Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2003 Chevrolet Trailblazer submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 57 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 57, in the owner's own words
Transmission doesn’t have 3rd or 4th gear. Vehicle was smoking under hood. Found out after buying it it has flood damage. Mechanic said there was water in the transmission when inspected. Vehicle needs catylic converter sensor and vehicle has bad ground wire. Seller didn’t inform me of any of these issues and he said it was in good shape and very reliable.
WIRE HARNESS COATING FALLING APART ALMOST CAUGHT MY TRUCK ON FIRE GOT PICTURES AND IT TRIGGERS THE BRAKE LIGHT TO STAY ON
NOTHING HAS HAPPENING YET TRYING TO GET THE RECALLS FIXED HAVE NO IDEA HOW TO GO ABOUT IT SO STARTED HERE, PLEASE TELL ME IF NOT ALLOWED OR WHERE I CAN GET THE INFORMATION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. WHILE DRIVING, THE CONTACT WAS PULLED OVER BY A STATE TROOPER AND INFORMED THAT THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS WERE NOT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE RESULTS WERE UNKNOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V527000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING LOCALLY YESTERDAY 7/1/18 AND MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN AT A SLOW SPEED. SHE LOST CONTROL AND COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE IN ONCOMING TRAFFIC. SHE WAS INJURED. THE CARS BRAKE LIGHTS HAD JUST GONE OUT AND THE BLOWER IS GOING ON AND OFF. I ASSUME THIS IS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM FOR WHICH MY VIN IS NOT DISPLAYING A RECALL. THERE IS NOW DAMAGE TO THE WHEEL AND REAR DRIVERS SIDE FENDER, CLEARLY DISPLAYING THAT THE VEHICLE SPUN OUT OF CONTROL, BASED ON THE 2 VEHICLE IMPACT POINTS.
WHEN YOU PRESS THE BREAKS YOU HEAR A LOUD CLICKING NOISE, THEN IT CONTINUES TO CLICK THE WHOLE TIME YOU ARE DRIVING. I'M NOT SURE IF THIS IS A DEFECT? JUST WORRISOME.
HTTP://WWW.WASHINGTONPOST.COM/NEWS/MORNING-MIX/WP/2015/07/22/CAR-HACKING-JUST-GOT-REAL-HACKERS-DISABLE-SUV-ON-BUSY-HIGHWAY/ HAVE YOU SEEN THIS? THESE FOOLS SHOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN PERFORMING TESTS LIKE THIS IN PUBLIC HIGHWAYS. TESTS LIKE THIS, SHOULD BE DONE ON CLOSED COURSES. THEY DID THIS FOR SHOW AND TO GET ATTENTION AND COULD HAVE BEEN DEADLY. THEY SHOULD BE LOCKED UP.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY COULD BE REMOVED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN GEARS OTHER THAN PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH AND THE ABS FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. UPDATED 12/9/14* CN UPDATED 8/31/2017*CN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE ABS AND SECURITY WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, ALL THE GAUGES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TERMINAL BATTERY NEEDED TO BE DISCONNECTED AND RECONNECTED IN ORDER FOR THE INSTRUMENT PANEL TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.
