CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2002-2007 Chevrolet Trailblazer is known for many things, but perhaps it is most famous for its faulty fuel gauge.
This gauge flip-flops more than a politician during election season. Some report that the gauge says "empty" after a fill-up, while others report the gauge says "full" when they're running on fumes. Either way, there's one thing everyone seems to agree on: the darn thing is just wrong.
Following hundreds of complaints and a few accidents allegedly caused by the malfunction, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) opened an investigation into the issue in May 2011. Unfortunately for frustrated owners, no recall has been announced.
sounds like high pitched power steering whine ,fluid level ok but smelled like burnt trans fluid. so replaced ps. pump still have same whine . what the --- ? don't want to start replacing parts till i find the right one .that could be costly. wife likes vehicle but the noise is annoying. what to replace next ?
This problem started as a whine that fluctuated with engine RPM. Some research showed it to be a common problem. Many people and a mechanic or two told me it was the alternator. We had to live with it for a while. It got worse. Finally my wife called me in a panic and told me the car overheated and she barely made it to work. Turns out what really happened was the Idler pulley had been what was whining and had bad bearings, they finally melted and when that happened the pulley seized, the belt broke and the water pump, driven by the belt, stopped working. I replaced the pulley ($14.00)the belt ($16.00 i think) and everything has been fine since. I noticed several other GM products with the same issue while we were driving around with ours whining so I know it was a bigger issue than just the trail blazer. It is a very distinct sound and anyone who has heard it can recognize it for what it is from a mile away. A quick web search shows it to be something Chevy should have recalled and is just another of the long list of issues i have had with this LEMON of an SUV. NEVER will I buy another GM product. I might not even restore my 71 3/4ton 4x4 pick up I'm so pissed. although I might use it to crush my Trailblazer.
Back in 2008 my parents purchased a used 2005 trailblazer. Its gold has nice chrome rims, i thought it was pretty cool. About early 2009 there was a slight whinig coming from the engine. It seemed kind of odd but we didnt really think anything of it. I know a fair amount about cars an I couldnt find a problem. Well as time went on the noise got louder and louder. As we were coming back from Bend,OR for memorial weekend my dad pulls of to the side of the road and said the batery, check engine, and high temp lights had all come on. I got out popped the hood as steam billowd out, to find the serpinitne belt chewed up and the water pump shaft bent. We got it fixed in madras... after spending a few hundred bucks on a new pump and belt for a car that was only 4 years old.
It sucks that I have to replace my alternator. But it's worse that chevy hasn't done anything to let the owners of this vehicle know about the problem so they can be ready for it & it doesn't come as such a surprise.
- Greg D.,
Henderson, NV, US
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I agree that if this is a common problem, perhaps a recall should be happening. Why should the consumer be stuck with the bill after the warranty is off if the vehicles are doing this around the same mileage.
OVER ABOUT 300 MILES I HEAR A WHINE THAT GOES UP AND DOWN WITH ENGINE SPEED. SOUNDS LIKE A BEARING GOING BAD SOMEWHERE. TAKE IT IN TO CHEVY AND THEY SAID THAT IT WAS A PULLY BEARING GONE BAD. THEY GET ALOT OF THOSE. STARTED IT UP FOR THE MECHANIC. HE LISTENED FOR ABOUT A 2 SECOND PERIOD AND SAID, I KNOW WHAT IT IS. COMMON PROBLEM. IF IT'S A COMMON PROBLEM, CHEVY SHOULD REDESIGN IT OR FIX IT FREE. OF COURSE, IT'S OUT OF WARRANTY AND MY PROBLEM. WHAT'S NEXT?
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
sounds like high pitched power steering whine ,fluid level ok but smelled like burnt trans fluid. so replaced ps. pump still have same whine . what the --- ? don't want to start replacing parts till i find the right one .that could be costly. wife likes vehicle but the noise is annoying. what to replace next ?
- timne, Grand Island, NE, US