290 of the 1,160 complaints about the 2003 Chevrolet Trailblazer are about the electrical system — 25% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 80,000 miles.
290
Complaints
5
Crashes
9
Fires
1
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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.
NHTSA complaint #11509655 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WIRE HARNESS COATING FALLING APART ALMOST CAUGHT MY TRUCK ON FIRE GOT PICTURES AND IT TRIGGERS THE BRAKE LIGHT TO STAY ON
NHTSA complaint #11403182 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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
NHTSA complaint #11320478 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TAKATA RECALL I HAVE A 2003 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER AND MY SUV WAS PARKED IN THE YARD AND I WENT TO GO TO THE STORE AND OPENED MY DOOR AND FOUND THE TRUCK WAS FULL OF SMOKE! MY DRIVER SEAT HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE JUST SITTING THERE. NOT EVEN CRANKED! IT DESTROYED THE SEAT AND THE TOP OF THE SUV AND THE ROOF MELTED ALL OVER THE TRUCK.
NHTSA complaint #11252007 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES OPERATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH AND INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
NHTSA complaint #11234521 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER HAS QUIT WORKING
NHTSA complaint #11165057 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I HAVE A HEAVY FUEL RUNOFF , FROM MY FUEL TANK. EVEN IF THE ENGINE IS ONLY RAN FOR A MINUTE. ALSO, MY HEADLIGHTS GO OUT WHENEVER THEY FEEL LIKE DOING SO,WHILE DRIVING
NHTSA complaint #11130717 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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.
NHTSA complaint #11105209 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE LIGHTS MELT THE HARNESSES IN THE FRONT LIGHTS FREQUENTLY. MORE THAN 2 TIMES A YEAR THE TAIL LIGHT NEEF CONSTANT REPLACEMENT FROM FAULTY WIRING. THE WIRES ARE NOT BIG ENOUGB TO HANDLE THE LOAD. IT HAPPENS AT ANY TIME IT WANTS DOESNT MATTER IF ITS SITTING IN PARK OR DRIVING.
NHTSA complaint #11082576 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2003 CHEVY TRAIL BLAZER, AT ENGINE START UP, DASH LIGHTS AND GAUGES DO NOT COME ON, TURN KEY OFF AND BACK ON, DASH PANEL (CLUSTER) STILL DOES NOT FUNCTION. TEST DROVE TO SEE IF DASH WOULD COME ON, IT DID NOT. PARKED TBLAZER, TRIED STARTING AGAIN, STILL NOTING. DID THIS PROCEDURE 5 TIMES AND STILL DASH NOT WORKING. PARKED TBLAZER IN DRIVEWAY, WENT OUT TO START TBLAZER AN HOUR LATER AT DASH WORKED. CURRENTLY A DRIVING SAFETY HAZARD AS THE DASH CLUSTER IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY, ONLY INTERMITTENT. DASH CLUSTER RECALL
NHTSA complaint #11079969 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
FOR THE LAST 3 YEARS, EVERY PART OF MY INSTRUMENT PANEL SEEMS TO WORK INTERMITTENTLY. AT TIMES WHILE DRIVING, THE SPEEDOMETER WILL SHOW ME DOING 40 MPH OVER MY ACTUAL SPEED, OR WILL SHOW ME DOING 120 WHILE I AM SITTING STILL. THE OIL PRESSURE WILL SOMETIMES SHOW THAT THERE IS NO PRESSURE AT ALL, OR THE TEMP IS AS FAR AS IT CAN GO ON THE HOT SIDE. ALL OF THESE ISSUES DISAPPEAR AFTER A WHILE, AND THEN FUNCTION NORMALLY. THEY DO NOT SEEM TO BE TIED TOGETHER, BECAUSE AT TIMES SEVERAL INSTRUMENTS ARE WORKING FINE, BUT 2 OTHERS ARE NOT.
NHTSA complaint #11078560 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MULTIPLE GAUGES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ARE MALFUNCTIONING. THE TACHOMETER IS READING 5,000 RPM WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK, AND 7,000 RPM WHEN GOING 15 MPH. WHEN I TURN THE CAR OFF THE GAUGE SITS AT 2,000. THE SPEEDOMETER IS CLICKING UP (NOT A SMOOTH TRANSITION TO THE CORRECT SPEED). AND IT SHOWING A LESSER SPEED THEN I AM GOING. WHEN I TURN THE CAR OFF THE SPEEDOMETER SHOWS IT IS GOING 10 MILES PER HOUR BUT WILL SLOWLY DROP DOWN TO ZERO. BOTH OF THESE MALFUNCTIONS COULD ARE A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN. I HAD TO PULL OVER ON THE HIGHWAY WHILE THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS SHOWING 7,000 RPM, AFRAID I WAS GOING TO BREAK DOWN AND RUIN MY CAR.
NHTSA complaint #11048474 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE IGNITION FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 203,000.
