2003 Chevrolet Trailblazer Ext Engine Problems

LOW BEAMS INTERMENTLY GO OFF AND ON ! EXHAUST MANIFOLD IS CRACKED CAUSING A LEAK ! ALL DASH GAUGES BUT FUEL GAUGE DONT WORK !

NHTSA ID

10956914

Incident

May 7, 2011

Mileage

120,000 mi

TL* 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 DEPARTMENT AND THE POLICE WERE NOTIFIED. A REPORT WOULD BE AVAILABLE IF NEEDED. NO ONE WAS INJURED. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WAS NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE TWO MONTHS PRIOR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,000. UPDATED 08-30-12 *BF

NHTSA ID

10465764

Incident

Jul 14, 2012

Mileage

66,000 mi

THERMOSTAT HAS FAILED TWICE DURING LONG TRIPS. THIS CAUSES THE ENGINE TO RUN HOT OR COLD. I AM ON MY THIRD ONE AND HAVE CONCLUDED IT MUST BE A DESIGN DEFECT. FAILURE OF THIS COMPONENT MAY CAUSE THE ENGINE TO FAIL AND THUS STRAND THE DRIVER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10343895

Incident

Jul 19, 2010

Mileage

100,000 mi

I PURCHASED A 2003 CHEVY TRAILBLAZER EXT IN JUNE,2007. IN JAN OF 2009 MY PROBLEM FIRST BEGAN. WHILE DRIVING NORMAL SPEED, THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT SOMETIMES COMES ON IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED BY THE "REDUCED ENGINE POWER". WHEN THIS HAPPENS, THE CAR IMMEDIATELY LOSES POWER AND THE VEHICLES ONLY GOES AROUND 10MPH. YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN IT IS GOING TO HAPPEN. IT CAN HAPPEN SEVERAL TIMES IN A DAY OR NOT AT ALL. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS WHEN IT HAPPENS BECAUSE YOU CAN SOMETIMES STOP THE TRAFFIC FLOW. THE LIGHT WILL COME OFF AND THE VEHICLE WILL RETURN TO NORMAL SPEED IF YOU STOP THE CAR AND THEN RESTART IT. IT HAPPENS PARTICULARLY WHEN IT IS COLD OUTSIDE. IN THE MORNING IT CAN HAPPEN 15-20 TIMES BEFORE I GET TO WORK, AND THEN IN THE AFTERNOON ONLY ONCE OR TWICE. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO SEVERAL AUTO REPAIR SHOPS AND NO ONE SEEMS TO BE ABLE TO FIX IT. THEY RECOMMEND ONE THING, I PAY FOR IT AND THEN IT HAPPENS AGAIN. I HAVE HAD MY CLUTCH REPLACED AND ALSO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL SYSTEM. I RESEARCHED "CHEVY REDUCED ENGINE POWER" ON THE INTERNET AND THERE ARE A GREAT AMOUNT OF PAGES OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCING THIS SAME PROBLEM. IT APPEARS TO HAPPEN TO CHEVY SUVS, IN PARTICULAR THE TRAILBLAZER. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW SO MANY PEOPLE CAN EXPERIENCE THIS SAME PROBLEM AND THERE NOT BE A RECALL. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO 2 CHEVY DEALERS AND THEY DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT TO DO. I PAID $18K FOR THIS VEHICLE IN JUNE, 2007 - I PUT $5K DOWN AND STILL OWE ABOUT $10K. CHEVY NEEDS TO RECOGNIZE THIS PROBLEM AND CORRECT IT. THE VEHICLE IS VIRTUALLY UNDRIVABLE AND UNSAFE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10295282

Incident

Jan 5, 2009

Mileage

87,000 mi

ANTIFREEZE IS LEAKING FROM REAR HEATER CORE. CAUSED MY ENGINE TO OVERHEAT. FLUID LEAKS AT A FAIRLY RAPID RATE. IN DOING RESEARCH I FOUND THAT THEY CHANGED THE HEATER CORE SO THIS REPAIR COSTS AN EXTRA $500 FOR PARTS TO RETROFIT A NEW HEATER CORE. IF THERE IS A FLAW IN THE DESIGN WHY ISN'T THIS A RECALL? IT COULD CAUSE ENGINE DAMAGE. I CALLED GM WITH NO LUCK. *TR

