1997 Chevrolet Blazer Electrical Problems

WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT THE HIGH BEAMS GO OUT AND THE INTERIOR LIGHT WILL NOT TURN OFF WHEN THE DOORS ARE CLOSED OR THE SWITCH TURNED OFF.

NHTSA ID

11039590

Incident

Jun 12, 2012

Mileage

100,000 mi

VEHICLE STARTS BUT THEN STALLS OUT RESTART BUT AMP GAUGE SHOWING LOW

NHTSA ID

10936071

Incident

Dec 18, 2016

Mileage

148,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET BLAZER. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE FRONT BRAKES LOCKED UP INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ABS PUMP AND ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,300.

NHTSA ID

10825343

Incident

Sep 30, 2015

Mileage

79,300 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET BLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD, THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER LIGHTS SUDDENLY FLICKERED AND DIMMED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

NHTSA ID

10819908

Incident

Jan 2, 2009

Mileage

200,000 mi

97 BLAZER WITH ORIGINAL LOW MILES HAD ENGINE STOP BOTH ON AND OFF THE HIGHWAY SEVERAL TIMES BUT IT WOULD START BACK UP. IN JAN WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND RPMS WENT UP. WE PULLED OFF AND FOUND THE TRANSMISSION WAS STUCK IN 3'RD GEAR. ALSO KEY WOULD NOT RELEASE TO REMOVE. ERRORS CAME UP P1860 P0785 AND P740 THAT REFER TO TRANSMISSION. THE PROBLEM WAS NOT TRANSMISSION BUT IGNITION SWITCH CONTACT BLOCK COMMONLY CALLED THE IGNITION SWITCH, IT IS THE CONTACT SECTION AND NOT THE KEY OR LOCK CYLINDER. THIS IGNITION SWITCH HAD ALREADY BEEN REPLACED ONCE. GM HAS A SERVICE BULLETIN #17006264 ON THE IGNITION SWITCH AND THIS APPEARS TO BE A BIG PROBLEM ACROSS MANY YEARS AND MODELS BUT NO RECALL WAS ISSUED. AN IGNITION SWITCH PROBLEM CAN CAUSE ENGINE TO DIE, LIGHTS TO GO OUT AND OTHER PROBLEMS BUT THE CONTACT FOR THE TRANSMISSION POWER SEEMS TO BE A COMMON FAILURE POINT. I REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH AND EVERYTHING WORKED FINE FOR ONE MONTH AND THEN THE PROBLEM RECURRED WITH ERRORS P1860 P0758 P0753 P0740 AND P0785. I TESTED THE IGNITION SWITCH POWER FROM RED/WHITE TO WHITE WIRE AND GOT NO POWER WHEN SWITCH WAS ON SO THE NEW SWITCH FAILED. I TESTED BY TEMPORARY JUMPING A FUSED LINE TO FUSE 24 OUTPUT AND THEN TRANSMISSION WORKED FINE AND THE KEY RELEASED. I AGAIN REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH CONTACT BLOCK UNDER WARRANTY AND NEW SWITCH WORKED FINE EXCEPT THE ERRORS CAME BACK ON P0740, P0785 AND P1860. TRANSMISSION WORKED OK THOUGH SO I TOOK THE BLAZER TO A CHEVY DEALERSHIP TO CHECK IT. THEY RESET CODE ERRORS , CHECKED WIRING, CONNECTIONS AND SWITCH. THE TECHNICIAN SAID MY WORK WAS CORRECT AND EVERYTHING CHECKS OUT FINE AND HE WAS NOT SURE WHY CODES CAME BACK. NOW OK. I EXAMINED THE ORIGINAL SWITCH AND THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH CONTACTS OR WIRES EVIDENT. THIS COULD BE A SWITCH DESIGN ISSUE OR THERE IS ANOTHER ISSUE CAUSING THIS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10702398

Incident

Jan 10, 2015

Mileage

25,100 mi

1997 CHEVROLET BLAZER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED SHE HAD TO CONTINUOUSLY CHARGE THE BATTERY AND THE CLOCK LIGHT STAYED ON. *JB

