The Lemon Index
200120032nd generation
150 owner complaints, first 3 years 14–17 mpg combined, EPA
Similar cars, same year
2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee 1342002 Hyundai Santa Fe2002 Honda Passport
Lemon Index: 100 = the average car, lower is better.
What breaks most on the 2002 Chevrolet Blazer
- Engine stalling12 complaints
- Fuel pump9 complaintsmostly at 65,000–110,000 miles (105,000–177,000 km)
Specific parts named in the 246 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2002 Chevrolet Blazer (all dates). Miles = the odometer owners typed in (middle half); cost = the repair bills owners wrote in those same complaints, in U.S. dollars. Owners' reports, not confirmed defects.
When problems show up
Most problems on this year showed up between 15,000 and 48,000 miles (24,000–77,000 km) (the middle half of the 58 complaints, of all 150 filed so far, that listed a mileage).
- At 60K, 100K and 150K miles (97K, 161K and 241K km) Past the range where most problems showed up: it has likely had them or dodged them, so repair records matter most.
This is when owners who had a problem reported it, not the odds that one car will have it.
Questions to ask the seller
- Were recalls 08V231000 (lights) and 01V364000 (lights) done? Ask for the dealer printout, or check the VIN.
- Any slipping, hard or late shifts, or a transmission warning light? Ask for transmission fluid service records.
- Do all the headlights, taillights and turn signals work?
- Any oil burning, leaks or check-engine lights? Ask for oil-change records.
- Chevy sent dealers 372 repair notes for this car. Was this one done: “Service engine soon lamp illuminated, incorrect transmission shifts, poor performance of…”?
From this year's own recalls, top problems, top repair bills and Chevy's repair notes. Recall repairs are free at any dealer.
How serious. Out of all 150 owner complaints filed so far (every year since it was sold, not just the first 3), owners reported:
“Average car” = what the same number of complaints would include at the rate across every model year we track. Owners report these themselves; NHTSA doesn't confirm the cause.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
Check engine light on? Look up any code →
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 15K to 48K miles (24K to 77K km) on the car (58 of all 150 complaints filed so far listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
In owners' words
Does not go into drive from park. Instead goes into neutral. Does not go into correct gear.
2002 Chevrolet Blazer owner · NHTSA complaint 9003034
More owner reports
The consumer didn't meet the requirements of the recall even though he experienced problems with brake lights working randomly.
NHTSA complaint 10067145
Consumer states while driving 55mph a loud noise occured and transmission was slipping. Nlm
NHTSA complaint 8019329
Fixes owners look up most.
From 194 YouTube videos · 14.4M views · 1995–2005 Chevrolet Blazer
Most-watched topics
- Cooling system827K views
1996-2005 CHEVY BLAZER 4.3 V6 VORTEC P0128 COOLANT TEMP BELOW THRESHOLD AND HOW TO FIXTHEMOWERMEDIC1 · 227K views · 6 videos - Windows, doors & mirrors566K views
1994 to 2003 Chevy S 10 GMC S 15 Blazer and Jimmy Door Hinge Pin ReplacementHOWSTUFFINMYCARWORKS · 428K views · 3 videos - Oil leaks & gaskets198K views
Chevy 4.3l v6 oil leak issue 2001 Xtreme BlazerSXSBrothers · 198K views - Driveshaft, axles & 4x4172K views
2001 Chevrolet Blazer 4x4 fixNyxSilence · 132K views · 2 videos
Show 2 more
- Timing chain & engine155K views
1994 to 2003 Chevy S 10, GMC S 15, Blazer and Jimmy Left Front Fender Replacement guideHOWSTUFFINMYCARWORKS · 144K views · 2 videos - Brakes & ABS122K views
How to Replace 2000 Chevy Blazer Brake Caliper GMC Jimmy Bravada DIY S10 Brake Caliper ReplacementMark Jenkins · 90K views · 3 videos
Before you buy, watch
List of Problems! MINT Condition S-10 Blazer 4.3 4x4Rainman Ray's Repairs · 147K views
2000 chevy blazer 4x4 problemszachary moore · 29K viewsViews show how many people looked up each fix, not how often it breaks. Videos belong to their creators; we link to them. The 2002 is the same generation.