NHTSA ID

10294970

Incident

Oct 1, 2009

Mileage

89,000 mi

2003 TRAILBLAZER TRANSMISSION LINES. COOLANT LINES RUSTED AT THE FACTORY CONNECTION. MAJOR FLUID LOSS, HAD TO REPAIR IMMEDIATELY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10279257

Incident

Jul 26, 2009

Mileage

156,000 mi

2003 CHEVY TRAILBLAZER TRANSMISSION. . I USUALLY HAVE TO STOP, PUT THE CAR IN PARK, AND THEN BACK IN DRIVE ONCE OR TWICE TO GET FIRST GEAR TO ENGAGE. ALSO, WHEN PASSING OR ACCELERATING ON THE FREEWAY, I AM LOSING POWER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10268591

Incident

May 11, 2009

Mileage

165,000 mi

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 JUST GETTING BROKEN IN. I HAVE NEVER BEEN SO DISAPPOINTED IN A TRUCK BEFORE..NOW I AM STUCK WITH THE TRUCK AND ITS PAYMENT...NO MORE MONEY TO REPAIR AND CAN'T AFFORD TO TRADE IN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10243198

Incident

Feb 28, 2008

Mileage

60,000 mi

TRAILBLAZER OVER HEATED ABOUT A YEAR AGO, RAN DIAGNOSTICS-CHANGED THE FAN CLUTCH ASSY, WORKED FOR TWO MONTHS. OVER HEATED AGAIN- MORE DIAGNOSTICS-WARRANTY FAN CLUTCH, WORKED FOR A WEEK- WARRANTY FAN CLUTCH AGAIN AND CHANGED THE COOLANT TEMP SENSOR- STILL OVER HEATING. DEALERSHIP WANTED TO CHANGE THE FAN CLUTCH AGAIN- I REFUSED BECAUSE THIS IS ABOUT TO RUN ME INTO THE POOR HOUSE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10234416

Incident

May 1, 2007

Mileage

47,000 mi

MY 2003 TB HAS CLICKING NOISE AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS CAME ON SEVERAL TIMES, ABOUT 2 OR THREE YEARS AGO THE CAM SENSOR HAD TO BE REPLACED, SOMETIMES THE CAR WILL SHAKE OR ROUGH IDLE. I TOOK IT TO GET THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT SERVICED AND THEY SAID THEY HAD TO ORDER PARTS, AFTER THE PARTS DID NOT COME IN, AFTER ALMOST A WEEK I TOOK MY CAR HOME FOR THE WEEKEND. NO ONE EVER CALL ABOUT THE PARTS COMING IN, SO I CALLED ABOUT 2 1/2 WEEKS LATER AND THEY SAID THE PARTS WERE IN, IT HAD BEEN APROX. 35 DAYS FROM THE FIRST VISIT. WHEN I TOOK IT BACK I EXPECTED THE CAR TO BE IN THE SHOP JUST A FEW HOURS TO PUT THE PARTS IN. I CHECKED ON THE CAR LATER IN THE DAY AND THEY SAID THEY NEEDED TO KEEP IT BECAUSE IT WAS SHOWING A SERVICE CODE P0014, AND THEY WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PARTS ORDERED WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM., BECAUSE SOME NEWER TB'S NEEDED A NEW MOTOR WHEN SHOWING THAT P0014 CODE. HAS ANY ONE HAD THIS PROBLEM?*CN

NHTSA ID

10213342

Incident

Dec 31, 2007

WE OWN A 2003 CHEVY TRAILBLAZER EXT. OUR VEHICLE HAS 58K MILES. WE NOTICED THIS YEAR, OUR VEHICLE HAS BEEN BURNING EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF OIL. A COUPLE OF EXAMPLES ARE DURING A 600 MILE TRIP OUR OIL CONSUMPTION WAS 5 QUARTS OF OIL. WE HAVE REGULAR OIL CHANGES EVERY 3,000 MILES. ANOTHER EXAMPLE RECENTLY INCLUDES 2,000 MILES AFTER AN OIL CHANGE WAS COMPLETED WE HAD TO ADD 2 1/2 QUARTS OF OIL. WE ARE RECEIVING BLACK SMOKE FROM THE EXPIRED IN 2006. *TR

