Chevrolet Trailblazer Complaints (2003)
1,239 consumer complaints on file.
- #10173274October 30, 2006STEERING:RACK AND PINION
2003 TRAILBLAZER RACK AND PINION FAILED DUE TO A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. *TS THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE RACK & PINION FAILED, IT CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STEER LEFT, AND SUBSEQUENTLY AN ACCIDENT OCCURRED. *JB
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10171855October 25, 2006SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE'S BRAKE PUMP FAILED. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER SEVEN DIFFERENT TIMES SINCE DEC 2004 AND THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE ISSUE. THE VEHICLE WAS NEVER INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10171856October 25, 2006AIR BAGS
MY 2003 CHEVY TRAILBLAZER WAS HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT RAN A STOP SIGN AND STRUCK THE DRIVERS SIDE. THIS CAUSED THE FRONT WHEEL AND AXEL TO BREAK, CAUSED THE CAR TO LOOSE CONTROL, AND FLIP END OVER END LANDING UPSIDE DOWN. NONE OF THE FRONT OR SIDE AIR BAGS WORKED. *NM
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 2
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10171770October 25, 2006ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
1ST INCIDENT (JULY 2004): WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 20 MPH, VEHICLE STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. COULD NOT GET IT TO START AND KEY LOCKED IN IGNITION WHILE TRUCK WAS STILL IN GEAR. OTHER TIMES PREVIOUS, VEHICLE TOOK A FEW TIMES TO START. IGNITION SWITCH WAS INTERMITTENT. WHILE IN FOR REPAIR FIRST TIME, FOUND THAT WHEN VEHICLE STALLED, IT LOST IGNITION INPUT. CODES THAT CAME UP WITH SCAN CHECK WERE U1000, U1016, U1152, B1372 AND U1088. IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED WITH NEW, FP#12450251-SWITCH 2.188 R. ALL OTHER FUSES AND WIRING TO IGNITION WERE FOUND TO BE "OK". 2ND-CURRENT INCIDENT (OCTOBER 2006): VEHICLE TOOK SEVERAL TIMES TO START (SAME AS ORIGINAL PROBLEM). VEHICLE WOULD TURNOVER BUT WOULD NOT START ENGINE. TRIED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE BATTERY DIED. CURRENT EVALUATION FROM SERVICE TECH IS THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH IS BAD. KEY IS LOCKING IN IGNITION AND CAN'T MOVE GEARS. TOW DRIVER HAD TO "JUMP" BATTERY TO GET VEHICLE IN AND OUT OF NEUTRAL FOR TOW AND TO REMOVE KEY FROM IGNITION. STILL WAITING ON EXTENDED WARRANTY PROVIDER TO APPROVE THIS REPLACEMENT (ALTHOUGH THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY PROVIDER IS NOW BANKRUPT). WE MAY HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS REPAIR OUT OF POCKET IF WARRANTY ISSUE IS NOT RESOLVED. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10171485October 21, 2006ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2003 CHEVY TRAILBLAZER WITH 34100 MILES SERVICE ENGINES LIGHT COMES ON, I TAKE IT TO THE DEALER WHO FIXES IT AND RECOMMEND I HAVE THE TRANSMISSION AND ANOTHER REGULAR MAINTENANCE COMPLETED THAT COST ME OVER 400.00 DOLLARS. TWO WEEKS LATER I HAVE TO TAKE IT BACK BECASUE THE SPEEDOMETER WENT PAST 115 MILES WHILE SITTING STILL, A WEEK LATER THE TRANSMISSION STARTS STALLING WHILE GOING FORWARD AND THE ENGINE FAN IS RUNNING CONSTANTLY EVEN ON START UP. CHECKED THE FLUID I HAD NONE IN THE TRANSMISSION. YET IT WAS SUPPOSE TO HAVE BEEN FILLED WHEN MAINTENANCE WAS DONE. TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER IT IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND JUST UNDER A HUNDRED MILES LATER MY 2003 CHEVY TRAILBLAZER WHICH IS 3 YEARS OLD. THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN THE CHEVY TRAILBLAZER AND I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE EXPERIENCING THIS. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE. HELP. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10171395October 20, 2006SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT, POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)
