Front Seat Recliner Problems of Chevrolet Blazer - part 2

After parking my 1998 Blazer and opening the door to get out of the vehicle, the driver's side seat back adjuster lever just fell off. I very rarely ever adjust the seat back.

See all problems of the 1998 Chevrolet Blazer 🔎.

Seat back adjustment lever snapped off with normal use. Although the adjustment lever is seldom used, the metal shaft failed and the handle came off in the driver's hand.

The handle on the front seat broke.

See all problems of the 1999 Chevrolet Blazer 🔎.

Plastic lever to recline passenger seat broke off.

See all problems of the 2000 Chevrolet Blazer 🔎.

The metal part of the driver's side seat recliner broke while trying to adjust the seat.

Front bucket seat release piece has come off once on both front seats, already off for second time for driver side (and not that I use it that much either!). Cannot move the location of the back of the front seat, making sitting straight up very tiring and aggravating for driving!.

Driver's seat handle sheared off during use due to component manufacturing of soft metal.

Consumer advised that the driver' seat recliner handle has broken three times. When the handle breaks, consumer is unable to properly adjust seating position. Ts.

This has been a chronic problem since 1999 with this vehicle. It is clearly a design problem with the part ( the shaft that the adjustment handle is attached to) and poor quality of materials, mr. Castinas service manager advises that while there have been service bulletins on the problem that the total part was redesigned about a year ago and that they have been putting in the revised part ever since though the revised part has broken again (installed 12/01) on the drivers side. This is the 4th replacement on the drivers side, once on the passengers side. This is the 5 th repair to this part. This is the shaft and lever that is on the side of the seat and adjust the front to back tilt on the seat. Each time it has sheared off the shaft where the collored handle fits on the shaft where a screw fits into a notched part of the shaft. The shaft at the handle is descending in size as it fits into a metal collor on the plastic handle. Iam skeptical based on my experience that this fourth repair on the drivers side will finally remedy this problem. There has been no abuse by me or others to this part. Indeed it has rarely been used and has broken twice in my wife's hand and once in a child's hand. While this has not happened I am concerned that if there is design defect to the operation of the shaft that there is potential for the seat to flop back into a reclining position while the driver is driving.

Seat handles to recline front seats broke off on both passenger and driver seats.

The lever controlling reclining seat broke off when the consumer applied a little pressure. The consumer stated that the shaft on which the lever was mounted was not a strong metal. Consumer adds when the lever broke after using it for the first time, the lever had been worn or lack lubrication. Manufacturer notified.

Both the driver and passenger recliner handles where broken. One broke without being used or touched.

Front seat handle snapped, and consumer is unable to recline seat for adjustment. Cause unknown. Dealer notified.

Consumer was reclining seat and seat latch lever broke off in hand. Dealer was notified. Please probide more information.

I have a 1999 Blazer on which both handles for the recliner seats in the front broke off after just 30,000. My wife drives the Blazer . . . I drive a suburban. I am just amazed at the inferior quality of the metal used, and it's understandable that the metal would have broken by anyone. My wife is petite and there's no way she did anything beyond what a normal person would do in adjusting their seats. What further amazes me is pulling up the internet site and seeing the huge number of complaints regarding the same issue. It appears that the only way to get anyone's attention is to contact an attorney friend of mine here locally who successfully caused one auto company to repaint thousands of vehicles several years ago because the manufacturer just wouldn't response to a lot of customer complaints. At a price in excess of $300 to repair or replace with the same quality metal, and the fact that I just printed 15 complaints from just one internet site, there may actually be thousands similar situations which would make for an interesting class-action suit, particularly with the punitive damages tacked on. And this case would be clearly straight forward . . . That metal rods shouldn't break in an auto that's less then four years old. How do consumers get satisfaction without trying to consolidate and have class-action suits filed. Obviously, the customer complained who had the same issue had absolutely no success in dealing with the manufacturer or their representatives. Is this the only alternative we have - class-action lawsuits?.

There was a recall for this exact problem in chevy trucks in 1996. . . Please see NHTSA campaign id number 96e010000 for the exact problem. The seat recliner to seat frame attaching bolts fractured which has resulted in the passenger seat reclining at all times. Nlm.

Consumer states that the seat latch handle has broke off and is unable to sit seat in proper position.

Seatback collapsed as consumer was driving 20-25mph. There was a ratchet noise, and seat reclined, making it very hard to drive. The dealer was contacted. Provide more information please.

See all problems of the 1997 Chevrolet Blazer 🔎.