NHTSA ID

10201670

Incident

Mar 17, 2007

TICKING NOISE UNDER HOOD WHEN ENGINE IS RUNNING. DIAGNOSED AS LEAKING EXHAUST MANIFOLD. BOLTS SECURING EXHAUST MANIFOLD BROKEN. REPAIR REQUIRES REMOVING CYLINDER HEAD TO REMOVE OLD BOLTS. COST ESTIMATED AT $2,000 PLUS. COMPLAINT FILED WITH CHEVROLET. CLAIM INITIALLY DENIED. CONTINUE TO ASK FOR ASSISTANCE. VEHICLE IS LOCATED AT TRECEK CHEV IN PORTAGE WISCONSIN AND IS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10201316

Incident

Aug 20, 2007

Mileage

56,500 mi

THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD ON MY 2003 CHEVY TRAILBLAZER EXT HAS CRACKED AT 54000 MILES, AND MUST BE REPLACED AT A COST OF AROUND $400. I CONTACTED GM DIRECTLY, AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS CONSIDERED "NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR." I DISAGREE. IF THAT IS THE CASE, THEN WHY WOULD I KEEP THE VEHICLE, KNOWING I CAN ANTICIPATE ANOTHER COSTLY REPAIR WITHIN THE REASONABLE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. MY LOCAL CHEVY DEALERS SERVICE MANAGER TELLS ME GM IS REPAIRING MANY OF THESE PARTS ON THE 4.2 L. ENGINE OF NOT ONLY THE TRAILBLAZER, BUT OTHER VEHICLES AS WELL. A LOCAL AFTERMARKET PARTS STORE ALSO SAYS HIS SUPPLIERS HAVE MANY OF THESE PARTS ON HAND. MORE THAN ONE MIGHT EXPECT IF THIS WERE AN UNEXPECTED OCCURRENCE. I BELIEVE GM KNOWS IT HAS A PART THAT IS UNSOUND, BUT IT IS UNWILLING TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM AT ITS EXPENSE. AN EXHAUST MANIFOLD IS NOT SUPPOSED TO FAIL WITHIN LESS THAN 4 YEARS, AND AT 54000 MILES. THAT IS NOT "NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. *JB

NHTSA ID

10200930

Incident

Jul 15, 2007

Mileage

54,000 mi

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 PART IS FAILING AND THEY DO NOT HAVE ANY SUPPLY OF REPLACEMENT PARTS AS THIS PIPE IS AN ALUMINUM PIPE THAT ONES FROM THE FRONT TO THE BACK AND IS NOT SUPPOSE TO FAIL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10195470

