Front Suspension Control Arm Problems of Chevrolet Blazer - part 1

Fortunately, I had just gotten off the freeway and was looking for an address at a slow speed. All of a sudden the car lurched; I had no steering; I lost all electrical control; the car ground to a halt; smoke came out from under the hood. I and a friend got out of the car. Fortuitously, fire trucks appeared. It turned out they were returning from another incident as I could not believe the immediacy of their response. They took over preventing further aggravation of this situation. The battery was boiling. All the electrical wire harnesses were melted. The upper suspension control arm was broken. The firemen's observation was, if I had been going any faster, the car could have flipped. After being towed to a nearby mechanic, I learned the upper control arm had broken. It impailed the starter which shorted. That melted the wiring harnesses to and from the battery, as well as being the cause of the battery boiling. The key issue is that general motors would build a vehicle where the upper control arm is so flimsy it would break. I have read other incidents of the same thing with the Chevrolet Blazer where, for example, a person was going 30mph, the car flipped, and the person was knocked unconscious. A repeated corporate failure of this nature should have consequences.

See all problems of the 2000 Chevrolet Blazer 🔎.

There is a recall on the 98 Blazer for right-hand lower control arms saying that the bolt could break. That happened to mine but it was the left-hand upper control arm bolt and the repairs cost me $1000.

See all problems of the 1998 Chevrolet Blazer 🔎.

Ball joint separated and control arm need to be replaced.

See all problems of the 1996 Chevrolet Blazer 🔎.

While driving on a major highway, the right front wheel broke off from the sprocket and separated from vehicle.

Consumer stated that the vehicle's steering became loose and "wobbly". Also noticed that vehicle was having excessive alignment problems. Dealer diagnosed that the upper and lower front ball joints were corroded causing problems. Mr.

See all problems of the 1997 Chevrolet Blazer 🔎.

Consumer states that when had tires rotated notice that all 4 ball joints were bad. Nlm.

See all problems of the 1999 Chevrolet Blazer 🔎.

Upper and lower ball joints have to be replaced due to the joints separating while consumer was driving. Contacted dealer, and dealer stated that the vehicle was not included in recall 01i081000.

While traveling at 30 mph ball joint came apart and caused the passenger side tire to go inward towards the engine. There was a recall to replaced ball joints. However vehicle was not included in recall. Wheel bearings, upper and lower ball joints and control arm had to be replaced.

Steering lower ball joint was unstable. *akthere is serious vibration, loose steering. The tires feel bouncy. The vehicle would not pass inpection at the dealership.

Suspension front control arm broke and needed to be welded back together.

While driving 45mph heard a popping noise .

Consumer heard noises under vehicle. Took it to a mechanic, and found that upper and lower ball joints were corroded. Has not had any accident, but was afraid since discovering this problem.

Driving on highway when ball joint failed, broke and cut aluminum rim in half causing blowout. Nlm.

Nhtsa recall 01v20000/manufacturer's recall 01048; got notice about upper and lower control arms malfunctioning. Dealer only repaired upper control arm. Dealer also admitted that lower ball joints needed to be replaced. Consumer is upset that ball joints failed so soon.

While driving, consumer stated she could hear a loud noise, consumer was informed by dealer that the ball joints need to be replaced.

Upper/lower ball joints have gone completely out.

Vehicle was taken in for a routine inspection for tires, consumer states that mechanic noticed that the lower control arm ball joint had failed. No warning. Please provide any further information. Ts.

Upper and lower ball joints are worn out, causing squeaking in vehicle. Also, there was a recall on ball joints; but this vehicle was not included in recall due to VIN. Contacted dealer, and dealer stated vehicle was not safe to drive.

Ball joints are loose and make a knocking noise when driving vehicle. Contacted dealer, and the dealer is not willing to do anything.

Vehicle has been aligned 4-5 times and has not been corrected. 4 months ago 4 sets of tires were purchased to correct the problem, nothing has changed. Vehicle makes a clunking noise when making a hard right turn. Dealer found cause of problem, but hasn't specified if it was upper or lower ball joints that needed to be replaced. Consumer has contact, but would not be acknowledged because consumer didn't live in one of the states included.

