NHTSA Complaint #10483606 — 1999 CHEVROLET BLAZER

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