NHTSA ID

10680215

Incident

Mar 2, 2015

I WAS GOING THROUGH A ROUNDABOUT AND PUT MY RIGHT TURNING SIGNAL ON AND THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. I WAS ABLE TURN MY HAZARD LIGHTS ON AND PULL OVER. AFTER PUTTING IT IN PARK IT DID START. AFTER THAT I PARKED IT AT A GAS STATION TURNED IT OFF WENT TO LEAVE AND THE SUV WOULD NOT START. I TOOK THE STEERING COLUMN COVER OFF AND STARTING KNOCKING ON THINGS AND I WAS ABLE TO GET IT STARTED. I LATER FOUND THAT IT WAS A WIRING HARNESS THAT FAILED. IT WAS REPLACED AFTER THAT EVERYTHING RAN GREAT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10573925

Incident

Aug 1, 2012

Mileage

170,000 mi

I HAD AN ISSUE WHERE MY TRUCK DID NOT WANT TO START BUT THE ENGINE WOULD TURN SO I KNEW IT WAS NOT THE BATTERY BECAUSE MY HEADLIGHTS DID WORK. I THEN NOTICED MY INTERIOR DASHBOARD LIGHTS WERE NOT ON SO I FOUND THAT VERY STRANGE. AFTER SO MANY TIMES TRYING TO START MY TRUCK I NOTICED MY TRUCK WOULD ONLY TURN ON IF THE INTERIOR DASHBOARD LIGHTS WERE ON. ONE NIGHT AFTER WORK I WAS DRIVING ON ROUTE 83 IN ILLINOIS AND I WAS GOING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN ON TO ROUTE 53 AND SUDDENLY MY VEHICLE JUST TURNED OFF COMPLETELY. LUCKILY I W,A ABLE TO PULL OVER AND RESTART VEHICLE. IT WAS AT MIDNIGHT, THERE WERE NO VEHICLES AT THE TIME AND I WAS NOT GOING AT HIGH SPEEDS. I DID SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND I FOUND OUT THAT IT WAS A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH. I HAD THE IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED AND MY VEHICLE WORKS PERFECTLY FINE NOW. *TR

NHTSA ID

10566056

Incident

Dec 5, 2013

Mileage

180,000 mi

ABS WIRE CAUGHT FIRE ON MY 1997 CHEVY BLAZER AFTER TURNING IT OFF. AND CAUGHT ANTIFREEZE RESERVOIR ON FIRE. LUCKILY I COULD CATCH IT BEFORE IT BURNED THE TRUCK UP. CALLED DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10330936

Incident

Jan 12, 2010

Mileage

175,000 mi

AFTER ONLY 70,000 MILES I HAD TO GET A NEW ENGINE. IT ALSO NEVER WANTED TO START WHEN IT WAS COLD AND WET OUT. THEN JUST YESTERDAY I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN SMOKE STARTED TO COME IN THROUGH THE HEAT VENTS. THE ELECTRIC WIRES CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD ON PASSENGER SIDE OF CAR NEAR FIREWALL. WENT UP IN A MATTER OF SECONDS. DESTROYED THE CAR.

NHTSA ID

10323411

Incident

Mar 31, 1997

Mileage

130,000 mi

POWER ACCESSORY CIRCUIT BREAKER BECOMES HOT, AND THEN POWER SEATS, DOOR LOCKS, MIRRORS AND KEYLESS ENTRY DO NOT WORK. THIS EXISTED WHEN I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN APRIL 2008. I TRIED REPLACING THE CIRCUIT BREAKER. ALSO, THE POWER MIRROR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS DAMAGED AND WAS REMOVED, SO THIS MAY NOT BE THE SAME ISSUE AS THE RECALL ON THE MIRRORS = TO INSTALL FUSED JUMPER HARNESS.) *TR

NHTSA ID

10266746

Incident

Apr 15, 2008

THIS 1997 BLAZER HAS SOME KIND OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WHEN IT WARMS UP IT LOOSES POWER AND SPUDDERS. WILL NOT EXCEED 35 MILES PER HOUR AND THEN WONT RUN AT ALL. WE HAVE CHANGED O2 SENSORS MASS AIRFLOW SENSOR CATALYTIC CONVERTER. ITS WORST WHEN IN GEAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10245504

