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2002 Chevrolet Blazer Recalls, Problems & Maintenance

The 2002 Chevrolet Blazer has no open NHTSA recalls. Owners report 8 recurring issue clusters, led by “Brake and hazard light failure, multifunction switch.” 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.

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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.

Known issues & problems for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2002 Chevrolet Blazer.

Reported to NHTSA

Brake and hazard light failure, multifunction switch

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

54 NHTSA complaints · 2003-10 → 2020-03

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET BLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HAZARD AND BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10513095
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET BLAZER. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE ON HER VEHICLE. SHE ATTEMPTED TO USE HER FLASHERS TO ALERT OTHER MOTORISTS WHEN SHE WAS CHANGING LANES; HOWEVER, THE HAZARD LIGHTS WERE ALSO INOPERABLE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10274013
“1) REAR BRAKE LIGHTS AND SAFTEY HAZZARD LIGHTS FAIL DO TO AN OPEN CIRCUIT CAUSED BY SWITCH MALFUNCTION 2) REAR BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT OPERATE AND NO MALFUNCTION IS DISPLAYED ON INSTRUMENTATION DISPLAY”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10088477

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Fuel gauge fluctuating or inaccurate readings

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

5 NHTSA complaints · 2003-04 → 2014-11

“FUEL GAUGE JUMPS FROM FULL TO EMPTY ALL THE TIME REGARDLESS HOW MUCH FUEL IS IN THE TANK - MAKING THE GAUGE USELESS FOR DISPLAYING THE AMOUNT OF GAS IN THE TANK (SAME THING HAPPENS ON MY 2001 BLAZER). *TR”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10399381
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET BLAZER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH THE CONTACT NOTICED THE FUEL GAUGE READING FLUCTUATING. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE ACCURATE FUEL AMOUNT THAT WAS IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10398573
“FLUCTUATING FUEL GAUGE AND ERRONEOUS READINGS ON QUANTITY. REPAIRED 6 TIMES SINCE 01/03. SINCE REPAIR TO PCM, GAUGE NOW ONLY BOUNCES IN PARK AND NEUTRAL BUT LOCKS ON WHEREVER NEEDLE IS WHEN PUT IN GEAR TO SHOW THAT AMOUNT OF FUEL”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10102392

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Front wheel bearing and hub failure

SUSPENSION

9 NHTSA complaints · 2004-10 → 2011-04

“THE WHEEL BEARINGS ON MY 2002 2-DOOR CHEVY BLAZER WENT AT JUST UNDER 54,000 MILES. BOTH FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS HAD TO BE REPLACED. IT WAS SUGGESTED THAT I REPORT THIS BECAUSE THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN TO A VEHICLE WITH SO LITTLE MILEAGE.*JB”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10197063
“FRONT WHEEL BEARING FAILURE AFTER ONLY 48,000 MILES OF NORMAL USE. REPLACED BEARINGS MYSELF TO THE COST OF $300. I HAVE SAVED THE OLD PARTS. I'LL NEVER BUY ANOTHER GM VEHICLE AGAIN! *NM”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10153099
“FRONT WHEEL HUBS WEARING OUT AT 40,000 MILES, RESULTING IN LOSS OF VEHICLE USE AND 1,000 DOLLAR REPAIR BILL AFTER SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE FRONT END TO THE DEALER BEFORE WARRANTY RAN OUT. *JB”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10110455

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Automatic transmission shifting and gear failures

POWER TRAIN

9 NHTSA complaints · 2003-03 → 2006-01

“NO WARNING SIGNS. JUST PUT MY 2002 BLAZER IN REVERSE, HEARD A LOUD POP. WASN'T SURE WHAT HAPPENED, SO I GOT OUT ON THE ROAD AND COULDN'T ACCELERATE FAST ENOUGH UP A HILL AND ALMOST GOT REARENDED BY A CAR GOING 60-65 MPH”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10128723
“CONSUMER WAS HAVING A PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE JUMPING OUT OF GEAR INTO NEUTRAL WHILE DRIVING. THIS HAPPENED ABOUT 8 TIMES. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE REPAIR SHOP 3 TIMES AND WAS TOLD BY A CHEVROLET REPRESENTATIVE THAT THEY HAD NO ANSWER FOR THIS BEHAVIOR NOR A SOLUTION”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10039703
“WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DOESN'T SHIFT PROPERLY FROM THE FIRST TO SECOND GEAR. DEALER HAS INSPECTED EIGHT TIMES AND WASN'T AVAILABLE TO DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *PH”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10031749

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Windshield wiper malfunction

