FaultScore

Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT transmission problems

97 of the 1,070 complaints filed about the Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT are about the transmission — 9% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2003.

97

Complaints

9%

Share of all complaints

1

Crashes

2

Fires

Transmission & Drivetrain complaints by model year

Median failure at 68,000 miles

Median failure at 60,000 miles

Median failure at 68,360 miles

Median failure at 88,081 miles

What owners said

2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT at 135,000 miles Elizabeth City, NC

POWER TRAIN

TRANSMISSION SLIPPING AND SELINOIDS

NHTSA complaint #11096393 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT at 150,000 miles Roper, NC

POWER TRAIN

DRIVING DOWN ROAD ON THE WAY TO HOSPITAL AND TRAILBLAZER MADE A LOUD CLUNK. THEN STARTED MAKING A WHIRRING NOISE. FINISHED DRIVING SLOWLY TO HOSPITAL AS NOT TO MESS ANYTHING ELSE UP. PULLED IN AND PARKED. GOT READY TO LEAVE HOSPITAL AND HAD NO REVERSE ONLY FOWARD.

NHTSA complaint #11010243 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT at 80,000 miles Paso Robles, CA

POWER TRAIN

MY KEY WILL NOT COME OUT OF THE IGNITION I HAD TO UNSCREW AND REMOVE THE BOTTOM OF MY STEERING TO PUSH THE BUTTON ALSO ALL OF MY INSTRUMENT GAUGE DO NOT WORK INCLUDING THE SPEEDOMETER AND ALL GAUGES SO I NEVER KNOW MY TEMPERATURE OR FUEL LEVEL, OIL PRESSURE THEY ALL ARE NOT WORKING PROPERLY MY SPEEDOMETER ONLY WORKS SOMETIMES. ALSO MY ENGINE IS RUNNY ROUGH AND I HEAR A VIBRATION AND TICKING. MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS AND I'M GETTING CODE SAYING THERES A LEAK IN THE FUEL EVAP SYSTEM. I HAVE SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND EVERYONE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THEIR 2003 TRAILBLAZERS. WHY ISN'T CHEVROLET RECALLING THESE PROBLEMS ITS FUSTRATING THEY WANT SEVERAL HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS I CANNOT AFFORD

NHTSA complaint #10981537 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2004 Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT at 136,000 miles Wyoming, NY

POWER TRAIN

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SLIPS WHEN IT TRIES TO SHIFT INTO 3RD OR 4TH GEAR, I READ THAT THERE WAS A REPORT ON THIS HAPPENING BUT THERE WAS NOT A RECALL AS FAR AS I KNOW, I RECENTLY PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE FROM THE ORIGINAL OWNER WHO SAYS THEY NEVER RECEIVED ANY PAPER WORK FROM GM ABOUT DOING REPAIRS. MY QUESTION IS WILL GM REPAIR THIS CONDITION AT NO COST TO ME?

NHTSA complaint #10955188 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT Falmouth, MA

POWER TRAIN

I HAVE REPLACED THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL TWICE IN 10 MONTHS. I BOUGHT NEW PARTS FOR IT NOT USED THAT WERE REDONE TO GET RID OF THE PROBLEMS IT HAD NOW IT HAS GONE AGAIN. THIS TIME I HAVEN'T EVEN USED THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE YET SINCE THE LAST REPAIR. I HAVE RESEARCH IT AND I NOTICED A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10811324 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT Sadorus, IL Fire

POWER TRAIN

I PURCHASED A 2003 TRAILBLAZER FROM AN INDIVIDUAL. THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL HAD A HOLE IN IT. SO I PURCHASED A DIFFERENTIAL FROM A SCRAP YARD. 90 DAY WARRANTY. STILL HAD A NOISE . I STILL HAD A NOISE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL WAS OUT AGAIN. I PURCHASED THE THIRD DIFFERENTIAL FROM A DIFFERENT YARD TOOK IT APART . FOUND THE DRIVER SIDE BEARING BAD. IT SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM BECAUSE THE DRIVER SIDE DRIVERS CONSTANT. I WAS WONDERING IF THERE IS A RECALL. I SEE A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ONLINE. THANK YOU THERE WAS A FIRE THE DIFFERENTIAL GREASE BURNT BEARING WENT OUT AND CHARD MOTOR AND SURROUNDING AREA NO REAL DAMAGE.

