1999 Chevrolet Blazer: fire, smoke or burning smell

Filed Nov 7, 2012 · Electrical, Lights · 140,000 miles · ND

1999 chevrolet blazer lt - multifunction switch (common problem!) is malfunctioning. Turn signal/flasher relay is constantly clicking whether signals are in use or not -- unless the brakes are applied. Good sign of an electrical short. The cause of this issue is the grease inside the switch, applied at the factory, running from contact to contact. This switch includes the wipers, cruise control, turn signals, hazards, and can also cause vehicle lighting (headlights, brake lights) to malfunction. Many cases include non-working brake lights! Others have reported smoke coming from the switch as the contacts are shorted by the grease. I inherited this vehicle from my grandfather, who couldn't hear the relay firing -- it is the only indicator inside the vehicle that something may be going wrong. There are no visible indicators inside the vehicle letting a person know their lights are malfunctioning. As there is no recall for this year of blazer (though I understand other years have had the same problem recalled), I will be replacing the switch on my own. Dealer quoted the price for the part alone well out of my price range (nevermind labor), so I'm going to have to shop around to get the vehicle in safe driving condition. Thanks for reading. I appreciate it!

Filed Nov 13, 2006 · Electrical · 54,000 miles · CA · fire

Dt*: the contact stated after the vehicle had been parked for 8 hours, the contact was alerted that the vehicle was on fire. The fire department responded and the fire was extinguished. The vehicle was towed to the dealership, where the cause of the fire was undetermined.

Filed Apr 12, 2006 · Electrical · 85,000 miles · IN · fire

1999 chevrolet s10 blazer started vehicle, drove down driveway out on to street. Smelled smoke, returned home. Found back of drivers seat on fire, put out with garden hose. Wiring under drivers seat started on fire? We do not have heated or power seats on vehicle and we don't smoke. Damage was burned seat, carpet, rear floor mat, melted wiring. The vehicle does have the hazard/blinker that turns on intermittently for no apparent reason. Don't know if this is related.

Filed Jan 19, 2006 · Electrical, Transmission · 89,000 miles · CA · fire

Dt*: the consumer stated the vehicle caught fire and burned. After turning on the heater, smoke poured from the interior vents and visible flames were behind the dashboard. The fire department was contacted to extinguish the fire and determined the fire was electrical in nature. After the initial purchase, the check engine light and airbag light came on intermittently. The dealership suspected it could have be the transmission slipping signaling the check engine light and the airbag sensor indicating airbag failure. The dealership cleared the check engine light code and recommended the vehicle be seen by a transmission repair shop. Contrary to the dealers suggestion, the vehicle was taken to an independent repair shop. The independent mechanic also recommended the vehicle be taken to a transmission shop. Two days later, the vehicle burned and was totaled by the extensive fire damage.

Filed Dec 29, 2005 · Electrical · CO · fire

My wife, myself, and my 6 week old baby girl were driving back to colorado from iowa where we had spent christmas with our family. The new 99 chevy blazer trailblazer edition that was just one week old to us started acting funny. We we're pulling off on an exit to change the baby and feed her when I noticed my tachometer was jumping up to 4 and 5 k RPM. So I look in my mirrors and notice this white cloud of smoke behind us. No warning lights were on, my temp gauge was reading normal, we had no warning of what was to come. I immediately stopped the vehicle on the side of the road to see if I had blown the tranny or something like that. When I did that, then my check engine light came on and my battery light. I got out of the vehicle only to smell electrical smoke. I got my wife and 6 week old baby out of the vehicle and by the time I looked back the one week old blazer that we had just purchased was in flames!!! When all was said and done the entire engine was a smoldering pile of steel, the dash and steering wheel had melted away, the front seats were 3/4 gone and all of our christmas gifts, baby cloths, toys, luggage, ect, were all severely smoke, fire and water damaged. The vehicle is totaled along with all of our belongings and I had no warning what so ever.

Filed Dec 23, 2004 · Seats · 96,000 miles · MI · fire

Heated seat shorted out, causing my blazer to catch on fire.

Filed Sep 10, 2003 · Engine · 80,000 miles · OH · fire

The vehicle stalled and then caught fire. The fire department extinguished the fire. Please provide further details.

Filed Apr 25, 2003 · Engine · CO · fire

While driving, the vehicle stalled and caught on fire.

Filed May 22, 2002 · Steering · MI

I heard a clicking like my turn indicator was on but it wasn't. Smoke came out of the steering column. A co-worker of my father's has had this component replaced twice (same symptoms) in his 1998 blazer and the gentleman's sister-in-law has had this component replaced once. Also, another co-worker of my father's had it replaced once (under warranty) on his 2001 blazer. I would think that this is a safety issue since smoke came otu of the steering column.

Filed Feb 27, 2001 · Body, Electrical · FL

Vehicle experiences stalling, after stalling there is a burning smell, dealer has replaced the fuel pump, crank sensor, map sensor, PCM, fuel pump module, vehicle still experiences stalling, consumer feels problem is an electrical problem. Ses light flashed at times, dealer replaced coil wire. Keyless entry inoperable, dealer replaced receiver, remote module, and reprogrammed transmitters. Consumer states vehicle has excessive wind noise on both sides. There is a clunk when backing up and turning left or right. Overhead panel goes blank in morning, when first starting vehicle, dash and gauges will not light up, and overhead compass was replaced. Consumer states gas mileage is not as good as it used to be. Ses light illuminated.

Filed Aug 21, 1999 · RI · fire

The air conditioning compressor was replaced by the dealer on friday june 25. After the repair the vehicle was driven approximately 20 miles that day. On the following day the vehicle was driven an additional 25 miles and returned home. After leaving the vehicle parked in my driveway, I was summoned from my home by a neighbor who reported that the vehicle was on fire. We extinguished the fire in the engine compartment and had the dealer remove the vehicle for repair. The dealer informed me that the fire was not caused by their repair. Damage to the under hood equipment required $ 4,500 in repairs.the repair work took over four weeks.