Print this page

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:
4 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
53,591 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 engine problems

engine problem

Find something helpful? Spread the word.
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2002 Chevrolet Trailblazer:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

2002 Chevrolet Trailblazer Owner Comments

problem #13

Aug 282022

Trailblazer

  • miles

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

The car rmp goes high when accelerating it's a common problem with the cooling fan which the company is aware of it but aren't held reliable! It's a shame that nhtsa hade many complaining about the issue but aren't holding the manufacturer responsible this could of hade me and my family in an accident!

- Kendallville, IN, USA

problem #12

Apr 022016

Trailblazer

  • 198,000 miles
Faulty gauges. Gauges sometimes work, sometimes don't. when not working, service engine light comes on first and then nothing works on dash panel except signal lights. When it does work, normal startup of lights. Being the odometer is digital, no way of knowing how many miles I have gone which goes hand in hand with gas gauge not working so not a clue how much I have.

- Lakeland, FL, USA

problem #11

May 202016

Trailblazer

  • 112,000 miles
While highway driving with cruise control engaged I heard a loud whining sound and experienced a sudden loss of power. I was almost hit from behind several times before I could get the vehicle over into the right lane. When I took the vehicle to my mechanic I was told the cooling fan clutch assemble had failed. I have had this fan replaced three times now and am not at all pleased that this vehicle has not been recalled for this problem. I have read that this is a "common" problem on this vehicle that can cause a severe accident. I have receipts for the repairs but have no way to upload them.

- Deltona, FL, USA

problem #10

Nov 172015

Trailblazer 6-cyl

  • 109,870 miles

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

The contact owns a 2002 Chevrolet Trailblazer. The contact stated while driving at 45 mph, the vehicle decreased in speed independently and suddenly accelerates. The contact also stated that the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was taken to the independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the oxygen sensors needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 109,870. Updated 03/18/16 updated 05/11/18

- Summerset, KY, USA

problem #9

Oct 232014

Trailblazer 4WD 6-cyl

  • 137,800 miles
I was pulling into my driveway and put it in park. I noticed I was to close to my home for the children in the neighborhood to run between my vehicle and the house so I put my vehicle in reverse to back up a little and backed up. I then put it in drive to go forward as it was to far out in the road, so I put it in drive and the gas peddle got stuck and I ran into my home. My question is, has there been a recall on the gas peddle sticking on this vehicle in the past history?

- Montrose, CO, USA

problem #8

Dec 262010

Trailblazer 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 78,802 miles
The contact owns a 2002 Chevrolet Trailblazer ltz (na). While parking with his foot on the brake pedal, the contact stated the vehicle suddenly accelerated and crashed into the rear of a parked vehicle. There were no injuries and no police report filed. The vehicle had not been repaired. The current and failure mileages were approximately 78,802. Updated 02/17/11 the consumer stated the vehicle was completely stopped. The consumer stated he never removed his foot from the brake the consumer stated module 4.563 failed.. updated 09/12/11

- Dracut, MA, USA

problem #7

Oct 062004

Trailblazer 4WD 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 25,650 miles

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

While driving under even throttle at about 40 mph, heard a very loud clunk and the engine immediately revved to high rpms. The gear the transmission had been in was clearly gone. After easing up on the throttle, the transmission seemed to re-engage. It was possible to proceed, though there were new noises I'd never heard before. (I'm very glad this did not occur at 70mph in heavy traffic.) later learned that at least the gear that the vehicle had been in was gone (4th) and also that reverse was gone. Immediately drove to the shop. Problem was fixed as a warranty repair and I got it back in two days. Repair invoice indicates that the problem was 'reaction gear set and/or reaction sun shell' and that this was fournd to be stripped. While in the shop it was replaced. That is all the information I received about the problem, but I fear a design defect of some sort and that the problem will recur.

- Essex Junction, VT, USA

problem #6

Apr 062004

Trailblazer 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 19,532 miles
While driving 40 mph, the engine light illuminated, then the vehicle stalled. This caused the consumer to lose control of the vehicle, hitting a wall. The consumer had the vehicle towed. The dealership tried to repair the vehicle 7 times, but did not resolve the problem. The air bag also failed to deploy during the accident. The PCM failed due to a circuit inside, fluid leaked from the power steering hose, the engine revved high and was loud when the vehicle was started, the consumer saw sparks under the hood fuse block at the same time the gauges fluctuated and shorted, the right rear tail lights were inoperative, and the fuel gauge made a whirring sound when the vehicle was started.

- Germantown, MD, USA

problem #5

Sep 082003

Trailblazer 4WD

  • miles
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 #4

Feb 182002

Trailblazer 6-cyl

  • 4,928 miles
Problems with air bag dash light, fast engine idle, air conditioner, rear hatch inner strap broke, etc... the airbag light was intermittent. The sir module was replaced, and there was poor terminal connection at the sir wiring harness, and was traced/repaired on the left side impact connector and the codes were cleared. The engine idled fast(especially at start up, and the fuel mileage was 13 mpg. The results of the evaluation and repairs were: Passenger impact connector was loose(repositioned/connected), idle within specifics, the emblem had fallen off, the rear hatch inner strap had broken, the transmission seemed to take long to shift into gear(happened sometimes when cold), and the PCM needed to be reprogrammed(J6355 power train controller PCM). There was a thumping sound in the rear differential when shifted, the A/C would blow out cold air when the A/C indicator was off, hot air would come out of the defroster area on the dash when the indicator was set for heater on the floor, the engine made a tapping sound, the lift gate weather strip had come apart, and the battery kept losing charge(3 occurrences).

- San Antonio, TX, USA

problem #3

Jun 042002

Trailblazer 4WD

  • 10,100 miles

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

I was sitting at a stop sign with my foot on the brake(confirmed by the driver in my rear that my brake lights were on). My car accelerated on its own, rear ending the vehicle in front of mine. Then I attempted to put my vehicle in reverse with my foot still resting on the brake and the truck lunged into reverse on it's own and hit the vehicle behind me as well. **dimsii IVOQ entry posted after 12-12-02 cut over to artemis**762650

- Greenwood, IN, USA

problem #2

Nov 272002

(reported on)

Trailblazer

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
The vehicle hesitates during acceleration.

- Laurel , MD, USA

problem #1

Apr 302002

(reported on)

Trailblazer

  • miles
Idle will stick to 2500 RPM's due to malfunction within computer.

- Virginia City, NV, USA

Not what you are looking for?