1999 Chevrolet Blazer Exterior lighting Problems

1999 CHEVROLET BLAZER LT - MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH (COMMON PROBLEM!) IS MALFUNCTIONING. TURN SIGNAL/FLASHER RELAY IS CONSTANTLY CLICKING WHETHER SIGNALS ARE IN USE OR NOT -- UNLESS THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. GOOD SIGN OF AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. THE CAUSE OF THIS ISSUE IS THE GREASE INSIDE THE SWITCH, APPLIED AT THE FACTORY, RUNNING FROM CONTACT TO CONTACT. THIS SWITCH INCLUDES THE WIPERS, CRUISE CONTROL, TURN SIGNALS, HAZARDS, AND CAN ALSO CAUSE VEHICLE LIGHTING (HEADLIGHTS, BRAKE LIGHTS) TO MALFUNCTION. MANY CASES INCLUDE NON-WORKING BRAKE LIGHTS! OTHERS HAVE REPORTED SMOKE COMING FROM THE SWITCH AS THE CONTACTS ARE SHORTED BY THE GREASE. I INHERITED THIS VEHICLE FROM MY GRANDFATHER, WHO COULDN'T HEAR THE RELAY FIRING -- IT IS THE ONLY INDICATOR INSIDE THE VEHICLE THAT SOMETHING MAY BE GOING WRONG. THERE ARE NO VISIBLE INDICATORS INSIDE THE VEHICLE LETTING A PERSON KNOW THEIR LIGHTS ARE MALFUNCTIONING. AS THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THIS YEAR OF BLAZER (THOUGH I UNDERSTAND OTHER YEARS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM RECALLED), I WILL BE REPLACING THE SWITCH ON MY OWN. DEALER QUOTED THE PRICE FOR THE PART ALONE WELL OUT OF MY PRICE RANGE (NEVERMIND LABOR), SO I'M GOING TO HAVE TO SHOP AROUND TO GET THE VEHICLE IN SAFE DRIVING CONDITION. THANKS FOR READING. I APPRECIATE IT! *TR

NHTSA ID

10483606

Incident

Nov 5, 2012

Mileage

140,000 mi

TURN SIGNAL INDICATOR CLICKS WHEN TURN SIGNALS NOT IN USE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10447900

Incident

Feb 11, 2012

Mileage

120,000 mi

THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH IN MY 1999 CHEVY BLAZER LS IS MALFUNCTIONING. DURING DRIVING, THE BLINKER SOUND IS CONSTANTLY CLICKING WHETHER OR NOT I AM MAKING A TURN OR ENABLING MY SAFETY HAZARD LIGHTS. WHEN I APPLY THE BRAKES ON THE CAR, THE CLICKING SOUND TEMPORARILY STOPS. WHEN I DRIVE AGAIN, THE CLICKING SOUND STARTS AGAIN. THIS MALFUNCTION GIVES THE DRIVER THE FALSE INDICATION THAT THEIR TURN SIGNALS IS ON, WHEN IT IS ACTUALLY NOT ON, AND CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10302292

Incident

Jan 14, 2010

Mileage

95,700 mi

I HAVE 2 BLAZERS 1999 AND BOTH HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM A FAILING MULTI FUNCTION SWITCH THAT MAKES AN ANNOYING CONSTANT CLICKING SOUND THAT COME FROM BEHIND THE GLOVE BOX. I HAD ONE REPAIRED LAST YEAR THAT COST ME OVER 600$ AND NOW MY OTHER BLAZER IS HAVING THE ME THE SAME PROBLEM .THE PART THEY HAVE CHANGE IS THE ARM FOR THE FLASHER RIGHT /LEFT IN WITCH INCLUDES THE CRUISE CONTROL HIGH BEAM LIGHT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10302290

Incident

Jan 20, 2010

Mileage

129,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET BLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS BRAKE LIGHTS HAVE FAILED TO OPERATE NORMALLY. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE HAZARD SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WERE NO RELATED RECALLS OR WARRANTIES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,506.