Consumer states that the levers on the front two seats broke. This has been happening since 2001. The owner contacted the dealer and the manufacturer. The manufacturer told the owner to keep replacing the levers with the same identical part with what they provided. Afterwards, the dealership replaced the levers. They kept breaking. Owner decided to go to an independent repair shop were the levers were made out of metal and were lasting . They have not broken since the owner changed the levers to metal. Currently, the owner was going to have to replace the lever on the other seat which would cost $113. 52. The owner stated that there should be a recall, that they replace the lever with real metal instead of flimsy metal, and the manufacturers should reimburse the consumer.

1-recline handles on the front seats 2-back wiper don't work 3-window cleaner leaks on the rear window 4-replaced front suspension lower and/or upper ball joints twice in 1 year (mechanic told me that they see this all the time) 5-rear window latch won't open.

Driver and passenger seat recliner handle broke off within two days of each other. Can not adjust seat back to proper/safe driving position. Seat continues to recline backwards making it un-safe to drive. Contacted dealer while under warranty. They would not fix without charges. Have found numerous defects on this condition posted on the bullitin boards and provided the dealer with this and they still would not fix the problems without charging me. I should not have to pay to get this fixed when there is an apparent defect in this product. Dt.

Recliner seat handle on both driver's side and passenger's side broke without accessive force. Had them replaced. They broke again.

The handles for the front seat recliners break without warning. It appears they are make of pot metal. Dealers will not replace, saying it's wear and tear, even though when first reported it was in warranty. Seats can now recline without warning.

Seat handle/adjuster snapped off while trying to adjust seat. It had been difficult to use ever since I got it, and very rarely could I actually get the seat to recline. I have never experienced a problem such as this ever before in any of my other vehicles, and it is extremely frustrating that I can't get a straight answer from anyone about this.

Driver's seat failed to lock in place. Would move whenever braking or accelerating. Taken to dealer, and informed by mechanic a bolt in seat had come loose, and it would need to be retightened.

Driver's seat recliner lever broke , excessive play in steering (steering gear shot).

I had the front recliner fixed and at a later date had the passenger side front recliner fixed. Now 22 months later the driver side front recliner is broken again. I am not rough with my seats and I think that this is rediculous that these keep breaking. The cost to get these fixed is around 140. 00 each. I don't think that I will ever buy another chevy product again. I don't beleive that this should be something that I should have to fix every 2 years.

The metal shafts on the manual front seat recliners have broken three times. The first on drivers side was under warranty. The next time on drivers side is not, as well as the third on the passenger side. The estimated repair cost is $134. 50 for each seat. I contacted Chevrolet who told me they would need a diagnosis from dealership, and then might not be able to "help" with problem. I contacted dealerships by phone and was told they have had the problem with the seats before. My request # with Chevrolet is 03524972, and I spoke with angelia montgomery. I really think something ought to be done with this problem, as it seems to be a recurring problem not only with me but others as listed on your complaint database. As far as the actual dates of the shaft breakings, I cannot say except for the one on 03/08/01. Thank you so much.

Front seat recliner bolts broke.

The handle used to recline the front seats have both broken off. The passenger one broke off first and "fortunately" it was still under warranty. When I was at the dealership, I noticed there were four other chevy Blazers in the same day with the same problem. Several months later the driver's side handle broke off. It is not under warranty and the dealer refuses to fix this problem. Ts.

The seat recline lever routinely fails because of defective design it is dangerous because it puts the driver and or passenger in a unsafe position to the air bag gm is aware of the problem but refuse to fix the defective design or replace.

Shaft for holding backrest and ajusting position broke on both driver's and passgener's seats. Dealer notified ,and informed consumer that part is out of its warranty. The lever for adjusting seat back angle broke off completely because interior quality material was used at factory. Whenthe seat back becomes unadjustable, shorter drivers could be at disadvantage and in danger of not seeing the road clearly.

The levers which raise and lower the seatbacks are made of an inferior metal and have broken completely off three times. My Chevrolet service rep. Says they are made of an inferior metal and that Chevrolet is aware of the problem but has done nothing to correct it. If the levers were to break with the seat back all the way down, the vehicle would be completely undrivable. The driver side lever was replaced once under warranty. It has since broken again, as has the passenger side lever. Please advise.

Maual adjust handle metal shaft (rod) broke while attempting to adjust seat back angle. Minimum force was used. Dealership estimated > 150. 00 to replace shaft as seat will have to be removed. This metal shaft should'nt have failed so easily.

While driving home from work travelling 55mph, driver's seatback snapped in a lying position. Contacted the dealer , and was told that it was a common occurrence.