CAR IS A 2003 CHEVY TRAILBLAZER THE IGNITION KEY IS STILL STUCK IN THE CAR. THERE WHERE NO WARNING LIGHTS THAT ANYTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR. BRAKES FAILED AFTER 7 MONTHS OF HAVING THE CAR , I HAD TO GO TO AN OUTSIDE COMPANY TO FIX CAR. ALSO WHEN HITTING BRAKE LIGHTS IT COMES ON AS HAZARD LIGHTS. CAR STARTED TO SHAKE WHEN TURNING ON A/C TOOK TO DEALERSHIP I WAS TOLD TO CONTACT SOMEONE ELSE THAT CAN FIX THE CAR. ALSO THE ONLY WAY FOR ME TO START THE CAR AND TURN THE CAR OFF IS BY UNHOOKING THE BATTERY DUE TO KEY BEING STUCK IN THE IGNITION I WENT TO DEALERSHIP TO GET CAR FIXED OR REPLACE AND DEALERSHIP WAS BANKRUPT. PLEASE HELP I REALLY FEEL THAT I GOT A BAD CAR OR A RECALL CAR. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT AND REAR DRIVERS SIDE POWER WINDOW FAILED. ADDITIONALLY, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PARKING BRAKE FAILED TO ACTIVATE WHEN ENGAGED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT SHE REPLACED THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE TAIL LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT ON MORE THAN TWO OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 147,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 29 MPH ON AN ICY ROAD AND ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES. THERE WAS NO TRACTION AND THE VEHICLE SLID INTO TRAFFIC, CRASHING INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. THE DRIVER OF THE SECOND VEHICLE SUSTAINED UNKNOWN INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE WHEEL HUB AND SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 73,400.
THIS IS A THIRD TIME THE ABS WARNING LIGHT HAS COME ON MALFUNCTIONING SAYING WE NEED SERVICE ONCE IN MONTANA AND THEN ANOTHER INCIDENT IN 2008. "SERVICE BRAKES, AIR ANTILOCK ABS WARNING LIGHTS COME ON IN THE DRIVERS INFORMATION CENTER. HOWEVER, IT HAPPENS EVERY TIME IT GETS 5 TO 10 DEGREES OR MORE BELOW ZERO. THE FIRST TIME I TOOK IT INTO GARAGE AND THEY CLEANED UP THE ABS GROUND CONNECTION ON THE FRAME. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE A PERSON DOESN'T KNOW IF IT IS ACCURATE OR ANOTHER FALSE ALERT. I WOULD HOPE THAT OTHER PERSONS REPORT THESE ISSUES, AND THAT THE MANUFACTURERS WOULD BE FORCED TO REPAIR THE ISSUE. *TR
PANEL CLUSTER FAILED WITH RED BLARING EMERGENCY LIGHT STAYS ON AND CAUSES VEHICLE LIGHTS TO STAY ON. ALSO CAUSES VEHICLE NOT TO SHIFT PROPERLY. ALL DASHBOARD COMPONENT INDICATOR FAILS WHICH HAZARDOUS TO SAFETY OF INDIVIDUAL. *TR
RIGHT SIDE BRAKE AND SIGNAL LAMPS CONTINUE TO BURN OUT. WHOLE BRACKET HOLDS WATER, DEALER WAS SUPPOSE TO FIX PROBLEM, BUT AFTER THE RECALL WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED, BRAKE LAMP AND TURN SIGNAL LAMPS CONTINUE TO SHORT OUT. *TR
HEARD FUNNY NOISE COMING FROM VEHICLE. AFTER THAT THE CARS BATTERY WOULD BE DEAD. COULD RECHARGE BATTERY BUT IT WOULD BE DEAD THE NEXT DAY. TOOK IT IN TO A PRIVATE SHOP WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE ABS MODULE UNDER THE FRAME WAS CORRODED AND DRAWING DOWN THE BATTERY BY GROUNDING ON THE FRAME. IT ALSO DESTROYED A COMPUTER AND TWO PLUGS ON THE TRANSMISSION NEUTRAL SAFETY SWITCH. TOTAL REPAIRS TO VEHICLE TOTALED OVER $2,300.00. *TR