Incident

Sep 28, 2008

Mileage

120,000 mi

ENGINE SHUTS DOWN INTERMITTENTLY FOR A FEW SECONDS WITHOUT WARNING. THIS HAPPENED FOR SEVERAL MONTHS AT ALL SPEEDS, ANY ROAD CONDITIONS. THE ENGINE SERVICE LIGHT DOES NOT COME ON WHEN IT HAPPENS, MAKING THE CAUSE DIFFICULT TO IDENTIFY. THIS IS VERY SCARY AND/OR DANGEROUS WHEN ACCELERATING ONTO A FREEWAY, CROSSING AN INTERSECTION OR A SET OF R TRACKS. ALMOST HAD ACCIDENTS SEVERAL TIMES. THE CAUSE WAS NOT IDENTIFIABLE UNTIL OTHER SYMPTOMS ALSO HAPPENED. THE CAUSE WAS EVENTUALLY IDENTIFIED AS BURNED CONTACTS IN THE KEY SWITCH. REPLACING THE KEY SWITCH SOLVED THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10229339

Incident

Feb 11, 2008

Mileage

175,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET BLAZER. ON OCTOBER 14, 2003, THE CHECK ENGINE SOON LIGHT BEGAN ILLUMINATING AND THE GEAR WOULD BECOME STUCK IN THIRD GEAR. THE DEALER STATED THAT A NEW IGNITION SWITCH WAS NEEDED AND THE CONTACT PAID FOR THE REPAIR. ON JANUARY 4, 2008, THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN AND THE GEARS BECAME STUCK. THE DIAGNOSIS WAS THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN AND THE REPAIR WAS MADE ON JANUARY 9, 2008 AT THE COST OF $260.90. THERE WAS A SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP: TRANSMISSION STUCK IN THIRD GEAR, INSTRUMENT CLUSTER INOPERATIVE, REPLACE IGNITION SWITCH. THE PURCHASE DATE AND SERVICE BULLETIN NUMBER WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 85,465 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000. UPDATED 02-12-BF08 *

NHTSA ID

10214338

Incident

Oct 14, 2003

Mileage

65,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET BLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. AFTER WAITING 5-10 MINUTES, THE VEHICLE RESTARTED. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED WHILE MAKING A TURN, DRIVING DOWNHILL AT APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, AND ANOTHER TIME WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH. AFTER THE MOST RECENT FAILURE, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP THE NEXT DAY. THE MECAHNIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO WAIT UNTIL IT OCCURS AGAIN. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN DRIVEN FOR ALMOST A MONTH AND THE FAILURE HAS NOT RECURRED. THE FAILURES WERE INTERMITTENT AND NO WARNING INDICATORS WERE PRESENT. ONCE THE FAILURE OCCURRED, THE KEY COULD NOT BE TURNED OR REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION AND EVERYTHING FAILED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 60,000. UPDATED 01/11/08. *LJ UPDATED *JB

NHTSA ID

10208779

Incident

Oct 29, 2007

Mileage

60,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET BLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAS A RELAY FUSE THAT BECOMES HOT AFTER DRIVING FOR A WHILE. THE FAILURE WAS NOTICED WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH AND CAUSES THE SEAT ADJUSTER AND DOOR LOCK NOT TO WORK. SHE STATED THAT IT BECOMES VERY HOT AND SHE CAN FEEL IT ON THE COVER OF THE FUSE BOX. SHE IS AFRAID THAT IT MAY CAUSE A FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MECHANIC TOUCHED THE FUSE BOX AND WAS BURNED. SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY A SHORTAGE SOMEWHERE IN THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 103,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000. UPDATED 09/12/07 *TR

NHTSA ID

10199766

Incident

Feb 1, 2007

Mileage

98,000 mi

DRIVER'S SIDE REAR VIEW MIRROR SWITCH WIRING CAUGHT ON FIRE. MY HUSBAND HAD TO TEAR THE DOOR PANEL UP TO KEEP MY BLAZER FROM BURNING UP. GM REFUSES TO FIX THIS UNDER THE RECALL BECAUSE MY VIN NUMBER DOES NOT FALL IN THE SEQUENCE OF THOSE THAT WERE RECALLED FOR THIS DEFECT. MY INTERIOR DOME LIGHT CAUGHT ON FIRE AS WELL. MY HUSBAND HAD TO PULL OFF THE COVER AND BREAK THE BULB OUT OF THE HOUSING TO KEEP THE BLAZER FROM BURNING. DEALER WILL PROBABLY REFUSE TO FIX THIS AS WELL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10188537

