Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 259 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002 Chevrolet Blazer, and it carries 2 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Exterior lighting | 46 | 18% |
| Power train | 27 | 10% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 16 | 6% |
| Electrical system | 15 | 6% |
| Air bags | 13 | 5% |
| Visibility | 13 | 5% |
| Fuel system | 12 | 5% |
| Steering | 12 | 5% |
| Service brakes | 11 | 4% |
| Suspension | 10 | 4% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
The Blazer is showing many codes in the ECM, even though it seems to be running properly. The codes include: p0171, p0174, p0101, p0128, p0155, p0300, p1870, p0128, p0155. The dash recently showed warning lights for park
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
MY BRAKE LIGHTS WENT OUT. THE THIRD BRAKE LIGHT. AS I OWED A 2001 GMC JIMMY THAT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM THAT WAS COVERED UNDER A RECALL I KNEW THAT THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH IN THE STEERING COLUMN WAS THE PROBLEM. I WENT TO
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET BLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR HINGE FAILED TO CLOSE, AN ABNORMAL HUMMING NOISE WAS DETECTED, THE VEHICLE ROCKED, AND A TIRE BLEW OUT. IN ADDITION, THE ABS, A
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET BLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DUE TO THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR BEING ILLUMINATED, THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO PASS INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEAL
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET BLAZER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY OR WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE BRAKE LIGHTS MALFUNCTIONED. BOTH BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE EVEN AFTER REPLACEMENTS WERE MADE. TH
NHTSA complaint: Exterior lighting
2002 CHEVROLET BLAZER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE FLEX PLATE ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE FLEX PLATE HAD TO BE REPLACED TWICE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. UPDA
NHTSA complaint: Power train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET BLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HIS SISTER WAS DRIVING AT 20 MPH, THE ENGINE COOLING FAN EXPLODED AND THERE WAS SMOKE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS DRI
NHTSA complaint: Engine
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET BLAZER. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE LOW FUEL AND SECURITY WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPL
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2002 Chevrolet Blazer. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING 5,862 MY 2000-2002 CHEVROLET BLAZER, MY 2000-2001 GMC JIMMY, AND MY 2000 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH COULD DEVELOP AN OPEN CIRCUIT CONDITION THAT RESULTS IN THE STOP LAMPS AND THE REAR HAZARD LAMPS BECOMING INOPERATIVE. THE CENTER
Risk: THE LOSS OF STOP LAMPS AND REAR HAZARD LAMPS COULD FAIL TO WARN A FOLLOWING DRIVER THAT THE VEHICLE IS BRAKING AND/OR IS STOPPED AND COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HAZARD SWITCH CARRIER. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 17, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537, OR THROUGH
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH COULD DEVELOP AN OPEN CIRCUIT CONDITION THAT RESULTS IN THE STOP LAMPS AND THE REAR HAZARD LAMPS BECOMING INOPERATIVE. THE CENTER HIGH MOUNTED STOP LAMP AND TURN SIGNAL FUNCTIONS ARE NOT AFFECTED.
Risk: THE LOSS OF STOP LAMPS AND REAR HAZARD LAMPS COULD FAIL TO WARN A FOLLOWING DRIVER THAT THE VEHICLE IS BRAKING AND/OR IS STOPPED AND COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HAZARD SWITCH CARRIER. OWNER NOTIFICATION WILL BE CONDUCTED IN TWO PHASES. THE FIRST PHASE BEGAN APRIL 15, 2002, WITH MAILINGS TO OWNERS OF 2000 AND EARLY 2001 VEHICLES. TH
| Reliability raw | 70 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 74 | good |
| Maintenance | 70 | good |
| Depreciation | 92 | excellent |
| Performance | 67 | good |
| Efficiency | 31 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other SUVs in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 259 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and exterior lighting is the most reported area with 46 of them (18%). There are 2 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 70/100 (good) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 74/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2002 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 70/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.