Problems · NHTSA complaints

2003 Chevrolet Trailblazer Ext problems

Owners filed 1,255 complaints about the 2003 Chevrolet Trailblazer Ext with NHTSA between Aug 2002 and Mar 2023. The most-cited component is electrical system (377).

Complaints
1,255
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
76
Reported by owners
Fires
20
Reported by owners
Injuries
80
People reported injured
Deaths
2
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Electrical system377
  2. Fuel system, gasoline197
  3. Power train153
  4. Exterior lighting105
  5. Visibility90
  6. Engine and engine cooling84
  7. Structure65
  8. Fuel/propulsion system65
  9. Air bags64
  10. Suspension46
  11. Equipment38
  12. Steering34
  13. Service brakes, hydraulic33
  14. Vehicle speed control32

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

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20026
200383
2004104
200579
200698
2007127
2008113
2009129
2010117
2011102
201248
201323
201479
201556
201635
201724
201814
20198
20206
20212
20221
20231

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Electrical system

377 reports7 crashes13 fires
“Transmission doesn’t have 3rd or 4th gear. Vehicle was smoking under hood. Found out after buying it it has flood damage. Mechanic said there was water in the transmission when inspected. Vehicle needs catylic converter sensor and vehicle has bad ground wire. Seller didn’t inform me of any of these issues and he said it was in good shape and very reliable.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 1, 2023Electrical system, Service brakes, EngineODI 11509655

Fuel system, gasoline

197 reports1 fire
“ON 12/15/15 I DROPPED OFF MY 2003 CHEVY TRAILBLAZER BASED ON A BULLETIN THAT I RECEIVED FROM CHEVY - GM SPECIAL COVERAGE PROGRAM #14423. THERE WAS A SMELL OF FUEL WHILE REFUELING. ON 12/16/15 THE DEALERSHIP NOTIFIED ME THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS INDEED DEFECTIVE AND THAT IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THEY SAID THAT THEY WOULD ORDER THE PART AND HOLD THE VEHICLE UNTIL THE PART CAME IN SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. LATER THAT DAY THE DEALERSHIP STATED THE PART WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL THE MIDDLE OF FEB.2016 AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO LEAVE THE VEHICLE IN THEIR LOT. THAT WAS EXTREMELY UPSETTING NEWS SINCE NOW I WAS NOT GOING TO HAVE MY VEHICLE FOR SEVERAL MONTHS WITHOUT A REPLACEMENT. I HAVE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH THE DEALERSHIP ([XXX] (SERVICE ADVISOR), [XXX] (PARTS MANAGER), [XXX] (SERVICE DIRECTOR), AND [XXX] , (PARTS DEPT. SUPERVISOR) AS WELL AS CHEVY CUSTOMER SERVICE (CASE # [XXX]). TODAY IS MARCH 4, 2016 AND THE PART IS STILL NOT AVAILABLE. I HAVE BEEN WITH OUT MY TRAILBLAZER FOR ALMOST 3 MONTHS. THE DEALERSHIP AND CHEVY CUSTOMER SERVICE STILL HAVE "NO IDEA" WHEN THE PART WILL BE AVAILABLE. THEY NOW TELL ME MAYBE MAY 2016. CAN YOU HELP EXPEDITE THIS CASE…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 14, 2016Fuel system, gasolineODI 10849631

Power train

153 reports5 crashes2 fires
“While driving my Trailblazer in A4WD on slippery road conditions, I went to pulled out of a parking lot and there was a loud sound like my whole front end fell out and the front end completely locked up. Almost causing an accident. I had to dial back to 2HI quickly to unlock to front end. There was no light indicating any problems. Been driving it 2HI since with out any problems. Still no service light or anything, but feels like I'm stuck in A4WD. Feels like there is a drag and a pulling to the right. Also using more gas since. It was a scary, afraid to try the 4x4 functions again. Another snow storm is on the way!”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 12, 2022Power trainODI 11447243

Exterior lighting

105 reports1 crash3 fires1 related recall
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT DUSK, THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S HOME. THE CONTACT CALLED SONS CHEVROLET (3615 MANCHESTER EXPY, COLUMBUS, GA 31909, (706) 322-8888), BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 177,000. THE VIN WAS INVALID.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 20, 2019Exterior lightingODI 11181328

Visibility

90 reports1 fire1 related recall
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER EXT 370. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDOWS FAILED TO ROLL UP OR DOWN. ALSO, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE HEATED SEAT WOULD NOT TURN OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 23, 2015Electrical system, VisibilityODI 10678582

Engine and engine cooling

84 reports1 crash1 fire
“THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW IN JUN 2003. WHILE STILL UNDER WARRANTY, VARIOUS RECALLS WERE ISSUED FOR STEERING, BRAKE LIGHTS AND REAR HATCH LOCKING/HANDLE ASSEMBLY. SINCE THEN, THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN A LEMON. POWER STEERING PUMP REPLACED TWICE (FIRST ONE I PAID FOR, SECOND INDEPENDENT AND VERY RELIABLE MECHANIC SHOP PAID). NEXT THE ENGINE COOLING FAN BEARING HAD TO BE REPLACED. LATER, THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REBUILT. I ALSO HAD TO GET THE COMPUTER CHECKED AND RESET TO AVOID SURGING ENGINE RPM AND RESULTANT SPEED DEVIATIONS. REACHING A POINT OF FRUSTRATION AS NEVER BEFORE, I WROTE GM ASKING FOR CONSIDERATION REPAIRING THE TRANSMISSION AND RECEIVED NO RESPONSE. I KNOW THEY RECEIVED THE EMAIL SINCE I HAD A "RECEIPT REQUESTED" FEATURE ACTIVATED IN MY OFFICE COMPUTER. I SENT A SECOND EMAIL STATING I WAS AWARE OF THE EMAIL RECEIPT AND THAT I EXPECTED A RESPONSE. NO SUCH LUCK. ALL THESE PROBLEMS MANIFESTED THEMSELVES WELL BEFORE THE 100,000 MILES WERE REACHED. NOW AT APPROXIMATELY 132,000 MILES, I HAD TO REPLACE THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD DUE TO A CRACK, THE VEHICLE HAS LOST POWER ON TWO OCCASIONS, THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD HAS GONE TO ZERO AND BACK TO NORMAL SEVERAL TIMES…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 26, 2011Steering, Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Exterior lighting, StructureODI 10437347
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026

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