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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 8 of 9)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #23

Jun 212004

Trailblazer

  • miles

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

While driving 60 mph a loud clicking noise was heard from the front. Then, vehicle stalled. Consumer restarted vehicle, and pulled over. Had the vehicle towed to the dealer for inspection, and mechanic determined that transmission sensor needed to be replaced.

- Fishers, IN, USA

problem #22

Apr 232004

Trailblazer 4WD 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
1st the transmission had to be replace, then the transmission pump and not the keeps stalling, and one last item the Trailblazer RPM goes up and down while I'm driving don't know why.

- West Haverstraw, NY, USA

problem #21

Mar 162004

Trailblazer

  • 19,000 miles
While reversing gradually consumer's vehicle was involved in a minor collision. The other vehicle only sustained a scratch while consumer's vehicle rear end bumper was smashed up. Consumer felt that rear bumper was not sturdy enough.

- Avenel, NJ, USA

problem #20

Feb 032004

Trailblazer 4WD 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 43,570 miles

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

I own a 2002 Chevy Trailblazer and have had nothing but problems with it since it was bought. It's been in the shop a total of 7 times. Three of the times it has been in the shop with drive train problems, two times for U-joints and once for a bearing to the driveshaft. Another two times the vehicle just stopped and the transmission could not be shifted into gear. Now after 43,000 miles the transmission failed and would not go into reverse and since the warranty is only for 36,000 miles it is now going to cost $2800 to repair it. I feel that a transmission in a car that is only a year and a half old should not have failed since all the maintenance since the car was bought was done at the dealership. I have also never received and of the recall notices I have read about on this vehicle. The bottom line is a transmission should last a little longer than 43,000 miles.

- Colorado Springs, CO, USA

problem #19

Jan 112004

Trailblazer 4WD 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 38,000 miles
I own a 2002 Chevy Trailblazer (purchased new) and had the transmission go out for the 3rd time in 9 months. This time the dealer has agreed to replace the transmission. But I understand there is a known defect in this new transmission (per the dealer it is in the "reverse shell" area), the same defect was in my original transmission. The dealer has also implied that perhaps the problem has to do with how we drive the vehicle and the way we shift gears! I strongly disagree. I've had several vehicles over my 37 years of driving and have never had a problem like this. I started having problems with the Trailblazer back in April 2002 when the switch used to select from 2H to 4H to 4L began flashing the selector lights in each of the positions. I brought it back to the dealer but they found nothing and said I would have to continue to drive it until I got some sort of solid indication. In April of 2003 (about 14 months after I purchased the Trailblazer). While driving down the interstate the vehicle suddenly shifted from 2H to 4H and finally to 4L as I brought it to a stop. I had to turn off the engine to get it out of gear. This happened a second time a few minutes later and then quit. In May 2003 and in June 2003 I had to have the transmission repaired. Now the transmission has gone out again in January 2004. This time they are replacing the transmission but I understand that this transmission has a defect ( as previously described) in it. They assure me that I won't have any more problems and have offerred a $2,000 rebate on a future purchase. After 3 transmission problems in 9 months, I have little faith in this vehicle.

- Omaha, NE, USA

problem #18

Nov 032001

Trailblazer

  • miles
While driving transmission fuse blew out which made it impossible to drive the vehicle.

- Suitland, MD, USA

problem #17

Sep 082003

Trailblazer 4WD

  • miles

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

Since I purchased the car there have been a number of safety issues. The first was the transmission. I brought the car into the dealership 3 times with complaints of the car having spells where it was difficult to drive and on two of those occasions it nearly caused an accident. The third time I had to stop the car on a busy highway and have the car towed in for repair. The have since repaired the transmission. The second issue was the car was stalling intermittentaly. The final time I had it towed in and there was some electrical issue they have resolved. I am currently trying to resolve the third issue with the car. The car engine is reving very loudly and if I accelerate beyond 40 miles/hour the car lunges forward. I have not heard back from the dealership yet but this is the second time it has been in on this issue. I would also like to note I bought the car from classic Chevrolet and they lied about the safety features of the car. I was told that it had the latch system and when my son was born in may I found out that in fact it did not have the latch system. GMC has stated that they have no way to repromand the dealership for lying about safety features on cars. I purchased this car because I wanted a new safe car to start a family and I ended up with a lemon of a car that is the most mechanically unstable that I have ever experienced. I ended up on the side of the road stranded when I was pregnant nearly an dozen times.

- Newport Beach, CA, USA

problem #16

Aug 022003

Trailblazer 4WD 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 29,280 miles
On at least 6 occasions my Trailblazer would not start, and on one occasion, while driving the transmission fluid spilled all over the road and the car would not move. I was stuck in the middle of the street for an hour and a half until the tow truck came. The dealership keeps telling me its the alarm system, but the alarm is not out of the car and it still doesn't start some time.

