Best Chevrolet K5 Blazer & Suburban years to buy, and which to avoid
3 generations of the Chevrolet K5 Blazer & Suburban, and for each one the model years owners and specialists recommend, the ones with documented problems, and the recalls to check. Two of them have a clear sweet spot; the rest are best bought on condition.
Sweet spot years owners and specialists recommend · Beware years with documented problems · Recall years with a recall to check by VIN. Each one is sourced on the model's own guide.
Chevrolet K5 Blazer (1st generation)
1969–1972There's no buyer consensus on a best year. In a CK5 thread on which K5 to buy, the owners who pick a first-generation truck do it for the looks and the full-length removable top, and one calls 1971–72 the best looking. The mechanical difference worth knowing is the brakes: 1971 and later trucks have power front discs, while 1969–70 trucks have drums all round unless they've been converted. After that, rust, the top and the quality of past work decide it.
Every Chevrolet K5 Blazer (1st generation) year, change by change →
Chevrolet K5 Blazer (1973–1991)
1973–1991It depends on what you want. The 1973–75 trucks have the fully open body, which MotorTrend calls the K5's sweet spot for that reason, and 1976–80 trucks are the classic half-cab with the NP205 or NP203 and simpler mechanicals. For a truck to drive, CK5 owners mostly point to the 1987–91 trucks for throttle-body injection, and many name 1989–91 as the best of those for the NP241 transfer case, 30-spline axle shafts and the updated 700R4. Others prefer 1990–91 for the electronic speedometer. Whatever the year, check the frame at the steering box.
- 1987Throttle-body injection on all gas engines, and the 350 becomes the standard engine. The trucks become the R/V series (V10 Blazer, V-Jimmy) as GMT400 pickups take the C/K name. In CK5 threads on which year to buy, most owners point to these 1987–91 TBI trucks for drivability and fuel economySweet spot
- 1989GMT400-style grille; NP241 transfer case; 30-spline 10-bolt axle shafts; serpentine belt on the 5.7. Cheyenne returns as the base Chevrolet trim. CK5 owners rate 1989–91 as the best of the TBI trucks for the NP241, the 30-spline shafts and the updated 700R4Sweet spot
Every Chevrolet K5 Blazer (1973–1991) year, change by change →
1987 to 1991. For 1987 all the gasoline engines switched to throttle-body injection, and the 5.7-liter V8 was rated at 210 hp and 300 lb-ft in 10-series trucks. The diesel already had mechanical injection.
- 1987Throttle-body fuel injection on all gasoline engines. C/K renamed R/V (R = 2WD, V = 4x4). Owners on GMSquareBody and CK5 point to the TBI trucks for better mileage, more power and reliability than the carbureted onesSweet spot
Every Chevrolet/GMC Suburban (1973–1991 square body) year, change by change →