Chevrolet Trailblazer Complaints (2003)

1,239 consumer complaints on file.

#10263155March 26, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
I HAVE A PROBLEM SIMILAR TO MANY OTHERS. I HAVE RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2003 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. I HAVE ENCOUNTERED A PROBLEM WITH THE SPEEDOMETER ON THIS VEHICLE. THE SPEEDOMETER OCCASSIONALLY STOPS WORKING ENTIRELY FROM TIME TO TIME AND OTHER TIMES, HAS A MIND OF IT'S OWN AND DECIDES TO MAKE A RANDOM NUMBER THE ZERO MARK AND INCREASE SPEED FROM THAT POINT. I KNOW THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS THERE ARE TIMES THAT I HAVE NO IDEA HOW FAST I AM TRAVELING. I HAVE SINCE TAKEN THIS MATTER TO GENERAL MOTORS IN AN ATTEMPT TO GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO RECTIFY AN UNSAFE SITUATION. IN RESPONSE, THEY ASKED ME TO TAKE THE VEHICLE INTO A CERTIFIED GM DEALER FOR A VEHICLE DIAGNOSTIC AND REPAIR. I DID JUST THAT. MY VEHICLE WAS FOUND TO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. THE DEALER WAS NICE ENOUGH TO INFORM ME THAT THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL RELATED PROBLEMS THAT GM HAS ISSUED A RECALL FOR... UNFORTUNATELY, I SEEM TO HAVE THE ONLY MODEL IN THIS VEHICLE CLASS THAT IS NOT COVERED IN THIS RECALL. AND GM WAS NICE ENOUGH TO OFFER TO DO ABSOLUTELY NOTHING IN MY CASE... WHICH INCLUDES NOT REFUNDING THE COST OF THE DIAGNOSTIC THAT THEY REQUESTED IN ORDER TO GATHER THEIR INFORMATION. IN MY DISAPPOINTMENT, I HAVE DONE SOME ONLINE RESEARCH AND COME ACROSS SEVERAL LAWSUITS AGAINST GM FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM... SOME OF WHICH EVEN INCLUDE THE TRAILBLAZER. MY QUESTION IS THIS: DO I HAVE ANY OTHER COURSE OF ACTION? ALSO, HAS THERE ALREADY BEEN A COMPLAINT SIMILAR TO THIS THAT MAY BE OF ASSISTANCE TO ME? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10262793March 23, 2009
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:FUEL GAUGE SYSTEM, EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE WAS NOT REGISTERING THE CORRECT AMOUNT OF FUEL. OCCASIONALLY, THE GAUGE WOULD INDICATE THAT NO FUEL WAS PRESENT IN THE VEHICLE AT ALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED AND NO REPAIRS WERE MADE AT THAT TIME. ONE YEAR LATER, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE, ACTUATOR ON THE AIR CONDITIONING/HEATING SYSTEM, AND THE SPEEDOMETER FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY CONFIRMED THAT THE ACTUATOR FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THE COST OF $720. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT NO COMPENSATION WOULD BE PROVIDED BECAUSE THE FAILURE WAS NOT UNDER RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 44,000. UPDATED 4/23/09 *CN UPDATED 04/28/09. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10261796March 14, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE CLUSTER IN MY 2003 TRAILBLAZER IS NOT WORKING. A RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR THE 2004 TAHOE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM BUT NOT THE TRAILBLAZER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10260745March 4, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
SPEEDOMETER QUIT WORKING DURING A COLD RAINY SPELL IN JANUARY 2009. AS THE WEATHER WARMED, THE SPEEDOMETER STARTING WORKING BUT QUICKLY MALFUNCTIONED AGAIN. NOW THE SPEEDOMETER DOES NOT WORK AT ALL AND STAYS AT 120 CONSISTENTLY. I HAVE THE VEHICLE SPEED SENSOR REPLACED IN FEB. 2009, BUT IT DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. I HAVE HAD ALL FUSES AND WIRING CHECKED BY AN ASE CERTIFIED MECHANIC AND HE HAS COME TO THE CONCLUSION IT COULD BE THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. I HAVE RESEARCHED ON THE INTERNET THAT THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM FOR CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZERS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10260285February 28, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
