Problems · by component

2002 Chevrolet Blazer exterior lighting problems

56 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2002 Chevrolet Blazer cite exterior lighting, 22% of all 259 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 2 recalls on this component.

Complaints
56
22% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the exterior lighting

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“MY BRAKE LIGHTS WENT OUT. THE THIRD BRAKE LIGHT. AS I OWED A 2001 GMC JIMMY THAT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM THAT WAS COVERED UNDER A RECALL I KNEW THAT THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH IN THE STEERING COLUMN WAS THE PROBLEM. I WENT TO MY LOCAL CHEV DEALERSHIP (KOEHNE CHEV) IN MARINETTE WI. THEY SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL ONE MY VEHICLE. I ASKED ABOUT THE THREE TSB AND THEY SAID THEY DON'T HAVE TO DO ANYTHING WITH A TSB. I KNOW THIS IS A ONGOING AND A SAFETY ISSUE (NO BRAKE LIGHTS). THE PART NUMBER ON THE SWITCH THAT I TOOK OUT IS 26096832. THERE HAS TO BE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF GM VEHICLES WITH THESE SWITCHES IN THEM WITH THE POTENTIAL FATAL ACCIDENTS WAITING TO HAPPEN!!!”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 20, 2020Electrical system, Exterior lightingODI 11318861
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET BLAZER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY OR WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE BRAKE LIGHTS MALFUNCTIONED. BOTH BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE EVEN AFTER REPLACEMENTS WERE MADE. THE CONTACT INFORMED AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC OF THE FAILURE AND THE BRAKE LIGHTS WERE REPLACED ALONG WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL SWITCH; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. A DEALER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A STEERING RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,760.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 5, 2018Exterior lighting, Service brakesODI 11076378
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET BLAZER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING INSPECTED BY A SHERIFF, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 01V364000 AND 08V231000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,224.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 8, 2015Exterior lightingODI 10762128
“I DROVE TO AUTOZONE ON WEST COLONIAL DR AND HAD MY VEHICLE COMPUTER DIAGNOSED WHICH PRODUCED A CODE THAT STATED (STOP LAMP & REAR HAZARDOUS LAMP FAILURE) THERE IS A RECALL ON CERTAIN 2002 CHEVY BLAZERS VEHICLES, HOWEVER MY 2002 CHEVY BLAZER VIN # [XXX] DOESN'T HAVE THIS RECALL. CHEVY SHOULD IMPLEMENT A RECALL FOR ALL 2002 CHEVY BLAZERS. NOW THE DEALER WANTS OVER $500 TO FIX THIS ISSUE. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 5, 2015Exterior lightingODI 10746506
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET BLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TAIL LIGHTS FAILED. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 08V231000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 4, 2014Exterior lightingODI 10618607
“I HAVE A 2002 CHEVROLET BLAZER WITH BRAKE LIGHTS AND FLASHERS THAT DO NOT WORK. THE CENTER BRAKE LIGHT AND TURN SIGNALS WORK OK. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM DESCRIPTION BUT I WAS TOLD THAT MY VIN NUMBER IS NOT COVERED BY IT. THE PROBLEM I HAVE AND THE RECALL PROBLEM ARE IDENTICAL. IS THERE ANY WAY I CAN PLEAD MY CASE? *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 13, 2013Exterior lighting, Service brakesODI 10524641

Showing 6 of 56 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

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

2 recalls on this component

Exterior lighting: switch

Free remedy

GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING 5,862 MY 2000-2002 CHEVROLET BLAZER, MY 2000-2001 GMC JIMMY, AND MY 2000 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH COULD DEVELOP AN OPEN CIRCUIT CONDITION THAT RESULTS IN THE STOP LAMPS AND THE REAR HAZARD LAMPS BECOMING INOPERATIVE. THE CENTER HIGH MOUNTED STOP LAMP AND TURN SIGNAL FUNCTIONS ARE NOT AFFECTED.

Exterior lightingReported May 21, 2008NHTSA 08V231000

Exterior lighting: switch

Free remedy

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH COULD DEVELOP AN OPEN CIRCUIT CONDITION THAT RESULTS IN THE STOP LAMPS AND THE REAR HAZARD LAMPS BECOMING INOPERATIVE. THE CENTER HIGH MOUNTED STOP LAMP AND TURN SIGNAL FUNCTIONS ARE NOT AFFECTED.

Exterior lightingReported Dec 3, 2001NHTSA 01V364000
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.

Other 2002 Blazer problem areas