RoadVitals

2003 Chevrolet Blazer

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
77
Latest Feb 28, 2018
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
1
Latest Mar 18, 2004
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
14
2 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 77 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2003 Chevrolet Blazer, most frequently naming the airbags, body & structure and fuel system categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 408 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

Mar 18, 2004
183,922 units potentially affected
The defect: CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION."
The risk: SOME OF THESE VEHICLES INCLUDE INCORRECT STATEMENTS ON ONE OF THE AIR BAG WARNING LABELS.
The remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH CORRECT LABELS AND INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JUNE 4, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 OR GMC AT 1-866-996-9463.
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.Manufacturer number 04021View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Airbags
Filed Feb 28, 2018
Crash reported

REAR ENDED A STOPPED PICK UP AT 45 MPH AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. IT WAS ON A HIGHWAY WHERE THE SPEED LIMIT IS 55. THE WHOLE FRONT END WAS DAMAGED BUT MOST WAS ON DRIVER SIDE.

NHTSA ID
11075512
Incident
Feb 16, 2016
Fuel system
Filed Jan 11, 2018

1/10/2018, WHILE DRIVING ON I-96, SUV SUDDENLY LOST POWER IN THE MIDDLE LANE AT 72MPH. I COASTED VEHICLE TO A STOP IN THAT LANE, AS HEAVY TRAFFIC WOULD NOT ALLOW ME TO PULL OVER. MY FAMILY OF FOUR WERE IN THAT SUV WHEN THE FUEL DELIVERY SYSTEM FAILED. THE FUEL PUMP STOPPED WORKING WITHOUT WARNING.

NHTSA ID
11062137
Incident
Jan 10, 2018
Mileage
206,854 mi
Body & structureBrakesFuel system
Filed Sep 20, 2016

I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN FEBRUARY 2015 WITH 71,000 - THE BODY WAS VERY WELL KEPT INSIDE AND OUT. WHAT I DIDN'T KNOW WAS THE EXTENSIVE AMOUNT OF RUST AND CORROSION UNDER THE VEHICLE, WHICH DID NOT SHOW INITIALLY. I HAVE ONLY HAD SAME A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AND HAVE HAD TO ALREADY REPLACE FRONT ARM JOINTS BECAUSE THEY SNAPPED IN HALF AND MY TIRE WAS SITTING CROOKED AND IN DANGER OF FALLING OFF!! FUEL LINES HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THEY COMPLETED RUSTED THROUGH AND GASOLINE WAS LEAKING OUT ALL OVER. THE DRIVER DOOR WAS CHECKED 2X AS IT DOES NOT SHUT CORRECTLY AND I CAN HEAR WIND GETTING INTO THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING (NOT TO MENTION WATER POURING IN OVER THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR AND DOOR CONTROLS), THE BRAKES GO COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR (DESPITE BEING FIXED), THE ABS LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAY ON DESPITE BEING CHECKED - THIS TRUCK DESIGN IS TERRIBLE AND IT NOW RIDES AND SOUNDS LIKE A BUCKET OF BOLTS. I HAVE HAD MANY TRUCKS FROM GMC JIMMY, CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER, ETC. - I HAVE NEVER HAD ONE THAT HAS GONE COMPLETELY SOUR IN SO SHORT A TIME. I HAVE ALSO READ THE NUMEROUS ACCOUNTS OF PEOPLE IN ACCIDENTS WITH THIS YEAR VEHICLE AND THE BRAKES FAILING AND AIRBAGS NOT DEPLOYING - I AM SERIOUSLY SCARED TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE ANYMORE. I AM A SINGLE MOTHER OF 2 AND THOUGHT I WAS PURCHASING A RELIABLE VEHICLE FOR MY FAMILY FROM A REPUTABLE COMPANY. I SEE THAT MOST OF THE COMPLAINTS - IF THEY WERE INVESTIGATED BY CHEVY - WERE DEEMED "NO PROBLEM FOUND" AND SWEPT UNDER THE RUG. WHAT DO I DO?! I HAVE ALREADY SPENT OVER $1,000 TO FIX THIS VEHICLE AND IT STILL HAS ISSUES - I SIMPLY CANNOT AFFORD TO KEEP SINKING $$ INTO A VEHICLE THAT IS GOING TO BLEED ME DRY.

