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2003 Chevrolet Trailblazer Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 901 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Chevrolet Trailblazer, most often about the electrical (32% of complaints, typically around 80,000 miles). It is 5th of 17 Trailblazer model years by number of complaints and has 8 recalls.
Most common 2003 Chevrolet Trailblazer problems
Electrical
285 complaints · 32%Half of these problems showed up before 80,000 miles. Parts named most often: instrument cluster/panel, ignition, wiring, 12v/24v/48v battery.
2003 chevy Trailblazer. The speedometer has gone wild. I.e: I am sitting still at a red light and the speedometer is pointing to 80 or 100 or even worse, pointing straight down in the six o clock position.
For approx. 4 months I would go to get into my Trailblazer and the vehicle would be dead. Would not start unless I had it jumped. It would go 2 weeks with no problem then out of the blue, not work. I had the battery changed 2 times, alternator, starter checked with no problem. Finally after the last time, I had the…
Fuel system
180 complaints · 20%Half of these problems showed up before 88,000 miles. Parts named most often: storage, delivery.
Service engine light came on. My private mechanic found it to be code p0440 indicating the fuel evaporation system had a problem. Initial inspection found nothing but upon performing a smoke test of the fuel system, the fuel inlet nozzle on the fuel tank was found leaking. Only fix was to replace the tank. Total cost…
Gas tank leaking. I have two children (safety issue) I think there is something that gm needs to do about this problem.. Obviously it is a problem. I guess we need to take further actions ourselves.
Transmission
103 complaints · 11%Half of these problems showed up before 71,000 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission, transfer case (4-wheel drive), driveline, axle assembly.
Vehicle was bought brand new from gm dealer on oct 31, 2002. Vehicle has 71,770 miles on it. Was driving less than 6 miles to work in the morning and gave it gas and felt something break. Forward gears had little power and had a high wining sound to them. Had no reverse gear. Had to have vehicle towed. Dealer…
Transmission failure at 68,000 miles on two wheel drive vehicle. Stranded wife and kids on interstate in michigan. Thank you to the michigan state police for helping! Very dissatisfied with the whole gm brand. Second SUV owned and similar problems with both. This will be the last....
Engine
80 complaints · 9%Half of these problems showed up before 52,500 miles. Parts named most often: cooling system, engine, exhaust system.
Started hearing a ticking noise coming from under the hood. Took it in to get checked out. Had to replace fan clutch motor at a cost of nearly 500 dollars. 2 weeks later started having crazy speedometer readings.
Heard lots of noises. At 51,225 mostly highway miles found vehicle needed: (1) differential cover gasket (2) pinion shaft seal (3) extension housing seal (4) thermal fan clutch cost: $1,800 left alone, failed seals and gasket will cause complete transmission failure, failed fan clutch will cause engine seizing, fire.
Lights
78 complaints · 9%Half of these problems showed up before 73,500 miles. Parts named most often: brake lights, headlights, tail lights, turn signal.
- the contact stated that when he turned the right blinker on in his 2003 Chevrolet Trailblazer with a current odometer reading of 77000 and a failure mileage of 73000 miles. All four blinker lights turned on at once. There was recall 05v198000 on this particular year, make and model, but this vehicle was not included…
Tl contact owns a 2003 Chevrolet Trailblazer. The contact stated that the low beam headlights dim periodically while driving at night. The manufacturer was called, but the contact has not received a response. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but they could not duplicate the failure. The failure mileage was 73,000.…
Visibility and wipers
70 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 68,500 miles. Parts named most often: windshield wiper/washer, rearview mirrors/devices, power window devices and controls, defroster/defogger/hvac system.
