1998 Chevrolet Blazer Electrical Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET BLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ENTER THE VEHICLE, THE KEY CODE FAILED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO NOT START. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND THEN TO A DEALER. THE DEALER REFUSED TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 199,573.

NHTSA ID

10785938

Incident

Jul 31, 2015

Mileage

199,573 mi

I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE WITH MY CHILDREN INSIDE AND WEBT 35 MILES AWAY FROM HOME AND MY VEHICLE SECURITY LIGHT CAME ON AND I CALLED THE DEALERS AND THEY TOLD ME I WOULD HAVE TO COME TO GET A DIAGNOSIS FOR $109.00 WELL ON MY WAY HOME MY VEHICLE SHUT DOWN DUE TO THE SECURITY LIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY AND IT WOULD NOT TURN BACK ON SO I GOOGLED A RESET AND RESET IT SND THE VEHICLE TURNED ON BUT AGAIN SHUT DOWN ON ME ON THE HIGHWAY. I FEEL ITS VERY DANGEROUS DRIVING AND VEHICLE SHUTD DOWN WHEN SECURITY LIGHT IS BLINKING AND A ANOTHER VEHICLE ALMOST STRUCK ME WHEN MY VEHICLE SHUT DOWN. I HAVE READ A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SECURITY LIGHT THAT JUST APEARS FOR NO REASON AND CANT GET RID OF IT. NOT EVEN A MECHANIC CAN FIX IT , ONLY THE DEALERS THEM SELF CAN FIX IT. I FEEL THEY NEED TO FIX THIS PROBLEM ASAP BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT. THANK YOU *TR

NHTSA ID

10632628

Incident

Sep 2, 2014

Mileage

275,321 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET BLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AND WOULD STALL INTERMITTENTLY. IN ADDITION, THE POWER DOOR LOCKS WOULD LOCK AND UNLOCK AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ACTIVATED INDEPENDENTLY WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THE CONTACT FURTHER STATED THAT THE DIMMER SWITCH FAILED TO WORK, WHICH RESULTED IN A LACK OF VISIBILITY WHEN USING THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS. THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 00V220000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED OR DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 127,000.

NHTSA ID

10615661

Incident

May 10, 2014

Mileage

127,000 mi

ON 3-17 EXPERIENCED LOUD SCREECHING SOUND WHEN IGNITION WAS ENGAGED TO START ENGINE, AND SIMULTANEOUSLY THE CONSOLE ALERT LIGHT BLINKED OFF AND ON . ON 3-19 MECHANIC INVESTIGATED AND FOUND A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH. *TR

NHTSA ID

10573408

Incident

Mar 17, 2014

Mileage

100,500 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET BLAZER. WHILE DRIVING, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE MADE A BUZZING NOISE IN THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER NOR MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. A LOCAL MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE MULTI-SWITCH WAS DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 128,000.

NHTSA ID

10416268

Incident

Jan 1, 2011

Mileage

128,000 mi

1998 CHEVROLET BLAZER. UNIT #1 WAS TRAVELING EAST ON THE OHIO TURNPIKE IN THE CENTER LANE. DRIVER OF UNIT #1 STATED HE HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION COME FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. UNIT #1 PULLED OVER TO THE LEFT BERM WHERE IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. *LN ACCORDING TO THE POLICE REPORT, THE VEHICLE BURNED COMPLETELY DOWN TO THE METAL AND THERE WAS NO WAY TO DETERMINE WHAT STARTED THE FIRE. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0450-90)*JB

