RoadVitals

1998 Chevrolet Blazer Exterior lighting Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the exterior lighting system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Exterior lighting reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
38
Latest Jul 23, 2014
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
5%
of 716 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
10

What this page shows

Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1998 Chevrolet Blazer submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 38 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming exterior lighting

The 25 most recent of 38, in the owner's own words

ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Jul 23, 2014

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
Exterior lighting
Filed Mar 26, 2009

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET BLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH CONTINUES TO OPERATE AFTER SHE MANUALLY TURNS OFF THE SWITCH. THE FAILURE COULD PREVENT HER FROM WARNING THE DRIVER'S IN THE REAR THAT THE VEHICLE IS BRAKING AND/OR STOPPED, WHICH COULD CAUSE A CRASH. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY BECAUSE THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V231000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH). THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 120,000.

NHTSA ID
10263186
Incident
Feb 26, 2008
Mileage
120,000 mi
BrakesExterior lightingVisibility
Filed Aug 19, 2007

ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE VEHICLE IN LIGHT RAIN. WIPERS WOULD NOT TURN ON. ON A LATER OCCASION, FRIENDS WERE FOLLOWING BEHIND MY VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE (THIRD BRAKE LIGHT WAS WORKING). ALSO NOTICED THAT HAZARDS LAMPS WERE NOT WORKING EITHER. *TR

NHTSA ID
10200044
Incident
Aug 7, 2007
Mileage
130,900 mi
ElectricalExterior lightingVisibility
Filed Aug 27, 2006

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
AirbagsBody & structureBrakes+8 more
Filed Jul 23, 2006

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
Interior & seatsExterior lighting
Filed May 7, 2005

BLINKER NOISE PERSISTS EVEN WHEN BLINKERS ARE TURNED OFF. SOUND DISAPEARS AFTER ENGAGING BRAKE PEDAL THEN PERSISTS WHEN BREAK PEDAL IS RELEASED. IN A HEAVY RAIN STORM, HAD TO USE WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND AFTER A FEW MINUTES OF USE WHITE SMOKE CAME FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. TALKED TO A GM MECHANIC WHO TOLD ME THAT THIS PROBLEM COULD CAUSE MY AIRBAG TO DEPLOY - A REAL LIABILITY. CALLED GM TO EXPLAIN THE PROBLEM & POSSIBLE LIABILITY OF AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT (CASE #1-333564043) & WAS TOLD THAT BECAUSE OF THE BLAZER BEING A 1998 THERE MAY BE NONTHING THEY CAN DO. THE SAME MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH WAS MADE IN MEXICO FOR 1998-2001 MODELS AND IF IT DISFUNCTIONS CAN CAUSE BREAK LIGHTS NOT TO WORK AS WELL AS MAJOR ELECTRICAL ISSUES LIKE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT OR FIRE - WOULDN'T THIS BE A RECALL FOR ALL MODELS THAT HAVE THE PART?

NHTSA ID
10120179
Incident
May 2, 2005
Mileage
59,906 mi
Exterior lightingSuspensionTransmission+1 more
Filed Apr 28, 2005

THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH WOULD NOT SHUT OFF AND THE CONSUMER COULD STILL HEAR THE CLICKING NOISE. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK THE HEATER WAS LEAKING, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER WERE INOPERATIVE, THE REAR END HAD GONE OUT AND THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. A NEW SWITCH WAS PLACED ONTO THE TRANSFER CASE AND THE DIFFERENTIAL ASSEMBLY WAS REMOVED AND REPLACED. *SC *JB

NHTSA ID
10117169
Incident
Apr 1, 2005
Mileage
57,000 mi
Exterior lightingVisibility
Filed Feb 20, 2005

1) WINDSHIELD WIPERS NOT WORKING CONSISTENTLY IF THEY WORK AT ALL. HAVE HAD TO STOP DRIVING DURING THE RAIN OR SNOW BECAUSE OF INABILITY TO SEE. 2) TURN SIGNAL MAKES CLICKING SOUND EVEN WHEN NOT IN USE. *JB HAVE PAID TO HAVE THE PROBLEMS REPAIRED TO NO AVAIL. THEY BOTH CONTINUE TO MALFUNCTION.