NHTSA complaint #10760210 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2004 Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT at 114,000 miles Olean, NY

POWER TRAIN

THE TRANSMISSION COOLING LINES CORRODED AND CAUSED A TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAK. THE ENGINE RPMS INCREASED AND THE VEHICLE LOST POWER WHILE GOING DOWN INTERSTATE 86. WHEN THE FLUID LEAKED OUT OF THE TRANSMISSION COOLING LINES, IT SPRAYED ALL OVER THE EXHAUST PIPES, WHICH CAUSED A SEVERE FIRE HAZARD. DUE TO THE LOSS OF TRANSMISSION FLUID, IT CASED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION INTERNALS.

NHTSA complaint #10650002 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2004 Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT at 142,000 miles Mastic Beach, NY

POWER TRAIN

DRIVING HOME FROM WORK BRAKES STARTED LOCKING UP DROVE HOME TOOK APART FRONT AN REAR BRAKES FOUND FRONT CALIPERS LOCKED UP CHANGED CALIPERS AN BRAKE PADS FRONT AN REAR TRIED TO BLEED BRAKES HAD A SPONGY PEDAL FILLED MASTER CYLINDER AN NOTICED BRAKE FLUID LEAKING UNDER MASTER CYLINDER CONNECTOR BEHIND FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL NO PART TO FIX NO LISTING . CANNOT DRIVE CAR. THAT'S JUST ONE PROBLEM TRANSMISSION LINES ROTTED AN CHANGED 2 YEARS AGO . POWER STEERING COOLER ROTTED OUT LOST ALL POWER STEERING FLUID 1 MONTH AGO AN PUT AFTER MARKET COOLER IN . ALSO AIR CONDITIONER LINES ROTTED OUT CANNOT HOLD R34 COOLANT ANYMORE.

NHTSA complaint #10605792 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT at 140,000 miles NEW Iberia, LA

POWER TRAIN

THERE IS A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE VAPORS COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, A CRACK CAN BE SEEN IN THE NECK OF THE FUEL TANK. WHEN FILLING THE VEHICLE, FUEL SPILLS OUT OF THE TANK FROM THE CRACK. THE FUEL GAUGE CLUSTER IN THE DASH DOESN'T WORK. THE BLOWER ON THE A/C UNIT DOESN'T WORK ON THE HIGHEST (5) LEVEL. ALSO, THE FAN CLUTCH WENT OUT CAUSING THE CAR TO OVERHEAT SEVERELY. THE FAN DOES NOT ENGAGE, CAUSING THE WATER PUMP SHAFT TO BECOME DAMAGED. ALSO, THE REAR DRIVER SIDE WINDOW QUIT FUNCTIONING, DESPITE BUYING AN EXPENSIVE NEW REGULATOR AND REPLACING IT. HAVING RESEARCHED THE ISSUES, I FIND THAT I AM AMONG HUNDREDS, POSSIBLY THOUSANDS OF UNSATISFIED PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS.