NHTSA ID

10415951

Incident

Jun 24, 2011

WIPERS DON'T WORK THEN WORK WON'T SHUT OFF FOR A LONG TIME, USUALLY SHUT OFF DURING A DOWNPOUR, CRUISE CONTROL QUIT WORKING, FLASHERS SOUND ERRATIC WON'T SHUT OFF UNLESS BRAKE IS PRESSED, PASSENGER SIDE SEAT ADJUSTMENT HANDLE BROKE OFF, I HAVE CUT MY LEG NUMEROUS TIMES AS WELL AS OTHERS. PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT WON'T LOCK JUST PULLS OUT. DRIVERS SIDE SEAT RECLINE BROKE OFF ONLY USED THAT ABOUT 5 TIMES. NOW ONE OF THE REAR HATCH SHOCKS BROKE OFF THE BRACKET THAT HOLDS THE SHOCK IN PLACE CRACKED OFF, HATCH DOOR IS REALLY HEAVY. THE RIGHT FLASHER FLASHES REAL FAST EVEN THOUGH IT STILL WORKS. I WILL NEVER EVER BUY A CHEVY BLAZER AGAIN OR ANYTHING EVEN CLOSE THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT A PAIN IN MY BUTT FOR 10 YEARS. I ABSOLUTELY HATE IT!! IT'S BECOMING A HAZARD TO DRIVE BECAUSE OF THE WIPERS ACTING SPORADIC ALL THE TIME AND WITH WINTER COMING EARLY IT'S SCARY. I HOPE SOMETHING IS DONE ABOUT THIS SOON. I BEEN READING ABOUT OTHER PEOPLES PROBLEMS AND THEIR EXACTLY LIKE MINE. SOMEBODY SAID SOMETHING ABOUT A MULTIFUNCTION BOARD TO REPAIR IT. YEAH THEIR 200.00 DOLLARS AND HAVE TO TAKE APART THE STEERING COLUMN. I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY ONE PENNY FOR ALL MY REPAIRS THAT I NEED.. SHAME ON GM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10253704

Incident

Nov 20, 2007

Mileage

50,000 mi

1998 CHEVY S-10 BLAZER WITH 97K MILES AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. THIS WOULD UNFORTUNATELY OCCUR WHEN THE WINDSHIELD WASHER BUTTON WOULD BE PRESSED LEAVING THE WINDSHIELD COMPLETELY COVERED IN SOAPY SOLUTION AND MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO SEE. AFTER VISITING SEVERAL WEBSITES THE ANSWER TO OUR PROBLEM WAS ON THIS LINK HTTP://WWW.AUTOMOTIVEHELPER.COM/TOPIC130258.HTM. THE CONTROL CIRCUIT CARD ATTACHED TO THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR ASSEMBLY HAD CRACKED SOLDER JOINTS ON 7 PINS OF THE HARNESS CONNECTOR. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A SOLDER FATIGUE PROBLEM DUE TO VIBRATION AND TEMPERATURE CYCLING AND THE FACT THAT THE HARNESS CONNECTOR BODY IS LONG AND MADE OF A DIFFERENT MATERIAL THAN THE CIRCUIT CARD LEAVING THE SOLDER JOINTS UNDER STRESS DUE TO MISMATCH OF THERMAL EXPANSION COEFFICIENTS. CONSEQUENTLY, AFTER TEN YEARS THE SOLDER JOINTS FINALLY GAVE UP. THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT THE CIRCUIT CARD IS EASY TO REMOVE (3 TORQUE SCREWS) AND THE SOLDER JOINTS CAN BE SIMPLY REFLOWED WITH A SOLDERING IRON AND FRESH SOLDER. THE SOLDER JOINT CRACKS ARE EASY TO SEE USING A MAGNIFYING GLASS. THE WIPERS ARE NOW WORKING PROPERLY AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10245207

Incident

Jul 15, 2008

Mileage

97,000 mi

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK WHEN THEY WANT. AT TIMES THERE IS NO PROBLEM AT OTHER TIMES THE STOP IN MID CYCLE AND AT OTHER TIMES THE SPEED CONTROL WON'T ALLOW THEM TO SHUT OFF. THIS NORMALLY OCCURS DURING A DOWNPOUR. I HAVE LOOKED AT THE OTHER COMPLAINTS AND WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW MANY IT TAKES BEFORE NTSB DECIDES TO MAKE GM REPAIR AN OBVIOUS SAFETY ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL. *JB