THESE SPEEDOMETER CEASES TO WORK IN COLD WEATHER. IT WILL SHOW 40 OR EVEN 80 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE IT STOPPED AT A STOPLIGHT. OFTEN WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION THE INDICATOR IS POINTED AT THE ODOMETER. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. NOT KNOWING YOUR ACTUAL SPEED IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS BUT WAS TOLD BY A CHEVROLET DEALER THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. I LOOKED ON THIS WEBSITE AND DID FIND ONE BUT I MAY HAVE MISSED IT, AS I AM NEW TO THIS AREA OF CAR OWNERSHIP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10260299February 28, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
SINCE I PURCHASED MY 2003 CHEVY TRAILBLAZER IN JAN 2004, I HAD IT RETURNED TWICE COMPLAINING OF A TICKING SOUND FROM THE ENGINE. LOCAL DEALER WOULD NOT ADDRESS THE ISSUE AS THE NOISE WOULD COME A GO..I ISSUED A COMPLAINT TO THE DEALER AND THEY GOT UPSET BUT NEVER VOLUNTERRED TO FIX THE NOISE.. LAST MONTH A LOUD NOISE CAME FROM MY ENGINE, LIKE A VACUUM SOUND.. I LOST POWER AND WAS FORCED TO LEAVE THE TRUCK AT A GM DEALERSHIP.. THEY FIXED MADE REPAIRS BY REPLACING THE CLUTCH PUMP. COTS ME 900.00 FOR REPAIRS. NOW 3 WEEKS LATER I NOTICED THAT THE TICKING SOUND FROM THE ENGINE HAS DISAPPEARED.... IF THE CHEVY DEALER ONLY ADDRESSED THIS PROBLEM A FEW YEARS AGO WHEN I ORIGINALLY COMPLAINED , I MAY NOT HAD TO DISH OUT 900 FOR REPAIRS.. THANK YOU CHEVY! AND YOU WONDER WHY YOUR GOING OUT OF BUSINESS.! GOOD RIDDINS! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10260054February 26, 2009
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND REMAINED LIT UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT NOTICED A SMALL AMOUNT OF FUEL LEAKAGE WHENEVER THE FUEL TANK WAS FILLED TO CAPACITY. THE DRIVER FILLS THE FUEL TANK HALFWAY IN ORDER TO AVOID LEAKAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND THEY STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO A HOLE IN THE FUEL TANK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR A SECOND OPINION AND THE SAME FAILURE WAS CONFIRMED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 107,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10259971February 25, 2009
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
SMELL OF GAS. TOOK TO MECHANIC AND FOUND THE FUEL TANK IS LEAKING WHERE THE FILLER TUBE GOES INTO THE TANK CAUSING THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT TO COME ON. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10259782February 24, 2009
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES, STRUCTURE:BODY
RAISED REAR LIGHTGATE HEARD A CRUNCHING SOUND. ON INSPECTION THE PLASTIC PIECE ON THE TOP OF THE LIGHTGATE WAS CRACKED & LIFTED UP. IT WAS A FAIRLY WARM DAY & I HAD WASHED THE TRUCK EARLY IN THE DAY & IT SAT IN THE SUN ALL DAY. ICE BUILD UP WAS NOT A POSSIBILITY. TOOK THE TRUCK IN FOR REPAIR OF THIS PIECE, BODYSHOP STATES THAT THERE ARE 2 BUSHINGS MISSING FROM THE HINGES WHERE THE REAR GLASS PIVOTS ON THE HINGES. DEALER PARTS DEPT. CONFIRMS THAT BUSHINGS SHOULD BE THERE. PARTS DEPT. HAD CONVERSATION WITH GM CUSTOMER SERVICE THESE HINGES & REPLACEMENT BUSHING ARE ONLY SERVICES ABLE WHEN THE REAR LIFTGATE GLASS GETS REPLACED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10259699February 23, 2009
POWER TRAIN, STEERING
LISA WAS TAKING KIDS TO SCHOOL WHEN SHE NOTICED PROBLEMS WHEN STOPPING GOT TO MOMS HOUSE AND CALLED SHOP. ON WAY TO SHOP FRONT DIFFERENTIAL CAME APART AND TOOK STEERING AND AXLE WITH IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10259344February 19, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