THE CARS COMPUTER CODE ON DASH READ OUT THAT SERVICE BRAKES WAS REQUIRED WITH A RINGING TONE. THE ABS LIGHT AND THE BRAKE LIGHT WERE ALSO ON. THIS LED ONE TO BELIEVE THAT THE VEHICLE COULD BE AN ISSUE WITH SAFETY. WE DROVE STRAIGHT TO THE GARAGE. A CODE C0265 WAS FOUND ON THE COMPUTER BY THE TECHNICIAN. $91.00 WAS CHARGED FOR A POOR GROUND BEING REDONE ON THE EBCM. NHTSA ITEM NUMBER 10022470 IS APPLICABLE. WE WERE LUCKY TO BE WITHIN A BLOCK OF A DEALER. THIS IS A 2003 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER, WITH ONLY 37616 MILES. FROM FEBRUARY 2003 UNTIL NOVEMBER 2006 THE CAR WAS GARAGED IN MONTANA. NOVEMBER 2006 TILL PRESENT THE CAR IS GARAGED IN WI. WHY SHOULD THE OWNER HAVE TO PAY FOR AN APPARENT GROUND ISSUE DEFECT PROBLEM? THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE ABS SYSTEM IS DISABLED ON THE CAR. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE, THE CONTACT HEARD A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE GRINDING NOISE RECURRED AND THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE ABS UNIT WAS NOT SHUTTING OFF. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 70,089. *UPDATED 12/12/2007 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE ABS WAS DIAGNOSED WITH AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. UPDATED 12/12/07 *TR
FOR APPROX. 4 MONTHS I WOULD GO TO GET INTO MY TRAILBLAZER AND THE VEHICLE WOULD BE DEAD. WOULD NOT START UNLESS I HAD IT JUMPED. IT WOULD GO 2 WEEKS WITH NO PROBLEM THEN OUT OF THE BLUE, NOT WORK. I HAD THE BATTERY CHANGED 2 TIMES, ALTERNATOR, STARTER CHECKED WITH NO PROBLEM. FINALLY AFTER THE LAST TIME, I HAD THE ALTERNATOR PEOPLE COME AND GET IT AND THEY CHECKED IT OUT FOR 2 DAYS. THE ABS SYSTEM IS WHAT CAME UP. I HAD TO HAVE IT TAKEN TO THE DEALER THAT I PURCHASED IT FROM (I HAVE ONLY HAD THIS VEHICLE PURCHASED USED FOR A YEAR AND COUPLE OF MONTHS-VEHICLE IS ONLY 4 YEARS OLD NOW) AND IT IS THE ABS MODULE COSTING ME $1150.00 TO BE FIXED. DEALER STATES THAT IT STAYS ON AFTER VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF AND RUNNING MY BATTERY. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. THE CONTACT COMPLAINED ABOUT A SPEEDOMETER FAILURE. WHILE IDLING THE SPEEDOMETER READ 90 MPH. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WAS DAMAGED. WHEN THE TEMPERATURE WAS BELOW 30 DEGREES THE STEERING COLUMN FROZE AND ACTIVATED THE HORN. THE HORN WILL NOT DEACTIVATE UNLESS THE FUSE WASREMOVED. ADDITIONALLY, WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECELERATE, BUT THE PEDAL DROPPED ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FLOOR. THE CONTACT MUST RELEASE AND DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL AGAIN IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 75,000, AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. *AK
ABS SYSTEM SHORTED OUT AND WOULD REMAIN ON EVEN AFTER ENGINE WAS SHUT OFF. THE ABS PUMP AND CONTROL UNIT HAD TO BE REPLACED. (NOT UNDER WARRANTY)WAS TOLD THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE. *JB
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE'S BRAKE PUMP FAILED. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER SEVEN DIFFERENT TIMES SINCE DEC 2004 AND THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE ISSUE. THE VEHICLE WAS NEVER INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT.
