Chevrolet / Trailblazer / 2003
2003 Chevrolet Trailblazer problems
Owners have filed 1,160 complaints about the 2003 Chevrolet Trailblazer with NHTSA. Electrical system accounts for 25% of them — the clear leader, ahead of fuel system, gasoline at 10.3%.
Complaints1,160
Crashes84
Fires24
Injuries86
Deaths3
What owners report breaking
Electrical system 25.0% · 290
Fuel system, gasoline 10.3% · 119
Power train 9.5% · 110
Exterior lighting 7.1% · 82
Visibility 5.9% · 68
Engine and engine cooling 5.7% · 66
Air bags 5.1% · 59
Fuel/propulsion system 4.7% · 55
Severity
Of those complaints, 84 describe a crash, 24 describe a fire, 86 report an injury and 3 report a death.
Reading the numbers
Across the 9 model years of the Chevrolet Trailblazer in this data, 2003 sits 5th by complaint volume. 2005 draws the most.
Filings have fallen off, 9 in the last three years against 35 in the three before. That is normal as a generation leaves the road.
The median odometer reading at the time of complaint was 73,000 miles.
In owners' own words
Stepper motor in my 2003 chevy Trailblazer with approximately 146000 miles went bad. Does not read correct fuel level. Dealer stated that fuel sender unit was working that the whole instrument cluster needed to be replaced. Have seen online that many Trailblazer owners are reporting similar issues. Was told many other gm vehicles with same instrument clusters have failed and were replaced via recall. Electrical system · reported at 145,000 miles
Speedometer does not give true speed sometimes and sometimes it will be right, sometimes speedometer will be at 50 mph when the vehicle is not moving. Turning. Switch off and on. Speedometer needle will go back to zero. Techometer dose not work sometimes. Have cheked on line complaints about this problem there are alot of complaints with the same problem. There should be a recall on all these vehicles. Electrical system · reported at 150,000 miles
Shortly after the warranty expired on our trail blazer, the speedometer started giving false readings or would quit working. We talked to the selling dealer and was told that the repair would cost about 500.00 Dollars. To me this is a safety issue and should be repaired by general motors at no cost to us. We have been told that gm is replacing speedometers on other models with the same problem. Electrical system · reported at 40,000 miles
Verbatim from NHTSA filings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.
Safety recalls
Checking NHTSA for open recalls…