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2003 Chevrolet Trailblazer Ext 370 Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

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.
14
Latest Mar 3, 2016
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
9
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.
0

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2003 Chevrolet Trailblazer Ext 370, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.

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

Reports by component

Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category

  • Electrical631.6%
  • Fuel system315.8%
  • Visibility210.5%
  • Engine210.5%
  • Exterior lighting210.5%
  • Body & structure15.3%
  • Other / unspecified15.3%
  • Tires & wheels15.3%
  • Driver assistance15.3%

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

Each component in detail

What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words

Electrical

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.

6
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

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 · filed Dec 30, 2015

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER EXT 370. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDOWS FAILED TO ROLL UP OR DOWN. ALSO, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE HEATED SEAT WOULD NOT TURN OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

NHTSA ID 10678582 · filed Jan 23, 2015

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Fuel system

Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

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 · filed Mar 3, 2016

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 · filed Dec 1, 2015

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Visibility

Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

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 · filed Aug 24, 2015

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER EXT 370. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDOWS FAILED TO ROLL UP OR DOWN. ALSO, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE HEATED SEAT WOULD NOT TURN OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

NHTSA ID 10678582 · filed Jan 23, 2015

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Engine

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

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 · filed Apr 3, 2015

EXHAUST BOLTS HAVE BROKEN ON THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD, THIS VEHICLE HAS THE V8 ENGINE. DEALER EXPLAINS THAT THIS NEEDS FIXED AS CARBON MONOXIDE COULD ENTER THE PASSENGER CABIN. THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT WITH THE VEHICLE A YEAR AGO, I CONTACTED MY INSURANCE COMPANY TO SEE IF IT WAS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT. THEY CLAIM THAT IT IS NOT RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT AND THAT GM VEHICLES MODEL YEAR 2000 TO 2007 WITH THIS 5.3 V8 ENGINE HAVE REPORTED THESE BOLTS BREAKING AND INFORMED ME TO CONTACT GM ABOUT REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIR EXPENSES. I DO NOT HAVE THE $2000 FOR REPAIRS AND AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY WHILE IN THE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID 10434887 · filed Nov 8, 2011

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Exterior lighting

Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER EXT 370. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TURN SIGNALS DO NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY AND THE HAZARD LIGHTS ILLUMINATED INSTEAD OF THE TURN SIGNALS. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PRESS THE BUTTON FOR THE HAZARD LIGHTS WHEN NEEDED, BUT NOT THE TURN SIGNALS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED AND CAUSED THE FRONT HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY AND THE REAR HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY TO SHORT AND DIM WITH NO WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

NHTSA ID 10669711 · filed Jan 2, 2015

THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR THREE YEARS SINCE 2011 AT NIGHT AT RANDOM TIMES OUR LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS GO OUT ON US AS YOUR DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. THEY MAY COME BACK ON BEFORE YOU GET HOME BUT WE HAVE DROVE 1HR 30 MINUTES AND STILL NOT. WE DID TAKE IT IN SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY CAN NOT FINE A PROBLEM. THEY SAID THEY CAN CHANGE THIS N THAT SENOR BUT COULDN'T SAY THAT WOULD EVEN FIX IT. BUT COST US $$$$$$ WHY CAN'T SOME ONE FINE OUT DO A RECALL WE HATE DRIVING ON OUR HIGHBEAM AND SO DOES THE PEOPLE WE PASS OR GET BEHIND. WE DO TRY AND TURN THEM OFF WHEN WE PASS OTHER BUT THAT IS DANGERS AS WELL.PLEASE HELP WE WANT TO KEEP OUR TRAILBLAZER AND STAY ALIVE. *TR

NHTSA ID 10630361 · filed Sep 3, 2014

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Body & structure

Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

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 · filed Apr 15, 2015

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Other / unspecified

Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

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 · filed Feb 19, 2015

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Tires & wheels

Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

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 · filed Feb 19, 2015

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Driver assistance

Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR THREE YEARS SINCE 2011 AT NIGHT AT RANDOM TIMES OUR LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS GO OUT ON US AS YOUR DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. THEY MAY COME BACK ON BEFORE YOU GET HOME BUT WE HAVE DROVE 1HR 30 MINUTES AND STILL NOT. WE DID TAKE IT IN SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY CAN NOT FINE A PROBLEM. THEY SAID THEY CAN CHANGE THIS N THAT SENOR BUT COULDN'T SAY THAT WOULD EVEN FIX IT. BUT COST US $$$$$$ WHY CAN'T SOME ONE FINE OUT DO A RECALL WE HATE DRIVING ON OUR HIGHBEAM AND SO DOES THE PEOPLE WE PASS OR GET BEHIND. WE DO TRY AND TURN THEM OFF WHEN WE PASS OTHER BUT THAT IS DANGERS AS WELL.PLEASE HELP WE WANT TO KEEP OUR TRAILBLAZER AND STAY ALIVE. *TR

NHTSA ID 10630361 · filed Sep 3, 2014

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

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.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .