What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

2002 Chevrolet Trailblazer

Typical pattern

11.8% of complaints about the 2002 Chevrolet Trailblazer came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2002 vehicle — around the middle of the 230 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 4.2 yr in service. The most-reported system is power train (306 complaints), typically at 5.1 yr or about 66,000 miles.

Complaints
1,453
Median age at failure
4.2 yr
Median mileage
64,000 n=984
Crash / fire / tow
13.7% of reports
Safety recalls
10

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Power train
306 reports · 66,000 mi
5.1 yr
5.2%
Electrical system
182 reports · 63,129 mi
4.2 yr
16.5%
Exterior lighting
144 reports · 53,958 mi
2.9 yr
5.6%
Engine cooling
138 reports · 55,700 mi
3.2 yr
5.1%
Fuel system
106 reports · 76,000 mi
5.9 yr
1.9%
Air bags
99 reports · 80,000 mi
4.8 yr
69.7%
Visibility
94 reports · 47,000 mi
3.3 yr
1.1%
Seat belts
41 reports · 49,000 mi
2.6 yr
14.6%
Steering
40 reports · 48,006 mi
2.8 yr
27.5%
Service brakes, hydraulic
40 reports · 40,750 mi
3.3 yr
27.5%
Structure
38 reports · 80,000 mi
6.0 yr
7.9%
Suspension
31 reports · 65,500 mi
3.6 yr
6.5%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

06E025000 2006-03-21
Exterior lighting:headlights

CERTAIN POLI-AUTO COMBINATION HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES, P/NOS. 11-728, 11-728D, 11-710, 11-419, 11-713, 11-703, 11-704, 11-708P, 11-735, 11-725, 11-726, 11-716 (P&C), 11-721-1, 11-733, 11-729, 11-730, AND 11-732, SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."

WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

04V527000 2004-11-01
Exterior lighting:brake lights

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, VIBRATION AND HEAT MAY CAUSE THE TAIL LAMP/STOP LAMP BULB TO LOOSEN IN ITS SOCKET. IF THIS OCCURS, THE BULB MAY FLICKER AND EVENTUALLY BECOME INOPERATIVE.

AN INOPERATIVE BRAKE LAMP WILL NOT CONVEY THE DRIVER'S INTENTION OF STOPPING TO DRIVERS IN FOLLOWING VEHICLES, AND AN INOPERATIVE REAR TURN SIGNAL LAMP WILL NOT CONVEY THE DRIVER'S INTENTION TO TURN TO DRIVERS IN FOLLOWING VEHICLES. BOTH OF THESE FAILURES CAN INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.

04V201000 2004-04-28
Seat belts

CERTAIN LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 209, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES." ONE OF THE TWO SENSORS IN THE DRIVER'S AND FRONT PASSENGER'S SEAT BELT RETRACTORS COULD BE INOPERATIVE. THE SEAT BELT RETRACTORS WILL LOCK WHEN THE BELT WEBBING IS EXTRACTED DURING A CRASH; HOWEVER, THE MECHANISM THAT LOCKS THE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR WHEN THE VEHICLE DECELERATES QUICKLY, SUCH AS HEAVY BRAKING, MAY NOT OPERATE AS INTENDED.

IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR, THE SAFETY BELT MAY NOT RESTRAIN THE OCCUPANT AS INTENDED DURING A CRASH, AND COULD RESULT IN INJURY TO THE OCCUPANT.

04V046000 2004-02-04
Visibility:windshield wiper/washer

CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES HAVE WINDSHIELD WIPER SYSTEMS THAT WILL NOT TURN ON, CEASE OPERATION WHILE IN USE, FAIL TO TURN OFF/ON BY THEMSELVES (MOISTURE SENSITIVE WIPER SYSTEM), OR HAVE CONTINUOUS WINDSHIELD WASHER PUMP OPERATION BECAUSE THE PRESENCE OF WATER WITHIN THE WIPER MODULES CAN EITHER CAUSE A SHORT CIRCUIT OR CAN LEAD TO THE CORROSION OF COMPONENTS WITHIN THE MODULE.

DEPENDING ON THE OCCURRENCE AND WEATHER SITUATION, DRIVER VISIBILITY COULD BE REDUCED, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

03V250000 2003-07-15
Equipment:other:owners/service/other manual

CERTAIN MINIVANS, PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 225, "CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORAGE SYSTEM." THE OWNER'S MANUAL DOES NOT EXPLAIN THE MEANING OF THE LOCATION SYMBOLS FOR THE CHILD RESTRAINT LOWER UNIVERSAL ANCHORAGE SYSTEM.

THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.

03V096000 2003-03-19
Electrical system:wiring:interior/under dash

CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARDS NO. 101, "CONTROL LOCATION, IDENTIFICATION, AND ILLUMINATION" AND NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION." THESE VEHICLES HAVE AN INTERMITTENT CONDITION DURING VEHICLE START-UP IN WHICH THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER MAY NOT PROPERLY POWER UP, RESULTING IN MOST OF THE DISPLAYS, TELLTALE LIGHTS, AND FUNCTIONS (EXCEPT THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT, TURN SIGNAL INDICATORS, AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER BACKLIGHTING) BEING INOPERATIVE.

THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH THE STANDARD.

03V075000 2003-03-06
Power train:automatic transmission

CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 114, "THEFT PROTECTION." THESE VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH A MECHANICAL OVERRIDE THAT COULD ALLOW THE IGNITION KEY TO BE REMOVED WITH THE SHIFT LEVER IN A POSITION OTHER THAN PARK. IN ADDITION, THESE VEHICLES HAVE AN OVERRIDE THAT CAN ALLOW THE TRANSMISSION TO BE SHIFTED OUT OF PARK WITH THE IGNITION IN THE OFF POSITION.

THESE OVERRIDES ARE NOT PERMITTED UNLESS THE VEHICLE HAS A LOCKING STEERING COLUMN.

02V273000 2002-10-04
Structure:body

CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES ARE MISSING WELDS ON THE REAR FLOOR PLAN.

IN A CRASH, MISSING WELDS COULD DEGRADE PERFORMANCE OF THE THIRD ROW SEAT AND SAFETY BELT ANCHORAGE AND OCCUPANTS COULD RECEIVE GREATER INJURIES.

02V121000 2002-08-23
Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, A FUEL FILTER FITTING CAN BECOME DISCONNECTED. IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE ENGINE, A NO-START CONDITION WOULD RESULT AND FUEL WOULD BE PUMPED OUT THE FUEL FILTER ONTO THE GROUND.

IF THE FITTING BECOMES DISCONNECTED WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, THE ENGINE WOULD STOP DUE TO INADEQUATE FUEL SUPPLY AND CAUSE A LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST. IF AN IGNITION SOURCE WERE PRESENT, FUEL LEAKAGE FROM A DISCONNECTED FUEL FILTER FITTING COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

02V222000 2002-08-09
Air bags:frontal

CERTAIN PASSENGER, MINI VANS, AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES HAVE AN AIR BAG INFLATOR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE THAT COULD FRACTURE AT A WELD DURING A DEPLOYMENT.

PIECES OF THE INFLATOR COULD STRIKE AND INJURE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS AND THE AIR BAG CUSHION WOULD NOT INFLATE FULLY, REDUCING THE CAPABILITY OF THE BAG TO PROTECT THE DRIVER.

In owners’ own words

Steering mileage not reported 2 mo in service
POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED OF 55 MPH. DEALER NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
Steering mileage not reported 6 mo in service crash / fire / tow
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 60-65 MPH AND WITHOUT WARNING POWER STEERING WENT OUT/ , RESULTING IN A COLLISION.*AK CONSUMER STATED THE TIRE DEFLATED AND THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR GLASSS SHATTERED. *MJ
Steering mileage not reported 7 mo in service crash / fire / tow
WHILE CHANGING LANES, STEERING HAS LOCKED UP AND CAUSED VEHICLE TO RUN INTO A CONCRETE WALL, MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK AFTER THE POWER STEERING LOCKED UP, THE VEHICLE HIT THE CONCRETE WALL AND ROLLED BACKWARDS CRASHING WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT. THREE WEEKS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT THE VEHICLE WAS IN FOR A RECALL ALSO ASSOCIATED WITH THE STEERING COLUMN. *YH
Electrical system mileage not reported 2 mo in service
WHEN VEHICLE IS BEING STARTED,A CLICKING GRINDING NOISE IS HEARD. DEALER NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

Other Trailblazer model years

2023202220212008200720062005200420032002

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