NHTSA ID

10197823

Incident

Jul 7, 2007

Mileage

83,000 mi

ISSUES ONE WOULD NOT EXPECT FROM A 20K PLUS VEHICLE INCLUDING WINDSHIELD WIPER BLADE FAILURE TODAY ("NEAR MISS" ACCIDENT FROM HEAVY RAIN AND TRAFFIC), SMOKE EMITTING FROM STEERING COLUMN, CONTINUOUS INTERMITTENT REPETITIVE SOUNDS EMITTING FROM TURN SIGNAL CONTROLLER(S). SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS HAVE ALL PREVIOUSLY BEEN DESCRIBED IN GREAT DETAIL BY OTHER OWNERS AS: AN INSTRUMENT CLUSTER ISSUE, WIPER CONTROL BOARD, VARIOUS CONNECTORS AND OR HARNESS, MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH, SMOKE CONCERNS ETC. LISTED FROM COMPLAINTS FROM ODI CASE NUMBERS: 743685, 10014026, 10023129, 10030946, 10036610, 10045357, 10060630, 10066061, 10086138, 10086896, 10098912, 10103977, 10112458, 10137415, 549079, 847885, 866953, 874993. *JB

NHTSA ID

10166638

Incident

Aug 27, 2006

Mileage

120,829 mi

1998 CHEVY BLAZER WITH MULTITUDE OF PROBLEMS, WHICH CHEVY DENIES. INCLUDING WIPER FAILURE, BRAKE FAILURE, COMPLETE CORROSION OF ANYTHING TOUCHED BY DEXCOOL, AND ON AND ON. VERY UNSAFE VEHICLE!!!!! *NM

NHTSA ID

10163219

Incident

Jul 23, 2006

SUSPENSION - RIDES ROUGH: REPLACED SHOCKS ELECTRICAL - INTERIOR/EXTERIOR PROBLEMS WITH THE HORN, HEADLIGHTS, DIRECTIONAL, WINDSHIELD WIPERS, AND CAUTION LIGHTS. REPLACED: ELECTRICAL UNIT INSIDE STEERING COLUMN AND OXGEN SENSOR. STEERING - REPLACED: WHEELS, TIRES, ROTORS, BALL JOINTS, AND SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO BALANCE TIRES AND FRONT END ALIGNMENTS WITH NO REAL DIFFERENCE. IDLES - ROUGH. *JB

NHTSA ID

10159032

Incident

Apr 27, 2005

Mileage

118,000 mi

DT: 1998 CHEVROLET BLAZER. THE CONSUMER STATED ON SEPTEMBER 15, 2005 THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE AND IT WAS DESTROYED. THERE HAS BEEN NO INVESTIGATION TO SEE WHERE THE FIRE STARTED. THE CONSUMER STATE FIRE STARTED IN THE ELECTRICAL BOX BECAUSE THAT WAS WHERE IT GOT THE HOTTEST. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING THE SAME PRIOR TO THIS OCCURRENCE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND A REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE CONSUMER DID NOT HAVE THE NUMBER. CHEVROLET HAS BEEN CONTACTED, BUT THEY WERE NOT GOING TO HELP THE CONSUMER.*AK

NHTSA ID

10137415

Incident

Sep 15, 2005

I HAVE OWNED MY '98 BLAZER FOR ABOUT A YEAR, AND IT WAS AND STILL IS A VERY WELL MAINTAINED VEHICLE, BUT THE TURN SIGNAL IS CLICKING AND MAKING ME CRAZY! I ALSO HAVE THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MALFUNCTION, THEY WON'T STOP SOMETIMES. ARE THE MANUFACTURERS GOING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS? I HAVE THE COMPLAINT HISTORY ON THESE TRUCKS AND I THINK IT IS A RATHER LARGE PROBLEM!

NHTSA ID

10112458

Incident

Mar 1, 2004

WE BOUGHT A 1998 CHEVY BLAZER ON DECEMBER 1, 2204, THE ALTERNATOR WAS BAD, THE WIPERS WON'T WORK, WIPER MODULE, AND OIL LEAKS FROM THE OIL COOLER. DRIVERS SIDE DOOR LEAKS AIR BADLY. *NM WIPERS QUIT WORKING IN THE MIDDLE OF A SNOW STORM, ALMOST CAUSING ME TO WRECK THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