The windshield wipers do not function properly. The wipers fail to turn off when the wiper switch has been turned to the off position. I later found that there had been a recall issued for this failure mode in this vehicle make and model, but my VIN is not included in the recall notice. I believe that the failure mode…
Tl contact owns a 2003 Chevrolet Trailblazer. The contact stated that the windshield wipers would not turn off at times. The vehicle was taken to the dealership where the contact was informed that he would have to pay a diagnostic fee. The vehicle was not inspected or repaired. The contact called the manufacturer and…
Air bags
57 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 95,500 miles. Parts named most often: frontal, side/window.
My wife and I were involved in a head on collision (hit by a drunk driver) our air bags did not deploy, I sustained a c7 fracture, scalped by the rear view mirror (22 stitches to hold my scalp) 6 stitches on my nose and bruised knees. My wife has a broken nose all the bones in her right foot broken and bruised knees.
Air bag light came on and has remained on since it started. I have had it looked at however they indicated there were no recalls and the expense was going to be over $1000 to repair, which I don't have. Given the recent recalls on air bags, and additional information I found recently on your site, this seems to be an…
Body and structure
43 complaints · 5%Half of these problems showed up before 61,000 miles. Parts named most often: body, frame and members.
Tl * the contact owns a 2003 Chevrolet Trailblazer. The contact stated that the spare tire hoist had malfunctioned by not releasing the spare tire. The vehicle was inspected by an independent mechanic and the contact was informed that there was no repair for the failure, but they could remove the spare tire for him.…
The rear window hatches are rusting through and I fear this will cause the glue to separate from the glass. Once the glue separates the window will fall out. Other then the hinges rusting I see no other obvious signs of rust.
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 recalls
Lights: turn signal
Risk: The driver may not be able to clearly signal their intentions to turn, change travel lanes, or potentially warn others of an impaired vehicle operating condition increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the suspect flasher modules with a new flasher module designed with sealed relays and more durable contact material inside of the relays free of charge. The recall began on august 4, 2005. Isuzu began mailing owner letters on august 4, 2005. Owners may contact chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438, gmc at 1-866-996-9463, isuzu at 1-800-255-6727, buick at 1-866-608-8080, and oldsmobile at 1-800-630-6537.
Full defect summary
On certain trucks and sport utility vehicles, the driver wishing to signal a turn by moving the directional signal lever, (up or down) may cause the front marker/turn lights and rear turn lights to flash in a manner similar to hazard warning, rather than flashing on the desired side only.
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.
Equipment: owners/service/other manual
Risk: This does not meet the requirements of the standard.
Fix: Owners will be provided with a supplement for their owner's manual. This supplement describes and shows the location symbols for the child restraint anchors that are located in the vehicle and on the child restraint or booster cushion. Owner notification began august 18, 2003. Owners should contact buick at 1-866-608-8080, cadillac at 1-866-982-2339, chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438, gmc at 1-866-996-9463, pontiac at 1-800-620-7668, or oldsmobile at 1-800-630-6537.
Full defect summary
Certain minivans, passenger and sport utility vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 225, "child restraint anchorage system." the owner's manual does not explain the meaning of the location symbols for the child restraint lower universal anchorage system.
Brakes: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Risk: If braking performance is reduced, a crash could occur.
Fix: Dealers will replace the left-front brake pipe. Owner notification began on may 29, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020, gmc at 1-800-462-8782, or oldsmobile at 1-800-442-8006.
Full defect summary
Certain sport utility vehicles were built with a left-front brake pipe with a circumferential score at a random location along the length of the pipe as the result of the manufacturing process. If the brake pipe partially or fully fractured, brake pedal travel would immediately increase and front brake performance would be reduced.
Transmission: automatic transmission
Risk: These overrides are not permitted unless the vehicle has a locking steering column.
Fix: Dealers will eliminate these conditions by disabling the overrides. Owner notification began on may 29, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020, gmc at 1-800-462-8782, oldsmobile at 1-800-442-6537, or hummer at 1-866-486-6376.
