1992 Chevrolet Blazer Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year report braking problems more than anything else: complaints describe a low or soft pedal, longer stopping distances, and ABS warning lights that often could not be reproduced at the dealer. A smaller share of complaints cover failing windshield wipers, sudden acceleration or idle surge, and warning lights or smoke from the dash. Many of these reports date from the 1990s and early 2000s, and mileage varies widely, from under 50,000 to more than 200,000 miles.

1. 1
   Brakes

   ABS braking: soft or low pedal, longer stopping distance

   • 188 complaints (68%)
   • median 91,721 mi at 11.4 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • 39 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2022

   Owners describe the brake pedal sinking toward the floor and the vehicle taking longer than expected to stop, sometimes with the ABS warning light on, and link this to NHTSA campaign 99V193000. Several owners report the problem was hard to reproduce: dealers said no fault was found, or stated the behavior was normal, or replaced pads, rotors, the master cylinder or the ABS module. Drivers describe longer stopping on wet, gravel or icy surfaces and, in some accounts, the brakes grabbing or the front wheels locking. Reported at mileages ranging from about 43,000 to more than 214,000 miles, often described as present over a long period and in wet or low-friction conditions.

   Recall 99V193000Recall 93V119000

   What to check: Ask whether campaign 99V193000 was completed and whether the ABS module or switch has been replaced. On a test drive, check for a low pedal, an ABS light that stays on, and brake noises.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Abs light is on & has been coming on but going off ....was not aware there was a recall til a friend told me to check it after I had a wreck!!!! I now found out that the ABS might have had something to do with it...due to my wreck I am going to be seeing a doctor for my injuries .... I was going around a curve when I went to slow down a little bit ...I was going 25...& my truck slid & when I went to turn to go around the curve my truck jerked to the left & I hit a barrier, and now I am unable to drive my truck .... …”

   NHTSA complaint #10197118, filed 2007-07, 195,371 miles

   “While driving at any speed, the ABS light stayed on at all times. When the consumer had to use the brakes in an emergency situation there was not enough stopping distance to bring the vehicle to a safe stop. The manufacturer is aware of the problem.”

   NHTSA complaint #10055787, filed 2004-01, 73,000 miles
2. 2
   Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)

   Windshield wipers intermittent or not starting

   Mentioned in 7 of 60 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe wipers that do not come on right away, pause before starting, or quit working entirely while driving. The owner reports point to the wiper circuit board and its solder connections as the location of the trouble, and say the dealer could not reproduce the problem or that the relevant change did not cover this model year. Reported at mileages from about 178,000 to more than 195,000 miles, often while driving in rain or storms.

   What to check: Turn the wipers on at several speeds, including intermittent, and let them run for a few minutes. Ask whether the wiper motor or circuit board has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “02/01/2022 Windshield wiper fails to function unless the circuit board is replaced. GM refused to replace the board for 1992 vehicles even though that same board was recalled for 1994 and later vehicles. Simply said it was not part part of the recall so I had to buy a replacement myself. Was GM recall #98043 expanded to cover 1992 & 1993 year vehicles as well? ABS breaking ( or lack there of) is another matter. Upon entering my Blazer's VIN number into the NHTSA recall system, it revealed six recalls had been issued for 1992 Blazers. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11449842, filed 2022-02

   “Intermittent windshield wiper failures while driving car. Failures have occurred during thunderstorm (very dangerous). Could not reproduce failure at service garage. Recall for wipers problem for same make/model 1994-1996. I believe this should be extended to include 1992.”

   NHTSA complaint #706949, filed 1999-05
3. 3
   Vehicle speed control

   Sudden acceleration or idle surging

   • 8 complaints (3%)
   • median 97,625 mi at 12.6 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1996–2005

   Owners report the vehicle accelerating on its own, sometimes described as the pedal going to the floor while driving at highway speed or while stopped in traffic. In these accounts the brakes did not slow the vehicle, and in one complaint the driver had to shift into park to stop. Complaints describe the vehicle being taken to a dealer, with no problem located. Mileages in the sample range from about 36,000 to 159,000 miles; circumstances described include highway driving and being stopped in traffic.

   What to check: Check that the accelerator returns freely and that idle is steady when the engine is warm. Ask about any prior throttle, cable or cruise control repairs.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Consumer's vehicle was in a line of traffic stopped when the vehicle suddenly experienced sudden acceleration. This caused the vehicle to rear end another vehicle. Consumer contacted the dealer to see if this vehicle was recalled for any related failures. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but they were unable to locate a problem.”

   NHTSA complaint #10103133, filed 2005-01, 36,250 miles

   “While driving at highway speed suddenly the accelerator pedal went to the floor and vehicle accelerated at a high speed. Brakes failed to hold when they were depressed to slow the vehicle down. As a result the vehicle impacted a pole.”

   NHTSA complaint #10043999, filed 2003-10, 159,000 miles
4. 4
   Engine cooling

   Rough idle, black smoke and strong fuel smell

   • 14 complaints (5%)
   • median 115,355 mi at 11.5 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1996–2004

   Complaints describe rough idling, sluggishness, excessive fuel use, black smoke and a strong gas smell when starting, with the service engine light coming on. Owners report replacing the EGR valve, throttle sensors, oxygen sensor, plugs and wires, PCV valve and cleaning the injectors without fully resolving the rough running. A separate complaint describes fuel leaking from an injector regulator area, which the owner linked to a fire risk. Reported from about 21,000 to more than 209,000 miles, with symptoms described as recurring over time, particularly at startup.

   What to check: Start the engine cold and listen for rough idle and smell for fuel; check for black smoke and ask whether the injector assembly has been serviced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have replaced the following items on this 1992 chevy s-10 Blazer in the year and a half that I purchased it: 1.EGR valve 2.throttle control sensor 3.spark plugs and wires 4.rotor and rotor button 5.muffler system 6.pcv valve 7.fuel injector cleaned twice 8.oxygen sensor 9.lower ball joints and idler arm the first 8 items were replaced because of rough idling, smoke and sluggishness, and excessive use of gas($75.00 in a week). …”

   NHTSA complaint #10070242, filed 2004-01, 20,998 miles

   “Vehicle uses excessive amount of fuel, replaced EGR valve, throttle control sensor, oxygen sensor, cleaned fuel injector, replaced pcv valve, spark plugs, spark plug wires and still has rough idle and sometimes jerks forward when brakes are engaged. Also the service engine soon light frequently comes on reading a codes for the emissions system. Sometimes expels black smoke, and heavy smell of gas when first cranked. Could NHTSA help with this?”

   NHTSA complaint #10016541, filed 2003-04, 209,713 miles

Buying note. Give the brakes the most attention: verify whether campaign 99V193000 was completed and check pedal feel and ABS light behavior on a test drive. Also test the wipers and check that the engine idles smoothly and does not smell of fuel, since both come up repeatedly in owner reports.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.