1998 Chevrolet Blazer engine problems

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET BLAZER. WHILE DRIVING WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED AT 50 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. INSTEAD, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, TURNED OFF THE ENGINE, AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK, IT UNINTENTIONALLY ACCELERATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint #10889090 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

THERE WAS A CLASS ACTION REGARDING THE DEXCOOL COOLANT ISSUES THAT DEGRADED THE ENGINE GASKETS. I HAD NOT KNOWN OF IT AS THE MANUFACTURE OR OTHER DID NOT NOTIFY OF IT. THE ONLY WAY I FOUND OUT WAS SEARCHING FOR ANOTHER CAR ISSUE ONLINE A FEW YEARS AFTER THE SAID ISSUE. WHAT IS THIS, 'KEEP ALL A SECRET SO WE DO NOT HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT.'? THIS HAS BEEN A FEW YEARS AGO, HENCE THE JAN 2010 DATE ENTRY AS GUESS TO THE DATE OF ONLINE KNOWLEDGE. IF A CLOSER DATE NEEDED; I CAN RESEARCH.

NHTSA complaint #10823344 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET BLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE OVERHEATED. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHERE THE RADIATOR AND THE HEAT AND COOLANT THERMOSTAT WERE REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE WASN'T CORRECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WILL BE NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

NHTSA complaint #10349027 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

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!!!!!

NHTSA complaint #10163219 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

DT: THE CONTACT COMPLAINED ABOUT A MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, AND THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE WATER PUMP. AFTERWARDS, THE THERMOSTAT CONTINUED TO ELEVATE, AND SHE RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT AND ADDED COOLANT. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO RUN HOT. THE CONTACT TOOK VEHICLE TO A DIFFERENT REPAIR SHOP, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED A LEAK IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. THE DEALER ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR IT BY FLUSHING THE INTAKE AND ADDING MORE COOLANT. ALTHOUGH MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS HAVE BEEN MADE TO REMEDY THIS PROBLEM IT CONTINUED TO PERSIST.

NHTSA complaint #10144141 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

DT: THE CONTACT COMPLAINED ABOUT A MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, AND THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE WATER PUMP. AFTERWARDS, THE THERMOSTAT CONTINUED TO ELEVATE, AND SHE RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT AND ADDED COOLANT. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO RUN HOT. THE CONTACT TOOK VEHICLE TO A DIFFERENT REPAIR SHOP, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED A LEAK IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. THE DEALER ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR IT BY FLUSHING THE INTAKE AND ADDING MORE COOLANT. ALTHOUGH MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS HAVE BEEN MADE TO REMEDY THIS PROBLEM IT CONTINUED TO PERSIST.

NHTSA complaint #10144141 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

DT: THE CONTACT COMPLAINED ABOUT A MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, AND THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE WATER PUMP. AFTERWARDS, THE THERMOSTAT CONTINUED TO ELEVATE, AND SHE RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT AND ADDED COOLANT. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO RUN HOT. THE CONTACT TOOK VEHICLE TO A DIFFERENT REPAIR SHOP, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED A LEAK IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. THE DEALER ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR IT BY FLUSHING THE INTAKE AND ADDING MORE COOLANT. ALTHOUGH MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS HAVE BEEN MADE TO REMEDY THIS PROBLEM IT CONTINUED TO PERSIST.

NHTSA complaint #10144141 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

I OWNED A 1996 CHEVY BLAZER. THE SEAL ON THE ENGINE WENT AT 70K MILES. HAD TO REPLACE ENGINE. I NOW OWN A 1998 CHEVY BLAZER, REPLACED THE SEAL IN DEC '04 AND THE ENGINE BLEW AT 67K MILES. HAD TO REPLACE (REBUILD) THIS ENGINE. I HAVE SERVICE RECORDS FOR BOTH VEHICLES. NO REASON TO HAVE TWO ENGINES GO. I WROTE GM AND GOT NO ANSWER.

NHTSA complaint #10135266 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

WE BOUGHT A 1998 CHEVY BLAZER ON DECEMBER 1, 2204, THE ALTERNATOR WAS BAD, THE WIPERS WON'T WORK, WIPER MODULE, AND OIL LEAKS FROM THE OIL COOLER. DRIVERS SIDE DOOR LEAKS AIR BADLY. *NM WIPERS QUIT WORKING IN THE MIDDLE OF A SNOW STORM, ALMOST CAUSING ME TO WRECK THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #10107586 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

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?

NHTSA complaint #10098912 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

1998 CHEVROLET BLAZER, LT MODEL INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER SUDDENLY LOST READINGS ON FUEL GAUGE, TEMPERATURE GAUGE, AND SHIFT SELECTION. BEFORE THIS HAPPENED, THE REAR WINDOW RELAY STOPPED WORKING AND SO DID THE FIRST SPEED OF THE REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER. HAD VEHICLE DIAGNOSED AND REPLACED INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER. THIS DID NOT SOLVE PROBLEM. TOOK VEHICLE FOR ANOTHER DIAGNOSIS AND FOUND COMPUTER AND WIRING HARNESS TO BE OK. ALL GROUNDS WERE CHECKED. VEHICLE OPERATES BUT WITHOUT A FUEL GAUGE, AND TEMPERATURE GAUGE AND MOST IMPORTANTLY SHIFT SELECTOR.