Full defect summary
Certain sport utility vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 114, "theft protection." these vehicles are equipped with a mechanical override that could allow the ignition key to be removed with the shift lever in a position other than park. In addition, these vehicles have an override that can allow the transmission to be shifted out of park with the ignition in the off position.
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: This could result in reduced capability of the air bag to protect the driver. Also if the air bag inflator ruptured, pieces of the inflator could strike and injure the vehicle occupants.
Fix: Dealers will inspect, and if necessary, install a new driver's air bag. Owner notification began on march 11, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact buick at 1-800-521-7300, cadillac at 1-800-458-8006, chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020, gmc at 1-800-462-8782, or pontiac at 1-800-762-2737.
Full defect summary
On certain mini vans, passenger and sport utility vehicles, some of these vehicles have a driver's side air bag that may not deploy as designed. In addition, the air bag inflator could rupture.
Air bags: frontal
Risk: Pieces of the inflator could strike and injure vehicle occupants and the air bag cushion would not inflate fully, reducing the capability of the bag to protect the driver.
Fix: Dealers will inspect, and replace, if necessary, the air bag module assembly on the driver's side. Owner notification began august 15, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact buick at 1-800-521-7300, cadillac at 1-800-458-8006, chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020, gmc at 1-800-462-8782, oldsmobile at 1-800-442-6537, or pontiac at 1-800-762-2737.
Full defect summary
Certain passenger, mini vans, and sport utility vehicles have an air bag inflator on the driver's side that could fracture at a weld during a deployment.
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 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
Brake lamp failure
Summary
The office of defects investigation (odi) opened this investigation on model year (my) 2002-04 chevrolet trailblazer vehicles.gm reports that other vehicles sharing this platform and brake lamp design are the my 2002-2004 chevrolet trailblazer ext; gmc envoy, xl, xuv; oldsmobile bravada and 2004 buick rainier.complaints allege that the rear brake lamp does not operate when the brake pedal is depressed.there is no indication to the driver from inside the vehicle that one or more brake lamps bulbs are not functioning.gm found that heat from the bulb could deform the lamp socket, produce electrical arcing and an inoperative bulb.to correct the condition, gm changed the bulb to a bulb that trans
Windshield wiper failure
Summary
On september 17, 2003, the office of defects investigation (odi) opened a preliminary evaluation (pe03-042) to investigate alleged windshield wiper failure in certain model year (my) 2002 and 2003 chevrolet trailblazer and trailblazer ext, gmc envoy and envoy xl, and oldsmobile bravada vehicles.the investigation was upgraded to an engineering analysis on january 6, 2004, and the scope was expanded to include certain my 2003 isuzu ascender vehicles.all subject vehicles are built on general motors? Gmt360 and gmt370 platforms and were originally equipped with a windshield wiper assembly referred to as the family design module (p/n 15171306 base, p/n 15171307 for vehicles equipped with rainsens
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
Windshield wiper failure
Summary
The subject vehicles (chevrolet trailblazer (ext), gmc envoy (xl), and oldsmobile bravada) are built on the gmt360 and gmt370 platforms and were originally equipped with a windshield wiper assembly referred to as the ?family? Design module (p/n 15171306 base, p/n 15171307 for vehicles equipped with rainsense automatic moisture sensitive wipers).the windshield wiper assembly is located inside the plenum at the base of the windshield and is mounted on an incline approximately equal to the rake of the windshield.gm reports that vehicles are subject to a quality assurance water test at the assembly plant.the test exposes the vehicles to an amount of water that exceeds the plenum?s capability to
Questions about the 2003 Chevrolet Trailblazer
- What are the most common problems with the 2003 Chevrolet Trailblazer?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: electrical (285 complaints, typically around 80,000 miles); fuel system (180 complaints, typically around 88,000 miles); transmission (103 complaints, typically around 71,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2003 Chevrolet Trailblazer have?
- 8 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from May 5, 2005 (lights). 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?
- It is 5th of 17 Trailblazer model years by number of complaints, with 901 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.