NO WARNING LIGHTS, NO WARNING SOUNDS. WHILE CROSSING AN INTERSECTION, TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. 0 FORWARD GEARS, REVERSE WORKS. VEHICLE JUST REACHED 82,000 MILES. SERVICED REGULARLY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10259293February 18, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY 2003 TRAILBLAZER LTZ NEEDS A SPEEDOMETER CLUSTER. THIS FIRST STARTED HAPPENING AT APPROX. 59,000 MILES. I NOW HAVE 61,000 MILES ON MY CAR, AND GM REFUSES TO HAVE THE REPAIRS MADE TO MY CAR. IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM ON OTHER CHEVY MODELS, BUT GM CLAIMS THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH PROBLEMS WITH THE TRAILBLAZERS TO "FIX" THIS PROBLEM. MY ESTIMATE IS $390.00 + TAX AFTER PAYING $106.00 FOR THEM TO ANALYZE THE PROBLEM AND TELL ME IT IS BROKEN (WHICH I KNEW BECAUSE THE SPEEDOMETER READING 92 MPH WITH THE ENGINE SHUT OFF IN THE DEALERSHIP GARAGE). I'VE CONTACTED GM SEVERAL TIMES AND THE DEALERSHIP, WITH NO LUCK IN GETTING THIS CORRECTED. I'VE CONTACTED THE BBB ALSO. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM, I'VE RESEARCHED THIS, 100'S OF PEOPLE HAVE THIS SAME QUALITY ISSUE AND IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. AS A LOYAL GM DRIVER I WANT THEM TO STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCTS AND FIX KNOWN PROBLEMS LIKE THIS ONE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10259089February 17, 2009
POWER TRAIN
THE 4WD DOES NOT WORK ON THE VEHICLE. THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES SINCE I HAVE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. THE 4WD WILL ALL OF SUDDEN JUST STOP WORKING FOR NO APPARENT REASON, THEN WILL WORK AGAIN. THE INDICATOR SAYS THE VEHICLE IS IN 4WD, BUT THE FRONT TIRES ARE NOT LOCKED IN AND ACTS AS IF IT IS IN 2WD. THE VEHICLE GOES LONG PERIODS OF TIME WITH THE 4WD WORKING, THEN THE 4WD JUST STOPS FUNCTIONING. THIS, IN MY OPINION, IS EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS AND IS GOING TO CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. JUST THIS WEEKEND I WAS IN A VERY HILLY AREA AND WE RECEIVED SOME SNOW, MY 4WD DECIDED NOT TO WORK AND I WAS VERY NEARLY STUCK SEVERAL TIMES. NOT TO MENTION, CAUSING A TRAFFIC HAZARD BECAUSE MY VEHICLE SPUN OUT AT EVERY INTERSECTION BECAUSE I HAVE NO TRACTION. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALER AND THEY INSIST NOTHING IS WRONG. I GET THE VEHICLE HOME AND THE 4WD STILL DOES NOT WORK. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET A LOT OF CONSUMERS HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM. GM NEEDS TO RECALL THEIR FAULTY 4WD SYSTEM. THESE VEHICLES ARE AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10258862February 16, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
SPEEDOMETER STUCK ON 60 THEN AFTER SHUT OFF DID RIGHT. DID THAT SEVERAL DIFFERENT TIMES. NOW POINTS TO N OR D AND THEN STARTS GOING COUNTER CLOCKWISE. DON'T HAVE $500 TO REPLACE IT. GM CUSTOMER SERVICE ACKNOWLEDGED THERE IS SPECIAL BULLETIN ON THIS BUT MY VIN NOR MILEAGE 71,000 MI DID NOT FALL WITHIN THIS BULLETIN. TURNED IT OVER TO "DISTRICT MANAGER" AND HE SAID SAME THING AND SAID CALLED MY DEALERSHIP AND THEY COULDN'T HELP ON THIS MATTER. THERE ARE NUMEROUS REPORTS ON INTERNET OF PEOPLE HAVING SAME PROBLEM WITH 2003 TRAILBLAZER. IS SAFETY HAZARD DUE TO PEOPLE LIKE ME WHO DON'T HAVE THE MONEY (ON RETIREMENT S.S.) AND TRYING TO GUESS AT SPEED THEY ARE GOING. RPM ON TACH ALSO FLUCTUATES. I FEEL THAT TO HAVE THE WHOLE INSTRUMENT PANEL REPLACED IS A KNOWN DEFECT ON THE MAKERS PART. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10258351February 11, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON BUT THE VEHICLE RAN O.K. TOOK IT TO MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THAT THE OIL PRESSURE GAUGE WAS NOT WORKING AND HE BELIEVED THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS. IT WASN'T A RECALL SO WE WERE TOLD WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS OURSELVES AND SINCE WE REGULARLY CHANGE/CHECK OUR OIL I WASN'T TOO WORRIED. NOW WE HAVE NOTICED THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE HAS SHOT ALL THE WAY AROUND AND HAS STAYED BUT WHEN IT IS REALLY COLD OUTSIDE IT DROPS BACK TO NORMAL. THE SPEEDOMETER AND THE RPM GAUGE ALSO STICKS. SPENT MANY DAYS FOR A FEW YEARS TRYING TO SOLVE PROBLEM WITH THE RADIO AND DVD PLAYER NOT WORKING PROPERLY AND SWITCHING STATIONS ON ITS OWN AND AFTER SEVERAL REPLACEMENTS FINALLY GAVE UP BECAUSE IT WAS NEVER CORRECTED. THIS IS A REAL CONCERN AS I DO TRAVEL BY MYSELF AND RELY ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THIS SEEMS TO BE A REAL PROBLEM WITH THE TRAILBLAZER AND SHOULD BE RECALLED BY CHEVORLET. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10258374February 11, 2009
