RoadVitals

2002 Chevrolet Trailblazer Owner Complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full

Data refreshed

Complaints on fileComplaints 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.
1,149
Latest Mar 21, 2025
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.
138
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since Jun 15, 2001

What this page shows

Our database holds 1,149 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2002 Chevrolet Trailblazer. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.

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

Complaints, most recent first

Showing 1–25 of 1,149 · page 1 of 46

AirbagsBrakesOther / unspecified
Filed Mar 21, 2025
Crash reported1 injury reported

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
Driver assistanceEngine
Filed Aug 31, 2022

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
Airbags
Filed Dec 5, 2021

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
Fuel system
Filed Aug 29, 2021

A month a go

NHTSA ID
11430891
Incident
Jul 31, 2021
Airbags
Filed Jul 13, 2021
Crash reported1 injury reported

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
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed May 4, 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
Electrical
Filed Apr 22, 2021

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
Electrical
Filed Mar 11, 2021
Fire reported

CAUGHT IN FIRE DONT KNOW WHY BUT THE WIRE GOT FIRE

NHTSA ID
11402518
Incident
Mar 5, 2021
Mileage
5 mi
Filed Feb 16, 2021

MY KEY GETS STUCK IN MY IGNITION REPEATEDLY FOR THE LAST TWO WEEKS. AND NOW I HAVE TO LEAVE MY KEY IN THE IGNITION AND THE BATTERY WILL DIE.

NHTSA ID
11396430
Incident
Feb 16, 2021
Body & structure
Filed May 11, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED ABNORMALLY. THE CONTACT DROVE TO HIS DESTINATION AND INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT BECAME AWARE THAT THE CHASSIS WAS EXTREMELY RUSTED AND HAD STARTED TO SEPARATE FROM THE SUBFRAME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER NOR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 118,000.

NHTSA ID
11324139
Incident
Apr 15, 2020
Mileage
118,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Feb 12, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REVERSE OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, THE CONTACT HEARD A SQUEAKY NOISE EMERGING FROM THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE LOWER DRIVER'S SIDE CONTROL ARM FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE CONTACT REFERENCED THE FAILURE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 01V126000 (SUSPENSION). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,000

NHTSA ID
11308743
Incident
Apr 7, 2019
Mileage
190,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jan 8, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THERE WAS RUST IN THE TRANSMISSION LINE AND FLUID LEAKED ON THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

NHTSA ID
11297999
Incident
Jan 1, 2020
Mileage
120,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Dec 16, 2019
Crash reported1 injury reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. WHILE DRIVING AND TURNING, THE VEHICLE HYDROPLANED AND STRUCK A CONCRETE WALL HEAD ON. THE VEHICLE THEN VEERED TO THE LEFT AND STRUCK THE CENTER DIVIDER TWICE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND TOWED. MOST OF THE DAMAGE WAS TO THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE AND THE DRIVER'S DOOR COULD NOT BE CLOSED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED BRUISES WHERE THE SEAT WAS LOCATED. THE DRIVER WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM FOR MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE DRIVER'S FACE WAS BRUISED AND A CAT SCAN WAS PERFORMED TO DETERMINE IF THERE WERE ANY BROKEN BONES, BUT THE TESTS WERE NEGATIVE. THE DRIVER ALSO TWISTED HER ANKLE AND THERE WAS A LITTLE BIT OF SWELLING ON HER KNEE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WANTED TO VISIT THE CONTACT'S HOME TO EXAMINE THE VEHICLE AND FIND OUT WHY THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID
11289369
Incident
Nov 29, 2019
Body & structure
Filed Nov 4, 2019

THE FRAME IN MY TRAILBLAZER HAS BIG HOLES RUSTING THROUGH IT. A FRAME 100 YEARS OLD WILL NEVER RUST THROUGH. THE USE OF VERY CHEAP THIN STEEL MAY RESULT IN A ACCIDENT WHEN THE FRAME BREAKS IN HALF. I FIND THIS UNACCEPTABLE REGARDLESS OF HOW OLD THE CAR IS THE FRAME SHOULD NEVER RUST THROUGH