NHTSA ID

10298128

Incident

Nov 19, 2009

Mileage

95,506 mi

MULTI FUNCTION SWITCH ON 1999 BLAZER JUST COST US $591.23 TO FIX AND IS RECALLED ON OTHER YEAR MODELS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10273920

Incident

Jun 1, 2009

Mileage

138,500 mi

'99 BLAZER ZR2 MY DAUGHTERS FIRST CAR, SHE PAYING FOR HERSELF. HAS THE MOST ANNOYING BLINKER NOISE UNDER PASSENGER SIDE DASH. IN RESEARCH HAVE FOUND THAT 100S OF OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME VERY EXPENSIVE FIX. IT CONSISTS OF A MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH WITH THE COST OF UPTO $700. I FEEL THAT CHEVROLET (GMC) SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR SOME OF THIS REPAIR--IT OBVIOUSLY IS A PROBLEM WITH A DESIGN OR A DEFECTED PART. IF YOU CHECK THE INTERNET IT IS JUST LOADED WITH PEOPLE DEALING WITH THIS. IN ADDITION TO THIS THAT SAME YEAR BLAZER SEEMS TO HAVE SOME TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AND BEARINGS AT THE 70,000 MIL RANGE.....SOMETHING ISN'T RIGHT HERE. WE JUST DID THE BEARINGS FOR THE $400 PRICE TAG. PLEASE HELP THIS YOUNG GIRL, SHE IS TRYING TO THE RIGHT THING, LETS HELP HER DO IT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10259112

Incident

Feb 9, 2009

Mileage

70,000 mi

I HAVE A 1999 CHEVY BLAZER WITH 89,000 MILES AND IT SEEMS THE MULTI FUNCTION SWITCH IS FAILING. MY TURN SIGNAL BEEPING DOES NOT TURN OFF WHEN I NOT USING THE TURN SIGNAL. I HEARD THIS ALSO WILL EVENTUALLY CAUSE A DELAY WITH THE TURN SIGNAL THAT COULD EVENTUALLY BE A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10255404

Incident

Jan 16, 2009

Mileage

89,000 mi

THERE IS A CONSTANT BLINKING NOISE COMING FROM MY GLOVE BOX. WHEN PRESSING ON THE BREAK IT QUITS. BY LOOKING UP INFORMATION ON THE INTERNET I FOUND OUT IT IS THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH. THERE WERE RECALLS ON OTHER YEARS BUT NOT 1999 BLAZERS. ITS VERY EXPENSIVE TO FIX. THERE WAS ONE ON 1998 BLAZERS I BELIEVE. I HAVE A 99 CHEVY BLAZER. HAS HAPPENED SINCE I BOUGHT IT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10242842

Incident

Feb 9, 2008

Mileage

100,000 mi

SIGNAL SWITCH LOCATED BEHIND GLOVE BOX CLICKS ERRATICALLY - THIS IS THE 2 ND TIME SINCE I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED - THE FIRST TIME WAS A $400 REPAIR BILL...I THINK I WILL TRY TO LET IT DRIVE ME ABSOLUTELY CRAZY BEFORE REPLACING IT THIS TIME. *TR

NHTSA ID

10226605

Incident

Mar 8, 2008

THE MULTI FUNCTION SWITCH LOCATED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE UNDER THE DASH IS PROBLEMATIC. THE FAILURE OF THE SWITCH RESULTS IN THE RAPID CLICKING NOISE THAT CAN BE HEARD FROM BEHIND THE GLOVE BOX ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THIS IS SUCH A COMMON PROBLEM I CAN NOT BELIEVE THERE IS NOT A RECALL. THIS IS THE SECOND GM OF THIS MODEL THAT MY FAMILY HAS OWNED WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10224034