Costs are the middle (median) of the dollar amounts people say out loud in these videos, so one wild number can't swing it. They aren't verified bills or sales; real prices depend on year, miles, condition and where you live. Tap Hear it to jump to the moment.
Problems Chevy told dealers about
Chevy sent dealers 372 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Service engine soon lamp illuminated, incorrect transmission shifts, poor performance of…
- Some customers may comment that the service engine soon lamp is illuminated, no 3rd and 4th gear
- Some vehicles will not move when 4-wheel drive is requested, noise, shudder, poor performance,…
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Recalls 2
- Lights · recall issued 2008
GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING 5,862 MY 2000-2002 CHEVROLET BLAZER, MY 2000-2001 GMC JIMMY, AND MY 2000 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES.
- Lights · recall issued 2001
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Canada? See recalls at Transport Canada
Every Chevrolet Blazer recall, all years · All Chevrolet recalls
Government investigations
- ClosedHazard light switch failure2008
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Safety
Crash stars (older test): front ★★★☆☆ · side ★★★★★ · rollover ★☆☆☆☆
Fuel cost and engines
About $3,550–$4,300 (USD) a year in fuel (EPA estimate at U.S. prices, 15,000 miles or 24,000 km a year). Engines: 4.3L 6-cyl.
Every Chevrolet Blazer year. 2002 is highlighted. Lower is better.
Show 5 older years (1995–1999, YouTube reviews only, no complaint data)
Newest year first. Red = worse than average, gray = about average, too new (2023+: a partial score, marked “partial”) or too few complaints to score. #1, #2… = that year's YouTube rank among the 17 Chevrolet Blazer years with enough videos (#1 = the year owners and reviewers talk about most positively). It is not a reliability rank.
Embed this chart
Put this chart on your site, blog or forum. Free, with the credit line built in; the 2002 bar is highlighted.
<iframe src="https://lemonindex.com/embed/cars/chevrolet-blazer/?y=2002" title="Chevrolet Blazer reliability by model year (The Lemon Index)" width="100%" height="491" style="border:0;max-width:720px" loading="lazy"></iframe><p style="font-size:13px;margin:4px 0 0">Data: <a href="https://lemonindex.com/cars/chevrolet-blazer/2002/">Lemon Index</a> (2002 Chevrolet Blazer reliability)</p>Quick answers
Is the 2002 Chevrolet Blazer reliable?
No, it is worse than average by government complaints. It drew about one and a half times the average car's complaints filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 153; 100 is average, lower is better). 2002 is one of the weaker years of a model that usually draws about half as many complaints as the average car. The Chevrolet Blazer year with the fewest complaints per car sold since 2010 is 2020.
What are the most common 2002 Chevrolet Blazer problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are transmission & drivetrain (19%), lights (13%) and engine (11%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2002 Chevrolet Blazer have?
2 safety recalls (latest: lights). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2002 Chevrolet Blazer get?
14 to 17 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
At what mileage do 2002 Chevrolet Blazer problems show up?
Most problems on this year showed up between 15,000 and 48,000 miles (24,000–77,000 km) (the middle half of the 58 complaints, of all 150 filed so far, that listed a mileage). At 60K, 100K and 150K miles, a 2002 is past the range where most problems showed up: it has likely had them or dodged them, so repair records matter most. This is when owners who had a problem reported it, not a prediction for one car.
Does the 2002 Chevrolet Blazer have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 19% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2002 Chevrolet Blazer cost in fuel a year?
About $3,550 to $4,300 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2002 Chevrolet Blazer have?
4.3L 6-cyl.
What Chevrolet Blazer year is better than the 2002?
Nearby, the 2004 drew fewer owner complaints per car sold (somewhat fewer complaints than the average car). Across every year, 2020 drew the fewest.
The Lemon Index counts owner complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model years (100 = average, lower is better). It measures complaints, not crash safety. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works