2021 Chevrolet Blazer: What to check before buying

The temperature gauge sticks on cold, the air conditioning quits, a "Steering Assist Reduced" warning appears, and the cooling fan runs on high for minutes after shutdown. This is the dominant pattern. Owners blame the thermostat or coolant temperature sensor. Clearing codes helps briefly, and some dealers find nothing. A second group reports sudden stalls or no-starts traced to the fuel pump control module, some under 15,000 miles, which owners connect to an open recall. Fewer reports describe the dash going blank while driving or the car failing to detect its key fob.

Grinding or squealing starts almost new, often under 1,000 miles. Dealers call it normal, say a fix is still under development, or wait on backordered pads. The more serious reports describe the pedal turning rock hard at freeway speed, sometimes with a "Brake Assist" warning, or sinking to the floor with a brake system failure message. One brake booster failed after 50k miles, and one shop blamed a weak battery for a loss of braking. Some parking brakes also refuse to release or engage on their own.

"Steering Assist Is Reduced" warnings make up most reports, usually together with a dead temperature gauge, codes such as P0128, and a fan that keeps running after shutdown. That points back to the coolant temperature fault, not the steering itself. A smaller group describes real power steering failure: the wheel stiffens or locks while driving, with rack or steering gear replacement and parts unavailable at low mileage. One crash with an injury involved the wheel pulling hard into the median at highway speed with no warning light.

Cracked or leaking radiators are the main complaint. Most turn up during routine oil changes with no warning light, sometimes after the coolant has nearly drained. Several cars need a second radiator within a couple of years, and one out-of-warranty estimate ran roughly $2000. A low or failing radiator can also trigger the steering assist warning and the fan running after shutdown. Separate reports describe the engine dying at highway speed from fuel pump faults that return after repair, plus a failed purge pump.

Transmission failures show up at higher mileage, around 82,000 to 84,000 miles. Symptoms include jerking, a roaring noise with metal in the fluid, and sudden loss of drive at highway speed while the engine revs as if in neutral. Several ended in full transmission replacement, and some cars shuddered from a stop to 40 mph beforehand. Other reports cover a throttle body failure near 55,000 miles that caused reduced-power mode, stalls during low-speed left turns, fuel pump failure, and the same radiator and thermostat faults seen elsewhere.

The engine shuts off while driving, often at highway speed and usually with no warning, then refuses to restart. Mechanics and dealers trace most cases to the fuel pump power control module. One owner says a September 2025 recall covers this repair. Loss of power can take steering and brake assist with it, and one stall in a parking lot ended in a crash. Cars sit while parts are backordered. One report describes a transmission valve body failure on the freeway, with a replacement part delayed for months.

Factory Continental CrossContact LX Sport tires wear out early, often by 14,000 to 20,000 miles. Wear runs from the inside out and leaves the tread bald on all four corners. Symptoms include the rear swaying on snow, loss of traction at low speed, slow leaks, and one freeway blowout. Dealers recommend full replacement. At least one owner was told the car was not included in the related tire recall campaign, so the cost fell on the owner.

The vehicle pulls to one side, and stability or driver-assist warnings appear without a clear cause. One crash with an injury involved a rollover after the stability control display came on and the rear wheel swung out. Other reports pair the pulling with electronic faults: a front camera that drops out and disables collision alerts, a stuck outside temperature reading that puts the car in ice and snow mode, and a loss of communication found by a mechanic.