2002 Chevrolet Blazer Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2002 Chevrolet Blazer most often report brake and hazard lights that stop working, usually traced to the multifunction switch on the steering column. Many owners say their vehicle's VIN was not covered by the related recall and they paid for the repair themselves. Transmission shifting concerns, brake and ABS behaviour, fuel pump and fuel line failures, and air bag warning lights or non-deployment are also frequently described.

1. 1
   Exterior lighting

   Brake and hazard lights stop working (multifunction switch)

   • 53 complaints (22%)
   • median 73,124 mi at 6.6 yrs old (48 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $475 (median of 8 quotes)
   • filed 2001–2020

   Complaints describe both rear brake lights and the rear hazard lights going out while the high-mount stop lamp keeps working. Owners commonly report being told the multifunction switch on the steering column needs replacement, with quotes ranging from a few hundred dollars upward. Several say the dealer or manufacturer told them their VIN was not included in the related recall even though the symptoms matched, so they paid out of pocket; a few describe repeat failures after replacement. Reported from roughly 33,000 to 180,000 miles, with many complaints filed between 50,000 and 125,000 miles.

   Recall 08V231000Recall 01V364000

   What to check: With the key on, have someone stand behind the vehicle and confirm both lower brake lights and the hazard flashers work; compare the VIN against recalls 08V231000 and 01V364000, and ask whether the multifunction switch has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was informed by my husband, as he was following me, that my brake lights did not work. We took the vehicle to the dealership from which, I purchased the vehicle to have it checked out. They said the multi-function switch was bad and needed to be replaced. We paid $391.72 to have the switch replaced. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10112708, filed 2005-03, 53,632 miles

   “Vehicle experienced problems with the hazard light switch and rear tail lights, which became inoperative. Owner contacted the dealer and called the manufacturer, and was informed that although the VIN fell within those affected by the recall they still refused to accommodate the owner with repair assistance.”

   NHTSA complaint #10111773, filed 2005-02, 34,000 miles
2. 2
   Brakes

   Brake and ABS problems, rotors, parking brake noise

   • 53 complaints (22%)
   • median 77,000 mi at 6.6 yrs old (46 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,000 (median of 7 quotes)
   • filed 2001–2023

   Complaints describe reduced or failed braking at low speed, ABS engaging or seizing unexpectedly, and ABS and brake warning lights coming on with the anti-lock function dropping out. Others report scraping noises from the rear, parking brake components coming apart and damaging rotors and pads, and rotors pitted or rusted. Dealers variously diagnosed rear brakes and rotors, an ABS module, or could not reproduce the condition. Spread from very low mileage (under 1,000 miles) up to about 196,000 miles, with several reports in the 19,000-52,000 mile range.

   What to check: Test braking from low speed on a quiet road, listen for scraping from the rear wheels, and ask whether the ABS module and rear brakes or parking brake hardware have been serviced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “It sounded like tin cans were tied to the back of our 2002 Blazer today (with around 37,000 miles) - we were told that the emergency parking brake pads exploded (the service manager's word) and ruined our rotors and rear brake pads, it will cost around $1200 to fix.”

   NHTSA complaint #10098188, filed 2004-11, 37,000 miles

   “After refueling our 2002 Chevrolet Blazer, there was a strong smell of gasoline. After taking it into the shop for repairs, the diagnosis was that the fuel tank and lines were rusting away and need to be replaced. Shop called us back and advised that parking break drums are falling apart. Every time we have an issue with this vehicle it has always been a major repair. Never a simple fix. With all the complaints on this vehicle I don't understand why the government doesn't force GM into a recall. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10489382, filed 2012-12, 186,000 miles
3. 3
   Air bags

   Air bag warning light on or air bags not deploying

   • 16 complaints (7%)
   • median 42,000 mi at 8.0 yrs old (13 state mileage)
   • 7 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2001–2019

   Owners describe the air bag warning light staying on, sometimes intermittently, and in some cases failing inspection as a result. Complaints also describe frontal air bags not deploying in collisions, and dealers replacing or resetting the air bag control module under the center console without a lasting fix. One owner reported buying the vehicle with the driver-side air bag disconnected. Described from very low mileage up to about 55,000 miles, with several reports between 33,000 and 42,000 miles.

   What to check: Check that the air bag warning light comes on briefly and then goes out with the key on, and ask for any service history on the air bag control module or a prior inspection failure.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Air bag light on 33,000 miles,dealer replaced air bag control module under center console. 33,500 miles air bag light on again,dealer reset light.at 35,100 miles air bag light on again and goes on and off every 5-minutes to this day with 54,000 miles. This needs a recall for GM asap. Please investigate!”

   NHTSA complaint #10426995, filed 2011-09, 33,000 miles

   “Vehicle was at a complete stop, and was hit on the driver side front end by another vehicle. None of the frontal airbags deployed upon impact. This resulted in the driver being seriously injured. Please provide more details. Ts”

   NHTSA complaint #10001322, filed 2002-12, 9,000 miles
4. 4
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission shifting and 4WD engagement concerns

   • 33 complaints (13%)
   • median 40,000 mi at 3.8 yrs old (13 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2001–2012

   Owners describe delayed or harsh shifts, a pause when the transmission shifts, and engine revving without the vehicle moving away from a stop. Some report the vehicle no longer shifting into four-wheel drive, and one describes transmission cooler lines damaged by proximity to the exhaust manifold. Dealers sometimes called the shift delay normal or replaced internal transmission parts without resolving it. Reported from very low mileage (under 100 miles) up to about 125,000 miles, with several reports under 70,000 miles.

   4 related service bulletins

   What to check: Drive from a stop and through several upshifts to feel for delays or harshness, and test that four-wheel drive engages; ask about any transmission service history.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Electrical failure--pulled in to get some gas, after restarting vehicle I had no radio,no dash lights for gear selector or mileage,fuel guage did not work or temp gauge did not work,cruise control did not work, cigarette lighter did not work. Seems to have a pause when transmission shifts sometimes. We need a recall on the electrical system, seems to be a lot of electrical promlems with this vehicle.”

   NHTSA complaint #10025805, filed 2003-07, 39,127 miles

   “My 2002 chevy Blazer will no longer shift into 4-wheel drive. It has been this way for over a year now, and chevy won't even acknowledge my communications about it.”

   NHTSA complaint #10248272, filed 2008-11, 125,000 miles

Buying note. Check the brake and hazard lights, air bag warning light, fuel system rust and four-wheel drive operation before buying, and run the VIN against recalls 08V231000 and 01V364000 since many owners report their vehicle was excluded from those campaigns.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.