NHTSA complaint #10605390 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT at 120,000 miles Lake Mills WI, WI

POWER TRAIN

UPON TURNING THE FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE ENGAGED UNKNOWN TO ME AT THE TIME BECAUSE THE SELECTOR SWITCH DID NOT INDICATE THIS.THE TRUCK BECAME DIFFICULT IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN AT LOW SPEEDS AS THIS VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE A LIMITED SLIP DIFFERENTIAL IN THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE MODE. WHILE TURNING THE TIRES ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE TURN MAKE A LARGER RADIUS THAN DO THE INNER TIRES.WITHOUT ANY SLIP THE VEHICLE TRIES TO MAINTAIN THE SAME LINEAR FOOTAGE TRAVEL BY EACH TIRE. THIS CAUSES THE TIRES TO BIND LOCK UP AND SKID DURING TURNS. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM ON INTERNET FORUMS AND IT SEEMS TO BE A QUITE COMMON OCCURRENCE AND COULD CAUSE CRASHES WHILE TURNING. I HAVE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURE AND THE RESPONSE WAS FOR ME TO TAKE IT TO A DEALER AND PAY FOR THEM TO LOOK AT IT. I DECLINED THEIR SUGGESTION AND OFFERED THE COMPROMISE OF TAKING IT TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AT MY OWN COST,TO WHICH THEY DECLINED. PLEASE NOTE I DID NOT ASK THEM TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE AT THEIR COST BUT ONLY WANTED THEM TO EXAMINE THE VEHICLE FOR DEFECTIVE DESIGN/MATERIAL.

NHTSA complaint #10587543 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT at 103,000 miles Lake Zurich, IL

POWER TRAIN

WHEN THE CAR IS PUT IN THE DRIVE AND POSITION #3, IT DOES NOT MOVE. IT ONLY MOVES UNDER POSITION #2 AND #1.

NHTSA complaint #10496407 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2004 Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT at 146,000 miles Oakdale, CT

POWER TRAIN

CAR FELT "STUCK" IN GEAR, WOULDN'T ACCELERATE, LOW ON TRANSMISSION FLUID. ADDED MORE FLUID, REPLACED SPEED SENSOR, CAMSHAFT & CRANKSHAFT SENSORS. STILL HAVING ISSUES WITH RPMS GOING HIGH, CAR SLAMMING FROM ONE GEAR INTO ANOTHER. ALSO CANNOT RUN HEAT WHILE DRIVING, FAN DRAWS POWER & CAUSES ENGINE TO STALL OUT. CAR ALSO BURNING THROUGH GAS VERY QUICKLY.

NHTSA complaint #10450579 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT at 73,162 miles Macomb, MI

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK IN MY 2006 TRAILBLAZER EXT. AFTER STOPPING AT THE STOP SIGN IN FRONT OF MY HOME, I PRESSED THE CENTER BUTTON ON THE OVERHEAD CONSOLE TO OPEN THE GARAGE DOOR AND PROCEEDED TO TURN RIGHT AS TO POSITION THE VEHICLE TO ALLOW FOR BACKING-UP ONTO MY DRIVEWAY AND INTO THE RIGHT PARKING HALF OF MY GARAGE. BUT AS I SHIFTED THE TRAILBLAZER INTO REVERSE, I BEGAN TO PRESS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE. I COULD FEEL THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT SLIPPING, THE ENGINE WAS UNDER LOAD, AND IT WAS AS IF I WAS PRESSING THE BRAKE AT THE SAME TIME I WAS PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. BUT, I ONLY USE MY RIGHT FOOT, AND MY LEFT FOOT WAS IN FRONT OF, AND AGAINST, THE DRIVERS SEAT, FAR AWAY FROM BOTH PEDALS. I LOOKED OVER TO THE PARKING BRAKE, BUT IT WAS COMPLETELY DOWN. USING THE PARKING BRAKE LEVER, I MADE CERTAIN THAT IS WAS NOT ENGAGED. THE BRAKE LIGHT IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS NOT ON AT ANY TIME, NOR WAS THERE A WARNING FROM THE DRIVER INFORMATION CENTER (DIC), NOR WAS THERE ANY OTHER WARNING OR INDICATOR SHOWING THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG. I STILL COULD NOT GET THE CAR TO MOVE. I PLACED THE TRANSMISSION INTO DRIVE, AND I COULD FEEL THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT, BUT AGAIN, I COULD NOT GET THE VEHICLE TO MOVE. AND, THERE WAS A LOAD ON THE ENGINE AS IF I WAS PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL AT THE SAME TIME AS I WAS PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, BUT THE BRAKE WAS NOT BEING PRESSED, AND MY LEFT FOOT WAS FAR AWAY FROM THE PEDALS. FINALLY, AFTER ABOUT A MINUTE, I FELT THAT THE CAR WAS 'LET GO', AND I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO MOVE THE CAR NORMALLY ONTO MY DRIVEWAY AND INTO MY GARAGE, BUT I WAS SHAKING A BIT AND AM VERY CONCERNED THAT THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN AGAIN.

