2002 Chevrolet Blazer recalls and problems

The 2002 Chevrolet Blazer has 2 recalls and 246 owner complaints on file with NHTSA; the most reported problem area is exterior lighting.

2002 Chevrolet Blazer
Photo: 2002 Chevrolet Blazer by Elise240SX, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
How the 2002 compares
Fewest complaintsMost complaints

Highest complaint count among 17 Blazer model years — 3rd most.

2recalls
246complaints
14crashes
6fires
19injuries
59,000median miles

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not verified and not adjusted for sales. Ranking compares this model's own years only.

Does your car have an open recall?
Recalls apply to specific vehicles. Only a VIN lookup on NHTSA's official site shows whether yours is affected and still unrepaired.
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2 recalls

Exterior Lighting

May 21, 2008 · NHTSA campaign 08V231000 · 5,862 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Original NHTSA wording

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.

Risk: The loss of stop lamps and rear hazard lamps could fail to warn a following driver that the vehicle is braking and/or is stopped and could result in a crash.

Original NHTSA wording

THE LOSS OF STOP LAMPS AND REAR HAZARD LAMPS COULD FAIL TO WARN A FOLLOWING DRIVER THAT THE VEHICLE IS BRAKING AND/OR IS STOPPED AND COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will replace the hazard switch carrier. The recall began on June 17, 2008. Owners May contact Chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438, GMC at 1-866-996-9463, or Oldsmobile at 1-800-630-6537, or through their website at <a href=http://www.gmownercenter.com>http://www.gmownercenter.com</a> . Note: This campaign is an expansion of a previous recall (please see 01V364).

Gm recall no. 01073.customers May also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to <a href=http://www.safercar.gov>http://www.safercar.gov</a> .

Exterior Lighting

Dec 3, 2001 · NHTSA campaign 01V364000 · 506,377 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Original NHTSA wording

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.

Risk: The loss of stop lamps and rear hazard lamps could fail to warn a following driver that the vehicle is braking and/or is stopped and could result in a crash.

Original NHTSA wording

THE LOSS OF STOP LAMPS AND REAR HAZARD LAMPS COULD FAIL TO WARN A FOLLOWING DRIVER THAT THE VEHICLE IS BRAKING AND/OR IS STOPPED AND COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will replace the hazard switch carrier. Owner notification will be conducted in two phases. The first phase began April 15, 2002, with mailings to owners of 2000 and early 2001 vehicles. The second mailing phase will be to remaining 2001 and 2002 vehicles. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020, GMC at 1-800-462-8782, or Oldsmobile at 1-800-442-6537.

Also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Recall text as published by NHTSA and the manufacturer.

What owners complain about

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA; one complaint can name several areas. Not verified by NHTSA.

Complaints by year filed

2001: 24 complaints20012002: 34 complaints2003: 44 complaints2003442004: 29 complaints2005: 19 complaints20052006: 14 complaints2007: 13 complaints20072008: 14 complaints2009: 7 complaints20092010: 7 complaints2011: 9 complaints20112012: 6 complaints2013: 3 complaints20132014: 7 complaints2015: 4 complaints20152016: 3 complaints2017: 3 complaints20172018: 1 complaints2019: 2 complaints20192020: 2 complaints2023: 1 complaints20231

NHTSA investigations

HAZARD LIGHT SWITCH FAILURE

RQ08001 · opened Feb 28, 2008 · closed Jul 9, 2008 · led to recall 08V231000
Summary

ON NOVEMBER 30, 2001, GENERAL MOTORS (GM) CONDUCTED SAFETY RECALL 01V-364 FOR THE SUBJECT VEHICLES BUILT BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 16, 1999 AND AUGUST 28, 2001 TO REMEDY A DEFECTIVE HAZARD SWITCH THAT WOULD CAUSE A LOSS OF HAZARD AND STOP LAMP ILLUMINATION.THE HAZARD SWITCH IS CONTAINED WITHIN THE VEHICLE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH.ODI OPENED THIS INVESTIGATION BASED ON REPORTS THAT SOME CONSUMERS WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ORIGINAL RECALL OR THAT THEY HAD REPAIRS DONE UNDER 01V-364 BUT EXPERIENCED SUBSEQUENT MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH FAILURES.THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH SUPPORTS THE OPERATION OF CRUISE CONTROL, WINDSHIELD WIPERS, EXTERIOR LIGHTING AND TURN SIGNALS IN ADDITION TO HAZARD AND STOP LAMPS. ON MAY 21, 2008, GM NOTIFIED THE AGENCY THAT IT ERRONEOUSLY MISSED IDENTIFYING 5,862 VEHICLES THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN RECALL 01V-364.GM WILL NOW NOTIFY OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES UNDER A NEW NHTSA RECALL NUMBER 08V-231.OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JUNE 17.THE PRIMARY CAUSE OF BRAKE LAMP FAILURE WAS A DESIGN CHANGE FROM COPPER TO BRASS CONTACT MATERIAL IN THE HAZARD SWITCH.THIS CHANGE WAS EFFECTIVE FOR VEHICLES BUILT AFTER SEPTEMBER 16, 1999.GM CHANGED THE MATERIAL BACK TO COPPER FOR VEHICLES BUILT AFTER AUGUST 28, 2001. THE REMEDY PART FOR BOTH 01V-364 AND 08V-231 CONTAINS COPPER CONTACTS.GM'S DATA SHOWS THAT LESS THAN 1% OF VEHICLES REPAIRED UNDER RECALL 01V-364 REQUIRED ADDITIONAL SUBSEQUENT REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT OF THE HAZARD OR MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH.THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.

2002 vs. other Chevrolet Blazer years

Owner complaints by model year; the darker bar is the 2002. Click a bar to switch year.

Questions

Does the 2002 Chevrolet Blazer have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns covering the 2002 Chevrolet Blazer, the latest from May 21, 2008 (exterior lighting). A recall applies to specific vehicles: enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours is affected and still open.

What are the most common problems with the 2002 Chevrolet Blazer?

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA most often mention exterior lighting (54), power train (33), engine (23). Complaints are consumer reports and are not verified by NHTSA.