NHTSA ID
10111828
Incident
Jan 1, 2005
Exterior lighting
Filed Feb 1, 2005

CONSTANT TURN SIGNAL CLICKING NOISE WHEN SIGNAL IS NOT ENGAGED. NO LIGHTS FLASH. CLICKING ONLY STOPS WHEN BRAKE IS APPLIED. *AK

NHTSA ID
10108374
Incident
Jan 24, 2005
Mileage
85,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lightingSuspension
Filed Oct 1, 2004

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
BrakesExterior lighting
Filed Aug 24, 2004

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER WAS STOPPED BY POLICE DUE TO THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE BRAKE LIGHTS AND HAZARD LIGHTS BEING OUT. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT ON A RECALL. CONSUMER HAD TO PAY FOR REPAIRS. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE LOWER BRAKE LIGHTS WERE IN-OPERATIVE. *TC

NHTSA ID
10089626
Incident
Aug 24, 2004
Exterior lightingVisibility
Filed Mar 23, 2004

WIPERS ARE WORKING RARELY AND DIRECTIONAL SOUNDS WHEN DIRECTIONALS ARE OFF.*AK

NHTSA ID
10063749
Incident
Jan 16, 2004
Mileage
144,500 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Mar 1, 2004

TURN SIGNAL FLASHER UNIT CONTINUES TO "CLICK" WHEN TURN SIGNALS ARE NOT IN USE. LIGHTS DO NOT FLASH. CLICKING STOPS WHEN BRAKES APPLIED. APPEARS THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN ONGOING IN GM SUV'S SINCE MID 80'S. RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR SOME 2000-2002 GM SUV'S. PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE WITH THE LUBRICANT USED IN THE TURN SIGNAL MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH. GM FIX IS TO REPLACE SWITCH AND WAIT FOR NEXT FAILURE. *AK

NHTSA ID
10060101
Incident
Feb 26, 2004
Exterior lighting
Filed Feb 17, 2004

I HAVE A 1998 CHEVY BLAZER 2-DOOR S10. I HAVE A PROBLEM W/ MY TURN SIGNALS. THE TURN SIGNALS WORK FINE, BUT THE CLICKING SOUND THAT GOES W/ THE TURN SIGNAL IS CONSTANTLY CLICKING, IT BEGAN WHEN THE TRUCK ONLY HAD ABOUT 35,000 MILES ON IT, JUST AFTER THE WARRANTY ENDED. I'VE REPLACED 2 DIFFERENT PARTS ON IT AND IT HAS STILL CONTINUED. *JB

NHTSA ID
10058309
Incident
Mar 1, 2000
Mileage
35,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Dec 20, 2003

1998 CHEVY BLAZER FLASHERS MALFUNCTIONING. THE "CLICKING" SOUND MADE WHILE FLASHERS ARE OPERATING CONTINUES EVEN AFTER FLASHERS ARE TURNED OFF. THE CLICKING SOUND IS CONSTANT WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE. *LA

NHTSA ID
10050827
Incident
Nov 1, 2003
Mileage
77,900 mi
Exterior lightingVisibility
Filed Dec 2, 2003

TURN SIGNAL INDICATOR CONTINUES TO "CLICK" AFTER TURN SIGNAL HAS BEEN SHUT OFF. IT CLICKS RANDOMLY WHILE DRIVING WHEN THE TURN SIGNAL HAS NOT BEEN ACTIVATED. AS WITH OTHER 1998 BLAZERS, THE WINDSHEILD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY, USUALLY THEY DO NOT SHUT OFF FOR SEVERAL MINUTES.*AK

NHTSA ID
10049072
Incident
Nov 30, 2003
Mileage
117,750 mi
Driver assistanceEngineExterior lighting+2 more
Filed Nov 7, 2003

WIPERS DO NOT WORK AT TIMES, TURN SIGNAL SWITCH NOT WORKING, ENGINE IDLES ROUGH, LOUD SOUND DURING ACCELERATION, FRONT END LOOSE. *LA

NHTSA ID
10045688
Incident
Nov 4, 2002
Mileage
72,455 mi
Driver assistanceExterior lightingVisibility
Filed Aug 4, 2003
10 deaths reported

THERE WAS A RECALL ON OUR 1995 S-10 TRUCK AND OUR 1998 CHEVROLET BLAZIER HAS THE EXACT SAME PART AND IS ALSO DEFECTIVE ALSO. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON OUR 1998 BLAZIER DONOT WORK SOME TIMES THEY WON'T WORK OTHER TIMES AND SOMETIMES THEY WON'T SHUT OFF. OUR GAS PEDAL STICKS WHEN YOU TRY TO TAKE OFF.*AK

NHTSA ID
10030756
Incident
Jan 1, 2003
Mileage
140,000 mi
Interior & seatsExterior lighting
Filed Jun 3, 2003

AS REPORTED IN "ODI ID NUMBER : 758908" I ALSO AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH DOME LIGHT COMING ON FOR NO REASON, THE NOISE FOR THE TURN SIGNAL WOULD COME ON WITHOUT THE TURN SIGNAL BEING ON (MY TURN SIGNALS WORKED PERFECTLY FINE) AND THE HANDLE YOU USE TO ADJUST THE SEAT BACK BROKE OFF ON PASSENGER FRONT SEAT.*AK

NHTSA ID
10020939
Incident
Jun 3, 2003
ElectricalInterior & seatsExterior lighting+2 more
Filed May 22, 2003

