2003 Chevrolet Trailblazer Ext 370

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 LEADING TO SMALL PINHOLES APPEARING ON THE FUEL LINES.FUEL MAY LEAK AND COLLECT ON TOP OF THE MODULE AND/OR SPILL ONTO THE GROUND.THE DATA EVALUATED UNDER THIS INVESTIGATION REFLECT A RELATIVELY LOW FREQUENCY OF OCCURRENCE THAT LARGELY ARISES IN SALT BELT STATES.GM HAS EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON THE SUBJECT COMPONENT TO TEN YEARS OR 120,000 MILES.FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED AT THIS TIME; ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION SELECT DOCUMENT SEARCH.

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 DETECTS THE PRESENCE OF A FUEL SYSTEM PRESSURE LEAK AND ILLUMINATES THE SES LIGHT.OTHER OWNERS REPORT SMELLING GASOLINE FUMES. THE ACTION TAKEN BY THE MANUFACTURER IS SUFFICIENT TO RESOLVE THE ISSUES RAISED BY THIS INVESTIGATION.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.

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.

THERE IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE GAS TANKS ON THESE VEHICLES. THE VAPORS CAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. IN NYS THIS CAR WILL NOT PASS THE YEARLY INSPECTION. CHEVROLET HAS AN EXTENDED COVERAGE BULLETIN OUT BUT IT ONLY IS FOR VEHICLES THAT HAVE LES THAN 150,000 MILES ON IT OR ARE NOT OLDER THAN 15 YEARS OLD. WHICHEVER COME FIRST. PRIOR TO THIS, THEIR EXTENDED COVERAGE WAS FOR 150,000 MILES OR 12 YEARS. I WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE FIRST TIME DUE TO AGE OF THE VEHICLE WHEN I PURCHASED IT AND AM NOW EXCLUDED FROM THE SECOND EXTENDED COVERAGE DUE TO THE MILEAGE. IT IS ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS THAT THIS IS NOT AN OFFICIAL RECALL AND THAT CHEVY HAS LOOPHOLED NUMEROUS OWNERS OUT OF THE COVERAGE BY NOT INCREASING THE MILEAGE REQUIREMENT. THE NATIONAL AVERAGE TO DRIVE A CAR ACCORDING TO THE NHTSA IS BETWEEN 15,000 AND 16,000 PER YEAR. ACCORDING TO THEIR MILEAGE REQUIRES A PERSON WOULD HAVE HAD TO DRIVE THIS CAR LESS THAT 10,000 PER YEAR. THIS IS TOTALLY UNREALISTIC. SINCE THIS SAFETY ISSUE INVOLVES FUEL WHICH IS HIGHLY FLAMMABLE I AM BAFFLED AS TO WHY THE NHTSA IS NOT FORCING AN OFFICIAL; RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE OR FORCING CHEVY TO TAKE THE MILEAGE RESTRICTION/AGE OFF OF THE EXTENDED COVERAGE.

NHTSA ID

10839742

Incident

Jan 2, 2015

Mileage

153,000 mi

2003 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER 370 REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR ELECTRICAL WINDOW CONTROL SWITCH WOULD NOT COMPLETELY CLOSE WINDOW . SMELLED LIKE ELECTRICAL WIRE BURNING. HAD VEHICLE STOP AT TIME AND HAD ASSISTANCE IN REMOVING DOOR INTERIOR PANEL AND FOUND ELECTRICAL WINDOW SWITCH COMPLETELY MELTED AND WIRE CONNECTION BURNED . PERSONAL VEHICLE USED ON VACATION, STOPPED JUST OFF HIGHWAY AT TIME . *JS

NHTSA ID

10817099

Incident

Oct 18, 2015

Mileage

70,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER EXT 370. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL ODOR OF FUEL COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED CONTINUOUSLY. THE CONTACT OBSERVED FUEL DRIPPING FROM THE REAR DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 21,000.

NHTSA ID

10807665

Incident

Aug 31, 2015

Mileage

21,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER EXT 370. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD AND THE RPMS FLUCTUATED WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT AN ABNORMAL FUEL ODOR EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE AS THE CHECK FUEL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL TANK VACUUM AND FUEL TANK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 150,000.