PASSENGER SIDE UPPER BALL JOINT CAME OUT CAUSING THE LOWER BALL JOINT TO ALSO COME OUT RESULTING IN A CUT ABS SENSOR WIRE AND A BENT STRUT AND FINALLY A AXLE THAT RIPPED OUT OF THE TRANSFER CASE WHICH DESTROYED THE CASE COVER. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10171230October 18, 2006VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
I HAVE A 2003 CHEV. TRAILBLAZER. THE WINDSHIELD WIPER RECENTLY REFUSED TO TURN OFF. IT HAD BEEN RAINING AND THEY COULD NOT BE STOPPED. MY WIFE HAD TO DRIVE THE CAR WITH THEM POINTED FORWARD UNTIL REPAIR COULD BE HAD. I NOTICED THAT A RECALL FOR THE PRECISE PROBLEM HAD BEEN ISSUED BY NHSTA--FOR VEHICLES MFD APRIL 2002 TO NOV.2002. MY VEHICLE WAS BUILT DEC. 17 2002. THE DEALER HAS BEEN EXCELLENT, BUT I HAD TO CONTACT CHEVROLET MOTOR DIVISION AND THEY SAID MY CAR WAS NOT COVERED--TOO BAD. I FIND IT INCREDIBLE THAT THIS EVENT THAT IS PRECISELY DESCRIBED IN RECALL NUMBER 04V046000 AND SERVICE BULLETIN 10008492. I AM REQUESTING YOUR HELP WITH THIS MATTER, OR THE TIME PERIOD FOR THE RECALL SHOULD BE EXTENDED AS CLEARLY MY VEHICLE SUFFERS THE PRECISE PROBLEM YOU HAVE SPECIFIED. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10170773October 13, 2006FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
I HAVE A 2003 CHEVY TRAILBLAZER AND THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT WAS ON. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT AND THEY SAID THE GAS TANK INLET LINE HAD A CRACK IN IT AND I NEEDED A NEW TANK, IT WOULD COST $906. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND THERE IS A SPECIAL POLICY ADJUSTMENT #05012 FOR 2002 TRAILBLAZERS. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THEY WOULD REPLACE IT FOR FREE CAUSE THEY ARE THE SAME TANKS ON THE 2002 AND 2003, BUT I STILL HAD TO PAY $87.00 FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC FEE. I TOLD THE DEALERSHIP AND CUSTOMER SERVICE ALL THE VEHICLES SHOULD BE RECALLED AND CHANGED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY HURT FROM ON EXPLODING. THEY TOLD ME THEY ARE DOING SOMETHING ABOUT IT, THEY ARE REPLACING MY TANK. BUT WHAT ABOUT ALL THE OTHER TANKS OUT THERE THAT COULD BE LEAKING, AND IF SOMEONE REAR ENDS THEM, OR A ELECT SHORT CAUSES A SPARK, A CIGARETTE BEING FLICKED OUT THE WINDOW, SOMEONE NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT BEFORE SOMEONE GET KILLED. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10170786October 13, 2006VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE SPEEDOMETER BECAME INOPERABLE, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE SERVICE DEALER DETERMINED THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE SHIPPED OUT OF STATE TO HAVE THE SPEEDOMETER REPLACED.*AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10170535October 11, 2006STEERING:RACK AND PINION
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH ON A CITY STREET, THERE WAS A POPPING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL, UPON APPLYING BRAKE PRESSURE, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT, BUT NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED MINOR DAMAGE HOWEVER, THE POLICE WERE NOT ALERTED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE STEERING RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED. UPDATED 10/27/06. *JB
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10170412October 10, 2006FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHO DETERMINED THE FILLER PIPE NECK AT THE TOP OF THE FUEL STORAGE TANK ASSEMBLY WAS LEAKING AND NEEDED REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED. UPDATED 10/25/2006 - THE TANK AND INLET IS A ONE PIECE UNIT. THE INLET CRACKED AROUND THE MOLDED FLANGE WHERE IT ATTACHES TO THE FUEL TANK. THIS IS WHERE THE FUEL LEAKED FROM. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10170190October 7, 2006FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP
MY 2003 TRAIL BLAZER CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON SO I TOOK IT IN TO SEE WHY IT WAS ON. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE GAS CAP RESET THE ENGINE LIGHT AND SENT ME OFF. TWO DAYS LATER, IT CAME BACK ON SO I TOOK IT BACK. THIS TIME THEY REPLACED A SOLENOID AND RESET THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. ONE DAY LATER IT CAN BACK ON. TIRES CARE PLUS STATED TO TAKE IT TO THE CHEVY DEALER BECAUSE THEY DID NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH IT. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED IT WAS A FUEL FILTER FITTING LEAK AND THAT THE ENTIRE GAS TANK AND FUEL HOSE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $1000.00. I OPTED NOT TO HAVE IT FIXED SO THEY SENT ME HOME WITH NO WARNING OR FURTHER EXPLANATION. I WENT HOME AND DID SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. AS IT TURNS OUT, THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE FUEL FILTER FILLING BREAKING FROM THE FUEL TANK. FOUR DAYS LATER, I WENT TO FILL UP MY CAR WITH GAS AND ALL THE GAS RAN OUT OF THE CAR ALL OVER THE PAVEMENT. I CALLED THE CHEVY DEALER, STATED WHAT HAPPENED AND HAD IT REPAIRED FOR $1000.00 (THE ENTIRE GAS TANK AND FUEL FITTING ON A 2003 CAR!). FROM WHAT RESEARCH I HAVE DONE, THE 2002 TRAILBLAZER HAVE BEEN RECALLED BUT THE 2003 HAVE NOT AND CHEVY HAS NOT REDESIGNED THE TANK. THERE WAS A LADY THAT HAD TO REPLACE HER TANK TWICE! IS THIS NOT A HAZARD? I KEPT SMELLING GAS OUTSIDE MY CAR BUT ASSUMED THAT IT WAS BECAUSE I HAD OVERFILLED THE TANK. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10169706October 1, 2006FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE
2003 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZERS 3-4 WEEKS AGO MY SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT CAME ON AND I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO SHOWED ME A LEAK AT THE JUNCTION OF THE GAS TANK AND THE HOSE FROM WHERE YOU FILL UP THE TANK. THE SERVICE MAN TIGHTENED THE CLAMP. THE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN AND I TOOK THE TB BACK AND WAS TOLD THE CONNECTION WAS CRACKED AND THAT THE TANK HAD TO BE REPLACED. I HAVEN'T BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT, HAVEN'T RUN OVER ANYTHING ETC TO CAUSE THIS. I AM HAVING THE TANK REPLACED-- *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10169653September 30, 2006POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WELL MAINTAINED 2003 TRAILBLAZER TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO 80,000 MILEAGE. THEREFORE, A DEFECTIVE DESIGN MUST HAVE LEAD TO THIS OCCURRENCE. WE PAID OVER $3,000 FOR A GM REBUILT TRANSMISSION WITH A 3 YEAR AND 100,000 MILE WARRANTY. THUS WITH THIS TYPE OF WARRANTY, THE MANUFACTURER MUST HAVE BEEN AWARE THE INITIAL PRODUCT WAS DEFECTIVE. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10169385September 27, 2006ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
ABOUT A MONTH AGO, TURNED VEHICLE OFF FOR ABOUT 3 MINUTES, WHEN RETURNING TO THE CAR AND RESTARTING, NOTICED THE RADIO DID NOT COME ON, THE CLOCK DID NOT ILLUMINATE. AFTER ARRIVING TO DESTINATION, TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND THE RADIO AND CLOCK BEGAN WORKING AGAIN, BUT THE CLOCK HAD RESET ITSELF(LIKE THE BATTERY HAD BEEN DISCONNECTED). OCCASIONALLY, WHEN TURNING ON THE TURN SIGNAL-IT DOESN'T BLINK, JUST STAYS LIT UP. I HAVE CHECKED FOR BLOWN BULBS-THEY ALL ARE WORKING PROPERLY. THE RADIO STATION ID (ON THE SCREEN) SEEMS TO WORK OCCASIONALLY. LAST NIGHT, WHEN THE RADIO WAS ON PRESET 6 (105.9) FM100 SHOWED ON THE SCREEN. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10168916September 21, 2006ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