NHTSA ID
11277946
Incident
Nov 1, 2015
Mileage
200,000 mi
Other / unspecified
Filed Nov 3, 2019

I HAVE A 2002 CHEVY TRAILBLAZER WITH GOODYEAR WRANGLER SR-A TIRES. THESE TIRES ARE THE ABSOLUTE WORST TIRES I HAVE EVER OWNED IN MY 34 YEARS OF DRIVING! IN DRY CONDITIONS THEY ARE TOLERABLE BUT ONE CAN TELL THAT THEY'RE NOT STICKING WELL TO THE ROAD. WHEN IT RAINED SLIGHTLY IT BECOMES NEAR IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE WITH THESE TIRES. THE BEST WAY TO DESCRIBE IT IS AS IF YOU ARE TRYING TO DRIVE ON A SLICK ROADWAY ALMOST LIKE DRIVING ON OIL OR SIMILIAR TO DRIVING A RACE CAR ON SLICK TIRES TO DRIFT WITH.

NHTSA ID
11277842
Incident
Oct 26, 2019
Mileage
156,000 mi
ElectricalEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Oct 10, 2019
Fire reported

ELECTRICAL UNDER DASH SHORTING OUT. CAUSING ACCESSORY PLUG TO SHOOT SPARKS AS WELL AS CAUSING DASH LIGHTS TO GO OUT, AND FRONT PANEL TO STOP WORKING. AC ELECTRICAL QUIT WORKING AFTER. 4WHEEL DRIVE SHIFTS RANDOMLY IN AND OUT OF 2 AND 4 WHEEL DRIVE, CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO GET STUCK IN NEUTRAL. MOTOR SOLENOIDS AND SENSORS KEEP FAILING AND SHORTING OUT DUE TO ELECTRICAL ISSUES. VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE.

NHTSA ID
11267812
Incident
Apr 23, 2019
Mileage
220,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Oct 7, 2019

STRUT TOWER RUSTED THROUGH AND SHOT THROUGH THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT

NHTSA ID
11266725
Incident
Mar 19, 2018
Tires & wheels
Filed Jul 31, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER EQUIPPED WITH COOPER DISCOVERER HTP TIRES, SIZE: P275/45R20 (NA). WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE CONTACT BEGAN TO FEEL THE VEHICLE SHAKE AND WOBBLE. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND NOTICED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE SIDEWALL. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TIRE WAS ABNORMAL AND APPEARED TO HAVE BEEN A DEFECT. THE TIRE WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE PLACE WHERE THE TIRES WERE PURCHASED AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE TIRES WERE NOT UNDER WARRANTY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000 AND THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000. *TR CONSUMER STATED I FILED A SAFETY COMPLAINT FOR MY COOPER DISCOVERER H/T+ TIRES TODAY, 7/31/2019.*JB

NHTSA ID
11240923
Incident
Jul 30, 2019
Mileage
180,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Jul 30, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUN ROOF DID NOT CLOSE COMPLETELY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED PER A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN REGARDING THE SUN ROOF IN OCTOBER OF 2010 BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,394.

NHTSA ID
11240635
Incident
Oct 1, 2010
Mileage
130,394 mi
Fuel system
Filed Jul 10, 2019

BAD FUEL LEAK COMING FROM DRIVERS SIDE OF VEHICLE, UNDER VEHICLE. MIDDLE OF VEHICLE. VERY DANGEROUS. PARKED ON STREET. BAD FUEL LEAKING.

