Problems · by component

2002 Chevrolet Trailblazer Ext engine and engine cooling problems

158 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2002 Chevrolet Trailblazer Ext cite engine and engine cooling, 12% of all 1,268 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
158
12% of all complaints
Crashes
6
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
4
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the engine and engine cooling

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS LEAKING ONTO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER FROM THE TRANSMISSION LINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE TRANSMISSION COOLER LINES WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED DUE TO CORROSION ON THE INSULATED HEAT SHIELD. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 122,924. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 27, 2013Engine and engine cooling, Power trainODI 10537535
“WHEN MY MECHANIC PUT MY TRUCK ON THE LIFT YESTERDAY TO CHANGE THE WATER PUMP, HE NOTICED THAT THE FRAME IS SO ROTTED THAT HE ADVISED ME NOT TO DRIVE IT.AND FOR WHO KNOWS HOW LONG, MY WIFE AND MYSELF, WHO ARE BOTH DISABLED, HAVE BEEN DRIVING THIS, PUTTING OURSELVES AND THE PUBLIC AT RISK. WHEN I BROUGHT IT TO A CHEVROLET DEALER, THEY JUST SAID, NO RECALLS ON IT, SORRY! SO NOW I HAVE TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO GET MY WIFE AND MYSELF TO DOCTORS APPOINTMENTS, SHOPPING, AND ALL THE OTHER THINGS WE NEED A DEPENDABLE VEHICLE FOR. WE CAN'T DRIVE THIS, OR AFFORD TO FIX IT, AND WE HAVE NO MONEY TO BUY ANOTHER ONE. DID I MENTION THAT WE ARE FILING FOR BANKRUPTCY BECAUSE MY WIFE WAS MIS-DIAGNOSED BY A DOCTOR, LOST HER JOB, AND NOW IS IN A WHEELCHAIR? OR THAT OUR MORTGAGE IS GOING ON 18 MOS. OVERDUE?OR THAT WE HAVE A NEW HANDICAP ACCESSIBLE HOME TO MOVE INTO, BUT WE CAN'T GET OUR CURRENT HOUSE PACKED TO BE ABLE TO PUT IT ON THE MARKET? *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 23, 2013Engine and engine cooling, StructureODI 10536984
“WHEN I FIRST PURCHASED THE VEHICLE A COUPLE DAYS LATER I NOTICED THE STEERING COLUMNS ABILITY TO TURN WAS VERY HARD AND MAKING LOUD NOISES. I FOUGHT CONTINUOUSLY WITH THE DEALERSHIP TO FIX THE ISSUE AND FINALLY AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS THEY AGREED TO FIX IT. THEN 2 MONTHS LATER WERE DRIVING MY SON TO THE AIRPORT AND THE CAR STOPPED AND BEGAN TO SMOKE, COME TO FIND OUT THE RADIATOR HAD A HOLE IN IT AND THERE WAS SOME TYPE OF TEMPORARY STOP LEAK STUFF PUT IN IT TO ALLOW A CONSUMER TO DRIVE FOR A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME BEFORE THE PROBLEM WOULD ARISE AGAIN. SO NOW MY FAMILY AND I ARE OUT OF TRANSPORTATION AND IM STILL PAYING A CAR NOTE ON THIS VEHICLE, I FEEL TOTALLY TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF AND WONDER HOW ANY DEALER CAN GO TO SLEEP AT NIGHT KNOWING THEY'VE BEEN DECEPTIVE IN THE SELLING OF A VEHICLE TO A FAMILY. THE TRUCK IS MY CHILDREN AND I ONLY WAY OF GETTING AROUND AND ITS HARD ENOUGH ON ME AS A SINGLE MOTHER, THIS IS JUST ONE MORE PROBLEM I DIDN'T ANTICIPATE, THAT WAS WHY I USE GRANT MONEY THAT I RECEIVED FROM SCHOOL TO PURCHASE (WHAT I THOUGH) WAS GOING TO BE RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION. THIS SITUATION HAS REALLY BEEN A BURDEN AND HARDSHIP FOR US, ESPECIALLY TRYING TO…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 11, 2011Steering, Engine and engine cooling, Electronic stability control (esc)ODI 10439330
“I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AND STARTED HEARING THE TRUCKS UNDERCARRIAGE START TO RATTLE AND GRIND ON THE BUMPS OF THE ROAD. I HAD A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER ON ENGINE AND IT WOULDNT RESPOND TO MY PRESSING ON THE GAS. I BELIEVED THAT I HAD GAS IN THE TRUCK BECAUSE THE GAUGE READ HALF FULL AND APPARENTLY I WAS OUT OF GAS. SO I PROCEEDED TO PULL INTO A GAS STATION AND AS SOON AS WE FILLED UP, THE TRUCK WOULD NOT START! I SAW THAT MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON AND HAD TO ASK FOR A JUMPSTART TO GET IT STARTED AGAIN. AT ANOTHER TIME AND DATE AGAIN THE TRUCK WENT DEAD, I ASKED FOR A JUMPSTART AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND. I NOW HAD TO BUY A NEW BATTERY BECAUSE THE CAR DAMAGED THE ORIGINAL BATTERY AND NOW WITH THE NEW BATTERY INSTALLED MY CAR STARTS BUT WILL NOT STAY ON WITHOUT ME PRESSING ON THE GAS WHILE IN PARK GEAR. I BELIEVE SOMETHING MAY BE DEFECTIVE WITH THE ELECTRICAL GAUGES, FUEL DELIVERY SYSTEM, AND SUSPENSION. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 16, 2011Suspension, Engine and engine cooling, Fuel system, gasolineODI 10430409
“CAR IDLE WOULD GO CRAZY AT STOP SIGNS AND RD LIGHTS. DURING TAKE OFF IDLE WOULD PLUNGE AND CAR WOULD STALL OR COME VERY CLOSE TO STALLING. TOOK IT TO DEALER AND THEY COULD NOT FIX IT SINCE NO CODES SHOWED UP ON COMPUTER. I TOOK IT TO ANOTHER SHOP AND THE PROBLEM WAS THE THROTTLE BODY AND CAM POSITION SENSOR. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 29, 2011Engine and engine coolingODI 10409317
“TRAILBLAZER SOUNDS LIKE A JET ENGINE WITH A LOT OF "WIND" NOISE. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND FOUND THAT THE FAN CLUTCH WENT BAD. NOT ONLY IS THE FAN CLUTCH FAILING ON MULTIPLE TRAILBLAZERS BUT CHEVY MADE THIS PART SO DYNAMIC THAT THE COST IS OUTRAGEOUS. ALSO, DUE TO THE FAN CLUTCH GOING BAD IT ALSO DAMAGES THE SERPENTINE BELT. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 25, 2011Engine and engine coolingODI 10392845

Showing 6 of 158 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.