Chevrolet Blazer EV VSS-R
Weaknesses, engine ratings and buying advice
Engine Overview
The Chevrolet Blazer EV VSS-R is available with 4 engine variants — from 223 to 564 hp.
GM Ultium platform with 400V architecture. Software quality was disastrous at launch — GM halted sales December 2023 and didn't resume until March 2024 after updates. DC fast charging speed trails competition (max 150–190 kW). Drivetrain and battery are fundamentally solid — problems lie in software and supplier components.
- !! Recall: rear drive unit insulation defect
Faulty insulation on rear drive motor can cause short circuit. NHTSA N242447080. Free replacement.
Symptoms: Loss of drive, powertrain warning, sudden power loss - !! Software infotainment freeze (Ultium) from 5,000 km
Center touchscreen freezes or goes black. Navigation, climate, backup camera go offline. Primary reason for the December 2023 sales halt.
Symptoms: Black screen, no touch input, navigation drops out - !! DC fast charging slower than expected
Charging power drops drastically above 55% SoC. Some vehicles max at 30 kW even on 350 kW stations. The 310V architecture is the fundamental limiter.
Symptoms: Extremely slow charging, session aborted, curve flattens early
Ultium dual motor with AWD. In SS trim up to 615 hp in WOW mode — faster than a Porsche Cayenne Turbo. Same software issues as the single motor, same charging speed limitation from 310V architecture. Hardware mechanically solid.
- !! Recall: rear drive unit insulation defect (AWD)
Same recall as single motor variant. Affects all AWD Blazer EVs including SS.
Symptoms: Loss of drive, powertrain warning - !! Software infotainment freeze (Ultium Dual) from 5,000 km
Same software issues as the single motor. Affects all Blazer EV variants including SS.
Symptoms: Black screen, no touch input, navigation drops out
GM Ultium platform with 400V architecture. Software quality was disastrous at launch — GM halted sales December 2023 and didn't resume until March 2024 after updates. DC fast charging speed trails competition (max 150–190 kW). Drivetrain and battery are fundamentally solid — problems lie in software and supplier components.
- !! Recall: rear drive unit insulation defect
Faulty insulation on rear drive motor can cause short circuit. NHTSA N242447080. Free replacement.
Symptoms: Loss of drive, powertrain warning, sudden power loss - !! Software infotainment freeze (Ultium) from 5,000 km
Center touchscreen freezes or goes black. Navigation, climate, backup camera go offline. Primary reason for the December 2023 sales halt.
Symptoms: Black screen, no touch input, navigation drops out - !! DC fast charging slower than expected
Charging power drops drastically above 55% SoC. Some vehicles max at 30 kW even on 350 kW stations. The 310V architecture is the fundamental limiter.
Symptoms: Extremely slow charging, session aborted, curve flattens early
Ultium dual motor with AWD. In SS trim up to 615 hp in WOW mode — faster than a Porsche Cayenne Turbo. Same software issues as the single motor, same charging speed limitation from 310V architecture. Hardware mechanically solid.
- !! Recall: rear drive unit insulation defect (AWD)
Same recall as single motor variant. Affects all AWD Blazer EVs including SS.
Symptoms: Loss of drive, powertrain warning - !! Software infotainment freeze (Ultium Dual) from 5,000 km
Same software issues as the single motor. Affects all Blazer EV variants including SS.
Symptoms: Black screen, no touch input, navigation drops out
Vehicle Weaknesses
| Weakness | Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| Sales halt due to software catastrophe GM halted sales December 2023, four months after launch. Edmunds documented 23 fault codes on their test vehicle. Sales resumed March 2024 after major update. Symptoms: Screen freezes, charging aborts, error messages without cause from 1,000 km | Low | |
| Phantom automatic emergency braking AEB activates aggressively without any obstacle. Particularly alarming at highway speeds. Symptoms: Vehicle brakes hard without obstacle, rear-end risk | Low | |
| Infotainment screen goes black Center touchscreen goes black or freezes while driving. Navigation, climate, backup camera go offline. GM bulletin PIT6362. Symptoms: Black screen, no touch input, backup camera shows nothing from 5,000 km | Medium | |
| DC fast charging problems Charging power drops drastically above 55% SoC (sometimes to 4 kW). 310V battery architecture fundamentally limits speed. Symptoms: Extremely slow charging, session aborted | Medium | |
| Vehicle turns itself back on after exit Some Blazer EVs restart after being turned off and exited. Likely a software glitch in the anti-theft system. Symptoms: Vehicle continues running after exit, lights stay on | Low |
Top Reported Issues
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Known Problems and Issues +
A total of 15 weaknesses have been documented for the Chevrolet Blazer EV VSS-R (2024–2026) — 5 engine-related and 10 vehicle-related. Typical issues affect Electronics, Other, Body, Cooling.
Blazer EV (Ultium-1M, 2024–2026) — Be Careful: Recall: rear drive unit insulation defect, Software infotainment freeze (Ultium), DC fast charging slower than expected. Power: 220 PS.
Blazer EV (Ultium-1M, 2024–2026) — Be Careful: Recall: rear drive unit insulation defect, Software infotainment freeze (Ultium), DC fast charging slower than expected. Power: 340 PS.
Blazer EV (Ultium-2M, 2024–2026) — Be Careful: Recall: rear drive unit insulation defect (AWD), Software infotainment freeze (Ultium Dual). Power: 300 PS.
Blazer EV (Ultium-2M, 2024–2026) — Be Careful: Recall: rear drive unit insulation defect (AWD), Software infotainment freeze (Ultium Dual). Power: 557 PS.
What to watch out for with the Chevrolet Blazer EV? See the detailed listing of all engine and vehicle weaknesses in the sections above.
Frequently Asked Questions
What problems and weaknesses does the Chevrolet Blazer EV VSS-R have? +
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Which engine is recommended? +
Which Chevrolet Blazer EV VSS-R engine is the most fun? +
Is the Chevrolet Blazer EV VSS-R worth buying used? +
What horsepower variants are available for the Chevrolet Blazer EV VSS-R? +
Last updated: February 2026 · All information without guarantee