2001 Chevrolet Blazer

The 2001 Chevrolet Blazer is a compact SUV known for its ruggedness and practicality. It offered a comfortable ride and decent off-road capabilities for its time. However, it’s also known for having some reliability issues, common for vehicles of that age. The 2001 Blazer was equipped with two engine options: a 2.2L inline-4 producing around 120 horsepower and 140 lb-ft of torque and a more popular 4.3L V6 producing around 190 horsepower and 250 lb-ft of torque. The available transmissions include a 5-speed manual and a 4-speed automatic. Some owners appreciate the Blazer’s affordability and simplicity, while others dislike its fuel economy and relatively dated design compared to newer SUVs.

Engine

4.3L V6 (LU3)

• Intake Manifold Gasket Failure
  • Description/Symptoms: Coolant leaks (external or internal, leading to coolant in the oil), rough idle, engine misfires, and overheating. Can sometimes be detected by the smell of coolant.
  • Solution: Replace the intake manifold gaskets with updated gaskets that are more durable.
  • Estimated Cost to Fix: $400 - $800+
  • Recalls: None Found
• Fuel Injector “Spider” Assembly Failure
  • Description/Symptoms: Rough running, poor fuel economy, hard starting, and check engine light (often with codes related to fuel injectors or misfires). The original “spider” injector design was prone to leaking.
  • Solution: Replace the entire fuel injector assembly with an updated version.
  • Estimated Cost to Fix: $300 - $600+
  • Recalls: None Found
• Distributor Problems
  • Description/Symptoms: Engine misfires, stalling, hard starting, no start, and a check engine light. Common issue on older engines.
  • Solution: Replace the distributor. Often the distributor cap and rotor are replaced at the same time.
  • Estimated Cost to Fix: $200 - $400+
  • Recalls: None Found

2.2L Inline-4

• No Issues Found

Transmission

4L60E 4-Speed Automatic

• Slipping or Harsh Shifting
  • Description/Symptoms: The transmission slips between gears, especially when accelerating, or shifts harshly. Delay in engagement when shifting into drive or reverse.
  • Solution: Could be caused by low fluid, a bad shift solenoid, or internal wear of the clutch packs and bands. Typically requires a transmission rebuild or replacement.
  • Estimated Cost to Fix: $1,500 - $3,500+
  • Recalls: None Found
• Torque Converter Failure
  • Description/Symptoms: Shuddering at certain speeds (often highway speeds), stalling when coming to a stop, and poor fuel economy.
  • Solution: Replace the torque converter. Typically done when rebuilding the transmission as a preventative measure.
  • Estimated Cost to Fix: $500 - $1000+ (when part of a larger transmission repair)
  • Recalls: None Found

5-Speed Manual

• No Issues Found

Suspension

• Worn Ball Joints
  • Description/Symptoms: Clunking or popping noises from the front end, especially when going over bumps or turning. Uneven tire wear. Loose steering.
  • Solution: Replace the worn ball joints (upper and/or lower).
  • Estimated Cost to Fix: $200 - $500+ per side
  • Recalls: None Found
• Worn Idler Arm/Pitman Arm
  • Description/Symptoms: Loose steering, wandering on the road, and difficulty maintaining a straight line.
  • Solution: Replace the worn idler arm and/or pitman arm.
  • Estimated Cost to Fix: $150 - $400+
  • Recalls: None Found
• Sagging Leaf Springs (Rear)
  • Description/Symptoms: The rear of the vehicle sags, especially when loaded. Reduced ride quality.
  • Solution: Replace the leaf springs.
  • Estimated Cost to Fix: $300 - $700+
  • Recalls: None Found

Electrical

• Instrument Cluster Problems
  • Description/Symptoms: Gauges stop working intermittently or entirely, including the speedometer, tachometer, and fuel gauge.
  • Solution: Sometimes can be repaired by resoldering connections on the circuit board. Otherwise, the instrument cluster needs to be replaced or rebuilt.
  • Estimated Cost to Fix: $150 - $400+
  • Recalls: None Found
• Door Lock Actuator Failure
  • Description/Symptoms: Power door locks stop working, either intermittently or entirely.
  • Solution: Replace the faulty door lock actuator.
  • Estimated Cost to Fix: $100 - $300+ per door
  • Recalls: None Found

Exterior

• Rust
  • Description/Symptoms: Rust can occur in many areas of the vehicle especially in the rocker panels, wheel wells, and around the bottom of the doors.
  • Solution: Repair or replace rusted panels, apply rust inhibitors.
  • Estimated Cost to Fix: Varies Greatly depending on the severity

Interior

• Headliner Sagging
  • Description/Symptoms: The headliner fabric detaches from the backing and sags down.
  • Solution: Replace or re-glue the headliner.
  • Estimated Cost to Fix: $150 - $400+

Summary

The 2001 Chevrolet Blazer, particularly models equipped with the 4.3L V6, can suffer from a number of issues. Intake manifold gasket leaks and fuel injector issues are common concerns for the engine. The 4L60E transmission is also prone to problems. Suspension components like ball joints and idler arms wear out, especially if the vehicle has seen lots of use or is located in regions that experience harsh road conditions. While some electrical issues can be addressed relatively inexpensively, extensive rust repair can be costly. Potential buyers should carefully inspect the vehicle for these common problems before purchasing. While most repairs are not extremely expensive, there are many potential issues which can add up to a hefty maintenance bill.