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, SMOKE APPEARED UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE AND ENTERED THROUGH THE DEFROST VENTS. THE FLAMES SPREAD THROUGH THE HOOD AND THEN UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND STATED THAT THE FUEL INJECTOR WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP AND THEY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT WANTED TO KNOW WHAT CAUSED THE FIRE. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE FAULTY FUEL INJECTOR FOR THE 2002 MODELS, BUT THE 2003 MODELS WERE NOT INCLUDED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 79,500.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10257737February 6, 2009
SEAT BELTS
I WAS ON HIGHWAY I25 SB IN DENVER, CO. MIDDLE LANE, CLEAR CONDITIONS, 30-35 MPH. 4 CARS IN FRONT STOPPED SHORT, I CAME TO A STOP AS SOON AS I COULD, MISSING THE CAR IN FRONT BY AN INCH. A VAN BEHIND ME REAR ENDED ME GOING APPROX 30MPH. I AM 5'1 SO MY HEAD HIT THE STEERING WHEEL CAUSING A CONCUSSION. MY COMPLAINT IS THAT NEITHER MY SEATBELT NOR MY FRONT PASSENGER'S LOCKED INTO POSITION. MY PASSENGER'S SEAT EVEN ROCKED BACK RENDERING HER SPINE COMPLETELY UNSTABLE. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND WE DID NOT FEEL SAFE. MY VEHICLE IS TOTALED. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10257487February 4, 2009
POWER TRAIN
2003 CHEVY TRAILBLAZER. TRANSFER CASE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED IN 2006, @ 32,000 MILES UNDER WARRANTY. TRANSFER CASE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN 2009 @ 66,000 MILES, WARRANTY PERIOD OVER ,NOW ITS $2200.00 OUT MY POCKET. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS IS A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THESE TRANSFER CASES. THE BEARING INSTALLED CAN NOT HANDLE IT. APPARENTLY GM HAS RECENTLY UPDATED THE BEARING. GM WILL NOT RECALL THESE TRANSFER CASES. OTHER GM VEHICLES HAVE RELATED ISSUES WITH THE TRANSFER CASE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10257230February 2, 2009
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
THREE OF THE FOUR DOOR LATCHING MECHANISMS HAD TO BE REPLACED IN THIS TRUCK. THE DOORS WOULD LOOK LIKE THEY CLOSED BUT THEY WOULD OPEN AS YOU TURNED A CORNER. THIS OCCURRED TWICE WHEN I HAD MY KIDS IN THE TRUCK, FIRST ON THE PASSENGER LEFT SIDE THEN A FEW MONTHS LATER THE PASSENGER RIGHT SIDE. I AM GLAD GM DIDN'T SCREW UP THE SEAL BELTS TOO. THIS IS DANGEROUS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10257229February 2, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE TRANSMISSION COOLING LINES CORRODED WHICH CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID TO LEAK OUT WHILE ON A 20 MILE ROUND TRIP FROM OUR HOUSE. THE TRUCK STARTED TO RUN ROUGH AS WE PULLED IN THE DRIVEWAY AND THERE IT DIED. I HAD IT TOWED TO A LOCAL TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP WHERE THEY CONFIRMED THE TRANSMISSION WAS DEAD, REBUILD OR REPLACE. I PAID TO TOW IT TO THE GM DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT THE TRUCK AND THEY CONFIRMED THE TRANNY WAS DEAD. ALUMINUM COOLING LINES ROTTED OUT, DRAINED THE FLUID AND THE UNIT FRIED. THERE ARE NO WARNING LIGHTS OR MONITORING OF THIS FLUID LEVEL PER GM. THIS TRUCK HAD BEEN SERVICED BY THIS DEALERSHIP. THE SERVICE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THIS IS NOT A COMMON OCCURRENCE BUT THIS IS NOT RARE EITHER. HE SAID GM WILL NOT HELP WITH THE REPAIRS AND HE WAS RIGHT. I HAD THE LOCAL TRANNEY SHOP DO THE REPAIRS FOR 2500.00, LESS THAN GM'S 4500.00. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS TRUCK, I WILL DO ANOTHER REPORT REGARDING THE FAILED DOOR LATCHES, AND I GAVE GM THE TIME TO REPAIR THEIR PROBLEMS AND THEN THEY TELL YOU TO "STUFF IT" WHEN THEIR BAD DESIGNS GET REAL COSTLY. LAST GM IN MY DRIVEWAY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Chevrolet Trailblazer