Incident

Oct 25, 2006

Mileage

96,663 mi

THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH HAS MALFUNCTIONED AND CAUSED A TICKING UNDER THE DASHBOARD. *TR

NHTSA ID

10223260

Incident

Mar 27, 2008

THE ONLY CONTINUING PROBLEM IS THIS: MOST CARS HAVE A FEW ITEMS THAT ARE TYPICAL FAILURE POINTS, AND WE'VE FOUND ONE. THE COMBINATION SWITCH (TURN SIGNAL, CRUISE, WIPER/WASHER, FLASHER) ON THE BLAZER IS AT THE TOP OF THE LIST. WE'VE FOUND THAT IT'S VERY COMMON FOR THE FLASHER RELAY (UNDER THE DASH, RIGHT SIDE) TO START CLICKING ENDLESSLY AND AUDIBLY WHILE NO LIGHTS ARE FLASHING. TURNS OUT THE BLAZERS COMBINATION SWITCH IS THE PROBLEM. IT'S USUALLY EITHER FAILURE IN THE TURN SIGNAL STALK, OR CONTACT PROBLEMS WITH THE EMERGENCY FLASHER SWITCH MOUNTED ON TOP OF THE STEERING COLUMN. IF YOU REMOVE THE SHROUD, YOU'LL FIND THE SWITCH ASSEMBLY AND TURN SIGNAL STALK MUST BE REPLACED AS A UNIT. I DON'T KNOW DEALER PRICES, BUT THE PART ON THE AFTERMARKET STARTS ABOUT $140 AND GOES UP TO $250 OR SO DEPENDING ON THE SPECIFIC MODEL AND OPTIONS (TILT, CRUISE, ETC). LABOR WILL ADD AT LEAST ANOTHER HOUR IF YOU CAN'T TEAR DOWN THE STEERING COLUMN FAR ENOUGH TO DO IT YOURSELF. THIS PROBLEM IS SO COMMON THAT IT'S A TOPIC OF DISCUSSION ON BLAZER AND S10 DISCUSSION BOARDS, BUT DON'T EXPECT A DEALER ADJUSTMENT. IF IT HAPPENS TO YOU, EXPECT TO PAY FOR A REPAIR. IN SOME CASES OWNERS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SPRAY GENEROUS AMOUNTS OF CONTACT CLEANER INTO THE SWITCH AND STOP THE RELAY CLICKING, BUT IT'S A VERY HIT-OR-MISS PROPOSITION AND YOU HAVE TO BE LUCKY TO AVOID REPLACING THE SWITCH. HOWEVER, IF THIS IS THE BIGGEST PROBLEM YOU EVER HAVE WITH THE VEHICLE, LIFE ISN'T THAT BAD! ALSO THIS SAME SWITCH CAUSING THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO NOT WORK. SIMILAR TO WHAT HAS BEEN ALREADY RECALLED FOR THE 2000-2002 BLAZERS. I HAVE NO BRAKE LIGHTS AND IT WILL COST ME $300 TO REPAIR DUE TO A FAULTY SWITCH.*JB

NHTSA ID

10166976

Incident

Aug 29, 2006

1999 CHEVROLET BLAZER LS: APPROXIMATELY 120,000 MILES (4-DOOR /4WD) CONSTANT TURN SIGNAL/HAZARD RELAY WHILE VEHICLE IS RUNNING. ODI ID# 10043711 THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH SEEMS TO BE THE SOURCE AS SEEN IN MANY ON-LINE FORUMS/DISCUSSION GROUPS. MOST ARE DATED, 2001-2003 TIME FRAME. I AM JUST WONDERING IF ANY RESOLUTION HAS BEEN MADE FOR THIS ISSUE. I AM IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING THE VEHICLE LOOKED AT, WHILE AT THE SHOP I WAS ASKED BY THE DEALER TO USE OPPORTUNITY TO ADD MY COMPLAINT TO THE ODI ID# 10043711 ISSUE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10147254

Incident

Nov 20, 2005

DT: THE CONTACT COMPLAINED ABOUT MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. THE 4-WHEEL DRIVE ACTUATION MOTOR WAS REPLACED. THE HEATER CORE BECAME BLOCKED AND WAS FLUSHED BY THE DEALER. THE STEERING BOX AND PITMAN ARM WERE REPLACED. ALSO, THE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS WERE REPLACED. THE HEADLIGHTS BECAME DIM. THE REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER STOPPED WORKING. THE DEALER PERFORMED NUMEROUS REPAIRS, AND COULD NOT OFFER AN EXPLANATION AS TO WHY THESE PROBLEMS OCCURRED AT SUCH LOW MILEAGE. THE VEHICLE IS REMAINED AT THE DEALER AWAITING REPAIRS ON THE REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER. ALSO, REPLACED LOOSE FRONT HUBS. *AK