VISIBILITY

6 NHTSA complaints · 2003-03 → 2004-07

“INTERMITTENT WIPERS STOP WORKING. SOMETIMES THEY LIKE AD, MEANING: ONE WIPE, PAUSE, 2 WIPES, PAUSE, 3 WIPES, PAUSE, 4 WIPES, PAUSE, THE BACK TO 2 WIPES AND COUNTS BACK UP. MY THEORY IS MAYBE A CAPACITOR(S) HAVE GONE BAD?*AK”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10080613
“WINDSHIELD WIPER ARM LOOSE. WIPERS WILL NOT OPERATE. FLAWED DESIGN, IN MY OPINION. NUT LOOSE, HAD TIGHTENED. WIPERS WORK. ON GOING PROBLEM.*AK”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10064244
“INTERMITTENTLY WINDSHIELD WIPERS BECOME INOPERABLE, OBSTRUCTING THE DRIVERS VIEW. DEALER REPLACED SENSOR MODULE AND STILL PROBLEM RECURRING. CURRENTLY, VEHICLE IS WITHOUT WARRANTY. *AK”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10024347

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Door hinge and latch failure

STRUCTURE

5 NHTSA complaints · 2004-04 → 2019-11

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET BLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR OPENED INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE BRACKET WAS INOPERATIVE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10575408
“2002 S-10 BLAZER 4WD CONCERN FIRST LET ME SAY I HAVE NOT CHANGED THE DRIVERS DOOR PINS AND BUSHINGS EVEN THROUGH I KNEW THEY WERE BAD. THE DOOR CLOSES AND LOCKS ON THE DOOR STRIKER THAN MOUNTS TO THE VEHICLE SIDE POST”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10293717
“A FEW WEEKS AGO DRIVING HOME FROM WORK IN A 2002 CHEVROLET BLAZER, AND COMING AROUND CORNER THE DOOR HOOK AND CAUSED THE DOOR TO OPEN”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10119497

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Front air bags not deploying in collision

AIR BAGS

7 NHTSA complaints · 2003-02 → 2011-05

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET BLAZER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, AND CRASHED INTO AN UNOCCUPIED PARKED VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS WOULD NOT DEPLOY WITH THE LEVEL OF IMPACT IN THE CRASH”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10347200
“THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION AND THE FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUFFERED NECK AND BACK INJURIES. THE FRONT PASSENGER SUFFERED CHEST INJURIES. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10048587
“CONSUMER STATES "LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE WHILE TRYING AVOID HITTING ANOTHER CAR. VEHICLEL FLIPPED 7 TIMES BEFORE LANDING IN A DITCH. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *AK”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10026492

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Fuel pump failure with stalling or no-start

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

6 NHTSA complaints · 2006-07 → 2017-04

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET BLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THE FUEL PUMP WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10485401
“99 - S-10 CHEVY TRUCK AND 02 CHEVY BLAZER: FUEL PUMP QUITS WHILE IN MOTION ON FREEWAY. A SAFETY ISSUE LUCKILY WAS ABLE TO STEER ON SHOULDER WITHOUT ANY ACCIDENT. TRUCK TOWED AND FUEL PUMP SYSTEM REPLACED, A COSTLY EXPENSE. *TR”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10316965
“VEHICLE WAS ORIGINALLY PURCHASED 10/08/12 FROM CAR WORLD, 3400 NORTH ORACLE ROAD, TUCSON, ARIZONA, 85706. BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE STARTING AND STALLING PROBLEMS IN FIRST WEEK OF JANUARY 2013. I TOOK BLAZER TO H & M AUTO, 138 SOUTH VETERANS BLVD, 85713, TUCSON, ARIZONA”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10641888

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

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.

Raw data + downloads for this vehicle →

Essential maintenance

Critical for safety and preventing major damage

Engine Oil & Filter (per Oil Life System)

Every 7,500 mi

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.

Tire Rotation

Every 7,500 mi

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.

Brake Inspection

Every 7,500 mi

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.

Brake Fluid

Every 45,000 mi

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.

Important maintenance

Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently

Engine Air Filter

Every 45,000 mi

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.

Automatic Transmission Fluid

Every 45,000 mi

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.

Transfer Case Fluid (4WD)

Every 45,000 mi

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.

Spark Plugs

Every 100,000 mi

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.

Dex-Cool Engine Coolant

Every 50,000 mi

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.

Rear Differential Fluid

Every 50,000 mi

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.

Recommended maintenance

Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort

Cabin Air Filter

Every 22,500 mi

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.

Fatal crash history & reported problems

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.

16

complaints mentioning a crash

6

complaints mentioning a fire

Reviewed known issues for this vehicle

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 2002 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.

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