The 2001 Chevrolet Blazer has no open NHTSA recalls. Owners report 8 recurring issue clusters, led by “Brake light multifunction switch failure.” Chevrolet vehicles use the GM Oil Life System (OLS) — a percentage-based monitor that calculates oil life from driving conditions, not fixed mileage. When the OLS drops to 0%, oil and filter are due. The schedule below reflects GM's Normal Use intervals for everything else.
No open recalls on file. NHTSA lists no unrepaired safety recalls for this year, make and model. A recall can be issued at any time, and a specific car can still have one open — check yours by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2001 Chevrolet Blazer.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
38 NHTSA complaints · 2003-07 → 2019-05
“MY HAZARDS AND BRAKE LIGHTS DON'T TURN ON”
“MY 2001 BLAZER'S BRAKE LIGHTS STOPPED WORKING DURING A RECENT DRIVE, AND ANOTHER DRIVER WAS KIND ENOUGH TO POINT THIS OUT AT A STOPLIGHT”
“MY VEHICLE HAS THE EXACT SYMPTOMS OF A KNOW SAFETY DEFECT THAT BUT CHEVROLET TELLS ME THAT BECAUSE OF THE VIN NUMBER OF MY VEHICLE IT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL”
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
17 NHTSA complaints · 2003-08 → 2015-02
“ABS SYSTEM KICKS IN AT VERY LOW SPEED AND OVERRIDES NORMAL BRAKING”
“UNWANTED ABS ACTIVATION AND EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE DURING LOW-SPEED BREAKING ON MY S-10 2001 BLAZER. THE PROBLEM OCCURS NUMEROUS TIMES A DAY ON A DAILY BASIS”
“ABOUT ONCE A FEW WEEKS, MY ABS WILL ACTIVATE WHEN IT IS NOT SUPPOSED TO”
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
8 NHTSA complaints · 2003-07 → 2006-02
“2001 CHEVROLET BLAZER 2WD, 2DR. PROBLEM WITH BRAKES, WENT TO AUTO SHOP AND BRAKE CONDITION WAS EXPLAINED AS "HAZARDOUS"”
“ON THE 10 OF JULY I TOOK MY 2001 CHEVY BLAZER IN FOR ROUTINE BRAKE SERVICE, I WAS THEN TOLD BY MY MECHANIC(SATCH WHITT) THAT I HAD 4 DEFECTIVE ROTORS THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, THAT THEY APPEARED TO BE DEFECTIVE”
“BRAKE ROTORS FLAKING AND REQUIRING REPLACEMENT WITH LESS THAN 32000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE”
POWER TRAIN
19 NHTSA complaints · 2003-05 → 2016-12
“TRANSMISSION REVERSE GEAR FAILED. NEEDS A COMPLETE TEARDOWN AND REBUILD”
“TRANSFER CASE HAS FAILED 3 TIMES, AND EACH TIME IT WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER”
“MY 2001 CHEVY BLAZER CHANGES FROM 2WH TO 4 WHEEL DRIVE AUTOMATICALLY WHILE THE VEHICLE IS MOVING”
SUSPENSION
14 NHTSA complaints · 2003-05 → 2007-05
“TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET BLAZER. WHILE DRIVING THE UPPER BALL JOINT SNAPPED AND THE WHEEL COLLAPSED SIDEWAYS, LEANING TOWARDS THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE, BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO TRAVEL AT 70 MPH”
“BOTH FRONT WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLY FAILED AT THE SAME TIME”
“I OWN A 2001 CHEVROLET 2DR 2WHEEL DRIVE BLAZER. THE WHEEL BEARINGS AND SPINDLE / PARTS HAVE ALREADY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ON BOTH SIDES/FRONT”
STRUCTURE
9 NHTSA complaints · 2004-01 → 2015-02
“BOTH FRONT DOORS STRIKERS ARE BROKEN OFF OF THE FRAME”
“THERE WAS NO EVENTS LEADING UP TO THIS FAILURE... THE PROBLEM IS THE BODY FRAME AROUND THE STRIKER PLATE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR, IS RIPPING APART”
“2001 CHEVY BLAZER 4 DOOR 4WD, 80,000 MILES WE COULD NOT KEEP THE DRIVERS DOOR CLOSED WHEN WE INVESTIGATED WE FOUND THE DOOR LATCH SEGMENT ON THE CENTER POST OF THE VEHICLE HAD BROKEN OFF THE CENTER POST”
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
15 NHTSA complaints · 2003-10 → 2021-06
“FUEL GAUGE FLUCTUATES BETWEEN EMPTY AND 1/3 FULL WITHOUT WARNING”
“GAS GAUGE FUTTERING, ENGINE SERVICE LIGHT CAR STALLED GAS PUMP WENT”
“The contact's girlfriend owns a 2001 Chevrolet Blazer. The contact stated that fuel was leaking from the top of the fuel tank”
AIR BAGS
12 NHTSA complaints · 2004-03 → 2015-09
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET BLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE SIDE OF ANOTHER VEHICLE”
“WHILE DRIVING TO WORK ON US 23 SOUTH BOUND, A LADY IN FRONT OF ME SLAMMED ON HER BRAKES WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH”
“2001 CHEVROLET BLAZER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO IGNITION SWITCH RECALL ISSUES ALSO AIRBAGS AND SEAT BELTS MALFUNCTION DURING ACCIDENT”
Issues on other model years
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 20, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 20, 2026.