NHTSA complaint #10993940 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS, BATTERY, AND TRACTION CONTROL WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. ADDITIONALLY, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BATTERY WAS DISCONNECTED TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED THE CONTACT WITH CASE NUMBER: 8-3011452393. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 193,000.
NHTSA complaint #10993426 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
SPEEDOMETER AND GAUGES DO NOT WORK.
NHTSA complaint #10984979 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ALL OF MY GAUGES INCLUDING FUEL GAUGE, TACHOMETER, AND SPEEDOMETER HAVE STOPPED WORKING. THEY WILL WORK SOME DAYS AND THEN OTHERS THE GAUGES ARE ALL OUT OF WHACK. IT SEEMS TO OCCUR ESPECIALLY WHEN IT IS COLD OUT. I AM VERY FRUSTRATED THAT THIS IS HAPPENING. I REALIZE THAT MY VEHICLE IS OLDER, BUT I DO APPRECIATE WORKING GAUGES!!!
NHTSA complaint #10935995 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE DASHBOARD CLUSTER MALFUNCTIONS. THE FIRST TIME IT WENT OUT, THE FUEL GUAGE AND OIL PRESSURE GUAGE STOPPED WORKING AND ALL OTHER GUAGES WENT OUT ONE BY ONE SOON AFTER. WE HAD A NEW GM CLUSTER INSTALLED BY THE GM DEALERSHIP AT A COST OF $600. THIS TIME, ALL GUAGES STOPPED WORKING AND THE ALERT LIGHTS STAY ON. (I.E. SERVICE 4WD, SEAT BELT, SERVICE ENGINE, BRAKE AND ABS) OTHER GM VEHICLES WITH THIS SAME CLUSTER HAVE BEEN RECALLED BUT NOT THE 2003TRAILBLAZER.
NHTSA complaint #10914922 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
"TAKATA RECALL" WE JUST PURCHASED THIS CAR FROM MY HUSBAND'S DECEASED MOTHER'S ESTATE AND IT HAD A RECALL ON THE LIGHTING INSIDE AND OUTSIDE TAIL LIGHTS. THE VEHICLE HAS 83 THOUSAND MILES ON IT AND THE VEHICLE REAR LIGHTS ARE NOT WORKING WHEN I BRAKE ONLY ONE THAT IS THE THIRD LIGHT ON TOP OF CAR. GM (CHEVROLET) I LIVE ON A VERY LIMITED INCOME AND DUE TO DISABILITY AS WELL. MY INCOME IS 1330 A MONTH. HOW CAN I GET THIS FIXED? THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME FOR DIAGNOSTICS, AS I STATED WE FIXED IT ONCE IT SEEMS TO BE THAT IT MAY GET HOT AND BLOWS FUSES AND THEN I HAVE NO IDEA I HAVE NO TAIL LIGHTS THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND SOMEONE COULD REAR END ME AND KILL THEMSELVES AND OR MYSELF. PLEASE HELP ME IN UNDERSTANDING ARE THEY RESPONSIBLE TO FIX THEIR DEFECTS AS THEY DID IT ONCE WHEN IT WAS RECALLED AND WE ALSO JUST BOUGHT THIS CAR. PAID ABOUT 5 THOUSAND FOR IT. EXCELLENT CONDITION. OTHER THAN THE LIGHTING SYSTEM NOT WORKING ONLY ON AND OFF. I HAVE NOT HAD AN ACCIDENT BUT I DO NOT WANT TO HAVE A ACCIDENT. I FIND IT UNFAIR THAT THEY DON'T WANT TO FIX THE PROBLEM UNLESS THEY ARE PAID BECAUSE APPARENTLY IT IS A PROBLEM THAT IS AND WILL RECUR. WE HAVE ACTUALLY FIXED THE PROBLEM ONCE BUT APPARENTLY SOMETHING IS WRONG THAT WE CANNOT SECURE THE ISSUE PROPERLY. KINDEST REGARDS [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #10871249 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
INSTRUMENT CLUSTER GADGE STEPPER MOTORS ALL ARE BAD. HAVE READ HUNDREDS OF OTHER TRAILBLAZER OWNERS COMPLAIN OF THE SAME. ALSO THE IGNITION SWITCHES ARE VERY FAULTY.
NHTSA complaint #10865296 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TRAVELLING TO WORK ON 5/5/2016 @ 30MPH VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN. LUCKILY PULLED TO SIDE ROAD. WAS UNABLE TO START NO POWER TO IGNITION CIRCUIT, LOCKED IN PARK. TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP & REPLACED FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH @ COST OF $300.00. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION!
NHTSA complaint #10863714 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL (DASHBOARD). ALL GAUGES INTERMITTENTLY QUITS WORKING, ON STARTUP, SITTING RUNNING OR IN MOTION. TACHOMETER NEVER READS CORRECTLY. CAN OCCASIONALLY GET GAUGES TO RESET BY CLICKING IGNITION BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN RUN AND START POSITIONS. I KNOW OF 5 OTHER VEHICLE'S THAT ARE HAVING SIMILAR PROBLEMS.
