1998 CHEVROLET BLAZER Electrical System 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.

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 ,...

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.

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

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.

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

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...

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...

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

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

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

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

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!

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

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

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...

-- 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

PASSENGER SEAT RECLINER LEVER BROKE OFF, REAR DIFFERENTIAL FRONT SEAL LEAKING, TEMPERATURE DISPLAY CHANGES TO CELSIUS WHEN RAINING, TAILGATE COVER BROKE. *LA

TEMPERATURE CHANGES TO CELCIUS WHEN RAINING (REPLACED OUTSIDE SENSOR), REAR AXEL NOISE (NOT FOUND), BINDING IN FRONT END (NOT FOUND), SHIFTING CONCERN (NOT FOUND), COOLENT MISSING (PRESSURE TESTED,NO LEAKS), LOUD NOISE WHEN STARTING (REPLACE STARTER), LEFT MIRROR VIBRATES (REPLACE MIRROR). *AK

VEHICLE STALLED WHEN DRIVING AND WOULD NOT RE-START. THE ENGINE WOULD TURN OVER BUT THERE DIDN'T SEEM TO BE ANY SPARK. CAR HAD FUEL AND I DIDN'T NOTICE ANY EXCESSIVE FUEL SMELL SO RULED OUT FLOODED ENGINE. WAITED 20 MINUTES BUT STILL WOULD NOT START. BATTERY WAS NEARLY DRAINED AFTER JUST A FEW MINUTES OF TRYING TO START THE VEHICLE. SUSPECT ELECTRICAL PROBLEM (ALTERNATOR? SHORT?) BUT HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO DIAGNOSE. LATEST IN A STRING OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS INCLUDING: WIPERS NOT WORKING CONSISTENTLY OR GETTING STUCK, HORN RELAY FAILING DURING ROUTINE DRIVING, REAR SPEAKERS WEAK/INTERMITTENT. OVERALL DISSATISFACTION WITH VEHICLE FOR PRICE. *LA

VEHICLE HEADLIGHTS FAILED. *MR ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASION THE HEAD LIGHTS FAILED. THE FIRST TIME THE LIGHT WOULD NOT COME ON THE SECOND TIME THE HEADLIGHT WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING IN THE EARLY EVENING. *SCC *NLM

ON MY 1998 BLAZER THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD WORK INTERMITTENTLY. MY HUSBAND WOULD WIGGLE THE WIRING HARNESS AND THEY WOULD START UP AGAIN BUT ONLY FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME (USUALLY MINUTES). CHEVROLET MORAN 586-791-1010 SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL AND THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THE CIRCUIT BOARD. *NLM

SOMETIMES WHEN YOU ARE USING THE WIPERS THEY WILL JUST STOP. OR SOMETIMES THEY WILL NOT COME ON WHEN NEEDED. YOU HAVE TO KEEP MESSING WITH THEM TO GET THEM TO WORK. WHEN THE WIPERS DO NOT WORK NEITHER DOES THE HEADLIGHTS.....*NLM

CHEVY'S MOTTO FOR THEIR TRUCKS ON THEIR WEBSITE IS...... " THE MOST DEPENDABLE LONG LASTING TRUCKS ON THE ROAD " I BOUGHT A 1998 CHEVY BLAZER IN DECMBER 2001 ...........THIS TRUCK IS NOT DEPENDABLE NOR IS IT LONG LASTING. I HAVE BEEN CONCERNED ABOUT THE RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE. A REPRESENTATIVE FROM CHEVY TOLD ME THAT MY VEHICLES VIN # WAS NOT PART OF THIS RECALL. IS THERE ANY WAY I CAN VERIFY THIS WITHOUT HAVING TO PAY FOR IT? MY VIN # IS [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE AT THE BACK .*JB INVESTIGATOR BELIEVES THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY ELECTRICAL DISTRIBUTION. *YH

VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED CONTINUED FAILURE OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES/INDICATORS, SIX ATTEMPTS TO CORRECT MALFUNCTIONS HOWEVER CONTINUES TO FAIL DUE TO POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL FAILURE. MJS