2003 Chevrolet Trailblazer Ext Transmission Problems

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER EXT. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME STIFF AND EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE TRANSMISSION LINES LEAKED AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF FLUID. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE POWER STEERING AND TRANSMISSION LINES WERE REPLACED AT DIFFERENT TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000. UPDATED 07/08/11*LJ THE POWER STEERING LINES ROTTED AND LEAKED FLUID EXCESSIVELY. THE LINES WERE REPLACED AT A COST OF $1,000. THE TRANSMISSION LINES ROTTED AND LEAKED FLUID AND ALSO HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $350.00. UPDATED 08/31/11.*JB

NHTSA ID

10402815

Incident

Feb 10, 2011

Mileage

78,000 mi

2003 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER EXT, FAILURE OF TRANSMISSION FLUID COOLING LINES DUE TO CORROSION. LOSS OF TRANSMISSION FLUID AND POSSIBLE TRANSMISSION FAILURE DUE TO LOSS. REPLACE ALL TRANSMISSION COOLING LINES (4 SECTIONS). *TR

NHTSA ID

10353979

Incident

Aug 30, 2010

Mileage

122,455 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH. THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY STOPPED. THE TACHOMETER BEGAN TO RISE BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD OR REVERSE. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP AND WAS TOLD THAT THE SUN GEAR FAILED AND THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. HE CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULD NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 65,828.

NHTSA ID

10298639

Incident

Jan 5, 2010

Mileage

65,828 mi

TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAK CAUSED BY CORROSION SIMILAR TO TSB #PIT-4722. FLUID SEEN ON DRIVEWAY WHEN CAR PARKED. FLUID ON UNDERCARRIAGE. TRANSMISSION OIL COOLANT LINES WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED AT APPROXIMATELY $500 COST. DESIGN ISSUE FOR PART TO CORRODE AFTER ONLY 6 YEARS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10290629

Incident

Nov 2, 2009

Mileage

92,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING ON A INTERSTATE AT HIGHWAY SPEED. MY VEHICLE HAD A SUDDEN DECREASE IN FORWARD MOMENTUM. THE ENGINE RPM'S INCREASED DRAMATICALLY AND THE VEHICLE HAD UNPREDICTABLE SURGES AND LOSS OF ABILITY TO MAINTAIN SPEED. AFTER DRIVING DOWN THE BERM TO THE INTERSTATE EXIT, I NOTED A BURNING SMELL. THE SMELL WAS THAT OF TRANSMISSION FLUID THAT HAD LEAKED OUT FROM A CORRODED TRANSMISSION COOLING LINE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10284639

Incident

Sep 18, 2009

Mileage

71,590 mi

TRANSMISSION COOLING LINE CORROSION AND LEAK. *TR

NHTSA ID

10280871

Incident

Aug 1, 2009

Mileage

53,200 mi

2003 TRAILBLAZER TRANSMISSION GONE BAD (@63,000MILES) WHILE DRIVING. CAR STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET, LUCKY NO OTHER CAR WAS BEHIND. *TR

NHTSA ID

10268267

Incident

May 1, 2009

Mileage

63,798 mi

NO WARNING LIGHTS, NO WARNING SOUNDS. WHILE CROSSING AN INTERSECTION, TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. 0 FORWARD GEARS, REVERSE WORKS. VEHICLE JUST REACHED 82,000 MILES. SERVICED REGULARLY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10259344

Incident

Feb 11, 2009

Mileage

82,000 mi

THE TRANSMISSION COOLING LINES CORRODED WHICH CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID TO LEAK OUT WHILE ON A 20 MILE ROUND TRIP FROM OUR HOUSE. THE TRUCK STARTED TO RUN ROUGH AS WE PULLED IN THE DRIVEWAY AND THERE IT DIED. I HAD IT TOWED TO A LOCAL TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP WHERE THEY CONFIRMED THE TRANSMISSION WAS DEAD, REBUILD OR REPLACE. I PAID TO TOW IT TO THE GM DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT THE TRUCK AND THEY CONFIRMED THE TRANNY WAS DEAD. ALUMINUM COOLING LINES ROTTED OUT, DRAINED THE FLUID AND THE UNIT FRIED. THERE ARE NO WARNING LIGHTS OR MONITORING OF THIS FLUID LEVEL PER GM. THIS TRUCK HAD BEEN SERVICED BY THIS DEALERSHIP. THE SERVICE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THIS IS NOT A COMMON OCCURRENCE BUT THIS IS NOT RARE EITHER. HE SAID GM WILL NOT HELP WITH THE REPAIRS AND HE WAS RIGHT. I HAD THE LOCAL TRANNEY SHOP DO THE REPAIRS FOR 2500.00, LESS THAN GM'S 4500.00. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS TRUCK, I WILL DO ANOTHER REPORT REGARDING THE FAILED DOOR LATCHES, AND I GAVE GM THE TIME TO REPAIR THEIR PROBLEMS AND THEN THEY TELL YOU TO "STUFF IT" WHEN THEIR BAD DESIGNS GET REAL COSTLY. LAST GM IN MY DRIVEWAY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10257229

Incident

Aug 10, 2008

Mileage

95,000 mi

MY 03 EXT FIRST TRANSMISSION WENT OUT WITH JUST OVER 65K AND THEN 16MO. LATER AT 80K WENT OUT AGAIN. NO HELP FROM GM. I HAVE OWNED A 99 BLAZER AND 02 TRAILBLAZER WITH NO REAL ISSUES HOWEVER THIS 03 HAS HAD NUMEROUS FROM CRACKED GAS TANK TO CATALYTIC CONVERTER GOING OUT AS WELL AS NOW HAVING LOUD ENGINE NOISE! *TR

NHTSA ID

10254697

Incident

Dec 20, 2008

Mileage

65,471 mi

I OWN A 2003 CHEVY TRAILBLAZER EXT WITH 4WD. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE VEHICLE HAS ROLLED AWAY WHILE IN PARK. ALSO, THE VEHICLE ON 2 SEPARATE OCCASIONS WENT FORWARD WHEN THE GEAR SELECT WAS IN REVERSE. FINALLY, ON 4 OCCASIONS THE VEHICLE PUT ITSELF IN NEUTRAL. TWICE AT SPEED AND TWICE WHILE WAITING AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS. THIS VEHICLE NEARLY RAN OVER MY 3-YEAR-OLD CHILD AND THE DEALER CLAIMS ALL OF THESE INSTANCES HAVE BEEN DRIVER ERROR. I'VE HAD IT WITH GM AND THEIR UNWILLINGNESS TO SEE ANY URGENCY WITH THIS HUGE SAFETY RELATED ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10250456

Incident

Nov 30, 2008

Mileage

45,201 mi

DRIVING ON VACATION TOWING CAMPER. TRIED TO ACCELERATE AND NOTHING. GOT TO GAS STATION. NO TRANS FLUID. GOT IT TO DEALERSHIP . THEY SAID TRANS BLOWN DUE TO WATER IN TRANS. DIPSTICK RUSTED INHALF. LEAK WITH HOSE CAUSED PROBLEM. GOT FIXED GM ONLY PAID 1/2 BECAUSE WE FOUGHT. HAD EXTENDED WARRANTY THEY SAID MANUFACTURER DEFECT. FOUND SERVICE BULLETIN ON INTERNET. STILL FIGHTING TO GET OUR MONEY BACK .ONLY 51,000 MILES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10242087

Incident

Jul 14, 2008

Mileage

51,000 mi

TRANSMISSION LINES ROTTED OUT. LOST FLUID AND TRANNY WENT SOUTH!. 1400 FOR REPAIRS!. THANKS ALOT GM. JUNK! *TR

NHTSA ID

10239695

Incident

Aug 24, 2008

Mileage

60,000 mi

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILS TO SHIFT INTO SECOND. LOUD REVVING NOISE, FAILURE TO SHIFT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10238957

Incident

Aug 14, 2008

Mileage

71,000 mi

2003 TRAILBLAZER TRANSMISSION FAILURE. DRIVING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD (25 MPH) HEARD A LOAD CLUNK ( LIKE SOMETHING EITHER HIT OR FELL OF THE VEHICLE), THEN A HIGH PITCHED WHINING SOUND, GOT THE VEHICLE HOME (11PM). IN THE MORNING, TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO BE LOOKED AT FOUND THAT I HAD NO REVERSE, HAD TO PUSH IT OUT OF THE GARAGE. I HAVE A EXTENDED WARRANTY, BUT HAVE GIVEN FIRESTONE PERMISSION TO REPLACE WITH A REBUILD UNIT FROM GM. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT MY WARRANTY WILL COVER, BUT BELIEVE THAT GM SHOULD FOOT THE BILL, SINCE THIS HAD BEEN A REPORTED PROBLEM FOR THIS TRANSMISSION FOR YEARS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10228009