10107586

Incident

Jan 9, 2005

Mileage

91,000 mi

MY WIFE AND I HAVE HAD TO MAKE MAJOR REPAIRS TO OUR 1998 BLAZER. WE HAD TO REPLACE THE WATER PUMP ($294.55) IN OCTOBER 2002. THEN, THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING AND GOT WORSE. WE TOOK IT TO AAMCO, WHERE WE WERE INFORMED THAT IT HAD TO BE REBUILT. THIS WAS IN JULY OF 2002. THE TOTAL COST WAS ($2077.37). I INQUIRED THAT SAME MONTH AT CHEVROLET ABOUT RECALLS, AND THEY SAID THAT THERE WERE NONE. SINCE THEN, WE HAVE HAD NUMEROUS MINOR PROBLEMS WITH THE LAME SUV, INCLUDING BROKEN RECLINER HANDLES, STEERING THAT PULLS AND GRINDS, AND A MALFUNCTIONING ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (CLICKING SOUNDS FROM UNDER THE GLOVE BOX, THREE BATTERIES REPLACED). I SAW A REPORT LAST WEEK ABOUT THE USE OF DEXCOOL AND ITS POSSIBLE LINK TO PROBLEMS IN GM VEHICLES. ARE THERE ANY REMEDIES AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME? *AK

NHTSA ID

10098912

Incident

Jul 17, 2002

Mileage

73,939 mi

CONSUMER STATED THAT AT ONE POINT HEADLIGHTS AND FLASHERS WERE NOT WORKING PROPERLY. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AND FOUND THAT THE WAIT WAS TOO LONG. THEN, CONSUMER DECIDED TO TAKE VEHICLE TO A PRIVATE CERTIFIED MECHANIC, AND WAS TOLD BY HIM THAT MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH WAS DEFECTIVE. HAD THIS REPLACED, BUT HAZARD LIGHTS DID NOT WORK HALF THE TIME. ALSO, SOMETHING WAS DRAINING BATTERY BECAUSE VEHICLE WILL NOT START. WENT TO THE WEB, AND FOUND THAT THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL ON VEHICLE. CONSUMER CALLED THE MANUFACTURER, AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT IN THE RECALL. *AK THE VEHICLE BALL JOINTS WERE ALSO REPLACED. *NM

NHTSA ID

10091956

Incident

Sep 13, 2004

WHILE DRIVING,THE VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE, AND NOTICED THAT THE LIGHTS FLASHED ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY. ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE JUMP STARTED THE VEHICLE. THEN, IT WOULD START FOR A MOMENT THEN STOP.*AK THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE ALTERNATOR NEEDED REPLACEMENT DUE TO A CORRODED WIRE. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

NHTSA ID

10094108

Incident

Sep 22, 2004

SMOKING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN WHEN TURN SIGNAL IS BEING USED AND THEN THE TURN SIGNALS REFUSE TO TURN OFF. SEEMS AS THOUGH THERE IS SOME KIND OF A SHORT IN THE BLINKER SYSTEM. IF THIS IS NOT FIXED A FIRE COULD BE IN THE NEAR FUTURE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10086896

Incident

Aug 15, 2004

Mileage

102,000 mi

10/10/2001 REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR - IT WAS OVER CHARGED AND WENT BAD! NOTICED SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS TOO! 12/20/2001 WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING IN HEAVY RAIN. THEN WHEN MOTOR TURNED OFF AND ON AGAIN THEY WORKED, THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING ON AND OFF SINCE THAT TIME, BUT TODAY 06/26/2004 THEY JUST STOPPED ALL TOGETHER - NOTHING HELPED. HAD TO HAVE THE SAME SOLDERING REPAIR DONE AS IN THE 1995 -1997 CHEVROLET S-10 / BLAZERS - WHICH I MIGHT ADD WAS A RECALL. THE SAME PARTS ARE USED IN MOST 1998'S AS WELL. THE RECALL NEEDS TO INCLUDE ALL OF THE COMPONENTS, NOT JUST A FEW OF THEM! ALSO I HAVE HAD SEVERAL DASH PARTS BREAK LOOSE - LIKE THE HATCH DOOR RELEASE / BACK WIPER CONTROL IS JUST SITTING THERE - NOTHING HOLDING IT IN. THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT RECLINER HANDLE FELL OFF - HAD IT PUT BACK ON AT DEALER - THEN IT BROKE OFF. (MAKES BEING A PASSENGER IN MY BLAZER VERY UNCOMFORTABLE) I HAVE NOTICED SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS TOO! THE DRIVERS OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLE - ONE OF THE SCREWS THAT HOLDS IT IN PLACE IS NOT ABLE TO PUT BACK DUE TO PLASTIC IS STRIPPED- SO THE DOOR HANDLE WABBLES. THE HEAT FROM THE SUN HAS BOWED UP THE FRONT WINDSHEILD VENT UNTIL IT IS CRACKED AND BROKEN NOW TOO. I HAVE ALWAYS DRIVEN CHEVROLET'S - BUT HERE LATLEY WITH ALL OF THE PLASTIC THEY ARE USING - I AM BEGINNING TO WONDER IF MY MONEY WOULDN'T BE BETTER SPENT IN ANOTHER MAKE OF VEHICLE. I LOVE THE DESIGN AND ECT. OF THE BLAZER - BUT THE PLASTIC IS NOT HOLDING UP - THIS IS SOME EXPENSIVE PLASTIC TO BE MADE SO CHEAP. IF YOU SHUT THE DOORS HARD AT ALL THE WHOLE TOP OF THE ARM REST POPS UP AND HAS TO BE POPPED BACK IN PLACE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10078829