NHTSA ID

10144437

Incident

Aug 1, 2003

Mileage

15,421 mi

1999 CHEVROLET BLAZER 2WD / 4 DOOR BOUGHT USED 5/2004. SUDDEN ONSET OF UNCONTROLLABLE "CLICKING" OF TURN SIGNAL FLASHER UNIT / CONTROLLER SWITCH. THIS HAS CONTINUED FOR THE LAST MONTH. SMOKE WAS RECENTLY PRODUCED FROM STEERING COLUMN. TURN SIGNAL NOISE IS NOT ONLY ANNOYING, IT IS DISTRACTING AND POTENTIALLY UNSAFE, ESPECIALLY WHEN DRIVING IN TRAFFIC NEAR CROWDED INTERSECTIONS. I HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT 2000-2002 BLAZERS HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR SIGNAL CONTROLLER PROBLEMS, BUT NOT 1999. GM HOLDS THAT THE MALFUNCTIONING SIGNAL CONTROLLER IS NOT A SAFETY PROBLEM, I DISAGREE.*JB

NHTSA ID

10109823

Incident

Dec 1, 2004

WHEN TURNING IN EITHER DIRECTION THE TURN SIGNALS CONTINUED TO FLASH AFTER A COMPLETE TURN. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

NHTSA ID

10096841

Incident

Oct 1, 2004

Mileage

73,400 mi

THE HAZARD WARNING SWITCH HAS A DEFECT WHICH CAUSES THE HAZARD FLASHER TO FUNCTION WHILE RIDING DOWN THE ROAD. THE LIGHTS DO NOT COME ON, BUT YOU CAN HERE THE FLASHER CLICKING, AND IT GETS WORSE OVER TIME. THE POTENTIAL EXISTS FOR THE SWITCH TO REACH THE POINT WHERE THE HAZARD FLASHERS COME ON DURING NORMAL DRIVING.*AK

NHTSA ID

10081079

Incident

Feb 1, 2004

Mileage

65,000 mi

THE TURN SIGNAL, HAZARD LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT ENGAGED PREMATURELY DUE TO A MALFUNCTION WITHIN MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH. THIS OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING AND COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *AK *SC THE MANUFACTURER ISSUED A RECALL, HOWEVER THE CONSUMERS YEAR OF VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED.*JB

NHTSA ID

10066791

Incident

Mar 18, 2004

Mileage

71,000 mi

FOLLOWING IS PART OF THE BACKGROUND FIRST SUBMITTED 9/6 TO CHEVY FOR A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE WITH OUR 1999 BLAZER ... CLOSELY RELATED TO A RECENT GM RECALL FOR FAULTY HAZARD AND TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS. OUR HAZARD/BLINKER FLASHER JUST STARTED (9/1) TURNING ON/CLICKING INTERMITTENTLY FOR NO APPARENT REASON ... DOING SO RANDOMLY ABOUT HALF THE TIME. THIS CONCERNS US FOR OUR SAFETY ... AS WE ARE NOW CONSTANTLY MAKING BOTH KINDS OF MAJOR SAFETY ERRORS THAT CAN HAPPEN WITH THIS DEFECT: WE FREQUENTLY THINK THE BLINKERS ARE ON FOR A TURN WERE MAKING, WHEN IN REALITY THEY ARE NOT, BUT THE FLASHER IS CLICKING JUST LIKE THEY ARE ON, SO WE WRONGLY THINK THEY ARE ON. THE OTHER ERROR IS THAT WE HAVE ACCIDENTALLY TURNED THE BLINKERS ON AND DON'T REALIZE IT SINCE THE FLASHING NOISE IS HAPPENING SO MUCH. THE MAJOR REASON FOR OUR CONCERN IS A STATEMENT FROM OUR LOCAL CHEVY SERVICE TECH AROUND OUR EXACT ISSUE ... AS OUR EXACT CONCERNS/ISSUES STEM FROM A WELL KNOWN/DOCUMENTED SAFETY ISSUE WITH BLAZERS (PER THE WORDS OF OUR CHEVY SERVICE TECH AROUND OUR EXACT ISSUE, & THIS HAS BEEN A BIG/MAJOR PROBLEM WITH BLAZERS & ... AND '90% OF THE TIME A DEFECTIVE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH/CONTACTS IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE IDENTICAL SYMPTOMS WE WERE EXPERIENCING', AND INDEED UNIQUE TO CHEVY/GMC.) GIVEN HOW EMPHATIC/HONEST THE SERVICE TECH WAS WITH US, YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO READILY SUBSTANTIATE HIS STATEMENT THROUGH CHEVY'S RECORDS AROUND REPAIRS FOR THIS PROBLEM. AS SUCH, OUR SAFETY ISSUE IS CLEARLY: A WELL KNOWN/DOCUMENTED SAFETY DESIGN ISSUE WITH BLAZERS, AND RELATED TO THE RECENT SAFETY RECALL FOR GM FLASHERS; WITH OUR BLAZER ONLY A YEAR OFF OF THE RECALLED VEHICLE AGE; UNIQUE TO CHEVY, AND AS SUCH, NOT 'NORMAL WEAR/TEAR THAT SHOULD BE EXPECTED'). WE VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO FORWARD OUR CONCERNS TO YOUR AGENCY, AND LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU ON YOUR LATITUDE TO PURSUE THIS FURTHER AFTER CONTINUAL REJECTIONS FROM CHEVY. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE. *AK *JB *CB