NHTSA complaint #10416604 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT at 78,000 miles Trumbull, CT

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES

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.

NHTSA complaint #10402815 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT at 120,000 miles Huntington, IN

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER EXT. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED HE ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT GEAR OUT OF PARK POSITION AND IT SHIFTED INTO A DIFFERENT GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO ADVISED HIM THAT THE GEAR SHIFT NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE AND ADVISED HIM THAT THE GEAR SHIFT NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 03V075000, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND WAS ADVISED BY THE DEALER THAT THE RECALL REPAIR HAD ALREADY BEEN PERFORMED. THE FAILURE HAD BEEN ON-GOING FOR THE LAST YEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 126,000.

NHTSA complaint #10379832 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2004 Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT at 123,045 miles Syracuse, NY

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION SLIPPING BETWEEN 3RD AND 4TH GEAR. ENGINE REVS IN NEUTRAL, THEN TRANSMISSION WOULD RE-ENGAGE. FAILURE WOULD OCCUR EVERYTIME VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN. REPAIRED BY COMPLETE TRANSMISSION REBUILD.

NHTSA complaint #10368184 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2004 Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT Topeka, KS

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

ABOUT 10 MILES OUTSIDE OF DALLAS MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON BUT NO INITIAL PROBLEMS. LATER THAT NIGHT WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE THE CAR WOULD NOT GO FASTER THAN 30MPH. I RETURNED HOME THAT NIGHT AND LEFT IT PARKED. THE NEXT DAY TOOK IT TO AUTOZONE AND THE GUY DID AN ENGINE CHECK STATING THAT MY TRANSMISSION HAS GONE OUT AND THAT IT WAS LOW ON FLUIDS. I ADDED 3 QUARTS OF TRANSMISSION FLUID WHICH SEEMED TO HELP A LITTLE BIT, BUT I DO NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE ENOUGH MAKING AN 8 HR TRIP BACK HOME.

NHTSA complaint #10366995 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT at 122,455 miles Natick, MA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

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).

NHTSA complaint #10353979 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT at 155,000 miles Chatham, NJ

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

I OWN A 2002 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER EXT WHICH HAS BEEN IMPECCABLY MAINTAINED BY ME. PRIOR TO GOING ON A VACATION I BROUGHT THE TRUCK INTO MY MECHANIC FOR AN INSPECTION AS USUAL AND HE INFORMED ME THE TRANSMISSION FUEL LINES HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO EXCESSIVE CORROSION. HE ALSO ADVISED ME THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL WHICH PROMPTED CHEVROLET TO CHANGE THE DESIGN. HE CHECKED TO SEE IF IT WAS ON A RECALL LIST BUT WAS NOT. I CHECKED THE NHTSA SITE AND HAVE NOTICED NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THIS SAME ISSUE. WHY HAS THIS NOT BEEN ADDRESSED WITH GM AND PLACED ON A RECALL LIST FOR REPLACEMENT BY A DEALERSHIP?

NHTSA complaint #10350109 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2004 Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT at 117,000 miles N Chelmsford, MA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

DRIVING NORMALLY ,PUT CAR IN PARK ,PUT CAR BACK IN DRIVE CRUNCHING NOISE ,CAR NO LONGER HAS REVERSE OR 2ND GEAR.

NHTSA complaint #10330563 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT problems