This preliminary informational (PI) bulletin provides information to dealership personnel that may be helpful when addressing underbody component corrosion with customers.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2019 Chevrolet Blazer steering problems
moderate 27 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700 · see steering across all vehicles →
Complaints
27
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
What stands out
Owners have filed 27 steering complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Among the 5 model years of Chevrolet Blazer in our records for steering problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering steering on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
This service bulletin provides a procedure to add deadener to the batter tray bracket to correct customer concerns of a Service Engine Soon (SES), Reduced Power, Service Brake, Reduced Steering and/or Stabilitrak Message Illuminated on DIC, multiple DTCs.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This informational bulletin instructs the tech when fuel/fluid is needed to be tested and where it can be sent for analysis.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This service bulletin provides a procedure inspecting for excess grease or Sealant on the Exterior of the steering gear due to seeing grease or sealant on certain locations on the gear.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This informational bulletin explains Unscheduled Supplemental Services and the importance of GM Simplified Maintenance Schedules.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The dominant issue across these complaints is a faulty thermostat or coolant temperature sensor that causes the steering assist system to reduce power, sometimes triggering complete power steering loss. Owners see "Steering Assist Reduced" warnings; the temperature gauge freezes on cold; the AC stops working; and the cooling fan runs full blast. The engine sputters and stumbles. Diagnostic code P0128 appears repeatedly. Repairs run $700 to $1,000 for thermostat and sensor replacement.
A secondary problem is the shift-to-park sensor failing to recognize the vehicle is in park, blocking shutdown and locks. Owners report hitting the shifter repeatedly or unplugging the battery to work around it.
Owners also describe complete electrical cascades: all warning lights illuminate at once, power steering dies, power brakes fail, engine shuts off mid-drive, and in one case the battery sulfated internally and the computer reset to factory defaults. One owner's brakes slammed on by themselves.
Several owners note GM issued a recall for the thermostat issue on some VINs but refused to apply it to their vehicles, leaving them with the $700–$1,000 bill despite acknowledging the defect. The timing varies—some failures appear under 60,000 miles; others develop over one to two years of ownership. Part availability at dealerships has been a problem.
Same Chevrolet Blazer steering reports on nearby years: 2020 · 2021
Failure modes owners describe
Steering Assist Reduced / Power Steering Loss
Electronic steering assist warning and actual power steering failure tied to thermostat malfunction causing ECT (engine coolant temperature) sensor/circuit issues. Multiple owners report steering assist warning messages; some report complete loss of power steering function requiring manual steering effort. The thermostat sticking causes false coolant temperature readings that trigger steering assist reduction as a limp-mode response.
When: Various mileage; owners report between 40,000–60,000 miles; some ongoing for 1–2 years
Symptoms owners cite: "Steering Assist Reduced" warning message on dash; Actual loss of power steering requiring manual steering effort; Vehicle pulling hard in one direction; Steering intermittently locking up while driving; Simultaneous temperature gauge stuck on cold; Radiator fan running at high speed; AC stops cooling
Codes mentioned: P0128
Repairs/costs cited: Thermostat and coolant temperature (ECT) sensor replacement; owners cite costs around $700–$1,000. Some owners report part availability issues at dealerships.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: GM thermostat recall exists for some VINs; owners report dealerships refusing warranty coverage or recalls based on VIN not being in original recall list. GM replaces under powertrain warranty for vehicles still in warranty; vehicles beyond warranty left with owner cost.
Shift to Park Malfunction
Shift-to-park sensor failure preventing vehicle from recognizing park engagement. Vehicle displays "Shift to Park" message even when shifter is in park, blocking engine shutdown and door locks.
When: One owner reported issue starting September 2025; another at ~60,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: "Shift to Park" warning message when vehicle is already in park; Vehicle will not turn off; Vehicle cannot be locked; Requires repeated shifting and excessive force to engage park; Workaround sometimes requires unplugging battery negative cable
Repairs/costs cited: No repair completed in narratives; dealership visits mentioned but no parts or costs cited.
Complete Power Loss / Electrical Failure
Simultaneous loss of power steering and power brake assist, along with engine stalling. One owner reports all dash lights illuminated before failure; another reports battery sulfation and complete electrical reset. Narratives attribute to battery failure (3-year-old battery internally corroded) and possible ECU/electrical system cascade failure.
