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CarComplaints.com Notes: The Trailblazer emerged from an "upscale trim line" of the Blazer, but there's nothing upscale about its transmission problems or its wonky, unpredictable headlights.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
11 / 0
Average Mileage:
59,453 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2002 Chevrolet Trailblazer transmission problems

transmission problem

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2002 Chevrolet Trailblazer Owner Comments (Page 1 of 9)

problem #163

Jun 142011

Trailblazer

  • 132,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Transmission lines corroded.

- Spencerville, OH, USA

problem #162

Mar 072011

Trailblazer 4WD 6-cyl

  • 134,000 miles
I have a 2002 Trailblazer that is currently getting it's 3rd transmission installed due to failure. The first one was replaced in 2005 at 48,000 miles. I was told by GM it was replaced with a new one, which I understand has a 100,000 mile warranty. I am now having another one put in after 80.,000 miles being put on the new one at a cost of $3000. When I contacted GM regarding this I was told: "at some point the customer has to take responsibility for their own vehicle, GM is not going to assist you with this issue". this will absolutely be the last GM product I own.

- High Ridge, MO, USA

problem #161

Jan 252011

Trailblazer 4WD 6-cyl

  • 134,000 miles
I'm driving down the road with traffic behind me. Suddenly my RPM jolt up to five a horrible noise comes from engine and I loose all power. If I even touch gas a little RPM jump to five and transmission whines very loud. Car behind me slams on brakes to avoid hitting me. I throw on cautions and have to push my car off road while cars are trying to ger around me at ten at night on my way home from work. I have to have my husband load our three kids in his tiny eclipse well after bedtime to drive the 40 minutes to come get me and pay 150 dollars to have car towed off side of road back to my house. Where it now sitting with blown transmission and broken transmission lines.

- Argos, IN, USA

problem #160

Sep 022010

Trailblazer

  • 140,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Driving my son home from football practice and heard a weird sound and noticed the gears would not shift in the transmission. I tried to put the vehicle into reverse and it would not work. I had no warnings about this and just about got hit due to having to try to pull off the road quickly. This is the first time it has happened and we are going to try to buy a new transmission.

- Elkhorn City, KY, USA

problem #159

Aug 272010

Trailblazer

  • 86,000 miles
2002 Chevrolet Trailblazer with 86,000 miles on it, noticed a large amount of fluid under vehicle while parked in my driveway. Took the vehicle to our mechanic and was advised that two of the four lines that carry the transmission fluid are cracked/corroded.

- Poughkeepsie, NY, USA

problem #158

Aug 082010

Trailblazer

  • 50,000 miles
Driving at posted 55 mph our 2002 Chevrolet Trailblazer with 50,000 miles on it started to blow smoke behind it. Before we could pull off the road safely, the engine RPM went crazy and the transmission stopped working. It was later found that the transmission cooler line failed due to corrosion and sprayed oil on the exhaust system resonator. On careful inspection, the trans cooler lines are corroded in many places. The lines are so close to the exhaust system that an insulation material had been placed over the lines and may have contributed to holding moisture and accelerating the rust through. I am waiting for new lines and do not know if the transmission is destroyed.

- Yale, MI, USA

problem #157

Jul 062010

Trailblazer

  • 161,113 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

My 2002 Trailblazer transmission cooler line are so corroded that they started to leak and cause a smoke condition..

- New Windsor, NY, USA

problem #156

Jun 182010

Trailblazer

  • 105,570 miles
The contact owns a 2002 Chevrolet Trailblazer. While driving at 40 mph, there was an unusual increase in engine rpms to 4,000 and the vehicle decelerated. The vehicle was taken to a local repair facility where the contact was informed that the third gear was burned out. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact believed NHTSA campaign id number: 03V075000 (power train: Automatic transmission) was the cause of the failure however, she was unable to confirm if her VIN was included in the recall. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 105,570 and the current mileage was 105,580.

- Forest Port, NY, USA

problem #155

Jun 142010

Trailblazer 4WD

  • 196,000 miles
2002 Chevrolet Trailblazer my 4-wheel drive indicator lights up sporadically. It also jerks from 2-wheel to 4-wheel. I am in agreement that this needs to be recalled.

- Shelbiana, KY, USA

problem #154

Jun 022010

Trailblazer

  • miles
I have an 02 Chevy Trailblazer. I purchased it in 08. The 4 wheel drive is defective. I took it to the dealership 3 months after I bought it to report that the 4 wheel drive indicator light was switching around on its own and causing the truck to put itself in 4WD while I was driving. I was told that it wasn't a problem and the 4WD box needed to be reset but it was nothing that would cause any problems. Today while driving to work I was almost in a wreck because the truck jumped from 2wd to 4WD by itself and my truck started jerking and slowed down (on the highway). After doing some research it seems that a lot of people (especially those with the 02) have this same problem. They need to do a recall and fix the problem before people get hurt. I'm sure I'm not the only person to report this problem. Please help us. If you have time please at least read through the thread on the first link. This is not an isolated incident. townhall-talk.edmunds.com/direct/view/.F173ba0......................... www.automotiveforums.com/T329462-4_wheel_drive_problems_W_02_trailblazer.html.