We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.
Critical for safety and preventing major damage
Change oil when the Oil Life System reaches 0% or every 12 months — whichever comes first. dexos1-approved synthetic oil required on all gas engines since 2011.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$120–$160
Shop
~$85–$115
DIY
~$25–$55
Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.
Rotate tires every 7,500 miles. Silverado 4x4 and Tahoe owners benefit from earlier rotations to even out drivetrain wear.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$85
Shop
~$60
DIY
Free
Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.
Inspect brake pads, rotors, and parking brake at each tire rotation. Equinox and Malibu front pads typically last 40,000-50,000 miles.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$85
Shop
~$60
DIY
Free
Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.
GM specifies brake fluid replacement based on contamination testing. Test every 30,000 miles; replace if moisture content exceeds 3% or fluid appears dark.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$180–$200
Shop
~$125–$140
DIY
~$10–$25
DOT 3 or 4 — match the cap. Vacuum bleeders make this a one-person DIY.
Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently
GM long-life cellulose air filters are rated 45,000 miles. Direct-injection engines are sensitive to airflow restriction; inspect at every oil change.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$60–$95
Shop
~$45–$70
DIY
~$15–$40
5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.
Severe service (heavy towing, frequent stop-and-go, dusty conditions): replace every 45,000 miles. Normal service: 97,500 miles. Use Dexron-VI on 6L80/8L90 transmissions.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$330–$500
Shop
~$235–$355
DIY
~$60–$180
Some sealed transmissions have no dipstick — fill is precise and best left to a shop. Many drivers can still DIY drain-and-fill.
On 4WD models, replace transfer case fluid every 45,000 miles — sooner if towing or off-roading. Use GM Auto-Trak II fluid.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$105–$140
Shop
~$75–$100
DIY
~$15–$40
AWD/4WD vehicles only. Easy drain-and-fill on most platforms.
GM iridium spark plugs are rated 100,000 miles on most LS and LT engines. The 5.3L V8 in Silverado 1500 commonly fouls plugs early under heavy idling.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$285–$390
Shop
~$200–$275
DIY
~$25–$100
Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.
GM Dex-Cool (orange): first change at 150,000 miles or 5 years, then every 50,000 miles. Mixing with green coolant creates a sludge that destroys the cooling system.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$285–$330
Shop
~$200–$235
DIY
~$25–$60
Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.
Silverado and Tahoe: replace rear axle fluid every 50,000 miles, or 25,000 miles if towing. Limited-slip differentials require GM friction-modifier additive.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$150–$195
Shop
~$105–$135
DIY
~$20–$50
Drain plug + fill plug — straightforward DIY. AWD vehicles have two; budget for both.
Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort
Replace the cabin air filter every 22,500 miles. Silverado and Tahoe owners in dusty climates should replace earlier.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$60–$95
Shop
~$45–$70
DIY
~$15–$40
Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.
Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)
No occupant deaths in FARS 1990–2024 crashes are on record for this year and model. That is the census answer for the window, and it says nothing more than that.
Crash years covered: 1990–2024 Older models have had more years on the road to appear in these crashes, so a higher count here does not by itself mean a vehicle is less safe.
FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number
FARS 2024 data is an annual report file. NHTSA revises these records when the final file is published, so this count can change.
Owner-reported problem signals
Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.
36
complaints mentioning a crash
5
complaints mentioning a fire
Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.
How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.
This maintenance schedule for the 2001 Chevrolet Blazer reflects Chevrolet's published service intervals and the Oil Life System system. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.