When: One occurrence reported; owner had vehicle ~3 years before battery failure
Symptoms owners cite: All dash lights illuminate simultaneously; Complete loss of power steering; Complete loss of power brake assist; Engine stumbles and shuts off while driving; Vehicle will not restart (no clicks, no turnover); Battery shows sulfation and low voltage (7.5V); Computer functions reset to factory defaults after restart
Repairs/costs cited: Battery replacement ($cost not cited); possible battery charger unable to recover sulfated battery; multimeter measured 7.5V before replacement.
Engine Acceleration / Fuel Delivery Hesitation
Unpredictable acceleration behavior with sudden RPM drops and engine stumbling. Owners describe engine racing at times, auto-stop feature failing, and vehicle feeling like brakes are engaged. Linked in some narratives to P0128 thermostat code.
When: Ongoing for 1–2 years in some cases
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden RPM drops while maintaining steady throttle; Unpredictable acceleration and deceleration cycles; Engine sputtering and not running smoothly; Engine racing / revving at times; Auto-stop feature quits functioning; Vehicle feels like brakes are applied even when not; Transmission shifting hard at second and third gears
Codes mentioned: P0128
Repairs/costs cited: Thermostat and temperature sensor replacement (cost ~$700–$1,000); no specific fuel system repairs cited.
Dashboard Gauge and Display Malfunctions
Multiple instrument cluster failures including temperature gauge stuck on cold, non-functional AC, USB charging ports failing, and possible camera malfunctions. Owners report blanked-out displays and cascading electrical issues when steering assist warning triggers.
When: Ongoing; one owner reports September 2025 onwards; others span multiple years
Symptoms owners cite: Temperature gauge stuck on cold position; Temperature gauge intermittently reads cold; AC stops cooling / does not blow cold air; Engine cooling fan constantly running at high speed; USB-C charging port under radio screen stops working; Display screens blanking out; Oil pressure gauge quits working; Battery voltage display quits working; Possible camera malfunction
Codes mentioned: P0128
Repairs/costs cited: Temperature gauge replacement ordered from dealership; ECT (coolant temperature) sensor replacement ($cost not separately cited); some parts unavailable at dealerships.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership may refuse coverage if VIN not in original recall; GM thermostat recall exists but not applied to all affected VINs.
Brake System Anomalies
Loss of power brake assist and spontaneous brake engagement. One owner reports brakes slammed on by themselves; another reports brake and traction control lights illuminating with unresponsive physical buttons.
When: One incident occurred while driving at 30 mph; other reports intermittent
Symptoms owners cite: Loss of power brake assist; Brakes engage / slam on by themselves without driver input; Brake and traction control warning lights illuminate; Physical brake buttons unresponsive; Brake service warning light triggered
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs cited in narratives.
Synthesized from 27 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
My vehicle was diagnosed with a faulty thermostat, specifically that the thermostat was sticking and needs replaced. My vehicle is at approximately 59,150 miles as of 12/27/2023. Prior to the diagnosis of the faulty thermostat, I intermittently received a warning message "Steering assist reduced - drive with caution", the thermostatic fan would run at full speed, and the P0128 check engine code…
1. The power steering (confirmed by dealership) is causing vehicle to pull very hard in one direction 2. Something fuel related does not allow my car to accelerate properly. Foot will be on the throttle and accelerating and without moving the throttle the vehicle will slow, RPMS will drop then suddenly begins to accelerate again. 3. Car states it’s not in park after I shift into park.
We are noticing the coolant meter seems to be stuck on C, the AC is not blowing cold and we are getting a message that ACTION REQUIRED steering assist is reduced, drive with CAUTION. Today the brakes slammed on by themselves and almost sent my wife thru the windshield. Luckily she was in a clear area with no other cars around.
Had steering trouble with your 2019 Chevrolet Blazer?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the steering problem on the 2019 Chevrolet Blazer?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 27 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $700 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Based on the 27 complaints filed, steering issues most often appear around 26,700 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $700 for steering repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to steering?
No active recalls currently cover steering issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2019/Chevrolet/Blazer.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.