NHTSA complaint #10093615 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

WINDSHIELD WIPERS DID NOT WORK. ALSO, THE HANDLES ON THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS BROKE, AND WATER PUMP WAS DEFECTIVE.

NHTSA complaint #10089640 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

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 OPEN BY ITSELF, AND THE TAIL GATE RATTLED. *SC

NHTSA complaint #10072019 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

MY WIFE WAS IN DANGER DRIVING THE TRUCK WHEN SHE BROUGHT IT TO ANOTHER ROUTE (ANOTHER SHOP), WHICH WAS HUTCHENS CHEVROLET. THEY TOLD MY WIFE AND GAVE HER THE PAPER WORK STATING THAT, THE TRUCK WAS UNSAFE AND SHE COULD HAVE BEEN IN DANGER IF CONTINUED DRIVING IT. WHEN HE WAS TOLD OF THE BRAKE PROBLEMS, (THE CAR DEALERSHIP OWNER) HE INSTRUCTED MY WIFE TO TAKE IT TO HIS OWN AUTO REPAIR SHOP, WHEN MY WIFE GOT THE TRUCK BACK, IT WAS IN THE SAME STATE NOT EVERYTHING WAS FIXED. THE WORK WAS COMPLETED AT HUTCHENS. THE WORK HAD TO HAVE COST ABOUT $378.00. AND THERE ARE MORE TROUBLES WITH THE TRUCK, I SEE SIGNS OF RUST AND CORROSION, THERE ARE VIBRATIONS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN EXCESS OF 60 MILES.

NHTSA complaint #10071173 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

MY 1998 CHEVROLET BLAZER HAS HAD REGULAR PROBLEMS WITH THE COOLING SYSTEM NOT PROVIDING HEAT TO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT EVEN THOUGH THE ENGINE IS RUNNING AT PROPER TEMP. THE HEATER CORE IS CONTINUALLY CLOGGING UP REQUIRING REGULAR TRIPS TO THE DEALER TO "FLUSH" THE HEATER CORE THAT IS PLUGGED. I UNDERSTAND FROM SEARCHING THE INTERNET THIS IS DUE TO THE DEX-COOL ANTIFREEZE THAT GM PUTS IN THE CAR AND THAT THERE ARE LAWSUITS AGAINST GM REGARDING THIS. THE LAST TIME I HAD THIS DONE THE DEALER TOLD ME IF IT HAPPENED AGAIN THAT A NEW CORE WOULD HAVE TO BE INSTALLED AT A COST OF $650+. THE CORE IS NOW PLUGGED ONCE AGAIN.

NHTSA complaint #10045795 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

WIPERS DO NOT WORK AT TIMES, TURN SIGNAL SWITCH NOT WORKING, ENGINE IDLES ROUGH, LOUD SOUND DURING ACCELERATION, FRONT END LOOSE.

NHTSA complaint #10045688 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR

LOUD SOUND DURING ACCELERATION (CATALYTIC CONVERTER SHOT AGAIN NOT REPLACED, CONTACTING GM, NO ASSISTANCE), OIL LEAK ON FRONT OF ENGINE (POWER STEERING PULLY SHAFT SEAL), NOISY AC COMPRESSOR(REPLACE), FLUID LEAK ON FRONT OF REAR DIFFERENTIAL (REPLACE YOKE AND SEAL [2ND SEAL]), REAR DIFFERENTIAL CLUNKS ON ACCELERATION (CHANGE CASE AND SHAFT BEARING), DASH GRILL CRACKED, IDELER ARM REPLACED AGAIN.

NHTSA complaint #10045691 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

ON 9/16/02 WE HAD GURGLING NOISE COMING FROM THE DASH OF CAR IN THE HEATER CORE AREA. LUCAS CHEVROLET TECH REPLACED RADIATOR CAP UNDER WARRANTY. BUT CHARGED US $56.95 FOR COOLANT AND ADDITIVE. ON 10/09/03 HAD NO HEAT COMING FROM THE HEATER CORE. I CHECKED THE RADIATOR AND COOLANT TANK OVERFLOW AND FOUND A MINERAL SLUDGE TYPE SUBSTANCE. ALSO FOUND A BULLETIN ON THE COOLING SYSTEM PROBLEM, TOOK BLAZER INTO LUCAS CHEVROLET. ASSISTANT SERVICE MANAGER LORRIE COTTRELL SHE SAID WE WERE OVER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY ON TIME BUT NOT MILES AND SAID WE SHOULD CONTACT GM ON THIS COOLANT PROBLEM ISSUE. SHE IS NOT AWARE OF ANY BULLETIN ON THE COOLANT SYSTEM.

