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CarComplaints.com Notes: Carrying the not-so-proud traditions of its 2002 predecessor, the 2003 has a handful of instrument panel malfunctions that can leave you guessing your speed, engine temperature or how much gas is left in the tank.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
92,310 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.

2003 Chevrolet Trailblazer body / paint problems

body / paint problem

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2003 Chevrolet Trailblazer Owner Comments

problem #16

Oct 022020

Trailblazer

  • 179,000 miles

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

See attached complaint to General Motors. I have additional documents where others have had the same problems with there similar year Trailblazers.

- Lafayette, IN, USA

problem #15

Oct 172017

Trailblazer

  • miles
The contact owns a 2003 Chevrolet Trailblazer. The contact stated that the frame was experiencing decay. While the vehicle was being serviced by an independent mechanic, the contact was informed of rotten areas on the frame. There were no warning indicators illuminated. Prior to the diagnosis, the vehicle was taken to lynch Chevrolet of mukwonago (280 East wolf run, mukwonago, wi 53149 (262) 363-4061), but the contact was not informed of corrosion on the frame. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer stated that they could not offer assistance to repair the vehicle. The VIN and failure mileage were unknown.

- 53211, WI, USA

problem #14

Mar 152017

Trailblazer

  • miles
I've noticed that my front end was lower than usual. At first I thought my upper control arms were giving in. I took my car to replace the front tires and to also get a 4 wheel alignment. That is when I was told that the strut base that is welded onto the chassis was rotting off. The mechanic expressed that I was a very lucky guy because at any point in time during my commute, I could have been in a serious car accident that could have resulted in death since I mostly use this car on the highway to commute to work. I didn't think much of it until he actually showed me all the rotted parts and I was in deep shock once I saw what he was telling me. I'm thankful that the cars strut was leaning on the inner fender frame preventing it from completely falling to the ground. I asked the mechanic how something like this could have happen and he explained that since we live in an area where it snows, the salt that is applied on the roads gets trapped into the slotted holes of the chassis and deteriorates with time. It is unknown of the time of which the chassis had begun rotting.

- Providence, RI, USA

problem #13

Mar 012016

Trailblazer

  • 159,678 miles

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

"takata recall" was driving down the highway doing bout 70mph and I hear a nosie on the roof and then I saw my whole 3rd break light asmbley break off and fly into the air and almost hit the car in back of me this can cause a major accident if it fly's off and hit a car in back of you and I was doing research online and saw its a common problem with these SUV its a poor design and needs to be recalled before somebody dies.

- Parkton, NC, USA

problem #12

Sep 172015

Trailblazer

  • 94,180 miles
On August 26, 2015 we purchased a 2003 Chevrolet Trailblazer from wali's auto sales in enola, pa. It had 93,907 miles on it and appeared to be in good condition with a clean car fax. We traded in our 1996 Chevrolet Suburban and received $1700 in trade in value purchasing the Trailblazer for $5722.70 including tax and transfer fees. Brakes and ball joints had been replaced prior to our purchase along with a transmission line. We took the vehicle for an alignment as soon as we purchased it. We drove the vehicle approximately 200 miles and then on September 17th left home with intentions of driving the vehicle to stowe Vermont. At 11:30 am on the morning of September 17th (approximately 2 hours into our trip) the vehicle lost power and brakes close to scranton, pa. The engine caught fire and within 7 minutes the vehicle burned up. The VIN number was not readable. The scranton fire department responded along with Pennsylvania state police and the forty fort police. We have a copy of the fire report. The vehicle was towed by a local tow company. My wife and I escaped injury. We had liability insurance through state farm which covered towing and fire company expenses. Wali's gave us a 30 day warranty on the vehicle and has acknowledged since the incident that there is a warranty on the vehicle but is not forthcoming in allowing us to submit a claim to their insurance company.

- Liverpool, PA, USA

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problem #11

Aug 052015

Trailblazer

  • 270,000 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Chevrolet Trailblazer. The contact stated that while driving approximately 25 mph, a fuel odor emitted from the vehicle without warning. The contact discovered that there was fuel leaking from the vehicle. The contact also mentioned that the hatch back failed to latch. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the of the failure. The failure mileage was 270,000.

