2003 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER Complaints

2003 CHEVY TRAILBLAZER EXT TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS: TRANSMISSION SHIFTED VERY HARD FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR AND 2ND TO 3RD GEAR AFTER VEHICLE HAD BEEN DRIVEN FOR ABOUT 1 HOUR. THIS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE COURSE OF A MONTH. FINALLY, THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT CAME ON DURING ABOUT THE 4TH OCCURRENCE. CALLED ONSTAR AND THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS A POWERTRAIN/TRANSMISSION PROBLEM THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED SOON. TOOK VEHICLE TO SEVERAL TRANSMISSION SHOPS AND WAS TOLD THAT THE CODE WAS AN 1870 "GENERAL TRANSMISSION SLIPPAGE" CODE. TRANSMISSION SHOP INDICATED THAT THE PROBLEM IS A RESULT OF A TORQUE CONVERTER FAILURE. TRANSMISSION IS NOW BEING REPLACED AT A TRANSMISSION SHOP WITH COST OF APPROXIMATELY $2900. VEHICLE HAS JUST UNDER 60,000 MILES. IT IS MY INTENSE FEELING THAT THIS TYPE OF REPLACEMENT SHOULD NOT BE NECESSARY ON A $38,000 VEHICLE WITH THIS LOW OF MILES. *NM

2003 CHEVY TRAILBLAZER BLEW A FEW FUSES SO I COULD NOT START THE VEHICLE (SEVERAL TIMES ALREADY), PER DEALER. TACHOMETER JUMPS AROUND, RADIO GETS HOT, ELECTRICAL LIGHTS TURN OFF ALONG WITH HEATER/COOLER, REAR LIGHTS REPLACED THREE TIMES, HOLE IN GAS TANK, DRIVE LINE REPLACED, CONSTANT CHIRPING/TICKING NOISE (OF COURSE DEALER DOES NOT HEAR). PURCHASED BRAND NEW AND HAVE WAY TOO MANY PROBLEMS FOR A NEW VEHICLE. YOU ASKED FOR INCIDENT DATE....THERE ARE SEVERAL. WILL STICK TO TOYOTA'S FROM NOW ON....*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

FRONT HEADLIGHT BURNED OUT IN NOVEMBER 2005 REPLACED LIGHT BULB. BURNT OUT AGAIN WENT TO DINSDALE CHEVY TO GET REPLACED SAID THAT THE WIRE WAS MELTED AND BURNED AND WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. I ASKED HOW THAT COULD HAPPEN AND THEY SAID IT WAS PROBABLY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. I ASKED IF THAT MEANS THEY WOULD REPLACE IT AND THEY SAID NO IT WOULD COST $132 TO REPAIR. I COULDN'T AFFORD THAT SO I BOUGHT THE PART AND HAD TO WIRE IT MYSELF. *JB

AC DELCO FACTORY INSTALLED BATTERY LEAKS BATTERY ACID ON THE POSITIVE SIDE TERMINAL CAUSING MY 2003 CHEVY TRAILBLAZER EXT TO LOSE ALL POWER INCLUDING LOSS OF BEING ABLE TO OPEN REAR DOOR. *NM

I REALIZED THE PROBLEMS WHEN PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT INTO THE STREET, THE TRUCK CAME TO A SUDDEN STOP AND I COULDN'T GET THE ENGINE TO TURN. AT THE SAME TIME I NOTICED ALL GAUGES ON THE DASHBOARD STARTED BLINKING AND GOING BACK AND FORTH. LUCKILY I WAS NOT AROUND A LOT OF CARS AND I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR STARTED AFTER 10 MINUTES. HOWEVER, WHAT IF I WAS DRIVING IN A HEAVILY TRAVELED HIGHWAY? WOULD I STILL BE ALIVE TO MAKE THIS COMPLAINT? A VERY MUCH CONCERNED CHEVROLET OWNER. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE GEAR SHIFT LOCKED IN THE PARK POSITION WITHOUT WARNING ON THREE OCCASIONS WITHIN THE LAST YEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO MADE UNKNOWN REPAIRS TO THE GEAR SHIFT. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER AWAITING A THIRD REPAIR.

I HAVE REPLACE MY TAIL/BRAKE LIGHT SEVERAL TIMES SINCE I PURCHASE THE VEHICLE. JUST THIS MORNING I HAVE TO GO TO CHEVROLET SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO GET MY BRAKE LIGHT REPLACED. IT COST ME 14.79 TO HAVE IT REPLACED. SO I DECIDED TO RESEARCH THE RECALLS TO SEE IF THERE IS A RECALL. I REMEMBER GETTING A LETTER EARLIER INDICATING THAT THE LIGHT WOULD BE REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE FOR A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF THIS IS CORRECT. THANK YOU, BETTY WILSON. *JB

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

TRAVELING UP A DRAW BRIDGE AT 50 MILES PER HOUR THE TRANSMISSION QUIT COMPLETELY, THE ENGINE WOULD REV UP BUT NO DRIVE FROM THE TRANSMISSION. FORTUNATELY, NO ONE REAR ENDED THE VEHICLE AS WE SLOWED DOWN AND BARELY MADE IT OVER THE TOP OF THE BRIDGE AND THEN COASTED DOWN ENOUGH TO GET OFF OF THE BRIDGE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER AND THEY DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION MUST BE COMPLETELY REPLACED AT MY COST. THE VEHICLE HAS 64,000 MILES, TOO FEW FOR A TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *JB