NHTSA ID
11230725
Incident
Jul 9, 2019
ElectricalExterior lightingVisibility
Filed Apr 7, 2019

CHEVROLET DEALER BEGAN RECALL REPAIRS BUT GM FILED BANKRUPTCY AND DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR CITING INABILITY TO GET PAID BY GM FOR RECALL, RETURNING THE VEHICLE TO ME UNREPAIRED. NEXT DEALER SAID RECORDS SHOWED REPAIRS WERE COMPLETED. THEY WERE NOT.

NHTSA ID
11194474
Incident
Apr 1, 2008
Airbags
Filed Aug 17, 2018
Crash reported

WE HYDROPLANED GOING ABOUT 40MPH IN RAINING CONDITIONS NEAR RICHLANDS, NC ON HWY 258. OVERCORRECTED, FISHTAILED AGAIN INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC, WAS HIT IN THE DRIVERSIDE REAR BY A ANOTHER CAR, HIT THE CURB AND ROLLED THREE TIMES.

NHTSA ID
11120570
Incident
Aug 12, 2018
Mileage
215,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Aug 4, 2018

TAKATA RECALL MY CAR SMELLS LIKE GAS INSIDE AND OUTSIDE WITH NO VISIBLE GAS LEAKAGE. THIS SMELL IS NOTICEABLE BOTH STATIONARY AND MOVING. THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF THIS NATURE ON CONSUMER CHAT SITES

NHTSA ID
11115765
Incident
Jul 11, 2018
Mileage
148,000 mi
Body & structureOther / unspecified
Filed Jul 17, 2018

FRAME AROUND FORWARD CONTROL ARM MOUNTS RUSTED NEARLY THROUGH. BOTTOMS OF DOORS RUSTING FROM THE INSIDE. WHEELS CORRODING AROUND BEADS WHICH HAS CREATED A CONSTANT BEAD LEAK.

NHTSA ID
11111971
Incident
Jul 2, 2014
Mileage
85,000 mi
BrakesElectricalOther / unspecified
Filed Jul 6, 2018

RECENTLY BOUGHT A CAR THAT I BELIEVE THEY ARE ILLEGALLY PASSING THE INSPECTIONS ON. THEY PROCLAIMED THAT FIXED A MAJOR PART TO KEEP THE TIRES ON MY CAR TIE RODS AND CV AXEL. JUST SHORT TIME AFTER IT LOOKED LIKE THE PART WAS NEVER REPLACED JUST TIGHTENED UP AND SHORTLY AFTER WE HAD ALL KINDS OF ISSUES WITH THE BRAKES AND ANYTHING THAT KEEPS THE CAR DRIVEING SAFELY THE BRAKES WENT OUT ON ME SO I CALLED TO SEE WHAT THEY DID AND WHY THEY NEVER FIXED IT THE BERRY NEXT DAY THEY REPO THE CAR AS IF THEY ARE TRYING TO HIDE AND COVER UP THE SCAMS THEY HAVE ON PEOPLE MY KIDS ARE IN THAT CAR DAILY IT SHOULD BE NEVER PASSED THE INSPECTION WE HAVE HAD TO PAY FOR MOST OF THAT. I BELIEVE ALL THE CARS IN THERE LOT NEED TO BE INSPECTED BY A FEDERAL AGENT OR SOMETHING I'VE FOUND ALOT OF THE SAME COMPLAINTS ONLINE ABOUT SAME ISSUES AND I EVEN KNOW OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE BOUGHT FROM THEM ALL WITH THE SAME ISSUES THEY ARE FRAUD AND YOU NEED TO STOP THEM BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED AND DIES FROM ONE OF THERE FAULTY VEHICLES MY ISSUE HAPPENED AND HAPPENS WHILE DRIVEING THEY ALSO TOOK BOTH OF THE BRAKE CALIBER PINS THAT HOLD IT IN PLACE TO THE POINT TO WHERE IT CAME OFF COMPLETELY I ALMOST DIED GUYS THEY ARE BAD PEOPLE TO BUY FROM

NHTSA ID
11109795
Incident
Jul 5, 2018
Mileage
220,000 mi

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.

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