NHTSA ID
10908257
Incident
Sep 20, 2016
AirbagsBrakesElectrical
Filed Dec 20, 2015
Crash reported

TAKATA INFLATORS: I HAD LEFT MY HOUSE HEADED TO WORK AT APPROXIMATELY 6:30 AM AND GOT ON I40 EASTBOUND, IT HAD SNOWED THE DAY BEFORE AND THE ROADS HAD BEEN TREATED AND WERE CLEAR FOR TRAVEL, I WAS TRAVELING ON A 3 LANE HIGHWAY IN THE LEFT LANE @ APROX 50MPH AND I APPLIED MY BRAKES TO DO UPCOMING TRAFFIC, WHEN THE ABS SYSTEM LOCKED. I ATTEMPTED TO LET OFF AND RE APPLY THE BRAKE BUT THE ABS SYSTEM JUST STAYED ENGAGED AND THE FRONT END STARTED SLIDING HARD TO THE LEFT AND I STEERED AWAY FROM THE PULL. I SUBSEQUENTLY HIT THE CENTER CONCRETE WALL AT APPROX. 40MPH WITH THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF MY CAR, WHICH CAUSED ME TO SPIN AROUND AND HIT THE PASSENGER REAR, I CONTINUED TO SPIN UNTIL I WAS FACING BACK EAST. MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY BUT IT CAUSED SEVERE DAMAGE TO CORE SUPPORT AND PASSENGER SIDE FRAME HORN. IT WAS A SINGLE VEHICLE ACCIDENT AND NO DAMAGE WAS DONE TO ANYTHING BUT MY VEHICLE AND MYSELF, THE ABS DID NOT RELEASE WITHIN WHAT I APPROXIMATE TO BE ABOUT 6 SECONDS AND THIS SO CALLED SAFETY DEVICE NEARLY KILLED ME. I WAS WEARING MY SEAT BELT.

NHTSA ID
10811339
Incident
Feb 16, 2015
Mileage
175,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Nov 6, 2014

AIRBAG RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ID
10653043
Incident
Nov 4, 2013
Mileage
85,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Oct 26, 2014

MY 03 BLAZER HAS HAD ITS AIRBAG LIGHTS ON FOR SOME TIME NOW AND I'M WORRIED THAT IF I GET INTO A CRASH MY AIRBAGS WONT DEPLOY, I'M SCARED ALSO TO SEE SO MANY COMPLAINTS ALONG THE SAME LINES AS MINE. THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY THE NHTSA OR BY GM BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED OR INJURED BADLY. A RECALL IS NEEDED! *TR

NHTSA ID
10650017
Incident
Jan 16, 2014
Mileage
138,300 mi
Body & structure
Filed Oct 7, 2014

DRIVERS DOOR HINGES ARE LOOSE CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE DOOR LATCH AND DOOR FLYING OPEN. *TR

NHTSA ID
10643092
Incident
Feb 14, 2012
Electrical
Filed Aug 6, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET BLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS STARTING THE IGNITION, THE ENGINE FAILED TO OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY A CERTIFIED MECHANIC, WHO INFORMED THAT THE STARTER RELAY SWITCH WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.

NHTSA ID
10619333
Incident
May 20, 2014
Mileage
115,000 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

PIP5601C

This PI communicates the requirement to provide a pico file to receive diagnostic assistance from TAC.

PIP5358D

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have an unusual noise and is difficult to identify, isolate or pinpoint. Technician should get record a sound clip or take a video of the noise for assessment by engineering. Technician will need to call General Motors Technical Assistance Center for further assistance.

PIP4723J

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or updating operating software for the Tire Pressure Monitor, Active Fuel Injector tester, multi media tester, PICO Scope, GR8 starting/charging tester  and Vehicle Data Recorder tools, giving website address and step by step instructions to complete the update.

PIT5099H

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that the Heater-Vent-Air Conditioning blows warm air. Before calling General Motors Technical Assistance Center technician will need to have high and low pressures, outside temperature, humidity, and vent temperature.

PIT5099H

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that the Heater-Vent-Air Conditioning blows warm air. Before calling General Motors Technical Assistance Center technician will need to have high and low pressures, outside temperature, humidity, and vent temperature.

PIT3271P

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about changing the tire and wheel size on vehicles. General Motors will only support a tire calibration for tires that have been sized, tested and designed for the vehicle in question and its applications. Technician should not use the information that is provided by the antilock braking system tire size selection.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Chevrolet Blazer by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2026100
2025261050.9
2024421055.9
2023412059.4
2022451056.6
20211251051.3
20202113059.0
20191832051.4
2009000
2008500
2007900
2006190040.5
2005150037.8
2004501039.7
2003Viewing771044.3
20022462152.1
20013263259.2
20005894359.3
19994360144.1
19987163155.9
19977687261.7
19961,15311767.5
19951,22411867.5
19946207669.7
19935117570.0
19922786571.0
19912227870.4
1990324670.2
1989384570.5
1988404161.2
1987303362.5
1986192263.0
1985292264.4
1984933
1983443
1982130
1981130
1980110
1979110
1978110
1977210
1976110
1975010
1974020
1973110
1972010
1969010

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.