Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1988 Chevrolet Blazer, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Seat belts12
- Engine and engine cooling7
- Electrical system5
- Steering4
- Seats3
- Tires2
- Power train2
- Service brakes, hydraulic2
- Latches/locks/linkages1
- Fuel system, gasoline1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 3 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 3 1988 Blazer vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 1 person died inside them. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1988 Chevrolet Blazer failed the safety check 0.43% of the time — 58% less often than the average 1988 passenger car (1.01%). Median odometer at inspection: 63,338 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In New Zealand
3 1988 cars are on the New Zealand register; 100% arrived as used imports, 0% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Recalls
SEVERE CORROSION DUE TO ROAD SALT AT THE JOINT OF THE STAMPED STEEL CENTER SECTION AND THE CAST OUTER SECTION CAN CAUSE THE SECTIONS TO SEPARATE.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Chevrolet told its dealers about the 1988 Chevrolet Blazer: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 41076 | WATER LEAK AT THE A/C RECIRCULATION DOOR (INSTALL NEW HOOD HINGE SEAL). *TW |
| 41072 | END GATE LATCH RATTLE (INSTALL REVISED STRIKER). *TW |
| 39431 | FRONT DOOR SIDE GLASS BINDING/TRACK DISENGAGEMENT. *TW |
| 10007838 | DIAGNOSTIC INFORMATION FOR INTERMITTENT TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFT, SLIP, BUSY/CYCLING TCC OR NOISY COOLING FAN. *TT |
| 10006961 | POP SNAP NOISE IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION WHEN BRAKING. *MR |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
STEERING DAMPER SEPARATION
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation