2002 Chevrolet Trailblazer

The subject vehicles are model year (MY) 2002-2009 Chevrolet Trailblazer, GMC Envoy, 2004-2007 Buick Rainier, 2003-2008 Isuzu Ascender, 2005-2009 Saab 9-7X, 2002-2004 Oldsmobile Bravada, 2003-2006 Chevrolet SSR, 2005-2009 Buick Lacrosse, and 2006-2008 Pontiac Grand Prix. This scope includes the Trailblazer/Envoy variants: 2002-2006 Envoy XL/Trailblazer EXT and 2004-2005 Envoy XUV. The original scope of this investigation was expanded to include all vehicles equipped with the subject Headlight Driver Module (HDM). The focus of the investigation was to determine whether actions performed by General Motors adequately addressed any unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety in the subject vehicles concerning the headlights and the HDM that controls them.Under normal electrical load and environmental conditions, the HDM can overheat inside the Underhood Electrical Center (UEC). This can cause the module to fail and result in a simultaneous loss of both low beam headlights and both daytime running lights (DRLs), often with no warning or prior detectability to the driver. This failure can be intermittent or permanent. No other exterior lights are affected. High beams, turn signals, brake lights, and reverse lights are still operational.General Motors addressed this issue with 2 recalls (14V755 & 15V519) and a special coverage program (N172091910). In view of the recalls and special coverage program implemented by GM and the vehicle high beams continuing to operate, ODI has tentatively concluded that the actions taken by GM mitigate any unreasonable risk to safety posed by HDM failure in the subject vehicles.Accordingly, the investigation is closed. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist. The agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by new circumstances.The ODI reports cited above are available for review online at NHTSA.gov under the identification numbers in the attached document.

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.

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.

GM STATES THAT SOME BRAKE/TAIL LAMP BULBS CAN PREMATURELY BECOME INOPERATIVE DUE TO MALFUNCTIONING BRAKE/TAIL LAMP SOCKETS.ON MARCH 2, 2004, GM INITIATED A 6-YEAR/72,000 MILE SPECIAL POLICY FOR 989,487 SUBJECT VEHICLES TO INSPECT AND REPLACE THE REAR BRAKE/TAIL LAMP BULB SOCKET ASSEMBLIES.ON APRIL 4, 2004, THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED A PRELIMINARY EVALUATION (PE04-032) BASED ON CONSUMER COMPLAINTS ALLEGING BRAKE LIGHTS NOT OPERATING WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED.ON AUGUST 3, 2004 ODI UPGRADED PE04-032 TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA04-021).BY LETTER DATED OCTOBER 27, 2004 GM NOTIFIED NHTSA THAT IT WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA # 04V527) COVERING SUBJECT VEHICLES THAT WERE NOT ALREADY REPAIRED UNDER GM'S SPECIAL POLICY.MY 2004 SUBJECT VEHICLES BUILT AFTER AUGUST 8, 2003 CONTAIN IMPROVED BRAKE LAMP ASSEMBLIES AND ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.GM DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE IMPROVED BRAKE LAMP ASSEMBLY ON SUBJECT VEHICLES BUILT ON AUGUST 8, 2003 AND EARLIER.THE ACTION TAKEN BY GM IS SUFFICIENT TO RESOLVE THE ISSUES RAISED BY THIS INVESTIGATION.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.

I was driving on the highway going 65mph which is the legal speed limit. I got cut off by a driver and light tapped my brakes to slow the vehicle down. When I did so the vehicle then swerved to the left and started drifting sideways directly to a wall. I went head on with the wall. Then I bounced back across all lanes of traffic again still sideways and drifting hitting another wall. Which is where the vehicle ended at the stopping point of the accident. No airbags deployed in the accident. The driver behind me who witness the crash stated that the vehicle started to loose traction before I hit my brakes and me hitting my brakes caused the vehicle to them loose full control. I was in the process of buying this vehicle from Gresham Ford in Oregon. I was told the vehicle was 100% road safe and passed safety inspections. Which is false.

NHTSA ID

11649798

Incident

Mar 20, 2025

The car rmp goes high when accelerating it's a common problem with the cooling fan which the company is aware of it but aren't held reliable! It's a shame that nhtsa hade many complaining about the issue but aren't holding the manufacturer responsible this could of hade me and my family in an accident!

NHTSA ID

11482130

Incident

Aug 28, 2022

Airbag on drivers side deployed from the drivers seat without being hit. Opened my car door and the bag was deployed. Car was parked in my driveway.

NHTSA ID

11442728

Incident

Dec 5, 2021

A month a go

NHTSA ID

11430891

Incident

Jul 31, 2021

The contact owned a 2002 Chevrolet Trailblazer. The contact stated that while driving 40 mph and not noticed that the vehicles ahead were stopped at a traffic light, causing him to crash into the vehicles in front. The air bags failed to deploy. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed and totaled. The contact received chest and head injuries. Medical attention was needed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was unknown. The VIN was not available.

NHTSA ID

11424658

Incident

Jul 2, 2021

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS WITH AIR CONDITIONER ACTIVATED, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT HAD REPLACED THE CRANKSHAFT SOLENOID WHICH HE BELIEVED REPAIRED THE ISSUE. SOON AFTER THE INITIAL REPAIR, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE TAIL LIGHT AND INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED TO OPERATE AS NEEDED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE REPLACED THE TAIL LIGHT FUSES AND INSTRUMENT PANEL CIRCUIT BOARD HOWEVER, THE REPAIRS FAILED TO FIX THE FAILURE. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT LINKED THE FAILURES TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V096000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AND 04V527000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE CONTACT CALLED CORWIN MOTORS KALISPELL (2565 US-93, KALISPELL, MT 59901, (406) 755-5555) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT UNDER RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 247,000.

NHTSA ID

11415169

Incident

Mar 1, 2021

Mileage

247,000 mi

2002 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. NUMEROUS PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH CAR. WINDOWS DON'T COME DOWN, DOORS DON'T UNLOCK, AND OTHER ISSUES. *LD *JS

NHTSA ID

11407682

Incident

Dec 1, 2014

CAUGHT IN FIRE DONT KNOW WHY BUT THE WIRE GOT FIRE

NHTSA ID

11402518

Incident

Mar 5, 2021

Mileage

5 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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.