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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:
7 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
7 / 1
Average Mileage:
45,046 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 steering problems

steering problem

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2002 Chevrolet Trailblazer Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #22

Oct 202015

Trailblazer

  • 115,000 miles

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

The contact owned a 2002 Chevrolet Trailblazer. The contact stated that while driving at 65 mph, the vehicle independently veered to the left which resulted in brief control loss of the vehicle and crashed into a barrier. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. The vehicle was deemed destroyed. A police report was filed. There was one injury which required medical attention. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 115,000.

- Newark, OH, USA

problem #21

Aug 072005

Trailblazer

  • miles
Unknown reason loss of control of vehicle. Vehicle inadvertently went to the right side of road, vehicle rolled over several times. My brother was ejected and vehicle rolled over on him. No airbags had deployed.

- Nekoosa, WI, USA

problem #20

Apr 202015

Trailblazer

  • 95,000 miles
The contact owns a 2002 Chevrolet Trailblazer. While driving at approximately 5 mph and coming to a stop, the vehicle traveled from one side of the road to the other side. The contact attempted to control the steering wheel, but found it difficult to manuever. Also, while the brake pedal was depressed, the vehicle accelerated, crossed over a railroad track, and crashed into an iron fence and a telephone pole. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained injuries to the right knee and whiplash that required medical attention. In addition, the passenger sustained bruises, whiplash, and back injuries that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed from the scene. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 95,000.

- Puyallup, WA, USA

problem #19

May 202013

Trailblazer

  • 180,000 miles

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

It was drizzling that morning. I was driving in the far right lane. When all of a sudden my steering wheel was taking over my driving. My truck went left into another lane on its on. I saw another vehicle coming up in that left lane. All I could do was ask my truck what was wrong. And I started talking to the lord. Please don't let me hit this truck. Please help me. Next thing I was pulled back to the right hand lane and then off the road I went. I went through the woods over stomps and bumps. And then crashed into a huge tree. I fainted.I heard someone yelling. I opened my eyes to life. The police came out. And the ambulance. Thank god I'm not to cool for a safe belt. Cause my airbags didn't deploy. I was told they may deploy at anytime so I needed to get out of truck. My seatbelt left its print on my neck and chest. The truck was crushed in. Wheels on passenger side were bent under truck. A total loss..

- Holly Springs, NC, USA

problem #18

Jan 202012

Trailblazer 4WD

  • 30,000 miles
I have had multiple issues with my 2002 Chevy Trailblazer where the 4X4 selector switch will not work, or while driving at highway speeds the vehicle will be put into four wheel drive while the selector switch is still turned on two wheel drive. The selector switch at times has not worked when I wanted to make the vehicle go into four wheel drive. I have found out the vehicle is in four wheel drive by having a hard time turning the front wheels and seeing the front tires spin on loose gravel even though I never switched the vehicle into four wheel drive and the selector switch states it's still in two wheel drive but the yellow light is lit up that it's in four wheel drive. I have complained multiple times to GM and have had the selector switch replaced 3 times but it still continues to happen. Everytime that GM looks at it they say that it is working just fine. I have seen and heard that many other people are having the same problems with this. I feel there should be a safety recall put out for this drive selector switch.

- Appleton, WI, USA

problem #17

Dec 052011

Trailblazer

  • miles
When I first purchased the vehicle a couple days later I noticed the steering columns ability to turn was very hard and making loud noises. I fought continuously with the dealership to fix the issue and finally after several attempts they agreed to fix it. Then 2 months later were driving my son to the airport and the car stopped and began to smoke, come to find out the radiator had a hole in it and there was some type of temporary stop leak stuff put in it to allow a consumer to drive for a short amount of time before the problem would arise again. So now my family and I are out of transportation and im still paying a car note on this vehicle, I feel totally taken advantage of and wonder how any dealer can go to sleep at night knowing they've been deceptive in the selling of a vehicle to a family. The truck is my children and I only way of getting around and its hard enough on me as a single mother, this is just one more problem I didn't anticipate, that was why I use grant money that I received from school to purchase (what I though) was going to be reliable transportation. This situation has really been a burden and hardship for us, especially trying to figure out how were going to get from one place to another..im so frustrated and saddened by the dealerships neglect, non concern, and not properly fixing vehicles before marketing them.I would like to know what I can do about this matter because I brought the car without a warranty and it was used. Please help!!!!!!

- Fairfield, CA, USA

problem #16

Aug 192009

Trailblazer 6-cyl

  • 173,085 miles

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

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 #15

May 012008

Trailblazer

  • 85,000 miles
First: Thank you. I am a trooper for the Colorado state patrol and certified car seat tech. Love your work. My own personal vehicle, a 2002 Chevy Trailblazer, has a defect with the front differential. There is a leak from the seam, from the case itself. A mechanic friend stated it is a defect in the housing itself, the "punkin" (?) it causes leaks and needs to have fluid constantly added. The vehicle was primarily used in the denver metro area until this year (ie, high salt/mag chloride areas). The housing itself needs to be replaced, and I was wondering/hoping this was something Chevy needs to correct via recall versus something that normally happens (which I have never had on any other vehicle I've owned). This vehicle has been updated when previous recalls came out, has not been in an accident that might have caused the defect, and is not driven heavily or offroad. It is a continuous leak. I am concerned the casing itself will break and do more damage soon, especially if I was driving with my family in the vehicle on the highway. Thank you for you time.