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON SEPTEMBER 12, 2005 AT 25612 MILES WHO DETERMINED THE ROTORS WERE RUSTED AND NEEDED TO BE TURNED. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP ON JUNE 5, 2006 FOR A 30000 MILE CHECK UP AND AGAIN THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE ROTORS NEEDED TO BE TURNED. THE DEALERSHIP HAS ADMITTED THE FRONT AND REAR ROTORS NEED TO BE REPLACED. BASED ON THE CONTACT'S UNDERSTANDING THE MANUFACTURER WILL NOT ALLOW THE DEALERSHIP TO REPLACE THE ROTORS UNDER WARRANTY. THE CONTACT ALERTED THE MANUFACTURER AND A COMPLAINT WAS FILED CASE # 1-414411237. THE LEFT FRONT AXLE SEAL WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 06/19/06. *JB
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS RECEIVING A REGULAR MAINTENANCE INSPECTION AT AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THE RIGHT FRONT OUTER TIE ROD ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AFTER THE REPLACEMENT, THERE WAS A RATTLING NOISE IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SEEN FOR FURTHER INSPECTION. IN ADDITION, NHTSA RECALL, #04V527000 REPAIR WAS PERFORMED ON THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING HOWEVER, THE RECALL REPAIR DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE BULBS IN THE EXTERIOR BRAKE LIGHTS, BUT THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOT CONTACTED. IN ADDITION, RESURFACED REAR ROTORS AND REPLACED PADS. ALSO, REPLACED REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER ARM. THE DOOR LOCSK WERE INOPERATIVE. THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE. UPDATED 05/30/06. *AK
2003 TRAILBLAZER - REDUCED ENGINE POWER LIGHT PRESENT WHEN STARTED. WOULD ACCELERATE TO 15MPH. RATTLE OR GRINDING NOISE WHEN BRAKING OR DRIVING OVER BUMPS. DROVE TO BEATY CHEVROLET KNOXVILLE TN TUES, 2/7/06. REPLACED THROTTLE ASSEMBLY & ADVISED NOISE WAS FROM MISALIGNED HOOD. TRAILBLAZER PICKED UP ON FRI, 2/10/06. PAID $200. EXT WARRANTY DED. GAS EMPTY STOPPED TO FILL UP. WHILE DRIVING NOTICED FUEL GAUGE PAST FULL MARK, APPEARED TO BE POINTING STRAIGHT DOWN. NOTICED TACHOMETER REGISTERED 6500 RPMS. CALLED BEATY CHEVROLET. SERVICE DEPARTMENT CLOSED. NEXT DAY FUEL GAUGE APPEARS CORRECT. AFTER A WEEK REFUELED AND NOTICED FUEL GAUGE WAS INCORRECT AGAIN. NOTICED STRONG GAS ODOR WHEN VEHICLE IS STARTED & VEHICLE SMOKING. CALLED TO SCHEDULE REPAIRS ON 2/28/06. WAS UNABLE TO MAKE APPOINTMENT RESCHEDULED FOR TUES 3/9/06. BEATY INFORMED THAT IT MUST BE GUAGE SENSOR AND NOT RELATED TO PREVIOUS REPAIR WORK SO ANOTHER $200. DEDUCTIBLE WOULD BE DUE. THEY WERE UNABLE TO DETECT FUEL ODOR NOR SMOKING. I DISAGREED WITH THE $200 CHARGE DUE TO VEHICLE BEING DEFECTIVE WHEN I PICKED IT UP FROM THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT ON THE FIRST VISIT. BEATY CHEV. SAID THEY DID NOT LOOK AT THE TACHOMETER NOR FUEL GAUGE WHEN THEY SERVICE VEHICLES SO THEY WOULD NOT HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THE PROBLEM. LOL .. I CALLED GM WARRANTY AND THEY WOULD NOT WAIVE THE $200 AND SAID THE DEALERSHIP WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN AND THEY THOUGHT GM WOULD WAIVED BECAUSE OF THE NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE GUAGE SENSORS. HOWEVER THEY WOULD NOT ADMIT THAT THEY DID NOT CHECK THE VEHICLE WHEN IT WAS BEING REPAIRED THE FIRST VISIT. I HAVE READ NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS REGARDING REDUCED POWER THROTTLE ASSEMBLY, GUAGE MALFUNCTIONS, AND GRINDING NOISE WHEN BRAKING AND FEEL THAT GM SHOULD RECALL AND REIMBURSE THE CONSUMER FOR THE REPAIRS THEY HAVE PAID. VEHICLE IS STILL MAKING GRINDING NOISE AND NOW SEEMS TO LUNGE FORWARD WHEN BRAKE IS RELEASED. I NEED HELP AND ANY ADVICE YOU HAVE TO OFFER. *NM
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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