- Mineola, NY, USA

problem #15

Oct 102002

Trailblazer

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Ever since I bought my 2002 Trailblazer I have had nothing but problems. I have a stack of paperwork of everytime I brought this into the dealership to fix and have had about 5 rental cars due to this. Now after searching this site I find there have been alot of recalls on these and I havent been informed about any of them besides the one for security. Please help me. Im a single mom with 2 children that ride in this truck. Windshield wiper module replaced under warranty at 48,594 miles.

- Tallahassee, FL, USA

problem #14

Aug 032002

Trailblazer 4WD 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Dont know where to start. Squeaking noise when going over bumps (sounds like it is coming from suspension). Metal grinding noise in brakes, ticking noise from engine, seat belt and airbag lights have come on for no reason, rear latch has come open while driving, tail lights and brake lights burning out freqently, transmission was slipping on take off, no cause found in the several times it has been taken in for this. Now my transmission is out. Just happened yesturday. Don't feel like I can blame the dealership after reading all the complaints. I think the fault lies on the shoulders of GM.

- Harrisonville, MO, USA

problem #13

Jun 022003

Trailblazer

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles

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

Problems with vehicle's transmission. The transmission went into a mode which did not allow the vehicle to travel over to 15 mph when the transmission was placed in the drive position.

- Alvarado, TX, USA

problem #12

Jul 092003

(reported on)

Trailblazer

  • miles
When coming to a stop or accelerating from park vehicle automatically switches from 2 wheel drive to 4 wheel low setting without selecting that option. This has happened six times in the last year. The dealer could not determine the problem. The vehicle will be taken to the dealer again on 7/10/2003.

- Ellijay, GA, USA

problem #11

Jan 222003

Trailblazer 4WD 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 25,550 miles
I own a 2002 Chevrolet Trailblazer ltz. When driving at around 54 mph and 1600 RPM's the SUV produces a vibration that can be heard and felt throught out the vechicle. To the best of my knowledge neither GM or the dealerships knows what is causing the vibration. It is with out a doubt something that should not be happening. I also know other people with the same SUV having the same problem. Does it do damage to my SUV every time it happens? most importantly it happens at highway speed. I don't want something to go wrong at 54 mph. Thank you. Any questions please feel free to contact me. *please note I entered todays date below but it happens all the time and has been since I bought the SUV brand new.

- North Providence, RI, USA

problem #10

Feb 282002

Trailblazer

  • 13,000 miles
While driving at high speeds there is a vibrating sensation. Ts also, when starting engine, sometimes there is a higher than normal engine idle, and it won't idle down. When starting to drive idle is still high, but it wouldn't shift out of low gear. This happens intermittently.

- Greenville, PA, USA

problem #9

Oct 012002

Trailblazer

  • Automatic transmission
  • 200 miles
Consumer states that transmission failed without warning while driving. Vehicle only had 200 miles. Dealer replaced transmission and 2 weeks later replacement began losing power. Dealer serviced, but problem has recurred.

- San Jose, CA, USA

problem #8

Dec 202002

(reported on)

Trailblazer

  • miles
When vehicle is in parking with engine on, consumer states vehicle attempts to engage in another gear on its own. Consumer is afraid transmission may by destroyed.

- San Jose, CA, USA

problem #7

Nov 282002

Trailblazer 4WD

  • miles
I was driving on interstate 80 in 2 wheel drive low at 65mph. The vehicle began to vibrate and I looked at the 4 wheel drive selector switch and the light was flashing for all wheel drive. This should only happen when the switch is turned to that position. Then the rpms on the vehicle red lined and the light went to solid green on 4 wheel drive low. At that point the vehicle went into a 360 degree spin on the interstate. Luckily I did not hit anything or anyone. The vehicle came to rest in a ditch. I was able to drive the vehicle off the interstate and when doing so the selector switch was shifting between all the options from 4 wheel drive to all wheel drive. I stopped the vehicle and let the vehicle run while I waited for a tow truck. While the vehicle was in park the lights started flashing and the vehicle was shifting in park. Each time the vehicle shifted the vehicle would lunge forward 2 to 3 feet. My family was in the vehicle at the time and are afraid to be in this vehicle. The dealership says the computer is showing no malfunction codes. They have driven the vehicle and the problem has not happened to them. This vehicle is unsafe.

- Plainfield, IL, USA

problem #6

Nov 012002

Trailblazer

  • miles
While traveling on the highway the vehicle will go into four wheel drive low. The four wheel drive is to be use in the shown weather. Please furnish additional information dealers is aware of the problem.

- Goreville, IL, USA

problem #5

Oct 022002

Trailblazer

  • miles
Consumer states that the transmission is slipping while the consumer is driving the vehicle. The transmission will also take a few seconds before going into gear. Contacted dealer.

- Rendallstown, MD, USA

problem #4

Sep 042002

Trailblazer 4WD

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Transmission shifted into 4 lo on its own. Caused vehicle to slow down and could not be shifted back into 2 gear.

- Pleasant Hill, MO, USA

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