
CONSUMER STATES THAT GMC INSTALLED A MOTOR IN TRUCK. WHEN CONSUMER WENT TO START VEHICLE, TRUCK BURST INTO FLAMES, INJURYING SEVERAL PEOPLE. *AK
19990812FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
GMC INSTALLED A MOTOR. UPON STARTING VEHICLE, IT BURST INTO FLAMES, INJURING SEVERAL PEOPLE. *AK
19990325SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
DEFECTIVE ABS IS CAUSING LOSS OF BACK BRAKES WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER HAS REPLACED DUMP VALVES 5 TIMES, DEFECT IS STILL REOCCURRING. *AK
19990305FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
WHILE DRIVING HEARD THINGS UNDER THE HOOD MAKING NOISE. PULLED OVER AND OPENED HOOD, AND THERE WAS A FIRE UNDERNEATH. CALLED THE POLICE, BUT THE FIRE WAS THEN PUT OUT. *AK
19980203CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHILE DRIVING HOME IN A HEAVY RAIN STORM CAME TO A STOP AT TOP OF STEEP HILL, GETNLY TEPPED THE BRAKES, BRAKES FAILED TO STOP VEHICLE. VEHICLE SLID INTO THE BACK OF A TRUCK, CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE. *AK
19971029CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING APPROX. 15 MPH WHEN HE PRESSED THE BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN FOR VEHICLE IN FRONT MAKING A TURN, AND THE BRAKES FAILED. CONSUMER CRASHED INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF HIM, THEN HE WAS HIT FROM BEHIND DURING THE SAME CRASH. THERE WAS DRIZZLES OF RAIN AT TIME OF INCIDENT. CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED BRAKE FAILURE MORE THAN FIVE TIMES. *AK
19970827SUSPENSION:FRONT
VEHICLE DEVELOPED SEVERE DRIVEABILITY PROBLEMS, INCLUDIN GPULLING AND DRIFTING TO LEFT AND RIGHT. ALSO, PREMATURE TIRE WEAR. *AK
19970807SEATS
WHEN APPLYING BRAKES, NOTICED SEATS MOVE DUE TO LOOSENESS. THE BOLTS WERE TIGHTENED. CHECKED UNDERNEATH & NOTICED MOUNTING PLATE METAL FOR SEAT WAS RUSTY & HAD CORRODED AWAY. HAVE NOT TAKEN TO DEALER. *AK
Compare 1990CHEVROLETBLAZER 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 1990 CHEVROLET BLAZER have?▼
The 1990 CHEVROLET BLAZER has 42 NHTSA complaints, 4 crashes, 7 fires, 7 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1990 CHEVROLET BLAZER?▼
The most-complained component for the 1990 CHEVROLET BLAZER is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP with 7 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SEATS and ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE.
Is the 1990 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.