Incident

May 13, 2008

Mileage

62,440 mi

I WAS DRIVING HOME TO TEXAS FROM A VACATION TO VISIT FAMILY IN OKLAHOMA. ALL OF A SUDDEN WITHOUT WARNING VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION GOT STUCK IN 3RD GEAR. THEN THE TRANSMISSION FAILED ALTOGETHER. VEHICLE LEFT ME STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE WITH MY FOUR CHILDREN. THEY ARE TELLING ME THAT THERE ARE ALOT OF PROBLEMS WITH THE TRAILBLAZER TRANSMISSIONS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10222531

Incident

Mar 24, 2008

MY CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER EXT, THAT I PURCHASED 4 1/2 YEARS AGO AND IT HAS 44,000 MILES ON IT, HAS A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. THE CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP TELLS ME THAT IT IS A 2000 FIX. I AM ANGRY AND DISAPPOINTED THAT A VEHICLE WITH RELATIVELY FEW MILES ON IT IS HAVING SUCH A MAJOR PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10222042

Incident

Mar 21, 2008

Mileage

44,000 mi

I BOUGHT A USED 2003 TRAILBLAZER. I TOOK IT IN BECAUSE IT WAS HAVING ISSUES WITH THE ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON. THE ENGINE LIGHT NO LONGER COMES ON BUT THE PROBLEM HAS GOTTEN WORSE. THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS CONSTANTLY, I HAVE ONLY HAD THIS VEHICLE FOR 4 MONTHS. I AM AFRAID THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN WHEN I AM IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC AND MY CHILDREN AND I WILL BE IN SERIOUS TROUBLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10217864

Incident

Nov 30, 2007

Mileage

42,000 mi

TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AT 63,000 MILES -- CLUTCH FAN WENT OUT ALONG WITH TRANSMISSION. NO WARNING -- NOTHING. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH TRAILBLAZERS. GM SHOULD ORDER A RECALL --OVERALL EXPENSE IS OVER $2000.00 *JB

NHTSA ID

10203332

Incident

Sep 12, 2007

Mileage

66,000 mi

MY 2003 CHEVY TRAILBLAZER HAS A THIRD BRAKE LIGHT ACROSS THE TOP HATCH .WHILE DRIVING DOWN A BUSY HIGHWAY IT WAS FLYING LIKE A WING ON THE BACK OF MY VEHICLE LUCKILY DOT FALLING COMPLETELY OFF BUT WHEN I STOPPED IT CAME CRASHING DOWN ONTO MY WINDOW OF HATCH LUCKILY NOT BREAKING ALL I COULD DO IS BREAK IT COMPLETELY OFF SO IT WOULD NOT FLY INTO SOMEONE'S WINDSHIELD BEHIND ME I WORK WITH A LADY WITH THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL AND HERS FLEW RIGHT OFF HER LATCH CAUSING IT TO SMASH LUCKILY NO ONE WAS BEHIND HER. I ALSO HAVE IT IN THE SHOP DUE TO RUSTY CORRODED HOSES THAT WENT TO TRANSMISSION CAUSING ALL FLUID TO DRAIN ALMOST BURNING UP MY TRANSMISSION NO INDICATION LIGHTS EVER CAME ON OTHER THAN IT SKIPPING A LITTLE LUCKILY A SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON A WEEK LATER I TOOK IT TO GARAGE AND JUST IN TIME. UNFORTUNATELY EVEN WITH POWER TRAIN WARRANTY THIS PROBLEM IS COSTING ME 500.00 OUT OF MY POCKET NO FAULT OF MINE WHEEL WELLS AND BRAKE DRUMS HAVE BEEN BEATEN DUE TO LOTS OF RUST BUILD UP AND DOORS THAT WERE RECALLED AND FIXED THREE TIMES STILL NOT WORKING RIGHT ALSO FRONT HEADLIGHT REPLACED TWICE IN TWO YEARS CAUSING ME TO BE PULLED OVER TWICE AS I DID NOT REALIZE THE PROBLEM OF MY LIGHTS GOING OUT FREQUENTLY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10202853

Incident

Sep 12, 2007

Mileage

71,700 mi

THE AUTOMOBILE STARTS OUT IN 2ND GEAR AND AT HIGHWAY SPEED THE TRANSMISSION HUNTS FOR THE CORRECT GEAR SHIFTING BACK AND FORTH.

NHTSA ID

10193005

Incident

Jun 7, 2007

Mileage

53,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING ACROSS THE WILLIAMSBURG BRIDGE I SUDDENLY LOST THE ABILITY TO ACCELERATE. THE RPM GAUGE SHOT TO THE HIGH END AND I HAD TO COAST THE VEHICLE OFF OF THE BRIDGE. I WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO WITHOUT LOOKING AT IT, KNEW IMMEDIATELY THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED. I ASKED THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN WAS THIS A COMMON PROBLEM AND HE POINTED ME TO EDMUNDS.COM TO SHOW HOW MANY POSTS THERE WERE CONCERNING THIS PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP "OVERHAULED" THE TRANSMISSION AND TOLD ME I SHOULD CONSIDER A TRANSMISSION COOLER. I'VE NEVER TOWED ANYTHING WITH THE VEHICLE AND AM CONCERNED THAT I AM ABOUT TO EXPERIENCE THE SAME PROBLEM, EXCEPT THIS TIME MY WARRANTY IS EXPIRED.

NHTSA ID

10177311

Incident

Mar 27, 2006

Mileage

35,094 mi

WE HAVE A 2003 CHEVY TRAILBLAZER AND HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH IT SINCE WE BOUGHT IT BRAND-NEW. IT WAS BACK IN THE SHOP WITHIN 2 MONTHS OF PURCHASING IT DUE TO NEEDING THE ENTIRE FUSE BOX REPLACED. IT HAS BEEN BACK IN FOR REPAIRS NUMEROUS TIMES FOR ENGINE FAILURE AND PROBLEMS WITH THE GAUGES. WE HAVE HAD THE ENTIRE SPEEDOMETER PANEL REPLACED AT OUR EXPENSE AND SPENT $1200 ON REPAIRS RELATED TO THE TRANSMISSION. WE RETURNED IT TO THE DEALER 2 MONTHS LATER DUE TO THE EXACT SAME DIFFICULTIES WITH THE ENGINE STALLING AND THEY TOLD US THE COMPUTER NEEDED TO BE REPROGRAMMED. WE PAID FOR THAT AND NOT ONE WEEK LATER THE VEHICLE IS CONTINUING TO STALL ON US. IT HAS BEEN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND IN AT LEAST ONCE CIRCUMSTANCE HAS ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. THIS VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE ENGINE HAS QUIT ON US ON AT LEAST 12 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS WITHIN THE LAST 2 MONTHS, DESPITE BEING IN FOR REPAIRS TWICE FOR THE SAME ISSUE. WE ARE EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED IN THIS VEHICLE AND ARE SADDENED BY THE FACT THAT WE HAVE SPENT SO MUCH MONEY AND TO NO AVAIL. WE HAVE SINCE LEARNED THAT MANY, MANY OTHER PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME TROUBLE. WE ARE TAKING IT BACK TO THE DEALER TOMORROW AND TRADING IT IN. WE NEED SOMETHING THAT IS RELIABLE AND SAFE OUT ON THE ROADS. AND THIS VEHICLE IS DEFINITELY NOT SAFE.

NHTSA ID

10173095

Incident

Nov 8, 2006

TRANS COOLANT LINES RUBBED AGAINST CAT CONVERTER, CAUSING LEAKS. 4 - 4.5 QTS OF TRANS FLUID LEAKED OUT. TRANS OVERHEATED AND FAILED ON THE HIGHWAY, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STOP IN AN UNSAFE LOCATION. TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. *NM

NHTSA ID

10168057

Incident

Aug 1, 2006

Mileage

73,800 mi

MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE WITH ONLY 40,000 MILES ON IT! POWER WINDOW ASSEMBLY BROKE AND REPAIRED TWICE ON THE SAME DOOR, INOPERABLE CLIMATE CONTROL UNIT, FRONT DASHBOARD GETS EXTREMELY HOT AT ALL TIMES, BRAKES SQUEAL ALL THE TIME (DEALER COULD NOT FIGURE IT OUT AND WAS REMEDIED WITH CERAMIC BRAKE PADS AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS), TRANSMISSION HAS POOR SHIFTING PATTERN (BULLETIN PROVIDED A NEW SHIFT PROGRAM FOR THE TRANSMISSION AND THE DEALER INSTALLED BUT IS RIGHT BACK TO IT'S ORIGINAL PROBLEM AFTER 3 MONTHS). *JB

NHTSA ID

10166610

Incident

Aug 22, 2006