- Cheyenne Wells, CO, USA

problem #14

May 152008

Trailblazer

  • 70,414 miles
I bought the 2002 Trailblazer on February 2008 drove it for about a month and a half total the rest of the time it has been back to the dealership for repairs. Everything including the motor needed to be replaced, the transmission needs to be replaced just accelerated onto the gas heard a loud crack and the truck shook like an earthquake had hit, lost acceleration would not go any faster than 30-35 miles an hour and car would not disengage from neutral at first and the would not go into reverse., brakes have made a pulsation feeling and they were done days before I bought the vehicle and replaced again including rotors a month after I bought the vehicle, there have been too many crackling and metallic tinging noises that don't go away, the 4 wheel drive engages and disengages on it's own when driving 65-70 miles an hour. The steering wheel had a constant rubbing noise and dealer told me all of my complaints were nothing detrimental and basically blew me off. The truck jerks alot on it's own doesn't matter if I am in motion or if I put it into gear or park it jerks. I don't feel safe in this vehicle, it seems to be possessed. I am scared to death to drive it, so I have stopped driving it. I don't know what to do. My first car was a Chevy and now this one, I will never own another Chevy product. I don't know what to do, I don't want this. I fear my own and everyone else's life!!

- Pottersville, NY, USA

problem #13

Oct 042007

Trailblazer 4WD 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 55,000 miles
Transmission has failed at 55,000 miles, not driving car but was about to run errands. Have had to replace power steering block, alternator, starter, tail lights, instrument panel, radio and electric on a car that is just over 5 years old. The instrument panel, power steering block and transmission are all not under warranty.

- Germantown, MD, USA

problem #12

Nov 292004

Trailblazer 4WD 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 35,000 miles

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

Sharp turn steering locks up. Passenger seat belt gets tighter and tighter doesn't release pressure. 4 wheel drive not working. Tapping sound in engine. The only thing the dealer has done is replace power steering pump and within 5 miles it was not working again.

- Dingmans Ferry, PA, USA

problem #11

Jan 162004

(reported on)

Trailblazer

  • miles
Consumer was ejected from the vehicle after it over turned twice as a result of defective steering. While driving the consumer noticed that the vehicle was going off the road to the right. The consumer overcorrected the steering wheel and the car subsequently went too far over to the left with the right side front and rear wheels in the air. The consumer then corrected to the right and the left side tires came off the road. The vehicle then went into a skid off the right side of the road and struck an embankment. The vehicle struck an embankment and the consumer's chest hit the steering wheel. The impact bent the steering wheel and rendered the consumer unconscious. The vehicle the overturned 1-2 times and the consumer was ejected from the vehicle. The consumer sustained rib fractures, joint separation, upper and lower back injuries.

- Mansfield, OH, USA

problem #10

Aug 122004

(reported on)

Trailblazer

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Vehicle's steering and brakes suddenly went out. While driving 50 mph the vehicle's steering and brakes suddenly failed which caused loss of control. The vehicle spun around once and hit the highway divider head on. The driver sustained injuries from the accident and was treated fro several months by a doctor.

- Irving , TX, USA

problem #9

Jun 152004

Trailblazer 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 60,000 miles
While driving 40 mph steering pulley failed. Vehicle lost power. Dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem. The vehicle switches itself into 4-wheel drive while the manual switch is in 2-wheel drive. The taillights failed. At new computer had to be installed. The rack and pinion needs to be replaced.

- Charleston, WV, USA

problem #8

Sep 012003

Trailblazer 4WD 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Consumer lost steering and hit a tree head on. In addition, the seat belt failed to lock causing injuries to the consumer (driver). (lawyer on behalf of client rebecca doyle). The airbag also burned/injured the passenger. The vehicle experienced electrical problems with the brake lights, tail lights, fuel gauge, left seat belt, dash (computer readout) and the brakes pulled.

- Memphis, TN, USA

problem #7

Jul 282003

Trailblazer 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Consumer stated that while driving, they lost steering control causing an accident. Dealer notified. Consumer was cut off by a truck losing control. Regained control then brakes felt like a lack of pressure. Steering loosened then locked up causing the consumer to spin out of control. GM stated there were no recalls. Consumer and the insurance company feels there is. Insurance co. Stated it could've been the vacuum to the engine shutting down or the lower control panel snapping which causes these symptoms.

- Bronx, NY, USA

problem #6

Jun 052003

Trailblazer

  • miles
The steering wheel was making loud noise and then locked up.

- Leechburg, PA, USA

problem #5

Jan 282003

Trailblazer 4WD

  • Automatic transmission
  • 46,523 miles
The power steering was disabled and was very difficult to steer vehicle. We took it to our service person who contacted a GM dealer, ewald of oconomowoc, wi. They told us to bring the vehicle in to the dealership. While driving to the dealership thepower steering returned to use.

- Hartland, WI, USA

problem #4

Feb 062003

(reported on)

Trailblazer

  • miles
While vehicle was being driven, the steering wheel became very hard.

- Hartland, WI, USA

problem #3

Feb 062003

(reported on)

Trailblazer

  • 46,000 miles
Bob valiant auto mall, jerry brown rd., mystic ct. 860-536-4931. Took vehicle in for recall 02 V 286 000., consumer states after vehicle was taken apart mechanic stated that an additional part was needed and would not be available for maybe a week or two.

- Gailsferry, CT, USA

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