NHTSA complaint #10845915 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
"TAKATA RECALL" WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY DOING BOUT 70MPH AND I HEAR A NOSIE ON THE ROOF AND THEN I SAW MY WHOLE 3RD BREAK LIGHT ASMBLEY BREAK OFF AND FLY INTO THE AIR AND ALMOST HIT THE CAR IN BACK OF ME THIS CAN CAUSE A MAJOR ACCIDENT IF IT FLY'S OFF AND HIT A CAR IN BACK OF YOU AND I WAS DOING RESEARCH ONLINE AND SAW ITS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE SUV ITS A POOR DESIGN AND NEEDS TO BE RECALLED BEFORE SOMEBODY DIES.
NHTSA complaint #10839604 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY WIFE STARTED TO DRIVE THE CAR AND CAME IN AND SAID THAT THE GUAGES STOPPED WORKING, I WENT OUT TO SEE, TURNED THE IGNITION ON A COUPLE OF TIMES AND THEY CAME ON AND IN ABOUT 30 SECONDS THEY WENT OFF AND ARE STILL NOT WORKING. THE CAR WAS IN THE DRIVEWAY AT 2666 MADISON 248 FREDERICKTOWN MO. IT HAS THE SAME AS THE ONES THAT ARE INCLUDED IN OTHER 2003 RECALLS BUT THE TRAILBLAZER HASN'T HAD AS MANY COMPLAINTS. I WOULD LIKE TO FILE ONE.
NHTSA complaint #10816266 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
SPEEDOMETER AND/OR TACHOMETER STOP WORKING OR ARE INACCURATE. ESPECIALLY DURING COLD OR RAINY WEATHER. PROBLEM HAPPENS MORE OFTEN AS TIME GOES BY.
NHTSA complaint #10794919 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE MILEAGE ON THE TRAILBLAZER DOES NOT LIGHT UP OR ANY INFO ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL
NHTSA complaint #10765297 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. WHILE DRIVING AT A HIGH SPEED, THE SPEEDOMETER DISPLAYED AN INCORRECT READING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000.
NHTSA complaint #10761686 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I WENT TO PICK UP MY GRANDSON WHO LIVES APPROXIMATELY 1 MILE AWAY, DROVE BACK HOME MAKING IT 2 MILES. UPON PARKING IN THE DRIVEWAY WE BOTH SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE IGNITION WAS SWITCHED OFF. UPON OPENING THE HOOD I DISCOVERED THE FUSE BOX SMOLDERING AND MELTING AWAY, SO I QUICKLY USED A WRENCH TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY TERMINALS. BEFORE DOING SO I NOTICED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WERE STILL ON BUT GROWING DIMMER BY THE MINUTE. THE VEHICLE IS NOT IN DRIVABLE CONDITION.
NHTSA complaint #10744180 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE RPM GAUGE AND SPEEDOMETER HAVE QUIT WORKING ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE BLOWER MOTOR SWITCH HAS GONE BAD AND THE AC BLOWER WILL NOT WORK.
NHTSA complaint #10725311 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONER LIGHT, REAR BRAKE LIGHT, AND REAR DRIVER SIDE TAIL LIGHT MALFUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE LIGHTS MALFUNCTIONED DUE TO ELECTRICAL ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.
NHTSA complaint #10721742 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I PURCHASED MY 2003 CHEV TRAILBLAZER NEW IN 2003. I HAVE NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH IT. IT WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY AND I JUST WENT OUTSIDE AND UNLOCKED IT TO PUT SOMETHING IN THE VEHICLE AND LOCKED IT BACK. ABOUT AN HOUR OR SO LATER, I HEARD THE HORN START TO BLOW BUT THE KEYS WERE HANGING UP INSIDE THE HOUSE. I WENT OUT TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS AND THE VEHICLE STARTED TRYING TO CRANK ON ITS ON SEVERAL TIMES. THEN I SMELLED SOMETHING AND RAISED THE HOOD AND THE FUSE BOX LOCATED UNDER THE HOOD WAS MELTING. WE DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY BUT IT HAD ALREADY MELTED THE BOX BY THAT TIME. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP BUT THEY DIDN'T KNOW IF THERE WAS A RECALL OR NOT. I NEED FOR SOMEONE TO TELL ME WHY A VEHICLE WOULD DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT WHEN I WAS NOT EVEN DRIVING IT AT THE TIME AND IF HOPEFULLY THERE IS SOME KIND OF RECALL BECAUSE I CAN'T AFFORD WHAT THEY ARE TELLING ME IT WILL TAKE TO FIX IT. THEY SAID IT DESTROYED ALL THREE WIRING HARNESSES. ??
NHTSA complaint #10721048 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.