BOUGHT CAR BRAND NEW. DRIVERS SIDE MIRROR CONSISTENTLY VIBRATES - HAD REPLACED TWICE - DEALER WOULD NOT REPLACE A THIRD TIME DUE TO BUG SHIELD BEING INSTALLED. IT STILL VIBRATES. JUNE 2001 - DOOR LOCKS WENT NUTS. THEY WOULD LOCK AND UNLOCK THEMSELVES WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD OR WHILE PARKED - WITH KEYS IN IT. MARCH 2003 - BLINKER SWITCH WENT CRAZY. IT WOULD NOT STOP CLICKING - WHOLE DASH HAD TO BE TAKEN OUT TO REPLACE SWITCH - NOT A CHEAP THING! MAY 2003 - ALTERNATOR WENT OUT AND RUINED BATTERY. ALMOST CAUSED A CAR FIRE. TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAK. NOT YET FIXED BECAUSE OF UNKNOWN CAUSE OF PROBLEM. *NLM

NHTSA ID
10019097
Incident
May 21, 2003
EngineInterior & seatsExterior lighting+1 more
Filed Feb 12, 2003

OIL COILER LINES LEAKED FROM THE DAY I BOUGHT IT FROM THE DEALER. DEALER DEFINITELY KNEW AND CLEANED IT UP BEFORE I GOT IT. 1ST SET OF LINES FROM RADIATOR TO OIL FILTER REPLACED A FEW MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE IN 2001. SECOND SET FROM FILTER TO MOTOR NOW NEED REPLACING. EVIDENTLY, THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. WIPERS HAVE THEIR OWN AGENDA. WITH THE MIST SETTING TO CLEAN WINDOWS, WIPERS STAY ON FOR AS LONG AS THEY WANT. WITH THE SECOND MIST, THEY DON'T STAY ON AS LONG. BY THE THIRD MIST, WIPERS ACT NORMAL. ALWAYS HAPPENS. TURN SIGNAL FLASHER SOUND STARTED WITHOUT THE USE OF THE TURN SIGNAL. IT STAYS ON FOR RANDOM LENGTHS OF TIME, AND MAKES THE SOUND IN REGULAR, AND IRREGULAR PATTERNS. REPLACING MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH - AS SEVERAL HAVE BEFORE ME. DEALER KNEW EXACTLY WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. TRANFER CASE LEAKS LUBE. 4-WHEEL DRIVE MESSED UP BECAUSE OF EMPTY CASE. ADDED LUBE AND HOPE NO TRANMISSION PROBLEMS ARRISE. CV JOINT REPLACED 4 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE. HOOD LATCH ABOUT TO BREAK. WHEN PULLING ON LEAVER, BARELY IS ABLE TO POP HOOD. FEELS LIKE WIRE IS GOING TO SNAP. WAITING FOR THE NEXT PROBLEM TO OCCUR - IT HAS BEEN NONSTOP. GM DESIGNED A TERRIBLE VEHICLE. I AM VERY DISSATISFIED AND I REGRET EVER BUYING IT.

NHTSA ID
10005732
Incident
Apr 14, 2001
BrakesExterior lighting
Filed Feb 10, 2003

FAULTY MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH. CONTROLS THE HAZARD AND BRAKE LIGHT OPERATION.

NHTSA ID
10019837
Incident
Feb 10, 2003
ElectricalExterior lightingTransmission
Filed Jul 28, 2002

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
764845
Incident
May 1, 2001
Exterior lighting
Filed Jun 25, 2002

WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH AT NIGHT HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT,. VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN EXAMINED BY DEALER.*AK

NHTSA ID
8012547
Incident
Jun 22, 2002
Exterior lightingTransmissionVisibility
Filed Jun 7, 2002

TRANSMISSION REPLACED AFTER 2 YEARS OF HASSLE, NEW TRANSMISSION SHIFTS HARD BUT DEALER STATES ALL TRANSMISSIONS RUN THAT WAY. TURN SIGNAL/WINDSHIELD WIPER MODULE REPLACED TWICE, TURN SIGNAL CONTINUED TO CLICK AFTER TURNED OFF, WINDSHIELD WIPERS TURNED ON BY ITSELF. DRIVER'S MIRROR REPLACED TWICE DUE TO VIBRATION AND CONTINUES TO VIBRATE, DEALER REFUSED TO REPLACE A THIRD TIME DUE TO A BUGSHIELD BEING INSTALLED EVEN THOUGH MIRROR VIBRATED BEFORE BUGSHIELD WAS INSTALLED. VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT AT GRUBBS CHEVROLET BUT HAS BEEN SERVICED FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS AT LOWE CHEVROLET IN WAYNESVILLE MO.

NHTSA ID
762785
Incident
Aug 1, 2001

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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