Incident

Feb 10, 2007

Mileage

159,000 mi

FUSES HAD BLOWN AND 97 BLAZER DOES NOT WORK. BOUGHT NEW ALTERNATOR, CHARGED BATTERY AND FUSES KEEP BLOWING WHAT IS THE PROBLEM? *JB

NHTSA ID

10167677

Incident

Sep 7, 2006

OWNING THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE AND A FINANCIAL DRAIN. WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKED WHEN THEY CHOSE, REPLACED WIPER MOTOR DUE TO DEFECTIVE PART. UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS ALL HAD TO BE REPLACED. WHEEL BEARINGS HAD TO BE REPLACED. A/C STOPPED WORKING, HAD IT LOOKED AT AND RECHARGED AND IT STILL DOESN'T WORK. FUEL GAGE DIDN'T WORK, REPLACED FUEL SENSOR AND SENDING UNIT. REAR WIPER QUIT WORKING, REPLACED REAR WIPER MOTOR, A FEW DAYS LATER IT DOES NOT WORK AGAIN. REPLACED WATER PUMP, HAVE REPLACED ABS ONLY TO GET A RECALL AFTER THE FACT WITH NO REIMBURSEMENT. WEARS THROUGH BRAKE PADS ENTIRELY TOO FAST. REPLACED ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY TWICE. REAR HATCH DOES NOT UNLOCK WITH KEY. HEADLIGHTS ARE SO DIM THEY MIGHT AS WELL NOT EXIST. WATER LEAKS INTO INTERIOR ON DRIVERS SIDE DUE TO A BAD SEAL. IDLER ARM NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. GAS PEDAL STICKS. NOW HEATER FAN WORKS SOMETIMES. READING THROUGH THE COMPLAINTS WE ARE ALL EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS AND NOTHING IS BEING DONE ABOUT IT. RECALLS ISSUED ON SOME VEHICLES BUT NOT ALL? NOW I HEAR GM PUT A BAD INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET ON THESE AS WELL AS SEVERAL OTHER CARS (1997) AND DID NOT ISSUE A RECALL BECAUSE IT IS NOT A SAFETY MATTER! THIS CAUSES ANTIFREEZE TO LEAK INTO THE ENGINE AND ULTIMATELY ENDS IN A REPAIR OF AT LEAST 1500.00. AFTER MY EXPERIENCE WITH THIS VEHICLE I WILL BE PURCHASING SOON AND IT MOST LIKELY WILL NOT BE GM. SAD SINCE MY DAD WORKED FOR THEM FOR 30 YEARS. THEY SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR PUTTING A BAD PRODUCT ON THE MARKET AND LEAVING US TO DRY. *NM

NHTSA ID

10152223

Incident

Mar 8, 2006

Mileage

70,000 mi

BACK IN 8/04 TOOK CAR TO DEALER BECAUSE BLAZER WOULDN'T START ALL THE TIME,NO IDIOT LIGHTS,JUST CRANK. DEALER INSTALLED STARTER RELAY SWITCH AND ADVISE TO GET NEW KEY, NOT REAL FIX,MAYBE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDS TO BE REPLACE, MAYBE KEY WILL HELP. PROBLEMS CONTINUES IMMEDIATELY, TRY NEW KEY, PROBLEMS THE SAME BUT IN 11/05 IT IS HAPPENING MORE FREQUENT THEN ON 12/02/05 WON'T START AT ALL. TOW TO DEALER, TELLS ME I NEED NEW IGNITION SWITCH,TELL OK DO IT. NEXT DAY I GO TO PICK UP AND CAR NOT READY,DIFFERENT PROBLEM, WE FOUND WIRING HARNESS MELTED. WIRING HARNESS IS FOR WIPERS AND IGNITION. BACK IN 02/04 HAD WIPER BOARD REPLACE BECAUSE OF SHORT. BOARD WAS REPLACED BECAUSE I GOT A LETTER FROM GENERAL MOTORS STATING BAD WIPER BOARD,SAFETY ISSUE,REPLACE FOR FREE. SO DEALER HAS CHARGED ME FOR A STARTER RELAY AND WIRING HARNESS WHEN I THINK IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN WIPER BOARD ISSUE THAT GM ADMITS TO. DEALER HAS CHARGED OVER $600.00 AND I DON'T KNOW IF CAR WILL BURN IN FUTURE. *NM

