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2003 Chevrolet Trailblazer Ext Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 313 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Chevrolet Trailblazer Ext, most often about the fuel system (28% of complaints, typically around 73,000 miles). It is the most complained-about Trailblazer Ext model year since 2000 and has 3 recalls.
Most common 2003 Chevrolet Trailblazer Ext problems
Fuel system
89 complaints · 28%Half of these problems showed up before 73,000 miles. Parts named most often: storage, delivery.
I smelled a strong odor of gasoline, and had fuel leaking from the gas tank. I was afraid to keep driving it like that, I took it to get repaired. The service technician had to replace the sending unit module, part # mu1377. He said it was corroded.
I own a 2003 Chevrolet Trailblazer Ext. I smelled a strong odor of gas emanating from my vehicle recently. After some investigating, I discovered that there was fuel leaking out of the top of my fuel tank only while the engine was running. I dropped the fuel tank and discovered that the metal nipples from the top of…
Electrical
77 complaints · 25%Half of these problems showed up before 84,000 miles. Parts named most often: instrument cluster/panel, ignition, 12v/24v/48v battery, starter assembly.
Failure of throttle body sensor and ignition switch on 2003 chevy Trailblazer Ext. Failure left vehicle unable to start and unable to shift vehicle out of park.
The contact owns a 2003 Chevrolet trailblazer. While driving approximately 65 MPH, the contact observed that the speedometer would fluctuate continuously providing inaccurate speeds traveled. In addition, the tac and oil pressure gauges completely failed to operate. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for…
Transmission
49 complaints · 16%Half of these problems showed up before 60,500 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission, transfer case (4-wheel drive), driveline, axle assembly.
Where should I start? Purchased 03 trailblazer in 2/08 w/only 60,000 miles. Has been in shop 3 months..lost count of costs. A/c and heat not working properly..no hot air; clutch fan replaced; transmission slipping; engine cuts off while at stop-light. Should I go on? You would think w/only 60,000 miles on it--it was…
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.
Visibility and wipers
26 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 53,000 miles. Parts named most often: power window devices and controls, windshield wiper/washer, glass, side/rear, rear window wiper/washer.
Drivers side front window falls down without warning, into the door. Will not roll up into the fully closed position when electric window switch is activated. Must manually push the glass into the fully closed position, however, as stated above, it will fall without warning. This creates a serious hazard in that when…
Driver/passenger electric window malfunctions in that window will fall/lower itself. Dealer stated the electric regulators that aid/assist the window in raising/lowering continue to malfunction.
Lights
23 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 60,000 miles. Parts named most often: headlights, brake lights, turn signal, back up lights.
Took trailblazer into champion Chevrolet and they replaced turn signal module due to short circuit . Hazard flashers come on when driver moves turn signal lever up or down. Spoke to Chevrolet regarding possible recall and was told my vehicle was not part of the recall because the recall involves VIN#'s with the last…
My 2003 chevy trailblazer has a third brake light across the top hatch .while driving down a busy highway it was flying like a wing on the back of my vehicle luckily dot falling completely off but when I stopped it came crashing down onto my window of hatch luckily not breaking all I could do is break it completely…
Body and structure
20 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 43,500 miles. Parts named most often: body, frame and members.
Tl contact owns a 2003 Chevrolet Trailblazer Ext. The contact opened the rear hatch and heard a cracking noise coming from the top. Approximately three to four days later the contact noticed that the center high mounted stop lamp bracket failed. The vehicle was brought to the dealer simmons-rockwell Chevrolet. The…
High mount rear stop tail lamp assembly is loose. Opened the tailgate on 5/11/09 heard metal crunching. Ever since my back glass vibrates violently when going down the highway, increasing the possibility of it blowing out. On 5/17/09 after further investigation noticed that the top assembly has broken away from the…
Engine
18 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 72,000 miles. Parts named most often: cooling system, engine, exhaust system.
