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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:
5 / 8
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
85,551 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 electrical problems

electrical problem

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2003 Chevrolet Trailblazer Owner Comments (Page 7 of 9)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #50

Dec 202008

Trailblazer

  • 80,000 miles

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

I have a 2003 Chevy Trailblazer and about a year ago my speedometer started malfunctioning. After about two months or so it completely stopped working. Then about a month ago the oil gage started malfunctioning. The speedometer would read incorrectly and when I stop it reads as if I were still driving, it doesn't go back to zero. The oil gage does the same thing when I turn of the car it doesn't go all the way back to where it needs to be.

- Santa Maria, CA, USA

problem #49

Oct 142009

Trailblazer

  • 120,137 miles
The instrument cluster on my 2003 Chevrolet Trailblazer has completely stopped working. The only thing that works on the cluster is the fuel levels, and that's starting to worry me as well.

- Dover, DE, USA

problem #48

Nov 192009

Trailblazer

  • 100,000 miles
2003 Chevy trail Blazer instrument cluster non operational: All gauges on the dashboard panel do not work!

- Monroeville, NJ, USA

problem #47

Jul 282009

Trailblazer

  • 88,000 miles

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

Defect in instrument cluster of 2003 Chevrolet Trailblazer after being rear ended. The speedometer will ready 40 when stopped and 120 when driving. When I took my car in for repairs, they said since this is a known issue then they will not fix it and it will be an additional $700 at my expense. All other models for this year have been recalled because of this except the Trailblazer. I have read numerous reports on the web of this defect. Also, the cd player was jammed in the process of the wreck and they refused to pay for that either. It needs to be recalled for the GM dealers to fix.

- Rowlett, TX, USA

problem #46

Jul 012009

Trailblazer

  • 86,000 miles
The tach is not operating properly. It is currently pointed past 7000 RPM when vehicle is off.

- Zephyrhills, FL, USA

problem #45

Mar 042009

Trailblazer

  • 95,000 miles
2003 Chevy Trailblazer instrument panel failure. About 2 yrs ago the tach. Quit working or reads incorrectly. Currently the speedometer and now the temp. And gas gauge have quit or give erroneous readings. I was told other truck models have been recalled but not the Trailblazer. This is a dangerous situation for the operation of the vehicle, I have to get it fixed at my own expense.

- Webster, NY, USA

problem #44

Apr 102009

Trailblazer

  • 63,000 miles

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

2003 Chevy Trailblazer. Speedometer went out on my vacation to Florida. Had about 63,000 miles then. It got stuck at different speeds and stays stuck until my husband disconnects the battery cables. It happens probably once a week. Don't have $600 dollars to fix the cloister problem. Reading about the problem it seems pretty common and Chevy should recall it. I've had Chevy's all my life but this one is a lemon and wouldn't recommend it to anyone!!! any suggestions" can Chevy pay part of it or recall it?" thanks

- Neenah, WI, USA

problem #43

Aug 202009

Trailblazer

  • miles
2003 Chevy Trailblazer instrument cluster is malfunctioning intermittently. I have owned since new. Also head lamps at time will fail to work, intermittently.

- Montgomery, AL, USA

problem #42

Jun 152007

Trailblazer

  • miles
2003 Chevy Trailblazer ls 4X4 - the gauges on the dash board do not work. This includes the speedometer, fuel gauge, oil pressure gauge, battery gauge and octameter. I've read many bulletin boards indicating the same issue. The dashboards for these vehicles should be recalled.

- Woodbridge, VA, USA

problem #41

Jun 052009

Trailblazer

  • miles
Dash in Trailblazer not working.

- Laurel, MS, USA

problem #40

May 262009

Trailblazer

  • 100,214 miles

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

Defect in instrument cluster of 2003 Chevrolet Trailblazer. All other models for this year have been recalled because of this except the Trailblazer. I have read numerous reports on the web of this defect. It needs to be recalled for the GM dealers to fix.

- Leesburg, GA, USA

problem #39

Mar 112009

Trailblazer

  • 80,000 miles
Purchased 2003 Trailblazer, 1 month after purchase, speedometer and RPM gauge erratically moving consistently. After searching the internet and observing thousands of complaints regarding this same issue I felt compelled to not only write a letter to GM, but also to write complaints to everyone I could possibly think of to write a letter to regarding this problem. Not only does this problem leave the consumer with a financial burden, safety issues should also be considered to the consumer as well as other drivers at risk of being innocent citizens subject to the defective automobiles that GM has been allowed to sell without any loyalty to the consumers who show their american loyalty by purchasing GM's defective automobiles!!!