NHTSA ID

10144775

Incident

Dec 2, 2005

Mileage

69,139 mi

I HAVE A 97 BLAZER 4X4 WITH A LITTLE OVER 113K MILES. I'VE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE VOLTAGE (I THINK) FOR A WHILE NOW. THE VOLTAGE METER SWINGS FROM JUST ABOVE 9V TO OVER 14V WHEN I STOP AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. I'M CONVINCED THE GAUGE IS NOT TO BLAME BECAUSE WHEN I PUT A LOAD ON IT, IT INDICATES 9V TO 10.5V, THE DASH LIGHTS DIM, THE HEADLIGHTS WIL ALSO DIM. I'VE ALREADY REPLACED (3) ALTENATORS AND THE BATTERY TWICE WHICH IN 4 MONTHS AND EVERYTHING IS STILL THE SAME. THE GAUGE WILL READ JUST ABOVE 14V WHEN I'M AM DRIVING THE TRUCK WITH NO PROBLEM BUT THE MINUTE I STOP AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT THE VOLTAGE GAUGE DROPS DOWN TO 9V OR 10.5V DEPENDING ON WHAT ACCESSORIES AM RUNNNING ON MY TRUCK. TEMPERATURE AND FREQUENCY BETWEEN TRIPS SEEMS TO NOT MAKE A DIFFERENCE EITHER. THE ONLY THING I HAVE DONE TO THE TRUCK EVEN REMOTELY CONNECTED TO THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS TO SWAP THE RADIO, BUT I USED A WIRE HARNESS TO CONNECT THE WIRING. I'VE CHECKED AND WILL RECHECK TONIGHT FOR LOOSE WIRES OR BAD GROUNDS, BUT OTHER THAN THAT I'M LOST. ANY HELP? *NM

NHTSA ID

10143087

Incident

Oct 13, 2005

Mileage

112,698 mi

ELECTRICAL; IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE. THIS IS THE SECOND SWITCH THAT FAILED. BOTH ARE GM PARTS. *NM

NHTSA ID

10138643

Incident

Oct 4, 2005

Mileage

42,000 mi

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET S10 BLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ORIGINAL COMPUTER TO THE VEHICLE MALFUNCTIONED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER REPLACED THE COMPUTER, BUT THIS DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. A CERTIFIED TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THERE WAS GASOLINE THAT WENT INTO THE COMPUTER UNDERNEATH THE HOOD THROUGH THE WIRING HARNESS. THE DETERMINATION OF THE GASOLINE LEAKAGE HAS NOT BEEN DECIDED. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, AND THEY WOULD FILE AND CLAIM AND POSSIBLY REVIEW IT, AND REFERRED THE CONSUMER TO CONTACT NHTSA. *AK

NHTSA ID

10136315

Incident

Sep 1, 2005

Mileage

95,000 mi

AFTER THE IGNITION SWITCH WENT OUT(12-5-04) -THE FUEL PUMP WENT OUT AND HAD TO BE REPAIRED. AS YOU TRY TO DRIVE OFF THE CAR WOULD DIE OUT YOU WOULD HAVE TO TRY TO CRANK IT AGAIN-MASH THE PEDDLE IT TO THE FLOOR AND IT WOULD RUN A FEW FEET AND DIE AGAIN. CAR HAD TO BE TOWED(6-12-05)... CAR STARTS BUT IT MAKES A NOISE WHEN RUNNING. *NM

NHTSA ID

10130738

Incident

Jun 12, 2005

IGNITION SWITCH WENT OUT... HAD TO HAVE CAR TOWED AND REPAIRED. REPORT FROM SHOP SAID" CHECK FOR NO START-FOUND NONE -TRACED SYSTEM FOUND BAD IGNITION ELECTRICAL SWITCH ON STEERING COLUMN-INSTALLED NEW SWITCH WITH WIRE HARNESS- ". *NM

NHTSA ID

10130736

Incident

Dec 6, 2004