Rear AC/engine coolant line was rubbed thru due to the defective installation of a heat shield. The two lines provide freon and engine coolant to the rear AC/heater. The gm part number is 15113349 and is on national back order because this part is not suppose to fail. Gm currently has over 100 open tickets where this…
The contact owned a 2003 Chevrolet trailblazer. The contact stated that while driving 70 MPH, fire erupted from underneath the vehicle. The vehicle stalled as the contact merged to the shoulder. The contact and all of the passengers exited the vehicle as it became engulfed into flames and was destroyed. The fire…
Brakes
13 complaints · 4%Half of these problems showed up before 52,500 miles. Parts named most often: foundation components, disc, antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip.
Dt: the consumer owned 2003 chevy trailblazer and was having rotor problems. The vehicle has 33,000 miles on it. The rotors were pitted and warped on the inside . The total cost was $838.00 to replace themt. Brake pads were replaced along with the rotors. The brakes were squeaking and vibrating when to trying to come…
My 2003 chevy trailblazer has a third brake light across the top hatch .while driving down a busy highway it was flying like a wing on the back of my vehicle luckily dot falling completely off but when I stopped it came crashing down onto my window of hatch luckily not breaking all I could do is break it completely…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2003 Chevrolet Trailblazer Ext recalls
Doors and locks: latch
Risk: If the door is not latched properly and it goes unnoticed, it may open while the vehicle is in motion. If an unbelted occupant fell out of the vehicle, personal injuries could occur.
Fix: Dealers will install a seal along the lower part of the rocker panel to prevent intrusion of corrosive material, and inspect the rear side closure latches. Functional latches will be cleaned and lubricated. Non-functioning latches will be replaced. The recall began on february 24, 2006. Owners may contact chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438, gmc at 1-866-996-9463, or isuzu at 1-800-255-6727.
Full defect summary
Certain sport utility vehicles have a rear side closure latch that may not latch or unlatch due to corrosion caused by road splash, such as water and road salt. These vehicles were originally sold in or currently registered in the following states: connecticut, delaware, illinois, indiana, iowa, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, missouri, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont, west virginia, wisconsin, and the district of columbia.
Lights: brake lights
Risk: An inoperative brake lamp will not convey the driver's intention of stopping to drivers in following vehicles, and an inoperative rear turn signal lamp will not convey the driver's intention to turn to drivers in following vehicles. Both of these failures can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the tail lamp/stop lamp assemblies, and if necessary, replace them. The recall began on november 22, 2004. Owners should contact chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438, oldsmobile at 1-800-630-6537, buick at 1-866-608-8080, or gmc at 1-866-996-9463.
Full defect summary
On certain sport utility vehicles, vibration and heat may cause the tail lamp/stop lamp bulb to loosen in its socket. If this occurs, the bulb may flicker and eventually become inoperative.
Visibility and wipers: windshield wiper/washer
Risk: Depending on the occurrence and weather situation, driver visibility could be reduced, which could result in a crash.
Fix: Dealers will cover the windshield wiper module vent hole with a patch. Also, the wiper motor, circuit board, and electrical connector will be inspected to signs of water intrusion and/or corrosion and be replaced as required. The recall began july 6, 2004. Owners should contact chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438; oldsmobile at 1-800-630-6537; or gmc at 1-866-996-9463.