Incident

Jul 1, 2007

Mileage

78,120 mi

I OWN A 2003 CHEVY TRAILBLAZER LT @ 35,825 MILES I REPORTED MY VEHICLE BINDS UP ON TURNS & OF COURSE THE GARAGE FOUND NOTHING (DROVE IT 20 MILES FOR COMPARISON @ THE TIME). SO NOW THAT I AM UP TO 82,090 MILES NOW I MENTION SUSPENSION ISSUES STILL & OF COURSE THEY FIND BOTH LOWER BALL JOINTS NEED REPLACED @ $320.06 & LEFT OUTER TIE ROD END BROKEN @ $170.80. ALSO THEY INFORM ME I NEED TO REPLACE 3 OF MY 4 STABILIZER BAR LINKS ARE LOOSE & RATTLING @ AN ESTIMATE OF $320.00 (HAVEN'T DONE YET) ALSO, I HAVE LOOKED ON A WEBSITE CALLED MYCARSTATS.COM & FOUND MANY OTHERS WITH THESE SAME ISSUES WITH THIS VEHICLE @ MUCH LOWER MILEAGE & WHERE TIE ROD ISSUE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT -- THEY WEREN'T AS LUCKY AS ME. ALSO PEOPLE I WORK WITH WHO HAVE THIS SAME YR & MODEL VEHICLE HAVE HAD TO HAVE BALL JOINTS, SWAY BARS REPLACED, AND OTHER SUSPENSION WORK @ LOWER MILEAGES. I ALSO HAD AN ISSUE WITH MY 4-WHEEL DRIVE BECOMING INOPERATIVE & THIS DID ALMOST CAUSE ME TO WRECK GOING UP HILL DURING WINTER WEATHER. THEY REPLACED FRONT DIFFERENTIAL ENGAGEMENT ACTUATOR. ALL THESE THINGS IN MY MIND SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED AT THESE MILEAGES. THE 4-WHEEL DRIVE QUIT @ 80,000 MILES. ALL THESE ISSUES CAN CREATE SAFE DRIVING ISSUES FOR THE CONSUMER ESPECIALLY SOMEONE WHO PAYS OVER $30,000 FOR A VEHICLE WHEN IT'S NEW. LET ME ADD NOW THAT THE LATEST EXPENSIVE REPAIR TO ADD TO MY LIST IS THE FAN CLUTCH ASSEMBLY ON MY ENGINE COOLING FAN SYSTEM $573.00 -- ALSO FOUND MANY GM OWNERS OF BRAVADA, RAINERS, ENVOYS & TRAILBLAZERS EXPERIENCING THIS ITEMS FAILURE TOO. *JB

NHTSA ID

10188436

Incident

Apr 20, 2007

Mileage

82,090 mi

DT: LEFT DRIVER'S SIDE OUTSIDE MIRROR IS NOT HOLDING THE CORRECT SETTINGS, AND CLICKS CONSTANTLY. THE MIRROR IS HITTING AGAINST SOMETHING, AND TURNS COMPLETELY TO THE GROUND. WHEN USING KEYLESS ENTRY THE MIRRORS ALSO TURN TO THE GROUND. THE MIRROR IS CHANGING BY ITSELF, AND IT IS NOT GOING BACK TO THE CORRECT SETTING. THE MIRROR IS ALWAYS MAKING A CLICKING NOISE AND IT IS FACING DOWNWARD. THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH THE RIGHT SIDE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE RIGHT SIDE MIRROR, AND FROM THEN ON THE LEFT SIDE HAS NOT WORKED. CONSUMER HAS TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP 4 OR 5 TIMES TO BE CHECKED. DEALERSHIP INSISTS THE MIRROR IS WORKING FINE. BUT AS SOON AS THE CONSUMER LEAVES THE DEALERSHIP THE MIRROR WILL WORK FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS AND THEN STOP WORKING PROPERLY. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE MECHANIC DIDN'T WRITE DOWN THE PROBLEM WITH THE MIRROR IN HIS PAPERWORK, AND THIS HAPPENED MORE THAN ONCE. *AK WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK TO REVERSE THE VEHICLE JERKED AT TIMES. THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE WAS REPROGRAMMED. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THAT THE REPROGRAMMING RESULTED IN POOR FUEL ECONOMY. THE CD PLAYER MADE A HISSING NOISE. WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED THEY WOULD GRIND. THE 4-WHEEL DRIVE SWITCH SHORTED. WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR FAILED. RIGHT SIDE TAG LIGHT BULB BLEW. *NM

NHTSA ID

10125094

Incident

Nov 4, 2004

Mileage

17,327 mi

NHTSA RECALL 04V527000, AFTER ALMOST BEING REAR ENDED CONSUMER WENT TO THE DEALER AND A NEW MOTHER BOARD WAS PUT ON. BATTERY EXPLODED. CONSUMER WENT TO RETRIEVE THE VEHICLE AFTER DEALER MADE THE REPAIRS AND IT WILL NOT START.*AK

NHTSA ID

10101342

Incident

Nov 16, 2004

Mileage

31,000 mi

TICK TICK TICK AT IDLE. ENGINE STALLS DURING IDLE - OIL PRESSURE DROPS TO SENSOR LEVEL THEN ENGINE STALLS.*AK

NHTSA ID

10058441

Incident

Jan 15, 2004

Mileage

38,000 mi