NHTSA ID

10807225

Incident

Nov 1, 2015

Mileage

150,000 mi

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE SUV AT HIGHWAY SPEED WHEN THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS CEASED TO FUNCTION DURING A HEAVY THUNDERSTORM. SHE HAD TO PULL OVER BECAUSE HER VISIBILITY WAS OBSTRUCTED TO THE POINT OF NOT BEING ABLE TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE SAFELY.

NHTSA ID

10758854

Incident

Aug 23, 2015

Mileage

87,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER EXT 370. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE HATCH DOOR AJAR LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND FAILED TO LATCH WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ID

10705916

Incident

Apr 13, 2015

Mileage

100,000 mi

VEHICLE STARTED LEAVING SPOTS OF OIL ON THE GROUND OVER NIGHT. WAS DRIVING TO WORK ON WEDNESDAY AND A BLUISH CLOUD OF SMOKE WAS TRAILING BEHIND ME. ARRIVED AT WORK AND LET TRUCK COOL DOWN AFTER WHICH I CRAWLED UNDERNEATH AND WITH A MIRROR WAS ABLE TO LOCATE THE LEAKING REAR MAIN SEAL. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH GM,S 5.3 LITER ENGINES. MULTIPLE FORUMS ARE POSTING MANY PEOPLE COMPLAINING OF THE SAME ISSUE. GM NEEDS TO STAND BEHIND THERE PRODUCTS AND REPAIR THIS ISSUE WHICH AGAIN IS A WIDE SPREAD KNOWN PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10703557

Incident

Apr 1, 2015

Mileage

109,654 mi

AFTER A LONG DAY OF WORK, I RETURNED TO MY PARKED VEHICLE TO DISCOVER A TOTALLY FLAT FRONT RIGHT TIRE, ON CLOSER EXAMINATION IT WAS NOTED THAT THE TIRE HAD SPLIT ON THE OUTSIDE SEAM. IT WAS NOTED THAT THE SAME CONDITION OF THE TIRE SPLITTING WAS VISIBLE ON ALL THREE OF THE OTHER TIRES ON THE VEHICLE. FLAT TIRE WAS REPLACED WITH SPARE TIRE THAT HAD NEVER BEEN USED. I RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE PLACE THAT I HAD PURCHASED THE TIRES; THE TECH AT THE STORE EXAMINED THE TIRES AND DECLARED THAT ALL FOUR TIRES WERE MANUFACTURED FROM THE SAME BATCH OF TIRES MANUFACTURED BY GOODYEAR. AND THAT ALL FOUR WERE DEFECTED. TODAY I CONTACTED GOODYEAR AND TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THEIR LOCATION. THE MAN AT GOODYEAR STATED THAT GOODYEAR HAS NEVER HAD A RECALL NOR DEFECTIVE TIRES. THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO CONTACT GOODYEAR WHEN THEY OPENED ON THE EAST COAST. MY COMPLAINT IS WITH GOODYEAR. AND THE VALIDITY OF THE GOODYEAR TECH STATING THAT GOODYEAR HAS NEVER HAD A DEFECTIVE TIRE OR RECALL ON THEIR TIRES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10689484

Incident

Feb 18, 2015

Mileage

169,141 mi

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

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.

Vehicle Wide Programming (VWP) is a new process to update software on GM Vehicles. It provides the ability via a single selection within Techline Connect to first identify which modules need updating and then proceed to updating affected modules (with some exceptions). The updating of modules is completed in parallel instead of the technician needing to update one module at a time. This allows a more streamlined approach for dealers and customers.

GM is receiving damaged (cracked or broken) transmission cores returned to the reman facilities. The damage is being caused either in the removal process by the technician, or inadequate packaging or shipping. This bulletin advises the dealers to be more careful not to damage the transmissions during removal and to package the core properly for return.

This service bulletin advises of a new fuel injection cleaner kit used for decarbonizing the intake valves to correct conditions of rough idle, Crank no start, extended crank or misfire, MIL with DTCs, and explains how Top Tier fuels should be used to reduce carbon build-up.

This bulletin provides information for use on a Product Assistance Claim (PAC), which is formerly known as a Product Allegation Resolution (PAR) claim.