- Alexandria, VA, USA

problem #10

Jun 152014

Trailblazer 6-cyl

  • 37,000 miles

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

Driver 55 miles on North I-35 freeway engine lost power and driver had no power steering no power brakes hit right side wall and hit left side wall on freeway front tire blew out and safety belt pulled out of holder and driver was thrown all over auto driver had contacted GM motors and they said the auto was not on recall list and was safe auto had one previous problem as above loss of power but engine pick up power and ran this accident was just like the GM recall on the switch the driver injury severe and may never walk again driver has had two surgeries and still in the hospital since 6 15 2014 this needs to be on the GM report for defect auto list.

- Burleson , TX, USA

problem #9

May 012013

Trailblazer

  • miles
I have a 2003 Trailblazer last year we noticed paint was fading off hood, this year it is so bad I need to have the whole hood repainted, I was told this was a factory defect in the paint, I have seen many Trailblazers with the same problem, hoping there is a recall somewhere so I can get my hood painted.

- Peebles , OH, USA

problem #8

Jan 182014

Trailblazer

  • 164,385 miles
Rear piece above hatch which holds the third brake light, came off and was dangling by the wire. This is a safety hazard and can cause an accident if it falls off. This is held on by double stick tape. GM needs to do something about this problem, they redesigned the piece and that tells me they know it is dangerous.

- Decatur, IN, USA

problem #7

Sep 262013

Trailblazer 6-cyl

  • 111,996 miles
Driving approximately 40 to 43 mph when another vehicle turned directly in front of me. Total frontal damage buckling up hood on my car as I hit other vehicle in front-end passenger side. Their airbag deployed but mine didn't, even with total front end damage to my car. Had seatbelt on, but due to impact still pulled my whole body forward (like crash test dummy). This was a very hard crash totaling my car.

- Charlestown, IN, USA

problem #6

Aug 252012

Trailblazer

  • 115,000 miles

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

Was traveling on interstate and the rear spoiler with brake light just broke off my vehicle.

- Raeford, NC, USA

problem #5

Jan 282012

Trailblazer

  • 94,000 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Chevrolet Trailblazer. The contact stated that the front passenger side door opened by itself and he was unable to close it. The contact also mentioned that the rear driver's side door would not open at all. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, but offered no assistance. The vehicle was repaired. The failure mileage was 94,000 and current mileage was 116,000.

- Jackson, MI, USA

problem #4

Jan 222012

Trailblazer 6-cyl

  • 117,700 miles
We were driving on the wi interstate system when the rear spoiler detached and flew onto the roadway leaving the brake light dangling and banging into the hatched window. Due to road conditions and snow on the concrete divided median I wasn't able to stop and pick up the debris. The back gate hadn't been opened for at least 2 days so there was no way to know this was going to happen.

- Pewaukee, WI, USA

problem #3

Oct 012008

Trailblazer 6-cyl

  • 57,000 miles
The rear window hatches are rusting through and I fear this will cause the glue to separate from the glass. Once the glue separates the window will fall out. Other then the hinges rusting I see no other obvious signs of rust.

- Apo, AP, USA

problem #2

Feb 142009

Trailblazer

  • 68,000 miles
Raised rear lightgate heard a crunching sound. On inspection the plastic piece on the top of the lightgate was cracked & lifted up. It was a fairly warm day & I had washed the truck early in the day & it sat in the sun all day. Ice build up was not a possibility. Took the truck in for repair of this piece, bodyshop states that there are 2 bushings missing from the hinges where the rear glass pivots on the hinges. Dealer parts dept. Confirms that bushings should be there. Parts dept. Had conversation with GM customer service these hinges & replacement bushing are only services able when the rear liftgate glass gets replaced.

- Westlake, OH, USA

problem #1

Feb 042004

(reported on)

Trailblazer

  • Automatic transmission
  • 9,024 miles
A spoiler on the back of the vehicle fell off while driving on the highway, and hit another vehicle. Dealership serviced the vehicle, but the spoiler was showing signs of separation again.

- Genoa City, WI, USA

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