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.
Gauges on instrument panel are not working properly. First one was speedometer then oil pressure gage and tachometer. I am sure more will follow. Also electric seat no longer moves forward or backward.
Chevrolet Trailblazer - instrument panel cluster failure. Tachometer inoperative and erratic with only 42K miles on vehicle. Understand that this is also a symptom for the remaining gauges in the cluster. GM has special service bulletin that addresses this issue for all other truck products except Envoy and Trailblazer.
Instrument panel failure. 3 of 6 gauges do not work was told around $600 to fix. One of numerous issues with 2003 Trailblazer including tail light issue, head light and 4 wheel drive problems. Has aprox 76,000 miles now.
Speedometer failed during holiday trip. Had cruise on when approach an intersection made turn when I checked speed it said 90 slowed down was almost rearended after that I realized what happened so I drove with flow of traffic.next day got on line did some research found out GM has this problem on several types of vehicles some recalled some not.as of now I disconnected battery for 15min.reconnected it and its working again. To replace the instrument panel is a 300 -700 dollar repair.doesn't seem fair because they should last the life of the vehicle. If a young driver or elderly driver were to have this problem on an interstate highway could cause a chain reaction accident countless injuries / deaths and property damage. GM knows of the problem why aren't they forced to fix it. Goes back to the 2001 model year to present.the internet has probably thousands with this same issue. And couldn't access gms complaint site.
3 months ago I started having problems with my speedometer. I would be sitting still and it would be reading 50 mph. This would occur often. I took the vehicle to the garage and they replaced the speed sensor and this did not correct the problem and I was informed that I would have to take the vehicle to GM dealer because this was something they could not fix since it involved the cluster guage. Now this guage is resting any where between 100 and 120 mph. This is a big safety issue and GM needs to address the problem. I have been doing alot of research and see that I am not aone in this problem wih the speedometer.
- Coshocton, OH, USA
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While using the cruise control of my 2003 Chevy Trailblazer, the speedometer begins to read erratically. Sometimes, it is obviously wrong, but it also slowly creeps to a different speed without noticing it. Also the cruise control seems to follow with the speedometer whether or not it is reading correctly.
I own a 2003 Chevy Trailblazer and I've replaced alternator but the lights still seem to dim and flicker. This is a safety issue and must be looked at by the makers and the dealer. I recommend a recall or replacement of faulty equipment. As I look on forums this seems to be a common problem with this particular vehicle.
2003 Chevy Trailblazer. Fuel gauge was very erratic then quit. Contacted dealer said they have had problems but no recall. Chevy has recalled 2003 trucks for same problem. The Trailblazer has the same gauge cluster, but they will not fix the problem for Trailblazer owners.
2003 Chevy Trailblazer randomly stalling, very dangerous, losses brakes and power steering when it stalls. Seems like a very common problem, many online complaints and conversation.
No warning. While driving down the road, the car just shuts down. The first time we had it towed to aaa automark, they replaced the battery but did not find anything else wrong. It has happened 3 times since. We have been able to coast off of the road without incidence so far, but this is dangerous. I went to the website below, several people have experienced and described the same conditions. I do not drive the car on the highway at this time. www.topix.net/forum/autos/Chevrolet-Trailblazer/T0L7P7ih6L5H33N4S/P3
The contact owns a 2003 Chevrolet Trailblazer. The contact complained about a speedometer failure. While idling the speedometer read 90 mph. The dealer stated that the instrument cluster was damaged. When the temperature was below 30 degrees the steering column froze and activated the horn. The horn will not deactivate unless the fuse wasremoved. Additionally, when applying the brake pedal the vehicle began to decelerate, but the pedal dropped all the way down to the floor. The contact must release and depress the brake pedal again in order to stop the vehicle. The dealer was unable to diagnose the cause of the failures. The current mileage is 75,000, and failure mileage was 70,000.
The 4 wheel drive switch spends most of it's time in default so you don't know what drive you are in. Going over mountain passes every day this is a safety issue. I've been told not to use the auto 4 wheel drive-so why have it? it's been in the shop twice and they say everything is working right-bull. I feel this is very unsafe. I even had it once where it just went to neutral and I had nothing. Come on GM fix this it's real bad.
These are all of the problems fixed at the dealer with this truck so far: Rear sway bar links replaced, rear wiper blade came out of alignment 2 times, right rear door is warped, driver side rear molding is loose, back plate rubber seal out of alignment, windshield wiper tank replaced since it was leaking, A/C low pressure switch inop then replaced, windshield wiper module replaced because wipers would not turn off, sway bar links replaced for a second time. All of these have broken over the past 2 years and nine months and driver's side passenger window for that door is loose. Still is a noise in the front suspension that makes a hard knock onto the steering column but dealer denies hearing it.
Dashboard extremely hot. Fire in wiring 2X / 3X short in main fuse vehicle would not restart. Tow into dealer 3X. Dealer replaced fuse and wiring could not explain cause for problem or why persists. Dealer kept vehicle a week claimed to drive it in effort to cause problem but found vehicle buried in snow from a snowfall which occurred 3 days prior. Dealer claimed ignorance to recurring problem of this type w/this vehicle. *
Chevrolet Trailblazer 2003 automatic, having problem shifting. The consumer stated the vehicle hesitated for 5 seconds, then slowly accelerated to the speed the consumer needed. The battery died due to a module problem.
The vehicle shuts down while the vehicle is being driven. Vehicle has been serviced and duplicated twice. Computer chip was replaced twice, the harness replaced twice, and throttle body was replaced twice. Currently, vehicle is at the dealer....
This vehicle has had multiple failures in the last 12 months. Left side brake light replaced two times before brake light circuit board was replaced. Right side headlight failure, bulb replaced. Ac quit working. Two trips to the dealer to a find compressor failure. The compressor was replaced. Latest and worst failure was a total electrical failure. Only the items controlled by the rap were functional. The vehicle quit running in the middle of the road. Could not be restarted and the transmission could not be moved from the park position. Vehicle had to be left in the middle of the road and abandon for safety of the passengers. This was also a hazard to other vehicles. If there is an override to get the vehicle out of gear it should be in the owners manual. The vehicle had to be dragged up on the two truck. Vehicle is at the dealer and no resolution to the problem has been found.
The consumer stated the rear tail light were inoperative. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection and the mechanic informed the consumer that the tail lights needed to be replaced. The problem still continued.
Power to the rear, or 5th. Door shorts in and out at will, you will never know when the vehicle is securely locked. The rap feature, reserve auxillary power shorts in and out. The rear or 5th. Door windshield wiper shorts in and out, causing you to not be able to see behind you.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Lincoln, NE, USA