- Indianapolis, IN, USA

problem #153

May 312009

Trailblazer

  • 111,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Wiper motor was recalled for hestation but still does the same thing after being fixed replaced fan clutch 2008 transmission shifts/hesitates from 1st to 2nd cruise control stopped working when the tranny problem started.

- Paddock Lake, WI, USA

problem #152

Mar 012010

Trailblazer 6-cyl

  • 82,000 miles
2002 Chevy Trailblazer at 38,000 transmission went out was told it is caused by 3 different shops the sunshield (sun gear) assembly is defective and GM knew about it. Was rebuilt in Sept. 2005. 3/1/2010 vehicle now has 82000 transmission went out and was again told same thing. Vehicle makes a loud popping sound then shakes violently and reverse, 2 and 3 go out with out warning. Vehicle revs high then struggles upon acceleration from traffic light.

- West Chester, OH, USA

problem #151

Aug 192009

Trailblazer 6-cyl

  • 173,085 miles
Details: I have a 2002 Chevy Trailblazer. When I press on the accelerator the vehicle will lose power for a moment and regain power in heavy traffic. Also, the service engine light will come on. I took this vehicle to a service center and they told me the repairs that it supposedly needed. Everything from the fuel pump to every sensor that you can think of. Now it seems to be something with the electrical system. I have already replaced the whole steering collum and everything that they suggested. But the problem with the vehicle did not change. This vehicle has been doing this for 8 months with. I believe that there is a electrical issue somewhere in my vehicle. Somebody help!

- Albuquerque, NM, USA

problem #150

Oct 202009

Trailblazer

  • 79,000 miles
My complaint is about my 2002 Chevy Trailblazer.on the front right (passenger side) of the vehicle.whenever I hit a bump there is an almost uncontrollable vibration.I have to bring the vehicle to a complete stop to make it stop. This started about two months ago and is gradually getting worse.I took it to a number of shops and they're all telling me the same thing.transfer case.the cheapest estimate is about $1300, and that is for a used transfer case.I love this truck and I really have not had any problems until recently.then I started to read reviews and realized that I'm not the only one having this problem.I take very good care of my vehicles because I can't afford to keep buying new vehicles all the time, or very costly repairs. Just about every vehicle that I've owned has been 4 wheel drive and I've never had this problem before, even on trucks with twice as many miles. I am hoping that there is something that can be done that may help me with this problem.I really can't afford a new truck and I don't want to repair it with used parts.by the way, the cost of repair with new parts is roughly around $2900.

- Orlando, FL, USA

problem #149

Oct 242009

Trailblazer

  • 76,000 miles
2002 Trailblazer transmission failure at 76,000 miles.

- Cedar Park, TX, USA

problem #148

Sep 012007

Trailblazer

  • 66,500 miles
2002 Chevy Trailblazer fan clutch motor needs to be replaced. Problems automatic shifting. A well known issue with this year. Read and know of owners of the same vehicle with same problems...my truck at the time this became defective was at 65,000 miles.

- Brimley, MI, USA

problem #147

Nov 212009

Trailblazer

  • 111,000 miles
Transmission fluid began leaking from under my 2002 Chevy Trailblazer in large quantities. I took it to a repair shop and was told that my transmission lines were rusted through, thus the reason for the leak. I was told that this is a problem with the Trailblazers and that it would be about $500 to replace the lines. The lines have been redesigned since 2002 and instead of only having to replace the two that are bad, all four will need to be replaced.

- Xenia, OH, USA

problem #146

Nov 102009

Trailblazer

  • 110,000 miles
Fluid leak from transmission oil cooler lines due to corrosion.

- Muskegon, MI, USA

problem #145

Nov 052009

Trailblazer

  • 92,000 miles
Transmission oil cooler line is leaking.

- Canton, MI, USA

problem #144

Nov 082009

Trailblazer 4WD

  • Automatic transmission
  • 75,100 miles
The contact owns a 2002 Chevrolet Trailblazer. While shifting the vehicle into park, the gear selector displayed drive. While taking his foot off of the brake pedal, the vehicle lurched forward. He speculated that the retainer clip, that holds the shifter cable to the gear selector arm on the transmission, had fractured. He was in the process of taking the vehicle to the dealer. The failure mileage was 75,100. Updated 12/01/09 the transmission cable linkage failed. The consumer pulled to a stop, applied the brake and moved the shifter to park. When he removed his foot from the brake, the vehicle lurched forward. He immediately applied the brake again, turned off the engine and set the parking brake. He verified that the shifter was in park. He also observed the transmission indicator on the instrument panel indicators that the vehicle was still in drive. He attempted to move the shifter from the park position, but the safety interlocks would not allow the shifter to be moved, even after depressing the brake pedal. When he looked under the vehicle and checked the linkage he saw the shifter cable was no longer attached to the transmission range selector lever. There was a white nylon bushing at the end of the shifter that holds the cable end on the selector lever. One side of the bushing had broken off. The consumer was able to make a temporary repair by manually moving the transmission range selector lever to the park position and placing the linkage cable end back onto the end of the selector level. Updated 12/01/09.

- Raleigh, NC, USA

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