Problems · by component

1998 Chevrolet Blazer exterior lighting problems

40 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1998 Chevrolet Blazer cite exterior lighting, 5% of all 734 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
40
5% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the exterior lighting

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 23, 2014Electrical system, Exterior lightingODI 10615661
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 26, 2009Exterior lightingODI 10263186
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 19, 2007Exterior lighting, VisibilityODI 10200044
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 27, 2006Electrical system, Exterior lighting, VisibilityODI 10166638
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 23, 2006Steering, Suspension, Service brakes, hydraulic, Engine and engine cooling, Fuel system, gasoline, Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Visibility, Air bags, Structure, SeatsODI 10163219
“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?”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 7, 2005Electrical system, Exterior lightingODI 10120179

Showing 6 of 40 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

1 recall on this component

Exterior lighting

Free remedy

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS BUILT WITH A CANDELA VALUE GREATER THAN 3,000 CANNOT BE MOUNTED HIGHER THAN 864MM ABOVE THE ROAD SURFACE.

Exterior lightingReported Aug 11, 2000NHTSA 00V220000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 10, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.