- Southgate, MI, USA

problem #38

Apr 122009

Trailblazer

  • 57,000 miles
Speedometer is going past 120 mph while driving and when sitting still it reads around 60 mph. I have no money to fix it at this time.

- Amory, MS, USA

problem #37

Jan 012008

Trailblazer

  • 38,000 miles
The cluster in my 2003 Trailblazer is not working. A recall was issued for the 2004 Tahoe with the same problem but not the Trailblazer.

- Moreno Valley, CA, USA

problem #36

Oct 272008

Trailblazer

  • miles
My 2003 Trailblazer ltz needs a speedometer cluster. This first started happening at approx. 59,000 miles. I now have 61,000 miles on my car, and GM refuses to have the repairs made to my car. It is a known problem on other Chevy models, but GM claims there are not enough problems with the Trailblazers to "fix" this problem. My estimate is $390 + tax after paying $106 for them to analyze the problem and tell me it is broken (which I knew because the speedometer reading 92 mph with the engine shut off in the dealership garage). I've contacted GM several times and the dealership, with no luck in getting this corrected. I've contacted the BBB also. This is a known problem, I've researched this, 100's of people have this same quality issue and it is a safety issue. As a loyal GM driver I want them to stand behind their products and fix known problems like this one.

- Beloit, WI, USA

problem #35

Dec 292008

Trailblazer

  • 70,000 miles
Speedometer stuck on 60 then after shut off did right. Did that several different times. Now points to N or D and then starts going counter clockwise. Don't have $500 to replace it. GM customer service acknowledged there is special bulletin on this but my VIN nor mileage 71,000 mi did not fall within this bulletin. Turned it over to "district manager" and he said same thing and said called my dealership and they couldn't help on this matter. There are numerous reports on internet of people having same problem with 2003 Trailblazer. Is safety hazard due to people like me who don't have the money (on retirement S.S.) and trying to guess at speed they are going. RPM on tach also fluctuates. I feel that to have the whole instrument panel replaced is a known defect on the makers part.

- Mt. Vernon, IN, USA

problem #34

Nov 092008

Trailblazer

  • 110,000 miles
My tach started to not work in the cold of 07-08, then my oil pressure gauge started to peg out. Now my speedometer is reading outrageous amounts when I am parked, or driving. It has not worked for months now. No replacement as of yet.

- Aurora, CO, USA

problem #33

Oct 202008

Trailblazer

  • 75,000 miles
Originally, it began with the fuel gauge. Every so often it would read incorrectly, both low and high. As it happened a little more often, I began asking around to find out if others I would meet had experienced the same type of defect, I found this to be a more common problem. As time passed I simply ignored the problem until after towing a few canoes up to a lake and the tachometer started reading very high, despite the motor idling normally. Eventually, the tach went back to normal, but shortly after acted up again. All the while the fuel gauge is still not working properly, getting to the point where the needle is completely inverted. Then the voltmeter began to climb, getting to the point where the needle is registering off the scale. So now the fuel gauge and the voltmeter are completely and obviously registering outside of their set parameters, but the tach is often suspect as well.

- Mesa, AZ, USA

problem #32

Jan 012008

Trailblazer

  • 75,000 miles
The speedometer malfunctions on an intermittent basis. Sometimes it drops to zero. Other times jumps to a speed that far exceeds the vehicle's speed. It is not just the cable. Was told the entire instrument panel would need to be replaced costing hundreds. Do not know our speed 50% of the time. Going on for over a year. Began at 75,000 miles. Began in January of 2008.

- Holly Hill, SC, USA

problem #31

Jan 162008

Trailblazer

  • 72,000 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Chevrolet Trailblazer. The contact stated that the speedometer was failing. While driving 50 mph, the speedometer displayed 120 mph. When the vehicle came to a complete stop, the speedometer displayed 60 mph. The GM dealer stated that a diagnostic was needed to determine the cause of the failure. The failure mileage was 72,000.

- Collierville, TN, USA

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