MY 2003 TRAILBLAZER LS ENGINE HAS STALLED AND COMPLETELY DIED WHILE I'VE BEEN DRIVING IT NUMEROUS TIMES. THE FIRST TIME WAS ON 9/8/06 AND I WAS SLOWING DOWN AT A STOP LIGHT, ABOUT 35 MILES AN HOUR, THE ENGINE JUST DIED, AND I HAD TRAFFIC BEHIND ME AND WAS NEARLY REAR ENDED. I FINALLY GOT IT RESTARTED AFTER TURNING OFF THE AC AND GOT IT OFF THE ROAD, TOWED TO DEALER AND THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG AFTER 2 DAYS. I GOT IT BACK FROM THE DEALER AND IT PROCEEDED TO DIE ON ME ON 4 SEPARATE DAYS, EACH TIME WHEN SLOWING DOWN AND WITH THE A/C ON. I'VE SO FAR BEEN ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE WAY OF ONCOMING CARS AND GET IT RESTARTED, BUT REFUSE TO DRIVE IT ON THE INTERSTATE FOR FEAR OF BEING REAR ENDED. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AGAIN ON 9/18/2006 AND THEY KEPT IT FOR 3 DAYS WHILE I PAID FOR A RENTAL AND COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. ALL THEY DID WAS DRIVE IT AROUND A FEW MILES AND TELL ME THEY COULDN'T GET IT TO FAIL. ON THE WAY HOME FROM THE DEALERSHIP, IT FAILED ON ME AGAIN. I'VE RESEARCHED ON THE INTERNET AND THIS SEEMS TO BE HAPPENING WITH A NUMBER OF 2003 TRAILBLAZERS, I CAN'T BELIEVE CHEVY DOESN'T KNOW WHAT IS WRONG. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10167941September 12, 2006ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE INSTRUMENT PANEL DID NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE SPEEDOMETER INDICATED 30 MPH WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. ALSO, THE TACHOMETER, THE OIL AND FUEL GAUGES, AND THE ODOMETER DID NOT GIVE A READING AT ALL. THE FUSES WERE REMOVED AND PUT BACK IN, WHICH ONLY CORRECTED THE PROBLEM TEMPORARILY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE REPAIR SHOP, WHERE THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10168057September 12, 2006POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES
TRANS COOLANT LINES RUBBED AGAINST CAT CONVERTER, CAUSING LEAKS. 4 - 4.5 QTS OF TRANS FLUID LEAKED OUT. TRANS OVERHEATED AND FAILED ON THE HIGHWAY, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STOP IN AN UNSAFE LOCATION. TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10166610August 26, 2006EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL, VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE WITH ONLY 40,000 MILES ON IT! POWER WINDOW ASSEMBLY BROKE AND REPAIRED TWICE ON THE SAME DOOR, INOPERABLE CLIMATE CONTROL UNIT, FRONT DASHBOARD GETS EXTREMELY HOT AT ALL TIMES, BRAKES SQUEAL ALL THE TIME (DEALER COULD NOT FIGURE IT OUT AND WAS REMEDIED WITH CERAMIC BRAKE PADS AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS), TRANSMISSION HAS POOR SHIFTING PATTERN (BULLETIN PROVIDED A NEW SHIFT PROGRAM FOR THE TRANSMISSION AND THE DEALER INSTALLED BUT IS RIGHT BACK TO IT'S ORIGINAL PROBLEM AFTER 3 MONTHS). *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10166437August 24, 2006UNKNOWN OR OTHER
1) SPARE TIRE RELEASE DEFECTIVE AND CANNOT LOWER SPARE. FOUND PROBLEM WITH SPARE RELEASE BY BELLE TIRE WHEN ROTATING AND BUYING NEW TIRES AT 58,000 MILES. 2) NO SPARE AVAILABLE. MY CHILD IN THE CAR STRANDED ON A ROAD ENDANGERS MY FAMILY. 3) REQUESTED GM ASSISTANCE CENTER FOR ASSISTANCE WITH NO ANSWER FOR TWO MONTHS. WAS FINALLY DIRECTED TO DEALER FOR ESTIMATE. GM DEALER INDICATED THAT THE PROBLEM IS COMMON ON THE GM TRAILBLAZERS, AND IN NEED OF REPAIR. THEY DID NOT KNOW IF THE REPLACEMENT PART WAS REDESIGNED. GM ASSISTANCE CENTER COULD NOT ANSWER IF PART IMPROVED , AND WOULD NOT OFFER ANY COMPENSATION FOR REPLACEMENT OF ANOTHER POTENTIALLY BAD PART THAT COULD LEAVE A MOTORIST IN AN UNSAFE SITUATION . *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0