Consumer received a recall notice 01v200000. Dealer was willing to replace defective upper control arm, but not damaged lower control arm even though recall stated lower/upper control arm.

Ball joint failed, almost causing a head on collision. There are 2 recalls on this vehicle and both are affected on mine, but GMC says my VIN# is not on there list and will do nothing about it.

Consumer received recall notice 01v200000/ manufacturer's 01048 letter. Consumer called dealer, and dealer referred to corporate customer service because consumer already remedied problem and was seeking reimbursement. Corporate customer service and dealer stated that couldn't get reimbursed because consumer did not use Chevrolet parts. Also, did not see statement on documentation.

Right front upper and lower ball joint failure, the dealer would not cover the claim, I had to use my extended warranty and they would not cover my rim that was damaged when the tire caved in from the failure.

The car had made a nasty noise since about 30k miles. We brought this to the dealers attention more than once, but they found no problem. We had the car lubed, aligned, replaced tires, etc. We lived with the noise, assured there was no problem. Then last Sunday my wife turned into our drive, and the right front wheel detached at the lower ball joint. Had she been going faster, this would have been catastrophic. Chevrolet says there is no problem, and ball joint failure is not unusual. I disagree and consider this a serious defect, as at moderate speed this kind of failure would result in a rollover.

The gas pedal has been sticking since I bought the vehicle. When I went to get an oil change in April of 2001 I had an all point vehicle inspection done. When I went to get my vehicle they told me that I needed to replace upper & lower ball joints on the front right side of my Chevrolet Blazer 4wd. I phone the gm hotline & I was told the my vehicle was not included on a recent recall that I just received by e-mail from autobytel. Could you please help me to find out if my vehicle is part of a recall? thank you for your time and concern. Lisa cook.

Front left control arm, rusted and carroded, causing the control arm to break and damage to the steering knuckel, shock, left front axcle, axcle boot and axcle seel. This accured while beginning to back to car out of a drive way (approx. 3mph). The car was taken back to the dealer after purchase for a snaping and popping in the front driverside wheel, both times we were told it was a squeeky spring and nothing was wrong. Now we know what the noises where, not a spring. The car has been at the dealer for over 2 weeks. We have been told a couple of different stories about why the car did this and how this is seen all the time( which I know is not true). The final conclusion from the dealer is lack of maintance, yet we have this car lubed and taken care of often. This is a real concern, if this part would have broke just moments before or after it did, me and my children would have been severly injured or killed. I am very worried that the other side may do the same thing, since I can not get a good answer o.

When the ball joint broke the left front wheel drop to a 45 dreeg angle and the auto went left in to the on coming lane. I was lucky because I was going 30 miles a hour and no one was in the lane. I had no control for a few minutes and if this would have happen on an interstate highway I sure a major accident would have happen.

Ball joint snapped into, causing tire rim to also break in half. Garage reports never seen anything like it before.

Both ball joints on each side of wheel are bad. If they break, wheels could possibly fall off, and consumer could loose steering.

Vehicle started making a clunking noise coming from underneath hood. Consumer took vehicle to dealership, and mechanic replaced all off upper ball joints. Mechanic told her that it shouldn't happen at 45000 miles. There were no injuries.

While traveling 45 mph during rush hour, the front left top ball joint failed causing the tire to collapse inward and loss of steering control. $1000 to repair. I believe this is another case for investigation ea99022.

When driving right front ball joint broke and the right wheel completely collapsed/broke in half when driving 40 mph. Consumer has contacted dealer.

Was leaving on vacation, towing 2000lb boat - as we were pulling in to a local gas station to check the air in the trailer tires, the ball joint assembly in the left front wheel failed causing the upper half of the wheel to turn in at a 45 degree angle. Had it occurred while towing at highway speeds, we would have made the evening news.

While driving at 65 mph on the expressway the left ball joint failed, causing the drivers side wheel to buckle, cutting the tire,rim,and causing loss of control of the vehicle. The dealer indicated the right ball joint was broken also. The bottom line is "this shouldn't have happened. " the ball joints are defective and my family and I could have been killed.