NHTSA ID

10043711

Incident

Sep 1, 2003

Mileage

51,000 mi

CONSUMER ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE'S HEAD, TAIL AND INTERIOR LIGHTS WILL BRIGHTEN AND DIM WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING. FINALLY ON 11-4-02 ALL VEHICLE LIGHTS FAILED COMPLETELY. TS

NHTSA ID

8022209

Incident

Nov 4, 2002

CONSUMER STATES ALMOST REAR ENDED WHEN BRAKE LIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE. THIRD LIGHT WORKS BUT OTHER TWO WORK ON AND OFF. DEALER FOUND MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH IS SHORTED OUT. *TT

NHTSA ID

565831

Incident

Apr 16, 2002

LIGHTS ON DASHBOARD FOR 4X4/2X4 BEGAN FLASHING WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE WAS IN NORMAL MODE. ALSO, SERVICE 4 WD DRIVE LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK TO COUNTRY CEHVROLET IN WARRENTON, VA-ADVISED OF 4WD PROBLEM ALSO ADVISED CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON, HEADLIGHTS DIM OCCASSIONALLY WHEN DRIVING. IN ADDITION, WHEN ENGINE IS TURNED OFF AND RADIO REMAINS ON, BATTERY DIED 2 TIMES. MECHANIC FOUND CIRCUIT 1133 SHORTED TO STEERING COLUMN BRACKET, REPLACED WIRE. PROBLEM REOCCURRED IMMEDIATELY. RETURNED TO COUNTRY CHEV-RECHECKED AND REPLACED WIRING. 4WD LIGHTS STILL FLASH. UNABLE TO DETERMINE TROUBLE.*AK

NHTSA ID

752600

Incident

Sep 7, 2001

VEHICLE LIGHTING SYSTEM, INCLUDING DASH, INTERIOR LIGHTS, HEAD LIGHTS, ETC, WILL BLINK ERRADICALLY. THE MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, AND HAS INDICATED THAT IT COULD BE THE ABS SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONING, OR SOMETHING ELSE, THEY ARE UNSURE. I HAVE CONTACTED GM ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS FOR UPDATES. THEY PROVIDE NOTHING.*AK

NHTSA ID

742298

Incident

Aug 17, 1999

PROBLEM WITH LANE CHANGE FEATURE IN TURN SIGNAL SWITCH. LANE CHANGE SIGNAL WILL OPERATE FRONT OR REAR SIGNAL INDICATOR INDEPENTALTY OR JUST GIVE AUDIO ACKNOWLEDGE FOR FLASH WITH NO INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. IN MANY CASES THE ONLY INDICATION IS THE FLASHER WILL FLASH AT A MORE RAPID RATE. MANY GM CARS AND TRUCKS HAVE THIS PROBLEM AND IT IS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE THE OPERATOR DOES NOT KNOW THAT AN INDICATOR IS NOT ILLUMINATED BECAUSE THE DASH INDICATOR IS OPERATING AND ONE OR MORE OUTSIDE (FRONT OR REAR) INDICATORS WILL NOT BE OPERATING.

NHTSA ID

739377

Incident

Jan 15, 2001