Full defect summary
Certain sport utility vehicles have windshield wiper systems that will not turn on, cease operation while in use, fail to turn off/on by themselves (moisture sensitive wiper system), or have continuous windshield washer pump operation because the presence of water within the wiper modules can either cause a short circuit or can lead to the corrosion of components within the module.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Loss of headlights
Summary
The subject vehicles are model year (my) 2002-2009 chevrolet trailblazer, gmc envoy, 2004-2007 buick rainier, 2003-2008 isuzu ascender, 2005-2009 saab 9-7x, 2002-2004 oldsmobile bravada, 2003-2006 chevrolet ssr, 2005-2009 buick lacrosse, and 2006-2008 pontiac grand prix. This scope includes the trailblazer/envoy variants: 2002-2006 envoy xl/trailblazer ext and 2004-2005 envoy xuv. The original scope of this investigation was expanded to include all vehicles equipped with the subject headlight driver module (hdm). The focus of the investigation was to determine whether actions performed by general motors adequately addressed any unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety in the subject vehicle
Fuel pump module leaks gasoline
Summary
During the course of this ea investigation, odi observed that the majority of the complaints (88%) and warranty claims (94%) were reported for vehicles that are registered for use in the salt belt region of the US.this area includes 20 states in the northeast, mid atlantic and the midwest regions and the district of columbia.consumers in the salt belt region reported to odi that they could smell fuel vapors in their vehicles while driving.upon further examination of their vehicles, they discovered that fuel vapors were coming out of the top of the fuel tank. This condition is caused by corrosion of the return and sender lines of the fuel pump module.water and road salt collect on top of the
Fuel tank leak
Summary
In june 2007, gm will expand its special policy to address fuel tank inlet check valve (icv) fractures on certain model year (my) trailblazer ext and gmc envoy xl vehicles.the expanded policy covers my 2002-2004 trailblazer ext, gmc envoy xl, and gmc envoy xuv vehicles and will extend for a period of 10 years or 150,000 miles (whichever comes first).gm will provide free repair of the fuel tank. It is sending letters to owners beginning in june of 2007.this action supersedes gm's previous 7 year/70,000 mile special policy for my 2002 trailblazer ext and envoy xl vehicles.the condition is most often reported as illumination of the service engine soon (ses) light.the vehicle's diagnostic system
Fuel pump module leaks gasoline
Summary
Odi has received reports that the fuel pump module leaks fuel and or vapor underneath the vehicle.gm states, the failure mechanism is corrosion of the fuel pump module flange which may lead to a fuel leak.corrosion of the fuel pump module flange is the result of the vehicle operating in a corrosive environment.odi has upgraded this pe to engineering analysis (ea07-009) to further assess this issue.
Brake lamp failure
Summary
Gm states that some brake/tail lamp bulbs can prematurely become inoperative due to malfunctioning brake/tail lamp sockets.on march 2, 2004, gm initiated a 6-year/72,000 mile special policy for 989,487 subject vehicles to inspect and replace the rear brake/tail lamp bulb socket assemblies.on april 4, 2004, the office of defects investigation (odi) opened a preliminary evaluation (pe04-032) based on consumer complaints alleging brake lights not operating when the brake pedal is depressed.on august 3, 2004 odi upgraded pe04-032 to an engineering analysis (ea04-021).by letter dated october 27, 2004 gm notified NHTSA that it will conduct a safety recall (NHTSA # 04v527) covering subject vehicles
Fuel spillage during refueling
Summary
This investigation was opened on the model year (my) 2003 chevrolet trailblazer.based on gm's information request (ir) response, odi added to its analysis the my 2003 gmc envoy and oldsmobile bravada vehicles.these vehicles share the same vehicle platform (gm 360/370) and fuel fill components.incident summary numbers reported above include these vehicles.epa regulates the fuel dispensing rates at filling stations and gm states that the reports of spitback for the subject vehicles are principally caused by fuel dispensing pumps exceeding the rate specified by epa.odi finds that the rate of complaints, field reports and warranty is low compared to other vehicles that have been recalled for a s
Questions about the 2003 Chevrolet Trailblazer Ext
- What are the most common problems with the 2003 Chevrolet Trailblazer Ext?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: fuel system (89 complaints, typically around 73,000 miles); electrical (77 complaints, typically around 84,000 miles); transmission (49 complaints, typically around 60,500 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2003 Chevrolet Trailblazer Ext have?
- 3 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from October 27, 2005 (doors and locks). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2003 a bad year for the Chevrolet Trailblazer Ext?
- It is the most complained-about Trailblazer Ext model year since 2000, with 313 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.