NHTSA complaint #10041643 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

NO HEAT AT 50,000 MILES --VEHICLE COOLING SYSTEM FLUSHED BY INDEPENDENT GARAGE 12-31-02. DEX-COOL RENEWED AT THIS TIME. COST $160.00. IN APRIL 2003 NO HEAT AGAIN. I DRAINED DEX-COOL AND USED SYSTEM CLEANER TWICE FOR APPROXIMATELY 6 HOURS EACH TIME WITH HEATER ON. I FILLED SYSTEM WITH REGULAR PRESTONE GLYCOL BASED ANTIFREEZE. NO PROBLEMS TO DATE. THE ORIGINAL DEX-COOL WAS A MUDDY SLUDGE WHEN REPLACED AND THE SECOND CHARGE OF DEX-COOL WAS ALREADY CHANGING COLORS AND THICKENING AFTER ONLY 4 MONTHS WHEN IT TOO WAS REPLACED. DEX-COOL DOES NOT LIVE UP TO THE MANUFACTURERS CLAIMS OR THE DEALERS REPRESENTATIONS. I AM A FEDERALLY LICENSED AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN WORKING FOR A MAJOR AIRLINE FOR 14 YEARS AND WOULD BE HAPPY TO GIVE A DEPOSITION IN REGARDS TO THIS MATTER. *NLM

NHTSA complaint #10023147 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

THE SEAT BACK, TRANSFER CASE, AND WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR ALL FAILED. *AK *CB THE PARKING BRAKE WAS ADJUSTED, THE AIR CONDITION BLEW WARM AIR, AND THE OIL COOLER LINES WERE REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #10021871 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

THE OIL COOLING LINE LEAKED FLUID. *JB PH

NHTSA complaint #10011367 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

NO HEAT. *NLM

NHTSA complaint #10008369 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

OIL COILER LINES LEAKED FROM THE DAY I BOUGHT IT FROM THE DEALER. DEALER DEFINITELY KNEW AND CLEANED IT UP BEFORE I GOT IT. 1ST SET OF LINES FROM RADIATOR TO OIL FILTER REPLACED A FEW MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE IN 2001. SECOND SET FROM FILTER TO MOTOR NOW NEED REPLACING. EVIDENTLY, THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. WIPERS HAVE THEIR OWN AGENDA. WITH THE MIST SETTING TO CLEAN WINDOWS, WIPERS STAY ON FOR AS LONG AS THEY WANT. WITH THE SECOND MIST, THEY DON'T STAY ON AS LONG. BY THE THIRD MIST, WIPERS ACT NORMAL. ALWAYS HAPPENS. TURN SIGNAL FLASHER SOUND STARTED WITHOUT THE USE OF THE TURN SIGNAL. IT STAYS ON FOR RANDOM LENGTHS OF TIME, AND MAKES THE SOUND IN REGULAR, AND IRREGULAR PATTERNS. REPLACING MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH - AS SEVERAL HAVE BEFORE ME. DEALER KNEW EXACTLY WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. TRANFER CASE LEAKS LUBE. 4-WHEEL DRIVE MESSED UP BECAUSE OF EMPTY CASE. ADDED LUBE AND HOPE NO TRANMISSION PROBLEMS ARRISE. CV JOINT REPLACED 4 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE. HOOD LATCH ABOUT TO BREAK. WHEN PULLING ON LEAVER, BARELY IS ABLE TO POP HOOD. FEELS LIKE WIRE IS GOING TO SNAP. WAITING FOR THE NEXT PROBLEM TO OCCUR - IT HAS BEEN NONSTOP. GM DESIGNED A TERRIBLE VEHICLE. I AM VERY DISSATISFIED AND I REGRET EVER BUYING IT.

NHTSA complaint #10005732 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY

CONSISTENT AND REPEATED HEATING/COOLING PROBLEMS; CORROSION OF THE COOLANT; EROSION OF THE RADIATOR; LACK OF HEAT FOR 4 WINTERS, ETC.

NHTSA complaint #10000592 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

CONSISTENT AND REPEATED HEATING/COOLING PROBLEMS; CORROSION OF THE COOLANT; EROSION OF THE RADIATOR; LACK OF HEAT FOR 4 WINTERS, ETC.

NHTSA complaint #10000592 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

CONSISTENT AND REPEATED HEATING/COOLING PROBLEMS; CORROSION OF THE COOLANT; EROSION OF THE RADIATOR; LACK OF HEAT FOR 4 WINTERS, ETC.

NHTSA complaint #10000592 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

OIL LINES RUBBING AGAINST POWER STEERING LINES. WIPERS SWEEP TOO LONG AND/OR QUIT MID-CYCLE IN THE WORKS 1/2 THE TIME. DT

NHTSA complaint #769245 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

COOLANT DID NOT LAST 150,000 MILES. HEATER CORE PLUGGED AND COOLING SYSTEM FULL OF RUST AND SLUDGE CAUSED BY DEXCOOL. DEXCOOL FOUND TO BE LOW IN COOLING SYSTEM ALTHOUGH RESERVE BOTTLE SHOWED FULL. A SERVICE BULLETIN HAS BEEN ISSUED #99-06-02-012D BUT OWNERS HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF PROBLEM AND THERE CURRENTLY HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL OF THE COOLANT. DT

NHTSA complaint #768576 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.