Incident

Oct 10, 2001

Mileage

48,000 mi

FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR DOES NOT LATCH DUE TO THE BODY OF THE STRIKE PLATE ON DRIVER'S SIDE CAVING IN. *AK THERE WAS A CRACK AROUND THE STICKER PLATE. THE DEALER ADJUSTED THE DRIVER SIDE STICKER PLATE. THE PROBLEM REMAINED THE SAME AFTER ADJUSTMENTS WERE MADE. TWO MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE THE CONSUMER WOULD HEAR RATTLING ON THE PASSENGER AND THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR. THE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT RELEASE, THE ENCODER MOTOR HAD BECOME INOPERATIVE AFTER THE MODULE SHORTED, THE STABILIZER LINK NUTS WERE MISSING, THE LEFT DOOR WOULD RATTLE WHEN DRIVEN OVER BUMPS, WHEN BRAKING, A SQUEALING NOISE WAS HEARD, THERE WAS A HESITATION IN THE TRANSMISSION WHEN CHANGING THE REVERSE, THE "TRIP METER" WAS INOPERATIVE, THE WAS A RATTLE IN THE DASH WHEN DRIVEN OVER BUMPS, THERE WAS AN OIL LEAK, THERE WAS A RATTLE IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION WHEN DRIVEN OVER BUMPS, THE LEFT REAR DOOR WOULD OPEN BY ITSELF, AND THE TAIL GATE RATTLED. *SC *JB

NHTSA ID

10072019

Incident

Mar 12, 2004

Mileage

400 mi

THE CONSUMER PURCHASED NEW TIRES AND WENT TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THEM PUT ON. THE DEALER TOLD HER THAT THEY COULD NOT ALIGN HER VEHICLE UNTIL SHE HAVE THE IDLE ARM, THE BALL JOINTS AND THE LOWER AXLE REPLACE. SHE STATES THEY TOLD HER IT COULD COST APPROX $500.00. SHE STATES SHE IS ALSO HAVING A PROBLEM WITH HER ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE INTERIOR LIGHT DOES NOT COME ON ANY MORE. *NM

NHTSA ID

10074324

Incident

May 26, 2004

UNABLE TO KEEP THE VEHICLE IN ALIGNMENT, NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES WORK HAS BEEN SONE ON IT. SIGNAL ALSO CONTINUES TO MAKE SOUND EVEN WHEN THE BLINKER IS NOT ON.

NHTSA ID

10066061

Incident

Apr 13, 2004

THE TURN SIGNAL ON MY BLAZER WON'T STOP CLICKING. *JB

NHTSA ID

10060630

Incident

Oct 11, 2003

-- PASSENGER SIDE RECLINER HANDLE BROKE -- FRONT BRAKE PADS AND ROTOR HAVE HAD TO BE REPLACED TWICE IN THE 6YRS OF OWNERSHIP -- WINDSHIELD WIPER WORKS ERRATICALLY (STOPPING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDOW) -- THE EXTRA HEAVY DUTY BATTERY DIED AFTER 3 YRS OF OWNERSHIP -- THE ALTERNATOR HAD TO BE REPLACED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10056583

Incident

Dec 1, 2003