The Chevrolet Blazer is a special-purpose vehicle built from 1981 to 2026 over 9 generations. Most were assembled in the United States — 89.1% of those on record. Between 1976 and 2026 it grew 25 cm longer and gained 18 kg. Engines offered: 4-cyl, V6, V8, Electric. Worth buying? It holds up well, with the usual caveat about model years at 4.0/5 — and the year you pick matters far more than the badge (best and worst years →).
What the Blazer is
The Chevrolet Blazer is a special-purpose vehicle that Chevrolet built from 1981 to 2026 — 46 model years. Our measurements put it at 9 generations, the current one starting in 2019. It has been offered with 4-cyl, V6, V8, Electric power. Its closest siblings in the Chevrolet range: Silverado, Equinox, Camaro.
Where the Blazer is built
A badge says where the company is registered; the VIN says where the car was bolted together. We counted the first three characters — the manufacturer identifier — across 6,287 Blazers on record.
| Assembled in | Share | VIN starts with | Years seen |
|---|---|---|---|
| the United States | 1GN, 1G8, 1GM, 1GC | 1981-2005 | |
| Mexico | 3GN | 1995-2026 |
Check your own: the first three characters of a Chevrolet VIN decide which of these 9 lines your Blazer belongs to. What every character in a Blazer VIN means →
Got the full 17 characters? A free VIN check on a Chevrolet Blazer adds what the decoder can't see: open recalls, theft and total-loss records, and the safety ratings for that exact build.
Blazer generations, and what changed
These boundaries are not copied from a brochure — they fall out of the measurements. Where the Blazer's length or wheelbase jumps between consecutive model years the platform changed: a facelift moves a bumper by centimetres, a new generation moves the whole car — for the Blazer that gives 9 distinct generations below.
| Generation | Length | Wheelbase | Weight | vs previous | Weight change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1976-1980 | 461 cm | 266 cm | 1800 kg | - | - |
| 1981 | 471 cm | 271 cm | - | +10 cm | - |
| 1994 | 449 cm | 272 cm | 1691 kg | -22 cm | - |
| 1995-1997 | 453 cm | 264 cm | 1622 kg | +4 cm | -69 kg |
| 1998-1999 | 461 cm | 264 cm | 1773 kg | +8 cm | +151 kg |
| 2000-2003 | 449 cm | 255 cm | 1755 kg | -12 cm | -18 kg |
| 2004 | 458 cm | 264 cm | 1833 kg | +9 cm | +78 kg |
| 2005 | 449 cm | 255 cm | 1754 kg | -9 cm | -79 kg |
| 2019-2026 | 486 cm | 286 cm | 1818 kg | +37 cm | +64 kg |
Between 1976 and 2026 the Blazer gained 25 cm in length (+5.4%) and 18 kg in weight (+1.0%). Cars did not so much grow as thicken — crash structures, airbags and equipment weigh more than the metal they replaced, and on the Blazer that is 18 kg against 25 cm. Full dimensions by year →
Chevrolet Blazer tire size, oil type & owner specs
The fitment Blazer owners look up most — tires, wheels, oil and batteries. Exact wheel and tire sizes decode from your VIN or the driver's door-jamb placard; the universal items are listed below.
Exact tire, wheel, oil grade, capacity and battery group are added per trim and model year — decode your VIN above for the factory fitment. Universal items shown as-is.
What engines does the Chevrolet Blazer have? Power & range
The Chevrolet Blazer is offered with 4 powertrains — 3.6L 6-cyl, 6.5L 8-cyl, 2L 4-cyl, Electric. Here's the lineup by engine, transmission and drivetrain — 4 for the Chevrolet Blazer, against one or two on most rivals.
| Engine | Displacement | Transmission | Drive | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| V6 | 3.6L · 6-cyl | Automatic 9-spd | FWD | Regular |
| V8 | 6.5L · 8-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Diesel |
| 4-cyl | 2.0L · 4-cyl | Automatic 9-spd | FWD | Regular |
| Electric | Electric motor | Single-speed | FWD | Electricity |
Horsepower, torque and fuel-tank size decode from your VIN — exact figures vary by engine and trim.
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov (engines, drivetrain, range, charge time). Horsepower & torque from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
The Blazer by the numbers
What the federal and market records say about the Chevrolet Blazer. Each line opens the full breakdown by year.
| Topic | Blazer | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Recalls | 128 campaigns | NHTSA, all years |
| Owner complaints | 8,899 filed | What breaks and when |
| Reliability | 4.0 / 5 | Best and worst years |
| Crash safety | ★★★★★ NHTSA | Frontal, side, rollover |
| Insurance | $1,356/yr | Estimated full coverage |
| Used value | 663 listings | What it sells for now |
Frequently asked questions
What kind of car is the Chevrolet Blazer?
The Blazer is a special-purpose vehicle, built from 1981 to 2026 across 9 generations. Engines offered: 4-cyl, V6, V8, Electric.
Where is the Chevrolet Blazer made?
Across 6,287 cars in our records the split is: the United States (89.1%), Mexico (10.9%). The first three characters of a VIN identify the plant's manufacturer and country — that is where these shares come from, not from a press release.
How many generations does the Blazer have?
9 by our measurements, the latest starting in 2019. We draw the boundaries where length or wheelbase jumps between model years — a facelift moves a bumper, a new generation moves the whole car. Over its life the Blazer grew 25 cm longer and gained 18 kg.
What is the Chevrolet Blazer warranty?
New models carry 3 years / 36,000 miles basic cover and 5 years / 60,000 miles on the powertrain. Worth knowing: across our complaint records the typical car reaches the halfway point of its faults at five years, so most repairs land after the basic warranty ends.
Is the Blazer reliable?
It scores 4.0/5 in our data. The honest answer depends on the year far more than the model — see the best and worst years, and when this car starts to break.
How do I check a specific Blazer?
This page describes the model; it cannot tell you whether that car has an open recall or a branded title. Run its VIN against the records — free, and matched to the exact production run.
More in Chevrolet
| Model | Years | Recalls | Best MPG | ForCar score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chevrolet Silverado | 1999–2026 | 444 | 27 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Chevrolet Equinox | 2005–2026 | 64 | 109 mpg | 4.5/5 |
| Chevrolet Camaro | 1981–2026 | 204 | 25 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Chevrolet Traverse | 2009–2026 | 75 | 23 mpg | 4.5/5 |
| Chevrolet Tahoe | 1995–2026 | 169 | 24 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Chevrolet Corvette | 1981–2026 | 153 | 21 mpg | 4.0/5 |
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