2021 Chevrolet Blazer: True Cost, Problems & Verdict
129 NHTSA owner complaints · 1 recalls · data-computed verdict. No opinions — public data only.
Editor's note
The Chevrolet Blazer has no year to avoid on record: its lowest score is 70, on the 2020 car, and every year from 2019 to 2025 is a BUY. The years to buy are 2022 and 2023, at 92 and 90 on 49 and 42 complaints, with 2024 (86) and 2021 (81) behind them. Read the full note on the model page. 2021 specifically: a year the record favours — 129 complaints, score 81/100. The caveats in the note apply to other years of this nameplate more than to this one.
Read the guide
Used Chevrolet Sonic, Trax and Blazer: the years to avoid, including 2021 — written and signed by Adir Trabelsi, 2026-09-16.
Owner complaints: 129 filed with NHTSA
Complaints per year on the road: 25.8
What owners say
Verbatim reports filed with the United States safety regulator (NHTSA) by owners of this exact model year. Public record.
My 2021 Chevrolet Blazer RS equipped with the 3.6L LGX V6 experienced catastrophic engine failure at approximately 90,200 miles. The vehicle had no prior warning. The dealer diagnosed the timing chain / lift/ cam damage. I am requesting investigation into whether this represents a safety or durability defect affecting other vehicles
All 4 tires exhibit signs of dry rot impacting the inner sidewalls of each tire. The outer layer is showing significant signs of sidewall separation. There is no sign of damage visible on the exterior side walls, if an inspection was not done on this date 08/20/26 the driver and others would have been at significant risk of injury or death due to catastrophic failure. The worst separation occurred in the front drive …
The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Blazer. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 50 MPH, the vehicle struck a deer, causing severe damage to the vehicle's front end. The contact stated that smoke was coming from the center of the steering wheel; however, the vehicle's air bags had not deployed. The contact was transported to the local hospital and treated for chest injuries. The vehicle was towed to a…
Recalls: 1 campaigns (1 severe)
| Campaign | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 20V811000 | Seat Belts | General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Chevrolet Bolt EV and 2021 GMC Canyon and Sierra 1500, 2500 and 3500, Yukon, Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV and Chevrolet Blazer, Camaro, Colorado, Equinox, Silverado 1500, 2500 and 3500, Suburban and Tahoe vehicles. Incorrect bolts may have been used at one or more fastening locations to… |
What it costs to buy — and what owning it really takes
Class-level estimates, priced as a mid-size SUV of its model year, re-priced to your country. Not a quote, not a valuation of one specific car — condition, mileage and options move it. How these are computed.
What it costs to run
EPA combined 24 MPG · estimated annual fuel cost $2,550
Re-priced automatically from your country's retail fuel, electricity and parts indices — change country in the bar at the top. Estimates; see methodology.
What this car's problems cost to fix
Ranked by the components owners of this exact model year actually complain about. Each figure is flat-rate labour hours x the local shop rate plus a parts band — an estimate of what this kind of failure costs, not a quote, and not a prediction that this car will need it. Formula.
- Engine39 complaints · typical job: Cooling-system or timing-drive repair (6.0 h labour + parts)$1,040–$2,220
- Electrical System37 complaints · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement (3.0 h labour + parts)$540–$1,310
- Unknown Or Other20 complaints · typical job: Diagnosis and mixed repair (2.0 h labour + parts)$360–$940
- Power Train18 complaints · typical job: Transmission service or clutch-pack repair (7.0 h labour + parts)$1,290–$4,040
- Service Brakes18 complaints · typical job: Pads, rotors and caliper service, both axles (3.0 h labour + parts)$580–$1,140
- Fuel/Propulsion System17 complaints · typical job: Fuel pump or injector replacement (3.5 h labour + parts)$680–$1,620
Other Chevrolet Blazer years
Chevrolet Blazer years to avoid, and the best years to buy →
FAQ
What is the most common problem with the 2021 Chevrolet Blazer?
The most-reported issue in NHTSA complaint data is Engine (39 complaints in our indexed sample).
Is the 2021 Chevrolet Blazer a good used car to buy?
Our data verdict is BUY with a reliability score of 81/100, computed from 129 NHTSA complaints and 1 recall campaigns. See the verdict card for the top reasons.
How much does it cost to fix the 2021 Chevrolet Blazer's most common problem?
39 of the NHTSA complaints filed against the 2021 Chevrolet Blazer sit in the Engine group — more than any other component on this model year. The representative job there is cooling-system or timing-drive repair: about 6.0 hours of labour plus parts, roughly $1,040–$2,220 at a US independent shop and re-priced to your country at the top of the page. It is an estimate of what this class of failure costs, not a quote for this car.
What does a 2021 Chevrolet Blazer cost to run per year?
About $4,409 a year in fuel or energy plus the maintenance band — roughly $22,048 over five years, before purchase price, insurance and depreciation. Figures come from available EPA fuel-economy data and industry maintenance averages, and are re-priced to your country.
Does the 2021 Chevrolet Blazer have recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for the 2021 Chevrolet Blazer, 1 of them touching fire, crash or stall risk, the most recent recorded 23/12/2020. Check this car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before you buy.
Compare with
Other midsize suvs of about the same age.
What will a 2021 Chevrolet Blazer really cost YOU per year?
Fuel, maintenance band and depreciation — computed from public data in 10 seconds.
Open the true-cost calculatorData sources
Complaints & recalls: NHTSA ·
Fuel economy: EPA fueleconomy.gov ·
Scoring: our published methodology.
Maintenance bands are industry-average estimates (AAA Your Driving Costs, CarMD index) — labeled estimates, not measurements.
Last updated: 2026-10-04.
Moderate evidence — 129 complaints, 1 recalls on record
- 129 NHTSA complaints on record (25.8/yr of exposure) — in line with a typical year of this model (25.8/yr)
- 1 recall campaigns, 1 touching safety-critical systems